Page 42 of Snow Kisses

“They could be better, if I had a house designer,” Jessica said. “I’m prepared to offer you a percentage of my gross, Abby. I think you could make us both rich. Richer,” she corrected, laughing. “You’ve got someunique designs, if Melly’s wardrobe is anything to go by. I’d love to have you do a few sketches, at least, and send them to me.”

Despite her haste to get back to New York, Abby was willing to do that. In fact, she and Jessica got so caught up in a discussion of the particulars, they almost missed the opening chords of the organ. It wasn’t until Cade shouted from the front porch that Abby clambered out of Jessica’s car and rushed up the steps, with the Amazon at her heels.

“If you can spare the time, everyone else is ready to start,” Cade said under his breath as she passed him.

“And the sooner this is over, the sooner she’ll be back from her honeymoon, which means I can leave,” she shot back, glaring up at him.

“Lady, it won’t be quick enough to suit me,” he returned hotly.

She brushed past him, oblivious to Jessica’s puzzled stare, and went right to the doorway of the living room, arriving just as the prelude finished.

Cade joined Jerry at the altar, the two of them such a contrast in their suits—Cade dark and elegant, Jerry blond and obviously uncomfortable. Then the wedding march sounded and Abby gripped her orchids, shooting a glance at the staircase to find Melly waiting there. As she walked between the folding chairs, she discovered that down the aisle Cade was watching every step she made, an expression in his eyes that she couldn’t begin to understand.

For one wild instant, Abby pretended that this was her own wedding, that she was giving herself to Cadefor all time. It was so delicious a fantasy that she stared at him the whole length of the aisle. He stared back at her, his face momentarily softening, his eyes black and glittering as she went to stand at her place beside the flowered arch of the altar. His eyes held hers for a long, blazing moment, and her lips parted on a rush of breath as she felt the force of the look all the way to her toes.

Then the organ sounded again, and the spell was broken as Melly came down the aisle in the gorgeous gown, carrying orchids and wildflowers in a unique bouquet.

Melly walked to the altar and stood nervously beside Jerry. The minister, a delightful man with thick glasses and a contagiously happy expression, read the marriage service. Jerry and Melly each read the special wording that they’d prepared for themselves, and they lit one candle together from two separate candles to signify the joining of two people into one. The final words were read. Jerry kissed the bride for so long that some members of the wedding party began to giggle. And all at once it was over and they were running down the aisle together.

Abby kept out of Cade’s way at the reception, sitting aside with Jessica while they discussed modeling and clothes and the future of Jessica’s boutique.

Then, all too soon, Melly was dressed in her street clothes and the happy couple rushed out the door to start on their honeymoon. Abby kissed them both and wished them well, and stood by while Melly stopped at the car to toss her wedding bouquet. Calla, dressed in gray and looking unusually sedate, caught it and blusheda flaming red—especially when thin old Jeb, suited up in a rare concession to civilization, looked at her and grinned.

Abby was grateful that she hadn’t caught it. That would have been the final thrust of the knife, to feel Cade’s sharp eyes on her, seeing the aching hunger she couldn’t have hidden from him.

Hours passed before the guests drifted away, and Abby saw Jessica off with a promise to put some sketches in the mail at her earliest opportunity. She liked Jessica very much. And perhaps there was a way for her to accept the job. If she moved to Wyoming, she’d be far enough away that she wouldn’t ever have to see Cade again.

Abby changed into a cotton dress with gold patterning that complemented her pinned-up blond hair and sat down at the supper table expecting to eat alone. It was a surprise when Cade walked into the dining room, wearing a white shirt and blue blazer with dark slacks. He looked impossibly handsome, and as elegant as anything New York might produce.

“Ain’t we pretty, though?” Calla murmured, eyeing him as she began to serve the food.

“We shore is,” he returned, pursing his lips at her gray dress, which she hadn’t changed. “I noticed the way Jeb was looking at you.” His eyes narrowed. “Did you bake me another cherry cake and give it to him again?”

The older woman flushed and scowled all at once. “You hush, or I’ll burn your supper. You know I gave him the cake on account of he bailed me out when I burned the supper I was cooking for those ranchers youinvited here! And what are you doing back here with roundup in full swing? I thought you’d be heading for the hills the minute the words were spoke.”

“I live here,” he reminded her.

“Could have fooled me,” she muttered, waddling out of the room.

Abby fixed her coffee and kept her eyes on her plate. She was still smarting from the ugly remark Cade had made earlier.

“Since we’re not speaking, shall I ask Calla to ask you to pass me the salt?” Cade asked coolly.

She handed it over, setting it down before he could take it from her.

“Who was the redheaded Amazon you couldn’t part company with?” he asked.

She didn’t like the bite in his tone, but it was none of his business who Jessica was. “Another model,” she lied, staring at him.

His face hardened. “A successful one, judging by that mink and the Lincoln,” he remarked. He smiled bitterly. “Or is she being kept by some man?”

Abby slammed her napkin down by her plate and got up. “Eat by yourself. I can’t stand any more of your self-righteousness!”

“You can’t stand ordinary people, either, can you?” he challenged. “You walked right past Essie Johnson, and you grew up with her. She wasn’t good enough for your exalted company, no doubt, being a simple rancher’s wife and all.”

That cut to the quick. How could he think her so heartless when in fact she’d gone out of her way to findEssie at the reception and had apologized for what might have appeared to be a snub?

“Think what you like—you will anyway,” she said and walked out of the room.

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