Page 11 of Sweet Surprise (Honeysuckle, Texas #2)

Leaning against one of the porch posts, Carson’s gaze followed Mason as he ran around with Brady in the yard.

The German Shepherd was remarkably patient, trotting beside the boy and occasionally pausing to let Mason catch up.

In the distance, Samson watched from his pen, not yet comfortable enough to join the play but clearly interested.

“He’s really settled in quickly.” Carson commented softly, his gaze remaining on his son. His son. How long before he didn’t startle himself thinking or hearing those words. “Acts like he’s lived here his whole life.”

“I know.” Jess settled into one of the rocking chairs. “It’s remarkable, honestly. The change in him since we’ve been here…”

Carson nodded, knowing exactly what she meant.

The boy who’d been quiet and focused on his drawing pad back in the café had blossomed into an exuberant, curious kid who seemed determined to absorb every aspect of ranch life.

Of course, the argument could be made that ranch life ran in his blood.

Two hundred years of Sweets and now Mason would be the first of the next generation.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said before.” Like he’d been doing, Jess’s gaze remained fixed on her son.

“About?” Carson kept his voice even, matter-of-fact, hoping she was thinking about marrying him and in a favorable way.

“Getting married. To help the ranch.” She gestured in her son’s direction. “And Mason.”

The kid was intent on teaching Brady how to sit on command. The dog, who’d known the command for years, played along patiently.

“He looks so happy, I can’t decide if it would be right or wrong to keep him here, letting him think this is his home.”

“Whether we do this or not, the Sweet Ranch will always be his home. His land. His roots.”

“I know,” she sighed, “but it’s still not the same as thinking this is where you belong, and then when our deal ends, he’ll be uprooted again.”

Carson took a deep breath. He’d asked himself the same question more than once and didn’t have any more answers than Jess. All he knew was that he didn’t want to make a mistake. “I’ve been thinking too. What do you think if we build you and Mason a house here on Sweet Land?

Her head tipped to one side. “I’m not sure I’m following. You mean wait to marry till there’s a house built?”

“No.” He ran his hand across the back of his neck.

He was going to botch this whole thing before it had even begun.

“I mean we’ll pick out a spot. Tell Mason it’s going to be his new home soon.

It will take time, especially since there isn’t much money for material right now, but when we do, then you and Mason can move in. ”

“Without you?”

This was the part he hated, finally getting the one woman he’d always wanted, and then having to let her go.

“Yes. Maybe, if he’s still here on the ranch, still near all of us, the separation, the divorce, won’t be as hard to handle.

” He didn’t dare think about how hard it would be for him to have Jess around for years to come and have to pretend he didn’t care.

“And if the ranch isn’t on its feet in a year? If the house isn’t built? What happens then?”

“I can go away for a while. I travel a lot. Our developments aren’t always in this part of Texas. As a matter of fact, at some point when we can afford ranch hands again, or when that blasted lawsuit is settled, I’ll have to do some traveling anyway. It will seem normal to Mason.”

“Normal,” she muttered softly.

His mind drifted back ten years to when he thought there was a chance he could finally win Jess over, and then she was gone. He didn’t dare let himself hope that maybe, with time, maybe… “Probably a poor choice of words.”

She almost laughed at him. “Yeah, nothing about any of this is normal.”

“I’m sorry.” He really was. About a lot of things. Starting with not having fought harder for her when he knew Todd was bad news.

“Hey.” She pushed to her feet and came over to his side, her hand on his forearm. “None of this is your fault. Not your dad, not Ray, not the mess I made of my life. None of it.”

“Part of me knows that, but part of my can’t help thinking if only…”

Her hand squeezed his arm. “Whenever I would get on an if only tirade, my mom would say, if my mother had wheels she’d be a car .”

That made him smile. “Our moms would have been good friends.”

“I think so.” Jess took a step back. “What about telling him you’re his father?”

Carson considered his words carefully. “One step at a time. As he gets used to me, I’d like to believe we’ll know the right moment to tell him.”

She nodded, her eyes following Mason as he ran across the yard, Brady loping beside him. Samson slowly inching closer to the fun. The boy’s laughter carried to them on the evening breeze.

“I used to worry so much about him,” she said softly. “That he wasn’t getting what he needed. That he wasn’t happy enough.”

“And now?”

