by Jillian Hart
"Ouch. I could punch him for doing that to you, for hurting you that way."
"It destroyed me, but my reputation could not be saved. I wasn't a good enough woman for a husband to keep. I couldn't find work. I couldn't get a single job. Even here, I had an impossible time because I had no letters of recommendation from previous employers." She felt sick now. She'd said too much. She gulped, her face wrinkling with pain. "It's why I'm unworthy for you to come courting."
"Is that so?" The muscles along his jaw bunched. "This isn't what I expected, not at all. I figured this would go another way."
"Oh." Her chin bowed down, and she knew, just knew, what he was going to say next: Goodbye. She hung her head. Tears filled her eyes.
"I don't know what to say." He fell silent, not trusting his voice. His chest felt tight, like it was ready to implode. "So, you're telling me the problem is that you're divorced. Your husband, who vowed to love and honor you, to cherish you, broke his vows and his promises and ran off with someone he met in a saloon."
"One of the saloon girls. I wasn't enough to keep him they said." Her eyes looked so sad. "My heart recovered, and the marriage had been far from perfect. Maybe we were not as compatible or as in love as I'd thought, and realizing that was its own hurt. He left me, and because of that I'll never have anyone really love me again. I mean, you're so kind, Frisco, and if you can't understand and look past it, then no one will."
She raised her hands to her face, head down, shoulders slumped, a quiet figure of grief.
So, this is the reason she won't trust me, he realized, wondering how it had been for her back home. Had her friendly neighbors scolded her? Strangers scorned her? Friends turned away? How many years had men, good men who would have married her, looked away? And the deeper issue for her, he saw now was that her too-wounded heart could not take the sorrow of this, this great connection between them, ending.
What a tender, good heart she had. His throat burned with unspoken emotion. His ribs felt too tight, ready to crack. "Jada, if this relationship between us is gonna work, then you can't keep assuming things are not going to work out. I'm glad you told me what was weighing on your heart."
She lowered her hands. Her eyes looked so sad. "I've lost you and it hurts too much."
"I know that feeling. And so I've decided not to lose you at all. I'm going to keep you."
32
She stared at him for a moment, as if he were speaking a foreign language she didn't understand.
She's the one who changed me, he realized, the defenses around his heart decimated as thoroughly as if she'd taken a baseball bat to them. But instead, she'd used her sweetness and love. So he very well couldn't go holding back his feelings, denying how devoted he was, and not doing the right thing, now, could he?
"K-keep me?" She studied him as if she didn't know what to think of him. As if he made no sense to her. "What about the woman with a fine reputation you thought me to be?"
"You're the same woman to me. I would have felt this way if I'd lived in your hometown when your husband's behavior shamed your entire family. I never would have changed my opinion. It is, and will always be, the highest esteem and respect I hold for you." He'd made a mess of things, no doubt about that, he'd done this courting thing all wrong.
Sure, he'd done some things right. He'd brought her gifts, paid her sincere compliments, taken her out to dinner so she could get to know him, but he'd been holding back his heart, keeping it safe, and he could have lost her today. If he'd noticed her peril two seconds later or been unable to run a little bit faster, it would all be a different story right now.
"I'll never change my mind," he promised her. "You are enough. I plan to cherish you forever."
"You do?" The corners of her mouth tugged upward, and the brightest hope began to brighten her sad eyes.
How did he chase away every last bit of that sorrow? He told the truth in his heart, that's what. He squared his shoulders, strolling over to tower over her, man enough to do it.
"You might as well know that I adore you, every little thing about you. You're beautiful, funny, kind and passionate. You are such a good woman, the kind of wife I want to be my best everything, lover, friend, confidante and soul mate. You have such a loving heart, you have completely changed mine. You even have a way with horses, an important thing we have in common and for a horseman's wife. So I guess this means that I love you."
There. He'd done it, he'd said the truth. He pressed a hand to his heart, surprised it was still able to flutter. It wasn't easy on a tough man being this vulnerable.
"You l-love me?" She stared up at him, happiness chasing away the last of the sorrow from her eyes. "You really do. I love you, too, honest and true."
"I'm happy to hear that. In fact, I can't say that I didn't fall for you the first moment we met. Which was right here." He reached out to draw her into his arms. Her hand fit his, so small, so sweet, but just right. A perfect match. His chest filled with extraordinary love for her. She came to a stop up against his chest and rested there with a sigh, and it was so good to have her tucked there, where she belonged, against his heart.
"I can really get used to this," he told her. "Spending each day loving you. Spending every day with you, sleeping every night tucked up against you, making love until we both are worn out."
She chuckled against his shirt, infinitely precious to him. "It sounds like heaven to me."
