thing she remembered hearing was the central heat kicking on.
* * *
Duke had intended to be there with her, but ended up helping Jack get an injured steer into the barn so it would be sheltered while it healed. They didn’t know what it had gotten into that put such a gash in its hip but the vet had been out, and now all they could do was wait for the animal to heal before turning it back in with the herd.
Later he sent Cathy a text, but when she didn’t answer he called, and when she didn’t answer the call either, he got in his truck and drove into town. She’d promised never to ignore a phone call or a text from him again, and now he was worried.
The relief of seeing her car in the drive at her house was huge, but when he got to the front door and knocked, it swung open.
His heart skipped. He walked in, saw her purse and coat on the sofa. When he realized her phone had fallen out of her purse onto the floor, it was apparent why she hadn’t heard it ring.
Then he saw her shoes in the hall and headed for her bedroom. The door was ajar, and when he walked in and found her sprawled belly down on the bed, he had to get closer to make sure she was breathing.
And she was.
“My poor tired sweetheart,” he said softly, then got a blanket from the foot of the bed, covered her up, and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
He went into her kitchen to check and see if she had food she wouldn’t have to cook, and then wrote her a note.
You didn’t answer your phone. Your door was unlocked. I covered you up and am locking you in. Sleep well, my love. Call me when you wake.
P.S. We’re gonna have to get married, and soon. I’m wearing out the rubber on my tires. I need you in my life. I need you in my arms every night. I need you.
And then he was gone.
Hours later, Cathy woke up. She didn’t remember getting the blanket she was covered with, and she didn’t remember closing her bedroom door.
She got up and went into the living room, then into the kitchen and found Duke’s note.
“Oh, honey,” she said as she read it to herself, then went to get her phone to call him.
It was dark outside, and she pictured them all in the kitchen together making supper. He answered on the third ring.
“Hey, Rip Van Winkle. You woke up!”
“I need you, too,” Cathy said. “I’m sorry I didn’t hear the phone, but the renovations are done, and after the last load of furniture arrived, I came home and passed out. I can’t believe I didn’t even lock the door.”
“You not only didn’t lock it, but when I knocked it just swung inward, so the latch didn’t fully catch, either.”
“Lord,” Cathy said. “I need a keeper.”
“You have one. Me. I will keep you in my heart. I will keep you safe. Set a date before I lose my mind.”
“How big a wedding do you want?” she asked.
“I want to get married at the farmhouse. I just want family and our closest friends, and as soon as you can find a dress, I’m there.”
“We need to get that marriage license,” she said.
“Then I’ll pick you up in the morning and we’ll go to the courthouse.”
Duke heard her take a quick breath, but then she said nothing.
“Cathy, honey…what’s wrong?” he asked.
“I need a wedding dress, but I’m afraid to go back to Savannah.”
The tremor in her voice broke his heart.
“Sweetheart, I’ll take you to a bridal shop…to all the bridal shops in the city. I will sit in the truck at every stop until you find what you want. I will be with you every step of the way, but I won’t go inside.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Can you get away before Christmas to do that?” she asked.
“The perk of being my own boss is that I can do any damn thing I want to make you happy,” Duke said.
“You know the stores will be crazy with last-minute shoppers,” she said.
“I don’t know how many last-minute shoppers there will be looking for wedding dresses, but I don’t care,” he said.
“If I can find a dress and get it fitted…”
“We’ll find it,” he said.
“Then let’s aim for getting married on New Year’s Eve and see what happens. I know they aren’t finished with our