by Linda Bridey
Tessa grasped Jamie’s shoulders and said, “You won’t embarrass him. I’m not sure what people have said about you in the past, but you’re not there, you’re here now. This is a chance to start over. Remember that. Now, you look beautiful. Go and have a good time tonight.”
Jamie nodded and tried to quiet the butterflies that bounced around in her stomach. She prayed that Tessa was right.
Luke had borrowed Dean’s buggy for the ride into town. As they travelled he looked down at Jamie. The jade green dress fit her to perfection and brought out her already remarkable eyes even more. It was a demure dress and yet it didn’t hide her lovely figure. She played with the hem on a sleeve and then crossed her arms over her stomach.
His brow puckered. “Jamie, are you ok?”
When she met his eyes, Luke was surprised by the terror he saw on her face. “I’m scared, Luke. Your parents are going to hate me. Especially your mother.”
“Why on earth would they hate you?” Luke said.
“You know what I’m like. That’s why. People their age don’t approve of people like me. Everyone out at the ranch except for Marty likes me, but they’re younger and more open-minded. Mothers don’t like women like me. They think I’m not good enough for their sons,” she said.
Luke gathered her against his side. “Look, my parents aren’t stuck up or anything like that. It’s going to be fine, I promise.” He kissed her forehead. “Pa’s gonna get a real kick out of you and Ma, too. You’ll see.”
Jamie smiled a little. “Are you sure?”
“Positive,” Luke said.
“Ok.”
John and Pricilla Samuels were very nice people, and Jamie was relieved to find that they seemed to like her. Pricilla was a short, slightly heavy-set woman with Luke’s deep brown eyes and dark hair. John was tall but didn’t have Luke’s bulk. He looked quite a bit like Dean and Seth.
“So what made you decide to come out west to our Luke?” John asked.
Jamie said, “I didn’t have anyone there, no family, I mean and I really didn’t like my boss. I was lonely and I really wanted to get married again. I saw Luke’s ad and he sounded perfect.”
He nodded his understanding. “That sounds sensible. Are you lookin’ to have children?”
“Pa,” Luke objected.
“What? It’s a logical question,” John said, and reminded Jamie of Dean.
She smiled and said, “Yes. I want children very much.”
Pricilla said, “Well, we are looking forward to having some grandchildren to spoil.”
Jamie smiled.
“You’re not going to stand him up are you?” John asked.
“Pa! Knock it off!” Luke said.
Jamie put a hand over her mouth as she tried not to laugh, but a little giggle snuck out. They all turned to her and she laughed harder. John got a big smile on his face.
Luke said, “What’s so funny?”
“That sounds like something Seth would say. Right to the point,” Jamie said and laughed a little more.
John chuckled. “I guess it does at that. Must be the Samuels blood. We’re known for being straight shooters.”
“I’ll say. Your nephews are something else,” Jamie said. “I like to just sit and listen to them argue.”
Luke said, “Yeah, it’s pretty amusing.”
“Those boys have been a mess since they were born,” Pricilla said as she passed mashed potatoes to Jamie.
“Especially the oldest and the youngest ones,” John said. “Dean’s always been a little more serious, but Seth and Marcus were always in trouble of one sort or another. Kinda like Luke and his buddy Joe Dwyer.”
“That Joe,” Pricilla said, “There’s hell on wheels if I’ve ever seen it.”
“Ma, he’s a good guy. Don’t be puttin’ him down,” Luke said.
“He thinks that because his folks are rich that the rules don’t apply to him, that’s all,” Pricilla said.
Luke nodded, “I’ll admit that he’s pretty rowdy, but he’s never done anyone any harm.”
John nodded. “That’s true. He’s just mischievous. I was always glad that he and Marcus weren’t the same age and that they didn’t hang around together. Who knows what they would have pulled.”
“Jamie, I know John was a little forward earlier about the standing up Luke bit, but we do have concerns,” Pricilla said.
Jamie said, “I have no intention of doing anything so horrible to Luke, Mrs. Samuels. I can promise you that.”
