“That doesn’t matter. Pretend we’re just two people in this car, nothing else matters. Say it.” Her eyes pleaded with him for something, but what if what he said wasn’t what she wanted?
He swallowed. Was he ready to tell her something he just recently was able to figure out for himself? If he didn’t say it, if he didn’t yell it to the skies, he might explode. “I love you. I didn’t think I could love anyone like this. It’s almost painful. The more I get to know you and see you and be around you, the more my heart aches for you. The fact I might not get to keep you because of your family or because of your culture hurts... it’s a pain I don’t want to claim.”
Somehow they’d crossed the few inches between them and their heads were close, knees touching.
She searched his face for truth. “Really? I’m not even sure who my dad is... I’m not driven or ambitious. I’m not particularly special in any way. How can you want me? How can you love me?”
Surprised that she really didn’t see her value, he spoke with passion. “You are more than all of that to me. I don’t need driven. I don’t need ambition. I need loyal. I need steady. I need a woman who cares about me. I need someone who I don’t need to control. I can’t make decisions for you, but I can be your protector, your provider, your partner, your best friend. I can be all of that and more. I refuse to define who you are. I won’t take your decisions, and I won’t try to fit you into a mold.”
Rachiah covered her mouth with her hand. Delightful tears sparkled in her eyes. “You like me as I am?”
“I love you, like you are.” Damon lost his ability to speak. His throat froze. What if she didn’t love him? Not that it was something that was even an issue.
MT had made it painfully clear Rachiah and Damon would never be allowed.
Rachiah placed her hand on Damon’s knee. She leaned close to whisper in his ear, “I might love you, too.” She pulled back and winked at him.
Damon growled and reached forward, tickling her at her waist. “Oh you think you’re funny do you?”
He pulled her onto his lap, cradling her with their faces close, connected at the cheeks. “Will you be happy with me?”
“I can’t imagine being anything else.” Rachiah leaned up, framing his face with her hands. She slowly moved his face down to hers and their lips melded together with the promise of tomorrow.
All of their pain forgotten. Nothing else mattered but each other.
Epilogue
“Rachiah!” Cyan and Sherri rushed her as she and Damon walked into the dining area of Bella Acres.
A large Thanksgiving dinner was spread out on a hodgepodge collection of tables and fancy tablecloths with turkey, dressing, gravy, and painted squash for centerpieces.
The friends wrapped their arms around each other. Sherri pulled back and laughed. “It’s like the first Thanksgiving!”
Rachiah rolled her eyes and laughed. Damon shot her a questioning glance and Rachiah answered. “We tell the joke every year. I’m Native American and I’m eating dinner with a bunch of white people.”
They all claimed their seats and Stefanie squeezed Rachiah’s shoulder as she passed. She leaned down. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Thank you.” Rachiah hadn’t been sure how welcome she’d be in the Montana Trails family, but they’d melded around her like she’d always been part of the group.
Damon unfolded the cloth napkin into his lap and glanced around the table, then looked toward the front door. “Where’s Ryland? Are we waiting for him?”
Jareth shook his head and brandished a long knife and two-pronged fork. “No. He left early yesterday to go find Nate. He’s determined to have this family back together.”
Cyan leaned toward Rachiah and whispered under her breath. “I think Ryland has a drinking problem, but shh.” Worry colored her gaze and she looked toward Jareth again.
“Let’s take each other’s hands and I’d like to start by saying how grateful I am for each of you. Our family is a blessing and I’m so glad to be a part of it.” He nodded toward Drake. “Thank you for having us, Drake and Stefanie.”
Worry creased the lines at Damon’s eyes.
Rachiah squeezed his hand and shot him a reassuring smile. He would worry about Ryland. They all would.
But the Trails were wild until they were settled and they all had a path to travel.
Maybe as Ryland traveled his, he’d be able to return Nate to the fold and they would all be together again.
They could hope.
Hope was the best thing about their family. Hope in the face of adversity.
The end of Forgotten Trails, book #5 of The Montana Trails series, Clearwater County Collection.
Subscribe to my newsletter and keep up to date on Endless Trails, book #6 of The Montana Trails series and the rest of the family. Read more about Nate Rourke and Kyle Darby and their cousins, and what can make a cowboy lose his heart.
Clearwater County Collection has multiple subseries! Here’s the reading order.
