Dylan blinked several times. He seemed to steady himself against a swell of emotion.
“He offered me a huge olive branch. And he stuck around West Falls so he could try to bridge the gap between us. I couldn’t ignore that or what it meant. In his own way, he loves me. At first, pride prevented me from seeing it, but I had to let go of the past and try to forge a new path with him. He was young and he made a lot of mistakes as a parent. I’ll never forget how it feels not to have a father in my life and to not be acknowledged, but I do want to try to build a relationship with him. He says he wants to make amends. I want to be the type of man who can grant forgiveness. So we’re going to work on our relationship, one step at a time. I want to move forward. I want to have faith.” He gestured around him at the land stretched out before them. “I’d say this is a major step in the right direction.”
As far as she was concerned, it was an excellent step toward healing and reconciliation. It was a grand gesture from his father, which would cement their future. Loving Dylan as fiercely as she did, she needed to make sure he wouldn’t harbor any regrets.
“Are you sure you want to relinquish your ties with the Bar M? Your whole life you wanted to be acknowledged, to be part of the McDermott clan. Doesn’t it feel strange to give up the opportunity to go back to Madden and take your rightful place at the family ranch?”
He leaned down and planted a light kiss on her forehead. His large palm caressed the back of her head, his fingers swirling through her hair. She closed her eyes, wishing she could make this moment last for more than a fleeting moment. So many things were changing for Dylan. His world was suddenly becoming a whole lot bigger and more centered. Was there still room for her in his life? Or would he soar away from her like a comet blazing through the sky?
“Holly, I’m not giving up a single thing. How could I be? All of my life I’ve been chasing a feeling. I wanted to belong somewhere, to have the sense of community you’ve had your whole life. I’ve been running in so many different directions, trying to fill up that hole, only to realize that you’ve already done that. From the moment I received your first letter, I knew in my soul you were meant for me. And when I first met you and I was filled with fear and second-guessing my feelings, my heart always recognized you. I’m so sorry I fought it for so long. But I promise you, the only place that will ever feel like home is where you are.”
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a sparkling diamond ring. She gasped as Dylan bent down on one knee and clasped her hand firmly with his own. He looked into her eyes, and what she saw reflected there caused tears to brim over her lids and trickle down her face. Deep in the darkest regions of her soul, she’d feared no man would ever look at her with such love and wonder in his eyes. She’d always worried that the accident had cost her a future with a loving man at her side. With one single gesture, Dylan had put all those fears to rest.
He reached out and brushed her tears away with his fingertips in a light caress that skimmed over her skin. “Holly, I want to be your husband. If you’ll have me, that is. I’ve made a lot of mistakes with you. And I’m sure I’ll make a bunch more over the years.”
His eyes filled with tears, and his voice turned husky. “But if you’ll agree to be my wife, I promise to be by your side for the rest of our days, loving and honoring you. I want to be that person you lean on when you get weary and the road becomes a little bumpy. And I want to lean on you, too, Holly. Through everything that life has in store for us, I want you to take the journey with me.”
So many emotions were coursing through her. Joy. Hope. Disbelief. But she needed to make sure he understood the realities of her everyday life before he made any pledges. She had to be certain that he wasn’t looking at their future with rose-colored glasses.
“Dylan. You need to know a life with me isn’t going to be easy. There will be so many challenges, so many ups and downs. And my daily regimen of medication, all the physical therapy and doctor appointments. And I still may never be able to conceive a child, let alone carry one to term. It’s possible, but not a given. I know how much you want children in your future.”
Dylan reached up and pressed his lips against hers, silencing her in an instant. His lips moved over hers with conviction and certainty. When he pulled away from her, she saw everything shining forth in his eyes. Truth. Love. Forever. Everything she’d always dreamed of having.
He brushed his hand across her temple. “A life with you is all I’ve ever wanted. If you’re willing to take this journey with me, you’ll make me the happiest man alive. I think I’ve known you were my future from the moment I read your very first letter. And I know it won’t be easy at times. I know we’ll face challenges other couples don’t have to worry about. But I believe in us, Holly. And there’s no other woman I’d want by my side other than you. I want to prove myself to you, every day of our lives, from this moment forward.”
She reached out and placed a finger over his lips. “Shh. You’ve already proved yourself. By coming back to me. By being here, right by my side. By loving me.”
He cradled her face in his hands. “Holly Lynch. My pen pal. My best friend. My other half. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“There’s nothing in this world I want more,” she answered as she wiped away tears from her cheeks. “And there’s nobody I’d rather go through life with than you. My cowboy soldier.”
Dylan placed the diamond ring on her finger, letting out a “Hallelujah” when it fit perfectly.
