Page 34 of My Darling Clementine

“Oh.” She blushed, wet her handkerchief, and wiped down her face and neck.

Clem watched, amused. “After that, whenever I was in Sacramento to make a gold deposit, I took both girls for an hour. Watching me use a strap-on dingus with Joy one afternoon, Poppy said, “You should make a smaller, softer, more normal johnson of your own to stuff down your long johns. It’ll fill them out better.” It was a brilliant suggestion that makes me look even more masculine.”

Clem smiled at Kizzy. “The girls and I had a lot of fun together,” she shook her head, “but I won’t see them again.”

“Did they …?” Kizzy looked down at her hands, wringing out the handkerchief. She started again. “Um, I mean, what…?” Her teeth bit her bottom lip, and she hesitated.

Oh, no. Was she upset? “Ask me anything. I’ll tell you the truth.” But Kizzy’s question surprised her.

“What’s a dingus? I never heard that word. And they taught you things? What?” The beauty she was about to marry giggled like a school girl. “I mean, they invented the johnson; what else did they show you how to do?”

Clem’s eyebrows almost jumped off her forehead. Thrilled by Kizzy’s interest, with her imagination running full speed, it took her a heartbeat to find the words she wanted. “A number of wondrous things, all of which I’ll be happy to demonstrate in the fullness of time, you lecherous wench.” She grabbed Kizzy and kissed her hard, then whispered against full lips, “But first you show me tonight what you know, and we’ll start from there.”

“Our wedding night.” Kizzy’s eyes glistened. “It doesn’t seem real that it’s just hours away.”

“Yes, and we’re already running late. We’ve got to get going.” But Clem didn’t want to leave. She wanted to sit and talk, kiss, and cuddle this extraordinary woman. After a few minutes of billing and cooing, she cupped Kizzy’s head with both hands, and stared into mesmerizing eyes. “You do understand? It’s important to treat me like a man all the time, except in private.”

Her thumbs stroked soft plump lips that parted for her. “When speaking of me to others you can never use feminine pronouns, it’s got to be ‘he’, ‘him’, or ‘his’, with no mistakes.” She kissed the perfect mouth, which would have to be so careful. “Men do not like women passing as one of them, especially if she’s more successful at it than they are.”

Kizzy’s enormous eyes bore into her. “What happened?”

“A long story for another day,” Clem said, hugging her close. “But it means not drawing attention to us, and living as much like a normal married couple as possible.”

She looked down into Kizzy’s upturned face. “I will act like any other husband, and hope you will behave like any other wife.” She dropped a hand to Kizzy’s bottom and pinched, making her jump. “But I’ve already seen for myself how impulsive you can be. Can I trust you to keep my secret, Kizzy, even when you lose your temper?”

A reassuring hand caressed Clem’s face as the woman she was going to marry gazed into her eyes. “Yes, you can trust me.”

Kizzy blinked. “But ours will not be a legal marriage, and I won’t hesitate to leave if you give me reason, or if I simply choose to go. I am my own woman, and no one, man or woman, will ever own me.”

“I love that,” Clem grinned back. “I couldn’t agree more.”

They shook hands on it, both chuckling at the silly importance of the gesture.

“Although you must admit,” Clem couldn’t help teasing, “you are impulsive. Running out into the dark night chasing a stranger? If those rowdies found you...”

Kizzy stared back, chagrined. “It would have been horrible.” She nodded. “I can be impetuous.”

“You sure are. Look at you, marrying the first woman…” she paused, realizing something, “who asks you.” Clem laughed. “It’s your wedding day, girl! We better get going or your bath water will be cold.”

She pulled her boots back on. While Kizzy did the same, Clem searched along the stream, plucking wild bellflowers until she gathered a pretty bouquet of blue blooms. Returning with an armful, she found Kizzy still sitting on the boulder, watching her, and smiling. Taking her hand, she helped her stand.

“Our marriage will be one between equals,” Clem said, holding her hand. Heart fluttering, she bent down on one knee. “Miss Kizzy Walker, will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?” She held up the bouquet.

Before answering, looking around to be sure no one snuck up on them, Kizzy gleefully agreed, “Clementine Lorelei Dennison, I will.” She accepted the flowers and tugged on Clem’s hand, urging her to rise. As she did so, she slipped down to one knee herself.

“And will you, Clem Dennison, do me the honor of being my groom?” Bright blue eyes danced and a teasing smile beckoned as she offered her back the bouquet.

Laughing long and loud, Clem bent down and scooped her up. “I will, Keziah Walker. I most certainly will.” A thrill pulsed through her as her bride’s fingers twined through her hair and tugged. They kissed before she set her down.

Clem looked around them for a moment, memorizing the place, the light in Kizzy’s blue eyes, and the magic of the moment. She picked up the sturdy branch.

“Follow me.” After thumping through tall grass back to the wagon, she helped Kizzy into the driver’s box, and jumped up beside her, taking the reins.

Riding back to town to prepare for their wedding, Clem’s heart expanded far beyond its former limits to surround this wondrous woman, tucking her deep inside.

Life would never be the same.

Chapter nine