Pricilla smiled at her. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Jamie helped Pricilla clean up after the meal. They washed and dried the dishes and put them away while they chatted. As they finished, Pricilla said, “I have enjoyed meeting you, Jamie.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Samuels,” Jamie said and smiled.
“I can certainly see why Luke likes you,” Pricilla said. “But I’m sure you’re used to that kind of attention from men with the way you look.”
Jamie’s smile slipped a little. “I guess.”
Pricilla laughed. “You seem really nice, but I think you might be a little bit of a hell raiser yourself.”
Every fear Jamie had had that night was being realized in this conversation with Luke’s mother. She didn’t say anything.
“Well, I’m sure you’re reformed. We want Luke to be happy and be married to a nice girl-“
Jamie didn’t give her a chance to finish. She left the kitchen and snagged her wrap on her way through the dining room. She ran right past Luke and his father as they sat talking. Jamie yanked the living room door open, passed through and slammed it shut.
John and Luke looked at Pricilla as she came out of the kitchen.
“What did you say to her, Ma?” Luke said as he got up.
Pricilla just spread her hands and said, “I just wanted her to know that I have your best interests at heart.”
Luke’s dark gaze raked over his mother. “Damn it, Ma! How could you do that to her? She was scared to death to come here. I can’t believe you. Damn it!”
Luke left his parents’ house and ran after Jamie. He looked up and down the street but didn’t see her. He checked the buggy but she wasn’t there. Luke ran down the street to his right and didn’t find her. He went back the other way towards the square. As he passed the square he saw her walking down another street that led to the road out of town.
“Jamie!” he shouted and ran after her. It didn’t take him long to catch up. He caught her by the shoulders and turned her around. “Jamie, I’m so sorry about that.”
She shook from crying so hard. “I told you what was going to happen. I knew they were going to hate me. I’m just a no good tramp who drinks and cusses and is no good for anyone’s son. That’s what they all think.”
“I don’t think that, Jamie,” Luke said.
“Can you honestly say that you want to still marry me even though your parents don’t approve?” Jamie asked.
Luke took her face in both hands and wiped away her tears with his thumbs. “Jamie, you’re marrying me, not my parents.”
“I know, but it’s going to make things hard if they don’t like me,” Jamie said.
“I’ll deal with it,” Luke said. “C’mon let’s go home, honey. Everything will be all right.”
Jamie let him lead her back down the street and put her in the buggy. She cried the whole way home. Silent tears dripped from her eyes onto her dress. Luke was furious with his mother. He realized then that he and Jamie were both insecure, but in different ways. He was shy around women, and she was afraid of what people thought of her.
He drove the buggy up to Dean’s house and got her out. He led her to his bunkhouse and sat her in one of his chairs. He knelt by her and took her hands in his. “Jamie, I have to put the horse away, but I’ll be right back, ok? Please don’t leave, ok?”
Jamie looked at him and nodded. Luke left and got finished as quickly as he could with the horse and buggy. Then he ran back to his bunkhouse and was relieve
d that Jamie was still there. He’d been afraid that she would leave.
“Jamie, I can’t tell you how sorry I am about my mother. My father likes you a lot, though,” Luke said.
“I told you it’s always the mothers who don’t like me,” Jamie said. “I knew I shouldn’t have gone, but it was important and I tried so hard to make them like me. I’m glad you pa likes me.”
“He does,” Luke said smiling.
Jamie nodded. “I’m going to say this only once, Luke. You need to be warned before you marry me; I will not put up with that kind of treatment from anyone. Anyone. And I’ll give as good as I get. So if you have a problem with me talking back to your mother, you’d better tell me now.”
Luke smiled at that image and said, “Jamie, I wouldn’t have you any other way.”
Jamie smiled then. “I’m glad. I should go to bed.”
“Not just yet. I don’t want you trying to sleep when you’re still so upset,” Luke said, and shrugged out of his suit jacket. He unbuttoned his collar button and the next one down. Then he undid his cuffs and slipped his shoes off.