“Look at him,” her voice caught slightly. “He’s thriving here. I guess big horses and roaming cattle are no more dangerous than taxis and buses on crowded city streets.”

A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the distant sound of Mason’s play.

Finally, Jess took a deep breath. “This may be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done,” she said, a wry smile tugging at her lips. “Well, maybe marrying Todd can’t be beat for the dumbest, but this may take second place. Let’s do it.”

Carson hoped his surprise wasn’t showing. He honestly thought deep down she was going to tell him to go to hell in a hand basket for even thinking of such a ridiculous idea. “You’re sure?”

“No,” she laughed lightly, “I’m not sure at all. But sometimes the most ridiculous plans make the most sense.”

“I guess ridiculous does pretty much cover it.” Carson moved to her side, lightly touching her hand. “Whatever happens, we’ll make sure Mason’s happy. That’s what matters most to both of us.”

She nodded, their eyes meeting briefly before they both turned back to watch Mason, who had found a stick and was throwing it for Brady to fetch.

Another trick the dog let him believe he’d only just learned.

Then, to Carson’s surprise, Brady dropped the stick in front of Samson and slowly the stressed dog sniffed the stick, looked at Brady, and Carson would have sworn Brady nodded at his new friend.

Just as slowly, Samson picked up the stick, inched in Mason’s direction, and dropped the stick in front of the boy’s feet.

“Wow. I guess miracles do happen.” Carson hoped that there was one more miracle in God’s pocket for them.

If only time could stand still. At this moment, Jess couldn’t remember feeling more relaxed, content, and more importantly, at peace.

“So,” Carson said after a moment, “you up to telling Mom? I don’t want to rush you, but time is critical.”

“I know.” She tried to calm the butterflies swooping in her stomach. “If I’d made up my mind sooner, we could have sprung it all on her at the same time.”

“Coulda, woulda shoulda,” He teased, then took hold of her hand and threaded their fingers together.

“I already impressed upon Mom that we’re just friends.

If we’re going to pull this off, convince her that we just now figured out how we feel and make her believe it’s for real, holding hands will do a lot to help. ”

“Of course.” Her gaze dropped to their laced fingers.

So many memories flooded her thoughts. Happy memories.

Good memories. She’d been so worried about Mason’s well being when this little charade was over, she hadn’t really given any thought to her own.

Giving his hand a tug and offering a weak smile, she sucked in a deep breath.

“Time to go from the frying pan into the fire.”

Almost holding her breath as she crossed the threshold, she noticed Alice elbow-deep in bread dough. The woman looked totally content in her element. Jess’ future—and temporary—mother-in-law glanced up as they came in, a warm smile spreading across her face.

“Well now, you two look like you’ve been hatching a plan.” Her gaze dropped to their joined hands, and her smile widened.

“Actually, yes.” Carson cleared his throat. “We’ve been talking, and… well…”

Jess could feel Carson’s discomfort even if she weren’t holding his hand. Gazing at him with a hint of a smile, she squeezed his hand, hoping to silently convey, you’ve got this.

With a slight nod of his head, Carson squeezed her hand back. “We’re getting married.”

Alice’s hands stilled in the dough. For a moment, she said nothing, just stared at them.

Then she let out a whoop of joy so loud that Jess half expected the roof to come off the house.

“I knew it!” Alice beamed, wiping her hands on her apron.

“The minute I saw you two together, I said to myself, ‘Alice Sweet, those two belong together.’ I’m just glad you didn’t waste any time figuring it out for yourselves that all that just friends mantra was pure hooey. ”

Carson stared down at her and for a split moment, Jess thought she saw true love gazing down at her. Dang, this man could act. “I guess you might say it’s been a decade in the making.”

“That’s right.” Jess smiled at Alice. “Which is why we don’t see any point in wasting time with a long engagement.”

Immediately Alice’s gaze dropped to Jess’s left hand, then lifted to meet her son’s.

“I, uh, wasn’t prepared for her to say yes.” Carson heaved a shoulder in an apologetic shrug.

Again, Jess squeezed his hand and took a chance looking up at him and smiling. Maybe his mother would buy this charade.

“Anyhow,” Carson let go of her hand and casually slid his arm around her waist, “we’re thinking about getting married sooner rather than later.”

“Sooner? How much sooner?” Alice had forgotten her dough.

