Cowboy Take Me Away Part 30

"Wrong. I bought this ring specifically for you. Today."

"You did?"

"Uh-huh."

"That's seriously romantic."

Carson placed his large hand over her smaller one and traced the stone with his thumb. "So you like it?"

"I love it." She pecked him on the mouth. "I-" a kiss, "-love-" another kiss, "-you."

"I love you too."

She teared up again. "That's the first time you've said that to me."

His eyebrows rose. "It is? Huh. I thought I'd said it before."

"It doesn't count when we're naked."

"Sure it does." He chuckled and kissed her nose. "What're we doin' tonight?"

"I'm still in shock. Can we go someplace quiet where we can make plans?"

"You don't wanna tell your family?"

She shook her head. "It can wait until tomorrow. I don't want anyone to ruin tonight because it's ours."

Happy as he was that she didn't have rose-colored gla.s.ses on when it came to their family situation, it put him on edge knowing big obstacles were in front of them. "I'd offer my place-which will be our place soon enough-but once we're alone I'm gonna be all over you."

"How well I know that." She smirked. "How happy I am about that. Let's have a sweet treat here while we talk. And if we get through all that..." her lips teased his ear, "...we'll see about you getting a taste of my sweet pu...dding."

d.a.m.n, he loved this woman.

Later on that night, Carson couldn't very well say that men didn't give a s.h.i.+t about wedding planning stuff-even when it was true.

"We'll need to meet with the priest right away and I'll get started making my dress." She fiddled with her ring. "How long of an engagement do you want? I was thinking the first part of October for the wedding."

"October? Not happening, Carolyn. That's too d.a.m.n long."

"When do you see us getting married?" she countered.

"Within a month. But if I had my way? We'd apply for a marriage license tomorrow and make it official as soon as the law allows."

That stubborn chin came up. "We are getting married in the Catholic church. End of discussion."

"Fine. There shouldn't be a problem since I don't have to convert. We'll be husband and wife no more than one month from now. That's my end of discussion point."

"But...why are you so adamant on the short time frame?"

Carson took her hand. "I want to start spendin' my life with you now. Not months down the road. Why don't you just admit the only reason you don't want this wedding to happen so soon is because you're afraid people will gossip that we had to get married."

Her eyes flashed guilt.

"I don't give a d.a.m.n what anyone thinks, Caro. The sooner you learn that about me the better."

"That's not the only reason you want it done in a month. You afraid I'll change my mind?"

He smiled at her. "No, I ain't afraid you'll change your mind. It's just...this is the slow time of year for us. That means I can spend a lot of time with you."

"During that free time you'll teach me things so I'm not a greenhorn ranch wife?"

"Yep." Carson ran the pad of his thumb over her knuckles. "But why're you a greenhorn? My dad said the Wests owned Ag land?"

"We did. I mean we do. The land was my grandfather's and he pa.s.sed it on, but Dad had no interest in ranching. He started working in the coal mine when he was sixteen. He and my mom lived in the ranch house until Stuart was born and they needed something bigger. That's when they bought the place we live in now."

"So they just abandoned the house and the land?"

"Dad leased it out until Harland was old enough to take over. I wasn't raised around cows. Or horses. They sorta scare me."

Carson grinned. "I'll have you ropin' and ridin' in no time, Mrs. McKay."

"That sounds weird."

"No, sugar, it sounds perfect."

Chapter Fifteen.

Carolyn

She was up at five a.m. when her father came into the kitchen to grab his lunch pail. He grumped around, half asleep, so maybe it wasn't the best time to talk to him, but he needed to hear the news from her.

"Dad. I need to talk to you about something."

He froze, his hunched shoulders straightened when he turned around. His brown eyes were sharp, the cloud of sleep gone. "If this is about Kimi comin' back early, like I told you ten times before, it ain't happening."

"It's not about Kimi. It's about me. And Carson." She thrust out her hand and couldn't help but smile at how the diamond shone even in dim light. "We're getting married."

Then her father was right in her face. "Did that son of a b.i.t.c.h knock you up?"

"What? No!"

"Don't you lie to me. I see how he looks at you. A man only looks at a woman that way after he's sampled what's under her skirt."

"I'm not pregnant," she said softly, hoping it'd dampen his rage. "We're getting married because we're in love."

"In love?" he sneered. "Bulls.h.i.+t. The McKays don't know nothin' about love. They know l.u.s.t. Carson's a.s.shole father knew how to talk his way into the ladies' drawers."

Including Mom's? jumped into her head unbidden.

