Wild Cowboy Ways (Lucky Penny Ranch #1)(95)

Allie hugged Lizzy even tighter. “Oh, Lizzy, I’m so sorry. That bastard did this with a phone call?”

Lizzy nodded. “He said I was never cut out to be a preacher’s wife anyway. And God told him that with prostitutes in my background that he’d never be accepted as a preacher. What am I going to do?”

“Break up with him,” Allie said.

“Are you crazy? He broke it off with me,” Lizzy said.

“And he’s not coming back to Texas for a long time. Give me your engagement ring.”

Lizzy pointed at the toilet. “I flushed it.”

“That’s even better. You are going to get up, wash your face, and use the makeup kit in my purse to fix things as best you can. Then we’re going back into the church and we’re going to cut my wedding cake. You aren’t going to say a word but when people start to notice that your ring is gone you are going to say that your broke it off with him because you found out he had another woman on the line. Do you understand me?” Allie said sternly.

Lizzy nodded. “It’s almost the truth and it will save all that sickening sweet pity, won’t it?”

Allie pulled Lizzy up and marched her to the sink. “Work some magic in five minutes. The gossip fiends will come looking for me if I’m not back by then.”

Lizzy washed her face with a brown paper towel and then applied makeup. When she and Allie walked out of the bathroom, they both had smiles. Maybe Lizzy’s didn’t reach her eyes but no one would notice.

“And here is our bride and her lovely sister,” the preacher said loudly when they reached the fellowship hall. “Let’s cut into that cake and see if it’s as good as it looks.”

Allie reached for Blake’s hand and he raised an eyebrow.

“Later, darlin’. More than one prayer got answered today.” She smiled up at him as they crossed the floor to the cake table.

“You took the test?”

“Not yet. It’s waiting at home and I’ll explain the rest later.”

“And after the cake cutting,” Katy announced, “Allie and Blake will have their first dance as a married couple.”

Allie picked up the long knife with a lovely cut glass handle. “The mamas went all out, didn’t they?”

“Mamas are like that.” Blake kissed her again and the whole crowd applauded. “Don’t worry, I chose the song.”

“You knew?” Allie asked.

“Not until late last night. Let’s get this cake cut and dance so we can go home, Mrs. Dawson.”

When the first strands of music started, Allie’s eyes widened out as big as saucers. “Is that what I think it is?”

“Not the conventional wedding music, but it’s our music and the words remind me of…” Blake said.

Allie put her fingers over his lips and blushed. Blake twirled her out on the area cleared out for a dance floor and danced with her just like they’d done at Frankie’s place while Etta James sang “Something’s Got a Hold on Me.”

“And now for my choice.” Allie put her arms around Blake’s neck and swayed with him to “I Cross My Heart” by George Strait. “And yes, I knew last night, too. Lizzy told me.”

She glanced over at her sister sitting in a folding chair, a smile plastered on her face even though it didn’t reach her eyes. That’s when Toby stood up and shook the legs of his jeans down over his boot tops and held his hand out to Lizzy.

Allie could have kissed her new brother-in-law as he drew Lizzy into his arms. Lizzy frantically looked across the room to her sister.

Allie nodded and winked. She and her sister might fight. They would definitely argue, but as sisters, they still had the ability to comfort and convey messages with a glance.

Lizzy relaxed in Toby’s arms and followed his expert steps around the room as the rest of the floor filled up with folks dancing to the next song on George Strait’s CD, “I Swear.”

“I do swear to love you with every beat of my heart until death parts us just like George is singing,” Blake whispered.

Allie rolled up on her toes and kissed him and hoped that someday her sister found a man just like Blake Dawson. One who, like George Strait sang about, would love her with every beat of his heart.



It was mid-afternoon when Blake picked up Allie for the second time that day and carried her across the threshold into the ranch house. He didn’t stop at the bedroom but took her straight to the bathroom before he set her down. “I love you, Allie Dawson, but I can’t wait any longer.”

She followed the directions on the paper and laid the stick on a paper towel on the counter. With a hand on either side of her face, Blake looked deeply into her eyes. “Neither of us will look until the time is up.”

The seconds dragged but finally she covered her hands with his. “Okay, here goes. Oh, Blake, it’s positive. Three weeks. Must have happened that first time.” She’d wondered all week how she’d feel if she was really pregnant or how he’d feel. And now the answer was there. She was going to be a mother. She was carrying Blake’s child. And she was filled with an indescribable mixture of awe and happiness. And his face registered absolute pride and joy.

“Lord, help us if this baby gets your wild cowboy ways and my temper,” she whispered.