“See you later.” He waved and walked jauntily out the door.
“You’ve made my son very happy.”
“I will work hard to be a good wife for him. He’s the best man I’ve ever known. My stepfather was a good, honest man like Sam. I wonder what my mother would be like if she’d accepted his love and stayed. Seeing my mom made me realize I wasn’t like her, and I could grab for my own happiness.”
“You didn’t have the surgery on your face.”
“No. I went to the doctor, but he couldn’t do much. It was difficult coming to terms with his diagnosis, but then Sam was there and he rescued me.” Sylvia smiled at the thought.
Mrs. Brodie patted her hand. “You will be a good wife. I know it. Please call me Mom Jane like my other daughters-in-law do.”
“Thank you. Is my mom still at the cabin?”
“The last I heard, she was living there.”
“May I borrow your car? I’d like to go talk with her.”
“Sure. I’ll work on a list of guests for the wedding and you can look it over when you get back.”
Sylvia got up from her chair and knelt at Mom Jane’s chair. “How can I thank you for accepting me and believing in me?”
“It’s what family does for each other. I overstepped my bounds when I tried to interfere. Sam’s my youngest boy, and I wanted him to be as happy as I’d been in my marriage. I didn’t see you two as a pair. I was wrong. I hope you can forgive me. Here are my car keys. Go see your mother.”
Sylvia kissed her cheek, took the keys, and went out to the car. In her mind, she thought about how to talk with the woman who’d birthed her, but had done little else. The anger was gone and replaced with sadness for what her mother had missed. Loving Sam helped her look at her mother with a different perspective.
She drove up to the cabin and parked. Her mom sat in a chair on the porch, smoking and drinking coffee. Her favorite drink.
“You’re back sooner than I expected. Shall I get you a cup of coffee?”
“Yes, thanks.”
Sylvia sat in the chair across from where her mother had been sitting. She took a deep breath and said a little prayer for guidance.
Her mom handed her the cup and sat. She studied Sylvia’s face. “You didn’t have the surgery. Was he too expensive?”
“No, he couldn’t do much to change my appearance. I’ll get used to the new me. Sam says it shows my strength in getting through my ordeal.”
“I lied.” Her mother averted her gaze from Sylvia’s.
“About what?”
“Lots of things.” Pearl cleared her throat and stuffed her hands into the pockets of her sweater. “I feared you’d grow up prettier than me. When I saw the scar and how pretty you still were, I hit out at you with words. I’m getting old, and I’ve always depended on my looks. I liked men to admire me, too much.”
Sylvia moved closer and took her mother’s cold hands in hers.
“I don’t deserve your understanding. It was easier to love Gina. She was cute, but no competition for me.” Pearl raked a hand through her hair. “I’ve been jealous, selfish, and a very poor mother.”
“You have, but it doesn’t have to continue.”
“You can’t forgive me. You don’t even like me.”
“I can try to forgive you. I might like you, if you change. I have.” Sylvia held out her hand. The emerald sparkled in the sunlight. “Sam asked me to marry him. I accepted.”
“You’re going to live in this little town?”
“I love Sam, and I’m beginning to like Frontier City. He’s agreed we’ll keep my condo and go for visits to Washington and New York when I need a big-city break. We’ll make our marriage work. Love is the answer I’ve been looking for my whole life.”
In a whisper, her mother said, “I found it and ran. I told you it was your father I had loved, but it wasn’t. Your stepfather, Dan, was the only man who broke through my defenses to my heart. But I feared the feelings he stirred in me. I didn’t believe I could settle happily in a small town. There was so much excitement out beyond the town limits beckoning to me.
“When I realized my mistake, it was too late. So I settled with Ralph and gradually began to care for him. Then I found out he was seeing someone else. Ironic, isn’t it?”
“Have you talked to Ralph since you left?”
“No, he’d probably slam the phone in my ear.”
“Did you really divorce him?”
“No, I just took off.”
“Take a chance. Call him.”
“Now?”
“Why not?”
“Will you wait here while I do?”
“Sure.”
Sylvia sat back and enjoyed watching the birds flying from tree to tree. A bee buzzed around the flowers Gina had planted earlier in the year. A wonderful peacefulness had wrapped itself around her. In the distance she heard Pearl’s voice and a few sniffles.
She hoped Ralph gave her a second chance. Pearl came back to the porch. She sniffled and blew her nose.
“How did it go?”
