Free The Mistress of Black Grove Manor by Elaine Young Page B

military records--”
    “Not that,” she said. “I hired someone and they confirmed your story. Turns out that you should have been dishonorably discharged. But they processed it differently due to your distinguished career.”
    He nodded, wondering what she’d meant. Catherine stepped a little closer.
    “I mean the part about loving me.”
    “Yes,” he said without hesitation. “I think I’ve been in love with you since your speech about money back in the gazebo.”
    She smiled, her expression brightening so fast that he was struck speechless by her beauty. He wanted to touch her, but he was filthy. She didn’t seem to mind. She stretched up and put her arms around his neck, kissing him. He kept his hands to himself, but he took the kiss deeper, feeling her moan against his mouth.
    “God, darlin’, I’ve missed you so damn bad,” he said against her lips.
    “Will you marry me?” she asked, pulling back.
    “Hell yeah, get in the truck.”
    Catherine laughed joyously. “You might want to take a shower first.”
    “Yeah, and I probably should introduce you to my folks before we go on down to town hall.”
    She looped her arm through his and they walked to the farmhouse. Linda was on the front porch and Scott waved.
    “Mom,” he said, “This is Catherine Cargill.”
     
    Linda swept her with a glance. The girl was lovely and she was dressed well. And she was leaning against Scott who was shirtless and sweating. Linda was a rancher's wife, so she knew exactly what her son smelled like after a morning of mucking out stalls. Catherine was smiling up at him, looking for all the world like Scott was dressed in his best and clean as a whistle.
    “Come in,” Linda said warmly.
    Scott headed upstairs for the shower, leaving his mother and Catherine to talk. He wasn’t worried, but he didn’t linger either. His hair was still wet when he jogged back down the stairs. Catherine was sitting at the kitchen table laughing. His mother was laughing too, but she hurriedly tried to sweep the photo album off the table before Scott saw it.
    He sighed resignedly. “Get it all out of the way,” he said. “I’m planning to marry her as soon as we’re done here, so she might as well know the worst there is.”
    Catherine grinned. “You were an adorable little cowboy.”
    He grinned back and they looked over the photo album together.
    Of course, they couldn’t get married right away. The license had to be applied for and there was a short waiting period. It didn’t really matter. Catherine loved the ranch. She worked almost as hard as Scott had when he was trying to forget her, but she did it because she loved the work.
    She was good at it too. She had good instincts with animals and she’d done some research on crops. She talked Eric into planting some soybeans. The market for them was enormous, according to her.
     
    Scott had known that his parents would like Catherine, but she admitted that she’d been terrified of them. Her own parents were furious with her, texting and calling so frequently that she’d shut her phone off for good the day after she’d arrived.
    The next Monday, they went to town hall and said their vows in front of his parents. Scott had been worried that Catherine would be disappointed, but she had smiled.
    “Everyone I care about will be there. What more could I want?”
    They left the courthouse arm in arm and ran right into her father.
    “Where have you been?” Andrew asked angrily.
    “With me,” Scott said, standing just slightly in front of Catherine.
    “Why haven’t you answered your phone?” Andrew continued.
    Catherine raised her chin and pushed out from behind Scott. “I didn’t want to talk to you. You should be happy. I got married.”
    Her mother approached in time to hear that last sentence. She sighed. “More things to reshoot. At least you’ve gotten the legal issues out of the way, I guess.”
    “Thanks for the congratulations,” Scott said dryly.
    “And I’d