Moonlight Plains (26 page)

‘Oh, you mustn’t worry, Luke. It was only a little thing and it’s all sorted now.’

Perhaps it was the wary, rather enigmatic smile she gave him, but for some reason Luke couldn’t explain, he could not accept this glib dismissal.

He took a step closer to the bed. ‘Are you quite sure there isn’t something I should know?’

Townsville, 1942

‘I’m only thinking of you, Kitty. It’s for your own good.’ Her grandmother sat stiffly on the edge of the chair in Elsie’s lounge room, her distress evident in the pained expression on her face, in her tightly clenched hands, in the quiver of her lower lip. ‘I’m sure it’s better for the baby, too.’

Kitty stared at her in dismay. ‘You can’t possibly believe that. How can it be better for a baby to be separated from its mother?’

Kitty couldn’t bear this. She’d fully expected her grandfather’s outrage when she eventually found the courage to tell him about her pregnancy, but she’d hoped her grandmother would be on her side. Surely another woman, another mother would understand that Kitty already loved her baby completely. At just five months she could feel its movements. Each night she lay in bed, her hands cradling the swell of her stomach, picturing the tiny person inside, loving each tiny flutter and bump.

‘Kitty, be reasonable. Any baby would be better off with two parents and the chance to grow up in a proper family. Think, girl. How could you possibly bring up a child on your own?’

‘I’d find a way.’ Although in truth, she had no idea.

‘How can you be so stubborn?’ Her grandmother was sitting so far forward now she was almost off the chair. ‘It might be different if there was any prospect of the baby’s father returning to marry you.’ She paused, one eyebrow arched expectantly, waiting for Kitty to respond.

‘I told you he was wounded and sent home to the States.’

‘And he still doesn’t know he made you pregnant?’

‘No.’

‘And you don’t plan to write to him.’

Wearily, Kitty shook her head. She was sure that Ed would have written to her if he was well enough. Clearly he hadn’t got his sight back. Nothing had changed. Desperate as her situation was, she knew she must stick to her original decision.

Her grandmother sighed heavily. ‘You’d have to work to support yourself, and heaven knows what kind of job you’d get. There aren’t many employers who’d take on a woman in your condition. And who would care for the baby while you were working? Kitty, it’s impossible. You simply can’t have a baby without a husband. And you know it’s not right.’

Her grandmother sounded uncomfortable as she said this, and Kitty sensed her grandfather’s influence. Now that even his best efforts hadn’t stopped her from playing the devil’s daughter, her grandfather felt that he’d been vindicated in his decision to send her away from Townsville and the Americans.

Reaching for the cup of tea that Kitty had made, still untouched on the small table beside her, her grandmother said, ‘There’s clearly only one solution. You should go away. I’ve made enquiries and there’s a good home for unmarried mothers in Rockhampton, or you could even go to Brisbane. Your grandfather and I will pay the costs. They’ll look after you there, Kitty. You can have the baby safely, and then come home afterwards . . . No one here need know, and people won’t ask too many questions about your absence, not with this war and so many folk coming and going.’

Kitty knew this was the main source of her grandparents’ distress. They wanted to make sure no one here knew her terrible secret, wanted her safely out of sight before her pregnancy became too obvious. They probably thought she would give in again, just as she had when her grandfather had sent her off to Moonlight Plains, but they had no idea how much she’d changed.

Loving Ed had changed her. In ways she couldn’t explain, he’d given her courage.

Now, she said quietly but firmly, ‘I’m sorry, but I don’t want to give my baby away.’

‘So you’d rather bring shame and scandal on yourself and your family?’

Kitty held her breath. She could never believe that her love for Ed was shameful or scandalous. And now that he was gone to the far side of the world, his baby was especially precious to her. She might never see him again, but his baby would always be a living link to him, and she knew with absolute certainty that she could never give it up.

‘I’m sorry, Grandmother. I know this is going to hurt you and Grandfather, but I’m definitely keeping the baby. There’s no question.’

‘Kitty, you –’

Kitty held up her hand. ‘I’m really grateful for everything you’ve done for me and I truly hate knowing that I’m causing you pain and embarrassment, but I can’t give my baby away. I’m sorry. I simply can’t.’

