He reached out, taking hold of her hands, down on his knees with her.
“You’re going to get your suit dirty,” she said inanely.
“Your dress is filthy,” he returned.
She looked down at the dirt and smudges on the beautiful white satin. “Crap.”
He took hold of her chin, tilting her face up to look at him. “I don’t care. It doesn’t matter. Because I would marry you in blue jeans, or I would marry you in this barn. I would sure as hell marry you in that dirty wedding dress. I... You are right about everything.
“It was easy to martyr myself over Shannon’s pain. To blame myself so I didn’t have to try again. So I didn’t have to hurt again. Old pain is easier. The pain from that time in my life isn’t gone, but it’s dull. It throbs sometimes. It aches. When I look at Riley, he reminds me of my son, who never took a breath, and it hurts down deep. But I know that if I were to lose either of you now... That would be fresh pain. A fresh hell. And I have some idea of what that hell would be like because of what I’ve been through before.
“But it would be worse now. And...I was protecting myself from it. But now, I don’t care about the pain, the fear. I want it all. I want you.
“I love you. Whatever might happen, whatever might come our way in the future... I love you. And I am going to do the hard fucking yards for you, Danielle.”
His expression was so fierce, his words so raw and real, all she could do was stare at him, listening as he said all the things she had never imagined she would hear.
“I was young and stupid the last time I tried love. Selfish. I made mistakes. I can’t take credit for everything that went wrong. Some of it was fate. Some of it was her choices. But when things get hard this time, you have my word I won’t pull away. I’m not going to let you shut me out. If you close the door on me, I’m going to kick it down. Because what we have is special. It’s real. It’s hope. And I will fight with everything I have to hold on to it.”
She lurched forward, wrapping her arms around his neck, making them both fall backward. “I’ll never shut you out.” She squeezed her eyes closed, tears tracking down her cheeks. “Finding you has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I don’t feel alone, Joshua. Can you possibly understand what that means to me?”
He nodded gravely, kissing her lips. “I do understand,” he said. “Because I’ve been alone in my own swamp for a long damned time. And you’re the first person who made me feel like it was worth it to wade out.”
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you too. Do you still want to marry me?”
“Hell yeah.”
“Good.” He maneuvered them both so they were upright, taking her hand and leading her to the ladder. They climbed down, and she hopped from foot to foot on the cold cement floor. “Come on,” he said, grabbing her hand and leading her through the open double doors.
She stopped when she saw that his whole family, Janine and Riley, and Pastor John were standing out there in the gravel.
Joshua’s mother was holding the bouquet of roses, and she reached out, handing it back to Danielle. Then Joshua went to Janine and took Riley from her arms, holding the baby in the crook of his own. Then Joshua went back to Danielle, taking both of her hands with his free one.
“I look bedraggled,” she said.
“You look perfect to me.”
She smiled, gazing at everyone, at her new family. At this new life she was going to have.
And then she looked back at the man she loved with all her heart. “Well,” she said, “okay, then. Marry me, cowboy.”
Epilogue
December 5, 2017
FOUND A WIFE—
Local rancher Todd Grayson and his wife, Nancy, are pleased to announce the marriage of their son, a wealthy former bachelor, Joshua Grayson (no longer irritated with his father) to Danielle Kelly, formerly of Portland, now of Copper Ridge and the daughter of their hearts. Mr. Grayson knew his son would need a partner who was strong, determined and able to handle an extremely stubborn cuss, which she does beautifully. But best of all, she loves him with her whole heart, which is all his meddling parents ever wanted for him.
* * * * *
Meet all the cowboys in Copper Ridge!
“SHOULDA BEEN A COWBOY”
PART TIME COWBOY
BROKEDOWN COWBOY
BAD NEWS COWBOY
“A COPPER RIDGE CHRISTMAS”
“HOMETOWN HEARTBREAKER”
ONE NIGHT CHARMER
TAKE ME, COWBOY
TOUGH LUCK HERO
LAST CHANCE REBEL
HOLD ME, COWBOY
SEDUCE ME, COWBOY
* * *
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