She gave him a weak smile and her eyes drooped, but she kept talking. “I thought you left with Bella. Why are you still here?”
“I wouldn’t leave you, angel. I couldn’t leave you. I love you too damned much to leave you.”
Her eyes opened more and searched his face. “What did you just say?” she whispered.
“I love you, angel. I’ve loved you for a very long time. I’ve just been a fool and haven’t told you.”
Silent tears spilled from her eyes, running down the sides of her face. “I love you, too. I love you more than I could ever put words to. I never thought I would find love, and never in my wildest dreams did I think that love would be returned.”
He smiled at her and leaned down, pressing his lips to hers in a gentle kiss, then trailed kisses down her jaw to her neck. Slowly, he pulled back, looking at her with loving tenderness. “God, I love you so much,” he whispered.
Olivia gave him a weak smile and her hand trailed down his face as if trying to remember everything about him. “And there’s Bella,” she murmured. “I love that sweet little girl. Will I get to see her before... before...” She paused, unable to put the words out there that she wanted to see Bella one more time before she died.
“You aren’t going to leave me, now, are you?” he asked, trying to keep the tone of his voice light, but his throat was tight with more tears. “I stayed for you—from the very beginning. From the moment I met you, you became one of the reasons I wanted to live. You and Bella. You can’t leave me when I fought so hard to stay with you.”
She closed her eyes for several long moments, and Cade was certain she had slipped back into the darkness. But the tears continued flowing from underneath her eyelids, and they gradually opened, and he was struck again by her beauty. He had no idea how no one had secured her as their wife, but he was mighty glad they hadn’t.
“May I see Bella?” she asked, her lips trembling in her attempt to smile.
Bella must have been eavesdropping at the tent flap, something he had noticed she was very good at doing, and she rushed inside. “Mama, mama, mama!” she cried, and before Cade could stop her, she had pulled herself up onto the cot and was snuggling up against Olivia.
“My sweet Bella,” Olivia whispered, pressing kisses to her forehead, “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too, Mama. When can we play?” Bella was smoothing Olivia’s hair away from her face with the palm of her hand, making her hair look like a tangled mess.
Olivia pulled her down to her and once again kissed her forehead and her cheeks. “I’m very tired, hija. Some other time?”
“Tomorrow?”
Olivia was staring into blue eyes identical to Cade’s. “Yes, tomorrow. We’ll play a game.”
“Promise?” Bella pushed her, determined to make sure she got what she wanted.
“Yes,” Olivia said softly. “I promise.”
Bella, satisfied with the answer, pulled out Olivia’s arm, snuggled down into her side, and secured Olivia’s arm around her. She was asleep within a matter of seconds.
Olivia looked at Cade and again gave him a weak smile. “She calls me Mama. Why? Do I look like her mother did in a photograph or something?”
Cade shook his head. “My wife was very, very light colored. She would burn in the sun if she was in it for more than ten minutes. And her hair was a mix between blonde and red. We do have one picture of her, but, trust me, you look nothing like her.”
“I wonder why, then. Why does Bella call me Mama?”
“Because she sees in you the same things I see. A strong, loving woman, who will do anything and give everything to protect her and make sure she is happy and safe. You saved her life, angel. Do you realize that? That bullet was meant for Bella, not you.”
Olivia blinked her eyes hard. “It was worth it,” she whispered, looking down at the small child wrapped around her in the small cot. Then her eyes went back to Cade. “Does it bother you that she calls me Mama?”
He shook his head. “Not at all. It actually pleases me that she is so comfortable with you. It is obvious that she loves you.”
Olivia’s eyes were beginning to feel heavy. “Will you stay with me just a little longer? I know how sick I am, Cade. And I don’t want you or Bella to have to deal with my death. If you decide to leave soon, I understand. Will you please just stay a few minutes with me? Just let me hold her for a moment...”
Before Cade could reply, she had fallen back asleep. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, and then Bella’s forehead. “We aren’t going anywhere, angel,” he whispered, then resumed pressing the cold rag to her forehead, silently praying for a miracle.
Cade carefully packed his saddlebags with the necessary provisions to take care of him and Bella until they made it home. Fortunately, the Mexican Army had more than enough items to be divided out so that he would easily have a meal three times a day for both of them.
There had been extra blankets, as well, and he had grabbed several, knowing that he would face the soggy ground and cold nights again. He had tin plates and a small cooking pot and pan, and even utensils, which he doubted he would even use, given how much more convenient it was to just use his fingers when out on the trail.
Bella wasn’t far away, picking a bouquet of fresh spring flowers while talking and humming to herself. He shook his head. Women. He would never understand them.
All around him, men were packing up and tearing down tents. Santa Anna had been caught a couple of days ago, trying to pretend to be a private. He was wearing the simple white uniform and it was obvious he had been attempting, poorly, to live off the land for the last few days.
But as he was brought in with a few other prisoners, his soldiers recognized him and began saluting him and addressing him as the general. He was forced to reveal the truth of his identity, and he was immediately taken to a separate area to be held under guard.