"Okay, then. We've got a plan to implement together." He pressed a kiss into her hair, breathing her in, letting the silky gossamer strands tickle his face and stick to his whiskers. "I love you more than I can say, Jada."
"Those are the most wonderful words I could ever hear." Tears stung her eyes. Her heart soared with sheer happiness. She adored being back in his arms again. She placed the palm of her hand on the center of his chest, feeling his heart beating just for her. As hers did for him. "I love you, Frisco, so very much."
"That's what I was hoping for, for about forever and a day, and it still wouldn't be long enough." He pressed a tender kiss to her cheek and then the tip of her nose. His love was the best gift she could have ever wished for, he was the best dream she could ever dream up. The tears in her eyes brimmed over, and he patiently caught each one with the pad of his thumb. "Hey, now, these had better be happy tears because this is a very special occasion. I'm going to marry you." He pressed a kiss to the curve of her chin.
"Marry you? How could I say anything but yes to that?" She tipped back her head, leaning back into his safe, snug arms, and smiled up at him.
"I want you for my wife, Jada." His voice, gruff with emotion, rumbled over her like an intimate song. "To have and to hold from this day forth. Your heart is safe with me. Why don't we make it official sometime before summer ends? That will give my ma a chance to plan things with you."
"What? Summer's end? However can I wait that long?"
"This isn't just about us. This is a family deal, too. We've got to bring your mother out. There's my ma to make happy, my father to make sure he can think he's taking care of everything, but I'll do it for him, and your sisters will want new dresses to wear, too. Think of the shopping that's ahead, and probably all of it will be on my dime."
"Oh, Frisco." Her lower lip trembled. More happy tears hovered on her bottom lashes, ready to fall. "Thank you for making me so happy."
"I want a lifetime of doing that, if you will allow me." His chest hurt with abiding love. Two tears tracked down her cheek and he wiped them away determined to make every day of her life full of the happiness he wanted for her and the life they both deserved together.
He covered her mouth in a gentle kiss, tender enough for her to feel the great love he had for her, but also the passion he carried for her. And always would. Theirs was a love that would, like the stars in the sky, burn forever.
She pulled away from his kiss, one eyebrow quirked, with a question in her joyful eyes. "Not many men as landed and wealthy as you would look past my problem reputation so ea
sily. Why are you laughing?"
"Because I'm divorced, too. I'm sure you've heard all the rumors long ago. What a terrible scandal it was. I had to move west so I could get some peace and quiet and not have everyone in town glare at me or refuse to talk to me. One woman even threw old tomatoes at me. Not my best day, but here that never happens."
"Yet," she warned him, laughter filling her, bubbling right up and never stopping. With a ravaged heart, a shattered soul and a life beyond repair, well, they were two of a kind, a match meant to be. And she would love him all the more for it, for being her savior, for being the man she could love for the days of her wonderful life to come, the holder of her heart.
"Come with me, handsome husband-to-be, I have plans for you." She seized his hand and steered him toward the door. He wasn't going to get away from her! She intended to let him take her home to his bed and seal their deal with a kiss and as much lovemaking as he wanted.
And it would a great start to a wonderful life, she thought, absolutely sure of it.
Epilogue
It couldn't be a more beautiful last day of August. The perfect day for a wedding. The bright sun shone through the leafy green of the trees and kissed the green and amber meadows surrounding the house on Frisco's ranch...and soon to be her's, too. Jada carefully left her mother and father in the buggy with her sisters and, lifting the hem of her beautiful day dress (the wedding dress was at the church and Frisco's mother was in charge of it, to be changed into very soon) padded down the walkway toward the house.
"Jada! You're here. See my new clothes." Aiden hopped out onto the front porch and modeled the black suit, white shirt and little tie that made him as cute as could be. "I love it!"
"It's just like Pa's and Grandpop's!" Austin danced into view wearing the identical outfit, just as equally adorable. "Hi new Grandma and Grandpop!"
Everyone exchanged hellos and waves.
"What's that smell?" She sniffed the air around the boys.
"What smell?" Aiden asked innocently.
"I don't smell a thing," Austin informed her. "What do you got there?"
"I brought some bakery boxes for our celebration lunch." Jada thanked the boys for offering to take the boxes of dessert items off her hands. Like the gentleman they tried to be, they opened the door for her and then led the way into the kitchen, where they disappeared without a sound.
Here's hoping the pies stay right side up," she thought good-naturedly.
"I saw you drive up, gorgeous bride of mine. Why don't you come a little closer?" Frisco winked, padding into sight down the hallway. "I've got something for you."
"Yes, I know, and I saw it several times last night and once this morning." A grin touched her lips. "It's why I'm in such a good mood."
Frisco's mouth twitched. He couldn’t help it because, boy, did Jada charm him. "Me, too. I've been thinking of you all of the rest of the morning."
