“Why not?” Her brain was way too foggy to keep up.
“I want to be your husband. We can take things slow. But in the end, I plan to be your husband.”
“Oh.” Her breath hitched. “I think that can be arranged.” She quirked an eyebrow. “But you might need to kiss me again. Just to convince me.” She closed her eyes, tipped her head back.
“My pleasure.” His lips met hers.
And turned her to mush.
Chase ended the kiss, looked deep in her eyes. “I have something for you.”
The corners of her mouth kicked up. “I don’t think I need anything else.”
He grinned, pulled a small black box from his pocket.
Heart revving, her gaze went to the box, met his, then moved back to the box. “I thought we said slow.”
“It’s not—this isn’t.” He opened the box.
Granny’s cameo. “Oh.” A mixture of relief and disappointment whooshed out with the tiny word.
“She left it to Eden. It’s costume, not worth anything.”
“But worth gold because your grandfather gave it to her.”
“Eden left it to me. To give to my wife someday. Until then, I’d like to be your man. The only one to fasten your necklaces.” He stepped behind her. “Hold your hair up.”
“The best offer of my life.” A shudder went through her as he fastened the clasp. His hands moved away, and the cameo fell heavy at the hollow of her collarbone.
“The only one you kiss,” he said.
She pressed a hand to the cameo. “I like that idea. A lot.”
“Let’s go home.” He turned her to face him, brushed his lips across hers.
Set her heart into orbit. “If I can still walk.”
He winked at her. Then, hand in hand, they strolled down the hall to Mr. Abbott’s office.
The lawyer looked up. “Have you come to an agreement?”
“We’re going to run the dude ranch together.” Chase squeezed her hand. “With a wedding in our future.”
“Well, in that case—” Mr. Abbott grinned “—I have something for you.” He ambled to his file cabinet, pulled out an envelope. “I’ll leave you alone while you read it.”
Chase took the letter bearing his and Landry’s names on it in familiar swirled cursive.
Landry gasped. “That’s Eden’s handwriting.”
“Yes.”
Landry leaned against his side as he pulled a letter out, then started reading aloud.
Dear Chase and Landry,
If you’re reading this, my devious plan worked. I wish I could be there to witness it.
Y’all are the most stubborn people I know. For years, I tried to get you to date each other. I knew you’d make the perfect match, but neither of you would work with me. I can’t believe it took my death to make it happen.
Love each other, trust each other, rely on each other. Give Mom and Dad grandchildren someday. Be happy. And say it out loud, together—Eden was so right.
Landry’s vision hopelessly blurred. Chase’s hand shook as he refolded the letter, then looked down at her.
“Eden was so right.” Their voices blended.
And forever settled in her rapidly beating heart. He was hers. And she was his.
Epilogue
“You ready?” Landry’s dad asked as he kissed her cheek.
“So ready.” She giggled, then clamped a hand over her mouth. She stood at the top of the landing while guests and her groom waited downstairs. Wearing a traditional dress she’d picked with her mother and sister.
“You really love him.”
“I do.” Her hands didn’t even tremble as she clutched her keepsake silk bouquet of trailing wisteria mixed with white and turquoise lilies.
“I can tell this time.” Daddy offered his arm. “And more importantly—to me, anyway—he loves you.”
The wedding march started, and her father slowly escorted her down the stairs. They paused in the foyer. The lattice arch draped with lavender wisteria, candelabras flanking the fireplace, and yards of tulle with turquoise ribbon transformed the great room into a wedding chapel.
Half of Aubrey had made the trip for the wedding. Former coworkers, family and friends. Along with their new Bandera friends. Devree was her maid of honor. Ally and her former boss, Rayna, pulled bridesmaid duty along with her new/old friend Resa.
But the most important person there was her groom. Surrounded by more girly decorations than any of the weddings they’d booked. Yet Chase didn’t seem to mind at all as he waited for her by the fireplace, right where he was supposed to be.
Daddy escorted her slowly down the aisle.
Finally she stood by Chase’s side. His eyes reflected the color of the turquoise cummerbund he hadn’t even raised a fuss about. The devotion in their depths along with his sappy smile testified she was the only one for him.
“Who gives this woman to be married in holy matrimony?” their pastor asked.
Daddy cleared his throat. “Her mother and I.” He kissed her cheek again, then eased her hand from his arm, linked her fingers with Chase’s.
“Let’s get this knot tied, preacher.” Chase shot her a wink.
A wave a chuckles spread through the crowd.