Somehow she managed not to cry, or at least not until after her grandmother had left in a cloud of disapproval. Afterwards, the tears came as she damped down a pile of pillowslips and tea towels, ready for ironing. She wept for Ed and her baby and she wept for herself. She had no idea how she was going to manage.

It was three weeks later, on a Saturday afternoon, when Elsie tapped on Kitty’s bedroom door. ‘Are you awake?’ she called softly.

Kitty had been lying down, trying to rest. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘It’s too hot to sleep.’

Elsie’s smiling face appeared as she pushed the door open. ‘Well, shake a leg. You’ve got a visitor.’ Elsie winked. ‘A young man.’

Kitty gasped and shot up quickly, her heart hammering. ‘Not –’

‘No, not Ed, but it’s good news. It’s Andy Mathieson.’

‘Andy?’ Kitty’s disappointment was only fleeting. This was wonderful news. The last time she’d spoken to the Mathiesons, they’d almost given up hope. ‘Tell him I’m coming,’ she said, reaching for her hairbrush on the dressing table.

She took only a moment to tidy her hair and slip on her shoes. Crossing her fingers that the loose blouse she was wearing over a gathered cotton skirt would hide the growing signs of her pregnancy, she hurried down the hallway to the lounge room. As she entered, a figure rose from the chair in the corner. A man in uniform, tall, suntanned and gaunt, with his slouch hat hanging from a strap over his shoulder. She knew it was Andy, but my, how he’d changed.

‘Andy, how wonderful to see you. Everyone’s been so worried about you.’ She hurried forward.

‘Kitty.’ His blue eyes were bright in his brown face and they shimmered with emotion.

She kissed his cheek and he kissed hers. ‘We’d almost given up hope,’ she said. She found it hard not to stare; he’d changed so much, from a boy to a man, in just a few months. ‘How are you?’

He smiled, making deep creases at the corners of his eyes. ‘Had some bark knocked off me and a stint in hospital, but I’m just about right now.’

‘Your parents must be so thrilled. Heavens, they’ll be over the moon.’

‘Yeah, they’re pretty happy.’ He swallowed, smiled shyly. ‘It’s so good to see you, Kit.’

‘And it’s good to see you.’ She meant it sincerely. She hated to think what he’d been through, but it was lovely to have good news for a change.

Behind them, Elsie made a throat-clearing sound. ‘Just wondering if you’d like a cup of tea, Andy?’

‘Thanks,’ he said politely, ‘but I was actually wondering if I could steal Kitty for a bit.’

Elsie grinned. ‘Be my guest.’

He turned to Kitty. ‘I’m dying for a walk along the Strand. Want to come?’

She only hesitated for a beat. ‘Yes, of course. Wait a sec, while I get a hat.’

It was a disgustingly hot and humid afternoon, but a soft breeze on the seafront whispered coolly on their skin as they headed for the park and the shade of the banyan trees. While they walked, black cockatoos squabbled in the sea-almond trees.

Kitty coaxed Andy to tell her a little of what he’d been through. He told her that he and a dozen others from his unit had spent three months in the jungle behind the Japanese lines, living off their wits and the small amounts of food they could find. They’d had to be eternally vigilant, as the Japs were everywhere. Only Andy and two of his mates had survived.

‘It was thinking of you that kept me going, Kitty. I was determined to get back to you.’

Kitty drew a deep breath when he said this. She was deeply touched that Andy’s feelings for her had given him the will to survive, but knowing this also made her nervous. How could she burst his bubble by telling him about Ed and the baby?

Unfortunately, she had no choice. She’d have to tell him at some point this afternoon. If she said nothing and the news reached him later via rumours, he’d be doubly hurt.

They arrived at a grassy spot under a wide-spreading tree and sat looking out beyond the barbed wire to the smooth blue surface of the bay. Andy lit a cigarette, and as he blew out a thin stream of smoke, Kitty studied his face, noting the changes. All signs of boyishness were gone. His features were now lean and chiselled and she sensed a new determination in the set of his brow and the hardness of his jaw. His eyes no longer sparkled with youthful enthusiasm, but betrayed an unexpected worldliness. She feared they held a knowledge of unspeakable things.

‘I’m sorry you’ve had such a rough time,’ she said.

He shrugged. ‘Could have been worse.’

‘Do you have to go back?’

‘Of course.’ Grimacing, he flipped the ash from the end of his cigarette.

