Trust Me II (39 page)

“Always
is, but now we have a little problem,” he said with a smile. “Your grandparents know and since Nana and my mum are suddenly best friends, it won’t be long before the news is out.”

“I really don’t want anyone else to know,” she frowned. “I
just need more time.”

“I’ll explain it to them and ask
that they keep quiet.” Sandra nodded as she slipped the last of the bread in her mouth. “Ready to go?” he asked her a few moments later and watched the smile pull at the corners of her lips.

“Ready,” she assured him,
placing her hand in his and walking slowly toward the wooden picnic table where her grandparents were talking with Craig and Nellie. Sandra smiled when they approached, blushing softly, thankful for the setting sun that hid her embarrassment.

“So this must be the famous Creighton Ashford,” Craig said with a smile as he stood and shook hands with the evening’s main attraction. Mary pushed a plate of fruit in front of Sandra and a glass of
lemonade and glanced up to her granddaughter’s husband and smiled; her actions lost in the moment as nothing more than the love of a grandmother for her granddaughter.

“Creighton,” she began. “These are our old friends Craig and Nellie Bentley.” Creighton smiled and glanced to Sandra who deliberately hid her eyes from him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” he said, joining his wife on the wooden bench. “And you may call me Crey; most people do.”

“Why don’t you call him Crey
, Sandy?” James asked around a mouthful of his wife’s homemade bread.

“
He doesn’t call me Sandy,” she said swallowing a piece of watermelon.

“I like hearing my full name roll off your tongue as much as I love saying your
s. It sounds sexy and inviting,” her husband replied with a secret, wicked grin.  The small group burst into laughter and Sandra smiled feeling much better than she did ten minutes ago.

“So Crey
,” Nellie began. “Ya sure know how ta stir up the pot when ya come ta town, don’t ya?”

“Excuse me?” he asked with a slight frown.

“Well, hell’s bells, ‘scuse the French, but that dumb-ass Nelson didn’t have the guts ta show up t’night, did ya notice?”

“I hadn’t noticed,” he said with a warm smile.

“Don’t blame him much,” Craig chimed in. “Paper t’night said there’s been an anonymous tip that he’s been dirty dealin’ with that crook of a car salesman over in Hays. Looks like he’s got more ta answer fer than his conniving acts with yer deal.”

“
Dirty dealings always have a way of catching up to a person,” James said.

“Where’s Cathy?” Nellie asked a few minutes later as Sandra pushed the empty paper plate aside
; her stomach feeling full and settled.

“She’ll be
‘round soon enough,” Mary said. “She was waiting for an important phone call.”

The sounds of the band wound down as the loud voice of a man echoed through the speakers surrounding the gazebo. Everyone began to grow
silent when he asked for their attention, leaving only the nearby children playing in the back of the park as the only noise to fill the night air.

“On behalf of
the city of Hoisington,” the man’s voice echoed. “I would like to thank all of you for your hard work and participation in putting this shindig together.” The crowd roared in applause and cheers that lasted for several moments before the man could continue. “I would also like to extend a welcome home to our former librarian, Miss Sandy and a warm welcome to her new husband, Creighton Ashford, who has been the talk of the town all day. Seems he’s shown a few of us what an honest business man looks like.” The crowd cheered and laughed and Creighton actually turned pink.

“Now I don’t know
if they are here or not, there was a rumor going around that they were going to back out of tonight’s festivities, but if they are here, would Sandy please bring her ol’ man up so we can all meet him properly?” Again everyone cheered as Sandra joined her husband in turning pink and Creighton growled softly under his breath. Mary nudged her granddaughter with her elbow making her stand reluctantly as she took Creighton by the hand and led him around the side of the gazebo to the podium set inside.

The man speaking was Michael
Farnsworth, wearing a dark pair of jeans and a button down short sleeved shirt of white, green and black plaid. In his arms was a small child about six months old and as they approached, the crowd cheered and the baby began to cry, reaching out to a blonde woman who stood nearby with a little girl about three years of age. Michael handed off the child and turned back to shake Creighton’s hand, kissing Sandra on the cheek.

“
On behalf of the great city of Hoisington, I’d like to welcome of you both here tonight,” he said through the microphone. “You may be planning on moving to England, but Kansas will always be your home away from home.” The crowd stood, whooping and hollering as they clapped, causing both Sandra and Creighton to blush scarlet. They waved at everyone and smiled and were stopped from leaving the small octagon shaped platform with a hand on Sandra’s arm.

“As acting mayor of Hoisington,” he said with a wide smile and wink to the couple next to him. “I would like to take this opportunity to present you with the key to our city. I
t doesn’t open any doors, but it will open the hearts of Hoisington’s citizens and hopefully our minds.” The crowd cheered yet again as Creighton took the large golden key and smiled, waving again at the many people gathered around.

“Alright, let’s get things underway,” Michael
continued. “The food is ready, so let’s form somewhat of an orderly line, children and women first please. I’d like to show our guests that country folk know their manners better than city folks do, and after we eat, there’s going to be a flag ceremony put on by our local boy scouts and then some music from Hoisington’s own Strappin’ Stormers, followed by a fireworks show that should put old Wichita to shame. Now let’s eat.”

The crowd laughed, cheered and applauded as the mothers gathered their children and headed to the twelve large barbeques set up
around the park. Michael laid his hand on Creighton’s shoulder and led him down the side steps to where his wife stood with the children.

“Sandy, welcome home,” the attractive
blonde said, offering her a one arm hug around the baby.

“Thank you Della,” she said with a smile.

“Creighton, this is my wife Della,” Michael said with a wide smile. They shook hands then Creighton turned back to the man next to him.

