“You okay?” he asked, brushing his thumb across her palm.
She smiled. “I was hoping you wouldn’t remember everything that happened.”
He swallowed hard. “I remember.”
“Doc Reed said you’ll be fine after a few days of rest. Abel will think you did this just so you’ll miss the restaurant’s grand opening.”
Gideon smiled and shut his eyes. “Maybe.”
“We both know that’s not true. You’ve been making food for days in preparation and Mrs. Campbell told me just yesterday that people all over town are talking about coming to the grand opening.”
Slowly, he nodded his head then opened his eyes again. “Millie?”
“Yes?” She slid a little closer to him.
“Marry me?”
Love shone in her eyes as she bent down and kissed his cheek. “Definitely, yes.”
“Good,” he sighed and fell asleep.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Abel arrived home from his camping trip to find Gideon in bed recovering from his wounds, Millie excitedly planning a wedding, and Archie Cook dead.
“The next time I take a few days off, who knows what might happen,” Abel teased Gideon as he stood in the door to his bedroom in his private quarters. “I heard about Archie being so far in debt that he’d never climb his way out. How could he fool all of us like that?”
“I don’t know, but he sure did a good job of it.” Gideon had listened as Kade and Lars shared what they’d discovered about the man. Even if prohibition hadn’t shut him down, he would have lost his businesses anyway. The man owed large sums of debt on every one of his enterprises.
Although the knife Gideon threw had taken Archie’s life, the deputies assured him it was self-defense. If he hadn’t thrown it, both he and Millie would be dead.
Determined not to give Archie Cook another thought, Gideon instead turned to overseeing the opening of his restaurant from his bed. Doc insisted he rest several days before he tried to get up.
Since he wanted to marry Millie in a few weeks, he decided to heed the doctor’s orders and heal as quickly as possible.
The day McBride’s Café opened for business, crowds lined up around the block, eager to get a seat. Mrs. Campbell, Abel, Cully and the staff that Gideon had hired worked at a frenzied pace as people kept coming. Millie, Grant, and Lacy arrived after they finished work for the day and jumped in to help, waiting tables and washing dishes.
Although the following days weren’t as hectic as that first night, the restaurant stayed busy. Gideon planned to open it for lunch beginning in September, after wheat harvest.
On a sunny July afternoon, he looked in the mirror in the big bedroom at the ranch and straightened his tie, mulling over how much he enjoyed the restaurant business. Because of some silly childhood ideas about what he should do with his life, he’d avoided an enterprise that brought him great pleasure. One he now felt he was meant to do.
Abel ambled inside the room and gave him a teasing smile. “If you don’t quit primping in here like a school girl before her first dance, you’ll be late for your own wedding.”
Gideon grinned and walked across the room, thumping his friend on the back. “I just want to look nice for my girl.”
“You could wear filthy rags and I don’t think Miss Millie would care. She’s gone entirely loopy over you and there isn’t a single person here today who doesn’t know it.”
Gideon had plenty of time for thinking while he remained in bed, recovering from his injuries. The one thing he couldn’t stop thinking about was how much time he’d wasted convincing himself he could live without Millie in his life. He needed her like he needed air to breathe and that wasn’t going to change. Not ever.
She’d become his whole world and being with her was more important than anything else.
Eager to place a ring on her finger and finally claim her as his own, Gideon led the way to the pond where he and Millie planned to exchange vows.
All of their friends gathered in the shade of the trees, pleased to share in the joy of the day. Gideon admired the baskets of flowers Aundy Nash had contributed to the wedding. The flowers added a bright splash of color to the serene beauty of the landscape around them.
Ezra and the hands had worked long hours making sure everything on the place looked perfect for the wedding. One of them had even tied a bright blue ribbon in Carbonado’s mane. The horse pranced along the pasture fence, proudly tossing his mane as if to say, “Welcome to our celebration!”
Drake and Grant took places beside Gideon and Abel as they stood with Pastor Whitting.
