Melissa Cutler - Cowboy Justice

Amy nodded. “Jenna’s right. We want you to be happy. That’s why we hired Ben. And why I was trying to set you up on a date.”

Jenna pinched the bridge of her nose. “Good Lord, what a disaster. That didn’t turn out like I expected at all.”

Vaughn scowled at Jenna. “Don’t get me started.” He released Rachel’s hand and took her by the shoulders, turning her to face him. A hundred different emotions flashed over his face—repentance, hope—love. “All this time, you were right not to trust yourself to lean on me. I never came through for you when the going got tough. I never made you my first priority.

“But all I want, more than anything, is to have the chance to prove to you I’ve changed. That I can be a better man—for you. I’m going to do everything in my power, for as long as it takes, to prove that I love you and you have nothing to fear. Then, when you’re ready, I’m going to court you properly. Like I should have done in the first place. Will you give me that chance? Can you forgive me?”

Rachel’s head was spinning so fast that she pressed her palms to her temples to slow it down. She had to think clearly, had to find the right words, but he was waiting and everyone was listening, and all she could think to say was, “You ate berry pie for me.”

He let out a nervous, dry laugh and pulled her into an embrace, resting his forehead against hers. “I’d eat broccoli for you, if that’s what it took to prove I’ve changed.”

She stroked his cheek. “I would never make you do that.”

Heads touching, they breathed into each other, so close and intimate that the room beyond them disappeared. She held his cheeks in her hands as he worked his fingers through the hairs at the nape of her neck.

“Yesterday, I recused myself from all the different cases involving you. And Wallace Meyer and I have reached a new understanding, so there’s no chance he’ll give us trouble about the evidence I collected or bring up a civil suit against you for shooting Junior. You don’t have anything to concern yourself with from here on out except your happiness, and that’s all I’m going to focus on too. Tell me what you want—anything—and I’ll make it happen for you.”

Since Vaughn walked up her porch steps sixteen months earlier, her dreams for herself had shifted, but some fundamental parts would never change. “I want to plant alfalfa.”

“I know you do. You’re on your way with that, you and Ben. What else?”

Her eyes grew hazy with tears, but she didn’t want to let go of him long enough to wipe them away. “I want my family to be safe and happy.”

He rolled his forehead against hers, nodding. “We’ve got that covered. Keep going.”

“I want to photograph the ocean. I’ve never seen the ocean before.”

“I can make that happen, no problem. Whenever you’re ready.”

Then it hit her—none of the things she wanted mattered without Vaughn. What was the point of planting a field full of grass if she couldn’t stand in the middle of it with him and share that fresh alfalfa smell? What was the point of seeing the ocean if he wasn’t by her side to experience it with her? Her sisters were safe and happy and moving on with their own families. For the first time ever, it was Rachel’s turn to grab hold of what she wanted.

“I want . . .” Her throat constricted. She swallowed and inhaled deeply.

“Whatever it is, I’ll find a way to give it to you.”

She realized now that the world wouldn’t fall apart, and the universe wouldn’t punish her for trying to find happiness. She’d had the rug yanked out from under her enough times by her dad to understand it was going to take some practice to relearn how to lean on someone else without bracing for a fall. But she didn’t want to be the person who was too afraid to try. She wanted to be strong enough to trust, strong enough to face her fears and love out loud.

She felt it building up inside her like nothing she’d ever experienced, and it had to come out, all of it, right there in front of everybody they knew, like the words had a life of their own and the sheer power of them pried open the grip of fear around her heart and crumbled it into dust. “I don’t want to see the ocean without you. And I don’t care about alfalfa unless you’re there to smell it with me. I want to whistle with you and ride horses with you—everything. I can’t stand being without you. I love you like crazy. All I want is you. Only you. Forever.”

He must have let out a breath he’d been holding, because with his ragged exhale, his body melted into her. His shoulders relaxed. “Forever’s good. Forever is what I want too.”

He slid his fingers from her neck and gathered her face in his hands.

Then he kissed her. Long and slow and sweet. She opened her mouth, letting him in. Letting him have all of her. She threaded her arms around his neck, pressed her palms to his back, and met his tongue with her own. And it didn’t matter that her family and friends were watching, because nothing mattered except Vaughn.

Applause and cheers broke out, but Rachel couldn’t find it in her to care. She was too filled up with love for Vaughn, for the possibilities of their future together, and for the sense of peace that came with knowing she’d never be lost again.

He tore his lips away and held her tight against him. “I love you so much, Rachel. I’m going to give you everything you want and keep you in triple berry pies for the rest of your life—but I changed my mind about something. Forget proper courtship. Tell your farmhands they’re on their own in the morning and pack a bag. You’re coming home with me tonight.”

Rachel stared at Vaughn across the top of his truck cab, feeling as jumpy as a fly on a light bulb. “I’m not the best at making small talk. What if I can’t think of anything to say?”

Vaughn pinned her with a look of affectionate exasperation. “I’ve already told you, I’m not going to let you flounder. I’ll be right there next to you, moving the conversation along. But if you get stuck, talk about horses. My parents could talk about horses until the cows come home.”

“Ha-ha. Very funny.” Sure enough, he’d coaxed a smile from her and eased her nerves like there was nothing to it. That was some skill he had. One more reason she loved him.

“Well, I’m a funny guy.”

