Melissa Cutler - Cowboy Justice

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.”