“Actin
g mayor?” he asked with a sly grin.

“
An anonymous package was sent to the papers and to the district attorney a few days ago, that showed proof of Nelson’s illegal and immoral activities with a businessman over in Hays. There were illicit photos of the man’s nocturnal habits among the papers, if you know what I mean. His second in command, Fetter, was also involved to the point of extortion and forgery. They have both been relieved of their authority and is currently sitting in a jail cell in Great Bend pending further investigation. Both Edith Nelson and Sarah Fetter have taken their families and gone off to visit relatives for a few weeks. Since I’m on the council and the next in line for the throne, so to speak, I was asked to step in and take over. There will be an emergency election held next week where a new mayor will be chosen for office, until the next election.”

“Let’s hope the right choice is made,” Sandra said with a smile.

“I’m sure hoping it will be. This town cannot survive another Nelson,” Michael said.

“Well,
Mayor
Farnsworth,” Creighton said with a warm smile. “Perhaps we can meet sometime this week and see what needs to be done to start breaking ground for NHT.” Michael’s smile widened, if that was possible, and they shook hands before Creighton walked back to their table with his wife.

“You are a very gallant man,
Mr. Ashford,” she told him, stopping and shaking hands with several citizens as they tried to make their way back to James and Mary.

“I have learned over the years, you deal with those in charge only to the extent of their morals. Seems like your friend has many more than his predecessor.”

“That he does.” Sandra smiled, hugging the children who came up to her and introducing her husband to their parents, older siblings and the many around her which she knew by name.

“So I have to tell you,” she said as they walked further away from the crowd of people. “Green eyes do not go well with that body.” Creighton frowned when he turned and looked at her smile. “My hand still hurts from when Michael hugged me at city hall. You were jealous.”

“I was curious,” he answered.

“You were jealous, down right,
full-fledged jealous. Admit it; you thought there was something between Michael and I didn’t you?”

“No I didn’t,” he replied, fighting the smile from his face. “I happen to know you were very much a virgin before I got hold of you.”

“But you still thought we had feelings for each other.”

“Are you trying to start another argument?” he asked her with an amused frown creasing his brow.

“Only if the making up is as good as this afternoon.” Creighton laughed, pulling her into his embrace as they walked up to the table they had left a short time ago. Mary and James smiled brightly as they approached, pushing the plate of homemade bread, pies and cookies in front of the two, before leaving with Craig and Nellie to get the barbeque. Creighton watched them leave then looked at his wife who was cutting the peach pie, placing two slices on paper plates for them.

“You were trying to make me jealous as well,” he accused her. “Craig? He isn’t exactly your type.”

“No, he’s Nellie’s type.”

“I guess we still have a lot to learn about each other,” he said, watching as she dipped the spoon into the container of whipped cream and placing a dollop onto each piece of pie.

“Well, you can think of it this way; there’s a lot of fun, a few arguments and many, many long episodes of making up in our future.” Creighton took her hand in his as she set the plate in front of him and slipped her index finger into his mouth, sucking off the small amount of whipped cream she had gotten on it. Sandra watched the dark emotion cross his eyes through the light that twinkled from the strings decorative lights hanging around the trees.

“I look forward to all of it,” he whispered, turning her hand and kissing the palm, his tongue tracing a path to the tip of each finger in turn. Sandra felt suddenly very warm and found sitting still extremely difficult, the tight seam of her
shorts seemed to be rubbing in just the right way that made her want to wiggle against it. Creighton winked at her with a wicked grin as he leaned in and kissed her cheek, the moved to her ear.

“We’ve tried to Eiffel
Tower; shall we try the local park?” Sandra felt the heat stinging her cheeks and neck.

“It’s tempting,
but I’d rather go back to the motel.”

“You promised; and I have every intention of making you keep to your word.”

“Bring it on Ashford,” she whispered, her hand slipping out of his grip and caressing the inside of his thigh.

She
felt the anticipation of keeping her promise begin to flow through her veins like molten lava; playing with him was far more intriguing than arguing, though making up was just as much fun.

Sandra stretched her arms above her head and sighed. The sun poked through the small slit between the curtains and she frowned. She didn’t remember coming back to the motel, but they were there and lying next to her asleep was her husband. She frowned as she tried to remember what all happened the night before. She had watched Creighton play soccer with a group of local kids before sparring off, adults against teens and winning practically single handed – or footed as the case may be. She had gone to sit on a large blanket next to her grandmother and sister who arrived shortly after supper and watched the festivities until the fireworks started, lying across Creighton’s lap. She must have fallen asleep because she could only recall a small portion of the brightly colored lights that dotted and decorated the night skies.

There was a fleeting memory of being lifted to her feet as her husband walked her back to James’s Bronco, but she couldn’t remember anything else after the car pulled away. She knew she had not kept her promise to him; she had succumbed to the exhaustion of all that happened the day before and fell fast asleep. So far gone was she, that she didn’t even remember coming
in the room or crawling into bed.

She rolled over and looked at the clock;
seven twelve; this was possibly one of the few times since she had met the man that they had slept in. Perhaps the simple country life was good for both of them. She smiled and slowly rose out of bed, as not to awaken the man who snored softly next to her, but the sudden jerk of her stomach made her realize why she had awoken. She uncovered her legs and hurried into the bathroom, closing the door just in time to make it to the toilet before hurling whatever was left from the food she had eaten the night before, into the porcelain basin.

Several minutes passed by before she felt like her stomach was empty; though there wasn’t much in it to begin with. She stood up slowly and walked to the sink, turning the water on to wash her face and rinse her mouth out before brushing her teeth. And she was worried about everything being alright just a few days ago when the nausea had abruptly stopped, she thought.