Larkspur Road Page 25

  It was true. Sam and Alec had driven in for the day to attend the exhibition. They would spend the night at Mia’s house and then take Britt home with them in the morning. At Britt’s pleading, Sam had agreed that her daughter could still drive in to work at A Bun in the Oven, but only weekends for the rest of the summer, giving her a chance to see Seth and to spend the night at either Mia’s house or Jackie Kenton’s.

  It had been wonderful having lunch outside with Britt, Sam, and Alec, drinking strawberry lemonade from paper cups while the sun poured down and the Lonesome Way High School marching band serenaded the crowd.

  Travis had invited Samantha, Britt, Alec, and Aunt Winny, as well as Sophie and Rafe, Lissie and Tommy, and all the kids, back to his cabin for a big barbecue tonight under the stars. Though if the weather acted up, as expected, he’d be forced to move everything indoors.

  Winny had been particularly surprised—and pleased—to be included. But nowhere near as surprised as Mia had been when she learned that her crusty aunt had volunteered to help sell tickets to the quilt exhibition outside the library entrance today.

  If she isn’t careful, Winona Pruitt might become a real honest-to-goodness force to be reckoned with in this town, Mia thought in amusement as she made her way through the main room of the library, past the vivid array of beautiful quilts draped across tables and chairs. She was thrilled to see how many people were roaming through the main room, knowing every one of them had made a donation before coming inside to view the quilts. More than a dozen quilts had been raffled off, among them Mia’s Starry Night quilt.

  With any luck the total proceeds this year would top those from last year. The Loving Arms shelter needed every penny Bits and Pieces could raise.

  Stepping outside, she peered at the crush of people. It looked like almost half the town was gathered near or around the library, in the parking lot, and across the grassy picnic area, or lined up for the ice cream cones and sundaes all donated by Lickety Split.

  The high school marching band still played, drums and trumpets blaring, adding color and noise to the celebratory atmosphere.

  And the sun was still out. But she noticed with a thrum of unease that some dark clouds were moving in. The sky was subtly changing, darkening to a hue more gray than blue.

  Damn.

  Automatically she glanced around to see if Travis and Grady were anywhere in sight. A little wave of disappointment pinged inside her as she failed to spot them even though she knew exactly where they were and why they weren’t here.

  Travis had stopped by this morning while she was helping set up the quilts and told her he and Grady would need to spend a good portion of the afternoon back at the cabin preparing for the barbecue.

  We’ll have the whole evening to be together, she reminded herself as she spotted Lissie strolling toward her. Molly, adorable in a ruffly yellow top and matching shorts, toddled at her side, clutching a small plastic spoon and a cup of melting ice cream.

  “You need to try the Crazy Mountain Caramel Hot Fudge Sundae,” Lissie informed her without preamble as Mia knelt down to give Molly a kiss on the cheek. “Best. Sundae. Ever.”

  “Bestiss!” Molly added, nodding vehemently.

  “You’ve talked me into it, both of you.” But the words were scarcely out of her mouth before Karla McDonald’s voice flowed out from the loudspeaker.

  “Can I have your attention, please? Due to the quickly changing weather, and the latest forecast, we’ve decided to move up the final ceremony and to begin taking down the quilts displayed outdoors. At precisely five o’clock we’ll make the announcement of our grand total. So if anyone wishes to make a further donation or purchase a quilt, this is the time to do it,” she told the crowd. “I need Becky Hall and Mia Quinn to join me at the podium in ten minutes.”

  A ripple of anticipation ran through everyone on the library grounds. People began to glance at the sky and to gravitate toward the raised platform twenty feet from the entrance, where the final tally would be revealed.

  “Too bad those clouds didn’t hold off for another hour,” Mia muttered, scanning the increasingly darkening sky with trepidation. “You haven’t seen Travis and Grady back yet, have you?” she asked as Molly held out a spoonful of melted ice cream to her. She took a lick. “Yum. Thanks, sweetie. That’s delicious.”