His khaki sleeves were rolled to the elbow and Kitty could see a scar on his forearm – a pitted indentation, purple and shiny, clearly a wound that was still healing. She sighed and almost told him how much she hated this war, hated that he had to go back to more fighting and danger and horror. But that kind of talk wouldn’t help him.

‘I loved getting your letter,’ she said instead.

‘I could hardly say anything in the letter. What you really deserved was an apology.’

‘An apology?’

‘There was so much I wanted to tell you.’ Tension vibrated in his voice now. A smile flickered briefly and then disappeared. ‘Every time I think about that night before I left, I cringe. I was bloody hopeless the way I rushed at you, Kit. My only excuse was I was so bloody scared and desperate.’

‘I knew that, Andy. I understood.’

He shook his head. ‘I was such a ham-fisted fool. And I never got to explain anything to your grandfather.’

‘Forget about it now.’ Kitty swallowed nervously. If only Andy knew . . . his mistakes were minor compared with hers. ‘It’s all in the past.’

‘The thing is, I want to ask you to marry me.’ Now when he looked at her, his eyes flashed with a fierce blue fire. ‘That’s why I had to get back here. I wasn’t letting the Nips get me before I told you how much I love you, Kit. I don’t think it’s possible to love a girl more than –’

‘Oh, Andy.’ Kitty had to interrupt him. She couldn’t sit here letting him pour out his heart, while she nursed a secret that would shatter his hopes.

But oh, dear Lord, how could she get the words out?

‘Kitty, what is it? You’re not crying?’

Yes, she was crying, but she couldn’t let that stop her. She just had to say it. Had to spit it out. ‘Andy, I’m pregnant.’

She saw the shock explode in his face. Then puzzlement as his gaze dropped to her stomach. ‘I made you pregnant?’

Kitty swallowed. ‘No. An – an American.’ Now her face was crumpling, her control disintegrating, while Andy ground out his cigarette and sprang to his feet.

Through tear-blurred eyes she watched him stride away, then come to a halt where the grass met the sand, staring out to sea, his chest heaving as he dragged in air. She covered her face with her hands. Until today she’d merely felt sorry for herself, but now she couldn’t have felt more wretched if she’d physically stabbed Andy. He didn’t deserve this pain and disappointment.

She hadn’t brought a handkerchief and she was dabbing at her wet face with the hem of her skirt when she heard the soft sound of his footsteps. She looked up to see that he’d returned already. His eyes were shiny, but he didn’t look angry as he lowered himself to sit beside her. ‘So what’s the story?’ he said tightly. ‘Are you going to marry this bloke?’

Kitty shook her head.

‘Is he still alive?’

And so she told him. As unemotionally as she could, she gave him the bare bones of her time with Ed, concentrating on their efforts to save Bobby at Moonlight Plains, rather than their romantic weekend on the island. She explained her decision not to tell Ed about the baby.

Throughout her painful narration, Andy listened without interruption.

‘So . . . he’s a decent bloke, he’s back in America and he doesn’t know. And you don’t want him to know,’ he clarified when she was done.

‘Yes.’

‘That’s a rough spot to find yourself in, Kit. What are you going to do?’

‘I haven’t got it all worked out yet, except I know that I’m not giving the baby up for adoption.’

Andy simply nodded and stared silently into the distance. Further down the beach, a group of servicemen were playing football, and a naval ship chugged across the bay.

‘I could be a father for your baby,’ he said.

Kitty gulped. Had she known that Andy might say this? Had she secretly hoped? But it wouldn’t be fair on him. ‘Don’t do that to yourself,’ she said.

‘There’s no obligation involved, Kitty. I’ve already told you I love you and that’s not going to change.’

Looking up, she saw unmistakable emotion in his eyes, saw a tenderness in his smile that warmed the icy knot of fear that had lain inside her for weeks now.

‘But you’ve only just got back,’ she said. ‘You can’t make an offer like that without taking time to think it over.’

He shook his head. ‘I’ve had months to think, Kitty. I know what I want.’ He was staring out to sea as he said this, but now he turned and held her in his steady gaze. ‘Look, I don’t expect you to fall out of love with this Yank overnight, but if you let me, I’d promise to look after you and love you. And I’d be happy to help you raise your child.’

‘I don’t deserve that kind of love.’

