Page 61 of Wyoming True

He chuckled. “Okay. We can tell everybody that you’re marrying me for my money.”

“We can tell everybody that you’re marrying me for mine,” she countered.

They both laughed. It was a wonderful start. They got along together, they enjoyed each other’s company.

Ida was already crazy about him and worried about how she’d hide it, but she’d worry about that later. Right now her only ambition in life was to marry Jake McGuire and do everything in her power to make him happy.

There was only one real worry. “What if Bailey finds out?” she asked. “He might try to do something...”

“Let me worry about your skanky ex-husband,” he said firmly.

Her eyes widened with laughter. “Skanky?”

“I heard that word on a talk show and appropriated it,” he informed her. “I plan to use it liberally for the rest of my life, despite the fear of copyright infringement.”

She laughed. “Jake, you’re so much fun to be with,” she said.

He smiled. “I like hearing you laugh,” he said. “I’m amazed that you still can, with all you’ve gone through.”

“Takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown,” she pointed out.

“Yes, it does. Do you want a formal wedding, with a best man and a maid of honor?”

She grimaced. “Could we get married with just us and a couple of witnesses?” she asked. “I don’t really have any friends, except the Menzers and Cindy, and Cindy can’t afford the sort of dress she’d need as a bridesmaid. I’d buy her one, but she’d never let me. She’s too proud. I’d have loved having her as my matron of honor.”

Her thoughtfulness surprised and touched him. He wouldn’t have even considered that a friend might not have enough money to buy a fancy piece of clothing to wear to a wedding.

“Just us sounds nice,” he said. “I’d like that, too.”

She nodded, her eyes full of dreams that she was careful to hide from him. “Just us.” She hesitated. “Jake, do you like cats?”

“Of course I like cats! What did you think, that we’d leave Butler at your house? Which reminds me, I have to pick up Wolf from the vet. He’s had a minor intestinal problem, so they kept him while he was being treated.”

“I remember. We saw him at the vet’s when we visited Butler. He’s a beautiful dog.” She sighed. “I hope he likes cats, and not as an entrée.”

“We had a cat here, until just recently, when one of Maude’s grandkids begged to replace his cat, which had just died. Wolf slept with it, in my bedroom,” he added with a chuckle. “He moped around for a week after the cat left. He’ll love Butler.”

She relaxed. “That’s great.” It was a relief.

“No more worrying,” he said. “You’ll get wrinkles.”

She laughed. “I’m bound to get more of those as we go along. I’m not keen on face-lifts.”

“Neither am I,” he replied with a smile. “We earn our years.” He studied her jet-black hair. There were a couple of barely noticeable gray hairs. “And don’t even think about coloring your hair. I think silver is very pretty.”

She smiled. “You’ll look very elegant with silver hair,” she said softly.

He laughed. “Not for a few years yet, though. Okay. What about a small reception? A caterer?”

She just stared at him, poleaxed. She hadn’t considered those things.

He drew in a breath. “Luckily for you, I’m a great organizer. I’ll get right on it.”

“Should we get engraved invitations or just email people?”

He pursed his lips and smiled. “How about engraved ones? I have a friend who runs a print shop. He owes me a favor. I’ll phone him. I need your full name and your parents’ names.”

Her face tautened.

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