He stared at a butterfly that had landed on a nearby weed, thinking how delicate and colorful it was…like Katie. “There will be times when I’m gone and you won’t know if I’m alive or dead, Katie. My mother said once it’s the waiting that drives her crazy. She lives to hear my pa give that whistle that he’s coming back.”
Katie rose and walked a few feet away, folding her arms. “Lloyd, the only thing that bothers me is…well…it’s kind of like you’re serving Jake’s sentence with him.”
A gentle breeze blew her hair away from her face as Lloyd met her gaze. “When my father went to prison, I abandoned him and my mother and sister…rode off and turned to the outlaw way myself out of spite. I never knew about Jake’s past, and it hurt so bad to find out the way I did, because up to then, I worshipped the ground he walked on. By the time he got out of prison four years later, I’d got myself into a big mess with a bunch of outlaws who meant to kill me, but Pa, he came after me. He got into a big shoot-out to save me. After all my hatred and rebellion, my father never stopped loving me, Katie. I’ll never forgive myself for judging him like I did, or for abandoning him and my mother and sister for so long. Pa’s no angel, that’s for sure, and he did do a lot of bad things when he was young, but things happened that led him to all that. He’s a real good man down deep inside. He’d argue that one till he’s blue in the face, but that man knows how to love better than most men do. Just don’t ever tell him that.”
The remark brought a smile to Katie’s lips. “He kind of scares me sometimes.”
Lloyd returned the grin. “Heck, haven’t you noticed how my mother can put him in his place? He practically worships her. You don’t have to be scared of Jake Harkner, Katie, especially not if you become family. Family is the most important thing on this earth to him. He thinks Evie has wings and my mother is the Madonna herself.” He rose, walking closer to her. “The fact remains, Katie, that I will never again abandon my father. He and I have had our bad times, but that man would die for me, and me for him. You have to understand that I won’t quit this job until he’s free of it himself.”
Their gazes held.
“Tell me what you’re thinking, Katie,” Lloyd said. “Be honest. There’s more you want to ask.”
“Your father has a temper, and you’re just like him, Lloyd Harkner. I’m not blind to the fact that you can both be pretty ruthless. That means making a lot of enemies…let alone the fact that there are surely men out there who’d like to say they killed a Harkner.”
“Pa has lived with that his whole life, and he’s still here, isn’t he? You have to trust that we’re pretty good at taking care of ourselves. That’s what I meant earlier when I asked if you can live with that part of me, because it will be the hardest part.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “I’ve given this a lot of thought, Katie. And in you, I see strength and beauty and everything it takes to be a good wife and mother. I’m only twenty-five and you’re four years younger, and look what all we’ve both already been through. We each need somebody strong at our side. And we’re too young to be putting up with life alone.” He leaned close and kissed her forehead. “And Stephen thinks you’re great. He even told me once I should marry you.” He brushed her cheek with his lips, and she turned her face upward, inviting his mouth to search her own in a gentle kiss. “Marry me, Katie,” he said softly before kissing her again. “Marry me.” Another kiss. He left her mouth, lifting her and pressing her tightly against him, her feet off the ground. “Marry me.” Another kiss…delicious, heated, hungry. He enjoyed the feel of her firm breasts against his chest. He wanted to touch them, taste them.
“Yes. I’ll marry you,” she told him between hungry kisses. “But give me some time to get used to all this before we’re…more physical?” More kisses. “Be patient with me, Lloyd. Our love has to grow.”
“I know that.” He set her on her feet and reached into his pocket. “Here. I got this in Cimmaron City. I didn’t want to buy it here in Guthrie because of gossip. I figured somebody might tell you I’d bought a wedding ring. Do you like it?”
Katie looked down at a gold wedding band in his palm. She smiled. “It’s lovely!”
“Try it on. You do it. I shouldn’t put it on your finger till we actually marry. Just make sure it fits. I had a girl at the place where I bought it try it on her finger because her hands were pretty and slender like yours.”