The Mating Season Read online

  with other commitments."

  "If we'd suspected that it was serious between the two of you, we wouldn't have been so shocked when you arrived today," her father stated, laying down the carving knife and fork.

  "How long will you be able to stay?" her mother asked, and instantly added, "I do hope you don't have to leave right away."

  "I'll have to leave on Monday," Trevor began the answer.

  But Gabe finished it. "Jonni is staying for two weeks." It was his only contribution to the conversation thus far. There something faintly condemning in his tone, as if he implied that Jonni expected them to feel honored she was staying that long. But she was the only one who seemed to notice his biting dryness.

  "Two weeks. How wonderful!" her mother exclaimed. "We'll have time to make plans about the wedding. Have you set the date yet?"

  "Not yet," Jonni admitted.

  "Soon," Trevor stated. "After the length of our courtship, I don't think we need a long engagement."

  "You would make a beautiful June bride," her mother declared, passing the platter of beef to Gabe. "That's only two months away. We'll barely have time to have the invitations printed. We'll need to speak to Reverend Payton, too, about reserving the church." As Caroline Starr began listing the arrangements that had to be made, it occurred to her that she hadn't consulted her daughter about a few major decisions. "You are planning a church wedding, aren't you?"

  "Yes." The answer was hesitant as Jonni darted a sideways glance at Trevor and did her best to ignore the sharp, questioning look from the man seated opposite her.

  Her mother looked from her daughter to her future son-in-law. "You were planning to be married here in Kansas, weren't you?"

  "Actually we had discussed having the wedding in New York," Jonni admitted.

  "But all our friends and family are here," her mother protested.

  "Now, Caroline," her father interposed to calm his wife, "it's their wedding. And you must remember that they have many friends in New York, plus Trevor's family."

  "I suppose so," she conceded. "I just always imagined Jonni walking down the aisle of the church where she'd been baptized and confirmed. There are so many endless details in planning a wedding — flowers, the wedding cake, gown fittings, the reception, wedding music. How will you ever be able to arrange all that, Jonni, and work, too?" Her mother made it sound an impossible task.

  "We can have much of it done for us," Trevor stated. "There are professional firms that arrange entire weddings down to the last details."

  Her mother's forthright nature ran unchecked. "But that's so impersonal!" Jonni tended to agree with her, but under the circumstances it was the most logical route to take. Across the table, Gabe was subjecting her to a narrowed look. "Part of the fun of having a big church wedding is picking out the little things like the cocktail napkins or the champagne glasses, or racing to the printers because a name is misspelled. It builds up the excitement to a wedding. The ceremony itself is usually an anticlimax."

  "After all these years, I finally know how she felt when we exchanged our vows," her father joked.

  "Oh, John, you know that's not what I mean," Caroline returned impatiently.

  "What she means is — if you two are getting married in New York, the bride's parents will probably be moving there so she can take charge of the wedding." He continued to tease her even as he made the serious suggestion.

  "That's a wonderful idea, mother," Jonni agreed with it. She laughed. "And it wilt certainly save on the expense of a lot of long-distance phone calls to Kansas."

  "We could do that, couldn't we, John?" Her mother latched on to the suggestion with growing enthusiasm. "Gabe can look after things here," she added to enforce it.

  Jonni slid a questioning look to Gabe, but his gaze was downcast, focused on his plate. A muscle flexed along his jawline, contracting sharply.

  "That's right, Caroline. I'll see to the ranch," he agreed.

  "It's all settled, then," the older woman announced with a lightened expression. "When you go back to New York, Jonni, will you look for a small apartment your father and I can rent for a couple of months?"

  "There's no need to rent an apartment. Vickie, my room-mate, is moving out at the end of the month — the firm she's working for is transferring its headquarters to California. You and dad can have her bedroom." It was all working out so perfectly it seemed predestined, Jonni thought.

  "That's ideal," her mother enthused. "While you're here these next two weeks, we'll have to start making up a list of family and friends we'll want to invite to the wedding."