‘Course you do.’ There was a new confidence in Andy’s smile as he lifted his hand to gently trace the curve of her cheek. ‘Marry me and I’ll prove it.’

Moonlight Plains, 2013

Luke stared at his grandmother, stunned. She’d just confirmed his worst suspicions. His Uncle Jim was the American pilot’s son.

‘And you were already pregnant with Jim when you married Granddad?’

‘Yes, Luke.’

How could she sit there so calmly? Luke was so angry he struggled to breathe.

‘So – so Granddad was only ever second best for you?’

‘No, it wasn’t like that. I –’

Luke gave a groan, cutting her off. Of course it was
like that
. She’d been in love with the American but she’d married his granddad. Un-fucking-believable.

Already he was striding across the room. He was so bloody furious. His grandad had been a
great
guy. Steady, true-blue, brilliant with his hands, always ready with gentle humour. A perfect grandfather, among the best of the bloody best. He’d deserved to be up on a freaking pedestal.

Instead, he’d made do as his wife’s second choice.

Fuming, Luke left her room and strode down the hallway towards the verandah. Beyond it he could see the revellers already gathering on the lawn.
Shit
. The last thing he felt like
now
was a party.

He stopped in the doorway, knowing he needed to calm down, saw Sally out on the lawn, busy with her camera.

His gut tightened. She looked divine with her bright hair and her pale slender limbs, wearing a gorgeous silky dress the colour of an autumn leaf.

At some point during these past busy weeks, his feelings for her had grown, put down roots. He cared. Cared deeply, which was why he hadn’t wanted the family prying.

But now . . .

Now the reality of his situation with Sally hit him with the force of an A-bomb. History was repeating itself. He would be like his grandfather, always be living in another man’s shadow. Once again Luke felt the gut-punching shock of his grandmother’s revelation. Hell. This was one aspect of his grandfather’s character that he was never going to emulate. Sally’s husband would always take first place in her heart and he was damned well
not
going to hang around to be another woman’s second best.

But that realisation left him with only one clear option.

Much as he hated the thought, it was time to call it quits. After all, he’d finished the project and Sally had her story.

Luke took a deep breath as he faced the unpalatable truth. For them, this party was the end of the road, and before this night was over, he would have to tell her.

A slim new moon, partnered by the bright evening star, shone in the inky-blue western sky as people emerged from their tents, looking transformed, even glamorous. And as they gathered on the lawn in front of the homestead, the house glowed magnificently with all its lights ablaze, spilling gold into the garden.

For Sally, photographic moments abounded. More vehicles arrived, disgorging locals keen to be part of this exciting event. In a corner of the dance floor, the band had almost finished setting up, and guitarists tested their instruments, an occasional melodic twang bouncing into the night.

Mac McKinnon and a couple of his mates had the barbecues primed and ready. The cousins from Richmond and Julia Creek, who’d been assigned to help as waiters, had started serving wine, as well as cans and bottles of beer from the ice-packed eskies.

As Sally clicked away with her camera, she knew that hardly any of the photos would make it into the magazine, but she wanted to add to the album she’d already started. It would be a great record for Kitty and her family, and she would give a disk of all the photos to Luke.

Speaking of Luke . . . she caught sight of him now, in the front doorway, his face twisted in a dark scowl. She hurried across the lawn and up the few steps.

‘Luke, what’s the matter?’

His green eyes flared, but then, as if he’d taken a moment to register her presence, he said, ‘Hey, Sal. Great dress.’

‘Thanks.’

Her delighted relief was only momentary. In no time, Luke appeared distracted again.

She stepped closer. ‘Is Kitty all right?’

‘Kitty’s fine,’ he said although his mouth twisted unhappily. ‘Actually, she could do with a hand. Do you think you could help her dress?’

‘I’d be happy to try.’

‘If you don’t mind. My mother’s busy keeping young Callum out of mischief.’

‘Of course. No problem.’

‘Right. Thanks. I have to get changed.’ He shot this last over his shoulder as he hurried off, down the stairs and across the lawn to the distant tents.

More than a little disappointed, Sally watched him leave. She would have liked the chance to suggest that they should relax and enjoy themselves this evening, drop the silly pretence. She would have to try again later, when Luke would hopefully be in a better mood.

