Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Atlanta. Six months later…
“T he flowers were pretty, Milton,” Felicia Laverne said as they strolled through her parents’ rose garden. “And I know my parents appreciate yet another cooler filled with smoked beef straight from your parents’ ranch.”
He grinned at her. “I’m glad the flowers lasted as long as it took me to drive here. Mama had assured me they would, but I will admit to getting worried for a minute.”
“I would have loved them even if they’d been all wilted because they’d come from you.”
She had meant every word. She loved him so much, and over the past six months, her love had grown even more. They continued to write to each other when they were apart, and she was glad to see him whenever he visited Atlanta. More than anything, she appreciated him for making the road trip from Texas to see her. And he would come bearing gifts for her parents and sisters.
Her family had gotten to know Milton, and she truly believed they loved him, too. They saw him as an honest, God-fearing man who stood up for what he believed in. She knew her father had admired his determination to win him over by spending both Thanksgiving and Christmas with them. He’d even attended church with them whenever he visited. News had gotten around the congregation that he was her beau.
When Milton left to return to Texas after spending Christmas with them, he had promised to return to Atlanta to visit her on Valentine’s Day. Now he was here, and she was glad to see him. He had asked her father’s permission to talk with her privately. Anticipation was rushing through her at what that might mean.
“Let’s sit here on the bench,” he suggested. After she eased into the seat, he sat down beside her.
She turned to face him, and he said, “On Christmas Day, your father blessed my plan to ask you to marry me, Fee.”
She smiled. He’d gotten used to calling her Fee as her family did. “Yes, I know. Pa told me.”
Milton stood and knelt on a knee in front of her. He then pulled a ring from his jacket and stared up at her. “I love you, Felicia Laverne Lee. I promise to love you for as long as there is breath in my body. I will continue to love you in death. I will love all the babies you give me, and I will make a home for them and for you. I will take care of you as a husband should and never lose sight of the fact that you are a gift to me from heaven. Will you marry me?”
Felicia Laverne swiped away the tears his words had caused. They had been touching and beautiful. “Yes, Milton Jantzen Madaris. I would be honored to be your wife.”
He slid the ring onto her finger and stood while gently pulling her up from her seat. She didn’t care if her parents or sisters were peeking out the window. It was not their first kiss. Unlike the others, this one wouldn’t be a stolen kiss. It would be one of intense joy.
And it was.
Victoria leaned onto her horse as she sprinted across the open plains. She loved it when she could give Magic a good workout. To her, there was nothing more beautiful than Whispering Pines. There was no doubt in her mind that Felicia Laverne would love it here after she and Milton married. To everybody’s happiness, the two had gotten engaged last month on Valentine’s Day.
Milton wanted a June wedding, but that would barely give Felicia Laverne time to pack up after graduating from high school for her move to Houston. Therefore, they decided on an August wedding at her father’s church in Atlanta.
For starters, they would convert a section of the Madaris family home into their private quarters. Within a year, Milton would have finished building their home on Whispering Pines land gifted to them in the south pastures.
Milton had left a few days ago, heading once again to Atlanta. Saturday was Felicia Laverne’s parents’ twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, and the church would host a special dinner in their honor. Victoria and her parents were also invited. However, she didn’t want to miss any days of school to make the road trip. And the thought of being away from Houston, especially away from Waylon, was another reason she wasn’t anxious to go. Her mother had gone with Milton to Atlanta, and Victoria and her father had stayed behind.
Things were also progressing well for her and Waylon. Her parents had allowed her to ride home from summer camp with him in Milton’s truck. Although they’d given her strict orders to sit in the middle and closer to her brother than Waylon, the two had held hands the entire trip home.
He had told her how the cabin he was building for them was coming along, and when she’d finally arrived home and had gone with him, her parents, and her brother to see it, she’d gotten misty-eyed knowing he had spent his entire summer building it for them. She figured seeing it had affected her father as well. From that day on, he gave her and Waylon more breathing space. Although they hadn’t gone out on a date yet, Waylon was allowed to visit her on the weekends so as not to interfere with her schoolwork during the week.
Victoria had been given an engagement ring from Waylon for Christmas. Although she wouldn’t get married until finishing nursing school, it was wonderful that she and Felicia Laverne were now engaged young ladies. Their wishes had come true. Best friends would be marrying best friends. Just the thought of it made her feel happy inside.
Ms. Penny’s sister, who lived in Denver, got ill and passed away at the end of February. As Waylon’s fiancée and best friend, she and Milton traveled to Denver to attend the funeral services. During that time, Waylon mentioned to other family members after the repast that he had given Victoria an engagement ring for Christmas, officially making her his fiancée. He also announced that Milton had gotten engaged to Victoria’s best friend from Atlanta on Valentine’s Day and would get married over the summer.
Everybody was so busy congratulating Victoria, Waylon, and Milton, that nobody noticed the angry look that appeared on Charlotte’s face with the announcement about Milton’s engagement.
