Cowboy Take Me Away (Rough Riders #16)

by Lorelei James

  She shrugged. “Pretty much the consensus around here too.”

  “That doesn’t bother you?”

  “It bothered me worse when people assumed I’d let Carson use and discard me.” She smirked. “But I’m the only woman wearing his ring.”

  “Doesn’t it scare you to know you’re going from taking care of one household to doing the exact same thing with him?”

  Carolyn looked at Kimi sharply. “That doesn’t sound like something you’d say. Is that what Aunt Hulda said?”

  Kimi inhaled another drag and flicked the cigarette butt out the window. “She talked to me about it. And I know she wants to talk to you too. So I’m giving you a warning that it might not be the I’m so happy for you conversation you expected.”

  “She’s far from the first one to express her unhappiness or disappointment in the marriage.”

  “Well, I, for one, am happy for you.”

  She smiled. “Thanks.”

  They pulled into the Ice Cream Palace but she didn’t see Carson’s pickup. Kimi hustled inside while Carolyn waited in the parking lot.

  Carson roared into a parking spot—the man drove like an idiot. He hopped out and strode toward her. She couldn’t see his eyes beneath the brim of his hat but she felt the heat of his gaze. He blocked her with his big body and without so much as a hello, lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her.

  And kissed her.

  When she tried to break free, he made that growling noise and said, “I’m not done,” against her lips.

  Finally he lifted his head and grinned. “Hiya, sugar. You looked so pretty standin’ there I just needed me a little taste.”

  She placed her hand on his chest and found his heart beating like mad. Seeing her got him excited? Or kissing her got him excited? Either way, she loved that about him. “Hiya yourself, cowboy.” She saw Cal leaning against the building by the door, waiting for them.

  Carson pressed his hand into the small of her back, guiding her forward.

  “Hey, Cal.”

  “Hey, Carolyn. You’re lookin’ good today.” He leaned forward. “You sure you wanna marry this guy?” He jerked his thumb toward his twin. “He’s kinda bossy. I’m much more laid back.”

  “I’m gonna lay you out flat if you keep tryin’ to steal my woman, jackass.”

  “She’s fair game until you say them vows, so I just want her to be sure.”

  She gazed at Carson, knowing her face shone with adoration. “I’m sure.”

  They walked into the Ice Cream Palace.

  At that moment, Kimi turned around. She offered Carson a cursory look, then her focus was entirely on Cal. She gave him a little finger wave and took a long lick of her ice cream cone.

  He sucked in a sharp breath. “Sweet mother of God, I think I’m in love.”

  “Oh for Christsake,” Carson muttered.

  “Language.”

  “Please tell me that’s your sister.”

  Carolyn got in Cal’s face. Or she tried to, but he couldn’t tear his gaze away from Kimi. That forced her to snap her fingers in front of his eyes. “Hey, McKay, focus.”

  “What?”

  “Yes, that’s my sister, my younger sister. She’s sixteen. Do you hear me? Six. Teen.”

  Cal bestowed the slow, sexy grin that had women falling at his feet. “Well, darlin’, she ain’t always gonna be sixteen.”

  Kimi sauntered over, ignoring everyone but Cal. “Please tell me you’re not my future brother-in-law?”

  “I’m not. But darlin’ girl, I’m damn near certain I’m your future husband.”

  She blinked coquettishly. “Then maybe you and me better get acquainted…?”

  “Calvin McKay. You can call me Cal. Better yet, call me anytime you want.”

  “Jesus, Cal. Give it a rest.”

  Carolyn elbowed him in the ribs.

  “Sorry.” Carson offered his hand. “Kimi? Glad to finally meet you. Caro has told me a lot about you.”

  “Likewise.” Kimi tore her attention away from Cal and narrowed her eyes at Carson. “Make my sister happy or else I’ll gut you like a trout.”

  “Kimi!”

