by Debra Kayn
While friends had separated from their parents during college, seeking independence and a different way of life, she’d relied on those daily phone calls to her daddy to keep striving toward her goal. The confidence he had in her gave her belief in herself. She’d never have accomplished all this without his support.
She stood up, tucked the letter and envelope into the back pocket of her shorts. Not wanting to go back inside, she strolled out to see Harley. He was an excellent listener. Maybe he’d help her decide what to do with Roy Lee.
One thing was perfectly clear. She wasn’t going to believe his love for her had stopped.
“Hey, Harley…” She leaned against the fence. “Wanna help me figure out a way to make Roy Lee come back to me?”
Chapter Eighteen
Margot slammed the file cabinet drawer shut. Every single part of her ached. Besides getting no sleep last night, she ended up pulling a colt from the birth canal and wrangling ten goats to debud today. She flopped down in her chair and sent it spinning toward her desk.
Topping the total exhaustion, her thoughts were on warp speed after reading her daddy’s letter. Was she as controlling as Daddy said? She let her head fall back against the chair. Sweet turnips!
It was true.
She’d made Roy Lee hold on to their secret relationship for almost a year. Every time he got tired of hiding from everyone, she came up with another excuse why she didn’t want anyone to know. How he put up with her fussiness for that long was a testament to his patience. Maybe she was being unfair to make him get over the shock of finding out he had an older brother so soon.
It took her a long time to believe Stuart McDougal was going to die. Then when he started going downhill, she’d made sure everything that needed to be done, got done. She didn’t let herself get wrapped up in Roy Lee, or her sisters. Even the clinic, if she wanted to be honest with herself, went to the back of her mind.
Just like with Roy Lee and Ryan.
“Got a delivery for you.” Ryan strolled into her office and set a small box on her desk.
“Thanks, Ryan.” She stifled a yawn.
“Open it.”
Margot eyed the box. “Isn’t it the antibiotic cream I ordered?”
“Nope.” He rocked back on his heels. “Go ahead. I’m supposed to stay here until you see what’s inside the box.”
She eyed him curiously. “You’re acting stranger than a three-legged calf.”
“Three-legged calf, that’s a good one, Margot.” Ryan laughed. “I’ll have to remember that one.”
After finding the box cutter in her drawer, she pulled the cardboard box closer and cut across the seam. She glanced up at Ryan before lifting the flap. “Nothing is gonna jump out at me, right?”
He grinned. “Nah. Just open it.”
A sweet smell wafted out of the box, and she stood up to get a better view. “What in the world? Did you do this?”
“Nope. Take it out.”
Margot carefully peeled back the side of the box, slid out the cardboard at the bottom and held up a caramel-covered apple fully decorated with candied red hearts and sprinkles. She held it up to her nose and inhaled. Her stomach growled but despite not eating all day, she had no desire to ruin such a wonderful gift.
“Who’s it from?” She set the apple on the desk and picked up the box.
Turning the package around, she couldn’t find a return address or even a name. In fact, the box was bare of any shipping receipt or postage. She frowned at Ryan. He wouldn’t have given her a gift like this after the misunderstanding over the caramel squares. Would he?
“This goes with the gift.” He reached into his back pocket, handed her a small envelope barely three inches long, and shrugged before turning toward the door.
She held it out in front of her. “Wait! You can’t walk away. Tell me who gave you the gift to deliver to me.”
“Catch you later, Margot. This is my day off. I’ll see you tomorrow, or maybe I won’t.” He burst out in laughter and walked out of sight.
Sitting back down, she gently peeled the envelope open and removed the card.
Please come to Valenciennes’ Place tonight at 8:00. – Roy Lee
A vigorous burst of energy pushed the weariness of the long day from her body, and she hurried to put the caramel apple back in the box. She was glad to have Roy Lee back to talking with her. Smiling, she realized that she might be starting to understand both of them a little bit more, and it gave her hope they’d make it past this latest hurdle.
