“How was the movie?” Lee asked.
“Not as good as yours was,” Manny teased.
“Seriously,” Lee said.
“The critics liked it,” Diane said. “They all gave off-the-cuff glowing reviews. Even the few who paid their own way liked it.”
“It’ll be a big hit,” Manny forecast. “Stay at the top of the list for weeks and weeks.”
They were in the empty saloon, which had a slightly fuzzy moming-after ambience. Used beer mugs had been left here and there, bits and pieces of paper littered the floor. Drink coasters had somehow managed to collect in a corner.
“The townspeople came here after the show, while the movie types had their good time under the tents,” Diane explained. “We came here. We like being with the locals better. Then some of the others showed up, too.”
The door to the upstairs apartment opened and Bette came out slowly. She saw the group downstairs watching her and said, “I think I survived. I’m not sure yet, but in a few minutes I might be. Lordy, I’ve never been so whacked in my entire life!”
She negotiated the stairs, then fell into a chair. “Looks like a bomb went off in here,” she said, glancing around. Her gaze fell on Karen and Lee, taking in their closeness. “About time,” she said with a pleased little smile, before her eyelids fell shut involuntarily.
A moment passed as everyone watched her.
“Is she asleep?” Karen asked quietly.
“I think so,” Diane said.
Lee glanced at his crew. “Maybe we better get going, take those last shots. Give me ten minutes to change.”
He was still wearing his dress clothes. They were a little rumpled, but he looked extremely handsome in them.
“Lee...you know? Maybe not,” Diane said, arching a considering brow. “Why not wear what you’re wearing? Morning after and all. I think it would work. What do you think, Karen?”
Karen thought he looked fabulous in any form. But she considered him—a night’s growth of beard, his thick hair mussed but appealing. “Like you are,” she agreed, nodding.
He shrugged and ran his fingers through his hair again, managing to muss it even more. Then he kissed Karen. “You want to come along?” he asked huskily.
She never wanted to be separated from him again! Yet she knew she would be. This would be a good test. Also, glancing at Bette, she knew where she was needed.
“Let me get Bette settled first,” she said, “then I’ll be there.”
He made no protest. A friend took care of a friend.
And for the first time in a little more than fifteen hours, they parted.
KAREN DREADED THE PASSAGE of time. With every check of her watch the hands seemed to have leaped forward. After getting Bette safely back upstairs for a little more rest, she’d tracked down the “Western Rambles” crew and watched as they’d taken various shots, with Lee narrating most of them. He was an excellent off-the-cuff speaker, his words creating a colorful picture. He talked about the preview, about the way the sleepy little western town would never again be quite the same. He even talked about the Nate Barlow legend as he stood at the side of the well. And he used just that term: legend. Quietly, calmly, not making a big deal of the phrasing. Allowing the viewer, as well as himself, a little space.
Then the moment Karen dreaded most arrived. The Range Rover was packed, goodbyes had been said all around. The town’s entire population turned out to see them off.
She and Lee had managed a half hour of privacy earlier, their lovemaking fevered, urgent. Joy had blended with heartache, yet there was the promise of more joy to come.
In the street, before other eyes, Lee held her tightly. “I’ll be back in two weeks,” he said. “Don’t you go anywhere. Understand?”
“Two weeks,” she whispered, trying to smile.
“I’ll call as often as I can,” he said. Then he kissed her.
“I’ll be here,” she promised tightly. Tears collected on her lashes but didn’t fall onto her cheeks.
As his arm dropped away, Bette came to stand next to her, offering moral support.
Then he was gone, the Range Rover’s tires kicking up a plume of dust as it drove down the road.
Karen felt as if a part of her were being torn away. She stood for a long time alone—the others having wandered off. She could still feel his arms around her, feel his touch, feel his strength.
Finally she, too, walked away, returning to the antique shop, where she sat down and cried.
