“I tried to hide it as long as I could.” Her voice lowered and her expression softened as she stared at the flames burning steady in her hearth. “But I was so happy. From the second I knew of Stella’s existence, I cherished her.” She paused to sip her coffee, both hands wrapped around the steaming mug. “Unfortunately, people in town did not have the same reaction, as you can imagine.
“Freemen used my disgrace as further ammunition against me and my family. Luke got in so many fights he was perpetually black and blue. And Mama…” She glanced down at her lap. “Mama couldn’t take the strain of everything coming at her from Freeman, from the townsfolk, from my…situation. Her heart gave out one night while she slept.”
Warren ached for her loss at a time when she had been so vulnerable. “God, Honey, I am so sorry.”
She rushed on as though embarrassed by his sympathy. “Luke and I sold the house and left town as quick as we could, taking only what we needed. I owe so much to him for his support during those months. It was Luke who found this place and worked out a way to pay for it. There was just this cabin and the land then. But it was home, and just in time for Stella.”
She smiled. “Even with his reckless ways, Luke has a way of earning people’s loyalty.” She turned to look at him. “They are not bad men, Warren. Each of them has his own reasons for going outside the law to survive. Just as Luke and I did.”
As a doctor in one of the largest cities in the Eastern states, Warren was not as sheltered as his family had raised him to be. He had seen desperation and the human instinct for survival in some of the harshest of conditions.
He was grateful to Luke for doing what he had to provide for Honey and her baby. But it only added to the guilt and regret growing inside him as he listened to her story. He would give anything to have been able to prevent all that she had endured. She was right, he couldn’t change the past, but he could have an effect on the future.
Setting his coffee aside, he shifted from his seat until he crouched down in front of her, bracing his hands on either side of her hips.
She said nothing. Just looked at him with sad eyes, her shoulders squared and strong.
“I never stopped loving you, Honey.”
A sound caught in her throat and she shook her head wordlessly, making the rest of his words tumble out before she could try to refute him.
“I was hurt and angry and confused by the news that you married Freeman so soon after I’d left. But I never stopped loving you. I love you now, seeing what you’ve done for yourself and”—he swallowed hard around the thickness in his throat—“and for our daughter. I can’t express how much I admire the wealth of strength and love you possess.”
He lowered his head, then looked up again. The tears in her eyes nearly made it impossible for him to continue.
“I know you don’t need me, Honey. And maybe you can’t find your way to loving me again, but you should know how I feel.”
The shaking of her head got more vigorous and she rose to her feet in a rush to shove past him.
He stood and followed her into the little kitchen area. He was not going to back down until he knew for a fact she didn’t want him.
“No, Warren. You do not love me,” she said sternly as she placed her mug on the little table and turned back to face him with her arms wrapped tight around her middle. “It is your guilt talking, nothing else,” she said with a hard jut of her chin.
“That’s not true,” he argued. “Of course, I’m filled with remorse for what I couldn’t do for you, but that does not mean I don’t love you. Give me a chance to prove it.”
“Warren, I…” She couldn’t finish.
“What is it, Honey?”
She took a breath, but didn’t answer.
He closed the distance between them and took her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“I know you feel something for me, Honey. I cannot believe that this longing in my heart does not fill yours, that this fire rolling through me does not burn through you as well.”
He saw the flicker of response in her eyes, felt her body swaying forward. He ran his thumbs along the stubborn line of her jaw. His gaze dropped to her lips and he murmured, “Tell me you don’t want me to kiss you right now.”
Her lips parted and her breath came swift.
Warren eased closer until their bodies pressed full length to each other. He could feel her heartbeat and the unsteady rhythm of her breath.
“Tell me you feel nothing,” he murmured, “and I will let it be.”
Her eyelashes fluttered and the corner of her mouth curled unexpectedly. “Somehow I doubt that,” she whispered. “But this—whatever this is still between us—is not enough. Too much time has passed. Too much has changed.”
“I don’t believe that,” he said. The words were gruff with emotion. “Give us another chance.”
She met his eyes steadily. “What happens when Stella comes to love you and you decide to go back East? I won’t let her experience that heartbreak and I can’t go through it again.”
She was scared.
He was scared too, but he wasn’t about to let it stop him.
“Nothing could take me from either of you,” he vowed. “Not ever again.”
He brushed his thumb once more over her cheek before he lowered his head. Warren put everything he had into that kiss, holding her face in his hands as he swept his tongue past her teeth to taste her deepest desires and claim her every wishful breath.
He wanted this. Her. Forever.
Only when the kiss had made them both breathless, and he felt her hands clutching at his shoulders as she moved intently against him, did he pause, easing the pressure of his mouth just enough to murmur against her lips, “Please say you’ll marry me.”
She pulled back with a gasp of surprise. Her eyes were wide and her lips parted in stunned silence. Warren took the opportunity to step back and fetch the small box he had tucked into the pocket of his coat.
