Chapter 25
Beckett was going crazy with his need for Hyacinth. As he drew their horse to a halt in front of the house at the Double T, all he wanted to do was dismount, pull her into his arms, and beg her to kiss him and never stop.
He could easily admit she’d won their game on the ride back to the ranch. Hands down, no contest.
Just the touch of her hand to his leg on occasion during the journey had been enough to make him beg.
But she’d tortured him in other small ways too.
She’d arched her neck from time to time, giving him a tantalizing view of a stretch of her throat that beckoned him to bend down and steal kisses, which he hadn’t.
She made a light circle on his hand, caressed his fingers, and skimmed his arm.
She’d also held on to him, using every jolt of the horse as an excuse to grab him tighter, clasp onto an arm, and even grasp his waist.
He’d loved each of her touches. In fact, the ride back had turned into one of the highlights of his life.
Now, as she stretched languidly in the saddle in front of him, he needed a kiss from her more than he needed anything else. “Darlin’,” he whispered as he bent in, “I confess—”
His words were cut off as Sunshine rushed out with a small cry of happiness, her flowy gown billowing around her. “You’re both back!”
The sun was setting on the horizon, and the long shadows of the evening were crowding in. It had been a hard day for him and Hyacinth, but he could only imagine how worried Sunshine had been, waiting at the ranch without any word of what had been going on.
As much as he wanted to beg Hyacinth for a kiss, he had to put that on the back burner until they were alone later, and then he would let her know she’d won and that he was dying for a kiss.
As he pulled her down, she brushed against him purposefully, still enticing him with her sassy smile. She knew exactly what she was doing, and he loved it.
Sunshine drew them into the house to the dining room and had a meal brought to them. While they ate, they shared the events of the day and how dangerous the kidnapping had been but how it had all worked out in the end.
Beckett was hoping that after the word spread about how he’d handled the Alvarado gang, other Double T enemies would seek him out with both fear and respect.
Whatever happened, he knew he’d started down a new path of making peace with his past and with the people who had once been harmed by the ranch.
It might not have been the path he would have chosen for himself, but Sargeant had obviously been wiser and had known what he needed. With Hyacinth by his side, Beckett would relish every step of the journey together, whether that meant only five years in Texas or more.
They’d agreed they would write a letter together to Sterling and Violet about the stipulations in the will and the need to live on the Double T.
Besides, it was past time for Beckett to share the truth about his wealth.
He needed to apologize to his friend for keeping the information from him, but hoped Sterling could eventually forgive him, especially for leaving him without a ranch foreman.
Beckett had also agreed with Hyacinth that Sterling deserved to know the whereabouts of Jameson to put his mind at ease.
“Well, I’m sure you’re both exhausted,” Sunshine said as she scooted back from the table and stood.
“It has been a very long day.” Hyacinth stifled a yawn behind her hand.
Sunshine smiled down at them tenderly. “It looks like you kissed and made up from whatever argument you had last night.”
Hyacinth choked on the last of her yawn, a flush blooming in her cheeks.
Beckett could only grin. “Yep, we sure did.”
“Good. I knew you both loved each other from the moment I saw you step out of the carriage yesterday.”
Yesterday seemed like a lifetime ago. Maybe it was. They were both putting off the fears of the past that had weighed them down, and they were forging a new life together with new purpose and new courage.
“It took us almost losing each other to acknowledge our love.” Hyacinth reached for Beckett’s hand and folded it between hers. “But we’ve realized that we don’t want to lose each other.”
Sunshine’s smile widened, and her eyes radiated with happiness. “Then you’re staying at the ranch?”
Beckett nodded. “Reckon Sargeant was right to drag me back here kicking and screaming.”
“So you’re not too mad at him for all his requirements?”
“Naw.” He stroked Hyacinth’s fingers tenderly and was rewarded with her sigh of contentment. “There’s just one I still want to change.”
“You could talk to Mr. Dickinson.”
“Reckoned I’d talk to you first.”
Sunshine’s brows rose. “About what?”
“About the fact that I don’t want to see you once a week.”
“I told Sargeant not to put that in his list of requirements—”
“I want to see my mother every day.”
Tears sprang to Sunshine’s eyes, and she released a soft sob that she captured with her hand.
Beckett let go of Hyacinth and stood. “Please stay here on the ranch with us. I missed seeing you these past years, and I don’t want another day to go by without making it up to you.”
She dropped her hand from her mouth. “Are you sure?” Her voice wobbled.
“More than sure.” He reached for her and drew her into a hug.
She wrapped her arms around him tightly.
“I’m sorry for leaving you in the first place,” he said.
She embraced him for another moment before pulling back and wiping her eyes. Then she started crossing to the door. “If I stay, I promise I’ll give you and your bride plenty of privacy.”
“That’s not necessary.” Hyacinth’s voice was tinged with embarrassment.
“Course it’s necessary, darlin’.” Beckett smirked at her. “With all that begging you’re about to do, we’re gonna need lots of privacy.”
“Beckett Thorpe.” She spoke sternly, the way he liked. “You know as well as I do that you’re the one who will be begging me.”
“Is that right?”
“Absolutely right.”
“We’ll see about that.”
At the door, Sunshine tossed them a happy smile. “I think right about now is a good time for some of that privacy.”
“Agreed.” Beckett lifted a brow at Hyacinth.
She glared back at him, but the heat glowing in her eyes told him that she was just as ready as he was for time alone.
As the door clicked behind Sunshine, Beckett returned to Hyacinth.
“You know I won,” she said in a feisty tone.
He clasped her hands and pulled her out of the chair to her feet. Then he dropped to his knees in front of her and peered up at her. “I’m begging you, darlin’. Please put me out of my misery and kiss me the rest of the night, all night, and forever.”
A beautiful smile curved up her lips, and her eyes lit up with delight.
Shoot. With that kind of reaction, he’d get on his knees and beg her every single day.
She grabbed a handful of his shirt and tugged at him. “Come here, Cowboy. Since you’re begging, how can I resist giving you what you want?”
He grinned, pushed back to his feet, then let her give him what he’d begged for.