“You may be feeling okay,” Cassidy told him getting up and crossing the kitchen, “but the nurse said no contact with the outside world for a week.” She put her hand on her son's forehead. His temperature felt normal. Then she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “You can’t risk exposing anyone else.”
“I've also made copies of the videos,” Kevin told John ignoring Cassidy. “Like you said, I put the file on an external hard drive and hid it in a safe place.” He made eye contact with all of them. “I'm not telling anyone where it is, so don't ask.”
“The place is dry and protected from animals?” John inquired.
“Even though I’m contagious, I'm not an idiot,” Kevin replied.
“No, you're not,” John agreed. “Maybe after you get well you would consider giving up the stories.” He put Kevin in a head lock. “Police enforcement is the place for a young man with your many talents.” He gave the kid a noogie.
“Talking about police work,” Logan said pulling his head off the table, “Big Timber’s police chief is moving to Bozeman. He wants a bigger professional challenge. Corralling drunks and giving out speeding tickets to old ladies just isn't doing it for him. He's our one and only cop in town.” Logan explained as he shook his weary head. “I can't believe I'm suggesting this to Pastor John but maybe you're interested in the job?” He scratched his ear. “I could introduce you to the town council.”
John looked at Cassidy as he released Kevin. “Local law enforcement?” he asked. He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I've never done law enforcement.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I haven't worn a uniform in years.”
Cassidy stepped over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You were saying you wanted to eventually get out of undercover work.” She looked up at him. “Do something simpler,” she repeated his words back to him feeling the muscles in his back flex.
John looked down at her. With the tips of his fingers on her forehead he pushed the hair out of her eyes. “Town cop,” he announced. “As I think about it more, I'm starting to like the ring of it.” She pulled him closer. She didn't know what the future held for them as a couple but she did like the idea of having him close.
“The job comes with housing,” Logan added, making the offer even more enticing. “Cute little place on Walnut Street with a picket fence.” He waved his eyebrows at Cassidy. “Three bedrooms with plenty of room for the whole family. After all the excitement you folks had in the big city it may be just what you need.”
“That does sound good,” John replied. He looked down at Cassidy again as he pulled her tighter into his arms. “Do you think they'd want me?” He removed pieces of her hair from his mouth. “I am kind of cynical and crusty plus I've got a kid solving my cases for me.” He glanced at Kevin.
Kevin gave him the thumbs up. “You take the job, I'll help.”
“Just get the Pastor John persona on when you interview,” Logan advised. “I'm sure they'll love you.” Then he backtracked. “But none of that moral indignation,” he informed John. “They won't like that.”
“Okay,” John said, hands up in the air. “But if I'm going to stay in Big Timber I've got to do something first.” He turned to Cassidy. “I don't have a ring and I know it's only seven o'clock in the morning, plus I'm doing this in front of your brother and your son but—”
“John,” she interrupted. “I'm not sure.” She glanced at Rachel. Her sister-in-law nodded encouragingly. “Are you talking about us together?” Cassidy asked. She waved her hand between their chests and of course he looked at her breasts.
“Yes,” John affirmed after forcing his eyes to meet hers. “Married?”
Cassidy pulled out of his arms. This was happening too fast and it wasn't even a formal proposal. Plus, she was in her flannel pajamas and she hadn’t put in her contacts yet.
But Rachel interrupted her nearly hysterical thoughts. “You've got to accept his proposal,” she told Cassidy. “What man,” she asked, “would turn himself into a reprehensible fool just to find you and be close to you?”
“I wasn't that bad—” John started to defend himself.
“You're right,” Cassidy agreed with Rachel. John needed to shut up and not ruin this moment. She stepped back into his arms and gestured for him to continue. But it was Logan who interrupted this time.
“Yeah,” Logan affirmed his wife's words. “He was a total asshole at the rodeo.” He shook his head. “To think he did it all for you and stopped a drug ring at the same time.” He grabbed John's shoulder and pounded. “This man,” he said choking for a moment on his words. “He really loves you.”
“That’s right,” John told Logan.
“And he’s trying to show that love,” Logan continued.
“Okay, Okay,” Cassidy said, turning to John. “Would you please propose to me and not let my stupid brother do it for you?” She smiled and then she kissed John on the nose. “Because I'm thinking I may accept.” A girl had to be coy about these things didn't she? Especially since she’d waited so long.
“Don't make the man suffer,” Logan whined at her. “Tell him you'll marry him.”
Just as Cassidy was getting ready to argue with her brother, John whispered. “Marry me?” He reached for her hands. “Please, Cassidy Cooper, marry me?”
“Yes,” she cried. “Yes, I'll marry you.” She threw her arms around him as she buried her face in his chest.
“And now folks,” Kevin announced dryly. “We have our HEA, also known as the Happily-Ever-After.” He stood up and swept his arms toward Rachel and Logan. “It's time to cue the sappy music and roll the credits because this movie is over. Deposit your trash in the receptacles at the end of the aisle and don't forget your personal belongings.” He picked up Rachel's tea cup and passed it to her. “Leave the theater through the exit on the left.”
As Kevin shuffled Rachel and Logan out of the kitchen Cassidy looked up into John’s eyes. “I love you,” she said pulling him closer to her. “I've always loved you.”
“I've always loved you even more,” he replied. “I just didn’t know. Let's build an honest life together.”
*The End*
About the Author
Jeanine McAdam is a writer of twenty-five romantic short stories, a few spicy anthologies and three cowboy books. Telling stories about imperfect people finding perfect love is her thing. Even though she lives in New York City she’s fascinated with the American west. She’s currently writing about bull riders and the spunky urban women who adore them in her Skirts and Spurs Trilogy. But before the cowboys, Jeanine wrote about Zombies. Publishers Weekly called the short story Inhuman Resources in the anthology HUNGRY FOR YOUR LOVE, a “zippy stor[y] about the sexy turn-on of successful zombie hunting.” When she’s not writing she spends time with her teenage sons, ultra marathon running husband and two rescue labrador retrievers named Desdemona (Desi) and Aaron.
You can find Jeanine at:
www.jeaninemcadam.com
www.facebook.com/jeaninemcadambooks
www.twitter.com/jeaninemcadam
Other books by Jeanine:
The Bull Rider and the Bare Boycotter
The Bull Rider and the Baby
Cowboy’s Toughest Ride
Sweet Cravings Publishing
www.sweetcravingspublishing.com
The Bull Rider Wears Pink Page 18