"I'm not surprised. I've done the same. I'm pretty excited to be marrying you."
"Not as excited as I am." Humor sparkled in his eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a string of lustrous pearls. "My ma told me this would go with your wedding dress perfectly. Can I put it on you?"
"Yes! Oh, thank you! I love it!" She gave him a kiss before lifting her chin so he could string the pearls around her neck.
He leaned in, his warm breath mingling with hers, and the promise in his eyes told her that he could wait to put his ring on her finger. He couldn't wait for her to take his last name. He couldn't wait to have her for a wife. His knuckles grazed the sensitive skin on the back of her neck, which had been well kissed by him earlier in the morning.
Her entire body melted. Desire and longing mixed together, leaving her breathless as she breathed in his warm, pleasant male scent and kissed him. Oh, how she adored him. His warm mouth molded to hers, stroking just right. When he stepped back, he left her breathless and wanting more.
Her fingers flew to her throat. The pearls were glossy-smooth to the touch. Overcome, unable to trust her voice, she threw her arms around his neck and held on so tight. His powerful arms banded around her, steadying her when her knees felt like jelly. Her heaven was in his arms. She held on, eyes drifting closed, savoring the feel of him, so hot and alive. Sweetness filled her up, just sweet, sweet, joy.
A crash! echoed like gunfire through the house. The sound of glass breaking was unmistakable coming from the kitchen.
"Whoops." Aiden's voice could barely be heard on the other side of the wall.
"That was an accident." Austin came over to the doorway just a few steps away to peer out at them. "We didn't mean to."
"We didn't." Aiden padded into sight, too.
Frisco took a look at his sons and surveyed them up and down. What a mess! Something wet stained the front of both boys' shirts and trousers in big blotches, but the worst damage was from the knees down. He gave a sniff. "Is that..."
"...pickles?" Jada finished the question. "That's what I've been smelling!"
Frisco made his stern face. "Did you boys get into the pickle jars again? Your grandmother forbid it, and she meant it. No more pickles. Not after you two ate half of the jars she had on her shelf and got an immediate urge to run to the outhouse."
"We sure had to run," Aiden confessed.
"Real bad." Austin confirmed. "But now we have to sneak them."
Jada got the giggles. The musical trill of laughter, note after note, filled their comfortable home with life and love and hope. Oh, he loved his life. It was only going to get better from this moment on.
"See what you're getting into by marrying us?" Frisco arched a brow. "Are you sure you don't want to back out or anything while you have the chance?"
"I'm sure. There's no one else I'd rather be than your wife." Jada laid her palm against the angle of his jaw. One touch, that was all, and he wanted her with an urgent passion. Too bad they weren't alone. He could barely hear her over the thud of his pulse pounding in his ears. "Frisco, maybe I'd best go try to help the boys clean up."
"That's not something you want to leave them alone to do. They make a bigger mess certain they've accomplished the deed. Don't worry, I'll handle it from here. And I promise not to smell like pickle juice during our wedding."
"That's a promise I will make you keep, handsome man."
"The secret is that I'll change my boots. I'm no dummy. I'm smart enough to marry you."
"I can say the same." Jada sparkled up at him, making his heart thunder to a stop as he took her hand in his. The pressure of her hand, the warmth of her touch, the connection that held them fast. It felt like more than a mere physical touch, but deeper, like soul touching soul. The deepest love there was.
He mischievously winked at her. "I can't promise the same for the boys."
"These just might be my new wedding boots," Aiden confessed.
"Mine, too," Austin added.
"See what I mean? Jada, we might be a little smelly, but the three of us will be at the church on time." Frisco shrugged one wide shoulder. "You might need to bring some lavender water and spray them now and again. Or just borrow my ma's bottle. It's how she deals with them."
"Yeah, okay. Good idea." She was laughing as the boys disappeared back through the kitchen doorway. The closet door crashed open. "I hate to think what's going on in there."
"I'd better stop them before they take the broom and the mop to the floor. Last time they didn't realize the top of the broom had knocked over half the things on the counter. Like my coffee mug. Like the sugar bowl. Like the jar of ants they'd caught to show me what they'd found crawling out behind the barn." He shook his head, still laughing. "Are you ready for this?"
"I'm ready." She sparkled up at him, his beloved. There were no words. He was at a loss, unable to find a single way to describe what he felt. This was too grand, too perfect. She was his future, and he vowed to spend the rest of his life treasuring her, loving her and protecting her with everything he had.
True love could do that t
o a good man. And what a lucky man he was. Unable to stop himself, he hauled her back into his arms and stole a kiss. And what a kiss! A rush filled him, spirit-deep. His heart beat just for her for now and for always. This was just the start of their life together.
And it was going to be the best of dreams.
Also by Jillian Hart
The Bounty Hunter’s Heart
High Country Hearts