“I bought this the first week I was back in Boston. I had expected to give it to you years ago, but perhaps you’ll accept it now as my Christmas gift.”
He opened the jeweler’s box to show her a ring with five amethysts interspersed with tiny diamonds set along a gold band. The center stone was the largest, with those extending to each side gradually decreasing in size.
“Marry me, Honey.”
She silently shook her head from side to side, but one of her hands lifted toward the ring.
Warren caught that wayward hand and took the ring from the box to slip it onto her finger. She didn’t resist, and his heart began to sing.
Then she stuttered, “Marry you…I…but this is our home. I can’t take Stella away from the only family she’s ever known.”
“Then I will come to live with you here.”
She blinked at that. “In this little cabin?”
“Why not?” Warren glanced around. “We might want to add on another bedroom in the spring, but otherwise it’s perfect.”
“But your practice in Chester Springs…”
“I can make a trip to town a few times a month to see to people’s needs. If that isn’t enough, I will find a replacement.”
“Being a doctor is all you ever wanted.”
“Not all,” he said with a smile, drawing her into his arms. “And right now, this is more important. I’ll find a way to work out the doctoring bit.”
“But Stella…she will have so many questions.”
“We have all night to figure out how best to explain things to her.”
“My brother—”
“Will have to accept it,” he stated.
She fell silent.
“Any more concerns?” He kept his tone light though his insides were churning.
Her eyes glistened with emotion as she stared at him for a long moment.
Then she released a slow breath.
“Just one,” she admitted as she brought her arms up to encircle his neck. The smile curving her lips made his heart skip a beat and his blood run swift. “I do not have a gift for you.”
“I cannot imagine a better Christmas gift than having you and Stella in my life.” His arms tightened around her. “Forever.”
“Then forever it is,” she said before she rose up on her toes to seal her promise with a kiss.
About the Author
Amy Sandas’s love of romance began one summer when she stumbled across one of her mother’s Barbara Cartland books. Her affinity for writing began with sappy preteen poems and led to a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on creative writing from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She lives with her husband and children in northern Wisconsin. Visit her website at amysandas.com.
Howdy, Beautiful.
Looking for a cowboy of your very own?
Take this quiz to find your perfect match!
1. Where can you be found on a Friday night?
a. Spending quality time with the tight-knit family built with the man you love.
b. Riding the range alongside your hero to ensure the land is safe.
c. Working tirelessly with your man to impact the community.
d. Locked in the arms of your soul mate.
2. Your idea of a perfect date would be:
a. Walking by the river, hand-in-hand, as the sun sets.
b. Racing horses across fields of gold.
c. An impromptu picnic surrounded by wildflowers.
d. Locked in the arms of your soul mate.
3. Your perfect state is:
a. Texas
b. Montana
c. Arizona
d. Locked in the arms of your soul mate.
4. Your one goal in life is to be:
a. The beating heart of your fiercely loving family.
b. The protector of anyone who can’t defend themselves.
c. An agent of positive change in the world.
d. Locked in the arms of your soul mate.
RESULTS
If you answered mostly A’s, your perfect match is the True-Blue Hero! Go to Men of Legend and Texas Rodeo for more information.
If you answered mostly B’s, your perfect match is the Fearless Lawman! Go to Night Riders and Navy SEAL Cowboys for more information.
If you answered mostly C’s, your perfect match is the Last Good Man! Go to Last Chance Cowboys and A Match Made in Texas for more information.
If you answered mostly D’s, your perfect match is the Outlaw with a Heart of Gold! Go to Outlaw Hearts and Runaway Brides for more information.
If you answered a mix of all four, congratulations! You can’t be tied down by convention—every hero is your perfect match. Go to Men of Legend, Texas Rodeo, Night Riders, Navy SEAL Cowboys, Last Chance Cowboys, A Match Made in Texas, Outlaw Hearts, and Runaway Brides for more information.
Your perfect cowboy is the
True-Blue Hero!
You value deep family connections and a life built on mutual respect, love, and breathless admiration. Your hero is as true as the Texas skies and as devoted to you—and the children, animals, and other family you two found along the way—as you could ever dream.
Want to know more? Find your hero in:
MEN OF LEGEND
Three Brothers. One Oath. No Compromises. Meet the Men of Legend.
BY LINDA BRODAY, NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
To Love a Texas Ranger
When Texas Ranger Sam Legend finds himself locked in battle to rescue a desperate woman on the run, he’ll risk anything to save her—his badge, his heart, and his very life.
The Heart of a Texas Cowboy
Houston Legend swore he’d never love again, but with the future of his family’s ranch on the line, he heads to the altar to marry a woman he’s never met.