  “Car-mel. Da-wicious.” The little girl grinned.

  Lissie shook her head. “Travis and Grady? Haven’t seen ’em. Guess they’re still setting up for tonight. Or more likely, starting to move everything indoors as fast as they can.”

  A speculative sparkle gleamed suddenly from her eyes as Mia turned toward the podium. “Wait a sec. Since you brought up the subject of my brother…and if you don’t mind my asking…care to share where things between you two are headed these days?”

  “Oh, no, don’t you start, too.” Mia brushed off the question with a laugh.

  But she had to admit that she sometimes found herself wondering the same thing. The truth was, she had no idea where things were headed with Travis.

  She only knew one thing. That she loved him more than she’d ever thought possible. And that when they were together, everything somehow seemed to fall into place. Her heart felt whole. Her world happier than she ever remembered.

  Did she want a home with Travis and Grady? A baby or two—or maybe three? Cribs and bunk beds, squabbles and homework, birthday candles to blow out and holidays to be celebrated around that big table in the cabin’s kitchen? A table built to be laden with food, flanked by family, the heart and center of a home…

  Yes. She dreamed of all that. And more. With her whole heart she dreamed of it.

  But she knew Grady was making a lot of adjustments right now. In the course of little over a month he’d gone from visiting his father for the summer to living with him full-time. He and Travis deserved some father-son time now—alone time. A chance to deepen their bond, to make this transition to living together full-time as smooth and comfortable as possible.

  There’s no rush, Mia had told herself. No need to plan, or spell everything out, put a name to it. She and Travis knew how they felt and they would wait…and see….

  “There you are! Mia, Karla needs you. She and Becky are about to have a meltdown.” Sophie hurried breathlessly toward them, Rafe striding alongside, a chubby-cheeked Aiden snug in his muscular arms. Mia marveled that Sophie looked almost as fresh as she had at the start of the day, her toffee-colored hair swept up in a loose tail, her green eyes bright and glowing.

  “Someone heard it’s already raining in Big Timber,” Sophie said. “Panic is setting in onstage.”

  “I’m going up there right now.” As if to punctuate the words, a low rumble of thunder sounded in the distance. The sky was changing before their eyes to an ominous shade of charcoal. “Can you two pitch in and help take down some of the outdoor quilts? Rafe, maybe you can watch the kids?”

  “You’ve got it,” Rafe told her.

  “See you guys at the cabin later,” Mia called over her shoulder, sprinting toward the platform.

  A slight, ominous wind began to rustle along the library grounds.

  Mia ran faster. She passed Ivy Tanner and her best friends, Shannon and Val, laughing with some boys near the scattering marching band. Spotted Aunt Winny in a bright violet top and khaki pants working desperately alongside Evelyn Lewis, the Bits and Pieces recording secretary, to gather up quilts.

  Rain could move in quicker than a gunshot in Montana. She only prayed they could finish the ceremony before everyone watching got soaked.

  As she rushed up the steps of the platform she saw Martha hurrying in the same direction from the library. Becky Hall was already up there, staring nervously as members of the group and other volunteers snatched quilts from their displays and ran inside with them as the crowd pressed forward, everyone looking eager and expectant in between uneasy glances at the sky.

  The moment she reached Becky’s side she felt the first drop of rain. Just ho
ld off a few more minutes, Mia thought desperately, biting back a groan. In the crowd now she saw Aunt Winny joining Brittany, Sam, and Alec. They were pressed close among the throng near the podium.

  “Good luck, Aunt Mia,” Britt called out.

  “Woo-hoo! Go, Bits and Pieces!” Samantha whooped.

  Winny smiled up at her.

  Aunt Winny? Smiling? Now, that was something you didn’t see every day.

  “May I have your attention, everyone?” Becky spoke into the microphone as another rumble of thunder shook the sky.

