Page 69 of Hometown Cowboy
“Mum… she…”
Gentle hands stroked his hair. “I know. She came to see me. She thinks she’s ruined your relationship, that she ruined any chance for you and your dad.”
Ryan lifted his head. “She did?”
Darby smiled sadly and touched his face. “What she did was horrendous on so many levels, but she thought it was for the right reasons. She was trying to protect you. I know that doesn’t fix it, or change the past, or even give you your dad back, but she was young and overwhelmed and scared for your future and did something stupid. You need to go see her. She misses you so much.”
He missed her, too. He usually saw her daily, sometimes more than once. He nodded slowly. Like Millie said, it was time he grew up and moved on with his life. He’d even been seeing his dad, finding his way slowly toward some kind of relationship, and had been introduced to his two half-sisters. So far, it looked like things might work out.
The love he felt for the woman on his lap was so intense he thought it just might swallow him, drown him.
And he was okay with that.
The fear of committing to her hadn’t gone, but it had faded to a bearable level. In time perhaps it too would disappear.
“Darby? Marry me.” At her widening eyes, he rushed on, “Not because of the baby, but because ofus. Because you love me. I know I’ll make mistakes, but I promise that I’ll always learn from them and put you first. I was so consumed by fear that you were too good for me, too important to mess with. But, if you’re here with me, we can take on the world, kiddo.”
A choked laugh left her and she squeezed him tight. “Yes! A hundred times yes.”
Shock, relief and excitement flooded him.
She said yes.
He couldn’t help the massive grin that exploded onto his face.
“I don’t understand how you could think those things. Why would you put me on a pedestal like that?”
He shrugged and sent her a chagrined smile. “I guess it was to put thoughts of you out of my mind. If you were too good for me, I wouldn’t want you. I could pretend that I was happy and keep you safely where you wouldn’t get hurt if I messed up. Pretty stupid, right?”
He reached down to touch her stomach, then stopped before his hand reached her.
“May I?”
Darby took his hand and placed it on her lower belly. “You can’t feel anything yet, but it won’t be long before it starts moving.” She grinned widely at him. “You have an instant family.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. Contentment washed through his veins, threatening to overwhelm him.
This was what he wanted. This feeling of belonging. Thislove.
“This is us.”
Epilogue
Darby closed hereyes, breathed deep, and held it.
A slow smile wound across her mouth. No butterflies, no nerves.
No second thoughts.
Yes.
She brushed her hands over the ivory silk taffeta dress, the slightest hint of the palest peach catching the light. The sleeveless V-neck tapered down to a crossover across her chest, then fitted to the waist. The fullness of the long skirt was enhanced by the ruched and pintucked hem of the overskirt at the front. Her smile split into a huge grin.
My wedding dress!
Emma’s hand touched her briefly on her bare shoulder. Even that gentle, fleeting touch of support—of love—warmed her soul. She glanced over her shoulder and nodded the slightest amount at Emma, who’d been sitting in front of the make-up artist so that he could check her over now that they were dressed.
Anticipation threaded through her blood in a wave of heat. She took another deep breath.