Holly tugged at his collar and pulled him close enough that she could show him her gratitude for all the joy he’d brought into her life. Her lips brushed against his in a wonderful celebration of the love they’d found and everything their future held in store for them. They both knew with a deep certainty that their love was enough to weather all the storms, come what may.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from THE RANCHER’S CITY GIRL by Patricia Johns.
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed reading Heart of a Soldier. Writing Holly and Dylan’s story was a privilege for me as an author. I had a lot of fun crafting their romantic journey. Since the moment Holly appeared as a secondary character in Reunited with the Sheriff, I wanted to create her love story. After everything she’d been through, it was pretty clear she deserved her happily ever after. And I think she found it with her handsome soldier-cowboy, Dylan.
Love—true, enduring love—is not limited to physically perfect people. Holly demonstrates an ability to triumph over adversity with faith, family and a strong sense of self. She has her moments of self-doubt, but in order to overcome them she draws strength from her firm foundation. Although Dylan is a model of physical perfection, his inner scars are deep and profound. More than anything, he craves enduring love and a place to call home. He finds those with Holly. Even though the journey might be tough, finding love is always worth the struggle.
I’m thrilled to be writing for the Love Inspired line. It’s really been a dream come true for me.
I would love to hear from you, however you choose to contact me. I can be reached by email at [email protected] or at my Author Belle Calhoune Facebook page. I can also be found on Twitter, @BelleCalhoune, or at my website, www.bellecalhoune.com.
Blessings,
Belle
Questions for Discussion
Do you understand why Holly chose not to disclose her disability to Dylan in the letters they exchanged?
What were her main reasons for not sharing this information?
Did Dylan jump the gun by showing up so unexpectedly in West Falls after more than a year of corresponding with Holly? Why? Why not?
Was Holly wrong to ask her best friend Cassidy to pretend to be her when Dylan arrived at the house? Did her request cross any lines of friendship?
Were you surprised when Dylan decided to stick around West Falls? How did his past affect his decision?
What were the things that grounded Holly during her recovery period after the car accident? What role did God play in her recovery?
What were the things that bound Holly and Dylan together? That pulled them apart?
In what ways did the roses support Holly? Was their friendship important to her overall journey?
Many of the characters deal with the issue of forgiveness. Who had the biggest journey toward forgiveness? Why?
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.
You believe hearts can heal. Love Inspired stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.
Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired every month!
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Chapter One
A knock on the front door echoed through the small house. Eloise Leblanc glanced quickly toward her patient. Robert Bessler lay on crisp, clean sheets, his papery eyelids closed in sleep. A fan oscillating in the corner shifted his white hair against his forehead, but he didn’t stir.
Eloise pushed herself up from the chair next to his bed and stepped into the hall, angling her steps toward the front door. She paused at the door, tucking a fiery curl back into the loose bun at the base of her neck, then stood on her tiptoes to peek through the peephole. A tall man looked down, his face obscured by a cowboy hat.
Eloise paused for a moment and sucked a deep breath.
This is it.
She opened the door and the man lifted his gaze to meet hers in frank evaluation. He pulled off his hat and held it across his chest. His hair hung in dark, disheveled waves across his forehead and his piercing dark eyes sparkled. A dusting of stubble softened his chiseled features, and he smiled hesitantly.
“Hi,” he said. “Is this the home of Robert Bessler?”
“It is.”
“You must be Eloise. We spoke on the phone.”
“Of course. Cory?”
He nodded and she stepped back, allowing him entrance. “Your father is sleeping right now. Would you like to have a seat and wait for a few minutes?”
“Thank you.”
Eloise performed a veiled inspection as Cory Stone stepped past her and into the small entryway. She’d only moved to the town of Haggerston six months earlier for the job with Mr. Bessler. She’d grown up in Billings, the largest city in Montana, and while she was well acquainted with cowboys—what Montana girl wasn’t?—she still felt a sense of admiration when she saw the real thing. He loomed head and shoulders taller than she was, and his cowboy boots clunked solidly against the hardwood floor. A hint of musk lingered near, and despite his wide shoulders and obvious strength, he moved with ease.
“Please sit down.” Eloise gestured into the sitting room, and the big man dwarfed the sofa as he sank into its depths.
“How is my father doing?” Cory asked.
“He doesn’t have much strength left, and he’s in a lot of pain,” she replied, perching on the edge of a chair opposite him. “It’s better to let him sleep when he’s able to. Sometimes the pain keeps him awake, so the more rest he can get, the better.”
Cory nodded. “It’s okay. I don’t want to wake him up.”
“He doesn’t know I called you.” Eloise blushed and cleared her throat. “So this will be a little delicate.”
A grin broke over the man’s face. “I’ll be a surprise, then.”
