Boot Hill Bride (30 page)
later regret.
He curled a finger beneath her chin. "Tell me."
"Tell you what?" she asked with feigned ignorance.
"What's wrong?" A deep frown tugged at his brows. "It's
the cooking, isn't it?"
Her eyes went to the ground.
"Aw, sweetheart, I'm sorry. I can help. I thought it was
something you liked to do. And you are so good at it. You
should've said it was all too much."
"No, no, it's not too much," she admitted. "I like to cook. I
always have." She had to swallow the lump rising up her
throat. "But why didn't you tell me?" Biting harder on her lip,
to keep it from quivering, she added, "You didn't need my
help at all, did you?"
"Didn't need your help?" He sounded confused.
She glanced up, met his gaze. "I thought I'd been helping
you. Thought you needed a cook, and would need one once
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the restaurant opened—" She had to stop talking. The lump
had become too large and was burning her throat.
"You have helped. And I do need you." He wrapped both
arms around her, pulled her close. "The fact you are an
excellent cook, is wonderful, but Randi, I'd need you if you
couldn't even boil water. You're my other half. You're the
sunshine in my day. I can't imagine life without you."
She'd been transported again, to that wonderful, loving
world that existed inside his arms. The only problem with the
heavenly world he created for her was that her mind didn't
always work while she was there.
He continued, whispering close to her ear. "I love you. I
love your cooking. I love your smile. I love your feet. I love
your—"
"Stop," she insisted, giggling. "I'm sorry. I don't know why
I acted so silly."
Howard separated them enough so he could look at her.
What he'd said had been the God's honest truth. There was
nothing about her he didn't love.
"It wasn't silly. And I'm sorry I never told you about my
cooking. I should have."
She tightened the arms wrapped around his middle and
laid her head back on his chest.
"I love you, Hog Quinter. I love you more than I ever
imagined a person could love."
He wrapped his arms around her, and since he really didn't
care if there were things to get done, places he needed to go,
they stood like that for a very long time. It was Randi, who,
exhaling a deep sigh, finally stepped back.
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"I need to help with the dishes," she said.
And he had to help Kid unload the wagon, get he and
Jessie and the kids settled into the room beside Skeeter and
his family, so therefore, he agreed.
"All right."
Randi lifted her face. It was an invitation he had no means
to decline. So it wasn't until after a very satisfying parting
kiss that he left her, wandered over to grab an armload out of
the back of Kid's wagon, and instructed his brother to follow.
The next night, after another delicious meal prepared by
his lovely wife and while the women were still clearing the
table, an old, somewhat lopsided wagon, sporting a well-used
canvas top rolled down the dusty road. Howard took a second
look at the driver before he let out a bellow of laughter.
"Well, look there. It's Willamina," he said to the rest of the
table occupants.
Kid nodded. "We stopped by her place on the way, asked if
she and Eva wanted to ride with us, but she insisted they
would bring their own wagon. She also told us not to tell
you." Kid winked. "She wanted to surprise you."
Howard rose, as did his four brothers, and all five moved
to meet the wagon before it rolled to a creaking halt.
"Land sakes!" Willamina, a woman who might be twice
Ma's age, exclaimed, pointing at the hotel. "If'n that ain't the
most highfalutin' place I ever seen, I don't know what is."
Howard reached up to lift her bent over, withered frame
out of the wagon. "And I've been saving the best room in the
house just for you."
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"Aw, you always was a sweet talker," Willamina said,
pinching one of his cheeks as if he was about five instead of
twenty-five, while he lowered her to the ground.
He gave her a quick hug, and then did the same to Eva
after Kid lifted her down.
"This is a grand surprise. The whole family is here now,"
he said.
"You betcha," Willamina said. "You didn't think we'd miss
your big day, did you?" Before Howard could respond, she
whipped her head around and continued, "Where is this wife
of yours? Aw, that must be her."
Randi, flanked by Jessie, Lila, and Ma gathered around,
and Willamina let out a screech. Then, laughing with glee, she
said, "By God, you did learn something from your brothers,
didn't ya Hog? Go straight for the best looking one around
and snatch 'em up 'afore someone else does!"
Howard wrapped an arm around Randi. "That I did." When
the laughter eased, he offered, "Randi, this is Willamina and
Eva."
"Hello," she said.
"Hello?" Willamina stiffened. "Lawd, girl, that ain't no way
to greet your aunt." Holding both arms wide open, she added,
"Come here and give me a hug."
Randi laughed and complied.
As soon as the new arrivals were fed and settled into a
room in the hotel, Willamina insisted Howard get out his
fiddle. She said it was a night for celebrating, and the rest of
the family readily agreed. He had no objections, and not long
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after the music filled the night air, Danny J and Corrine
meandered down the road.
"Heard the music. Thought we'd walk down and be
neighborly," Danny J said.
Howard, taking a break between songs, rested the fiddle
on his knee. There was still a part of him that was wary of the
man, a touch troubled that Danny J might have ambitions
toward Randi. On the other hand, knowing the love they
shared, he had to admit his apprehensions were unfounded.
"Sure," he agreed, "Glad to have you."
Willamina leaned forward from where she sat between
Randi and Ma and squinted.
"Danny J, why you old scoundrel! Are you still hanging
around these parts? I would have thought you'd have lit out
by now."
