Chapter 17Peggy Warner
Chapter 17
Dream Date
Wednesday
Peggy Warner
P eggy shivered and wrapped her sweater more tightly around her as the cold wind pricked at her. She’d been waiting under the cemetery’s old oak tree for what felt like hours. But she knew in a few minutes it would all be worth it.
She hadn’t made it back here since she’d slipped her note among the tree roots for Duke to find. In fact, she’d barely had a moment alone all week. Her mom had dragged Peggy along to help run errands. Then found extra chores to do around the house.
Mom’s biggest fear was that Peggy would get restless on her free days and do something crazy.
Peggy laughed with the breeze. She’d been acting crazy for weeks. Dreaming of a life with her cowboy.
“I sure do love that laugh.” Duke’s low rumble sounded in her ear, sending shivers down her spine. But this time it wasn’t from the cold.
She turned to stare up at him. “Hi. You made it.”
He tilted his hat up and smiled. “Hi there, pretty lady. Sorry I keep leaving you waiting.” He untangled her hand from her sweater and folded it in one of his. “Your hands are cold. What do you say we get out of here and warm you up?”
Peggy nodded. She’d been waiting to be with him, and he was finally here. She felt herself warm despite the chill. “Where to?”
Duke looped her arm through his and led them to his truck. “Wherever you want. As long as I can kiss you, I don’t care where we go.”
He planted a peck on her lips as if to prove his point.
Her cowboy opened the passenger door of his old Chevy and helped her in. Then he rushed to the driver’s side and cranked up the engine. He turned the heater on full blast and pulled Peggy across the bench seat, into his arms.
She melted into him as his hand moved to stroke her hair. “I’m fine just staying here. I don’t need a big fancy date or a night on the town. I just want to be with you.”
Duke smiled down at her, his eyes glowing with excitement. “I’ve got an idea.”
He put the gear in drive and swung the truck around. He turned down an old dirt road that looked like it’d been out of service for at least a decade. Then he threw the pickup in park and shut off the headlights.
“I want to show you something.” He reached around the seat behind Peggy and pulled out a bundle of blankets. “Come on.”
As she scooted to the edge of the seat to look out the driver’s side door, Duke wrapped one arm around her waist and lifted her from the truck. Then he threw the blanket over his shoulders and folded her in, pulling her up against his chest.
Peggy snuggled in closer to her cowboy, placing one hand over his heart as she stared deep into his eyes, waiting.
“Look up,” he said.
She did as he asked and gasped.
The sky was lit up and twinkling like the Christmas lights strung around town. It seemed like every star was visible.
Duke’s lips brushed her ear. “Used to be, I thought this view was the best part of living in Crossroads.” His mouth tickled the back of her neck. “And then I met a sleeping beauty and had lunch dates in a cemetery.”
Peggy laughed softly as his lips trailed to her shoulder.
A shooting star flew across the sky, and he pulled her in closer. “Make a wish.”
She turned in the circle of his arms and whispered, “No need.”
She lifted her mouth to his, her heart exploding as he kissed her. She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him in closer. This was all she’d ever wanted. Time for herself. A life for herself. A good man for herself.
If her cowboy was everything he seemed to be, Peggy would never have to live on wishes again.