Carson looked at Jess. “We thought we’d stop by the courthouse tomorrow and get the license, then after the waiting period, tie the knot.”

“That’s right.” Jess figured she should corroborate his plans. “Small ceremony, just the family.”

Alice’s face fell. “You can’t be serious. Not again.”

Jess felt a pang of guilt at the disappointment on Alice’s face. The woman had just learned she had a grandson; now she was being denied the chance to see her son properly married.

“No.” Alice shook her head. “I don’t know what’s gotten into my children, but weddings should be in church, with flowers, and music, and friends, and then a party to remember for years to come.”

“Mom,” Carson’s tone held a gentle warning, “this isn’t exactly normal circumstances.”

He certainly was right about that.

“Poppycock. A wedding is a wedding.” Alice moved to the sink to wash her hands and heaved a sigh. “Okay.” She nodded, reached for a towel to dry her hands and turned to face them. “Okay. I’ll agree to fast. But we talk to Pastor John and have a church wedding, and then—”

“Mom,” Carson almost whined.

“Under the circumstances, ma’am…” Jess searched for just the right words. “I would feel more comfortable just having a quick ceremony at the courthouse.”

She could see Alice fighting her own objections, then a smile stretched across her face and her eyes lit up. Jess didn’t know if this was a good or bad thing.

“Here’s what we’re going to do.” Alice tossed the dish towel aside and placing a moist towel over the dough, grabbed a pad and paper from the kitchen drawer.

“We’ll have a small wedding in the park.

At the gazebo.” She glanced up at them with a pointed glare.

“No church.” Then returned to her pad, scribbling who knew what when she spun around and enthusiastically waved her pen at them. “I’ve got it.”

Carson’s attention shifted from his mother to Jess and then briefly glancing out the window to see what Mason was up to, turned back to his mother. “You’ve got what?”

“The timing is perfect. We’re having that barn dance this Saturday to raise money for the Flannagans after their barn burned down last month.”

“Say again?” Carson didn’t let go of her hand.

“The whole town is planning on coming.”

“Mom. We don’t want to make a big fuss.”

“Nonsense.” She waved him off. “There’s no fuss.

All we’re providing is the barn. The committee has everything else all planned and ready to go, wouldn’t have to change a thing.

Y’all can get your license, have the small ceremony in the park and then the fundraiser party here at the ranch.

We’ll kill two birds with one stone. Besides, with everyone in a good mood, we might raise more money for the Flannagans. ”

There was nothing either of them could say. Alice was off calling her sisters, rambling about details, arrangements, flowers and even though Jess hadn’t known the woman long, it was obvious to any idiot that there was no fighting Alice Sweet.

Jess felt Carson’s arm tighten slightly around her waist. The gesture, probably meant for show, offered comfort as well.

“You okay?” he asked softly, not that his mother would hear with her exuberant conversation in the other room.

“I think so.” She blew out a sigh. “The question is, how will Mason be when we tell him?”

“Let’s find out.” Escorting her out the back door, Carson whistled to get their son’s attention.

Immediately Mason leaned over, whispered something to the two dogs and hurried over to the porch.

“Sweetie.” Jess glanced up at Carson, who having let go of her hand when she reached for her son, nodded. “We have something we’d like to share with you.”

“Okay, Mom.”

“How would you like to stay here at the ranch?”

The kid’s eyes grew round like saucers and his head rapidly bobbed up and down.

One question down and one to go. Only this time, Carson squatted down in front of their son. “How would you feel about me marrying your mom?”

Somehow those wide eyes circled even larger and a huge grin to match took over his face. “For real?”

Carson nodded. “For real.”

“Cool!” Without another word, he spun around and ran off shouting for Brady and Samson, yelling that he was going to get to stay and he would have a new daddy.

Stunned at the easy acceptance and lack of questions, Jess turned slack jawed to her sort of fiancé.

“Who knew it would be so easy?” Carson shrugged.

“Do you think he’ll be this happy when he finds out he needs to go shopping for wedding clothes?”

Smiling at their son in the distance, Carson hitched one lazy shoulder. “Only one way to find out.”

She nodded. Her stomach twisted and she swallowed hard. Five more days and she would marry Carson Sweet. Not what she’d expected when she put Mason in the car and started driving west. She couldn’t help but wonder what other surprises might be in store for her.