THE HOLLYWOOD PEOPLE TOOK leave of Twilight as suddenly as they’d arrived. By late Monday afternoon almost all trace of the little village on the outskirts of town had disappeared. The trucks that had become almost a fixture of daily life in Twilight started their engines and pulled away. All the media people had gone, all the celebrities, the two studio moguls. Many had disappeared after the premiere party.
It was as if a whirlwind had swept through the area, leaving most things untouched, yet what had been changed was changed forever.
The townspeople seemed deflated. “All partied out,” was a term tossed around a lot The entire weekend might have been a dream.
John, as usual, stepped in to be the driving force. He rubbed his hands together and said, “Okay, who’s with me? We have to get those signs up. Otherwise people are gonna zoom right by the exit on the interstate! Come on...let’s get movin’. We have a job to do here!”
And, once again, the people responded. They jumped right back into high gear, all wearing their hopes on their sleeves.
A WEEK WENT BY. Karen talked with Lee a number of times. The editing process was going well, he said. He and the Cruzes were putting in long hours, both by day and into the night. Then at the beginning of the second week their conversations grew less frequent. They were getting down to the crunch, Lee said, with very little time left. Karen tried to adjust. Then the second week drew to a close, and she heard nothing. All she got was his answering machine or the office voice mail.
“He’s busy. You know that,” Bette said, trying to offer comfort.
“I do,” Karen agreed. She trusted Lee. She truly did. He said he’d be back at the end of two weeks, and she believed him. Even if it was past that time. She’d doubted him once before and wouldn’t doubt him again.
She tramped down the seed of uncertainty. But like most seeds, harsh treatment didn’t kill it. The thought arose time and again—combining with memories of the aborted wedding. Of Alex letting her walk all the way to the altar, to stand in front of family and friends, alone.... But she hadn’t been alone. Lee had been with her. To help her, to protect her. Lee, who now swore that he loved her.
She believed him! She believed in him! And that made all the difference.
She would not listen to the nagging voice.
VISITORS HAD STARTED to show up in Twilight, tourists drawn by the publicity. Justice at Sundown had had its Hollywood premiere the night before, kicking off its national opening. Having collected great reviews, it was expected to draw huge audience numbers. As a result, word of mouth about Twilight was spreading, too. The town’s dream was beginning to come true.
Bette came running over to the antique shop the next morning, waving a small package. “Look! It’s from Lee! Sent by special messenger! It’s got to be the tape of the show. Let me get everyone together. They’ll all want to see it, too!” And she’d hurried away, leaving the package with Karen.
Karen stared at it. She’d never seen Lee’s writing. It was strong, vital, confident and clear. There was no mistaking the formation of the letters. Just as there was no mistaking the man. She ran her fingers over the written indentations, hoping to feel a connection. The package had been mailed the day before, according to the shipping label. She hugged it to her breast.
A crowd of townspeople and a few visiting tourists followed on Bette’s heels, and everyone piled into the saloon to watch the television and VCR John had brought down from upstairs. The set was turned on, the cassette inserted, and while the �
�Western Rambles” theme played, the screen showed one of Manny’s sweeping views down Twilight’s main street. The shot lovingly showcased the weathered wood buildings, the covered sidewalk, the hotel, the antique shop, the mercantile, the Lady Slipper. Then there was a long shot of the well and the music hall and the houses, both wooden and mobile. The effort was greeted with a loud cheer, then an even louder one when Lee appeared on-screen with a quick teaser about Twilight and the legend of Nate Barlow. Next, Bette’s bedroom photograph of the old town was superimposed over a still of the present-day image, displaying how amazingly alike they were. Oohs and aahs continued to be drawn from the group as the tape rolled on.
Karen could barely stand it. She wanted the real Lee. His image flickering on the small screen only made her longing worse. Yet she couldn’t tear her eyes away.
Someone sat down next to her at the bar. She edged closer to the set, trying to concentrate on what the recorded Lee was saying. But the person next to her started to murmur something. When the murmuring didn’t stop, she frowned and cautioned, “Sh!”
