Stunned, Red sat at the kitchen table clutching his mug and his shin staring blankly at her. Patently devoid of speech, thought and feeling.
Chapter Eleven
Lily and Camilla watched as Jane took off for yet another long walk across the moors alone, they’d offered to go with her but she’d declined. None of them had expected things to end this way. Redstone was gorgeous, Jane had fallen for him hard and they’d fully expected to hear that she was planning a wedding very soon.
Jane had returned home absolutely heartbroken, but she’d gamely tried to celebrate the fact that Sinclair Manor was still hers, and they’d gone along with her efforts, helping her to move all of her personal effects back out of storage and air the stuffy old place out. At least she’d had a home to come back to while she considered her next option. She’d even received a refund of several thousand pounds on her excess taxes. It had given her a little time to nurse her wounded heart before she had to plan her future.
***
Honey had left Red nursing his aching shin and returned home to think on the situation and ask Tony’s advice. But Tony had simply rolled his eyes and offered to drop kick Red across the Atlantic to England. Not a bad idea if all else failed, but to begin with she needed a more subtle approach. She returned to the ranch the next morning, packed up a picnic, Jane style, and drove out to find the ranch hands.
They were a far more subdued bunch than usual, they looked up in anticipation when she drove up, but appeared slightly disappointed to see that she was alone. Everyone, not just Red, had apparently fallen for Jane and her sweet nature.
After they’d finished lunch the ranch hands returned to their chores and Honey laid a hand on Red’s shoulder. “We need to talk.”
“There’s nothing more to be said,” Red replied adamantly.
Honey held out a book, cloaked in a soft pink cover. “Take it, it’s Jane’s journal.”
Red shook his head. “No.”
“Red, trust me. If you ever want to know how Jane felt about you. It’s in here.”
“I can’t read her journal without permission, it wouldn’t be right.”
“You know the old saying ‘It’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission’. And I know you’re not going to ask permission,” she noted. “These are extreme circumstances. She’ll forgive you, I am sure of it.”
Still stubborn as a mule, Red shook his head, and finally in exasperation Honey flipped the book open. She already knew how Jane felt. Jane had shared her confidences with her over tea in the afternoons. When she’d discovered the journal this morning right where Jane had left it, she knew it was the only way to get Red to see and believe that he needed to go get Jane. His future happiness was at stake here. Mentally she apologized to Jane for invading her privacy.
“I gave Jane this book as a welcome gift when she first arrived here, Red. It’s likely that the only things in here will be about you. So here goes.”
Day one I just simply can’t believe how beautiful this place is. It reminds me in some ways of the moors, I could walk out here for hours. I love it. And Red, well, he makes my heart do crazy things. I’m looking forward to getting to know him so much better. He kissed me at the airport and oh, my heart did a complete back flip!
Day two Red and his cousin are so sweet to me, I know I don’t really fit in here…Red sighed and was about to rise from the picnic table when Honey continued. …but somehow that doesn’t seem to matter. Honey was right about opposites, the attraction is phenomenal! I may not do things the way they’re used to, but I’m going to do my best, and Red is just so gorgeous!
Red glanced sheepishly at Honey, but stayed put. Now she had his attention.
Day three The ranch house is wonderful, I wish I could show Red and Honey, Sinclair Manor, but somehow, being here with Red, it doesn’t matter to me if I ever see the place again. Red made love to me today…and I have never felt anything like this in my life! I can’t believe the way I acted! I seem to have no inhibitions around him at all!
Red snatched the book from Honey’s hands, and she sat quietly as he read on, quickly scanning the pages until he came to the last entry.
Today was Honey’s wedding day. She and Tony looked so happy and I still can’t believe this place is real! I keep feeling as though I am going to wake up and it will all be a dream. I love Red, with all my heart, and I can see that he was moved by the wedding too. Is it too much to hope for, that he might feel the same? Will I have to wait an entire year to find out, will it be a proposal? Or will he break my heart and send me home? He is my dream come true.
“Oh crap!” Red said, and buried his face in his hands.
When finally he pulled his hands away from his face Honey was on her cell phone calling Tony. She gave him a wink, “Tony’s booking you a flight to London. Then he’s coming to drive you to the airport, because one way or another he says you’re going to England, even if he has to drop kick you there.”
A cheer went up behind them, neither had realized the ranch hands had quietly moved close and were listening in. Cory hopped into Red’s truck. Alex and Jerry each took one of Red’s arms and marched him toward the vehicle, shoving him into the passenger seat.
“What does the girl have to do, hit you with a two by four?” Cory snorted.
“I’d be happy to oblige if she needs help with that,” Alex offered.