"Willamina!" the dapperly dressed man exclaimed. "If you
aren't a sight to see. Come here!" he demanded, arms wide.
Willamina jumped to her feet, hugging the man while
jiggling with glee. "Just as handsome as ever I see." She
stepped back, eyeing the man from head to toe. "And no
worse for wear." Turning sideways, she acknowledged Corrine
with a nod. "I hear tell you took over where I left off."
Corrine bowed her head slightly. "Someone had to."
Willamina opened her arms. "I'm right proud of ya, gal.
And owe you my thanks. I was worried about the younguns I
left behind."
Howard felt his eyes grow wide. For years Willamina had
rescued young girls who found themselves in the family way
from having to resort to employment in one of the brothels.
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And it appeared when she left town, with the young Eva after
the girl had been attacked and her father killed, Corrine
became the mother hen. It appeared both Corrine and Danny
J had benevolence that went much deeper than anyone knew.
He glanced at Randi, sitting beside him. A frown pulled on her
brows.
He leaned down and whispered, "I'll explain later."
Randi glanced toward Howard, nodding at his words, but
more so taking in the kindness in his expression. Her heart
started to pitter-patter, like it always did when he settled
those sparkling green eyes on her. She met his gaze with a
smile that radiated straight from her heart. He leaned over
and planted a short, but sweet and promising kiss on her lips.
The action brought a tingle to her cheeks. It was amazing
how all the Quinter brothers really didn't hold to propriety
when it came to kissing in public. They just did it when and
where the urge struck them. Jessie and Lila seemed to accept
the fact whole heartedly, and Randi figured she'd best do so
as well, for it didn't appear any of them were willing to
change.
Ma chose that moment to make a demand. "Quit kissing
your wife and play us another tune, Hog. We got company to
entertain."
The round of laughter made Randi's cheeks burn hotter,
but Howard's good natured chuckle, and the way he kissed
her once more, most likely to teasingly defy his mother, made
her join the glee as he struck the bow across the strings of
his fiddle.
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The tune was lively. With a whoop that sounded like an
Indian on the warpath, Lila leaped to her feet and snatched
Skeeter's hand. The two of them danced in such a way that
Randi found she had to lock her jaw to keep it shut. They
weren't touching as couples normally did, nor were they doing
anything close to a Virginia reel or a square dance. Facing
each other, and gracefully, yet shockingly, they moved to the
music. Twirling and waving their hips, as well as other body
parts, it was as if they talked to one another through the
movements.
Randi felt the temperature in her body increasing as the
movements became more and more seductive. The two never
touched each other, but all the same Randi felt as if she was
watching some kind of secret mating dance.
Since Howard was totally engrossed in creating the music,
she leaned over and whispered to Jessie, "Did Buffalo Killer
teach them to dance like that?"
Jessie giggled, shaking her head. "No, Lila taught Skeeter.
It's amazing isn't it?"
Randi nodded, not really knowing what else to do.
"Kid refuses to do it, in public," Jessie leaned closer to
reveal. "But we've done it in the privacy of our bedroom. It's
quite intoxicating."
"I'm sure it is," Randi said, feeling her blush all the way to
her toes, mainly because she found herself wondering if
Howard would agree to try it with her. In the privacy of their
bedroom of course.
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The next week flew by faster than a flock of migrating
birds. Randi found herself extremely thankful for the
assistance her new sisters-in-law provided, as well as
Willamina and Eva. Even her Aunt Corrine made daily trips
down to help out. Every room had been completed, along
with the kitchen and dining room, and all the little details
which seemed to be never ending. Rugs here, curtains there,
napkins ironed into crisp squares, dishes and glasses washed
to sparkling freshness, and flower vases and potted plants
arranged just so.
And then there was the painting. The day after Eva arrived
Howard had insisted Randi dress in her black gown and sit in
the parlor of their rooms for Eva to paint her likeness. Randi's
objections fell on deaf ears, and afterwards she felt a little
guilty for it had taken the young girl less than an hour before
she proclaimed Randi could go change. The quiet girl, who
rarely spoke unless spoken to, had secreted herself in her
room each afternoon, when the light was best, Willamina
explained, to work on the painting.
Randi had to admit, she was anxious to see it, especially
after the way Jessie and Lila raved about the ones Eva had
painted of them and their husbands. Yet, at the same time,
she was curious as to why Howard hadn't sat with her. It
appeared this painting would be just of her.
Her thoughts in a cloud, she crossed the massive, amazing
kitchen to withdraw several pans of corn bread from the
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oven. She'd just set the fourth and final pan on the large
work table in the center of the room when Howard stuck his
head through the swinging door leading to the dining room.
"Hey," he said, grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey," she responded with a smile just as large. It never
ceased to amaze her at how wonderful her life was. One look
from her husband and happiness swarmed her senses like a
warm summer breeze.
He held out one hand. "Come here. I have something to
show you."
"Oh?" she asked, walking across the room. "What arrived
today? I can't possible think of one thing that we don't
already have."
If possible his grin grew, but she didn't have time to
confirm the fact because he pressed a quick, tender kiss to
her lips.
"Come on," he said afterwards, pulling her through the
doorway.
A crowd had gathered, all the family members present, as
well as Aunt Corrine and Danny J, who also had been over on
a regular basis lately. They stood near the large brick