To Marry a Texas Outlaw
The last thing outlaw Luke Weston needs is more trouble. But when he stumbles upon a kidnapped young woman, he’ll face any odds to keep the delicate beauty safe.
Your perfect cowboy is the
True-Blue Hero!
You value deep family connections and a life built on mutual respect, love, and breathless admiration. Your hero is as true as the Texas skies and as devoted to you—and the children, animals, and other family you two found along the way—as you could ever dream.
Want to know more? Find your hero in:
TEXAS RODEO
A fun contemporary Western series featuring the exciting and dangerous world of the Texas rodeo.
BY KARI LYNN DELL
Reckless in Texas
Rough and tumble, cocky and charming—Joe’s everything a rodeo superstar should be… And he’s way out of Violet’s league.
Tangled in Texas
Thirty-two seconds. That’s how long it took for Delon Sanchez’s bronc riding career to end. Knee shattered, future in question, all he can do is pull together the pieces…and wonder what cruel trick of fate has thrown him into the path of his ex, the oh-so-perfect Tori Patterson.
Tougher in Texas
Rodeo producer Cole Jacobs has his hands full running Jacobs Livestock. So when he loses one of his cowboys and his cousin sends along a more-than-capable replacement, he expects a grizzled Texas good ol’ boy. He gets Shawnee Pickett.
Your perfect cowboy is the
Fearless Lawman!
You value hard word, grit, and an honor-bound drive to keep the people you love safe. Your hero is the kind of man people can’t help but look up to—brave and true and always willing to go the extra mile to make things right.
Want to know more? Find your hero in:
NIGHT RIDERS
Betrayed by one of their own, the Night Riders want nothing but revenge…but somewhere along the way, they’ll find that the only thing stronger than vengeance is love.
BY LEIGH GREENWOOD, USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Texas Homecoming
Cade, Captain of the Night Riders, has a foolproof plan to use the feisty Pilar diViere to lure her traitorous brother out of hiding. And yet, when he takes the dark-eyed beauty into his arms, Cade can’t help but remember the passionate past they shared…
Texas Bride
Owen Wheeler always counted on his charm to get by—until he met Hetta Gwynne. If only he could break down the barrier she’s forced between them...
Born to Love
Coming Spring 2018
After the pain of war, Holt Price returns to Texas to find the woman he pledged to marry...only to be drawn to a doctor’s beautiful daughter.
Your perfect cowboy is the
Fearless Lawman!
You value hard word, grit, and an honor-bound drive to keep the people you love safe. Your hero is the kind of man people can’t help but look up to—brave and true and always willing to go the extra mile to make things right.
Want to know more? Find your hero in:
NAVY SEAL COWBOYS
Three former Navy SEALs injured in the line of duty, desperate for a new beginning…searching for a place to call their own.
BY NICOLE HELM
Cowboy SEAL Homecoming
When a tragic accident sends Alex Maguire back home, he’s not sure what to make of the confusing, innocently beguiling woman who now lives there. But something in Becca’s big green eyes makes Alex want to set aside the mantle of the perfect soldier and discover the man he could have been…
Cowboy SEAL Redemption
Coming Spring 2018
Jack Armstrong figured he’d never recover the pieces of his shattered life, but when he and local bad girl Rose Rogers pretend to be in love to throw his meddling family off his trail, he discovers hope in the most unlikel
y of places…
Cowboy SEAL Christmas
Coming Spring 2018
When Monica Finley takes a job with Revival Ranch, she knows it won’t be an easy transition for her or her son, but getting snowed in with charming, hates-all-therapists former SEAL Gabe Cortez turns this Christmas into one that’ll change her life forever.
Your perfect cowboy is the
Last Good Man!
You value a sense of community and coming together to build something bigger than yourself. Your hero is a natural leader—the kind of clever and honorable man who, with your help, can guide a whole town to do what’s right.
Want to know more? Find your hero in:
LAST CHANCE COWBOYS
These rugged, larger-than-life cowboys of the sweeping Arizona Territory are ready to steal your heart.
BY ANNA SCHMIDT, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
The Drifter
Maria Porterfield is in for the fight of her life keeping a greedy corporate conglomerate off her land and drifter cowboy Chet out of her heart.
The Lawman
As the new local lawman, Jess Porterfield is determined to prove his worth…and win back the one woman he could never live without.
The Outlaw
Undercover detective Seth Grover can’t resist the lively Amanda Porterfield…especially when she’s taken hostage, and Seth is the only one who can save her.
The Rancher
Facing a range war, Trey Porterfield thinks a marriage of convenience to Nell Stokes might be their best bet. But can their growing love be enough to keep them safe?
Your perfect cowboy is the
Last Good Man!
You value a sense of community and coming together to build something bigger than yourself. Your hero is a natural leader—the kind of clever and honorable man who, with your help, can guide a whole town to do what’s right.
Christmas in a Cowboy's Arms Page 43
