She had to laugh at the absurdity. “Are you willing to give up so much for me and the children, even to the point of becoming someone else?”
His features sobered. “I’d give up anything for you and the kids, even though it won’t be easy. It’s not easy now, faking my own death.”
“Tell me what you’d give up for me?”
“I’d give up my life for you. My reputation. Bounty-hunting, for sure. My identity. Good grief, woman, you’ve brought me to my knees.”
“Repeat the part about bringing you to your knees. That idea makes me very happy.”
His eyes shone with such love, the sight stole her breath away. “You win. Is that what you want to hear?”
“It was never a game between us. But yes, that’s what I wanted to hear.”
“I thought so.” He kissed her again. And again. “I suppose you also want a decent proposal?”
“That would be nice.”
His eyes softened. “You know I’ve never stopped loving you.”
“I prayed that you didn’t. Lord forgive me, even when I was married to Jim. He was such a good man, and I loved him for that goodness, but it was always you in my heart.”
He drew her closer. “Will you marry me?”
“Who’s speaking?”
“Shoot.” He thought for a minute. “Tray somebody.”
She cocked her head with a warning look. “I need you to be a little more specific.”
“Okay. Tray Williams. Picture me twenty pounds heavier, with a beard.”
Her fingers lightly brushed his cheeks. “I think you would look very handsome in a beard.”
“You didn’t the day I rode in.”
She grinned. “You weren’t Tray Williams the day you rode in.”
He caught her hand, stilling it. Looking deep into her eyes, he whispered, “Red, will you marry me and make me the happiest man on earth?”
Touching her mouth lightly to his, she luxuriated in the warmth of his love. “Of course I’ll marry you. What took you so long to ask?”
“Reverend Munson doesn’t need to be here to make it official first, does he?”
“I don’t think so. We’ve taken vows once, whatever your name is.”
Gazing into her eyes, he whispered, “I, Tray Williams, take you, Zoe Kolby, to be my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold, in my arms and in my heart for as long as I live. I promise to love you more each day, and I promise never to leave you, or God, again.”
Zoe laughed and wiped tears with her sleeve. “I, Zoe Kolby, take you, Tray Williams, to be my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to let you hold me in your arms and in your heart from this day forward, ’til the day I die.”
He smiled. “There’s one more thing.”
She knew what she’d left out, what she hadn’t told him, what was in her heart.
“If you don’t say the words, I’ll make you.”
She grinned. “How? By kissing me to death?”
His hold tightened. “If that’s what it takes.”
The passion in his gaze made her weak in the knees. “All right. My love will be only for you and our children.”
“Not quite there, but closer.” He grinned. “I don’t want Perry Drake hanging around, trying to…”
“Pay my debts?” She eyed him knowingly. “You paid off that note, didn’t you?”
“Me? Why would you think that?”
“Wipe that grin off your face. I put two and two together last night. If Perry was inclined to do such a thing, he would have told me up front. You, on the other hand, are sneaky, conniving, under-handed—”
He touched her lips with his finger. “Say it.”
“I said it just before you left to face McGill.”
“I want to hear it again.” His eyes darkened. “Now that I’m not so rushed.”
“All right. All right! I love you. I’ve always loved you, and I always—”
His kiss stopped her, and she was lost in a sea of delight. Nothing had ever felt more right, more welcome. For the first time, she found security in his embrace.
Gently, sweetly he ended the kiss. Her head swam with a million things she wanted to say, questions she wanted to ask, prayers, deep grateful prayers she wanted to say, but for the time being, resting in his love was enough.
Then he put an arm beneath her knees and picked her up like the bride she was.
“Cade! Your wound—”
“Forget the wound. The pain is worth holding you in my arms.”
He turned toward the bedroom, but she stopped him, saying, “Wait. First we need to wake the children and let them see you.”
“They’re sound asleep. We’ll tell them in the morning. What’s our name again?”
“Williams,” she said, resting her head on his chest.
“Uncle Cade!” Missy suddenly latched onto Cade’s thigh. “You’we home!”
He lowered Zoe’s feet to the floor, but he caught her arm and pulled her close as though she might get away.
Brody shoved his way in front of Will. “I cried real hard at your funeral, Uncle Cade. I pinched my arm so I could make real tears.”
“He pinched my arm too,” Will said, sulking. “Made me cry out loud. Then Holly thumped me on the head.”
“You were making a scene,” Holly said primly.
Cade smiled and drew the family into his embrace. “You all did well. Even I was convinced I was in that big box.” He bent and kissed each one. “You kids listen to me. We’re family now, and we always will be, but Cade Kolby is dead and buried. I’m Tray Williams, and when I come back in a few weeks, we’ll all get married again. We’ll be the Williams family.”
Missy ran from the room and returned in seconds, thrusting Bud’s jar in Cade’s face. “Bud, this is Tway. He looks like Uncle Cade, but his name is Tway Williams. He’s going to be youw daddy.”
Zoe laughed out loud.
“Tway Williams, tell Bud you love him.”
Cade stared into the jar. Beady eyes stared back. He cleared his throat and shifted, turning to Zoe for help. She nodded his compliance. Taking a deep breath, he muttered, “I…I love you, Bud.”
Zoe said, “I think it’s time everyone kissed Tray good night. He’s had a very trying day.”
After smothering Cade with enthusiastic hugs and kisses, the children scampered to their beds. Cade pulled Zoe into the store, shut the connecting door, and then took her in his arms. In the dark quiet he said, “I can’t believe I just told a tarantula that I loved him.”
“I thought it was very touching. Cade would have never been so sentimental, but Tray…I think I’m really going to like that man.”
His mouth found hers, gentle but possessive. The future lay before them, uncertain, exciting, with the promise of God, family, and love. As his lips wandered to nuzzle her neck, Zoe tilted her head back, gazed upward, and whispered, “Thank you, Addy.”
It could have been her imagination, but she could have sworn she heard Addy say, “You’re welcome. What are friends for?”
About the Author
Lori Copeland is the author of more than 90 titles, both historical and contemporary fiction. With more than 3 million copies of her books in print, she has developed a loyal following among her rapidly growing fans in the inspirational market. She has been honored with the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, The Holt Medallion, and Walden Books’ Best Seller Award. In 2000, Lori was inducted into the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame.
Lori lives in the beautiful Ozarks with her husband, Lance, their three children, and five grandchildren.
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Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Cha
pter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
About the Author
Other books by the Author
A Kiss for Cade Page 28