“Hercules?”
He smiled and looked at her. “Yeah?”
“You still have too many buttons done up,” she said with an impish smile.
He undid one more.
“Don’t stop there,” she said.
“Jamie, don’t do that,” Luke said.
“Do what? Let you know that I find you attractive?” Jamie said. She didn’t want to be alone and she wanted to be close to him.
“Ok, yeah, I like that, but you’re tempting me,” Luke said.
She laughed. “Is it working?” Jamie enjoyed teasing him.
“Yeah.”
Jamie said, “Should we make it even? Would that be ok?”
“Huh?” Luke said.
Jamie slid her shoes off and got rid of her wrap. “See what I mean?”
Luke’s gaze devoured her and he wanted nothing more than to take what she was offering. Jamie was encouraged by the smoldering look in his eyes. She knew desire when she saw it, and seeing a little of his broad chest enflamed her own. She closed the gap between them and began undoing his shirt buttons herself.
Luke felt powerless to stop her and he didn’t want to. Jamie parted his shirt and stood on tiptoe to draw it off his shoulders. She tugged it down his arms and off him. It fell to the floor.
“My turn,” she said. She turned around and said, “Can you unzip me?”
Luke’s hands fisted at his sides as he was torn between desire and morals. Desire won. He slowly unzipped her dress, watching in fascination as more of her was revealed. He turned her around and kissed her as he picked her up and took her to his bed. Luke was very grateful that it didn’t squeak.
Chapter Eleven
Luke awoke just before dawn. He stretched and felt a warm, soft body next to him. He smiled and looked down at Jamie. She was curled up against him; her hair spread out over the pillow like a red flame. She felt him move, put her arm around him, and cuddled closer still. Luke ran a hand over the smooth skin of her back.
“Mmm,” she murmured and wiggled against him.
Luke felt the pull of desire and knew he had to get her out of there or they would both be late for work. He shook her vigorously because he remembered that she was hard to get awake. She lifted her head and gave him a sleepy smile. He was enchanted by how adorable she looked.
“’Morning. Time to get up,” he said.
“Ugh. I hate mornings. Once I get going I’m fine, but it’s getting going that’s the problem.”
Luke smiled. “Yeah, I noticed that. We gotta get you out of here before someone sees you leave,” Luke said. He slid out of bed.
Jamie admired his male beauty, and was dismayed when he put on his pants. Luke turned and saw her watching him with a sensual gleam in her eyes.
“Don’t look at me like that, Jamie,” he said.
She smiled, “I can’t help it. You’re beautiful.”
Luke’s smile was shy. “I didn’t know men could be beautiful.”
Jamie nodded. “Oh yes they can, and you are the finest specimen I’ve ever seen.”
She got out of bed and stood up. Luke had to look away or his resolve to go to work instead of making love to her again would crumble. He picked out a shirt and put it on, mainly so he had something to keep him occupied while Jamie slipped into her dress and shoes.
“Can you please zip me up?” Jamie asked, and turned around for him.
“Sure.”
His fingers grazed her skin as he pulled up the zipper and Jamie shivered at his touch. When he was done, she turned and wrapped her arms around his waist. “How about a good morning kiss?” she said.
Luke smiled and bent so he could kiss her. It was a slow, gentle kiss. Then Jamie moved away from him and said, “I’ll see you later, Hercules.”
Marcus and Seth were just descending Seth’s porch steps when they saw a green blur run from the direction of the bunkhouses over to Dean’s house.
“Oh, boy,” Seth said, when they saw red hair flying behind the figure. “I didn’t see anything, did you?”
Marcus said, “See what?” with a smile.
Jamie thought about her night with Luke all that day. She smiled at how shy he’d been at first and then how passionate he’d turned. It made her body temperature rise just thinking about it. Tessa wondered about the dreamy expression on her face as she worked. She didn’t want to make any assumptions, but she thought she knew the reason why Jamie was so happy.
