Page 106 of Blaze of Glory
“There was one more bit of thanks you omitted, Mrs. Everett,” John murmured as he held her close at his side while they walked.
“And what is that, Mr. Everett?” she teased.
“That you’ve been spared sleeping in the bedroom with him tonight,” he replied, eyes twinkling.
She ground her teeth together. “Oh, now you’ve made me feel awful,” she said.
He just laughed. “Actually, I had the boys move his cage into the spare bedroom. I wasn’t going to ask you to bunk down with my pet.”
She sighed. “And that’s why I love you, John Everett,” she murmured, reaching up to kiss his chin. “You’re always thinking of my comfort!”
“I truly am. I have a wedding present for you.”
She stopped and looked at him. “But I’ve had it.” She held up her two very expensive diamond rings.
He shook his head. He took her by the waist and held her gently. “You now own your family ranch in Wyoming,” he said quietly. “The foreman who was taking care of it is now the ranch manager. We’ll send one of our men up there to help out and to hire extra help. But it belongs to you.”
She felt tears running down her cheeks. “Did my father know who you were?”
He shook his head. “I did it through our Realtor here. He doesn’t know who bought it. And he never will, unless you tell him.”
She drew in a breath. “Maybe, someday, down the road,” she said, leaving her options open. “Our family cemetery won’t have to be moved,” she added softly.
He smiled and shook his head. “And we’ll go visit occasionally.”
She hugged him tight. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome. I know how ranches get into your blood. I can’t imagine selling the Big Spur. I figured you were that way about your own.”
“I was, but I could never have afforded to buy it, much less run it,” she said. “John, how can I ever thank you?”
“Well, considering that I’m recently bereaved and extremely affected by my loss,” he began, his voice low and soft, “you might consider that I’ll need a lot of comforting?”
She hugged him tighter. “You can have all the comforting you need.”
He sighed contentedly. “I’ll need a lot. I mean, it was such a loss...”
“Hey, John, is it true you had a funeral for a snake?” one of the mechanics called, wide-eyed.
“Fred Henry, if you still want to have a job tomorrow, you’d better rephrase that pronto!” John called back.
Fred took off his John Deere baseball cap and held it to his chest. “I meant, I deeply regret the loss of your beloved pet, Mr. Everett!”
“That’s what I thought you said,” John replied smugly.
Josie laughed all the way into the house. And Precious became a local legend.
* * * * *
