Maggie pressed herself close to Dunmore. “Help me believe it’s over.”
He sighed, holding her close. “Maggie, don’t you know what this means? It’s not over.” He looked into her gaze, smiling with love and devotion, as she stared at him in confusion. “It means our life can fully begin. We no longer have to think about him. Or worry about him.” He kissed her, groaning when she pressed into him. “Or have nightmares about him. We can let him go.”
Maggie collapsed onto Dunmore’s chest, her arms banded tightly around him. “Nora is so brave. I don’t think I could have done what she did.”
He chuckled, his smile broadening, when he saw her smile, as he traced a hand through her hair. “Of course you are. You fought him off twice. Once three years ago, and again in August. Although I hate you ever had a moment of fear, I’ll be forever grateful for what Nora did.”
Maggie lifted her head and met her husband’s adoring gaze. “She said there are some men in town jealous of you and Da. That if you had … killed Jacques, you would have suffered because of it.”
“Perhaps,” Dunmore murmured, lowering his head to kiss her again. “We’ll never know, as none of us have a penchant for murder.” He kissed her. “Unless our wives or daughters are mistreated.”
Maggie took a deep breath and gripped his shoulders, as she pushed herself up to look into his eyes. “Do you know what this means?” she whispered. At his subtle shake of his head, she blushed and bit her lip. “I can travel into the Territory with you now. I can go on adventures with you.” When he stared at her intently, without saying anything, she flushed and ducked her head. “Or not. How foolish of me.”
“No,” he rasped, his hand rising to stroke her silky soft cheek. “I was lost for a moment, envisioning you beside me, as I rode to Cow Island or Helena. Imagining how exhilarating the trip would be as we talked and as I saw everything through your eyes, rather than the usual boring routine.” He took a shaky breath. “I don’t want you to feel you need to go on adventures.” Yet he was unable to hide the boyish enthusiasm and hope from his voice.
Her blue eyes filled with joy, as she ran her fingers over his cheeks. “I want to go on adventures with you.” She flushed. “At least until we have a child.”
His gaze flashed with delight at the possibility. “A child. A babe of our own.” He took a deep breath, before he whispered, “I always assumed you’d want children. Do you?” At her nod, he beamed at her, before he sobered. “If we can’t have a child, my love for you will never falter, Maggie.”
She frowned as she stared at him. “We’ve been married a little over a month. Why this concern?”
He kissed her reverently, before resting his head against hers. “I see how Kevin and Aileen try to hide their sorrow at each announcement by your siblings. I’m not blind.”
She sighed, kissing him softly. “No, you’re observant and kind.” She pressed against him. “They suffer, each month that passes without the chance of a babe of their own.”
Wrapping his arms around her, he murmured, “They’ll find their way. Just as we will.”
Maggie sighed, pressing a kiss to his chest. “As long as I have your love, I know we can survive anything.”
“You have it, my darling,” he murmured. “My hope is that we’ll be like your parents. Strong and filled with hope, as our love grows and adapts with our family.”
“We will be,” Maggie vowed. “We will be.”
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Lucien’s gaze tracked Samantha as she ran in the snow chasing after little Gavin. When she slipped, tumbling into the snow, he moved to aid her only pausing when she squealed with laughter and flopped onto her back to make a snow angel. Releasing a deep breath, Lucien forced himself to focus on his brother’s son, Gavin. On the beautiful day. On the fresh snow. On anything other than the woman who captivated him.
She’s just a friend, he chanted to himself, over and over again. He knew the chant would fail to diminish his fascination. Nothing had worked, and he feared he would live in this half heaven-half hell forever as her friend.
He attempted to focus on his family scattered around him as they had impromptu snowball fights, rode sleds and enjoyed their outdoor excursion. The O’Rourkes had ventured out to one of the hills to play, and he marveled at being part of this family. The man he thought of as his father, Seamus, whooped with laughter as he tossed a snowball at his eldest son, Ardan. His mother, Mary, stood to the side making snow angels with the youngsters and calling out encouragement to both teams. “That’s treason, love!” Seamus called out to his wife, laughing as a snowball pelted him in his chest.
Although Lucien had been with the O’Rourkes for three and a half years, there were times he felt as though he were in a dream. How could they be his family? He tried to forget his memories living with his mean father, Francois, and cruel uncle, Jacques, but some memories could not be erased. With a shake of his head, he focused on the day and the growing snowball battle between the eldest O’Rourkes. Soon, a truce was called, with none the victor, and all were laughing and joking with plenty of backslapping and hugs. Lucien always marveled at how easily affection was expressed
