"Prelude To A Shopping Trip"

-----------------------------------//----------------------------------

Disclaimer: The characters in the story belong to Norris Productions and CBS

the author holds no claim to them. All copyright material must be kept intact.

----------------------------------------------//---------------------------------------------

Texas Ranger Cordell Walker eyed the clock on the mantel in the living room of his ranch house from his corner seat with a nervous eye. "Only fifteen more minutes," he thought to himself somewhat panicked.

"Why did I ever agree to this?" The room was silent save for the soft tones of classical music that Walker had put on in a desperate attempt to calm himself down. It was not working. He stood and turned off his stereo and began to pace nervously.

"Get a grip," he berated himself aloud. "You've lived through 'Nam, and life as a Texas Ranger. Why does a little pre-wedding shopping trip have you in such a cold sweat?" Walker returned to his seat, shut his eyes and groaned.

A soft knocking came from the direction of his front porch. Walker practically jumped out of his chair in alarm. "Damn. That's got to be the quickest fifteen minutes on record." Taking a deep breath he moved rapidly to his door and opened it.

"Ready, Cowboy?" called his fiancée happily. Deputy District Attorney Alex Cahill was bouncing on her toes with excitement as she looped her arms around Walker's right arm and leaned up to kiss his bearded cheek. "Today's the day, Walker," she reminded her husband to be unnecessarily. "I was thinking maybe we could start with china patterns, then move on to a new color scheme for the house, and then I was thinking we could…"

"Whoa, Alex please," interrupted Walker somewhat overwhelmed with his love's exuberance. "Can we get on the road first? I think better when I'm driving."

"Oh Walker. You're not going to be an old lady all day are you?" accused Alex with a pout. "Because, if you are we might as well not go!" Alex shoved her hands into her blue jeans for emphasis and the light went out of her eyes.

"This woman had it down to a science," Walker thought to himself ruefully. "She knew just what tone to take; what look to put on her face to get him to take a softer approach." His mind searched for something that would put the smile back on his blond beauty's face. "Come on, Alex. I promise I'll lighten up once we get on the road."

Alex continued her unhappy silence, her back turned to Walker defiantly. "You know you should not have agree to go if you did not want to. I've got better things to do with my Saturday's than mother you, Walker. I mean is it so much to ask to have you at least nod at what you like or shake you head at what you don't. If we can't even do this together…one has to wonder what our married life is going to be like."

"I'm sorry, Alex," apologized Walker as he hugged her from behind. Nuzzling her neck he tried to lighten the atmosphere. "Hey, look I even washed the Ram for you."

This brought a response from Alex. She turned in Walker's arms and looked at Walker's truck. It was indeed sparkling from a recent cleaning. The shining silver gray exterior seemed to beckon to her. Leaning her head into Walker's chest Alex sighed, "Oh, Walker."

Walker tightened his hold on his beloved with his left arm and with his right he place his hand under Alex's chin and raised it so he could see her gorgeous blue eyes. " I know how important this to you," soothed Walker. “You're going to have to make allowances for this 'ole Ranger. He just ain't housebroken yet."

"I guess I just wanted you to be as excited as I was about this," explained Alex resignedly. "But, I suppose I should be happy that you actually agreed to go."

"I am happy, Alex" insisted Walker making his best effort at sincerity. "I just don't show it with all the fuss you do. I promise. No one looking at us will be able to tell that I am the least bit uncomfortable while we shop. And I really do think better when I'm driving. So can we get this show on the road?" pleaded Walker lovingly, guiding Alex towards his waiting truck.

Somewhat mollified by Walker's words Alex turned back towards her fiancée stopping their progress at the passenger side door of the Ram, her eyes dancing with merriment. "I don't know whether or not I should believe you, Walker," hesitated Alex coyly. "Maybe you should try harder to convince me"

A grin appeared on Walker's face. His Alex was back. "Oh? What do you suggest?" was Walker mischievous reply as he moved slightly to trap Alex's body against the Dodge. "Maybe a kiss to seal the deal?" Walker reached out to comb his left hand through Alex's silky golden hair. He stopped at the back of her head and gently brought her towards him. "I think I can manage a kiss," he whispered against her lips teasingly before capturing them with his own.

Alex melted into Walkers body as the kiss deepened. She brought her arms up to circle Walker's neck. Any lingering doubts of Walker's sincerity that Alex may have had were forgotten as a wave of desire coursed through her body. "You've got yourself a deal, Cowboy," she laughed.

"Now let's go shopping!"