It did little good. As soon as Lee came on-screen again, the person murmured along with him, as if mimicking his words.
Karen gave a more impatient, “Sh!”
When it happened again, her temper flared. She didn’t care if it was a tourist or not, they were going to stop! Her head whipped around, ready to take the person on, when she saw that her tormentor was Lee himself! Sitting there and smiling broadly at his little joke.
Karen squeaked so loudly that it drew the attention of everyone in the room. By the time the people farthest away had gotten the word about what was happening, she was in Lee’s arms and kissing him soundly.
A loud whoop went up amid cries of happiness, and the tape was ignored until someone switched it off. It could be played again later.
“Did you think I was never coming back?” Lee demanded, reluctantly dragging his lips away. Everyone but the tourists, who were looking slightly puzzled, had crowded around them. Those closest were pounding Lee on the back.
“No, I knew you’d come!” Karen laughed even as she cried.
“Where’s Manny and Diane?” John demanded, rushing over to greet Lee like a long-lost friend.
“In Hawaii by now, back on Maui. After these last few days we decided we all needed another break. We had some problems, but we fixed ’em. The special’s airing tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow night!”
“And you came here to watch it with us?” John asked.
Lee’s arm tightened around Karen. “I thought I would.”
“Well, good! We’ll have a party. We’ll—”
“Down, boy,” Bette teased, tugging on her husband’s arm. “Give the young people a little time to themselves. Lee didn’t come here to see what he’s been neck-deep in for two weeks. He came to be with Karen.”
John looked from Lee to Karen and actually blushed. Then, grinning, he made up for his blunder by bringing everyone’s attention back to the tape. “Put it back on again,” he yelled. “It hasn’t gotten to the best part yet—me!” Many hoots of derision followed.
When a jocular argument started as to who had given the best interview, Lee and Karen stole outside.
“I didn’t know it was you!” Karen said as they crossed the yard to her aunt’s apartment.
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“Oh, you did that, all right!”
Lee couldn’t wait. As they got to the stairs, he stopped her and kissed her again with all the love he’d been holding. Then he pulled back.
“Karen,” he said as he took something from his pocket. “I know it takes all kind of gall to ask this so soon. But it’s already been seven years, and I don’t want to waste another second.” He opened his hand and she saw a ring. A diamond solitaire—simple, yet beautifully cut to show off every facet. “Karen...will you marry me?”
Her wondrous gaze moved from the ring to his eyes. Those pale blue eyes that set him apart.
Who would have thought? she mused briefly. Certainly not her mother, whom she’d talked to earlier in the week but had not breathed a word to about Lee. Certainly not herself, not when she remembered how hostile she’d been to him initially.
She started to smile, and with all the exuberant joy of having him with her again, she answered with a resounding “Yes!” And in case there might be any doubt, she kept repeating her acceptance. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes—”
Just as exuberantly, Lee stopped the flowing repetition with a sealing kiss.
EPILOGUE
TWILIGHT HAD NEVER GOTTEN around to building a church. The music hall had always done double duty when a traveling minister could be persuaded to stay around long enough to hold services.
It was pressed into double duty now for Karen’s and Lee’s wedding. Because it was the holiday season, bushels of holly cuttings had been rounded up by some of their friends and used by the florist as decoration, along with the more traditional wedding flowers.
A tiny sprig had been added to Lee’s boutonniere. He glanced at it as he waited off to one side in the front of the hall. He knew Karen’s bouquet would also have some matching sprigs. Then he looked out at all the people seated in the chairs the film studio had decided to leave behind.
His parents were there, as were Karen’s... positioned about as far away from each other as the building would allow. Neither of their mothers had taken well to the idea of their marriage, but Karen had informed hers and he had informed his that the ceremony would take place whether or not they attended. It was to be their decision. Much protest had resulted, but in the end, when both women saw that their wishes were being ignored, they’d come around. At least enough to sit in the same room.
