"I'll race you to the stables," he said in a voice hoarse with his need for her. "Last one there has to take my boots off."
Holding hands and laughing, they ran toward the first stars appearing in the night sky, toward the stables, and toward the promise they had found in each other.
Later he would tell her that Robert was going away and had asked them to start their life together with a six-year-old daughter whom they both loved. He would hold her while she wept with happiness. Right now, all he could think about was being with her.
Jenny. Whispering her name had kept him alive in the desert. She would make the rest of his life worth living. Jenny.
EPILOGUE
After the wedding, the guests helped move the furniture out of the living room and parlor and pushed the chairs against the walls. Musicians tuned their instruments, sampled the punch,then the dancing began. A hundred smiling guests drifted between the dance floor and the refreshment tables or strolled about the torchlit yard.
Jenny stood beside the parlor archway, watching Graciela waltz in the arms of her handsome new husband, her face pink with happiness, her eyes shining as she gazed up into his adoring dark eyes. They moved to the music, but she doubted either of them heard a note. They saw and heard only each other.
An arm slipped around her waist and she started, then relaxed against Ty's chest. "I like him very much, don't you?" she asked softly, smiling as Diego leaned near Graciela's ear and whispered something that made her blush and laugh and stumble in his arms. Grinning, he caught her, then spun her in a circle, holding her as safe and secure in his arms as he would hold her in their life together.
Ty wrapped his big hands around her waist and rested his chin atop the curls she had so artfully arranged. "She'll make a fine doctor's wife," he commented in a husky voice. "If Diego isn't careful, she'll shove him aside and perform all the surgery herself. Do a good job of it, too."
Jenny laughed, leaning into him. Her gaze skimmed the other dancers, noticing Don Antonio and Ellen, Grizzly Bill and the widow Parker, other neighbors she cared about. But always her gaze returned to Graciela and Diego. How beautiful they were tonight. So young and happy and filled with each other and visions for their future.
"When do you plan to dance with the mother of the bride, cowboy?" The warmth of his chest against her back felt solid and familiar and so damned good. Suddenly she wished the wedding was over and they were upstairs in bed, wrapped in each other's arms.
"Now you know I hate to dance."
"You looked real fine dancing with the bride," she teased.
"That's different. I had to do that. But I'm hoping an understanding woman likeyourself will let me off the hook."
Graciela ran up to them when the waltz ended and laughed. "I hope Diego and I are still cuddling in corners when we've been married as long as you two."
Ty grinned and leaned to kiss her on the cheek. "I have to keep my claim fresh or some bastard with a discerning eye might move in on my territory." When Jenny and Graciela laughed, he said softly, "Honey, you look beautiful tonight. You plain take my breath away. The only woman more beautiful than Doctor Candeleria's new wife is my wife, and maybe, just maybe, it's a toss-up."
Graciela took their hands and the three of them stood linked as they had always been linked. "I love you both so much," she whispered, her lovely eyes glistening. Leaning forward, she kissed Jenny's cheek, then Ty's. "Oh Mama. Papa. I'm so happy."
"I know, honey girl. I see it." Dropping Ty's hand, Jenny straightened the gold-locket pin on the bodice of Graciela's wedding gown, touched her daughter's hair, and kissed her cheek. "Well, shoot. Will you look at me? I've always hated weepy women, but Lord, I've wept a bucket of happy tears today."
"Darlin', you better go back to that new husband of yours. Already he's looking lonely." Ty embraced her, holding her for a long moment. "If he doesn't treat you right, you just tell me and I'll have your mother beat the piss out of him."
Laughing, Graciela kissed and held them both, then lifted her skirts and ran across the dance floor. Standing with their arms around each other's waists, Jenny and Ty watched her go.
"I'm going to miss her like life itself," Jenny whispered, leaning her head on Ty's shoulder. "How did she grow up so fast?" When he didn't answer, she tilted her head to look up at him. "Ty Sanders! Is that a tear in your eye?"
"Well, hell no," he said gruffly. "Must be a cinder."
"Guess that would be the same cinder that gave you so much trouble when you walked her down the aisle and put her hand in Diego's." Shesmiled, loving him so much that she thought her heart would burst. "When's the last time you saw Robby, Billy, or Ty Two, by the way? Our boys wouldn't be outside sampling the men's punch, now would they?"
"Wouldn't surprise me. That's what Robert and I did when we were their ages." He kissed her long and hard, not caring who noticed. "Send these people home so we can go to bed," he said against her lips.
"Soon, cowboy. Meanwhile, check on our boys and find out what mischief they're up to." She nipped his lower lip,then laughed. "You can threaten them that their mother will beat the piss out of them if they're misbehaving."
Ty grinned and gave her a quick pat on the fanny. "How did a tough hombre like me turn into such a softie? Damnest thing ever happened in my whole life."
"You held your babies in your arms," she said softly, touching his cheek.
"That might have done it," he agreed, smiling. "Come with me. We'll beat the piss out of those rascals together. Show theyoung hellions who's running this outfit."
"They know who's running this family, and it isn't us," she said, giving him a smile and long kiss. "I'll meet you on the front porch in five minutes. There's someone I need to speak to first."
He nuzzled a kiss against her palm,then went in search of his sons, and she followed him with her gaze, her heart overflowing with the emotion of the day. After watching Graciela and Diego open the next dance, Jenny touched her handkerchief to damp eyes,then slipped into the kitchen and out the back door.
It was dark in the backyard. Cicadas sang in the bushes, competing with the music and conversation floating through the windows and around from the front of the house. But the celebration wasn't so loud that a person couldn't talk to an old friend.
She sat on a tree stump and folded her hands in her lap,then she tilted her head and gazed up at the spangled sky. Tonight, Marguarita's star seemed the brightest in the heavens.
It's been a while since we talked, my friend. But now that you have Robert with you, I figure you haven't missed me too much.
Today is our Graciela's wedding day. Before I pinned your locket on her gown, we looked at your portrait and said a prayer for you. I've felt you near all day, so I guess you heard.
Diego's a fine young man, Marguarita. I think you would approve. He loves our Graciela, and he'll make her happy. I hope you can see how beautiful she is tonight. She's like a flame blazing with joy. She loves him so much.
"Here she is! I found her, Papa." Robby, her youngest boy, came barreling around the side of the house, running toward her. His good white shirt had worked out of his waistband and one suspender hung off his small shoulder. "Mama, Mama! There's going to be fireworks! Come see!" He caught her hand and pulled her toward the light.
Laughing, she bent and dropped a kiss on his tousled hair. "You go on. I'll be right behind you."
When he had gone, tearing back the way he'd come, she lifted her face to the starry sky, blinking at quiet tears of happiness. Marguarita? Everything I have and love, you brought to me. Ty, my boys, my home … and most of all our daughter, the daughter of my heart.
She's a wonderful and very special young woman, your daughter and mine. She's beautiful and honest and strong. Her heart is courageous and true. She's the best of you and me. We can both be proud tonight.
Go to sleep now and rest. Our job is done. You kept your promise, and I kept mine… And, Marguarita? You were right. Mine was the easiest promise. She has been
my joy and my treasure. She was so easy to love.
Good-bye old friend. Thank you for the precious daughter we shared and the life you sent with her.
After wiping her eyes, Jenny gazed up at Marguarita's star for the last time,then she lifted her skirts and ran toward the front of the house and the fireworks showering the night sky. She ran toward her husband and her sons and new promises to keep.
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The Promise of Jenny Jones Page 31