Everyone quieted as Susan walked down the aisle followed by Bertie and Lacy. Laila Campanelli and Sophie Thorsen giggled and tossed flower petals with gleeful enthusiasm, creating a path for the bride. When they reached the bridal attendants, they leaned against Bertie and Lacy.
The air whooshed out of Gideon’s chest as Millie floated down the aisle on the arm of Riley Walsh.
The lacy gown she wore accented her small waist and curvaceous figure, making him swallow hard. An airy veil floated behind her, held on her head by a wreath made of pink rosebuds. She carried a bouquet of pink and white roses, courtesy of Aundy.
As Millie approached him, Gideon took in the beguiling smile on her berry-ripe lips and the love evident in her blue eyes.
When Riley handed her over to him, Gideon pressed a quick kiss to her cheek and whispered, “You’re lovelier than a dream, Millie.”
A blush pinked her cheeks as she looked at him and Pastor Whitting cleared his throat. When the man asked who gave the bride in marriage, all her friends answered in unison, “We do.”
Millie grinned at them over her shoulder before returning her focus to the ceremony.
Gideon slid a wide gold band etched with leaves on her finger. The center of the ring held a flower, made from eight diamonds. Sunlight dappling through the trees refracted in the jewels, creating wavering sparkles around them.
Laila and Sophie giggled, stretching out their hands trying to capture the glistening fragments of light.
Gideon and Millie smiled at the little girls then finished their vows. The pastor pronounced them man and wife and gave Gideon permission to kiss his bride. Abel muttered, “Make it a good one,” under his breath, causing those who heard to laugh.
Long moments later, Gideon finally raised his head from Millie’s. Her cheeks were as red as apples, but a happy light danced in her eyes.
Gideon escorted her past their guests to the backyard where the reception would take place.
Mrs. Campbell and the staff from the restaurant oversaw the food while the ranch hands made sure everyone had a place to sit. Tony Campanelli took photos of the happy couple as well as the attendees.
A few hours later, Gideon and Millie stood by the gate of the front yard, thanking each guest for coming as they left.
Bertie and Riley stood with Grant and Lacy to wish them well.
“We’re so glad you’re taking an entire week off, Millie. You deserve to spend that time with your sweetheart,” Bertie said, squeezing her hand.
“I wouldn’t be able to take a week off if you hadn’t agreed to fill in for me,” Millie said, smiling at Bertie.
“I’m happy to help,” she said, then nudged Lacy with her elbow.
“And we promise not to call out here.” Lacy made a silly face, causing Millie to laugh.
“You most certainly can call us,” Gideon said. “If we were that concerned about being disturbed, we would have gone out of town somewhere.”
“Why go somewhere when you have your own little corner of paradise here?” Grant asked, waving his hand toward the lush pastures and pond in the distance.
“Why indeed?” Gideon placed a kiss to Millie’s neck.
Lacy glanced at her husband and he gave her an encouraging nod. “Besides, when you get back to work, we need to discuss a change to the schedule.”
“We do?” Millie’s smile faded as her mind whirled w
ith possible reasons Lacy would want to change the schedule.
“In about five months, I’ll have to resign my position and Bertie will no longer be available to fill in temporarily.” Lacy tried to hide her smile, but Bertie started bouncing up and down with a ridiculous grin on her face.
“What in the world are you two doing?” Millie asked, shocked by their words.
“Welcoming little bundles of joy to our homes,” Lacy said, while Bertie nodded her head.
Millie squealed in excitement and hugged them both. “Both of you? Two babies? When?”
Bertie clasped her hands together beneath her chin. “Lacy’s due in January and I’m due before Christmas. Isn’t it exciting?”
“It’s better than exciting. It’s wonderful!” Millie hugged them again then gave Grant and Riley each a hug after Gideon shook their hands.
“If you ever need someone to watch after those little ones, you know I’m always willing.” Millie beamed at her friends.