  “We want to rather quickly thank you all for coming today. I think we’ve had the best turnout ever and I know all the money we’ve raised here, thanks to your generosity, will be of great help to all the women at the Loving Arms shelter. We’d especially like to thank all of our wonderful Lonesome Way businesses that have contributed so generously to this effort—”

  “Just announce the total!” a man yelled from the back of the crowd. Someone else hushed him, and Becky continued, speaking even more rapidly. “As you know, the community quilt raffle was won by Benson’s Drugstore….”

  Mia didn’t hear the rest. She’d suddenly spotted Travis and Grady at the edge of the crowd and her heart lifted. They must have just arrived and she was touched that they’d come all the way back to town just to watch the closing ceremony.

  The sight of Travis made her smile despite the stress of the impending rain. He looked effortlessly sexy in a crisp black shirt open at the neck, the sleeves rolled up, pressed jeans and boots, his Stetson on his head. He looked all cowboy and all man and her throat went dry just looking at him.

  As his gaze zeroed in on her, a grin broke across his face and he tipped back his hat. A rush of warmth and love swept over her.

  Faintly she heard Becky tell the crowd that Mia would now reveal the total amount raised today. Stepping quickly to the podium, she noticed Grady waving at her and she waved back before adjusting the microphone.

  Then Karla was beside her, her face flushed with excitement as she handed Mia her grandmother’s delicate silver box. It felt warm and familiar in her hands, and as her fingers closed around its corners, she couldn’t help but imagine Gram gazing down at her, proud that her butterfly quilt had been displayed today. Delighted that the good luck wedding quilt was back among the women of her family.

  The crowd held its collective breath, waiting for the rain, the thunder, and the total as she lifted the lid of the box.

  How much money did we raise? Hopefully enough to make a difference for all the women and children in need at the shelter.

  She reached for the slip of paper nestled inside and felt another drop of rain splash against her cheek.

  “The grand total for this year is…” She unfolded the paper with rushing, trembling fingers.

  And then stared at what she saw printed there. A bold, black scrawl of words. Not numbers. Words.

  Will you marry me?

  What? She stared down at the letters, dazed.

  “Tell us the total!” someone in the crowd yelled.

  Mia glanced down at the paper again, her heart beating so fast she couldn’t think. She could only stare at those words. It couldn’t be…

  “I think there’s been a mistake,” she began, trying to keep her tone even.

  “There’s no mistake. You read it right.”

  Travis’s voice.

  But he wasn’t speaking from the front of the crowd. He was right beside her on the platform.

  Karla was gone. So was Becky. Travis was here, looking at her with gleaming eyes. A few feet behind him, she spotted a smiling Grady.

  “I’m afraid everyone’s going to have to wait another minute for that total, folks,” Travis said into the microphone. “There’s something I need to do first and I want you all to be a part of it. I’m either going to embarrass the hell out of myself right now or I’m going to be the happiest man on earth.”

  “What are you doing?” The words burst from Mia in a gasp. She felt her face burning red. “Are you crazy?”

  “Yep. Crazy in love with you.” The microphone carried his voice throughout the crowd and suddenly laughter and applause broke out. Cheers, too.

  “Go for it, bro!” Rafe called.

  “It’s about time!” Lissie’s voice rang out happily.

  “Hurry up and ask her already,” Aunt Winny warbled through the warm air. “Any minute now we’re all going to be wet as fish in a pond.”

  “You heard the lady.” Travis spoke softly. His gaze held hers as he took the slip of paper from her numb fingers and set it inside the silver box, which he rested on the podium. Then he caught her hand, cradling her fingers in his as he drew her over to the center of the platform and the crowd whistled and cheered.

  “You really are crazy,” Mia whispered on a breathless laugh. Her throat was tight, and her heart felt ready to burst wide open and spill out all the love she could barely contain.

  “How did you…do this?”

  “I haven’t done anything yet.” Still holding her hand, he dropped down onto one knee. His eyes never left hers as he pulled a small gold box from his pocket and popped it open. On a bed of palest cream velvet glistened a brilliant round diamond ring set in platinum.