  "It's a bit early for that, isn't it?" her father asked.

  "It's better than leaving it until the last minute," was Caroline's argument. "Have you looked for a place to live after you're married?" She addressed the question to both of them, but Jonni answered.

  "There's no need to look. Trevor's apartment is centrally located and beautifully decorated. It's much roomier than mine, too. Wait until you see it."

  "Have you been in it?" A faintly shocked expression registered in Caroline Starr's face at the thought that her daughter had been in a man's apartment.

  "Yes, mother," Jonni replied, and refused to elaborate.

  "Excuse me." Gabe rose abruptly from the table, his water goblet in his hand. "I need some more water."

  "I'll get it for you," Caroline volunteered.

  "I can manage," he in insisted, halfway to the kitchen door.

  His sudden departure left a confused silence, the rhythm of their conversation broken. It was several seconds before anyone attempted to resume it. Then it was Caroline.

  "Wouldn't you rather have a house than an apartment, Jonni?" she asked. "A place with a lawn and some trees, your own space?"

  "Naturally I would. But you don't find what you're describing in the middle of Manhattan," Jonni explained patiently. "An apartment is much more practical and convenient. You'll understand what I mean once you see Trevor's."

  "Don't they have houses in New York?" her mother persisted.

  "Of course they do. But they're mostly located in the suburbs, which means Trevor and I would have to commute. It's definitely more logical to live in the center of everything," Jonni insisted.

  "But in the center of New York?" Her mother grimaced.

  "I've been living there for the past six years," Jonni reminded her. "You make it sound like the cesspool of the world! New York is a vibrant, exciting city."

  "It's so crowded and congested, a jungle of concrete. I should think you would miss the country. You were such an outdoors person," her mother declared.

  "I still am," Jonni assured her. "I have my own horse and I go riding several times a week. I'm outdoors whenever it's possible. I go swimming at the beach, on weekends, and jog through Central Park."

  "That's dangerous." Her mother frowned at her in sharp reproof.

  "Not if you're sensible, mother." She tried not to smile in the face of her mother's genuine concern.

  But the twinkling sparkle of amusement was in her blue eyes when she looked up at Gabe's return to the dining room. His black gaze looked and held her. A funny breathlessness attacked her lungs, her heart flipping unevenly. It was really quite strange. The contact was broken as he pulled out his chair and sat down, placing the filled water goblet by his plate. Ice cubes tinkled delicately against the crystal sides.

  "Actually, Caroline," Trevor was saying, "I'm more concerned about Jonni being injured while riding her horse than I am about her jogging though Central Park with her friends. I've tried repeatedly to persuade her to sell the beast, but she refuses."

  "Where do you ride?" her father asked.

  "Surely not in all that traffic?" her mother protested.

  "They have riding paths," Jonni explained patiently. "So you see, I'm really still your little country girl at heart."

  "You would never know it when she's in New York," Trevor stated. "She's smooth and polished, a real sophisticate."

  "I don'
t think there's enough water in New York to wash away the dirt between Jonni's toes." Gabe ran an assessing eye over her that seemed a little too penetrating. Jonni wasn't sure that she wanted him to see that deeply into her. It's part of her he concluded.

  "You could be right." Trevor's grudging admission indicated that he didn't like the idea of agreeing with Gabe about anything but for the peace of the table conversation, he would.

  There was a lull in the conversation before her mother sighed, "I still can't get over the fact that our little girl is finally going to be married. I was beginning to think you would never find anyone and settle down, Jonni. Now, it's happened so suddenly that I don't seem to be able to believe it."

  "Hardly suddenly," Jonni protested with a throaty laugh. "I've known Trevor for two years."

  "I know you've mentioned him in your letters, but you never hinted it was serious between you," Her mother picked up the bowl of potatoes and offered it to Gabe. "More potatoes?"

  "No, thank you." He took the bowl and passed it on to her father at the head of the table.