“At least until we get busy with our babies.” Gideon grinned at Millie’s shocked expression. They hadn’t discussed children, but Millie hoped Gideon wanted them as much as she did. From that comment, she assumed he did. She felt the warmth of his breath on her neck as his lips brushed her ear and he spoke in a low tone only she could hear. “And I greatly look forward to making them with you.”
A delighted shiver rolled over her and she leaned back against him.
With a few more words of congratulations to their friends, they bid them farewell then waved as the last buggy rolled down the driveway.
Ezra and the ranch crew helped put away the last of the tables and chairs then told Gideon they’d disappear for the evening and headed off in the direction of the bunkhouse.
With no one left at the house, Gideon swept Millie into his arms and carried her inside their home. He didn’t relinquish his hold until they reached the kitchen. Setting her down on the counter, he kissed her until they both had to gasp for breath. A teasing smile played around his lips as he strode over to the refrigerator and removed something wrapped in tissue paper.
He handed it to Millie. “A little sweet for my sweet.”
Carefully, Millie folded back the paper to reveal a box made of chocolate. “Oh, Gideon, it’s wonderful.”
“Open it,” he urged.
She lifted off the lid and grinned at the sight of a dozen chocolates, all shaped like hearts. “Are these the chocolates I like so much?”
“Indeed, they are.” He picked up one of the candies and held it to her lips. Millie took a bite then Gideon popped the rest in his mouth.
She closed her eyes and savored the treat. Her tongue ran along her lower lip, licking away a bit of chocolate.
Gideon’s eyes followed her every move and he quickly returned the candy to the refrigerator to keep it from melting in the July heat. He planned on it being a while before they ventured back to the kitchen. Enthralled with Millie, with the way she looked in her beautiful wedding gown, he couldn’t wait any longer to lavish her with his love. He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.
Memories of the first time he’d envisioned her there, with her dark tresses spread across the pillows, made him set her on her feet. He began unfastening what seemed like a million tiny buttons running down the back of her dress.
“Tell Ilsa new husbands don’t appreciate all these buttons next time you see her,” he said, frustrated at the tedious job of unfastening each one. “Four big buttons would serve the purpose just as well.”
Millie gave him a cheeky smile. “Where’s the fun in that? The anticipation of a thing is what makes it special.”
Gideon snorted. “I’ve been anticipating this moment for far longer than you want to know, Tootsie Wootsie.”
“How long?” Millie asked, wondering if he’d loved her as long as she’d loved him, even when she refused to admit it to herself.
“You’ll laugh at me,” Gideon said, making slow headway with the buttons.
“I promise I won’t.” Millie studied him over her shoulder, still finding it hard to believe she was married to such a handsome, loving man.
When she stepped into the aisle and walked toward Gideon that afternoon, she almost tripped on her skirts at the splendid sight of him. The sunlight gleamed on his coppery head and his dark suit only served to accent the breadth of his shoulders and chest. As she neared him, love twinkled in his verdant green eyes while joy shone from his dimpled smile.
Gideon was her best friend. He’d been her champion and protector, saving her life. And now, he was her husband and lover.
It was the last title that made her anxiously twist the handkerchief she held in her hands while her stomach fluttered in nervous expectation. In hopes of taking her mind off what would happen when he succeeded in unfastening the buttons on her gown, she pushed her thoughts back to Gideon’s statement.
“Tell me, Gideon. How long have you been anticipating today?”
He grinned at her, those dimples tantalizing her along with the contrast of his white-toothed smile against the tan of his face. “As long as you’ve been in town.”
“What?” She offered him a puzzled look. “You didn’t even know me until I started the temperance committee.”
“I might not have known you, but I knew who you were. Everyone knows of Miss Millie, the head hello girl.” Gideon gave her a teasing wink. “But I knew I wanted you the first day you arrived in town. You stood at the depot, one hand holding onto your hat to keep the wind from blowing it away. Tendrils of your black hair waltzed in the breeze. You had on a pink shirtwaist with a dark blue suit and a vibrant spark in your eye. That’s when I knew, Millicent Anne McBride, that I wanted you to be mine. ”
Millie’s mouth gaped open and Gideon playfully pushed it closed with his index finger. “Shocking, isn’t it?”
