Wild Cowboy Ways (Lucky Penny Ranch #1)(93)

Later that afternoon, Allie held the ring up to catch the sunlight pouring into the bedroom. “I can’t believe you proposed right there in public.”

Blake wrapped his hand around hers and brought the ring to her face. “That brown diamond is the same color as your eyes. Darlin’, it was either propose or explode. I knew I wouldn’t be able to swallow that good food until I asked you to marry me.”

“We need to talk,” she said.

“Oh, no!” He fell back on the pillows. “I hate it when you say that.”

“Well, we do.”

“Please don’t tell me you aren’t going to marry me,” he groaned.

“Oh, honey, I’m going to marry you, but I’m fixin’ to give you a way out if you don’t want to be burdened with what I’m about to say.” She swallowed twice and started three times but the words wouldn’t come out. “Hell’s bells, Blake, this is tough.”

Blake propped up on an elbow. “Just spit it out.”

“I was married for two years and sexually active for two years before that. We were young and stupid the first two years. After we married we wanted children, but it never happened and Riley said it was my fault,” she said slowly.

“And what has that got to do with us?”

She shrugged. “I’m three days late and we haven’t even talked about kids because I told you I couldn’t have any. But I’ve never been late and now I’m thinkin’ maybe Riley lied to me about going to the doctor to get tested.” She stopped to catch her breath.

Blake pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “I want kids, but I want you more. If you are pregnant, then I hope it’s twins so we’ll get a jump on a house full. If you aren’t and you really can’t have them, then someday in the future we might discuss adoption if you want them.”

She pushed back and let the tears loose to stream down her cheeks. “I love you with my whole heart and what you just said makes me say yes to your proposal all over again. Let’s get married this week.”

“Sounds great to me, but don’t take the test until afterward. I don’t ever want you to feel like I married you because I had to. I’m marrying you because I love you, Allie.” He kissed away her tears.

“You are trying to make a ranch here. A wife wasn’t in your four-year plan and I know a baby wasn’t.”

“We’ll take them when we get them and if we never get them, then we have each other. Did you have your mind set on a big wedding?”

“Hell, no!” she said loudly. “Let’s go get a license at the courthouse before Friday, get married on Sunday morning after church, and the potluck can be our reception. I want to be a wife, not a fiancée.”

He laid a hand on her flat stomach. “I love you, Allie.”

“I love you, too, Blake,” she said.





Chapter Twenty-seven



You cannot wear that.” Lizzy was absolutely aghast that Sunday morning. “You are getting married, not going to stand on the street corner to solicit business.”

“It’s Valentine’s Day. I like red, and Blake is wearing a red tie so this is it. Besides remember our roots, Lizzy.” Allie smiled. “I’ll be the hooker bride. You can be the snow white virgin bride.”

“I’m not a virgin. Haven’t been since I was eighteen,” Lizzy said tersely.

Allie leaned in close to the mirror and applied eyeliner. “You might as well be one as long as it’s been since you’ve had a good romp in the bed. When your Mitch comes home, take him to a motel and jump his bones. It’ll make you feel a hell of a lot better.”

“That wild cowboy has made you as rowdy as he is.” Lizzy laughed.

“Yes, he has, and I love it and him for doing it. Now let’s go to church and have a wedding afterward, then we can eat all that lovely food. And Lizzy, thank you one more time for helping me move all my things over to the Lucky Penny. I can’t believe I’ll be waking up tomorrow in my new home.”

Lizzy laid a hand on her shoulder. “Or that it’s this close to Mama and Granny. I envy you, sister.”

Allie turned around and hugged Lizzy tightly. “I’m not going to think about you having to live all the way up there in the city. I’ll miss you so much.”

“Don’t talk about it or we’ll both cry and mess up our makeup. I’ve got to stand up beside you at the wedding and I don’t need to have black streaks down my face. Who is Blake’s best man? Deke?”

Allie took a step back. “No, it’s his brother, Toby.”

“Well, you will have a few months before he moves in to enjoy the honeymoon,” Lizzy sniffed. “At least Mitch and I won’t have another person living with us.”

“But Grady will be there every day, I betcha. And with Deke in and out every day, we’re already used to an extra person around,” Allie told her.



Allie’s hands had started to sweat when the preacher took the podium. He laid his Bible down but didn’t open it and smiled out at the congregation. “Today, we aren’t going to have a service, but we are going to have a wedding. In my opinion there isn’t a better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than to unite two people who are very much in love in the bonds of holy matrimony.”