She had a need to catch sight of her husband, and when she did, her heart melted. He was no longer dancing with her mother, but with her daughter. Callie was standing on his polished boots, looking up at him, giggling as he glided her around the room. Faith sighed. “I love him so much, Pa.”
“I doubt he could want for anything more, Faith.”
But she intended to give him more, intended to give him everything she was.
The celebrating would continue for a few more hours yet, but Rawley was anxious to be alone with Faith—and everyone was graciously accepting of that fact. She was changing into something more suitable for traveling, even though they were only going to the cabin.
“We spend half our life waiting on women,” Austin said.
“But the waiting is always worth it,” Houston assured him.
“It sure didn’t feel that way when I was waiting on you to bring Amelia from the train station in Fort Worth,” Dallas grumbled.
“But it worked out for the best,” Houston stated firmly.
“It did that,” Dallas said.
It did indeed, Rawley thought. If not for the delay in Amelia’s arrival, he might not now be watching the most beautiful woman he knew stroll into the room wearing that damn red gown that he couldn’t wait to take off her.
“I’ll see you around,” he said distractedly to the three men who had first given him hope there was goodness in the world. As he headed toward Faith, he was vaguely aware of them chuckling behind him.
When he reached her, he didn’t care that a horde of people remained in the room. He snaked his arm around her, brought her in close, and kissed her. “Ready, Mrs. Cooper?”
Her smile was bright enough to guide a cattle drive on a stormy night. “I am, Mr. Cooper.”
He crouched down so he was eye-level with the little girl holding Faith’s hand. “You remember the plans?”
Callie nodded with enthusiasm. “I’m gonna spend the night with Gramma and Grampa. Tomorrow we’re gonna head to the Grand Canyon!”
He tweaked her nose. He and Faith had decided they were all deserving of a little trip together. “That’s right. So you be a good girl, and we’ll be over to get you bright and early in the morning.”
Releasing her hold on her mother, she slung her arms around his neck. “I love you, Papa.”
She’d taken to calling him that as the wedding neared, and it never failed to squeeze his heart. He enfolded her in his arms. “I love you, too, Little Bit.”
He handed her off to her grandfather, who had followed him over, hugged his mother. Then he slipped his arm around Faith’s waist and led her outside, the guests traipsing along behind them, calling out their good wishes.
After he hoisted Faith into the waiting buggy, she tossed her bouquet of wildflowers toward the crowd, laughing when Maggie caught it. He chuckled at the brat’s shocked expression and couldn’t help but hope someday soon she’d find a man worthy of her.
As Faith settled in beside him, he slapped the reins. “Giddyap.”
The horses bolted forward.
Faith wound her arms around one of his and snuggled against him. Twilight was settling in.
“That dress drives me crazy,” he muttered good-naturedly.
“It took me a while to figure that out. The first time I wore it you looked mad enough to spit nails.” She pressed closer against him, gave his earlobe a little nip between her teeth. “Now I know it was because it made you want me so badly. I expect I’ll wear it often in the future.”
He chuckled low. “Fair warning. Whenever you do, it’s not going to stay on you for very long.”
They settled into silence, just letting the coming darkness wash over them. When they neared the cabin, she dug her fingers into his arm. She hadn’t been back to the cabin since that fateful morning. He’d brought her and Callie’s clothes to the house. He’d been the one to tidy up.
“It’s not too late to go into town and get a room at the hotel,” he said quietly.
Loosening her hold, she shook her head. “What I did is never going to leave me, Rawley. I don’t feel victorious about it. But he didn’t give me a choice. I believe that with all my heart.”
“Because it’s the truth.”