He came around her side of the cab and brushed a kiss across her lips. “You’re going to be fine. And you might as well get used to having dinner with my folks because neither you or I can cook worth a damn. With Amy moved in to Kellan’s place, leaving us to fend for ourselves, I’m pretty sure we’re going to get tired of sandwiches and take-out eventually.”

“Do you think your mom’s going to hold it against me that I can’t cook?”

Rolling his eyes, Vaughn filled her hands with a stack of boxes from the back of the cab. “Oh my God, woman. You need to relax. She’s going to love you.”

“I hope you’re right. I’ve never had to meet a man’s parents before.” She straightened the ribbon holding the boxes together. “This is a whole lot of fruit. Wouldn’t a basket have been enough?”

He fluffed the bow on top. “No, it needs the tower effect. Trust me on this. Is it too heavy? You want me to carry it?”

“No. I want to be the one to hand it to her.”

They started up the driveway. Vaughn placed his hand on the small of her back. “I do have to warn you, she’s going to ask about kids.”

Rachel stopped moving. “What?”

“She’s grandkid crazy, so she’s probably going to mention you and me having kids. I thought you should be ready for that.”

“Wait.We haven’t even talked about kids. Hell, we haven’t even talked about getting married.”

Vaughn stuffed his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels, like he didn’t have a care in the world. “We could talk about it right now if you’d like.”

“I’m five steps away from meeting your parents for the first time. Do you really think it’s the best idea to discuss our future out here in front of their house?”

He shrugged. “That wasn’t part of my plan, but you seem concerned.”

Rachel strode toward the front door. “I don’t know if concerned is the right word, but I do think we should have our story straight before we have a casual chat about marriage and kids with your parents.”

“That’s a great point.”

When she reached the door, she whipped around to face him. “You’re acting strange.” The top box, filled with chocolate-covered strawberries, toppled off the tower. Vaughn dove for it.

Pushing up to his knees, he handed it to her.

“Nice catch.” She tucked it back inside the ribbon and leveled a worried gaze at him. Now that he’d mentioned it, she realized she didn’t know his take on marriage and kids. The past couple weeks, she’d been too wrapped up with being in love to think about the long-term details. “We are going to get married and have kids, right? I mean, you know, when you’re ready?”

The front door opened to reveal a short woman with curly black hair and a welcoming smile. She shared Vaughn’s nose and chin.

Rachel swallowed and her heart rate sped up. “Hello, Mrs. Cooper.”

“Hey, Ma,” Vaughn said, still kneeling. “We brought you a fruit tower. Would you take it from Rachel?”

Rachel made to move past him but Vaughn grabbed hold of her hand. “You stay right there. Ma, the fruit tower, please?”

“Oh.” She shuffled around Vaughn and eased the boxes from Rachel’s hands. “Goodness me. You remembered I wanted one of these. Thank you.”

“Of course I remembered. That’s why I’m your favorite son,” he said, his eyes still on Rachel, his solid hands holding hers.

“You rascal. You’re my only son.”

Vaughn smiled up at Rachel. “Did my mother just call me a rascal?”

He was still on his knees and the way he was looking at her, his eyes warm and confident, his smile tender, set butterflies of anticipation fluttering to life in her belly.

“Yes, she did,” she said breathlessly.

As if foggy glasses had suddenly been removed from her eyes, the colors and details of her surroundings popped out at her in stark relief. The hedges which had been trimmed flat along the house, the speckles of gray along the part in Vaughn’s hair, the smell of a beef roast wafting through the door blending with the heady smell of a fire. His father’s forge fire, no doubt.

“I hit my head on this front step when I was ten. Fifteen stitches,” Vaughn said quietly. “And I have pictures taken of me standing on this step before my first communion, senior prom, high school and college graduations, and my graduation from the police academy. So I guess it’s as fine a spot as any to ask you to be my wife.”

Oh, wow. Her heart felt so full it was crowding her lungs, impeding her breath. Kneeling before her was the best man she knew, the man she loved and planned to keep on loving for the rest of her life. And he wanted to marry her.

He produced a small, black velvet box from his pocket at the same time his mom yelled, “Greg! Get over here now—and bring the camera!”

Vaughn angled his head around Rachel’s leg to grin at his mom. “Nice touch, Ma. Really adds to the romance of the moment.”

Rachel couldn’t help but laugh, he made her so impossibly happy.

He opened the box. Inside was a gold band, inlaid with a row of sparkling diamonds. The most beautiful piece of jewelry she’d ever seen.

“I was going to wait until dessert, but I didn’t want you going through the whole dinner worrying about my intentions. You wouldn’t have enjoyed Mom’s signature pot roast at all, and that would be a travesty.” He glanced at the ring. “I didn’t think a big diamond was your style, thought it might get in the way with your work. But we can exchange it if you don’t—”

“No, I love it. And I love you.” She pressed her lips together, fighting to contain her blossoming emotions.

“I love you too.” He kissed her hand. “Rachel, will you marry me?”

Pretty sure her legs were about to turn to noodles and wanting to get closer to Vaughn, she dropped to her knees. He swiped her tears away with his thumb. She turned her face in and kissed his wrist.

“You know, I’ve always wanted to be a cowboy lawman’s wife.”

His grin broadened. “Is that so? It was the badge that did it for you, eh?”

She smiled back. “Among other things. I like the way you whistle.”

He waved the box. “Are you going to give me an answer so I can put this ring on your finger, or would you like to continue going over all the ways you and I fit together so perfectly?”