The doctor comes in. He’s young and efficient and in a matter of minutes confirms the sprain and gives us instructions for the next two weeks: ice, keep the leg elevated, keep a splint on it. No hiking, no strenuous activity.
No kissing, I imagine, or any of the otherstrenuousactivitiesthat might come with it.
By the time Lila’s discharged, it’s getting dark out. When we get to my truck, I put her seat heater on and have the heater blowing around her and not at her, the way I know she likes.
Despite the events of the day, she seems in good spirits as I drive us along the dark mountain roads back home.
“It’s too bad our honeymoon got cut short,” she says. “I was looking forward to all the activities. ATV rides and cutting a herd on horseback and all the stuff I never thought in a million years I’d ever get to do.”
My ears perk up. “You actually want to do that stuff?”
“Sure. Does that surprise you?”
“I mean, kinda. You’re so girly and fancy and…”
She laughs, but she doesn’t look insulted, so I feel braveenough to continue, “I just didn’t think you’d be interested in that kind of thing. But we can do all of that at Wild Rose. And more. As soon as your ankle is healed, it’s game on.”
Her eyes brighten. “Really?”
“Hell yeah. You want to get down and dirty with a cowboy?”
She bites her lip, grinning. “Only if the cowboy in question is my husband.”
I might have fucked up our honeymoon, but I think I know how I can make it up to my wife. “All right. I got an idea. We need to make this marriage look real to your family, right?”
“Right…” she says slowly.
“And maybe it would be fun to make them clutch their pearls at the same time?”
She tilts her head. “What exactly do you have in mind?”
“We’re gonna do some real country-ass shit.” At her grin, my own smile widens too. “And we’re gonna take plenty of photos and video of it. For posterity’s sake. I’m gonna teach you how to cut a herd. How to lasso and shoot and ride an ATV and so much more.”
“Yes,” she says, laughing. “Yes to all of it.”
I look at her, warmth moving through me. “You might be coming into this marriage like my little Yankee princess, but mark my words. In a year, you’ll be sprawled out on our porch, chewing tobacco and holding a sawed-off shotgun in one hand, with a cup of homemade moonshine in the other.”
A bright peal of laughter. “Stop! I wouldneverchew tobacco.” She buries her face in her hands. “Oh my God. My family is going to have conniptions.”
I nod, satisfied. “It’s settled, Mrs. Rhodes. I’m making you my country queen.”
Chapter 24
Death by Chocolate
LILA
The weeks settle into a rhythm as my ankle heals. Slade goes out to Wild Rose early and returns for dinner, while I take Lucky to the boutique with me. Sadly I have to put a pause on my shifts at the animal shelter, since I’m pretty useless if I can’t move around a lot, but at least it’s not affecting my day-to-day work.
Slade cooks for us. Hearty, healthy meals, the diet of a professional athlete, with a concession towards carbs for my benefit. He gets out early to work on Wild Rose because cowboys have obscenely early wakeup calls, apparently, but he leaves a plate for me every morning before I come downstairs.
He makes dinner too. Lucky has figured out the schedule and sits by the kitchen door at five thirty every evening without fail, waiting for him to come through it. Slade makes her homemade dog food, and day by day, her belly is filling out, her coat coming in glossy, her eyes getting brighter. She’s got the glow of a well-loved lady now.
Those eyes of hers positively overflow with adoration every time Slade comes through the door. She even forgives him for cutting her nails, though she does like to come limping pitifully to me right after he does it, just for extra head rubs.
For someone who’s giving Lucky a “temporary” home, he’s a very dedicated dog dad.
Not to mention, an amazing husband.
