“Are you ready?” Clay asked.
“I am if I’m not needed here.”
“No, Elizabeth and I will be all right. You two run along and enjoy the ride,” Cora insisted waving a dish towel at the newlyweds.
Clay held the door open and followed Grace as she made her way to the barn. He insisted on saddling both horses and frowned when Grace double checked the cinch.
“I’m your husband, don’t you trust me?”
Grace smiled at him sweetly. “My father always taught me to double check the cinch regardless of who saddles your horse. He even made sure I did it when he saddled them for me since the last time we went riding, I was too small to lift the saddle.”
“I suppose that’s sage advice,” Clay admitted. “Your father taught you well.”
Grace lifted her left foot into the stirrup and threw her right leg over Willow. She smiled at Clay again. “Yes, he did. Are we riding or talking?” Not knowing exactly how Willow would react, she just squeezed her knees into Willow’s side, and the horse took off across the yard, past the corral, and into the field at a gallop.
When Clay caught up to them, Grace was laughing and slowed Willow to a walk. “She’s beautiful and fast. I’m going to enjoy riding her.”
Clay leaned over and kissed Grace. “I’m happy you like her. Come on, I want to show you one of my favorite spots.”
Wade watched the two kiss and squinted his eyes and clenched the reins of his horse in his hands. He spurred his horse into the opposite direction fuming and wondering how to make sure his brother’s marriage failed.
Clay and Grace oblivious to the fact that Wade had spied on them continued to ride their horses until they came to a small stream that widened into a pool.
“Oh, there’s another stream,” Grace said. “Is it the same one that’s closer to the house?”
“Actually no, it’s a different one, but it runs off from the same small river north of here. There are three of these on the ranch. This one is my favorite because the pool is deep enough to swim in and far enough away from the house, so Wade and I were never spotted skipping chores and going swimming when we were younger.”
Clay stepped off his horse and watched Grace dismount in a most ladylike manner. His wife was a real lady, and he had to make sure he treated her that way, but she also seemed to fit into ranch life well. He smiled knowing Grace was the best of both worlds and could see them growing old together, sitting in rocking chairs on the porch, and watching their grandchildren play.
Clay walked up to Grace and gently pulled her into his arms and kissed her until she was breathless. She leaned against his chest and whispered, “I’m truly going to love riding Willow if all the rides are like this.”
“I can arrange that,” Clay answered, pulled a blanket off his horse, and spread it on the ground.
Grace sat, and Clay dropped down next to her. He wrapped his arm around her, and she rested her head against his shoulder.
“I’m certainly beholding to Mason for helping me find the perfect wife. He knows me well, and I doubt I could do better if I looked.”
Grace thought for a moment and said, “I am, too. If the idea had been presented to me by anyone else, I might have dismissed it. Mason is a good man, and I enjoyed working for him. He did well for both of us,” she answered and looked into Clay’s eyes.
“He did,” Clay answered before capturing her lips again.
Chapter Thirteen
Clay and Graced walked from the barn to the house hand in hand. Cora and Elizabeth were cleaning the parlor, and Grace said she needed to help. It was her home, too and she wanted to do her share. Clay smiled at his wife, and his heart felt as if it would burst.
Grandpa came out of his office and announced, “I almost forgot. The Bruster’s are having their barn warming on Saturday. It’ll be a good time for the town to meet Grace and Elizabeth at a friendly party.”
Grace asked, “Barn warming? Is that like a housewarming?”
“Sort of,” Clay answered. “The Bruster’s barn burned down late last fall. We had a barn raising which is usually followed by a party and dance. All the ladies bring a dish to pass to feed the men and everyone who attends. It was too cold to have a party in the evening, and the Bruster’s said they’d do it this spring. I suppose they’re ready.”
“A party? Is it a fancy party? I don’t have anything I could wear,” Elizabeth worried.
“No, it isn’t fancy. A Sunday dress will work well,” Cora answered hoping to quell the girl’s worries.
“I only have one Sunday dress,” Elizabeth said quietly while she dusted a table. “I need that for Sunday, I can stay here. I don’t mind.”
“Nonsense,” Grace interjected. “You and I are the same size. You’re a bit thinner, but that’s good. I left all the foolish fancy gowns my brother and sister-in-law insisted I wear to parties to try and ensnare some poor unsuspecting soul that could help my brother’s business interests, but I brought all the dresses I wore working in the bookstore. They’re all perfect for Sunday or a barn raising party.”
“Oh, I couldn’t,” Elizabeth blushed with embarrassment.
Grace walked over and took Elizabeth’s hand. “Of course, you can. You’re my sister. Sisters always share.”
Elizabeth started to catch Grace’s excitement, and they forgot about cleaning when they headed for their bedroom chatting about dresses and dancing.
Elizabeth stopped talking in mid-sentence. “Oh, Grace, I have never been to a dance. We weren’t allowed