"He was a tom cat, laying down with any woman who was breathing. The reason he married a woman from out of state is because no decent, moral woman in Wyoming would have him. That's the legacy he's pa.s.sed onto his sons. Not love."

"You don't know anything about him. You can't judge him on the actions of his father."

"The h.e.l.l I can't! I can judge him on the actions of his father and his lyin', cheatin' grandfather too!"

"So you're willing to let your sons be judged on your actions? And on your ancestor's reputations?"

"The Wests' reputation was silenced with blood...by the McKays. Why do you think that McKay didn't ask me for my daughter's hand in marriage? Because he's a dishonorable, disreputable man," he spat, answering his own question. "I'll never bless this marriage. Never."

She'd expected this, yet it still sliced her to the bone. "It doesn't matter. The only blessing I care about is the one we'll get from the priest."

"I never should've let you come back here this summer. I should've made you stay with your aunt. She never let you run wild like your mother does."

"Run wild? I don't even know how to run wild since I basically grew up in a convent!"

"A lot of good that did you-or us, trying to teach you morals. What do you do? Fall in with the first man who pays you the littlest bit of attention."

Carolyn hated seeing this nasty side of her father. She always scurried away when he started spewing venom. Not this time. She stood her ground. "I'm marrying him no matter what you say or think."

"Then you're no longer welcome in this house."

"Dad. That's enough," Thomas said from the doorway.

Her father whirled around. "Don't you defend her."

"I'm not. I came in to get my lunch pail and to tell you we've gotta go or we'll be late."

Then her father iced her with one last look before he stormed off.

Thomas slipped his arms around her as she stood shock-still. "I'll always defend you, Carolyn, and your right to make your own decisions. Don't worry; I won't let him kick you out. I'll smooth this over and we'll talk more later." He grabbed his lunch and headed out.

She wandered to the window above the sink and watched the sunrise, a hundred thoughts racing through her mind.

Carolyn didn't head to her mother's room until she'd gotten off the phone with Father Dorian and set up the meeting for early evening. By the end of the night she'd know whether it'd just be her and Carson saying their vows to each other in front of an empty church or if they'd stand before a judge.

She rapped on the door. "Mom?"

"Come in."

Once inside the always cluttered room, she realized her mom had tidied up the s.p.a.ce. "Good morning. How do you feel?"

"Decent, actually. I slept well for a change."

"Good. Would you like breakfast? There's banana bread and I could make you hot tea-"

"Liebchen. Don't fuss. Sit down." She pointed to Carolyn's hand. "And for heaven's sake, show me the ring."

Carolyn had a burst of pride, although nothing about the ring was ostentatious. The setting was simple and elegant and perfect.

"This is beautiful. He knows you, sweetheart. And that's how love is supposed to be..." She sniffled and reached for a tissue. "Sorry. Tell me how he proposed."

When Carolyn finished the story, they were both crying and laughing.

Her mother placed her misshapen hands on Carolyn's cheeks. "Is this what you want? A life with Carson McKay? Life as a rancher's wife?"

"Yes. I'm surprised I fell for him so fast." She smiled. "Carson wasn't. He said he knew when he saw me I was meant to be his."

"So the gruff rancher is a romantic at heart?"

"He swears he isn't. He even warned me he wasn't that type of man."

"Actions always speak louder than words." She let her hands fall away and used one to cover her mouth when she started to cough.

"Mom, are you okay?"

Her mother waved her off and it seemed to take a while before she stopped hacking. "Speaking of words. Your father didn't take the news too well."

"Did you hear him?"

"I think everyone in the county probably heard him. I..." She sighed. "His reaction is not unexpected. But this is my home too, so I promise I won't allow him to kick you out, no matter how much he bl.u.s.ters." She sighed again. "I wish I could tell you that he'll come around, but he won't."

"Are you happy for me? Even if Dad isn't?"

"I am." She offered Carolyn a weak smile. "My happiness is partially based on selfishness. By marrying Carson you'll live close by and I'll still get to see you. I missed you so much when you were at school."

Then why did you send me away?

"Have you discussed wedding dates?"

"We'll be married within a month, if Father Dorian okays it. If not, then Carson will insist on a judge. He wants to do this soon so we can spend time together since it's the slow season for him." And after this morning, she couldn't wait to get out of this house.

Her mother frowned. "That doesn't leave much time for planning."

"What's there to plan? I'm asking Kimi to stand up for me; I need a wedding gown and boxes to pack what little stuff I have."

"That's what I mean. You shouldn't be going into this marriage empty handed. Someone needs to throw you a bridal shower. What about that friend of yours, Beverly?"