Sgt. Billy's Bride. Bonnie Gardner

asked, her mouth full.

      “North Carolina.”

      Earline swallowed. “If it’s in North Carolina, how’d you meet Billy when he’s in Florida?”

      Now it was Darcy’s turn to swallow. She swallowed again, but before she could answer, Bill came to her rescue.

      “I went to jump school, at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.”

      “Oh. Lucky you.”

      Darcy didn’t know whether Earline was referring to Bill or to her, but considering the good save, she answered, “Yes, it was lucky. If Bill hadn’t come along when he did, I don’t know what I would have done.”

      “That’s enough poking your nose into Darcy’s business, Earline,” Bill said. “Let her eat.”

      “Well, I was just interested,” Earline protested. “She is going to be a member of the family. I would like to know a little something about her.”

      Bill shot his sister a look, and she drew in a deep, aggravated breath and turned her attention back to her plate.

      “Thank you, Bill,” Darcy murmured under her breath. “It seems like you’re always saving me.”

      “Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Bill said.

      Darcy wondered what Bill meant by that, but she didn’t make an issue of it. It was good enough that the questions had stopped, for now, and she could eat in peace.

      BILL WOULD HAVE LOVED to have everybody leave so he could take a long nap after all the food he’d eaten, but he figured there were a good couple of hours before people headed home. At least he and Darcy hadn’t been bothered too much since Earline’s earlier inquisition. People had gathered into quiet clumps and the kids were outside chasing fireflies.

      He turned to Darcy. “How you holding up?”

      She shrugged. “Okay, I guess. I like your family and friends, but I feel funny about lying to them.”

      Bill let out a long breath. “I know that, but remember it’s for Momma. And so far, we haven’t really lied. We’ve just sort of left out a few details.”

      “What’s the difference?” Darcy said, setting her empty plate on the floor beside her. “They all think we’re engaged,” she said in low tones.

      “But we didn’t tell them that. That’s the difference.”

      “And we didn’t correct them when they made the assumption,” Darcy persisted.

      Bill set his plate on top of Darcy’s. “It’s too late to do anything about it now. We’re just going to have to stick with the plan.”

      “Easy for you to say. You get to go back to Hurlburt and business as usual.” Darcy sighed.

      “What you two lovebirds doing with your heads together like that? Making wedding plans?”

      Bill and Darcy sprang apart, and Bill looked up to where Lougenia was standing at the plundered dining-room table, a cake knife in hand.

      “It’s time to honor the birthday boy and to cut the cake.” Lougenia motioned toward Bill. “Come on up to the table, and bring the lovely Darcy up with you.”

      “They just want me to blow out the candles,” Bill said, offering Darcy his hand. “And everybody wants to get a good look at you.”

      Bill loved the way her small, warm hand seemed to fit in his. He helped her to her feet. “Here goes nothing,” he said as he led Darcy across the room.

      Lougenia lit the candles and beckoned him forward. “All right, Billy. Stand here,” she directed.

      Bill had barely settled into position when everyone broke out in a chorus of “Happy Birthday.” By the end of the song, even Darcy had joined in.

      “Now, make a wish and blow out the candles.”

      Playing along, Bill closed his eyes and pretended deep concentration while he thought about his wish. Then, drawing a deep breath, he reared back and blew all the candles out at once.

      “Yesss! That means you get your wish,” Darcy said, falling into the spirit of the situation.

      “What did you wish for?” Chrissie asked.

      “It won’t come true if I tell, sugar pumpkin,” Bill said ruffling the girl’s hair.

      “I bet I know what he wushed for,” Little Edd said, his voice dripping with disdain. “I bet he wushed we would all go home so he could make kissy face with Miss Darcy.”

      Darcy blushed, and Bill didn’t know what to say.

      “Well, brother dear, if that’s your wish, I hereby grant it,” Lougenia said. “Have at it.”

      Bill looked at Darcy, who was exhibiting nothing short of sheer panic.

      “Kiss her,” somebody said.

      “Give her a good one,” someone else chimed in.

      “Kiss. Kiss. Kiss.” Pretty soon the room echoed with the chant.

      “Do you mind?” Bill said quietly, looking into Darcy’s brown eyes. “I think that’s the only way they’ll quit.”

      Darcy drew in a short, quick breath and swallowed. “Okay,” she said reluctantly. “If that’ll be the end of it.”

      “Go on, Billy. It ain’t no big deal.”

      Bill looked around the room. The noisy chant dwindled as the party guests saw that he was accepting the challenge.

      “I don’t usually do this in front of an audience,” he murmured, more for Darcy’s sake than for the people watching. In fact, it had been so long since he’d done it at all that kissing Darcy was a very big deal.

      He swallowed and wiped his palms, suddenly sweaty, on his jeans. Then he drew Darcy into his arms, situated her in front of him, and lowered his mouth toward hers.