The vows they repeated were simple, timeless, life-bonding, sealing the love she’d longed for. The kind of love she’d found with Chase.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. Chase, you may kiss your bride.”
“You’re all mine now,” he whispered as his arms encircled her waist and their gazes met. “I’m not going anywhere. Ever. And there’s no pretending about it.”
Tears slipped from beneath her lashes as his kiss confirmed his promise of forever.
No more winning over the cowboy. And no more pretending. This was real. For both of them.
* * * * *
If you loved Chase and Landry’s story, be sure to pick up the first in the TEXAS COWBOYS series:
REUNITING WITH THE COWBOY
You may also enjoy these emotionally gripping and wonderful stories:
THE RANCHER’S TEXAS MATCH by Brenda Minton
A FAMILY FOR THE FARMER by Laurel Blount
SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE by Jill Weatherholt
Available now from Love Inspired!
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Keep reading for an excerpt from WILDFIRE SWEETHEARTS by Leigh Bale.
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Dear Reader,
Headlines and movies sometimes leave me pondering. My recent musings? How could people dump fiancés they supposedly love at the altar? Why wait until the ceremony to end things through public humiliation? And how does the dumpee move on? I explored these questions through Landry and Chase.
When Landry arrived in Bandera, Texas, two very different people were thrown together by an inheritance. In fact, the only thing Chase and Landry had in common was a love for his deceased sister. On top of that, Chase didn’t trust Landry and thought she scammed her way into the dude ranch. But determined not to return to her entire hometown’s pity, she resolved to win him over.
Chase tested Landry’s staying power and she passed with flying colors, much to his chagrin. Things began to change as they worked together to ensure the dude ranch’s future and Chase got a glimpse of her shattered heart. As he softened toward her, they bonded over their mutual loss. But as their feelings developed, Landry had to allow God to help her overcome bitterness, and Chase had to surrender his trust issues before they could build a future together.
I
always miss my characters when I finish a book, but I enjoy getting a glimpse of them in future tales. This series will continue with Resa, so watch for her story soon.
Blessings,
Shannon Taylor Vannatter
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Wildfire Sweethearts
by Leigh Bale
Chapter One
Tessa Carpenter stared with dismay at the drafts of gray smoke billowing from the engine of her beat-up old truck.
Correction. Zach’s truck. Even though her elder brother had died last summer, she would never sell his truck, even if it did qualify for the scrap pile.
Cruising down the highway at sixty-five miles per hour, she tapped the brake to decrease her speed. The moving trailer attached to the back hitch trembled slightly. It held all her worldly possessions. Clothes, books, bedding, her firefighting pack and her precious picture albums. Not a lot, but she didn’t want to lose any of it.
She gripped the steering wheel as the vehicle slowed. Edging over onto the shoulder, she killed the engine. As she thrust open the heavy door, she caught the acrid scent of burning oil. Her nose twitched with repugnance and she got out to inspect the problem.
Great! Just great. If it was a flat tire, no big deal. She could change that in a heartbeat. She’d done it before. Many times, in fact. But truck engines? She didn’t have a clue. As the only woman on the Minoa Interagency Hotshot crew, she could do anything the guys could do. It was just a matter of patience and leverage. But engines were not her forte. Never had been, never would be. She was better at numbers and always ended up doing the inventory reports instead.
She rested her hands on her hips. Turning her face into the fresh April breeze, she took a deep inhale then blew it out in an irritable sigh. She was officially stranded on Highway 50, halfway between the sleepy mining towns of Eureka and Austin, Nevada. It wasn’t called the Loneliest Road in America for nothing. Her gaze took in miles of brown hills, sage and rabbit brush. Not a single building or car in sight.
Well, no sense standing here gawking. Hotshots were people of action. It could always be worse. At least it wasn’t raining. And while the spring weather was unseasonably warm, it could be a whole lot hotter, too.
She popped the hood to the engine then jumped back as she was engulfed in a cloud of smoke. She couldn’t tell where it came from and wondered if the truck had overheated, or if it had a more serious issue.
Reaching into the pocket of her blue jeans, she pulled out her cell phone and entered her security number. A huff of impatience whooshed from her throat. No connectivity out here in the middle of nowhere. She’d have to wait for someone to come along. Which could take hours.
So much for her plans to arrive in Minoa early enough to unpack and settle into her furnished apartment before driving thirty miles to Carson City to return the mover’s trailer. Minoa was too small a town to have a truck rental business. As long as she turned the trailer in by tomorrow night at seven o’clock, she wouldn’t have to pay any late fees. But she’d be in deep kimchi if she didn’t report for her first day back at work tomorrow morning.