Not wanting to dally, she ignored all the paperwork she should be doing and headed out of the office. She ran up the last few steps to her apartment. A terrible sense of homesickness toward Roy Lee swept through her. He was everything she wanted in her life, and she’d missed him terribly. Nothing was the same without him.
The jukebox blared a country love song throughout the packed room. Margot waved off Val’s questions and wound her way through the crowd to the bar. Her hands shook. She wasn’t sure if she was nervous or excited. The butterflies fluttering in her stomach seemed to debate what emotion to display.
With her back to the bar, she slid onto the bar stool and scanned the room. She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and bit down. What if he asked her here to break up?
A black cowboy hat caught her eye and she leaned to the right to see past Harland throwing a dart against the sidewall. She gasped as she almost slid off the stool at the same time she caught sight of Roy Lee for the first time in weeks. After righting herself, she swallowed down the lump creeping up her throat. He looked better than baby bunnies, flowers in the spring, and caramel all rolled into one.
Roy Lee stepped toward her. She walked across the floor not daring to take her gaze off him in case he disappeared again. The urge to run into his arms was almost her undoing, but she held it together to find out why he’d asked her to meet him here.
He pulled to a stop in front of her in the middle of the makeshift dance floor. His lips softened and he tilted the brim of his hat back. She blinked rapidly to clear her vision. He seemed to have a real purpose for being here tonight, and for the first time, she was scared at this change of attention.
The longer he remained silent, her fear grew, and she dug deep within herself to protect herself the only way she knew how.
“What do you want, Roy Lee?” She crossed her arms and lifted her brow, giving him the stare down meant to hide her insecurities and give her the upper hand.
He leaned a fraction of an inch closer. Her eyes widened, and she stood up straighter. The top of her head barely came to his chin.
“Will you dance with me, sweetheart?” He unfolded her arm and held her hand. “Please?”
She licked her lips, unable to speak, and instead nodded. Following him over to the corner, she was gifted with a view of his tight buns and muscular legs encased in black denim. A flannel shirt stretched across his broad shoulders. She moaned, but over the music, no one heard.
Caught up in soaking in every detail about him, she didn’t notice he’d stopped until she bumped into his back. “Sor—”
“Sh. Don’t say it.” His forceful gaze traveled from her mouth to her breasts and back to her eyes. “Don’t ever be sorry, for anything.”
Roy Lee’s rough hand curled around her neck and pulled her to his chest. She wound her arms around his waist, laid her cheek against his shirt and closed her eyes. Her stomach jumped. She tried to slow her racing heart. There was no way he couldn’t feel it beating against his chest.
He placed his hand on the small of her back, urging her closer. He used his other hand to thread his fingers through her hair. Her feet automatically moved, but her thoughts swirled around having him back in her arms again.
A thousand questions she must ask, but for this one dance, this single moment in time, the answers from him were the last thing she wanted to hear. The heat of his body warmed her, and the tension between her shoulders running up into her neck eased. Locked to Roy Lee, s
he noticed the music playing in the bar fit the mood.
Roy Lee quit dancing, causing Margot to stumble. She opened her eyes. The heat of his gaze burned the surface of her cheeks.
“I’ve been a jerk.”
She nodded.
“I should never have shut you out…dealt with things on my own the way I did.” He rubbed the back of his knuckle along the side of her face.
She leaned into his touch. “You should have let me help you.”
“I know.” He leaned down and skimmed his lips against her mouth. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, sweets. I’m not a whole man when you’re not by my side.”
She clutched the front of his shirt. “Do you know how mad I am at you?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “It probably won’t be the last time.”
She tilted her head back and gazed up at him. “I’ve learned a lot about myself…about you, and us while you were gone.”
“And you’re gonna tell me…” He stepped back. “There’s no way I can talk you into coming home with me and letting me make love to you until you forget ’bout what a fool I’ve been?”