Sam had been injured in the battle, though not gravely. He had been hit in the ankle with grapeshot and was unable to walk on that one leg. They took him out under one of the larger oak trees so that he would have shade, and brought Santa Anna to him.
Within a short time, Santa Anna signed papers agreeing to grant freedom to Texas and to retreat with his army back to Mexico. It had been an incredible thing to witness, and every Texian there roared with triumph that they were officially free of his tyranny and could finally go home and know they wouldn’t be forced to live by laws that were designed to punish them for merely pursuing their dreams.
Cade glanced over at the tent where Olivia had been kept and wished he could burn it to the ground. But instead, he went to it and found Gabby inside, gathering up some of the items they had left before they departed.
“Back to Corpus for you?”
Gabby turned at his voice and smiled. “Yes, though I wish I was going to San Antonio. It’s my hometown, you know. I look forward to every chance I get to go there. And now since Angie is pregnant, I’ll get to go there with Mama a couple of times and then assist with the birth when that day comes.”
Cade wanted to laugh at her barely contained excitement. She looked as though she wanted to jump up and down and cheer. “I know she’ll be in good hands with you and your mother. I can’t thank the two of you enough for all that you did for Olivia.”
Gabby’s eyebrows lifted. “She’s family. Shouldn’t we be thanking you for all that you did to help her?”
“I only sat with her and talked to her through her fever. I truly didn’t do anything.”
“She loves you. Just the sound of your voice brought her comfort.”
It was Cade’s turn to lift his eyebrows. “Did she tell you she’s in love with me?”
Gabby laughed. “She didn’t have to. It was obvious.”
Cade looked back at the small cot Olivia had been on, and there were stains from her blood. He swallowed hard to contain his emotions and turned away from it. “We are on our way now,” he said. “It has been a joy getting to kno
w you, and I look forward to seeing you again soon.”
Gabby walked over to him and gave him a big hug. “I know this has been hard on you and your daughter. But it’s over now. Rest, and enjoy your journey. I, too, look forward to seeing you again soon.”
Cade nodded and stepped outside the tent, his eyes adjusting to the sunlight. Bella had obviously finished picking her bouquet because she was no longer in the field where he had last seen her. But he knew where to find her.
Underneath the shade of one of the oak trees, Bella was sitting in Olivia’s lap, handing her the bouquet and chattering up a storm. Olivia was nodding to everything she said and smiling as she ran her fingers through the little girl’s long hair. He paused for a moment, soaking in the sight, wanting to remember it forever.
Finally, he approached them and stood next to Olivia who sat in a comfortable chair. Bella looked up at him and grinned. “I got flowers for Mama.”
“And some absolutely beautiful ones, too,” Cade said, making sure Bella saw him inspecting the bouquet. “But none of these flowers are as beautiful as the two of you.”
Bella giggled and Olivia looked up at him with a smile, and he leaned down to kiss her, softly, sweetly. When he pulled back he knew he really was looking at the two most beautiful women in the world.
“So you are about to leave, then?” Olivia asked, and he could hear the sadness in her voice.
“Yes. We have the horses packed and saddled, and everything we should need to get home.”
Olivia swallowed hard and nodded. “There are a few soldiers from San Antonio that are going to escort me home. They are honorable men, and I feel safe with them.”
Cade nodded slowly, then shook his head. “I don’t feel comfortable with you traveling home with strangers.”
“They’re hardly strangers. I know their entire families. I’ll be safe, Cade. You must stop worrying about me.” She looked down at the bouquet in her hands, then back up at him. “So are you going to rebuild your home? Do you think your cattle will still be there?”
Cade shook his head. “Rustlers will have gotten to them by now. No, there’s really nothing left for us back there except terrible memories.”
“What will you do then?”
“Well, word is they are looking for a new sheriff in this growing town, and the job is mine if I want it.”
“Oh, Cade, that’s wonderful. Where is it?”
“San Antonio.”
He waited and watched it register on her face what he had just said. When it fully dawned on her he nearly laughed at the expression on her face. “So, you’re—you and Bella—you’re coming to live in San Antonio?” The hope in her voice made his heart thunder.
He kneeled down in front of her. “Only on one condition.”
“What?” she asked breathlessly.
Cade looked at Bella. “Just like we rehearsed, okay?”
“Okay!” she said with enthusiasm.
Then, in unison, “Will you marry me?”
Epilogue
The sound of their boots on the porch alerted everyone in the house that they had company. Serena was the first to the dining area with her apron on, holding a pitcher of water, a smile plastered to her face that anyone who knew her knew the smile was not meant to convey joy.
Olivia was the first through the door and the pitcher of water crashed to the floor. Serena cried out in joy and ran to her sister, but Cade stepped between them quickly. Serena shot him a “go to hell” look and drew back her fist.
“No, Serena, no. It’s okay. It’s just... It’s just...”
“She was shot, Serena. I’m trying to stop you from hurting her. She’s okay, but still very, very sore.”
Serena’s eyes shot to Olivia’s face and Olivia gave her a half-hearted smile. “Maybe you aren’t the only wild and crazy one in this family,” she said, her smile growing bigger as Serena stepped forward and delicately hugged her sister.