She smiled. “Good. Ralph had missed me. He apologized and begged me to come home.”
“You can’t leave yet. Sam and I are planning to have our wedding in the next few weeks. Call Ralph back and ask him to come here. You two can stay in the cabin and be here for my special occasion.”
“You want me here?”
Sylvia stood and opened her arms. Her mother walked into them. “I do. Weddings can be new beginnings in more ways than one. I want my children to know their grandmother.”
Sylvia held Pearl in her arms while she cried. She’d have to start thinking of her as her mother all of the time, instead of Pearl.
Once the shock was over for both of them, her mother shooed her off. “Sam is probably worrying about where you are. In fact, I think that might be him now.”
She glanced around and saw the dust flying as Sam drove down the lane in his truck. He parked and jumped out, hurrying to Sylvia’s side.
“Are you all right, honey?” Sam stared into her eyes.
“I’m great. The best I’ve been in years. Sam”—she turned to her mother—“Mom and Ralph are coming to our wedding.”
She laughed at the expression on his face. “We’ve decided to start over.”
“Great. We’ll look forward to seeing you there. How soon is that going to be?” he asked Sylvia.
“As soon as we get the license and call the guests to invite them. I’m not waiting for an answer from a mailed invite.”
“Thank goodness for that,” Sam heartily agreed.
* * * *
Their day dawned bright and cool. A soft wind blew across the grass and made the fall flowers wrapped around the gazebo flutter.
Sylvia’s heart beat fast and furious as she walked toward Sam. His eyes shone with his love. She glanced briefly at their guests. All of Sam’s family had made it, including Grace and Fred. Several townspeople, Millie, Sheriff Grady and his wife, and Gab and his parents sat in the rows of chairs facing the gazebo.
This was the start of her new life. She put her hand into Sam’s large, comforting, warm grip. The words she said to commit herself to Sam made her happier instead of creating the fear she’d always thought she’d feel if she decided to marry. Sam’s voice boomed out, loud and clear, as he said his vows to her.
When the minister announced they were man and wife, Sam pulled her into his arms for a long kiss. Their audience chuckled and clapped.
It seemed hours before they were able to run through the birdseed and jump in Sam’s truck. They’d decided to stay at home for now, and take a honeymoon in New York later.
Sam opened the truck door and carried her into her new home and life. He sat her down in the master bedroom.
“I love your satin gown, but I want to see what’s underneath more.” He turned her around and kissed her back as he lowered the long zipper. Then he swept her into his arms and placed her on the bed. He followed her down.
&n
bsp; Sam cupped her face with his hands. “Which part of the service did you like best?”
“When the minister said we were man and wife, forever and ever, Sam. Which did you like best?”
He grinned as his hand caressed her soft breast and his lips brushed across her mouth. His leg moved between hers, and she felt his love surrounding her.
“This part, my love, and yes, I liked the forever part you mentioned.”
“I fought you, Sam. And all the while you intrigued me, and what I really wanted was to give in and come home to you.”
“I know. I knew I loved you when I looked into your eyes the first day I met you. I lifted you wounded and hurting into my arms, and I promised myself I’d love and protect you for the rest of my life.”
“You didn’t know then,” she teased.
He tickled her neck with kisses. “I did. I won the grand prize, didn’t I?”
“Shall I show you what you won?”
“Please do.”
She rolled him on his back and straddled his legs. “I think I won the prize.”
His hands cupped her breasts. “Let’s agree we’re both lucky.”
“A good compromise,” she said as she rose up and sank down, taking his hard cock inside her hungry pussy.
“Let me ride you, cowboy.”
“Forever,” Sam said as he gripped her hips and slowly moved her up and down. A huge bubble of pleasure and joy burst inside her body as she gave all her love to Sam.
THE END
WWW.PAIGECAMERON.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Florida, Paige Cameron’s early dreams included being a movie star. Of course, it didn’t happen. Later, she escaped into daydreams full of fascinating characters. Her friends had to endure her reading her stories to them when she began to put them to paper.
There were detours in her life for marriage, children, and traveling to foreign countries where her husband’s job took her. She continued to be an avid reader and dream of the day she’d have a book published. She finally got started writing and divorce sidetracked her.
Now, happily married to her hero, with grown children, she decided to pursue her dream career, writing.
For all titles by Paige Cameron, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/paige-cameron
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
The Intriguing Billionaire Cowboy [Wives for the Western Billionaires 8] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 14
