Tumbleweed Weddings (52 page)

Bruce faced them as he took a seat in a wooden rocking chair. “It certainly was warm out today.”

Derek nodded. “It hit 101 degrees this afternoon. Hope it cools off, especially during the last week of July. Dad and I plan to be in Cheyenne for the rodeo.”

“Ah! You must be referring to Cheyenne Frontier Days.”

“Yep.” Derek grinned. “Time for cowboys to get down and dirty.”

“Cowboys?” Beside him, Kandi perked up. “What rodeo is this?”

He glanced at her. “Cowboys call it ‘The Daddy of ’Em All.’ It’s been held every July since 1897. They do cattle roping, barrel racing, and bull riding, among other things. They even have pancake breakfasts and parades. It’s a huge event, lasting ten or twelve days.”

“Wow.” Her pretty eyes stared into his. “Are you doing any cattle roping?”

“No.” He grinned. “I’m a sheep rancher, not a cowboy.”

Bruce leaned back in his rocker. “How many days are you going, Derek?”

“Dad and I go every day except Sunday. We love watching the cowboy contests. My mom and sisters only attend one day. They like to see what people are wearing.” Derek laughed. “You can tell a city slicker in cowboy getup a mile away.”

“Aye.” Bruce chuckled. “That’s one reason I don’t go. I feel out of my element.”

Derek raised his eyebrows. “You’re not going this year?”

Bruce shook his head. “I never do. Once, about fifteen years ago, I attended the rodeo. That was enough for me.”

Kandi folded her arms. “Well you’ll have to go this year, Grandpa. I want to see it, especially the cowboys roping cattle. I’d really like to see a parade, too. Sounds awesome.” She smiled at Derek.

That’s the most I heard her talk all night!
“The parades are held three or four days in downtown Cheyenne.”

“Do they have floats?”

“Yep. Floats, marching bands, antique cars. It’s great, especially if the weather is good.”

“And what about the pancake breakfast?”

“They have three free breakfasts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the last week.”

“Awesome.” She turned to her grandfather. “You have to take me one of those days, Grandpa.”

Bruce stopped rocking. “Sorry to disappoint, dear girl, but I can’t stand out in the hot sun all day. Your grandfather is too old for that kind of thing.”

“You can go with our family, Kandi.” Derek hastened to emphasize the others. “My mom and sisters hang out together, and they would love to show you around.” Looking at Bruce, he frowned as a thought popped into his head. “I assume Callie and Tonya will go with us. This is the first summer that both of them are married.”

Bruce nodded. “They’ll drag their men with them, I’m sure, although Murray was on patrol duty last July. He might be on duty again this year.”

Derek rubbed his chin. “Yeah, I remember seeing Twitch in his uniform.”

“Twitch?” Kandi raised her eyebrows.

“My brother-in-law, Murray Twichell.”

“That’s his name?” She shook her head. “Poor guy.”

Derek frowned. “I never thought a thing about Murray’s name. I’ve known the Twichells since I was born.”

“Aye, a name becomes familiar.” Bruce looked at his granddaughter. “Of course, not everyone has a great last name like MacKinnon.”

“It’s the best!” Kandi laughed. “I’m proud to have Scottish blood running through my veins.”

Derek glanced at her, thankful she was finally contributing to the conversation. Perhaps shyness had been the culprit on their date. But it didn’t matter. He should have listened to his conscience in the first place.

Dating and I just don’t get along
.

A
t nine forty-five on Monday night, Cheyenne glanced up from the book she was reading as Dad’s voice filled the house.

“Come on, Marshal. Time for our walk, boy.”

Marshal barked several times by the back door.

“Cheyenne!” Dad bellowed. “Marsh and I are leaving!”

“Okay, Dad.” She had read the same paragraph three times and still didn’t know what it said.

She waited to hear the back door open, but it didn’t happen. Instead Dad walked to the living room, leading Marsh. “Hey, do you want to go with us?”

She raised her eyebrows. “On the walk?”

“Yeah. It’s a beautiful evening. You could get some exercise.”