“I never thought I’d see you again. I prayed, Olivia. I even went to church and the holy water didn’t burn me. Lorenzo told us... when he came home he told us you had just been held up. But I knew he was trying to protect us. That pendejo is terrible at lying.”
“Serena!” Angie’s voice floated in the room. “I’ve told you not to say things like that—Olivia? Oh, praise the Lord! Olivia!” Following Cade’s directions as he had done to Serena, Angie hugged Olivia, then hugged Cade. “Thank you for bringing her back to us.”
Olivia smiled brightly. “We brought something else back with us.” Olivia reached behind her and very slowly a sandy brown-haired little girl peeked out from behind her skirts, then moved forward to stand in front of Olivia. Olivia carefully kneeled down and whispered into the girl’s ear then stood again with Cade’s aid.
The little girl twisted her fingers in her dress, then took a deep breath and spoke loudly, “My name is Bella. And... and...” She looked up at Olivia. “What else, Mama?”
Serena and Angie both drew in a deep breath at the word and Lorenzo walked into the room, smiling brightly at all of them. He went over and embraced Cade, then gently embraced Olivia, then bent down and placed a quick kiss on Bella’s cheek. “Glad to see you all finally made it home.” He moved back over to Angie and she swatted at his arm. “Why didn’t you tell us Olivia had been shot?”
He moved around her and wrapped his arms around her, his hands resting lovingly on her growing belly. “There was no need to have you worry. Not in your condition.”
“I’m pregnant! Worry is an everyday thing for me right now!”
“So I’ve noticed,” he muttered, and then chuckled and pressed kisses along her neck.
“I see she’s forgiven you for not sending her a note that you were alive.” Cade observed, watching the loving couple.
“She realized how dangerous it was. Any letters could be tracked back to our locations. I couldn’t take the risk... to her or to the cause.”
“How long did it take you to get her to agree with you?” Cade asked, a chuckle in his voice.
“About a week,” Lorenzo responded dryly, giving Cade an unappreciative glance.
“Has everyone forgotten about the surprise that has just been dropped on us?” Serena asked in shock.
All eyes returned to Bella and she squirmed slightly under the stares. She turned to Olivia and tugged on her skirts. “Mama, up?” she asked, stretching her arms up. Cade lifted his daughter and carefully placed her on Olivia’s hip, and Olivia wrapped her arms around her, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
Cade looked around at all of them and felt joy expand in his heart, a joy he had never felt, and had never allowed himself to feel. “I am very honored to announce that Olivia has agreed to marry me.”
“Us, Daddy!” Bella piped in. “She marries us!”
Cade laughed. “Yes,” he said. “Olivia has agreed to marry me and my daughter Bella. I need to speak to her grandparents, first, though, so please—”
“Young man, if you didn’t ask her, I was going to hunt you down.” Abuelo’s voice came into the room as he and their grandmother walked in, smiling fondly at all of them.
Cade dropped his head to hide his smile and glanced over at Olivia, who was smiling brightly at all of them. When he looked up, he was surrounded by all of the smiling, joy-filled family that would soon be his.
But the smile on his bride-to-be’s face was worth more than anything. “I love you, angel,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Olivia looked up at him, turning her radiant beauty on him. “I will always love you, Cade.”
The wedding was an incredible fandango. Not only were they celebrating Olivia and Cade’s marriage, they were also celebrating the exit of the Mexican forces that had agreed to leave Texas forever.
The festivities were only halfway over when Cade got a hold of Olivia and took off to the hotel, where they would celebrate their night as a married couple. “Cade! What are you doing?”
But the loud cheer from the pa
rtygoers only encouraged him and he swept her up in his arms, taking long strides to the hotel. Before Olivia could catch her breath, they were in their room and he was laying her down on the bed.
“Now,” he said softly, “I can finally enjoy what I have wanted since I first laid eyes on you.”
Olivia smiled, even though tears of joy and overwhelming love shimmered in her eyes. And then she welcomed him into her heart, her soul, her mind, and her body. Theirs was a love that would last beyond time.
The End
If you enjoyed Texas Desire, you’ll love the next book in...
The Texas Legacy Series
Book 1: Texas Conquest
Book 2: Texas Desire
Book 3: Texas Heat
If you love Texas historicals, don’t miss...
Scandal with the Rancher by Julia Justiss
After building a trading empire, establishing Whiskey River, and charming most of the females south of the Pedernales, Ronan “Booze” Kelly finds himself restless. Until his idea to start a ranch leads him to widowed rancher Marguerite McMasters. The Tejana beauty claims she’ll never sell her land—or succumb to the fiery connection between them.
Marguerite will let nothing stop her from realizing her dream of running a horse-breeding ranch—not lack of money, and certainly not her strong attraction to Booze Kelly. Much as she misses a man’s embrace, a schoolmarm can’t risk everything she has for him.
But there’s nothing Booze loves more than a challenge, whether it’s a new enterprise to begin—or a lady to beguile. Despite her convictions, can Marguerite continue to resist Booze—or will Booze be exactly what she never knew she was missing?
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