Page 82 of Spilling the Tea

“But I could be one just as long as you’re with me.”

“Oh, Waylon, what are we going to do?” She asked him the same question he had asked her earlier.

He caressed her cheek with his palm. “We will continue to love each other and believe there is a way. Mr. Jantz will get better, and I hope he will approve of our marriage.”

“I hope so. I had better get back or Ma will wonder what’s taking me so long. We’re staying here tonight.”

“So am I. I’ll be in my truck over there.”

“All night?”

“Yes, all night. I’ll be closer to you here than I would be if I were to go home. Besides, I’m too upset with Ma to go back there tonight.”

Feeling so much love for him, she leaned on tiptoe to slant her mouth over his. He didn’t waste time taking her mouth hungrily. It was a long, drugging kiss that ignited her taste buds with the manly taste of him.

He broke off the kiss, drew in a ragged breath, before saying, “I love you, Victoria.”

“And I love you, too, Waylon.” Then, without saying anything else, she turned to rush back inside the hospital.

Chapter Twenty-Six

A week later…

Victoria placed a kiss on her father’s forehead. He’d been drifting in and out of consciousness for the past few days. Yesterday, he stayed awake for around four hours, which had pleased her mother tremendously. She’d known how much her parents had loved each other, but that had been more apparent by the smile on his face when he’d first awakened and seen her mother. Although it had been difficult for him to do so, he had told her mother that he loved her.

After a good cry, her mother was happy, convinced that Pa was on the road to recovery. Dr. Hargrove said as much but cautioned that he still had a long way to go.

Thanks to Felicia, a pot of coffee was set up in the hospital room, and Victoria walked across the room to a small table to pour a cup. She, her mom, and Felicia were taking shifts, so Pa was never alone. Milton came at the end of the workday. Jantz Madaris had big boots to fill, but her brother was doing a great job.

Although Waylon would also come in the afternoons, he wouldn’t come until later tonight since it was branding day on his ranch. To keep down any disturbance, he never came inside the hospital. Instead, he would spend the night in his truck whenever she was there. During the afternoon, he would pick her up a meal from one of the restaurants, and they would eat together in his truck while Milton and Fee watched over their pa.

Fee hadn’t been feeling well lately, and Etta Madaris was convinced she was with child. Milton was trying not to get his hopes up, but Victoria thought a niece or nephew would be wonderful.

“Victoria.”

She quickly turned toward the bed and saw her father was awake and had called out to her. Placing her coffee cup down, she quickly moved toward the bed. “Yes, Pa? Dr. Hargrove doesn’t want you to talk much.”

“Promise me.”

Speech for him was still rather difficult so she leaned closer to make sure she heard him better. “Promise you what, Pa?”

“That you will not marry into that family. That you won’t marry Waylon. I can’t let you after what Penny said.”

“What did she say?”

He stared at her with stark fear in his eyes, similar to what had been there the night she and Waylon were to elope. She then saw how a mistiness appeared in those same eyes. “Please tell me what she said, Pa.”

“Penny said since our family was responsible for her daughter being all but dead to them, she would let me know how that felt if you married her son by poisoning you.”

Victoria’s breath caught. She could see how saying such a thing would make her father want to protect her.

“Pa, surely Ms. Penny didn’t mean that. Waylon and Mr.Kurt think sending Charlotte away affected her deeply and eventually she will get better.”

“What if she doesn’t?”

“Waylon will protect me.”

“I can’t take that chance. You are my beloved daughter. Promise me you won’t marry Waylon. Promise me.”

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