  But she’d already refocused on Cal. “Let’s leave the lovebirds alone and you can tell me why such a handsome man as yourself is still single.”

  “Because I was waitin’ for you.” Then, as they walked off, he whispered something in Kimi’s ear that made her laugh.

  “Well, that was unexpected,” Carson said.

  “No kidding. Kimi is the biggest flirt I know. I hope he doesn’t put stock in anything she tells him.”

  “Cal’s the same way. We’ll let them hash it out. There’s something I wanna run by you.”

  “Sounds serious.”

  “Not really. You want a cone or something?”

  “Just a Coke.”

  “Sit. I’ll get it.”

  Carolyn sat where she could keep an eye on her little sister and future brother-in-law.

  Then Carson scooted into the booth seat across from her and blocked the view. “Here.”

  “Thanks. So what’s going on?”

  “We hafta scale back the honeymoon. I planned to take you to Denver for a few nights. Stayin’ at the Brown Palace and headin’ down to Colorado Springs to ride the Pike’s Peak Railway. But Dad’s bein’ a controlling asshole. He knew we’d be on our honeymoon, and yet he set up a meeting next week with the Timmons family. They want to sell their homestead a little ways south of here. It’s a great piece of land and if anyone can charm them into sellin’ it’s me, not my old man. So instead of goin’ to Colorado, I thought we could spend a few days in Yellowstone. You ever been there?”

  She shook her head.

  “Me either.” He picked up her hand and brushed his mouth across her knuckles. “So you’re okay with it?”

  “Of course, Carson. I don’t care where we are as long as I’m with you.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “You won’t mind spending our wedding night at the trailer? Because it’s too far to drive to Cody after the wedding Sunday.”

  “That means you can take me to bed sooner, doesn’t it?”

  He bestowed that wicked grin and her stomach cartwheeled. “I suppose that is an upside.”

  “Are you staying at Cal’s the night before the wedding?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “I need to drop off the rest of the stuff from my bridal shower the day of the wedding and it’s bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other before the ceremony. I just want to make sure you won’t be there.”

  “I won’t be. In fact, I’ll be so busy between now and then, not only with my regular day-to-day stuff, but tryin’ to make Cal’s place habitable since I’ve kicked him out of the trailer, that I probably won’t see you until the wedding.”

  She breathed in deeply and let it out slowly.

  “What, sugar?”

  “It’s just exciting to think that after today the next time I’ll see you is when you’re standing at the altar waiting for me, ready to become my husband.”

  Carson kissed her ring. “Damn, woman, do I love the sound of that.” He slid out of the booth. “Wish I could stay but I gotta git.” His eyes narrowed at Kimi and Cal, practically sitting on top of each other in the corner. “Go ask the manager if he’s got a hose. I think we’ll have to spray them two down to get ’em apart.”

  After they’d finished supper, Kimi shooed Carolyn away from the dishes, reminding her that she had a wedding dress fitting with Aunt Hulda.

  Thoughtful of her sister, but Carolyn suspected Kimi only volunteered so she wouldn’t have to spend time with their mother.

  Her aunt sat in the wicker chair in the sun porch fanning herself, her sewing basket by her side. “Let’s
see what you’ve come up with.”

  “It’s not really a custom wedding dress. Maxine had a base form in satin and I thought a lace overlay on top and tulle netting on the bottom would fill it out. It’s simple, but I’m wondering if it’s too simple?”

  “Put it on.”

  Carolyn pulled the plastic bag down the dress hoping she hadn’t created a mess of static. Keeping her back to her aunt, she stripped to her bra and undies. She took the dress off the hanger and stepped into it. The lace sleeves were the hardest part to get on.

  How hard would it be for Carson to take off?

  Not something she should think about with her aunt in the room.

  She walked backward to the chair. “Can you zip me up?”

  “Bend down just a little, child.” Zip. “There. Now turn around.”

