by Misty Malone
“Janelle!” A quick slap on her bottom got her attention real quick.
“Ow! Sorry, but there was no need for him to be that rude. It was all I could do to be civil while I stitched up the horse.”
“Do you have the messages on your phone yet?”
“Yeah, I think so. It surprised me when I heard them, and I don't think I even thought of erasing them.”
He leaned over to retrieve her phone from the end table and listened to the messages. “Do you mind if I talk to him? There's no reason for him to treat anyone like this, and I will not allow anyone to treat my lady like that.”
“Your lady, huh?”
“That's right,” he said with a quick hug, “and I will not stand for that.”
“Bryce, thank you for your concern, but this isn't your problem, it's mine. I have to figure out a way to handle it. Maybe he was just having a bad day himself today.” She giggled. “Maybe you need to spank him, too.”
“I don't think so,” he said. “He's known for his temper, but I didn't think he'd be like that to a lady. Someone needs to talk to him about manners.”
“But it doesn't have to be you, Bryce. It's my problem. I don't want him getting upset with you.”
“I don't care if he gets upset with me. There's a reason I won't let him talk to you like that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sunshine, I've been thinking about us a lot lately.”
“Us?”
“Yes, us. I understand why you wanted to move out, and I applaud you for it. I think, too, it's important. But I also know what I want. In this case, what I want is you.”
“I don't understand.”
“This isn't exactly the time or place I planned on asking you this, but Janelle Ehrlinger, I know my heart, and what my heart wants is you in my life, now and forever. Will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Janelle was speechless. She looked down at her lap, and Bryce grew concerned, especially when he saw a tear fall from her cheek. “Janelle? Honey, if it's too soon, I'm sorry. I know this is quick. If you need time to get to know me better, I understand. That's fine. You can take all the time you need.”
“No, Bryce, it's not that.” She looked up, and he saw a steady stream of tears now running down her face.
“Then what is it, honey? What can I do to fix it?”
“You already have,” she whispered. "I love you. I've never felt this way for a man before, and I know what I want, as well. Moving out of your house was so hard, because I was afraid you'd never ask me to move back in.”
A smile started across Bryce's face. “So does that mean – is that a yes?”
“Yes. Yes, Bryce, I will marry you.” She threw her arms around his neck and met his lips in a very passionate, very urgent kiss. He held her tight against him and she clung to his shirt. They sat there, holding each other, feeling their love for each other, until Bryce glanced at the clock. “Sunshine, as much as I'd like to stay like this all night, we have guests coming. We need to greet them.”
Janelle looked a little confused. “It's just the sheriff and Agent Caldwell coming over to talk, isn't it?”
He looked a little guilty as he said, “Well, sort of.” He helped her off his lap, then stood as well.
She looked at him with an accusing look. “Sort of?”
“Well,” he admitted, “they are coming over to talk, but I invited them over to celebrate. Sunshine, the congressman took the deal today and confessed. We don't have to testify.”
“That's fantastic,” she said, jumping up and down. Bryce laughed at her jubilation. “So how are we going to celebrate? Are they coming for supper?”
“Yes, they are,” he said. “We're all having supper together. The men deserve to celebrate, as well. They did a terrific job of protecting you, and they were all on their toes, watching for anything that didn't look or sound right. I think we all deserve a little party.”
“I agree completely,” she said. “You should have told me, though, so I could have helped Lena. She must be going crazy trying to cook that much. Let me go see if she needs help.”
“She doesn't,” Bryce said.
They heard a nose and looked out the window to see two cars coming up the drive. They started walking toward the door to go meet them. She turned to look at him, confused. “Bryce, how could you say she doesn't need help? Cooking for this many people is a huge job. Even if the bunkhouse cook helped, it's a lot of work.”
“She didn't cook, and neither did the bunkhouse cook.”
They were outside by now, and the cars were close enough that she could see the first one and laughed. “Tell me you didn't,” she said.
The first car to arrive parked, and the sheriff and agent got out. They were both laughing, looking behind them at the second car a ways behind them in the lane. “Bryce,” Sheriff Hollinger said, “I couldn't imagine what you had in mind when you invited us out here. Bill said you had an idea for the perfect way to celebrate this case coming to an end. I should have known!”
Landon had walked up to greet the two men and heard what the sheriff said. They all turned toward the second car, which pulled up just then. Landon broke out laughing then, as well. “Pizza!”
“Can you think of any better way to celebrate this case coming to a close?” Bryce asked.
They enjoyed their pizza while the sheriff and Agent Caldwell told them how upset the congressman was having to admit to himself he was no longer in charge. It was difficult for him to accept the deal, but he did.
After they ate they were talking about all that had happened in the last several months. Sheriff Hollinger looked over at Janelle. “I'd like to welcome you to this area, Janelle. We needed a second veterinarian to help Dr. Alexander, but now that he's gone you're desperately needed. While we're all saying it will be good to have things quiet back down again, you can't be feeling that way. I can't imagine enduring all you've been through lately, but now while I'm thinking about it I realize your life is still changing. You're in a new home, in a new community, and starting a new career. I don't know if it'll help you any, but I want you to know that I for one am rooting for you. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you adjust.”
Bryce had a huge smile on his face as he said, “Actually, Sheriff, her life is changing more than even anyone here realizes.”
Bryce had everyone's attention, as they gazed at him expectantly. Sheriff Hollinger asked, “What do you mean?”
Pulling Janelle close to him, Bryce said, “This lovely little lady has just agreed to become Mrs. Bryce Montgomery.”
A big whoop and holler went up from all the ranch hands gathered, which served to embarrass Janelle, while Bryce had a proud look on his face. Lena was the first to embrace her friend. “Janelle, I am so happy for you,” she said. “For both of you. I've been hoping you'd see how perfect you are for each other.”
Congratulations poured in from everyone, and Bryce and Janelle were touched by how sincere everyone was in wishing them well.
Later, when the sheriff was giving the new couple his best wishes, he shook his head. “Janelle, you're a strong woman, that's obvious, to come out smiling after all you've been through. When you take a step back and consider what all's happened in the last several months, what thoughts cross your mind?”
“Honestly,” she said, “sometimes I feel like I'm still trying to come to grips with the first question I asked Bryce.”
“What question was that?”
“I'm on a ranch?”
Bryce took her in his arms and said, “I'll assure you again that yes, you are on a ranch. But this time it's not just my ranch, it's the ranch that's soon to be our ranch.”
Misty Malone
Misty has dreamed of writing romance novels where handsome men are willing to take the young ladies they love in hand. She's following that dream now. She and her husband and their son live in the Midwest.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
About the Author
Ebook Offer
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