The news swirled in his head. “You really think it’s safe enough for me to return to Milwaukee with Chelsey?”
“I do.” Slade didn’t hesitate. “I wouldn’t lie to you, Duncan. Not after all this.” Slade reached up to rub the back of his neck. “I have to go. Thanks to that fight, there’s more paperwork to complete. The locals have to report to their boss, while I have to report up to mine.”
Duncan turned to face Chelsey. She stepped into his arms, wound her arms around his neck and drew him down for a kiss.
He loved kissing her and didn’t want to stop, but they still needed to talk. “Chels?” he managed when he could breathe.
“Hmm?” She rested her head in the hollow of his shoulder.
“I love you and I want you to be safe.”
She lifted her head, smiling at him. “I love you and want you to be safe, too. Sounds like the best option is for us to live in Milwaukee.”
“Are you sure about that? About leaving the hotel behind?” He forced himself to ask the question, mentally bracing himself for her response.
“Yes, I’m sure that I want to be with you, Duncan. Even though Travis Wolfe wanted to buy the hotel, I happen to know the federal government will also be interested in taking it over, as the land is part of the Grand Teton National Park. They offered before, when my grandparents had the place.”
He was humbled by how she was willing to give up her parents’ home for him. “I’d like to plant a couple of trees in your parents’ memory.”
Her smile widened. “I’d love that.”
“Chelsey, will you please marry me? I don’t have a ring, but I want you to know that I love you with all my heart. I’d be honored if you’d agree to be my wife.”
“Yes, Duncan, I’ll marry you. I only have one request.”
Anything, he thought. “Like?”
“No big fancy ceremony, just your immediate family and a few close friends. And I’d really like to be married in a church.”
It was very different from what she’d planned with Brett, but he wasn’t complaining. “Done. You’ll like the church Shayla and Mike have taken me to. It’s perfect for a small, intimate wedding ceremony.”
“Good.” She tugged his head down toward hers. “Please kiss me again, Duncan. Because this is the happiest day of my life.”
He was more than willing to oblige her request. Because it was the happiest day of his life, too.
EPILOGUE
Four months later...
October in Wisconsin was beautiful. The blue skies were clear and the leaves on the trees were a burst of yellow, orange and red. Chelsey knew she and Duncan were blessed to have such a wonderful wedding day.
She stood in the back of the small church she’d grown to love, in a simple dress that didn’t have a long train or a veil. As the organ music swelled she looked up the aisle and saw Duncan standing in a dark suit, no tux, waiting for her.
She smiled. There wasn’t a single doubt in her mind or her heart about marrying Duncan O’Hare. Thankfully, their testimony against Wesley Strand had resulted in a guilty verdict. Nettles, Martin and Goldberg all agreed to plea deals. The nightmare in Wyoming was over, but the move to Milwaukee had been the right decision. She’d lived there for the first fifteen years of her life, so it was a bit like coming back home.
And there was Duncan. The most wonderful, kind, caring and compassionate man she’d ever met. He’d do anything to protect her and always followed through on his promises.
There wasn’t anyone in the world like him, and she was blessed and humbled that he’d chosen her to be his wife.
The church was filled with people, more than she’d expected. But not only was the Callahan family huge and growing by the minute, there were Duncan’s close friends: Hawk Jacobson, his wife Jillian, and their two kids; along with Ryker Tillman, his wife Olivia, and their two kids.
She liked how Duncan had surrounded himself with family men. Well, except for Slade and Colt, who hung back as if afraid to be bitten by the love bug.
“Ready, Chelsey?” Per her request, Duncan’s father, Ian O’Hare, was the one giving her away. Maggie Callahan O’Hare, Ian’s new wife, also treated Chelsey like a daughter. She felt it was fitting for both of them to be an intricate part of their wedding and she already loved them both, very much.
Her parents would have adored them, too.
“Yes.” She slid her arm through the crook of Ian’s elbow and together they began their walk down the aisle toward the front of the church. At one point she must have picked up the pace because Ian whispered, “Slow down, lass, I promise he’ll wait.”
That made her smile. And when she caught Duncan’s gaze, the love shining there was enough to bring tears to her eyes.
As Ian handed her over to Duncan, she gave her soon-to-be father-in-law a quick hug, then clasped both Duncan’s hands in hers. “I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you, too,” he whispered back.
Feeling secure with Duncan’s and God’s love surrounding them, they turned to face the pastor.
It was time to begin their new life, together.
If you enjoyed this book, don’t miss these other stories from Laura Scott:
Shielding His Christmas Witness
The Only Witness
Christmas Amnesia
Shattered Lullaby
Primary Suspect
Protecting His Secret Son
Soldier’s Christmas Secrets
Guarded by the Soldier
Available now from Love Inspired Suspense!
Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com.
Keep reading for an excerpt from Shielding the Amish Witness by Mary Alford.
Dear Reader,
I hope you’ve enjoyed the third and final book in my Justice Seekers series. You met Hawk, Ryker and Duncan in the Callahan Confidential stories and I knew each