She shook her head, crooked her finger and motioned him to follow her. “Not this time, Sheriff.”
Without glancing over her shoulder to see if he followed, Margot marched back through the bar and out the front door. She turned and pointed to the sidewalk in front of her. “Stand there, don’t talk, and for once in your life, Roy Lee, you’re gonna listen to me.”
The clunk, clunk, clunk of Margot’s boot heels gave her something to concentrate on as she organized her thoughts. She couldn’t blab out what she wanted to say. She wasn’t even sure she could say it.
She ran her hands through her hair and clenched a fistful of strands. It all made sense now. Her daddy wasn’t telling her she needed to lay off controlling everyone’s lives. He wanted her to know she needed to take the bull by the horns and go after what she wanted, McDougal style.
“Margot?”
“What?” she snapped.
Roy Lee hooked the tips of his fingers in his front pockets and relaxed his arms. “What’s going on?”
She frowned and waved her hand in the air, not answering his question. She had to think. If she had more time, she could do this the right way. Make it big, memorable, and have a huge announcement. Show everyone in town what she thought of Roy Lee. She smiled. Why didn’t she think of this before? The Fourth of July will be perfect!
“Margot?”
She whirled around, stepped in front of Roy Lee and smiled. “Marry me, Roy Lee.”
Chapter Nineteen
Roy Lee carried two cups of coffee into the bedroom. Margot propped herself up with the pillow and reached out her hand. She needed all the caffeine she could get for the day ahead.
“I’m glad Ryan is going to hold down the fort at the clinic today. There’s no way I could work. I don’t think I’ve slept more than an hour in forty-eight hours.” Margot sipped the hot brew. “Mm…thank you.”
“I need to go out and do chores, but you can go to sleep.” Roy Lee sat on the side of the mattress.
She shook her head. “No way. If we’re going to get married in four weeks, I need to call a family meeting and get the sisters to help with the arrangements. Everyone will be coming to the Fourth of July celebration at the McDougal ranch, but we’ll have to let everyone know to come early. Then I need to figure out something to wear, decorations, a photographer, and then there’s Val…the baby will almost be due, and I have to make sure she doesn’t try to do too much.”
“Well, maybe you can—”
“Oh! I forgot all about finding the preacher. Plus, we’ll have to go apply for our wedding license.” She hurried and sipped her coffee.
“There sure is a lot of stuff to do.” Roy Lee removed the cup from her hand and set the drink on the nightstand. “But, before you—”
“Oh my gosh, Florentine! I’ll call her first and give her the news. She always feels left out of everything exciting being so far away from us when she’s riding on the circuit.” Margot flung the covers off her legs.
“Wait a min—”
“I was thinking about the caramel apple you gave me. What if we set up a picnic table before the fireworks are set off and let all the children dip their own apples? Wouldn’t that be fun for them?” She stood up.
“Margot Lace McDougal, shuttup a gol’ darned minute.” Roy Lee grabbed her shoulders. “Slow down. I have something to tell you.”
She wrinkled her nose. “What?”
He inhaled deeply. “Before anything happens, there’s something I want to do.”
Margot opened her mouth, but Roy Lee put his hand over the bottom of her face. She glared.
“Not one word.” He helped her nod her head. “Good. I’m going to remove my hand. You’re going to get dressed, put your boots on and meet me on the porch. ’Kay?”
She rolled her eyes as he forced her head up and down with his hand again. He slowly stepped away and dropped his arms, winked, and hurried out of the room. She shook her head, but followed his directions and got dressed.
Roy Lee had no idea the amount of pressure she felt on her shoulders to pull off a wedding this fast. There were people who had to make travel plans and food to buy. At least calving season was over, and Ryan was always willing to work more hours…thank God.
She slipped on her boots, stepped out on the porch, giggled in a fashion she’d typically be embarrassed about, and launched herself at Roy Lee. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she smooched him with a loud pleasing smack.
