“It was,” Jasper said, his voice solemn. “You saved my life.”
Of course. Emma Jane closed her eyes. That’s what all of this was about. Jasper had felt guilty when they were trapped in the mine and she’d saved him, which was one of the reasons why he’d married her. Then, when Mel saved him, he’d felt guilty again, thus propelling him on his quest to save Daisy.
Well, this was one act of gratitude Emma Jane wasn’t about to accept.
She opened her eyes and stared at Jasper, drawing from all of her strength. “And now you can get on with it. I know you mean well, but living your life shouldn’t be about repaying someone else.”
Taking another breath hurt more than she’d expected it would. But this wasn’t the pain of her wound. No, this was something deeper, and she didn’t expect it to heal as quickly as the gunshot would.
“I want you to be happy,” she choked out. “I know you feel responsible for what happened to me, and I’m telling you right now that this was my own choice. So go live the life you choose for yourself. You’re not allowed to be beholden to me.”
Jasper looked at her like she’d gone mad. And maybe she had. Who wouldn’t want the town’s handsomest, wealthiest man beholden to her?
Emma Jane Jackson, that’s who. She deserved better than a man who felt only gratitude for her.
She wanted a man who loved her.
“I will be beholden to you for the rest of my life,” Jasper said, looking at her with enough intensity that, if she’d been a block of ice, she’d have melted.
“But not for the reasons you think.”
Then he looked down at Moses with such a loving expression, Emma Jane’s heart felt like it was about to burst.
“You’ve taught me a lot of things. About God. About family. About selflessly giving to others.”
Then he turned that same loving look on her. Loving? Emma Jane blinked. Surely...
“I had hoped that by agreeing to an annulment, it would soften your heart toward me, and eventually I would be able to court you and to convince you to share your life, your heart, with me.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “But that isn’t what I want. If you want an annulment, I will give it to you because I love you. The Bible says that when you love someone, you are not selfish. You are not proud. You put the other person first.”
Tears glimmered in his eyes. “The night I kissed you by the fire, I was too proud to say that I loved you, because I wasn’t sure if you loved me back. And I was afraid I was giving my heart away to someone who would reject it.”
Memories of that night flooded her mind, and her eyes also filled with tears. She’d wanted to say the same thing, but her fear of rejection, her comparison to others, it had been too strong, as well.
“I love you, Emma Jane Logan, and I hope will remain Jackson. I want a real marriage. I want to raise Moses together. And I want to raise whatever other children the Lord sees fit to give us—together—as a family.”
His hand shook as he reached for her hand. “I said all these things when I thought I was going to lose you, and I don’t know if you heard me or not. But I want you to hear me now. And I want you to understand.”
Then he brought her hand to his lips, sending a tingle all the way down to her toes. “I’m asking you to be my wife in all ways. To share my life. I will give you everything you need to care for Moses, regardless of whether or not you accept my offer. I want you to say yes, not because of any of the reasons we were together before, but because you love me, too.”
Her throat tightened, and she couldn’t speak. Was this a dream brought on by her injury? She reached for Jasper with her other arm, ignoring the searing pain in her shoulder and chest.
“Is this real?”
Jasper leaned into her. “Yes.”
“You love me?”
“Yes.” And then he kissed her, gently pressing his lips to hers, spreading warmth throughout her body.
He was much more careful in this kiss, Emma Jane noted as she kissed him back. But when she tried bringing her arms around him, she understood why.
Pain ripped through her shoulder, and she couldn’t help but wince.
“Careful,” Jasper warned, pulling away. “I am convinced that you can do just about anything you set your mind to, but I won’t have you tearing apart Doc Wallace’s careful stitches when we have the rest of our lives for this.”
Emma Jane let out a long, contented sigh. Despite the burning sensation in her shoulder, she’d never felt so light. Could she trust Jasper’s words? Or were they merely a result of his concern over her condition?
So much in him had changed. He seemed to be every bit the Jasper she liked. Loved. When she’d found him last night, he’d told her that he’d been reading her Bible. He’d stood up for her against his mother.
“What happened with the bandits?” she asked carefully.
Jasper shrugged. “I was too busy taking care of you to pay much attention. From what I hear, though, most are either dead or in jail. Deputy Jenks had no idea you’d heard him and gone out to warn us, so they managed to capture him, too. They sent a posse after the couple who got away, but I haven’t heard if they got them or not.”
Emma Jane closed her eyes for a brief moment before opening them again. If only she didn’t feel so weak. But she had to know.
“Why didn’t you go with them?”
Jasper looked at her
