Cowboy Take Me Away (Rough Riders 16)

“Sorry.”

She raised her hand to eye level. She gasped, her right hand flew to her mouth and the waterworks started again.

How the hell could she even see the damn thing through her tears?

“Sugar? You okay?”

She shook her head yes, then no… And then she started hiccupping which made her cry harder.

He had no experience with this stuff. What was he supposed to do?

Figure it out because you’ll be dealing with this woman’s emotions—good and bad—for the rest of your life.

“C’mere.” Carson wrapped her in his arms and held her until she calmed down.

She stepped back and wiped her face. “I’m probably a mess. I need a tissue. Just a moment.” She rummaged in her purse. She gave him her back as she blew her nose. Then she brushed some sort of powder over her face before she faced him again.

“Better?”

“In shock. Huge surprise, McKay.” She smiled shyly and walked back into his arms.

Carson kissed her forehead. “I’d apologize for popping the question in the parking lot of the damn Ice Cream Palace, but it’s probably a good indication.”

“Of what?”

“Of the fact I ain’t a romantic kinda guy. I’ll try to be that guy. But I ain’t good at that hearts and flowers shit.”

Carolyn laughed. “I guess time will tell, won’t it? I’ll forgive you for not being a romantic if you’ll overlook that I don’t have the faintest idea what it means to be a rancher’s wife.”

His mouth brushed her temple. “You’ll spend a lot of time nekkid in our bed.” His lips traveled, skimming the top of her ear. “I can’t wait to wake up with you every morning and hold you in my arms every night.”

“That was pretty romantic.” She studied her left hand pressed against his chest. “The ring is beautiful.” She bit her lip and that stemmed another round of tears. “Is it something that’s been in your family?”

“Why would you think that?”

Her gaze hooked his. “It’d make sense that you could propose on the spur of the moment if you already had the ring.”

“Like I had it on hand and I was just waitin’ on the right woman to give it to?”

She nodded.

“Wrong. I bought this ring specifically for you. Today.”

“You did?”

“Uh-huh.”

“That’s seriously romantic.”

Carson placed his large hand over her smaller one and traced the stone with his thumb. “So you like it?”

“I love it.” She pecked him on the mouth. “I—” a kiss, “—love—” another kiss, “—you.”

“I love you too.”

She teared up again. “That’s the first time you’ve said that to me.”

His eyebrows rose. “It is? Huh. I thought I’d said it before.”

“It doesn’t count when we’re naked.”

“Sure it does.” He chuckled and kissed her nose. “What’re we doin’ tonight?”

“I’m still in shock. Can we go someplace quiet where we can make plans?”

“You don’t wanna tell your family?”

She shook her head. “It can wait until tomorrow. I don’t want anyone to ruin tonight because it’s ours.”

Happy as he was that she didn’t have rose-colored glasses on when it came to their family situation, it put him on edge knowing big obstacles were in front of them. “I’d offer my place—which will be our place soon enough—but once we’re alone I’m gonna be all over you.”

“How well I know that.” She smirked. “How happy I am about that. Let’s have a sweet treat here while we talk. And if we get through all that…” her lips teased his ear, “…we’ll see about you getting a taste of my sweet pu…dding.”

Damn, he loved this woman.

Later on that night, Carson couldn’t very well say that men didn’t give a shit about wedding planning stuff—even when it was true.

“We’ll need to meet with the priest right away and I’ll get started making my dress.” She fiddled with her ring. “How long of an engagement do you want? I was thinking the first part of October for the wedding.”

“October? Not happening, Carolyn. That’s too damn long.”

“When do you see us getting married?” she countered.

“Within a month. But if I had my way? We’d apply for a marriage license tomorrow and make it official as soon as the law allows.”

That stubborn chin came up. “We are getting married in the Catholic church. End of discussion.”

“Fine. There shouldn’t be a problem since I don’t have to convert. We’ll be husband and wife no more than one month from now. That’s my end of discussion point.”

“But…why are you so adamant on the short time frame?”

Carson took her hand. “I want to start spendin’ my life with you now. Not months down the road. Why don’t you just admit the only reason you don’t want this wedding to happen so soon is because you’re afraid people will gossip that we had to get married.”

Her eyes flashed guilt.

“I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks, Caro. The sooner you learn that about me the better.”

“That’s not the only reason you want it done in a month. You afraid I’ll change my mind?”

He smiled at her. “No, I ain’t afraid you’ll change your mind. It’s just…this is the slow time of year for us. That means I can spend a lot of time with you.”

“During that free time you’ll teach me things so I’m not a greenhorn ranch wife?”

“Yep.” Carson ran the pad of his thumb over her knuckles. “But why’re you a greenhorn? My dad said the Wests owned Ag land?”

“We did. I mean we do. The land was my grandfather’s and he passed it on, but Dad had no interest in ranching. He started working in the coal mine when he was sixteen. He and my mom lived in the ranch house until Stuart was born and they needed something bigger. That’s when they bought the place we live in now.”

“So they just abandoned the house and the land?”

“Dad leased it out until Harland was old enough to take over. I wasn’t raised around cows. Or horses. They sorta scare me.”

Carson grinned. “I’ll have you ropin’ and ridin’ in no time, Mrs. McKay.”