“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he rasped.
“I thought you were gone. I thought you were dead,” she cried against his lips.
Gabe kissed her again, holding her tightly to him. “I had a run-in with our good friend, the Reverend. It’s a long story, but we’ll save it for later. How’s our boy?”
Together, they walked back to the ambulance, as Morgan called it. Logan still wore his mask that provided him with fresh air. The woman who’d initially refused to let Morgan go held the baby and smiled when they approached.
“We’ll take him to the hospital for observation and some tests, but he looks to be okay,” she said. “It might be a good idea for you to get checked out, too, sir.” She looked directly at Gabe.
Another ambulance pulled away from the scene amid loud whining sounds and red lights.
Morgan’s eyes shimmered with renewed tears. “It doesn’t look good for Bryce. From what I saw, he was burned all over, and they were doing CPR on him.” Her voice cracked. “He tried to save Logan’s life.”
Gabe smiled tentatively at Morgan. “He was a true Monroe, after all.”
Morgan nodded silently, and wiped at her face. She sobbed into his chest, and Gabe held her, stroking her back. She startled when her cell phone rang. Pulling it from her pocket, she frowned, then looked up at Gabe.
“It’s my mother,” she said with a raspy tone. She looked as if she was unsure whether to answer, then held the phone to her ear.
“Hi, Mom,” she said, her voice shaky.
She shook her head slightly as she apparently listened to the woman on the other end of the line. Looking directly at Gabe, Morgan said, “You don’t have to worry anymore, Mom. I’m getting married, and to a Monroe, just like you wanted. I’ll tell you about it later, but right now isn’t a good time to talk.”
She stuck her phone back in her pocket, then faced Gabe. She’d called him a Monroe, even if his last name would always be McFarlain. Gabe swallowed. He reached for her hand, then pulled her into his arms.
“Don’t ever disappear on me again, Desperado,” Morgan whispered, and wound her arms around his middle.
Gabe wrapped her into a tight embrace. “I don’t think we’ll have to worry about that anymore. I’m right here, and I ain’t ever leavin’ you,” he murmured into her hair. “I love you, Morgan. You’ve made me a whole man.”
“And I became the richest girl on the planet when I found my diamond in the dust.”
Epilogue
The old man stood at the top of the ridge. He inhaled a deep breath, savoring the sweet scent of meadow grass and alpine wildflowers. Clouds drifted lazily across the azure blue sky, and a hawk soared serenely overhead. The gentle breeze in the air cooled his skin from the balmy afternoon sun. It couldn’t be a more perfect day.
In the valley below, more cars and trucks than usual were parked along the side of the ranch house. A few dozen people sat in rows of white chairs that had been set up on a manicured lawn, just to the side of the grand barn that housed the ranch’s most prized horses.
Off to one side of the sprawling grounds, an older, wooden barn looked out of place among the more modern barns and buildings. A huge pile of burned and charred wood, where another old barn had stood, rested silently as a reminder of the one life that had been lost, and the young life that had been saved.
The old man made his way down the hill. He kept to the outbuildings, and scurried behind one of the sheds that gave him a good vantage point, and a place to listen. A white archway had been erected at the front of all of the chairs, adorned with colorful flowers that matched those found in the mountain meadows. Two men stood talking to another man in a black waistcoat and white collar.
The dark-haired man wore a crisp, white, button-down shirt that stood in sharp contrast to the black denims and cowboy hat he wore. The man next to him, whose short hair stood up in all directions like a bristle brush, slapped the other one on the back and laughed.
The old man scanned the crowd. In the front row, an older couple sat with a dark-haired woman who held a newborn in her arms. Three young boys squirmed in their seats next to her. Sitting with the older couple was another woman dressed in a stylish peach-colored suit that looked out of place among the more casually dressed gatherers. Everyone else wore denims, cowboy boots, shirts, and hats, and seemed to be in a festive mood.
The woman sitting next to the older man bounced a young boy, perhaps a year old, on her lap. The child wore a white shirt and black pants to match the groom standing with the minister. She appeared to be having a difficult time keeping him still. With a smile, she turned to the finely-dressed woman and asked, “How do you like Montana so far, Melissa?”
“I just arrived this morning to see my daughter married. I don’t plan to stay. I’ve got a flight back to L.A. later this afternoon,” the woman said, and dabbed a napkin to her forehead. She sat stiffly in her seat, a haughty expression on her face.