She went into the house and down the hall to the main bedroom, where she knocked and was told to come in. Kitty was sitting in front of the dressing table’s winged mirror, her long white hair falling in soft waves to her shoulders as she patted at her neck with a powder-puff.

For a moment, Sally fancied she could see her as a young girl, with lively grey eyes and shiny hair, and with a hint of passion and fearlessness about her. She might have been quite a heartbreaker.

‘Luke said you’d like some help with getting ready.’

‘How kind of you, Sally.’ Kitty turned to look at her properly. ‘Oh, my dear, what a wonderful dress. You look beautiful.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Luke will be stunned when he sees you.’

Sally gave an abrupt little laugh. ‘He’s seen me already.’

‘Oh? I hope he told you how lovely you look.’

‘He liked the dress,’ Sally assured her, and she almost added that Luke had been very distracted, but she didn’t want to burden Kitty with unnecessary worry.

Taking the camera from around her neck, she set it on the window seat. ‘Now, how can I help you? Would you like to get dressed before we do your hair?’

‘That’s a good idea. Virginia hung my outfit on the wardrobe door. I think the creases have dropped out.’

It was quite a slow process, helping the old lady out of the dress she’d been wearing and into a pale-pink two-piece suit with pretty lace inserts.

More than once, Sally found her thoughts slipping back to Luke, wondering what had caused his distracted scowl. It was so unlike him. He was usually so cheerful and in control, and she’d never really seen him looking downbeat. Perhaps he’d had an unpleasant shock.

‘Was he very upset?’ Kitty asked suddenly.

Sally started. ‘Excuse me?’

‘Luke.’ Kitty was watching her intently, her face serious, almost troubled. ‘When you saw him just now, was he very upset?’

Sally tried not to look too surprised, and she secured the button at the waist of Kitty’s skirt before she answered. ‘He seemed quite distracted.’

Kitty nodded sadly. ‘I’m not surprised. Did he tell you why?’

‘No, not a word.’ Sally’s curiosity mounted as she lifted Kitty’s jacket from its hanger and began to undo the buttons. She couldn’t help asking, ‘Do you know what happened?’

Kitty sighed. ‘I do. It’s my fault, I’m afraid. I told the boy something he didn’t want to hear.’ Her grey eyes glistened as she offered Sally a sad smile. ‘He idolised his grandfather, you see.’

‘You mean Andy? Your husband?’

‘Yes.’

‘Luke told me it’s because of Andy that he wanted to become a builder.’

‘I know.’ Kitty seemed reluctant to say more, but then she must have changed her mind. ‘I was in love with another man, during the war,’ she said quickly. ‘If the circumstances had been different, I probably would have married him.’

Sally needed a moment to take this in. She held out the jacket and Kitty obediently slipped her arms into the sleeves.

‘I don’t mean to pry,’ Sally said as she began to do up the buttons again, ‘but was this other man the American pilot?’

‘Yes. And I’m afraid it’s shocked Luke.’

Sally frowned as she considered this. She knew Luke was quite broadminded and not easily shocked. Then again, his grandfather Andy
had
been his hero.

Kitty sighed as Sally fastened the final button. ‘Of all my grandchildren, Luke bonded the most with Andy. When he was little, he’d come and spend his holidays with us and I used to call him Andy’s shadow. Now, I’m afraid he can’t come to terms with the fact that I might not have married Andy if the other romance had worked out. I don’t think I’ve convinced him that I still loved Andy dearly.’

A chill slinked through Sally. She hadn’t believed in second chances either. During the long pain-filled years that had followed Josh’s death she’d been convinced she could never love again.

And yet, here she was . . . on the very brink of admitting her deepening feelings . . .

‘I’m sure Luke will feel differently when he’s had a chance to think this over,’ she said with more confidence than she felt.

‘Yes.’ Kitty gave a sigh. ‘In time he’ll understand.’

Sally smiled. It was time to cheer Kitty up. ‘There, see in the mirror? You look lovely,’ she said.

‘Thank you, dear.’ Kitty turned to the dressing table. ‘I think I’d like to sit down.’

‘Of course.’ Concerned, Sally helped her to the seat. ‘Would you like a glass of water?’

‘No, no. I’m all right now, but I’d love a hand with fixing my hair. My arms just don’t seem to have the strength any more.’

‘Absolutely. Let’s see what we can do.’