  When Carolyn turned, the bottom made a swishing noise against her calves. Because the base form was short, she’d opted for a tea-length dress rather than a full-length gown. She peeked at her aunt from beneath lowered lashes, half afraid she’d see disapproval. The sight of her aunt’s tears shocked her.

  “Carolyn. You look beautiful.”

  “You really think so, Aunt Hulda?”

  “Yes.” She dabbed at her eyes with an embroidered handkerchief. “I came prepared because I expected this.”

  “I’m just happy you’re not crying because you think the dress is ugly.”

  She laughed. “No. But I will suggest a few adjustments. I like what you’ve done with the lace overlay and how it leaves the strapless satin base visible. But I think the neckline is too high. A modified boat-style with rolled lace will accentuate your graceful neck. Show it off while you can, sweetie, because you’ll have an old lady wattle like mine before you know it. Where’s the extra lace?”

  Carolyn picked up the bag containing scraps. “So just add that on?”

  “First clip the top section. That’ll be easier than trying to cut the side seam and roll it since you’ve added sleeves.” She had a long piece of lace that she’d gathered and draped just below Carolyn’s collarbones. “Like that.”

  “Can you pin it please?”

  She reached for the pincushion. “I also think you should add something to the waist. A sash perhaps, in a wide swath of gathered satin that mimics the drape of the lace. You’ve got such a trim waist. Be a pity not to draw a little extra attention to it too.”

  They’d worked in silence for many years, so the quiet never bothered her. But an expectant pause hung in the air this time. “Is there something on your mind, Aunt Hulda?”

  “Child, are you sure you want to marry this man?”

  “Why would you ask me that?”

  “Because I’m an old meddling busybody.” She pulled another pin from the pincushion. “Or because it happened very fast.”

  “I’m not pregnant,” Carolyn said defensively.

  “Of course you’re not. This suddenness brought to mind that old saying ‘Marry in haste, repent in leisure’ so I want to hear that you’re entering into this marriage for the right reasons.”

  “What are the right reasons?”

  “There aren’t any besides love.”

  “That’s why I’m marrying him; I love him.”

  “It’s also important you have things in common. I was very happy to hear he’s a Catholic boy.”

  Carolyn smiled, wondering the last time someone called Carson a boy. “I understand that, but I also think we’ll find common interests after we get married.”

  A moment of silence followed as her aunt pinned the lace.

  “You know, I’ll grant you that argument, Carolyn.”

  “Thank you. But I’m not trying to be argumentative, I promise.”

  “I realize that. And I hope you realize I’m not trying to discourage you from marrying him. I worry you don’t have anyone to talk to because you’re isolated here. Kimi is living with me; your friends from high school are in Montana. And your mother… Has she been helpful at all in offering you advice or even just lending a willing ear?”

  “About Carson?”

  “About him, about marriage.”

  “She has, actually. I told her about Carson the night after we met. She told me not to let past grievances with his family be a deciding factor in whether I pursued a relationship with him.”

  Her aunt harrumphed. “Smart advice from my sister for once. But I’ll remind you since there’s bad blood between your families, there will be a dividing line between those who will accept your marriage to this man and those who won’t. Are you prepared to forego a relationship with your brothers and possibly your father to be with Carson?”

  Carolyn didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”

  “That right there gives me the answer to all of my questions.” She paused. “Turn.”

  Then Carolyn was facing her aunt. “Thomas said something to me a few weeks ago about you.”

  “And what was that?”

  “That you offered to pay for mine and Kimi’s private Catholic education because you felt guilty about taking something away from the church and wanted to give something back by turning us into nuns.”

  “Your brother is wrong. I paid for your education because I didn’t want you to be an indentured servant to your family.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with pitching in and taking care of your family,” Carolyn said defensively.