“That’s one way to put it.”
“So, how did you find out about me?” he asked.
“From him.”
“My father told you about me?” Cory raised his eyebrows.
Eloise paused, unsure how much information to divulge. “He always said he had no family, so when he mentioned a son, I did an online search. I was a little surprised to find you as quickly as I did. I thought it best to tell you that there wasn’t much time left if you wanted to connect with him.”
Cory nodded slowly and fiddled with the edge of his hat. His hands were calloused and rough, nothing like Eloise’s ex-husband’s smooth fingers. She swatted back the memories, irritated with how quickly they seemed to rise lately. Philip had left her for another woman two years ago. He’d moved on with the woman, but obviously, if Eloise was comparing a rugged rancher to her lawyer ex-husband, she wasn’t as over him as she’d like to think.
“You didn’t say how much time he has when we spoke,” Cory said.
Eloise pulled her attention back to the task at hand. “I don’t know. His cancer is aggressive and he’s refused more treatment. So it won’t be very long.”
“How long have you worked for him?”
“For the past six months.” Eloise glanced in the direction of Mr. Bessler’s bedroom. “Your father is a very complicated man, but he has a softer side, too. I’m sure you know that.”
“I don’t know him at all,” Cory admitted. “I’ve never met him.”
“Never?” Eloise sucked in a breath. “You didn’t think to mention that on the phone?”
“I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”
“He’ll be angrier than I thought.” She smiled wanly and tucked that stray curl behind her ear once more. “I’d just assumed that you would have seen him at some point from the way he talked about you.”
Cory looked uncomfortable. “No, ma’am. He was out of the picture before I was even born.”
“I suppose I should warn you, then. The medication doesn’t control the pain as well as it used to, so—”
“He’s cantankerous?”
Eloise nodded. “He doesn’t mince words.”
“Thanks for the heads-up.”
Eloise pushed the feeling of dread back down into her stomach. She’d gone through this scenario in her head a hundred times since their telephone conversation, but not once did she imagine she’d orchestrate the meeting between a son and father who had never laid eyes on each other.
This is so much worse than I thought...
A thin voice wavered from the bedroom, “Red?”
Eloise forced a smile and stood. “It looks like he’s awake now. I’ll be back.”
As she left the room, her heart hammered in her chest. A week ago, this seemed like the best course of action, but now she wasn’t so sure. Not that it mattered—the time of reckoning had come. She wished she could close her eyes and be anywhere else—a play, perhaps, or in a bustling little coffee shop in downtown Billings, a city big enough to swallow her up. Instead it was time to face the consequences of her phone call to Cory Stone.
Entering the bedroom, she found Mr. Bessler struggling to sit up, and he grunted with effort. Eloise hurried forward and helped him the rest of the way. He nodded his thanks, his breath coming in short gasps. Eloise put the breathing tubes in his nose and turned on the flow of oxygen-rich air.
“Where are my pills?” he muttered, and she pushed a paper cup of pills forward. He tipped them into his mouth with a shaky hand and slurped the water she offered him. He shut his eyes, inhaling through his nose.
“You slept for a few hours,” Eloise said quietly. “How do you feel now?”
/>
“No better. I’m dying.” He opened his eyes to shoot her an irritated look.
“You aren’t gone yet, Mr. Bessler.” She took the cup away.
“I heard voices in the other room.” He turned his head toward the wall. “You have a boyfriend visit when I sleep?”
“Hardly.” She chuckled. “You give me too much credit for a personal life.”
“Then who is it?” the old man demanded.
“A visitor for you.”
“Who?”
Eloise turned her back to get the old man’s slippers and brought them by the bed, then busied herself with his wheelchair.
“Do you want to come out to the living room to talk to him?” she asked. “Or would you rather have him come in here?”
“I’ll go out there.” Mr. Bessler pushed himself up and allowed Eloise to steady him as he slid his feet into the slippers. “Why on earth would I have somebody into my bedroom? Can’t a man have any privacy?” He grumbled until he was settled in his chair.
“Ready now?” Eloise asked cheerily.
“Who is it?” he repeated.
“You’ll see,” she replied as she wheeled him out into the hallway.
“If there are balloons and a cake, you’re fired,” he muttered, and Eloise chuckled.
“I would expect nothing less.”
As Eloise rolled Mr. Bessler’s chair into the room, Cory rose. He towered over the small sitting room, broad shoulders blocking out the light from the window behind him. A piano sat against one wall, and doilies adorned every surface from side tables to the back and arms of the couch—Mr. Bessler’s late wife’s addition to the decor. Cory scrubbed a hand through his dark hair and he locked dark, pensive eyes on the old man.
Heart of a Soldier Page 18
