“No. Please don’t. It’s a part of you.” Reed was a good man. The very best kind of man. Someone who would put the needs of those he loved above his own. “I won’t promise to not worry, but every time I do, I’ll say a prayer. You reminded me at the car, when Lily was taken and I was terrified, that she was in the Lord’s hands. And so are you. I need to rely on Him to see us through no matter what comes.”
He searched her expression. “Are you sure?”
“More than sure.” Emma stood on her tiptoes and brushed Reed’s lips with her own. The kiss was gentle and light but filled with promise. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Reed’s lips tipped up in a smile. “I hope that means I can convince you to stick around town.”
“I don’t need convincing.” She touched Lily’s back and returned Reed’s smile. “I asked the Lord to help me make a home for Lily. He answered my prayers. Heyworth is where we belong.”
EPILOGUE
Six months later
Reed tightened the last screw on the swing set. He placed his weight on the ladder leading to the slide, checking to make sure it would hold up. The screen door slapped against the house. Sadie barked and raced across the yard. Reed grinned and patted her on the head. “What do you think, girl?”
“She thinks it’s a new obstacle course for her,” Emma called out. A smile lit up her beautiful face. Reed’s breath hitched. They’d seen each other almost every day since Will’s attack, and still she had the power to make his knees weak.
“Sadie won’t be too disappointed when she finds out it’s for Lily, will she?”
Emma laughed and handed him a glass of sweet iced tea. “No. Not now that I’ve finished the big one over at the training center. We tried it out yesterday and she loves it.”
“I’m glad.” Reed wrapped an arm around Emma’s waist and drew her closer.
“We have an audience,” Emma murmured.
Reed glanced over his shoulder. Vivian, Bonnie and Aunt Bessie were sitting on the front porch with Lily. The women were laughing at a story Vivian was telling. “They’re distracted.”
Emma playfully smacked his chest. “Reed Atkinson. For shame.”
He swept in for a light kiss before releasing her with a chuckle. Sadie nudged his leg and he patted her on the head again. “Yes, yes, I love you, too.”
Bonnie’s laughter carried across the distance between them. It brought a smile to Reed’s face. His sister wasn’t completely healed from the year she’d spent as Will’s captive, but in the intervening months, she’d made huge strides. He thanked God every day for sparing her life and giving them a new start. “It’s nice to see Bonnie so happy.”
“It is. Family and prayer have seen her through.” Emma winked. “I think Joshua has had something to do with it, too.”
Joshua was found in Will’s house, tied up and drugged. Will had intended to kill him after Reed and Emma were both dead. The thought sent a cold shiver down Reed’s spine. “I’m glad the trial is over. Maybe now we can all have some peace.”
Will had survived being shot, but he was never going to see the outside of a jail cell, something that brought comfort to them all. Most especially to Bonnie. When Will had found out Bonnie was going to marry Joshua, he’d kidnapped her. Taking Lily had been another layer to the plan. He’d had some sick delusions of them being a family together.
Emma rested her head against his chest. “Let’s not ever be the target of a criminal again, okay?”
“Sounds like a good plan to me.”
“Should I get Lily out here to try the swing set?” she asked.
“Yep. It’s ready.”
Reed took a long drink of his tea, relishing in the sweet refreshing taste, and watched Emma stroll back to the house. Sadie bounced at her side.
It’d taken some time to rebuild Jeb’s house along with the canine training center, but he’d never seen Emma more happy. She loved her work. Already she was starting to train a new set of puppies. The first one would go to the Heyworth Sheriff’s Department. Austin had agreed to be the handler.
Emma helped Lily toddle down the porch steps. Reed quickly drained his glass and set it on the ground. As he expected, Lily broke away from her mom. She raced toward him on chubby legs.
He bent down and swung her into his arms. She squealed with laughter. “Okay, kid, I’m not going to be your personal swing anymore. I’ve built you a new one.”
Emma chuckled. “Now you know that’s not going to work. She’s going to keep you and use the swing set, too.”
“Is that true, little girl?” Reed tickled Lily in the stomach. Her nose scrunched as she laughed.
Sadie ran up barking. Her tail wagged.
“Don’t worry, Sadie. I didn’t forget about you.” Still carrying Lily, he reached into the treehouse attached to the swing set and pulled out a box of biscuits. “A lifetime supply, remember?”
The dog barked.
“You spoil her,” Emma said.
“She saved our lives. I can’t spoil her enough.” Reed handed the box to Emma. “Here, open that up for me while I put Lily in the swing.”
His hands trembled as he slid Lily’s legs through the holes on the swing’s seat. Sweat beaded on his forehead. From the porch, Bonnie and Vivian’s voices mingled with the music playing on the radio.
Emma opened the box and frowned. “What is this? That’s not supposed...”
Her voice trailed off as she pulled out a diamond ring. Her gaze darted to him. Reed gently took the box, spreading the remaining few cookies on the ground for Sadie, before setting it aside.
He took Emma’s hands and bent down on one knee. She inhaled sharply.
“Emma Pierce, I love you. I can’t imagine my life without you
