Page 70 of Rainwater
Three months had passed since Marigold had moved in with them. She and Ellie had become immediate friends. Seldom apart, they shared secrets, Two Tone and the love of horses.
Jennifer had bonded with Marigold right away, which didn’t surprise Corey. With her big heart and gentle hands, she had soothed Marigold’s fears, bought her a huge wardrobe that Corey was sure she could never exhaust and made her feel warmly welcome in the big house.
Two months ago he had married Jennifer and it still brought tears to his eyes when he thought about how she had looked at him that day. How her eyes had filled with tears and love when he’d slipped the ring on her finger, broadcasting to everyone that she was his forever. Both Ellie and Marigold had been bridesmaids. The whole town had turned out for the nuptials, heralding Corey as a hero for standing up to Jay Butler and his vicious brothers. Corey had even received grudging respect from the sheriff.
The Butler brothers had been charged with attempted murder and assault and were all sentenced to prison terms. Corey had begun to see a therapist and was working throughthe emotional baggage he carried around with him. Progress was slow, but it was sure.
He had taken the considerable sum of money his mother had left him and contracted builders to erect the community center on the outskirts of town on a plot of land that had been long forgotten. Jennifer had encouraged Corey to make a bid on the land.
Now the center was ready for the finishing touches and the staffing. He’d recruited Ellie, Marigold and Tucker, promising to pay for the boy’s jumping lessons in exchange for his help. He also helped Ellie and Tucker mend the rift between them.
Corey sat resting his aching back against the now-dry newly painted director’s office wall. He closed his eyes wearily.
“What do you think you’re doing, Rainwater?” Jennifer asked dryly.
“Resting.”
“Looks like slacking to me,” she said with a gleam in her eye. His gray T-shirt clung to the hard curves of his chest and his dark hair lay loose and wet against his neck. The red bandanna he’d tied around his forehead was also drenched with sweat.
“Whose idea was it, anyways, to open a community center?” He grinned up at her, humor glinting in his eyes.
Jennifer sauntered over to him and crouched. She pointed her finger into the steel of his chest. “I believe that bright idea was yours, cowboy.”
He reached up and cupped her face, the turquoise ring on his left hand reflecting the light from the skylights above. “I’m always up for a challenge.”
Jennifer smiled and her eyes traveled down his body. “That’s never been one of your problems.”
“No. You, darlin’, are my only problem. One I want to take a lifetime to solve.” He smiled and drew her forward, kissing her mouth.
She grabbed his hand and touched the ring on his finger. “You’ve got a lifetime, because I’m not letting you go.” She intertwined her left hand with his until her matching turquoise ring connected with his. He drew her forward between his legs and with a sigh, she melted against him.
He buried his face in her hair. “I love you, Jenny darlin’.” His voice was thick and uneven.
She turned her head to look up into his eyes, her heart so full it was almost impossible to hold all the emotion she felt for this brave, strong, precious man. She closed her eyes against the instant surge of emotion, wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him hard. Swallowing against the tightness in her throat, her happiness perfect and thorough, she cradled his face in her hands. With the same thickness and unevenness in her voice, she said, “My heart will always belong to you, Corey. Forever.”
“Jennifer, about Tucker—”
“Yes, we can unofficially adopt him, too. Why not? The more, the merrier. He’s a sweet kid.” Jennifer snuggled into his sweaty warmth and turned her face up for another kiss.
“Please, can’t you guys get over it,” Ellie said as she walked into the room, Marigold trailing behind her. “The rest of the furniture’s here, Dad and Mom. Where do you want them to unload it?”
Jennifer got to her feet and Corey rose. The sound of the wordDadon Ellie’s lips, even if it was with a teasing inflection, made him feel warm and mushy inside. “You know something, little darlin’, you didn’t knock,” he said in a mock-scolding voice.
“There wasn’t a door, smarty-pants,” Ellie responded tartly, putting her hands on her hips, using the same taunting inflection Corey had used.
“Yeah, Corey, you can’t expect Ellie to knock if there isn’t a door, now, can you?” Marigold mimicked Ellie’s stance.
“Is there an echo in here?” He turned to look at Jennifer.
“Parrots, maybe.” Jennifer laughed, her eyes twinkling as she wrapped her arm around Corey’s waist.
“I guess I’d better put one in a cage then,” he said as he moved swiftly and caught both girls around the waist and swung them around.
Tucker walked into the room with a disgusted look on his face. “Hey, you guys were supposed to tell Corey that the delivery truck is here,” he said, puffed up with pride that Corey trusted him with the furniture.
“I did, Mr. Garrison, so there.” Ellie’s tone was crisp.
“Don’t get snippy with me, Ms. Rainwater. I think those guys are getting impatient,” Tucker scolded, his eyes moving to Corey.
