Archer, Jane (38 page)

"My dear Mrs. Jarmon," Jake said, smiling at her, "I believe that I shall know him quite well after I hear all the stories you're going to tell my son and I about him."

Alexandra returned his smile, squeezing his hand.

"I imagine you're right,
if
I can get you to leave your cows long enough to hear them."

"Our
cows, Alex, and you know you'll be right out there with me."

She laughed. "I don't know if I'd have married you if I'd known—"

Jake jerked her to him, his face hard. "Don't ever say that, Alexandra. You don't know what agony I went through, not knowing if Stan had already married you, if you were safe. I thought I'd go crazy until I got to New York and found out about you. The trail drive didn't seem to matter after you'd gone."

He held her tightly, his lips brushing her hair.

"I was only teasing, Jake. You know how much I love you."

"I think it'll be a long time before I can be completely sure about you, Alex," he said, chuckling. "You're like a wild mustang. You may be tamed, but you'll always require your freedom."

"Jake, my freedom is sharing my life with you and our children, sharing the Bar J and the Clarke shipping firm."

"You know, Alex, I'm going to enjoy that business of yours, too. I've already got ideas about the cotton in Texas and the shipping in New York, as well as the cattle, of course."

Alexandra laughed. "You're planning quite an empire for the Jarmons, aren't you?"

Jake grinned down at her. "Might as well think big when you're thinking, Alexandra."

"Well, Texas is big enough for me."

And then it was time to leave the peaceful knoll. It was time to board the ship which would take them to Texas, together at last, forever.