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expression in his eyes that she couldn't begin to understand.
For one wild instant, Abby pretended that this was her own wedding, that she was giving herself to
Cade for all time. It was so delicious a fantasy that she stared at him the whole length of the aisle. He-
stared back at her, his face momentarily softening, his eyes black and glittering as she went to stand at
her place beside the flowered arch of the altar. His eyes held hers for a long, blazing moment, and her
lips parted on a rush of breath as she felt the force of the look all the way to her toes.
Then the organ sounded again, and the spell was broken as Melly came down the aisle in the
gorgeous gown, carrying orchids and wildflowers in a unique bouquet.
Melly walked to the altar and stood nervously beside Jerry. The minister, a delightful man with thick
glasses and a contagiously happy expression, read the marriage service. Jerry and Melly each read
the special wording that they'd prepared for themselves, and they lit one candle together from two
separate candles to signify the joining of two people into one. The final words were read. Jerry kissed
the bride for so long that some members of the wedding party began to giggle. And all at once it was
over and they were running down the aisle together.
Abby kept out of Cade's way at the reception, sitting aside with Jessica while they discussed modeling
and clothes and the future of Jessica's boutique.
Then, all too soon, Melly was dressed in her street clothes and the happy couple rushed out the door
to start on their honeymoon. Abby kissed them both and wished them well, and stood by while Melly
stopped at the car to toss her wedding bouquet. Calla, dressed in gray and looking unusually sedate,
caught it and blushed a flaming red—especially when thin old Jeb, suited up in a rare concession to
civilization, looked at her and grinned.
Abby was grateful that she hadn't caught it That would have been the final thrust of the knife, to feel
Cade's sharp eyes on her, seeing the aching hunger she couldn't have hidden
- 56 -
from him.
Hours passed before the guests drifted away, and Abby saw Jessica off with a promise to put some
sketches in the mail at her earliest opportunity. She liked Jessica very much. And perhaps there was a
way for her to accept the job. If she moved to Wyoming, she'd be far enough away that she wouldn't
ever have to see Cade again.
Abby changed into a cotton dress with gold patterning that complemented her pinned-up blond hair
and sat down at the supper table expecting to eat alone. It was a surprise when Cade walked into the
dining room, wearing a white shirt and blue blazer with dark slacks. He looked impossibly handsome,
and as elegant as anything New York might produce.
"Ain't we pretty, though?" Calla murmured, eyeing him as she began to serve the food.
"We shore is," he returned, pursing his lips at her gray dress, which she hadn't changed. "I noticed the
way Jeb was looking at you." His eyes narrowed. "Did you bake me another cherry cake and give it to
him again?"
The older woman flushed and scowled all at once. "You hush, or I'll burn your supper. You know I
gave him the cake on account of he bailed me out when I burned the supper I was cooking for those
ranchers you invited here! And what are you doing back here with roundup in full swing? I thought
you'd be heading for the hills the" minute the words were spoke."
"I live here," he reminded her.
"Could have fooled me," she muttered, waddling out of the room.
Abby fixed her coffee and kept her eyes on her plate. She was still smarting from the ugly remark
Cade had made earlier.
"Since we're not speaking, shall I ask Calla to ask you to pass me the salt?" Cade asked coolly.
She handed it over, setting it down before he could take it from her.
"Who was the redheaded Amazon you couldn't part company with?" he asked.
She didn't like the bite in his tone, but it was none of his business who Jessica was.
"Another model," she lied, staring at him.
His face hardened. "A successful one, judging by that mink and the Lincoln," he remarked.
He smiled bitterly. "Or is she being kept by some man?"
Abby slammed her napkin down by her plate and got up. "Eat by yourself. I can't stand any more of
your self-righteousness!"
"You can't stand ordinary people, either, can you?" he challenged. "You walked right past Essie
Johnson, and you grew up with her. She wasn't good enough for your exalted company, no doubt,
being a simple rancher's wife and all." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]