“A shame you have to leave so soon. I bet Morgan would love to show you her new home,” the other woman said with a smile on her face.
“I’ve seen what I need to see, Sonja,” the woman answered. “I’m just glad my daughter finally had sense enough to marry a well-to-do man, even if he lives out here. But, I suppose money is money, regardless of where it’s made. What a shame that her former fiancé died in that horrible fire, but at least she’s still marrying into the same family. I only wish she would have listened to me and had a proper church wedding in L.A. The entire event could have been catered better than this . . . this little garden party.” She sniffed, and raised her chin.
The woman named Sonja chuckled. “Well, I suppose since it’s your daughter’s wedding, she should be the one to decide where to have it, and what the event will be like. I think this is a lovely setting, right here at her future home.”
The other woman didn’t answer, and simply lifted her chin.
Three women in the second row chuckled and laughed.
“Well, Judy. Guess you struck out again,” one of them said, and elbowed the one she’d addressed in the side.
“My time will come, Lisa. At least when it does, I won’t have to worry about Abby stealing him away.” She winked at the third woman. “Or maybe I do.”
The one named Abby shook her head and smiled. “Nope, I think I’m happy with what I have, thank you.”
They all laughed until the soft sound of piano music stilled the crowd.
The old man watched as a young woman emerged from the barn, holding the hand of a little girl carrying a white basket. They wore matching peach dresses, and while the one woman carried a bouquet of wildflowers, the little girl scattered pedals as she walked down the aisle past the onlookers.
“That’s Morgan’s friend from California,” Lisa whispered loudly. “Daniel’s been ogling her since she arrived yesterday.”
The three women sniggered, earning them a scowl from a tall, lanky cowboy who sat behind them.
The music changed once the maid of honor reached the two men standing with the minister, and the people all stood, and looked toward the barn. Not a moment later, a young woman with cinnamon-colored hair that framed her soft face emerged, a large bouquet of flowers in her hands. She wore a modest white, off the shoulder dress that reached just past her ankles. A short veil was attached to the back of her head.
The young woman smiled brightly, and as she walked gracefully down the aisle, her eyes locked onto the man standing at the other end, waiting. The invisible current that flowed between the two was almost palpable. The old man glanced from one to the other. The two were so completely focused on each other, it was as if not another person existed in the world.
A slow grin formed on the man’s face as she moved closer to him, and the warmth, contentment, and love in his eyes was tangible. The old man inhaled a deep breath. His time here was coming to an end. Those above him had already called to him several times.
He stood for a few more minutes, watching as the ministe
r joined them in marriage. The two held hands and gazed into each other’s eyes, until finally the minister told the man to kiss his bride. The man removed his hat, then reached for the woman’s waist, pulling her into an embrace. She wound her arms around his neck, and he leaned down, pressing his lips to hers, molding her to him.
Several people whistled and clapped, and the man wrapped her more firmly into his arms, intensifying the kiss. Only when the little child on Sonja’s lap called to him and waddled up to the couple, did they ease away from each other. The man scooped the little boy into his arm, then wrapped his other arm around the woman, and dipped down for another kiss.
The old man smiled, and turned away. He kept to the shadows as he made his way back up the hill. He was overdue to meet with those who were above him. They would not be pleased with him that he was late. It didn’t matter. He’d displeased them several times already. He glanced over his shoulder one more time, then headed into the woods. It was time to face his punishment.
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Other Available Titles
Second Chances Time Travel Romance Series
Come Home to Me
Ain’t No Angel
Diamond in the Dust
Yellowstone Romance Series (in recommended reading order):
Yellowstone Heart Song
A Yellowstone Christmas (novella)
Yellowstone Redemption
Yellowstone Awakening
Yellowstone Dawn
Yellowstone Deception
A Yellowstone Promise (novella)
Teton Romance Trilogy:
Teton Sunrise
Teton Splendor
Teton Sunset
As always, a huge thanks to my editor, Barbara Ouradnik, and my superb beta readers – Heather Belleguelle, Lisa Bynum, Sonja Carroll, Shirl Deems, Becky Fetzer, Kathie Hamilton, and Hilarie Kearns Smith.
Find out more about me and my stories here:
http://peggylhenderson.blogspot.com
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Diamond in the Dust (Second Chances Time Travel Romance Book 3) Page 27