Honey grinned. “Go pack, Red.”
Mutely, Red acquiesced.
Chapter Twelve
Jane was feeling better than she had two weeks earlier, but not by much. She walked on the moors each day, sometimes with Lily and Cam, sometimes by herself. Today it was the three of them. They were back to their usual joking about Heathcliff and Cathy, Jane and Mr. Rochester, when they all stilled for a moment hearing the distinct sounds of someone calling across the moors. “Jane, Jane, Jane.”
Lily and Camilla linked arms, huddled close and stared at Jane, eyes wide.
“If that turns out to be…”
“Mr. Rochester…”
“We’re going to pee our pants!” they cried in unison.
Jane turned, as a familiar figure dressed in a long dark raincoat and a black cowboy hat strode across the misty moors toward them. Red. Tears cascaded down her cheeks. “Mr. Rochester wasn’t a cowboy,” she said softly, dashing away the tears. Lily and Camilla grinned, hugged her and left her standing atop Lookout Rock waiting for her ‘Mr. Rochester’.
Red drank in the sight of Jane. Her cheeks were rosy in the cool air, damp tendrils of her soft blonde hair curled around her face, and her baby blue eyes were wide and hopeful. She looked as adorable as ever, and even up here on the rugged moors, she wore high heeled boots. He pinched the bridge of his nose. So far, so good. At least she hadn’t slugged him yet. He’d better get the worst over with first.
“Jane, I read your journal,” he blurted. “I’m sorry.”
Jane’s eyebrows shot up, apparently that was the very last thing she’d been expecting him to say.
“I know it was wrong, but I had to know.”
“Know what?” she asked in a whisper.
“If you love me too?”
She opened her mouth to speak, but he continued. “I’ve been an idiot…” he grinned when she nodded. “But I’ve never been in love before. I was afraid you’d get bored, that you’d leave…that you…would miss this…” he swept his arm across the expanse of the moors below them. “I thought it would be better to end it sooner rather than later. But my heart disagreed.”
Jane didn’t say a word. Just as he had done at the airport when they first met, she simply took him in her arms and kissed him. It was all he needed to know.
***
Cam and Lily watched from across the moors as Jane took Red her arms. They both sighed contentedly and hurried back down the hill to Sinclair Manor.
“I always knew the moors were magical,” Lily affirmed dreamily.
Camilla, always the practical one, eyed her sideways and said, “
I think we have a wedding to plan.”
“And a vacation!” enthused Lily, “After they’ve been on their honeymoon, of course! I hear there are some very attractive ranch hands who like English girls on Red’s ranch.”
“Is that a fact?” Camilla said, her interest piqued.
“Uh-huh!” Lily grinned.
“Interesting place, Wyoming, don’t you think?”
“I’m sure we’re going to love it,” Lily giggled.
Epilogue
Red was not prepared to wait. He’d screwed up once, he wasn’t about to do it again. He wanted the kind of wedding he knew Jane would love. But he wanted it as quickly as humanly possible. The less time they waited, the less chance there was for something to go wrong. He loved Sinclair Manor, and getting married in her historic home sounded like a great idea. Once again Jane surprised him. Instead of the flimsy white dress he’d been expecting her to wear, she wore an historic gown that had once belonged to one of her distant ancestors. She looked like she’d walked out of a stage play on Henry the Eighth. Her long royal blue velvet gown brought out the baby blue of her eyes, and the historic headdress served as a matching blue veil. Her friends Lily and Camilla were dressed in costume too, serving as her maids of honor. Jane had provided him with a set of long Tudor robes, and he wore them just for her. Proving how easily they could become a part of each other’s lives and cultures.
The ranch hands, along with Tony, Honey and Gerry all crowded into the sitting room at the ranch house to watch the wedding on webcam, and cheering like mad, gave them the thumbs up as they were declared husband and wife.
Lily and Cam were scrutinizing the features of the younger ranch hands and deciding which ones they wanted to get to know on their first visit.
And Jane received a special delivery package from Gerry and Honey for her honeymoon.
The rest of the dominatrix outfit.
The End
If you liked this story, please check out my other titles.
Other L.C. Zingera titles:
A Contemporary Countess
The Rainesville Ranchers
A Duet of Regency Sex Comedies
Cat and Mouse (A Regency Sex Comedy)
The Billionaire and the Barista
Van Night
It Will Always Be You
Taming Theodore
Charlie In Love
A Mystical Fantasy Duet (of Love Stories)
My Sweet Mistress
The Menace (A Romantic Comedy)
A Christmas Date
Lady Jane and the Cowboy
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