Chapter 37Peggy Warner
Chapter 37
Taking a Stand
Peggy Warner
P eggy sat in Duke’s truck, staring at the small white house she’d lived in all of her life. Memories flooded her as she examined the cluster of pots sprouting bluebonnets that she’d planted with her mother three years ago. A miniature windmill sat among them, creaking as its rusted rotors rocked back and forth in a half circle. Her mom claimed it was the best garden on the block, and she’d spend hours every other week, rearranging the pots to find the best design.
Scanning the red shutters, Peggy noticed the spots of white from the time her father and her brother painted the house themselves. Her dad hadn’t wanted to spend the extra money on painters’ tape. He called the white splotches part of his artistic vision.
She gazed up at the apartment over the garage, picturing the cozy space she’d made for herself inside. A lump grew in her throat. She would actually miss this place.
Duke squeezed her hand tangled in his. “You sure you want to do this? You can still change your mind. Don’t want to push you into doing anything you’re not ready for.”
Peggy stared into the face of the man that had come to mean more to her than anything else ever had. The kind gray eyes. The almost crooked smile. The scraggly, unbrushed hair poking out from under a worn black cowboy hat. Her ranch hand may not be the most handsome man in the world, but he had a heart of gold. And that was more than enough for her.
She nodded and excitement took over. “I’m sure. I know what I want, and I’m ready to start living my own life.”
He leaned in and traced her lips with his. A sweet, soft kiss to give her courage. “All right, then. Let’s do this.”
They hopped out of the pickup and marched up the walkway to her folks’ front door. With each step, the tension in her gut grew. She could imagine what her mom would say. That Peggy was too young to know what she wanted. That she hadn’t known Duke for long enough.
She lifted her hand to knock on the door, but it swung open before she got the chance. As always, Susie Warner’s blond hair was pulled into a tight bun, with white streaks, like purposeful highlights, escaping around her ears. She wiped her hands down the daisy apron she wore most days. Her blue eyes looked hard as diamonds as she stared at Duke’s tall, lean figure taking up most of the open doorway.
He tipped his hat with a smile. “Morning, ma’am.”
Before her mother could say a word, Peggy spoke. “Hi, Mom. Can we talk to you and Dad for a minute? There’s something important we want to tell you.”
Susie glared daggers at Duke. “You coming here to say you’re pregnant, Peggy May?”
“Mom!” Peggy gasped. “No. Of course not.” She pulled her cowboy into the house, headed for the family room where she knew her dad would be watching sports.
Benny Ray Warner looked up as his wife barreled past their daughter into the room. Annoyance sat on his face as she stopped in front of the TV. He didn’t even try to peer around her. He was well aware that when his wife had something to say, she’d keep talking about it until he listened.
Peggy and Duke slipped into the room as her mom placed her hands on her hips. “Benny Ray, your daughter wants to talk with you.”
He grunted. “Which daughter?”
They moved farther into the room. Peggy grasped Duke’s hand like it was a lifeline.
As her father inspected the couple, his eyes got big, pushing his bushy eyebrows up to his wrinkled forehead. “What’s this?”
“That’s what I’d like to know,” her mom chirped. “My youngest daughter running around with some strange man. And we know you didn’t come home last night. It ain’t proper.”
Peggy was twenty-seven years old. She may not have gone to college, but she’d learned enough to know that letting Duke go would be the biggest mistake she’d ever make. It was time for her to make a stand and let everyone know she was taking her life back. Starting with her parents.
She laced her fingers in Duke’s. “Mom. Dad. Duke and I are getting married.”
Benny Ray abruptly shut off the TV and stood up from his brown La-Z-Boy recliner, muttering to the walls about the craziness of the times. Susie sank back on the matching sofa, clutching the pillows.
“What do you mean?” her mother cried. “We don’t even know this man!”
Her dad poked Duke in the chest. “What’s your name, son?”
Peggy moved to step between them but her cowboy held her next to his side. “Name’s Duke Evans. I ride for the Double K Ranch owned by the Kirklands. I’ve been a cowboy most of my life so I don’t have much, but I do know how to respect a lady. And everything I have Peggy is welcome to.”
“Oh!” Susie gasped. “That’s right. We saw you at Staten’s birthday party. You’d been drinking and fell down some stairs.” She turned to her daughter. “This is why we need to keep an eye on you, Peggy. Why you should stay home. One dance and you think you’re in love. What do you even know about this man?”
“I know everything I need to.” Peggy’s voice came sharp and hard. The room seemed to still as all eyes stared at her. “I didn’t just meet Duke at Staten’s party. We’ve been seeing each other for a while now.” She looked up at him and felt herself soften. “He is the kindest, gentlest man I’ve ever met. And he understands me. Sees me for who I really am.”
She looked to her parents, begging them with her eyes to hear her. To think about what she wanted for once. “Duke looks at me like I’m beautiful and special. He listens when I talk. And he treats me better than anyone I’ve ever met. I love him. And I plan to marry him whether you agree or not.”
The tall cowboy pulled her into his arms along his side and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll take care of your daughter, sir, ma’am. I’ll treat her as an equal and make sure she always has everything she needs. You’ll never have to worry about her being happy with me. I plan to treasure her everyday she’ll have me.”
Benny Ray seemed to assess him. “You seem like an honest sort of man. A hard worker, too, which is more than I can say for my other sons-in-law.” He gave a sharp nod. “Well . . .”
Susie cut him off, her voice almost a whine. “Peggy, how can you leave us like this? I need you. You’re my little mini-me. The one who’s always followed me around and done just about everything with me. Can you really leave your mama?”
A small twinge of guilt pricked at Peggy. She moved out of Duke’s arms to wrap her mother in hers. “I’m not going anywhere. I may not be living above the garage anymore, but I’ll still be in Crossroads. This town is so small, you’ll still see me every day and we can still do things together whenever you want.”
She hugged her mom tightly and then stepped away. “But it’s time I start living my own life. Do what I want to do and make myself happy. I’ve spent as long as I can remember taking care of everyone else. Now it’s my turn.”
Peggy held her hand out, and Duke joined her. “I’m going to marry Duke, and I hope we’ll have your blessing. Because who else is going to help me plan my wedding and pick my dress?”
Susie swiped at the tears running down her cheeks. After a long moment, she said, “Of course I’ll help you plan the wedding. We have to make sure it’s right and proper. We can have it here, in the backyard. Right, Benny?”
Her dad groaned. “Then I guess I’ll have to mow the grass.” His mouth was stuck in a straight line, but Peggy could see the smile in his eyes. He understood.
He leaned down so she could kiss the top of his bald head. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“All right, now.” He sat back in his recliner and turned the TV on. “Let me get back to my game. It’s not like you two are getting married today.”
Susie looped her arm in Duke’s. “Well, you just come into the kitchen and we’ll talk things over without bothering Mr. Grumpy in there.” She laughed at her own joke. “You’re going to be my son-in-law. I can’t believe it. And what a fine young man.”
They spent the next three hours picking out a color scheme and choosing flowers and deciding cake flavors. Peggy and Duke agreed on most things, but Susie seemed to have her own ideas. She’d even chosen the wedding date for two weeks out. Peggy didn’t mind. She was just glad her parents had given their blessing. She was ready to be married, the sooner the better. And best of all, Peggy had stood up for herself, and the world hadn’t ended.