Jonesy closed his eyes and held her, his heart swelling with love and relief that she was all right, in her soul and in her spirit.
She pulled away slightly and nodded toward Randy’s still form. “Is he …?”
“Just unconscious. But I’m not sure about Pete.”
Jonesy stood and offered Eva his hand. She lumbered to her feet. His gaze slid across her middle. Her face grew red with shame. There were so many things he wanted to say to her. But for now, he had to attend to the two outlaws lying on the ground.
He slipped his arm about her shoulders. “Let’s walk to the chapel where I can get a couple of men to help with those two.”
Eva lay her head against his shoulder as they walked. For Jonesy, that small action on her part proved that she trusted him. And for this moment, that was all he needed.
sixteen
Eva wiped her damp palms on her dress and paced the room as the hour hand on Mrs. O’Neill’s mantel clock turned past midnight.
“Don’t worry, Eva,” Mrs. O’Neill said softly. “They’ll be back soon.”
Eva sank into a chair next to the fireplace, but her gaze stayed fixed on the door.
“Your Jonesy loves you a great deal.”
“Do you think he still does? Even after seeing me like this?”
Eva’s heart nearly burst with love for Jonesy. Love she’d been unable to feel or release for so long. But seeing him again, feeling his arms around her, had made her see everything clearly.
“A person would have to be blind and deaf not to see the love in his eyes and hear the love in his voice.”
The instant she heard the rattle of wagon wheels, she flew to the door and flung it open.
Jonesy jumped from the wagon before it stopped and snatched her up in an embrace. They stood motionless in each other’s arms. He buried his face in her neck.
Only when Reverend O’Neill politely cleared his throat did Jonesy pull away. They entered the cabin and sat around the table. Mrs. O’Neill poured tea.
“What happened with Randy and Pete?” Eva asked.
“The doctor was able to pull them both through. Billy’s been notified, but they’ll stay in Oregon City to stand trial. They’ve done enough thieving in these parts to hang.”
“Both of them?”
“I’m going to put in a good word for Randy. But I don’t know how much good it’s going to do.”
“Thank the Lord everyone is all right,” Mrs. O’Neill said, smiling.
Reverend O’Neill drained his cup and stood. “Well, I suppose I’ll go bed the horses for the night.”
His wife stood with him. “I’ll help you.”
“Help me?”
Her eyes widened, and she jerked her head toward Eva and Jonesy. Eva’s cheeks warmed.
“Oh!” the reverend said. “Yes, good thinking. Come help me.”
Eva dropped her gaze as the door closed behind them. She stood and began clearing the table. Jonesy’s silence compelled her to venture a glance. Her heart sank as his eyes roved over her stomach.
“I didn’t want you to see me like this. I was afraid of that look in your eyes.”
He stood and closed the distance between them. “Sweetheart,” he said, cupping her chin, “the only look in my eyes for you is love and admiration.”
“Admiration?” She shook her head. “I’m carrying another man’s child. How could you have anything for me but loathing?”
His thumb worked the soft skin along her jaw. “It doesn’t matter how. All I know is that I love you more today than I ever have. And if you’ll have me, I’ll wait forever.”
Her eyes misted with unshed tears, and her hand covered his. “Oh, Jonesy. You won’t have to wait.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “I know I want to be your wife. I’ve known for quite some time.”
“I want to take you and the baby with me to Texas.”
Eva felt the blood drain from her face. “But … there’s a couple here … Mr. and Mrs. Matthews. You met them at church today. I—I assumed Ma and Pa had told you I—”
“It’s all right, Eva. This has to be your decision. And whatever you decide is all right by me.”
“I believe God led me to the O’Neills for more than one reason. For one, I had to clear my head, away from my family. And even from you.” Eva gathered in a deep, cleansing breath. “For another, so I could heal. And lastly, because the Matthewses are precious people who long for a child. I have such peace knowing the baby will be loved. And I love the baby enough to know that the Matthewses are the parents God has chosen to raise him.”
Jonesy gazed at her with such tenderness that Eva nearly burst into tears of relief. She gave him a tentative smile. “Thank you for coming after me.”
“I’ll always be there for you. As long as you’ll let me.”
Eva raised her chin. “Kiss me, Jonesy.”
Gently, almost cautiously, Jonesy dipped his head and briefly pressed his lips against hers.
“See?” she said. “No fear.”
The corners of his mouth curved upward. “I love you.”
Eva smiled and laid her head against his chest. “I love you, too.”
On Eva’s wedding day, she carried the first roses of spring from her ma’s rosebushes. The lace of her white gown trailed the ground as she walked along the path to the river’s edge, clutching her pa’s arm. Standing next to Gregory, Jonesy waited for her as the water rippled behind him. Handsome and tall, he wore the proudest look on his face that she’d ever seen.
She smiled as her pa lifted her veil and kissed her on the cheek before joining Ma, who stood with family members and close friends who had been invited to share in Eva and Jonesy’s joyous day.
Eva’s heart leaped at the look of utter delight on her groom’s face as he took her hand and stepped forward.
They recited their vows with solemn reverence, and Eva knew as she listened to Jonesy’s voice, husky with emotion, promising to love, honor, and cherish her all the days of their lives, that she had no need to ever fear him.
When she promised to love, honor, and obey her husband, and keep herself only for him, she meant it. Every word of it.
When at last they were pronounced husband and wife, Jonesy took her in his arms. His lips descended upon hers with tenderness, and Eva eagerly accepted his kiss. No fear quaked in her belly as it once had at the thought of closeness. Only peace for the life that lay ahead of them in Texas.
Dedicated to Tracie Peterson. Thank you for everything.
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Tracey V. Bateman
Author Relations
PO Box 721
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
TRACEY V. BATEMAN lives with her husband and four children in southwest Missouri. She believes in a strong church family relation-ship and sings on the worship team. Serving as vice president of American Christian Romance Writers gives Tracey the opportunity to help new writers work toward their writing goals. She believes she is living proof that all things are possible for anyone who believes, and she happily encourages anyone who will listen to dream big. E-mail Tracey at [email protected], or visit her Web site at www.traceybateman.com.
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