With a sigh, she laid aside her book. Even her dad was telling her she needed to lose weight. “Sure, I’ll go with you.”

“We can talk. Seems like I never see you anymore, baby girl.”

They left the house, and Cheyenne fell into step beside him on the smooth sidewalk. For a big man, he walked fast. Marshal trotted at his side with the leash limp in Dad’s hand.

Cheyenne breathed in the warm night air. Every minute or so, they passed under a street lamp, the light spreading a yellow circle around them before they entered the darkness again. A thin sliver of moon peeked through the trees.

“Where are we going?”
I can’t believe I’m not winded yet
. Maybe she was in better shape than she thought.

“I always go to the park.” Dad looked down at the dog. “It’s peaceful at this time of night, and Marshal enjoys the scenery.”

She grinned. “Marsh would enjoy the slums of Calcutta.”

They turned right on Pronghorn Avenue and passed the Elks Lodge, which was dark. Soon the houses ended, and a glow of lights signaled the park’s entrance. Inside, a maze of sidewalks skirted around trees, benches, and light posts. Several other people strolled the sidewalks, and they greeted them as they passed.

“You’re right, Dad. This is peaceful.” Cheyenne took in a deep breath. “I should do more walking at night.”

“Not without Marshal or me.” Dad cocked an eyebrow at her. “A young woman shouldn’t be out by herself, even in a safe town like Fort Lob.”

“I’ll remember that, Dad, especially when I move.”

He grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop and face him. “You’re moving, baby girl?”

Oops!
How had she let that slip? She looked up into his blue eyes, knowing she had to tell him eventually. “I guess I didn’t tell you my plans.”

“No.”

“I need a change in my life, Dad.” She began walking at a more leisurely pace. “I’m thinking of moving out of the house.”

Dad strolled beside her. “It’s about time you became independent. I suppose you want to buy your own place in Fort Lob.”

They passed a park bench illuminated by a lamppost. “Not in Fort Lob. I’d like to move to Loveland.”

“In Colorado?” He stopped again, and his voice echoed through the park. “That’s crazy!”

“Dad!” Holding up her hands, Cheyenne almost whispered. “Keep your voice down.”

“I am keeping my voice down,” he said, just as loud as before. “Why do you want to move to Colorado?”

She sighed. “I feel stuck, Dad. Maybe if I settle somewhere different, I can meet a new guy.”

Rex Pierson’s handsome face popped into her mind. He came to the post office every day to check his box, and he always greeted her. Sometimes they talked for ten or fifteen minutes before he left, and she enjoyed the conversation. But he was just being friendly.

Besides, he’s too old for me
.

Dad pursed his lips, then turned and strode down the sidewalk with Marsh trotting beside him. Cheyenne caught up, knowing better than to interrupt Dad’s thoughts. She prayed he wasn’t offended that she wanted to leave but would instead give his blessing.

After circling the park and coming back to the same spot, Dad motioned to the bench under the lamppost. “Let’s sit down.”

They settled on the bench with Marshal sitting at their feet. He panted as he surveyed the area, and Cheyenne reached down to fondle his ear.
No worries for you, Marsh
.

Dad placed his hefty arm on the back of the bench behind her. “I assume you’ve prayed about this?”

She nodded. “I already applied for a couple jobs in Loveland, and I feel good about it. Maybe this is God’s will for me.”

“When do you plan to move?”

She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “As soon as I get a job.”

Dad grunted then looked her in the eye. “You’ll have to join a good church when you move.”

He was giving his blessing!
Thank You, Lord!
“I know the Lord will lead me to the right church, but do you think I’ll make it, Dad? I have less than two years.”

Dad squeezed her shoulder. “We’ll have to keep praying, baby girl.” He paused. “God’s ways are not our ways. Maybe He doesn’t want you to have that money.”

“But Dad …” Her eyes widened. “Four million dollars!”

He gave her a sad smile. “We’ve lived without it all these years, and the Lord has always provided.” A muscle in his cheek jumped. “ ’Course, I’d hate for George Sommers to inherit that money. He’ll just sink it into his casino.”

She grit her teeth. “That will not happen, Dad. But that’s why I have to move and meet someone different. No one in Fort Lob is standing at my door begging to marry me.”

