by Laura Wright
With Lily against him, Jared looked up into Ava's eyes, said, "There is much to be said. Much for me to explain and apologize for. Let's go up to the house and put our child to bed. Then we'll talk."
Her eyes bright with unshed tears, Ava nodded.
And beside her, Muna smiled.
* * *
After putting Lily to bed, Ava and Jared went outside and sat on the porch swing. As they rocked slowly back and forth, Ava breathed in the sweet night air and prayed for a happy ending to their conversation.
But regardless, she thought, this time she wasn't running away.
"I built this house for you, you know."
"What?" Ava turned to look at him, so breathtakingly handsome in the sliver of moonlight.
"Well, with you in mind," he amended, staring out at the abundance of land before him.
"The colors and the flowers are certainly me."
He shook his head. "Not just that." He turned to look at her, his eyes gentle. "I thought I was trying to forget you. But I realized that I was actually building you into my memory forever."
She smiled, took his hand. "I didn't need anything to do that."
"I love you, Ava," he said simply.
Her heart in her throat, she reached out and touched his face. "I love you, too."
"I always have and I always will."
Tears filled her eyes as she caressed his cheek with her fingertips.
He leaned into her palm, turned his head and kissed her hand. "I'm sorry."
"God, what do you have to be sorry for?"
"I didn't have a father, but I had a mother who I loved with all my heart. At eighteen, I would've done anything she asked of me whether I believed it was right or not." He drew her to him, held her face in his hands. "I'm sorry that I treated you with such an unforgiving spirit. It's not the Cheyenne way. And I don't want it to be mine. You are an amazing woman who only wanted the best for her child." He leaned in and kissed her softly. "Thank you for taking such good care of her. She is you, you know?"
"She is you, too." Tears streamed down Ava's cheeks, no doubt taking the mascara from her wet lashes with them. But she couldn't care less. Jared was letting down his guard, letting his heart finally fly free. "You forgive me?" she asked.
He nodded. "And do you forgive me?"
Through her tears, she managed a smile. "Of course."
His gaze dropped for a moment, his voice softened. "I'm not going to take your father's ranch."
"What?"
"I realized that it wasn't Ben I was angry with. Not really. It was my father. It was my fear of becoming him that made me lash out at everyone close to me, turn those I loved most away." Jared sat back against the wood swing. "I'm willing to talk to Ben, see who he's become, maybe help him regain the land instead."
Ava just stared. "I thought—"
"You thought I wanted revenge?"
"Yes."
He shook his head. "Not anymore. Not for you and for our daughter and our family. He's part of that family."
Her heart seemed to stand still. "What do you want now then?"
"You."
She grinned, laughed with joy, threw herself into his arms. "You've got me."
"You and Lily and the others we shall have."
"Yes."
"And next time," he said, his voice rough with emotion as he eased her back, looking deeply into her eyes. "I'll be there helping you bring those children into the world."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Marry me, Ava?" he whispered against her lips.
"In a heartbeat," she whispered back.
He cupped the back of her neck, bringing her mouth to his, closer until he was a delicious blur.
His kiss was tender and open and completely loving. Just as he, Ava mused with deep gratitude, had finally allowed himself to be.
* * * * *