Lonely Lace series
Spurs and Lace (book #1)
Secrets and Lace (Book #2)
Sorrows and Lace (Book #3)
Redemption series
Romancing Redemption (Book #1)
Riding for Redemption (Book #2)
Resisting Redemption (Book #3)
Regretting Redemption (Book #4)
Rewarding Redemption (Book #5)
The Montana Trails series
Broken Trails (Book 1)
Forbidden Trails (Book 2)
Unbridled Trails (Book 3)
Hidden Trails (Book 4)
Forgotten Trails (Book 5)
Endless Trails (Book 6)
Forsaken Trails (Book 7)
For a list with covers and descriptions as well as links to all of Bonnie’s other works, please click here.
About the Author
Bonnie R. Paulson is all about sweet romance and bold twists.
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Bonnie R. Paulson
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Copyright © 2016 Bonnie R. Paulson
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold.
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Cover design by Kristin Bryant, contact her through [email protected]
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Did you love Forgotten Trails? Then you should read Endless Trails by Bonnie R. Paulson!
Escaping fear and finding love...
She had to leave…
He can’t stay…
If they need each other enough, can they find a way to end their pain?
On a mission across Montana to bring the family’s leader home, Ryland stops to help a stranded woman on the side of the road.
Amy is headed anywhere but back and she begs to go with Ryland on his search. She just wants to be free and he wants answers.<
br />
Can Ryland find what he’s looking for or is Amy the fate he’s meant to have in this sweet romance set in the wilds of Montana?
***Books by Bonnie R. Paulson***
Clearwater County Collection
The MONTANA TRAILS SERIES
Broken Trails (book 1)
Forbidden Trails (book 2)
Unbridled Trails (book 3)
Hidden Trails (book 4)
Forgotten Trails (book 5)
Endless Trails (book 6)
Forsaken Trails (book 7)
Lonesome Trails (book 8)
Lost Trails (book 9)
Untamed Trails (book 10)
Boxset – Books 1, 2, 3
Boxset – 4, 5, 6
Boxset – 7,8,9
Full Boxset – 1-10
LONELY LACE SERIES
Spurs and Lace (book 1)
Secrets and Lace (book 2)
Sorrows and Lace (book 3)
Boxset (all 3 books)
REDEMPTION SERIES
Romancing Redemption (book 1)
Riding for Redemption (book 2)
Resisting Redemption (book 3)
Regretting Redemption (book 4)
Rewarding Redemption (book 5)
Boxset (all 5 books)
Contemporary Romance
CLICKANDWED.COM SERIES
With This Click, I Thee Wed (book 1)
IDo.com (book 2)
DIY Vows (book 3)
eHoneymoon (book 4)
Keyword: I Do (book 5)
Let US-B Wed (book 6)
The Right Click (book 7)
MADE FOR LOVE SERIES
Made for Me (book 1)
Made for You (book 2)
Made for Love (book 3)
DOWNSHIFT SERIES
Downshift (book 1)
Full Throttle (book 2)
Block Pass (book 3)
STANDALONES
Odd Man Out
Read more at Bonnie R. Paulson’s site.
Also by Bonnie R. Paulson
A Clearwater County Romance
Spurs and Lace
Secrets and Lace
Sorrows and Lace
Riding for Redemption
Resisting Redemption
Regretting Redemption
Rewarding Redemption
Hidden Trails (Coming Soon)
Redemption Complete Series, Books 1 - 5
Lonely Lace Box Set, Books 1 - 3
Bride Texas
Bride and Prejudice (Coming Soon)
Clearwater County, Redemption series
Romancing Redemption
Clearwater County, The Montana Trails series
Broken Trails (Coming Soon)
Forbidden Trails (Coming Soon)
Unbridled Trails (Coming Soon)
Forgotten Trails (Coming Soon)
Click and Wed.com Series
With This Click, I Thee Wed
IDo.com
DIY Vows
eHoneymoon
Keyword: I Do
ClickAndWed.com books 1 - 3 Boxset
Downshift Series
Downshift
Full Throttle
Odds and Evens
Odd Man Out
Watch for more at Bonnie R. Paulson’s site.
About the Author
Real people, real loss, real love.
This USA Today Bestselling author, Bonnie focuses on the emotional thrill of the romance, the discovery of self and the dynamic forces at play to both pull and push love growth.
With 6 children and her own eternal romance at home, Bonnie lives her own dream every day. She's spoiled with blessings and wants to share the joy of ever-after possibilities with others.
Whether it's a happy-ever-after or a happy-for-now, the emotions will leave you story drunk for days, if not years.
Feel good romances with sweet twists. Or is it Sweet romances with bold twists? You decide.
You'll be able to say where you were when you closed the book.
Surviving all things real and coming out better on the other side.
Some of her favorite authors are Robyn Carr, Pamela Kelley, and Christine Kingsley!
Read more at Bonnie R. Paulson’s site.
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