“Jamie, how was your dinner last evening?” Tessa asked.
A shadow crossed Jamie’s face as she remembered the pain and humiliation she’d suffered. “About like I expected. His father likes me but his mother plainly doesn’t approve of me.”
Tessa was shocked. “Oh, no.”
Jamie nodded as she put water on to heat so she could wash the dishes from lunch. “Oh, yes. She said I was the kind of girl that men liked and that she wanted her son to marry a nice girl. I didn’t stick around after that.” Her mouth quivered and Jamie bit her bottom lip in an attempt to ward off tears.
“I’m so sorry, Jamie,” Tessa said. “What did Luke say about it?”
“He told me that he didn’t care what his parents thought and that he still wants to marry me,” Jamie said. “I just don’t want him to suffer because of me.”
Tessa sighed. “I was afraid that Papa wouldn’t like Dean when Papa showed up unexpectedly. He was furious that I had run away and relieved that I was all right at the same time,” Tessa said smiling. “If he had not cared for Dean, I would have been disappointed in Papa. There was no way I would have left Dean just because he disapproved.”
Jamie wiped crumbs from the table and said, “I don’t have anyone except a couple of friends to worry about me that way.” She smiled. “I told them that I would come here first and see what it was like and then find them a couple of cowboys for them to marry.”
Tessa laughed. “You sound like me with my sisters. That’s how Dean and I got his brothers and my sisters together. We played match makers quite successfully.”
“I’ll say you did,” Jamie agreed. “Both couples seem to be so happy.”
“They are. They all had to overcome some difficult situations to get there, but they made it,” Tessa said. “You and Luke will overcome whatever comes, too.”
“I hope you’re right,” Jamie said.
The water had heated and Jamie set about getting the dishes done. Tessa left her to it and went to look over some notes for her book.
“Guess who?”
Luke smiled as he felt Jamie’s hands settle over his eyes. “Hmm. I don’t know. Give me a hint.”
“I have green eyes,” Jamie said.
“A cat?”
“No. I have auburn hair,” she said.
“Auburn hair and green eyes. A leprechaun?” Luke teased.
“No. You get one last try, so get it right,” Jamie said.
“Is it Jamie?” Luke said.
“Yes!” she said and wrapped her arms around him from behind. “You’re so smart.”
He squeezed her hands and then patted the space next to him on the bench. She quickly sat down. Their eyes met and they smiled at each other.
Seth and Marcus watched them and then grinned at each other.
“What are you two smiling about?” Jack said. He still had a little bit of a bruise around his eye, but that was all that remained from Marty’s ill-aimed punch.
Marcus said, “The puppies. They’re getting big and we’re anticipating starting their training soon. They’re really cute.”
Jack nodded. “Yep, they are, but I somehow don’t think that’s what you’re smiling at.”
Seth said, “Just you never mind about that and get filling our plates, huh?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Jack said and went back to work.
Marcus now understood why people liked watching him cook. Jack’s movements were practiced, and seemed to be second nature as he presided over the stove. He was protective of it and didn’t like it when other people tried to cook.
Jamie said to Luke, “So what are you doing tonight?”
“Well, Seth and I talked about playing tonight. Do you want to come? You could sing with us,” Luke said.
“I’d love to! Too bad Marcus can’t sing. Seth’s right; having a tenor to make a three part harmony would be great,” Jamie said.
Marcus frowned. “Who says I can’t sing?”
“Me,” Seth said. “Don’t get me wrong, Marcus. You’re a fantastic whistler, but I’ve heard you sing on cattle drives and you stink.”
Marcus shook his head. “That’s just because I need the music behind me to keep me straight. If I have something to guide me or another singer, I’m fine.”
“Yeah, right,” Seth said. “I’ll believe it when I hear it.”
Marcus was offended. “Ok. How about tonight? What time are you starting and where?”
Seth said, “You’re on. My house, seven o’clock. Don’t be late.”
“Done,” Marcus said, and then began eating the meatloaf that Jack had made.