  "I may work slowly, but I'm very thorough," Trevor responded to her mother's comment. "When I proposed to Jonni, I wanted to be certain she'd have no doubts about accepting."

  "Just think, John." Caroline Starr beamed a smile to the man at the opposite end of the table. "We're finally going to have our grandchildren after all this time!" Her loving glance encompassed Jonni and Trevor. "I do hope you two aren't going to be one of these modern couples who wait years to have your children?"

  Jonni hesitated, darting a look at Trevor. Planning a family was one of the few things they hadn't discussed. She had no idea what his views were on the subject.

  Trevor laughed easily. "I think it would be better if Jonni and I were married before we become concerned about how soon we'll start a family." He had avoided a direct response and Jonni knew no more than anyone else about how he really felt about the subject.

  "I think you'd better switch topics, Caroline," John Starr suggested, "before you end up asking something that might prove embarrassing to everyone."

  "If you say so," she conceded, but couldn't resist adding, "I've never kept it a secret from Jonni how much I want grandchildren."

  "Would you excuse me?" Gabe rose from his chair." I have some paperwork to do."

  "But what about dessert?" Caroline looked at him in surprise.

  "Not tonight, thanks." His sweeping gaze included everyone at the table. "Good night." Grimness was etched into his features. There was a glimpse of anger in his eyes when they touched on Jonni. It ruffled her fur. She hadn't said or done anything to make him angry.

  After the front door had closed, her mother said, "Gabe is pushing himself too hard, John."

  "Nonsense. He's simply very conscientious." He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his full stomach. "Did you say something about dessert?"

  Chapter Four

  AFTER DINNER, Jonni and Trevor went for an evening walk. Hand in hand they strolled along the rutted lane. The air was brisk and the velvet sky overhead was littered with stars. Jonni's, gaze searched out the Big Dipper.

  "You'd better watch where you're going," Trevor suggested dryly, reproaching her star-gazing activities. "This ground is pretty rough and uneven."

  "If I stumble you'll catch me, won't you?" she asked with a flirtatious tilt of her head.

  "I intend to spend the rest of my life catching you," he told her with loving warmth.

  Something black swooped down at them. Trevor flung up an arm to protect his face and ducked, but the object had already flown off into the night.

  "What was that? A bat?" Anger ran in his demand.

  Jonni laughed. "It was probably a bird."

  He stopped and pulled her into his arms. "So you think I'm funny, do you?" he said in a mockingly threatening manner.

  "I think you're a big, good-looking dude," she declared.

  "A city dude who's very much in love with you."

  His mouth covered hers in a long and satisfying kiss. She snuggled closer to the warmth of his body, sliding her arms inside his topcoat. It was very enjoyable in his embrace and it led her to think of other things.

  "How do you feel about having children, Trevor?" she asked.

  He shifted her to his side, keeping an arm around her as he started walking again. She fell into step beside him. It was too dark for her to see his face clearly, so she couldn't read his expression.

  "Any plans for a family will definitely have to wait a while," he said. "We have to consider the effect it would have on your career."

  "Why should it affect it?" She frowned at his answer.

  "I don't recall seeing any pictures of pregnant women on the covers of Vogue or Harper's Bazaar," Trevor mocked.

  "They're mostly face shots, portraits," Jonni argued.

  "It wouldn't be wise to have to limit the kind of assignments you can accept. Besides, you're just reaching the peak of your success. It would be foolish to throw it all away. Your popularity won't begin to wane for another four to six years. We can think about a family then," he reasoned. The arm around her waist tightened in a reassuring hug.

  "But by then I'll be in my thirties." There was more risk involved in bearing children during those years.

  "That's true," he acknowledged.

  Jonni strained to see his face. A tiny shaft of fear splintered through her veins. He was staring straight ahead, not looking at her. A question loomed in her mind.

  "Trevor, do you want to have children?" Jonni forced her voice to be calm.

