by Tessa Layne
The weight on his chest returned. It was one thing to intellectualize death. To know that someone was gone, to not be able to call or text. To miss the sound of their voice. Their laugh. But the cold stark reality of the headstone was another thing entirely. His knees nearly buckled from the force of it.
Emma’s arm slipped around his waist. As if she could sense the intensity of the ache that consumed his body. “I’m so sorry, Sterling.”
He could hear the tears in her voice, and he clung to her, letting the sound of the wind in the trees wash over him. Carry away some of his grief. They could have stood there an hour for all he knew, but at some point, the ache eased, and he felt like he could breathe again. Taking a shuddering breath, he lifted his head. “Johnny, meet Emma. Emma,” he gestured to the headstone. “Meet Johnny. Best friend, brother-in-arms, trouble causer, rabble rouser.” His voice grew tight. “One of the best damn people I’ve ever known.”
Emma pressed a hand to her face, shoulders shaking with quiet tears. “Hi Johnny,” she said thickly. “Sterling’s told me so much about you. And you have a beautiful family.”
When he’d called Macey to let her know he was bringing Emma out and why, she’d insisted they stay with her and Sophie. He clutched the box, heart jumping out of his chest. “I wanted to bring you here not just to meet Johnny. A year ago, I said love is weak. You taught me to be fearless. Emma, your spirit, your fire… has pushed me through my darkest moments. Even when I was a cadet. You’ve always made me a better person. I love you. And I meant what I said last spring. I want to be your man. Your only. The one who is there for you, pushing you, holding you up. Loving all of you.” He pulled his hand from his pocket and dropped to a knee. Emma’s eyes jumped wide and she gasped. “Please say you’ll be my wife. My forever.”
“Yes, yes, yes. Of course, YES.” Her voice rose higher with each word and laughter bubbled out of her, even as tears streamed from her eyes. He opened the box and her mouth dropped open. “My God, that’s gorgeous.”
“Will you wear it?” She nodded vigorously, smiling from ear to ear. “I want you to know, I talked to your brothers–”
“They knew about this?” She squealed.
“Oh hon, everyone knew about this.” He slipped the ring over her finger. “One of the diamonds was in your mother’s engagement ring. The other was in my mom’s.” His chest grew tight again as he tripped over the words. “And the center stone is the one Johnny gave Macey.”
“Oh, Sterling.” She squeezed her eyes shut pressing her hand to her chest. “I don’t know what to say.”
“It was her idea. I never would have asked. But when I told her I wanted to bring you here to propose, she insisted. Said Johnny would love it.” He pulled in a breath. “See, Jason and I helped Johnny propose to Macey, helped him pick her ring. Macey said she wanted to keep it in the family.”
Emma pulled him up and burrowed into his arms. “I would be honored to wear it.”
He cleared his throat. “I have one more thing for you.”
Her eyes twinkled up at him. “An engagement present?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Sure. You can call it that.” He passed her the bag.
She flicked a glance at the headstone. “You in on this too, Johnny?”
Sterling let his head fall back in a laugh. “Nope. This one was all me.” He knew she’d like this one.
She slipped off the bow, and slid a finger under the tape, unwrapping it carefully. Her face registered surprise, then wonder. “When did you get this?”
“At the antique shop the same day you picked up the Never, never, never give up artwork.”
“But–”
“Just like the picture says–” His chest grew warm with the admission. “I have always known it was you.”
She cupped his face and pulled him in for a kiss. “I love you Sterling Walker, with all my heart.”
Her lips were like an absolution. A healing balm that filled the holes in his heart. A promise of beauty and spring and everlasting love. He deepened the kiss, losing himself in her.
When they broke apart, her smile parted the clouds, and the sun burst through in a golden beam. “I have always known it was you, too.”
THE BEGINNING OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Did you like this book? Please leave a review! Independent authors rely on reviews and word of mouth. If you enjoyed this book, please spread the word!
Want more?
A HERO’S HAVEN – Cash Aiken & Kaycee Starr (Coming Feb 27th)
A HERO’S HOME – Jason Case & Millie Prescott (Coming 2018)
A HERO’S HOPE – Braden McCall & Luci Cruz (Coming 2018)
A HERO’S HAVEN (preorder your copy now!)