When they returned home to Houston, Victoria mentioned Charlotte’s angry expression to Milton. He’d shrugged it off, saying he’d never given her any reason to think he was interested in her and didn’t intend to worry about her foolishness.
Bringing her thoughts back to the present, Victoria slowed down Magic before bringing him to a stop in front of several rows of fruit trees. It had been a while since she’d ridden this far from the main house. She’d forgotten about this particular grove that grew oranges and grapefruit and other kinds of fruit.
After tying her horse to an orange tree branch, she decided to try one of the oranges. Leaning up on tiptoe, she reached for the one closest to her when she heard a deep, husky voice ask, “You need help getting that, pretty lady?”
She quickly swung around to stare into the most handsome face she’d ever seen—that of her future husband. “Waylon?” she asked in breathless surprise. “What are you doing here?”
***
Waylon leaned against one of the orange trees as he studied the beautiful girl standing before him, who would one day become his wife. Even in jeans and a Western shirt, she was feminine as hell. Then there was all that red hair flowing wildly around her shoulders, since she hadn’t bothered to tie it back.
He was happy to see her. “I could ask you the same thing, Victoria, since you’re on Satterfield property,” he said.
“Satterfield property?” she asked while glancing around. “But this is a part of Whispering Pines. I distinctly remember this fruit grove over the years.”
He grinned. “Yes, Milt and I planted it. The reason I’m here is to check the irrigation system. The grapefruit trees are on Whispering Pines property and the orange trees are on Satterfield’s. The property line divides them.”
“Oh, I never knew that,” she said. “My parents never said.”
“Probably being this far from both of the main houses, nobody ever cared. It was my and Milt’s decision. I think we were only ten when we planted the trees. Beyond the fruit grove is the lake where the cabin I’m building for us is located. The land for our home borders Madaris property.”
“I didn’t know that.” Taking a few steps back to stand by a grapefruit tree, she grinned before saying, “Now I am back on Whispering Pines land.”
The smile that tilted his lips widened. “You could have stayed on Satterfield land since you and I will share it one day.” He met her gaze, and that desire he’d always felt for her stirred his insides. “What if I said I prefer you over here with me, the future Mrs. Waylon Satterfield?”
She began nervously gnawing her bottom lip. “I should go. We shouldn’t be out here alone. It’s not proper to be so.”
He knew that was true, but she was the woman he would marry in less than three years. The one who would share his name, his life, and their babies. “I know that’s true, Victoria. However, I’m unsure I can let you leave before sharing our first kiss.”
“Our first kiss?”
“Yes, and I want to share it on Satterfield land. The same parcel of land you will share with me one day.”
She tilted her head and met his gaze. He wondered if she could feel the intense heat flowing between them. He would love more than a kiss but would never compromise her that way. “What do you say about sharing a kiss on our land?”
She held his gaze for a long moment before walking toward him. When they stood in front of each other, he reached out, took her hand in his, and lifted it to his lips to kiss the ring on her finger. Releasing her hand, he placed his arms around her waist before lowering his head to hers.
***
Never having been kissed before, Victoria didn’t know what to expect. She certainly hadn’t contemplated the feelings that awaited her when Waylon’s mouth touched hers. Nor had she known he would put his tongue in her mouth and take hold of her own. It was as if someone had dropped a bombshell on her very existence.
She continued following his lead and hoped she was doing everything right. When she felt the solid hardness of his chest but also the hardness of him below the waist, that should have frightened her, but it didn’t. She felt safe and secure in his arms. His mouth, although applying soft pressure to hers, was thorough yet gentle. Suddenly, she felt his fingers comb through her hair. When had he released her by the waist to do that? He was massaging her scalp in a way it had never gotten rubbed before, and it felt good.
Were his kisses something she could always expect once they got married? Like every single day? She knew there was more to the marriage act than kisses, but his were so good. Suddenly, Waylon ended the kiss and they tried to get their racing hearts under control. When she tried pulling away, he tightened his hold on her and whispered softly in her ear. “Not yet, sweetheart. I need to hold you for a minute. Okay?”
She nodded, and he held her. Moments later, he whispered. “I love you so much, Victoria.” Then he released her and took a step back.
She looked at him. “And I love you, Waylon.”
He smiled at her, and she couldn’t help but smile back. “It’s time for you to get home before your father begins worrying about you,” he said, grabbing her horse’s reins to bring it over to her. “When are Milton and your ma expected back from Atlanta?”
“Not for a few more days.”
He nodded. “I suggest you not ride this far out again.”
She knew why he was telling her that. Since she wanted to be a nurse, she had read several books about the human body. He desired her, and she desired him. Temptation was a powerful thing.
Drawing in a slow breath, she said. “I enjoyed our first kiss, Waylon, on our land.”
“So did I, Victoria,” he said, assisting her onto Magic’s back.
Just the feel of him touching her in places he’d never done before as he assisted her made intense heat circle around in her stomach. Once seated in the saddle, she stared down at him and said, “So that you know. I’m not sure I’ll be able to wait until after we’re married to share another kiss with you.”
Without waiting for his response, she and her horse took off like the wind.