Numerous other Parkers were also attending. Those from the ranch and some from scattered areas across the state. Mae headed the delegation. There were also friends of Karen’s. One, a pretty young woman named Rachel Anderson—Karen’s maid of honor—was sitting temporarily with “the boyfriend,” Martin Frederick, and a man Lee had been introduced to as Mr. Griffin, Karen’s ex-boss. Lee had met them all on a quick trip to Kerrville when Karen had gathered the remainder of her things and moved them to Twilight. Lee still had reservations about Martin, but he’d liked Rachel immediately, even when she’d winked broadly at Karen and murmured something about him certainly having the look of an outlaw. Karen had refused to interpret.
Last but not least were the people of Twilight. Karen had made sure to deliver their invitations personally. Considering the way they’d been snubbed previously, she’d wanted this wedding to be done right. Everyone was dressed in their best, even Pete, who’d purchased a new shirt in town when he’d finally consented to see a doctor about his feet. He hadn’t let Lee pay, though, but instead had used some of his share of the new tourist dollars.
Lee shifted uncomfortably. It was juvenile to be nervous, but he was. He glanced at Manny, his best man, who at his own wedding had been a basket case prior to the ceremony. Now he was cool and calm and gave him an easy thumbs-up sign. An old pro at this marriage game.
Lee adjusted his bow tie and waited for Karen. Where was she? It was already after four. She was late. His palms broke out in a sudden cold sweat. She wouldn’t not show up, would she? To get back at him? This whole thing hadn’t been some kind of elaborate scheme of revenge, had it? Panic delivered a sucker punch to his midsection, and his head jerked around again to Manny. Manny, sensing his alarm, stiffened and was about to say something, when the recorded music started to play.
His gaze flew to the rear of the building, where he saw Karen, much as he remembered her from all those years before—in another white gown that had a hard time competing with her beauty. He couldn’t take his eyes off her and Manny had to tap him to remind him to walk forward.
The groom was in place this time as the bride neared the minister. It would take an army to drag him away! Especially when, her eyes dewy with love, Karen looked at him after parting from he
r father. And smiled. It superseded forever the terrible memory he’d held in his heart of her in pain.
He took her hand, made all the appropriate replies, gave her his ring while pledging his fidelity, listened as she slid a ring on his finger and pledged hers. Then, a much-too-short kiss later, it was done. The music swelled, voices rose. There was even clapping as their relatives and friends demonstrated their approval and enjoyment.
Since the same area was going to be used for the reception, everyone pulled their chairs aside. Then the tables holding the wedding cake and refreshments were brought forward.
Lee and Karen stood close, as if each other’s touch were a lifeline. They laughed and talked, hugged and were hugged back repeatedly. Good wishes flowed all around.
Then it came time for Karen to toss her bouquet. Amid squeals of anticipation, Rachel caught it, which tradition said would make her the next bride. Also following tradition, Lee flipped Karen’s garter to a waiting group of bachelors. To Lee’s surprise and consternation, Martin caught it. But Karen seemed so pleased that his irritation quickly vanished.
Still the newlyweds didn’t leave. Lee’s patience was stretching to the breaking point. He was accustomed to dealing with people, accustomed to how much they liked to talk, and normally he enjoyed it. But he wanted to be with Karen now. Just the two of them. Alone.
What seemed eons later, the moment finally arrived, and amid showers of confetti, they ran out to Lee’s waiting car.
WHEN KAREN SHOOK HER HEAD confetti flew from her curls, causing her to laugh, which made Lee laugh, too.
She waved to the crowd until she couldn’t see them anymore, then she leaned against Lee’s shoulder, enjoying the short kiss he gave the top of her head.
“That was wonderful!” she said. “So much fun! It certainly makes a difference to have the right bridegroom!” She tilted her head to look at him. “Do you know who I heard say that? Mae!”
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