“Not really,” she said, clasping his hand in hers she turned to face him. “I stepped off the train and a handsome young man loading a freight wagon caught my eye. Then I realized what he was loading and decided no matter how much he made my stomach flutter or my knees quake, he could never be mine. A drunkard’s wife I could never be.”
“But, Millie, my love, you’ve become one.” Gideon grinned at her and brushed his knuckles along the line of her heart-shaped face. “Don’t you know, dear girl, I’ve been drunk on your love from the first time we kissed. I plan to stay in a complete state of inebriation for the rest of our lives together.”
Millie laughed and threw her arms around him, kissing him soundly. Heat exploded between the two of them while the taste of chocolate lingered on their lips.
When he finally lifted his head, he spun her around and made haste in unfastening the rest of the buttons. The second he finished, he pushed the dress to the floor, and unfastened her petticoats. Hastily, he lifted Millie out of the pools of fabric at her feet.
He sat down in a chair and settled her on his lap as he removed her satin slippers then ran his hands up each lacy stocking. “These are quite pretty, Tootsie. Ever since I saw your fancy nightdress when you had that horrible cold, I’ve been dying to know what tempting little morsels you wore beneath your gowns.”
“Gideon! You shouldn’t have been thinking such things,” she admonished, although she gave him a heated look.
“You can’t blame me, Millie. You’re a beautiful, alluring woman and I can hardly believe you’re finally mine.”
“All yours, Gideon,” she whispered, pressing her lips to his again as he unfastened the garter clips and rolled down the lacy stockings.
He set her on her feet and stood, removing her corset cover. Impatient, he yanked on her corset. Taking pity on his unfruitful efforts, Millie unfastened the corset and let it drop to the floor.
When he tugged on her chemise, she shook her head and playfully slapped his hand. “Now, just hold up a minute there, mister. It seems all wrong that I’m standing here nearly undressed while you still have on every stitch of clothes you’ve worn all day.”<
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“What of it?” Gideon asked, pulling the pins from her hair and watching the heavy mass tumble around her shoulders and down her back. He dropped the pins on a table beside the chair and buried his hands in the silky midnight locks. Seduced by the fragrance wafting around him on the breeze blowing in the open windows, he kissed her again with an ever-growing thirst for his wife.
He tugged at her chemise and felt her smile against his mouth.
“It’s my turn,” she whispered, sliding his jacket off his broad shoulders. She loosened the knot in his tie and removed it, took off his collar, then unfastened the buttons of his vest. It joined his jacket on the chair. Her fingers shook as she unfastened the buttons of his shirt. When she reached his waist, she tugged on his shirttails until they came out of the waistband of his pants.
Once his shirt joined his vest and jacket on the chair, she stared at the muscles and coppery hair covering his chest and abdomen. Her fingers traced the lines of a few scars, including the bright red mark caused from his recent gunshot wound. She bent and kissed it.
When she straightened, he playfully nipped her ear. “You best quit teasing me, Millie girl.”
The husky tone of his voice made her shiver in response. Somewhat timidly, she unfastened his belt and tugged it off then unfastened his pants.
Gideon groaned and the next thing she knew, he’d kicked off his boots, stepped out of his trousers, and whisked away her remaining clothes.
“Millie…” His voice thickened with emotion as his fingers gently trailed over a nasty scar on her side. “Did your father do that?”
Numbly, she nodded, hoping the sight of her scars wouldn’t repulse Gideon. He stepped around her and his fingers outlined the scars on her back, reminders of the beatings her father had given her over the years.
She released a shaky breath when Gideon’s lips caressed each one.
He moved in front of her and held her gaze, his tender and loving. So, so full of love.
Millie (Pendleton Petticoats Book 7) Page 28
