“Are you happy we decided to move out here?” she asked.
Finn smiled and pulled her into his arms. “Of course, I am. Why do you ask?”
Lucy shrugged. “I don’t know. You’ve just been quiet tonight.”
Finn burrowed them down farther in the pillows. “It’s a lot to take in. I’m used to being on my own. Not…”
“Not part of such a loud, obnoxious family?”
Finn laughed. “Your words, my dear.”
Lucy smiled but pressed on, wanting to make sure of his feelings. “Will you be happy here?”
Finn tilted her face to his, pressed a tender kiss to her lips. “I will be happy anywhere you are, love. And this place…in this place . . .I can be myself. It’s been a very long time since I’ve had a place I could call home.”
Lucy drew her finger along the tattoos on his chin; let her thumb trail along the T-shaped marks on his cheeks. She’d wiped the makeup from his handsome face the moment they’d entered the bunkhouse. And she didn’t want to ever see them covered again. They were part of who he was—her wonderful, miraculous husband.
She leaned up to kiss him, her heart so full of love and happiness she felt she’d burst from it. Finn deepened the kiss, pressing her back against the feather mattress beneath them.
“I only need you,” he murmured. “You are my home.”
She gazed deep into his eyes and smiled. “And you are mine, my love.”
…
Lucy stood on the platform, her eyes glued to the horizon. Brynne, Richard, and their children were due to arrive at any moment. It had been a year since Lucy had said good-bye to them and now, finally, they were coming to California for good.
After Lucy’s ordeal, the ranch had become the haven they so desperately needed. Finn could be himself there, though it did take a little while for the townspeople to get used to him. But he was accepted there as he never would have been in Boston and certainly not in North Carolina. And most of his time was spent on the ranch. He had a good hand with horses and under his care, the horse stock on the ranch were flourishing.
Lucy had restarted the town school and had been very happy to discover how many adults in town were interested in attending the night classes she offered for them.
Cilla and Leo had always been at home on the ranch and had welcomed Lucy and Finn with open arms. Lucy and Finn had their own house on the property now, a beautiful home perfect for their new family. They were close enough to the main house that they could keep each other in view, but far enough away that they had their privacy.
And now Brynne and Richard were coming. The town was in need of a good doctor and Richard had insisted that he would be happy anywhere there were patients who needed him. And he knew Brynne would be happiest if she could be near her sisters.
The train blew its whistle in the distance and Lucy grasped her skirts, leaning over the edge of the platform to try and see around the bend. The excitement coursing through her had her nearly bouncing on her toes. Finally, they’d all be together again!
Finn laughingly came up behind her and wrapped his arms about her waist. “You’d best be careful, love, or you might fall right off the platform.”
“Oh hush,” Lucy said, playfully batting at his arm.
The train pulled around the bend and Lucy nearly jumped out of Finn’s arms. “They’re here!”
Finn laughed and let her go. Lucy waited eagerly as the train pulled in, its wheels squealing as they ground to a halt. The moment it stopped one of the passenger car doors burst open and Brynne tumbled out and into Lucy’s arms. Richard followed with their children and shook Finn’s hand. Then they stood and watched with loving smiles as their wives greeted one another.
They chattered over the top of one another until Richard held up a hand, pointing back to the train. A huge smile broke out on Brynne’s face and she grabbed Lucy, spun her around, and clapped her hands over her eyes.
“What are you doing?” Lucy said, trying to pull Brynne’s hands from her eyes.
“We have a surprise for you,” Brynne said. “Are you ready?”
Lucy laughed. “Yes!”
“All right. Open your eyes.”
Brynne removed her hands and Lucy blinked a few times and looked in the direction Brynne had pointed her.
Lucy stared for a moment, struck dumb with shock. And then she clapped her hands over her mouth to muffle her shriek of joy. She ran forward and wrapped Lilah in a bear hug that nearly crushed the smaller woman. The two women sobbed as they clung together.
Finally, Lucy pulled away and clasped Lilah’s face in her hands. “You’re here. I’m speechless. I’m absolutely thrilled to see you, but what are you doing here?”’
Lilah looked down a little shyly. “Miz Oliver said there might be a place for me at the school here, or on the ranch. After…after everything that happened back there, well…there weren’t nothin’ there to stay for.”
“Of course there is a place for you! I could use the help, surely. And there is always plenty of work to be done on the ranch as well. But what about…?”
Lilah smiled and turned around. Ruby, Sam, and their boys stood on the platform. Lucy went to them, hugging them each in turn and then went back to Lilah.
“I can never thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me,” Lucy said, emotion choking her words. “I am so happy you are here.”
“So am I, Miz Lucy. So am I.”
The rest of the day was one of chaotic joy, getting everyone settled in, Brynne’s family in the main house with Cilla, Lilah’s family in the bunkhouse until a house could be built for them on the property.
