The Rogue by Janet Dailey Read Free Book Online Page B

after she had obtained the Major’s opinion. She cared for Rand, and his touch was not distasteful to her. He seemed to be all the things she had ever wished for in a husband. But she wanted to make sure the Major approved of her choice.
    When she called home the next evening to let her father know she had invited Rand to return with her for the weekend, he didn’t ask any questions. The last week of college seemed endless to Diana, but the flight to Ely was quickened with anticipation.
    The Major seemed to have made a full recovery from his heart attack, although Diana noticed on her return that he tired more easily now, and there was considerably more gray in his dark hair. She let him surmise that Rand was someone special without knowing how special and gave him time to form his own impression.
    On the last night before Rand was due to fly back,Diana met her father alone in his study before dinner. They talked for a few minutes in generalities before she asked, “What do you think of Rand?”
    “He seems very intelligent and charming. Is it serious between you? I presume it is, since you brought him home.”
    “He’s asked me to marry him.”
    “And you want my approval,” the Major concluded.
    “Yes.”
    “What about your degree?”
    “Rand and I have talked about it,” Diana admitted. “I’m going to continue, but I’ll carry fewer hours than I do now. It will mean we’ll have to wait a few years before starting a family, but it will give us time together, too.”
    “Then I don’t see that I have any objection to put forward. I like him, and as long as you want to marry him, there isn’t anymore to be said, is there?” He smiled.
    “No,” she agreed. “Rand is waiting on the porch to speak to you. He wants to ask your permission to marry me.”
    “Don’t keep him waiting. Send him in,” the Major ordered with mock severity.
    An August date was set for the wedding to enable the newlyweds to have time for a honeymoon before Diana returned to college for the fall term. It left little time to plan the wedding. Her whole summer seemed to be consumed with all the necessary arrangements. It was to be a big wedding, with the reception at the ranch afterward.
    Even at the most hectic moments, Diana was relieved that she had something to do. There had been changes at the ranch since the Major’s illness, small changes, but disturbing just the same. Holt and Guy now took their noon meals at the main house. There was a twofold purpose to it. The Major insisted it was senseless for Sophie to try to cook a meal for two.There was always too much. Plus the noon hour permitted Holt time to confer with the Major and get his advice on any problems that had arisen.
    Holt had suggested, on Diana’s return, that the practice be discontinued to give the Major time with his daughter, but it had been rejected as unnecessary. Diana made no comment, but tried to arrange to be elsewhere for the noon meal. She still disliked Holt as intensely as she had before, but she no longer tried to oppose his presence at the ranch and chose to ignore it as best she could.
    The weekend before the wedding, Rand flew to Ely to be with her. Diana was at the airport to meet him when his plane arrived on Friday. No words were wasted in greeting as Rand immediately swept her into his arms and claimed her lips in a long, possessive kiss. When he finally dragged his mouth away, his hands remained locked behind her back.
    “Have you missed me?” Rand demanded. “It seems like a month since I’ve seen you, instead of two weeks.”
    With all the last-minute wedding preparations and gown fittings, the time had flown as far as Diana was concerned. But his statement pleased her.
    “When have I had time to miss you?” Diana teased. “You’ve called me every single day.”
    He kissed her with hard, punishing force, his dark eyes blazing over her face when he lifted his head. “I had to call you every day or go out of my mind wondering what