  “When you’re an adult. I saw the responsibilities your family piled on you at age twelve because your mother was too frail to continue to run her household.” She squeezed Carolyn’s hip. “Your father and your brothers would’ve let you slave away for them and not thought twice about it. Without you here they had to step up. With your mother’s failing health…your father had two built-in housekeepers and caretakers. Even your mother didn’t want that for you. She’s the one who asked for you to be educated not only in the Catholic school, but for me to teach you a useful skill.”

  Carolyn twisted her ring around her finger.

  “You’ve been a blessing to me, child. I always hoped with as talented as you are that you’d take over my business one day.” She paused. “So if this marriage doesn’t…work out, remember you can always come live with me.”

  “You sound like you don’t expect it to last.”

  “Physical attributes change. I hear he’s a handsome man. You sure you’re not in love with the way he looks? He won’t look like that in ten, twenty, thirty years.”

  “I’m not in love with his looks. Though it certainly helps that he’s nice to look at.”

  “It’s more than lust and passion between you two?” her aunt pressed.

  Carolyn blushed. But she wouldn’t back down. “What do you know of lust and passion?”

  Her aunt laughed. “I got a priest to leave the church and marry me, so I know plenty—plenty—about lust and passion. We only had ten years as husband and wife before he passed on, and God didn’t see fit to bless us with children, but they were ten good years. I want you to be certain you’re choosing the man you see yourself spending the rest of your life with and not him just because he’s close by.”

  She locked her gaze on her aunt’s. “Do you know what my father said to me? I’m an idiot to fall for the first man who pays attention to me. Now you’re saying the same thing.”

  “No.” She reached for Carolyn’s hands and repeated, “No. I’d be remiss in my duties as your godmother if I didn’t question you from every angle about this major step in your life.”

  “Did I pass the test?”

  She managed a small smile. “Yes. You’ve got a bumpy road ahead. Let’s pray your love will hold you together. Now let’s get this dress gussied up for your big day, hmm?”

  The next two days were a blur.

  The wedding had been small. Just her family and his. Not all of her family. Her fathe
r hadn’t shown up. She’d hoped he’d have a last minute change of heart—but he’d stayed away. As had her brother Harland. It surprised her to see Harland’s wife, Sonia, in the church, sitting next to Darren’s wife, Tracy. Darren, Marshall and Stuart filled up the front pew with their mother, who sat next to Aunt Hulda.

  Maxine, Beverly and Mike rounded out Carolyn’s side of the church.

  Carson’s side was even sparser than hers. His dad hadn’t come either, just his brothers. Agnes and her husband Ed were in attendance as well as an older couple who lived across the road from Carson’s trailer. Plus a few of Carson’s drinking buddies had shown up, acting as if they were attending a funeral, not a wedding.

  Because Thomas walked her down the aisle, Father Dorian skipped the “who gives this woman to this man” spiel.

  Her gaze briefly registered on her sister Kimi, serving as maid of honor, and then she looked across the altar to see Carson’s twin Cal flanking him. Then her eyes locked onto Carson’s and that’s all she’d seen. Him. Standing there in his western cut suit, hat and boots, looking so proud and yet anxious as he waited for her, ready to pledge his forever love for her in front of God and everyone.

  After they’d repeated their vows and were introduced as husband and wife, they’d had a small cake and coffee reception in the church basement.

  And now here they were. Home. Their home.

  “Caro? You all right?”

  She turned and smiled at her husband. She couldn’t believe this black-haired, blue-eyed handsome devil was completely hers. “I’m perfect.”

  “Yes, you are.” Carson picked up her hand and kissed it. “As beautiful as you look in that dress, I need to strip it off you.”

  “Now?”

  “The second we get in the house.”

  Her belly fluttered as it always did when that wicked gleam entered his eyes.

  “Stay right there.” In a flash he was out of the truck and on her side, opening the door. He slid one arm under her knees and the other around her waist, lifting her out with ease.

  Carolyn wrapped her arms around his neck and held on. Pressing a kiss to that strong jaw, she murmured, “Carrying me across the threshold is romantic.”