Page 19 of Nashville Cowboy
“Not yet. And I haven’t told you, either. You just guessed. I’m supposed to tell him first. But…Lincoln didn’t want to have children right away.”
“Well, this happens. He’s just as much a part of this as you are.”
“I hate to spring this on him, right before our wedding day.”
“Honey, you should be happy. He’ll be fine. Hey, at least you know he’s not marrying you just to do the honorable thing.”
Sadie didn’t laugh. “I’m six weeks pregnant, Eve. I’ve been feeling sick every morning and chances are I’ll be sick on our honeymoon.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Nothing. I’mnotgoing to tell him. Not until we get back from our honeymoon.”
“Sadie, I don’t think…”
“I just wanted to tellsomeone.” She pointed. “But remember, I didn’t tell you! You just guessed.”
Wanda came around behind the plasma TV. “There you are! Oh, hello there, Eve. My goodness, Sadie, what onearthare you doing behind a TV? It’s time to get started.”
A few minutes later, the crowd of women slowly trickled in, carrying enough presents to open a department store. Lincoln stood behind Sadie as she sat on the chair of honor at the head of the folding table and tried to make himself useful by occasionally rubbing her shoulders. But he disappeared shortly after a pair of edible panties was unwrapped. Gifted by none other than Pastor June Marie, scheduled to marry the couple.
“Edible?” Mima elbowed Eve.
“You can eat them,” Eve hissed, wondering why no one thought to gift her a pair atherwedding shower.
“What, now?” Mima asked, straightening.
Sometimes Mima acted much older than her eighty-something self. “Use yourimagination.” Eve certainly was doing so now.
Except that an image rose, unbidden, of Jackson nibbling her panties off. Lord! Eve shook her head. What was wrong with her? Finally, what seemed like hours later, every present open and every dish licked clean, they all helped pack Lincoln’s truck to the brim with presents. And still they didn’t all fit.
“I’ll come by for the rest tomorrow,” Lincoln said.
“Take good care of my bounty.” Sadie tenderly petted the box containing an espresso machine.
“Hey, woman, you got your bounty right here,” Lincoln said, wrapping his arms around Sadie. “Already taking me for granted?”
“Oh no, baby, of course not.”
Then they kissed for what seemed like an eternity until they finally got in the truck and drove away.
Eve finished cleaning up alone since Daisy ran off somewhere, probably to drool over some of the ranch hands. Every now and again some cowboys came off the rodeo circuit and worked the calving season, adding even more men to the mix. After letting all the dogs and barn cats back inside their abode, Eve locked up the barn and went to check on Mima. She was curled up on her leather recliner in front of the beautiful rock fireplace hearth, her laptop open.
She glanced up at Eve, jaw gaping. “Good Lord almighty, I just googled edible panties!”
Eve didn’t seeJackson for two days. He was probably putting finishing touches on the bachelor party. One of her jobs was to plan the bachelorette party. Another was to help with the wedding favors. And possibly attend yet another dress fitting, because Lord help her, she was probably an inch wider around the hips. She was officially back to the weight she’d been at twenty, when she’d been healthy and happy.
Today, she and Sadie were occupying both the island and the table in Mima’s kitchen. Small mason jars filled with the popular jam that Sadie’s mother, Wanda, sold covered the table. There were at least a hundred of them. Eve was in charge of placing the pre-printed labels on that read:
June 16
“Spread the Love”
Lincoln and Sadie
Sadie toppedthem with a patch of short burlap and tied each with a matching string. Definitely a production, and they could have used Daisy’s help, but she’d taken off. Mima, who would be of little help at all other than supervising, was out shopping with Wanda for comfortable but stylish shoes. They’d gone to Kerrville and likely wouldn’t be back till much later in the day.
“Still fightin’ with Jackson?” Sadie said.