Former Navy SEAL Cash Aiken assumed he could leave behind the trauma of war and settle into life as a bodyguard. Why not? He was big, smart, and nothing ever got past his eagle eye. But a split second of inattention nearly cost the life of his asset, and cost him his job. When his old buddy Travis Kincaid invites him to come work at Resolution Ranch, an organization helping wounded vets, he clings to the lifeline and hopes it’s a chance to start over. But Cash is stunned to discover that the beautiful woman he nearly let die is hiding out at the ranch, masquerading as a stable hand.
Country Music’s Superdiva, Kaycee Starr, is done with the music biz. After a terrifying encounter with a crazed fan, she goes underground and answers a help-wanted ad in a place the paparazzi would never think to look. Prairie, Kansas. While she finds solace and healing among the horses, handsome ranch hand Cash Aiken lights her up in ways she only wrote about in songs. He’s the only person she’s met who seems to ‘get’ her.
Cash and Kaycee fall hard and fast for each other, but when their secrets are exposed, will they have the courage to trust each other? And more importantly, themselves?
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: THE COWBOYS OF THE FLINT HILLS SERIES
PRAIRIE HEAT – Blake Sinclaire & Maddie Hansen (on sale now!)
PRAIRIE PASSION – Brodie Sinclaire & Jamey O’Neill (on sale now!)
PRAIRIE DESIRE – Ben Sinclaire & Hope Hansen (on sale now!)
PRAIRIE STORM – Axel Hansen & Haley Cooper (on sale now!)
PRAIRIE FIRE – Parker Hansen & Cassidy Grace (on sale now!)
PRAIRIE DEVIL – Colton Kincaid & Lydia Grace (coming in 2018)
PRAIRIE FEVER – Gunnar Hansen & Suzannah Winslow (coming in 2018)
PRAIRIE BLISS – Jarrod O’Neill & Lexi Grace
PRAIRIE REDEMPTION – Cody Hansen & Carolina Grace
COMING IN APRIL 2018 – PRAIRIE DEVIL
He’s the Devil she shouldn’t want
Colton Kincaid has a chip on his shoulder. Thrown out of the house when he was seventeen by his brother, Travis, he scrapped his way to the top of the rodeo circuit riding broncs, and never looked back. Until a chance encounter with hometown good girl Lydia Grace leaves him questioning everything and wanting a shot at redemption.
She’s the Angel he can never have
All Lydia Grace needs is one break. After having her concepts stolen by a famous shoe designer, she returns home to Prairie to start a boot company on her own. But when her break comes in the form of Colton Kincaid, Prairie’s homegrown bad boy and rodeo star, she wonders if she’s gotten more than she’s bargained for.
They say be careful what you wish for
To get her boot company off the ground, Lydia makes Colton an offer too good to refuse, but he ups the ante. Will the bargain she strikes bring her everything she’s dreamed of and more, or did she just make a deal with the devil?
Help a Hero – Read a Cowboy
KISS ME COWBOY – A Box Set for Veterans
Six Western Romance authors have joined up to support their favorite charity – Heroes & Horses – and offer you this sexy box set with Six Full Length Cowboy Novels, filled with steamy kisses and HEA’s. Grab your copy and help an American Hero today!
Subscribe to my Newsletter for updates and release information for Prair
ie Storm and the rest of the Cowboys of the Flint Hills Series.
Join my reader group on Facebook – The Prairie Posse this is where I post my sneak peeks, offer giveaways, and share hot cowboy pics!
Acknowledgements
Twenty-two veterans kill themselves every day. 2-2 Think about that. These are the men and women who place their bodies, their very lives, in harms way. That even one veteran feels so hopeless as to take his or her own life is a travesty. It is too many. Countless other veterans sink into despair and end up homeless or unable to function as productive members of society. We can do better. We must do better.
To everyone at the organization Heroes & Horses. You inspire me on a daily basis.
To Jinx Kimmer, you’re a lifesaver and I’m so grateful for your insights.
To Genevieve Turner, Kara, and Jenny, your willingness to tell it like it is – both the beautiful and the not-so-beautiful have helped make these books shine. Thanks for all you do!
To my fabulous designer, Amanda Kelsey, these covers make my heart sing!
To my mentor Kimberley Troutte, thank you so much for the hand-holding, words of encouragement, and for helping me make sure each book gets it right.
To Erin, thank you so much for all the things!
To Mr. Cowboy, Teenager and Tiny, I treasure each day with you. Words aren’t big enough or descriptive enough to convey how much I love you.
Lastly, to my readers in the Prairie Posse. You are an incredible group of women and I’m grateful to spend time with you almost every day. I’m especially grateful for the days when you send virtual supplies of chocolate, wine, and hawt cowboys :D