Leaving the hood up to signal for help, she climbed inside the truck and lowered the windows to catch the mild breeze blowing across the Nevada desert. She stared out her windshield, wishing she had a book to read. Reaching for the water bottle she’d stowed in the cup holder an hour earlier, she popped the lid and took a deep swallow before setting the bottle aside.
She had just dozed off when the low thrum of an approaching vehicle brought her back to the present. A shiny blue pickup truck pulled up behind her. In the side mirror, she caught the flash of a tall, well-built man getting out and walking toward her. Dressed in faded blue jeans, his long legs moved in a self-assured stride. But something familiar about that muscular physique caused her to narrow her eyes.
No, it couldn’t be.
Her pulse sped up into double-time, her breath rushing out in a lung-squeezing sigh. A warm, tingly sensation flowed over her as she tilted her head to get a better look in her rearview mirror.
“Oh, no.” She leaned her forehead against the steering wheel and groaned.
Sean Nash. Her ex-fiancé. Except for her brother, he was the only man she’d ever loved. Okay, that wasn’t entirely true. She’d loved her father once, before he’d abandoned her family when she was only seven years old. But that was so long ago that she barely remembered him.
Standing beside her door, Sean angled his face toward her and flashed a dimpled smile. A smile that still turned her brains to mush.
“Hi, there. I didn’t expect to meet you all the way out here in the middle of nowhere.” His voice sounded low and reserved. No doubt he was surprised to see her, too.
“Likewise,” she said, wondering what he was doing here.
“Looks like you’ve got some car trouble,” he said.
Morning sunlight sprayed across his too-broad shoulders, highlighting his short, curly hair. He shifted his weight in a careless, confident stance that told her he knew how to handle himself in any situation. Except she knew that wasn’t true.
A lance of anger speared her, but she ignored it. He’d always been in charge. Always demanding the best out of his crew. So calm under pressure. Never needing anyone. Not even God. But when she thought of how their relationship had fallen apart, she didn’t know how Sean could act so cool and remote around her. Not when her entire body was trembling with emotion.
“Something’s the matter with the engine,” she said.
Warring sentiments fogged her brain. Relief, anger and sorrow. She wrestled to make sense of it all and tried to maintain her composure. After all, he’d been the one to break off their engagement. The day after her brother’s funeral, he’d taken her for a quiet ride in his truck. He’d parked beneath the shade of an elm tree on the outskirts of town and stared out the window as he’d told her that he didn’t want to marry her anymore. She knew he was hurting over Zach’s death. They both were. But she thought they could comfort one another. Unfo
rtunately, he didn’t see it that way. He’d suffered smoke inhalation, torn ligaments, shock and second-degree burns. They’d postponed the funeral until he was released from the hospital. In the chaos of comforting her distraught mother, nursing her own grief and making burial arrangements, Tessa had spent long hours sitting by Sean’s bedside. But the day after the funeral, he had told her that his change of heart had nothing to do with Zach. That his priorities had simply changed and he wanted to move on. His plans no longer included her.
We’re not right for each other. I don’t want to marry you now.
The sting of those words still haunted her, like a sliver lodged in her heart. He didn’t want her anymore.
Unfortunately, she was now stranded and needed Sean’s help. She couldn’t see his eyes through his dark sunglasses. She hated when he wore them because she couldn’t read the emotions on his face. A face she knew as well as her own. The high forehead, saber-sharp cheekbones, stubborn chin and translucent blue eyes that pierced her to the core every time he looked at her. Handsome, with a careless smile that could scorch her toes to ash. But something was different about him. Something that hadn’t been there before Zach’s death. Something she couldn’t quite put a finger on.
Wearing a white T-shirt and boots, Sean still looked lean, strong and ready for action. Considering they both fought wildfires for a living and he’d been a squad leader on her crew last season, she figured he was dressed appropriately. It suited his personality. Rugged and masculine. Always prepared. Always in control.
Until the day Zach had died.
Sean stepped back as she opened the door. She climbed out, trying not to look at him. Trying not to let his presence undermine her composure. He was the last person she’d expected to see on this deserted road. Unfortunately, this was the main road heading from Ely to Reno. The only road, unless she wanted to drive on dirt and go four-wheeling.
“What are you doing all the way out here?” she asked, catching his scent. A subtle mixture of spicy cologne and licorice candy.
Winning Over the Cowboy Page 20