After supper, when everyone had gone off to their various houses to turn in for the day, Lucy wandered out onto her porch and leaned against the railing. Finn joined her, standing beside her with an arm draped over her shoulders. Lucy leaned against him and sighed.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
Lucy rubbed her face on his chest, staring out into the setting sun. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy in all my days. It’s a little overwhelming.” She looked up at her husband with a smile. “But I hope it never ends.”
Finn leaned down and kissed her. “We have each other. And the Richardson sisters are all together again. How could life be any more perfect?”
Lucy glanced up at him with a sly smile. “I can think of one thing…”
Finn laughed and scooped her up into his arms. “You read my mind, love.”
He kissed her and carried her into their home, closing the door behind him.
Acknowledgments
To Erin Molta, Heidi Stryker, and Gwen Hayes—I am seriously the luckiest writer in the world to have you ladies. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate all you do. Thank you a million times over.
To Babs Hightower—you are a writer’s dream. Thank you so much for all the work you do to get my novels out in the world and in front of the people who will love them.
A huge thank-you to my sweet family for all their love and support. I promise someday the house will be clean and all your meals will be hot and on time. And in the meantime, I’ll keep the cereal coming and…well, there’s not much I can do about the house, but know that I love you more than anything in the world and am more grateful than I can say that you support me in this crazy business.
And to my readers, you guys are the reason I do what I do. Thank you so much for reading my stories.
About the Author
Romance and nonfiction author Michelle McLean is a jeans-and-T-shirt kind of girl who secretly wishes she could run around town in a big, poofy dress from the 1600s and hopes to someday be able to get away with crazy stuff like that by chalking it up to her eccentric writer personality. She’s addicted to chocolate and Goldfish crackers and occasionally writes by hand just so she can hear the scratchy sound of her favorite gel pen on a sheet of paper. Her husband also swears she has conversations with herself, but she and the voices in her head, heartily
disagree.
Michelle is a contributor to The Naked Hero, Operation Awesome, and Scene 13 blogs. You can find Michelle at her website, her blog, on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Pinterest.
In addition to her husband and two awesome kids, she also has two amazing stepkids and one beyond-adorable step-grandson. She currently resides in Pennsylvania with her husband and two kidlets, an insanely hyper dog, and two very spoiled cats.
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Other books by Michelle McLean...
Wish Upon a Star
Ceri McKinley never stopped wishing that her ex-fiancé Jason Crickett would come back into her life. But when he finally does, he comes with a request that puts them both—and all of humanity—into jeopardy.
Jason only wants two things: to bury his brother properly and to convince Ceri to trust him again after he jilted her. But when Ceri agrees to help him get his brother back, they end up fighting for their lives as the second zombie uprising threatens them all.
To Trust a Thief
England, 1855
Minuette Sinclair thought her biggest problem was getting out of her aunt’s finishing school as a proper Victorian lady. But with her father is in a Caribbean jail, falsely accused of murder, and a legendary lost necklace that might be their salvation, she must form a partnership with master thief, Bryant Westley. Bryant has every intention of seducing his quirky and beautiful competition to get what he’s after. But amidst treachery and double crosses, it may be more than a necklace getting stolen—it may be their hearts.
Check out other Scandalous releases…
Once Upon a Masquerade
by Tamara Hughes
New York City, 1883
Self-made shipping magnate Christopher Black first spies Rebecca Bailey at a masquerade ball and is captivated by her refreshing naïveté and sparkling beauty. But when Christopher’s investigation of the murder of his best friend leads him straight to Rebecca, he fears his ingénue may be a femme fatale in disguise. Now he must decide if he can trust the woman he’s come to love, or if her secrets will be his downfall.
Her Wicked Sin
by Sarah Ballance
Colonial Salem
Henry Dunham comes to Salem on a mysterious errand, but is thrown from his horse and rescued by the local Puritan midwife, Lydia Colson. Lydia is running from her own dark secrets, pretending her dead husband is simply…away. When she and Henry are caught in a compromising situation, one punishable by Puritan law, he saves her from scandal by claiming to be her errant spouse…and claiming her bed. As their lies become truths, a witch hunt threatens their burgeoning love, and Lydia’s life.
Norse Jewel
by Gina Conkle
AD 1022
A stolen woman of rare qualities…
Seized by marauders and taken to the icy northlands by the wolf-eyed Viking warrior, Helena will do whatever it takes to earn her freedom and return to France.
A mighty Viking Chieftain…
Betrayal has turned Hakan’s heart to ice, but the spirited Frankish maid warms him in a way he’s never known. The spell she weaves leaves them both breathless, but can he keep his promise to return her home even if it means he’ll lose his precious jewel forever?
Blood Blade Sisters Series (Entangled Scandalous) Page 60