  He hesitated. "Naturally, I would like to have a son." But his voice lacked enthusiasm for the idea. He had said it because it was expected of him. Something died inside her and Jonni felt cold. "Brr!" Trevor shivered as if feeling the sudden drop in temperature, too. "It's getting cold out here. Let's go back to the house."

  "Yes, I'm getting tired anyway," she agreed in a listless voice.

  DRESSED IN A faded pair of denim jeans and a blue pullover sweater that showed equal signs of wear, Jonni tiptoed down the steps. Trevor was a late sleeper and she didn't want to wake him. It was early, only a few minutes past six, but she was accustomed to rising with the sun. Outside the birds were singing and the morning sun was warming the air.

  At the bottom of the stairs she began humming to herself, a happy whimsical tune. She sauntered toward the kitchen. At this hour, that was where she would find her parents. The tips of her fingers were hooked inside the back pockets of her blue jeans. A silk scarf of blue and gold paisley print formed a wide band around her head. The ends escaped from the ash-blond length of her hair to trail over the front of her shoulder.

  Her parents were seated at the small breakfast table when she entered the kitchen. They looked up, surprise changing to smiles at the sight of her.

  "Good morning; mom, dad."

  "Good morning, Jonni," The greeting was echoed in unison.

  "You're up early this morning," her mother commented.

  "I always am," Jonni replied, and walked to the refrigerator.

  "We just finished breakfast. You remember how your father always likes to eat the very first thing after he wakes up. Can I fix you something?" her mother offered.

  "No, thank you. I'll just have some juice." She took the pitcher of orange juice from the refrigerator and moved to the cupboard where the glasses were kept. As she filled one of the glasses with juice, she realized how comforting it was to find things still in the same places, routines unchanging. It rolled back the time to the years when she had lived here.

  "Something more than juice, surely. How about some toast?" her mother suggested.

  Jonni laughed. She had never been able to eat in the mornings, but her mother had always tried to persuade her to have something. Not even that had changed.

  "This is all I want." She took a sip from her glass and winked at her father. "I have to watch my figure."

  "I thought that was Trevor's province now," he teased dryly.

>   "Not yet.

  "Is Trevor awake? Will he be coming down?" Her mother rose to refill the two coffee cups on the table.

  "He's still in bed, I think," Jonni answered, and joked, "he's a city boy, accustomed to sleeping until a saner hour in the morning."

  "I was up around midnight," her father said. "I saw a light shining from under his door."

  "He was probably reading." Jonni shrugged the observation aside as nothing to be concerned about. She wandered to the window above the kitchen sink and drank the last of her juice. "It's a beautiful morning, isn't it?"

  "It looks as if it's going to be a warm spring day," her father agreed.

  "I think I'll go walk around. Explore a bit," Jonni said and set her glass on the sink counter. As she walked to the back door, she glanced over her shoulder and waved. "See you later."

  Outside, Jonni followed the path worn, through the lawn. Its route was the most direct line to the barns. The air was crisp, the sky a pale morning blue. The temperature was low enough that she was glad she'd worn her old pullover sweater over her long-sleeved white blouse. It kept the chill from her skin.

  Shoving her hands in the front pockets of her jeans to keep them warm, she strolled toward the barns. She could smell the hay, its biting aroma mixed with the freshness of clean air. The large sliding door at the first barn was open.

  From inside she could hear the noises of horses eating, blowing the grain dust from their noses and bumping the sides of their feed troughs to get every last grain. The warm, pungent scent of horses wafted through the door. It sounded crazy, but she liked that smell. It was like perfume to her, but she doubted that everyone would agree. Trevor didn't. She had always been careful to shower and shampoo when she returned from riding before seeing him.

  Metal pails clanged together inside the shadowed interior of the barn. The sound came from the feed bin. Jonni paused inside the wide opening to let her eyes adjust to the absence of direct sunlight. The door to the grain room closed and she turned.

  A man walked toward her, dressed in the rough clothes of a cowboy, his short legs slightly bowed. He hesitated in midstride when he saw her, then continued forward.