Kitty’s hair was super-fine and Sally worked carefully, combing it and folding it into an elegant twist, while Kitty, with some difficulty because of her arthritic fingers, passed up the bobby pins.

‘Pesky things, bobby pins,’ Kitty muttered darkly, but when she turned her head to examine her reflection, her face broke into a delighted smile. ‘Oh, Sally, that’s perfect, thank you.’

‘My pleasure. All we need now are these earrings.’ She picked up a pair of sparkling droplets from the dressing table and carefully clipped them in place. ‘Now get ready for the compliments. You’re going to turn heads tonight.’

‘Oh, look at that!’ Kitty’s face shone as she stood on the verandah, using her walking stick for balance while gazing out at the floodlit garden and the congregation of happy guests. ‘Isn’t it beautiful, Sally? Oh, my heavens!’ She clutched Sally’s arm. ‘See the pond? It’s the old fishpond, isn’t it?’

Sally almost danced with excitement. She’d been waiting for hours for Kitty to notice the pond, but the old lady had always been surrounded by her family. Now someone, probably Bella, had lit the floating candles, as well as the lanterns set on the crazy paving. The pond looked gorgeous, even better than Sally had imagined when she’d first started cleaning it up.

‘When on earth did Luke find time to clear that mess?’ Kitty shot Sally a sharp-eyed smile. ‘Did you have a hand in this?’

‘I gave him some help,’ Sally admitted. ‘I thought it was too gorgeous to ignore.’

‘Thank you.’ Kitty squeezed Sally’s hand with surprising strength. ‘I’m thrilled. I can’t wait to have a closer look.’

‘Let me help you down the stairs then.’

There were only a few steps, but Kitty’s descent was a necessarily slow and painstaking process, and Sally concentrated hard on supporting her until, eventually, they were on level ground.

People smiled and waved and called greetings, but Kitty wasn’t mobbed, so Sally was able to help her over to the pond, which looked really pretty now, filled with fish, waterlilies and reeds, as well as the floating candles. On the paved edges the lovely big urns that Sally had planted with white alyssum, pink petunias and trailing blue eyes provided the perfect finishing touch.

When she helped Kitty onto a cushioned stone seat, the old lady stared at the pond with a trembling smile and eyes shiny with tears.

‘You know, Andy built this for me.’ Kitty patted the seat beside her, indicating that Sally should sit, which she did. ‘It was when Robert, my second baby, was born. I was in the Charters Towers hospital for a week – that’s how long they kept us in, in those days – and when I came home, here was this pond, with fish and plants and the paving and this seat. And that bottlebrush tree, planted to give some shade. Andy said, “You’ve given me such a beautiful gift with this new baby. I wanted to be able to give you something in return.”’

Kitty’s tears spilled now, and Sally’s eyes were also prickling and her throat was tight as she slipped her arm around the old lady’s bony shoulders.

‘What a beautiful thing to do,’ she whispered.

‘I know,’ Kitty said in a choked voice. ‘He had Jim to keep an eye on, and all the cattle work, too, so I don’t know how he managed. But how could I not love him? He was so good to me. And he kept the tradition of making something for me with each new baby. Just a little something I thought you’d like, he used to say. He said the same words every time and it became another of those things that couples share.’

Kitty gave a shaky chuckle and she took the handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed at her eyes. ‘The gifts kept getting smaller and simpler, because Andy still had to look after the property as well as all the children at home. But he always managed some surprise. A sewing box, a dear little birdhouse to hang outside the kitchen window.’

She gave another, happier chuckle. ‘By the time the twins arrived, it was a toy box to store the children’s clutter.’

‘He sounds like a wonderful man,’ Sally said sincerely, and already she could so easily imagine Luke being equally thoughtful and sweet.

‘So what do you think of the pond?’

The sudden sound of Luke’s voice brought her swinging round. No doubt she’d already been feeling sentimental, but the mere sight of him caused a jolt so strong that her heart bloomed like a rose in a time-lapse sequence.

He’d showered and his hair was still slightly tousled and damp, and he hadn’t had time to shave. He was wearing a rumpled, blue and white–striped shirt with cream moleskin trousers and riding boots.

On the night she’d first met him he’d been wearing a suit and she’d thought he looked pretty good, but he was absolutely perfect in these clothes. He’d outshine any city guy in a tuxedo. She knew she was grinning like a loon.