  “Mia Quinn, I left you once and it was the dumbest damned thing I ever did. But I was an idiot kid then, and I’ve learned a lot since that day. I’ve learned that you’re the only woman for me, I’ve learned that you own my heart. And if you say yes now, I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy for the rest of our lives. I love you, Mia.”

  His deep voice thickened. “I want to spend every precious moment of our lives together. I want to hold you every night and kiss you good morning every day. I want us to be a family. I want us to raise a family. And I want us to be together forever and ever.”

  Mia felt hot tears squeezing from her eyes as he turned her palm up and brushed a gentle kiss against her skin.

  “Will you marry me, Mia? Will you be my wife, for now, for always?”

  The words were said aloud for everyone to hear, but the love and hope in Travis’s steady gaze were meant only for her.

  “Yes.” Mia watched the grin spread across his face even as she began to smile. She held her breath as he slid that gorgeous ring on her finger and stood.

  Happiness mingled with shock as she stared at the brilliantly shining diamond, then at the tall man who tugged her close against his chest and wrapped his arms around her.

  “Yes, yes, yes,” she whispered, caressing his jaw, smoothing her hands through his hair as he lowered his head and kissed her long and deep. There was tenderness in the kiss, but also wanting.

  A flash-fire heat rippled between them, quickening her blood as his mouth took all he wanted from hers.

  The crowd erupted into cheers and then the rain fell. Lightning slashed across the Crazies, people yelped, a woman shrieked as rain pelted down like stones, but still Travis kissed her, and still everyone stood their ground, clapping.

  Finally Travis plopped his Stetson onto Mia’s head as the rain tumbled harder and a soaked Grady scampered toward them. Laughing, they knelt to include him in a hug, and then Rafe yelled, “Okay, everyone, we’ll save the rest for the wedding. Run for the hills!”

  Laughing, soaked, and thoroughly satisfied, the crowd scattered and everyone raced toward their trucks and cars.

  “The grand total!” Becky Hall pushed forward to scream into the microphone. “Two thousand and four hundred—” The rest was drowned out by a long crack of thunder.

  Mia found herself bundled into Travis’s Explorer, with Grady perched in the backseat.

  “Samson’s going to be my dog now, too, isn’t he?” the boy asked her, leaning forward.

  She met Travis’s grin with a smile and then turned to press a quick kiss to the boy’s cheek. “You bet he is. We all belong to each other now,” she told him. “And we always will.”

  Chapter Thirty-one

  The wedding took p
lace in August at Sage Ranch. Nearly a quarter of the town attended, and the day was sunny, without a single cloud drifting in the blue Montana sky.

  A huge luncheon buffet was served outdoors. Platters of prime rib, lemon chicken, roasted asparagus, Parmesan potato wedges, and sweet corn and peppers were arranged upon long tables bedecked with lacy white cloths. There were five kinds of pie served for dessert, along with an assortment of cupcakes and cookies and an elaborate three-tiered wedding cake baked by Sophie with chocolate ganache and buttercream frosting.

  Travis was dazzled when he saw Mia in a simple gown of palest ivory silk, her shiny blond hair flowing loose and sexy, exactly the way he liked it. She carried a bouquet of peach and white roses and Sophie, Lissie, Samantha, and Brittany were all bridesmaids in flutter-sleeve gowns of delicate peach silk. Aunt Winny, in blue taffeta and fuschia-colored nail polish, gave the bride away.

  There was champagne and wine, beer and whiskey. Rafe handed out cigars. Grady made a speech. So did Jake, Travis’s younger brother, the rodeo champion who was the only one of the Tanner boys who’d never been married, and who proclaimed himself immune to love.

  “You’re next,” Rafe had told Jake after the ceremony. “Mark my words.”

  “Your number’s coming up,” Travis had warned him.

  “Not in the cards for me,” Jake had retorted cheerfully. “Never met any woman who’d make me want to give up all the other ladies I haven’t even met yet.”