Allie smiled. ‘‘I do.’’
EPILOGUE
THEY RODE NORTH, AVOIDING TOWNS AS THEYheaded home to Wes’s ranch. Even after a few days in the cave, Wes still didn’t want to share Allie with anyone. They could have made the journey in half the time, but Wes found himself looking for a camp by midafternoon each day. He’d take the time to unload the pack mule and set up the tent. Then, they’d watch the sun set and were making love by the time the stars came out each night. She liked to sleep nude beside him, and Wes never thought to complain.
When they finally crossed onto his land, he saw it through her eyes. All that had ever mattered to him was how many head of cattle he could run on each acre. But she saw the streams and the rolling hills. To her, his ranch was beautiful.
As they moved over his land, Wes noticed far more strays grazing on the property than he remembered leaving before the drive. First a few, then groups of twenty or thirty head. As they neared, he was surprised to see they bore his brand.
At first, Wes thought he must have been a fool to miss so many head, but as he came upon a herd of fifty or more, he knew something was wrong. No man would leave so many in the field to winter.
When they cleared the ridge to his dugout, Wes understood.Between his home and the barn was a camp. Wes kicked his horse, ready to demand some answers.
But as he approached, he recognized the men. They were Victoria’s Old Guard, and they were milling around as though they’d been there for days.
Wes swung from his saddle. ‘‘What’s going on?’’ he asked the first man he saw.
The aging soldier just pointed to the campsite.
Wes saw Colonel Attenbury step from a tent. ‘‘ Colonel!’’ Wes called to him. ‘‘What’s going on?’’
The colonel smiled. ‘‘We’ve been sent to deliver Miss Allie’s dowry.’’
‘‘I don’t need any-’’
Attenbury held up his hand. ‘‘I’ve been told that if you won’t take the cattle, we’re to take back the bride. It is an insult to refuse a dowry.’’
Wes heard the sound of several guns clearing leather.
‘‘Which will it be, son? Have no doubt, we’ll carry out Miss Victoria’s order if we have to make her granddaughter a widow to do so.’’
Wes smiled. ‘‘I guess I’ll take the cattle-because I’m not giving up my wife.’’
He turned in time to see Allie step into the dugout; he felt his heart sink. How could he bring a wife to such a horrible little house that stuck out of the side of a ridge, half underground, half above?
As he walked away, he heard Attenbury invite them to supper, but Wes wasn’t thinking of food. She’d probably take one look at the spider web-infested place and run back to Victoria’s.
When he stepped into the dugout, it was so black he couldn’t even see her. She’d vanished in the shadows.
‘‘It’s not so bad once the windows are opened and the lamps are lit,’’ he tried to reassure her. ‘‘I never spent much time in here.’’
He knew she was in the darkness somewhere.
‘‘I’ll start on the other house. We’ll have it finished in no time.’’ He moved into the blackness.
When he did, her arms slid around his waist. ‘‘I love it,’’ she whispered. ‘‘It’s half your world and half mine. Half house and half cave.’’
Her hand moved over his clothes to his hair and pulled his head down to her lips. The kiss was warm and inviting. Cool air surrounded them. Thick walls blocked out all the world but Allie in his arms.
‘‘There’s a bed in here somewhere,’’ he mumbled as she unbuttoned his clothes, as if they hadn’t made love in days.
‘‘I know,’’ she said, laughing. ‘‘I’ve already stumbled over it.’’ She pulled him along.
‘‘Allie,’’ he whispered as their knees brushed the bed and they tumbled backward. ‘‘Are you smiling?’’
‘‘Yes,’’ she answered.
‘‘Allie, I love you.’’
‘‘I take that as a promise.’’
He kissed her tenderly.
‘‘More, please.’’
JODI THOMAS