“Truth to tell, I always figured you’d end up with Derek, but I guess your interest in him died out.”

“I’m still interested.
His
interest is the one that died.” Admitting it out loud was like twisting a knife in her heart.

“Are you sure? Remember when Derek was sick a few weeks ago? Jake told me Derek was impressed by your help.”

“Big deal, Dad.” She grimaced. “Last Friday night Derek took Bruce MacKinnon’s granddaughter out on a date.”

“Bruce’s granddaughter? Was she in church yesterday—that pretty girl with the red hair?”

Cheyenne nodded. “Kandi.”
The girl with the cute face, perfect figure, and impressive bowling ability
. “There’s no way I can compete with her.”

“What do you mean?” He pulled his arm from the back of the bench. “You’re every bit as pretty as that girl.”

“She’s tiny—just naturally thin, unlike me.” Cheyenne huffed out a breath. “Derek seems crazy about her.”

A minute passed before Dad spoke. “When you were a little girl, your mother would pray for you every night before we went to bed. Sometimes she prayed for a good husband for her daughter. I thought that was strange when you were so young. But Lynn was right. The years have gone by quickly, and now you’re a young woman.” He glanced at her, and Cheyenne was surprised to see a tear in his eye. “I’ll miss you, but God will take care of you.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Tears crept to her own eyes, but she blinked them away. “Somehow, if I keep trusting the Lord, I know everything will work out.”

Dad patted her knee. “Yep—even if you don’t inherit Florence Ingersoll’s money.”

A sigh escaped under her breath. Why couldn’t she marry the right man
and
inherit the money?

“Dad, how did you know that Mom was the one for you? Were you super attracted to her, and you just knew she was the one?”

“No, not really. Actually I was dating another girl named Noreen. I met her at my job, and I thought
she
was the one I would marry. One Saturday our church group went ice-skating, and I invited Noreen to come along. Everything was going great until I skated into one of the girls, and she fell and broke her leg.” He looked her in the eye. “That girl was your mom.”

“Mom was ice-skating? I can’t even picture that.” Cheyenne grinned. “Are you sure
she
didn’t run into
you?”

Dad laughed. “She wasn’t the most athletic person.”

“Just like me.” Cheyenne rolled her eyes. “So what happened? How did you and Mom get together?”

“I felt so bad for knocking her down that I volunteered to take her to the hospital. So I carried her to my car—”

“The big Wilkins body came in handy that time, huh, Dad?”

“Sure did.” He grinned. “We talked all the way to the hospital, even though she was in pain. Then I hung around until her parents got there.” He shook his head. “Noreen was so mad at me for leaving her.”

“Well … you really can’t blame her.”

“Except for the fact that Noreen harped at me for a week. She was so jealous, and she wouldn’t get off my back! Your mom was so different. The next time I saw her in church—hobbling around on crutches—she apologized for ruining my date with Noreen. Right then I realized who I wanted to marry. Your mom and I dated for three months, and I proposed to her on Valentine’s Day.”

Cheyenne gave a wistful sigh. “That’s so romantic, Dad. I wish Mom was still here to tell me her side of the story.”

“I can fill you in. Lynn had been secretly in love with me. She called it ‘unrequited love.’ It hurt her to see me dating Noreen.”

Like me with Derek
. Cheyenne sighed again, but it wasn’t wistful this time.

“But Lynn bided her time and prayed a lot. Deep in her heart she knew I was destined to become her husband.” He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Maybe you shouldn’t give up on Derek.”

“I’ve wanted to marry him for a long time.” Why was she telling Dad this? Yet at the same time, it made her feel closer to him to share her heart. “But how do I know if he’s God’s will for me or if the Lord has someone else in mind?”

“Pastor Reilly says God’s will is revealed through His Word. Keep studying the Bible and praying, and God will let you know. I’ll pray, too. Derek’s a great guy, and he’d make a wonderful husband for you.” Dad glanced at his watch. “It’s almost eleven. We’d better get back.”

Cheyenne stood. She had a lot to pray about when she got home.