“I’m wound up tighter than barbed wire. I even forgot to give you a kiss this morning.” She peppered his face with all kinds of kisses. “Well, after the sun came up, at least. I’ll make sure I make it up to you the rest of the day.”
He chuckled and set her on the ground. “Hold that thought. I got something I wanna show you.”
She followed him off the porch toward the back of the house. She skipped along, trying to keep up with his longer stride.
“I planned to bring you back here last night and show you, but you had your own ideas of what you wanted to happen last night. It worked out better this way, because now you’ll be able to see what has kept me from contacting you since I got back from Helena.” He let go of her hand and jogged over to remove a blue tarp covering something big.
Margot raised her brows at the sight he revealed. “Is that…?”
She stepped up to the chicken wire enclosure and peered inside.
“It’s yours, Margot. You can fill it up with as many chickens as you want.” He waved his arm for her to follow him and disappeared behind the corner of the barn.
She ran to keep up with him. “Roy Lee! I can’t believe you’re going to let me keep chickens.”
“Just wait. There’s more.” He pulled off another set of tarps revealing a long line of rabbit cages. “It’ll hold six rabbits. I figure that’ll be enough to start out with, huh?”
She squealed. “More than enough. I can’t believe you did all this for me.”
He pointed to the left. “Over there. That’s where you can keep a couple hogs.”
“Oh, Roy Lee.” She gazed around at everything in wonder. “Why? I don’t understand. You were doing this, instead of coming to see me…”
“Margot.” He approached her and got down on his knee. “I wanted to give you your dream of having a place where you could raise whatever animal you want. This is your farm. Stuart told me a long time ago you’d always wanted a place where you could raise farm animals. Not cows, not horses, but little critters. He said it’d always been your dream to take in strays, and I know how much you wanna keep the forgotten animals you get at the clinic.”
“Oh, Roy Lee. I can’t believe you did all this for me.” She covered her cheeks with her hands. “I’ll make sure to take care of them all. You won’t have to lift a finger.”
He leaned sideways and shoved his hand in his front pocket of his jeans
. “You didn’t give me a chance last night to pop the question first, but I have something else for you.”
Roy Lee opened the small box and took out the engagement ring. “You beat me to the proposal, but I want you to know I’ve had this ring for the last six months. I was waiting until you were ready to say yes.”
Margot held her left hand out and smiled as he slipped the gold band with the solitaire diamond over her ring finger. She leaned down, cupped his face and kissed him thoroughly. “I love you.”
She stroked his cheek. Tears rolled down her face, but she didn’t care.
“We’re gonna be happy,” she whispered.
He stood up. “We’ve both got our dream, sweets.”
Margot gazed at all the places Roy Lee built to house the animals. It wouldn’t take her long to fill everything up. She hooked her arm around his waist. “Everything is beautiful. Thank you.”
“How many chickens do you think you’ll get?” He tickled her side.
She slapped his stomach. “That’ll be the first thing I bring home. At least a dozen. I can’t believe I’ll have my own chickens. I haven’t had any since Daddy decided to start buying our eggs from Maudie and Joe instead of raising our own. I must have been twelve, thirteen years old.”
“We’ll hafta get a rooster.” He nodded. “I wouldn’t mind waking up to a crow in the morning.”
“This is so exciting.” She stepped in front of Roy Lee. “What’s next?”
“You tell me.” He spread his fingers out along her waist and pulled her close.
She arched against him. “Rabbits. Definitely, rabbits.”
Within the circle of Roy’s embrace, standing in the middle of the farmyard, Margot was at a loss for words. She squeezed Roy Lee to her. “Promise me you’ll never shut me out.”
He kissed the top of her head. “As long as I don’t have another unknown brother show up acting like John Wayne on a stiff drink, I won’t go anywhere. I can’t promise I won’t go off to ride horses or spend the day stomping around in a snit, but I’ll be where you can find me.”
