Epilogue
Freewill, Wyoming, Christmas Day 1880
Pearl didn’t want to wake. She was warm and cozy, and in just the right position. However, the man in her bed seemed to have other ideas.
“Pearl? Pearl, are you awake yet?”
Ethan’s hoarse whisper would wake the dead. Eyes still determinedly shut, she scowled. “No. Leave me alone.”
“But it’s Christmas. Wake up.”
“No.” She turned over and brought the covers under her chin.
The covers disappeared.
“Hey!” She turned over and glared. He wore as innocent a look as he could manage, although a grin lurked beneath.
“It’s Christmas, Miz Pearl. No sleeping in on Christmas.”
Arranging her features into a pouty kind of scowl—his favorite, she knew—she asked, “Are you looking to die, Garrett? ’Cause I can organize it if you’ve a hankering.”
He ignored her threat, though she’d thought it dire and prettily delivered besides. “Do you want your present?”
With a huge sigh, she sat up and pushed her hair behind her shoulder. “Christ Almighty, you’re annoying. I don’t know why I let you in here.”
“Because you love me dearly.”
She sniffed.
A broad grin broke across his face, the kind she’d never seen before they’d started keeping company. Then, his grin faded, and a particularly strange nervousness replaced it. “Would you like your present?” he asked again.
Brows drawing together, she studied him. There was something intense and hesitant about his question, and his hands were clenched into fists against the bedding. Must be mighty troubling, whatever this present was.
For just on a year, Ethan Garrett had been her man, and had been the other occupant of her rooms. Though she was certain all her staff and half the town knew he slept in her bed, he insisted on sneaking in to the Diamond in a misguided attempt to protect her non-existent reputation. It was sweet and kinda foolish, but she loved him the more for it.
Her gaze ran over his beloved features, and a frown troubled her. As he had a year ago, he’d received a letter from his mother a month past. He’d fretted and fussed, and almost yelled on one memorable occasion. Seeing her calm, polite Ethan in such a fuss made any deep-buried thought of him mending with his family disappear. She’d come to the opinion if he never saw his family again, it would be too soon. But any decision on that front was wholly his own, and if one day in the future he wanted to return to Chicago and wanted her with him, she’d go and mind her tongue—though she had thought over and again a few choice things to say to the woman who troubled her Ethan so.
“Pearl? Your present?”
“Oh.” She turned from contemplation of thoughts best forgotten to the man she loved. “Sorry. Yeah, I’d love my present.”
“Well, all right then.” From somewhere, he produced a crudely wrapped gift. Depositing it in her lap, he said, “I wrapped it my own self, so it might be a bit rough.”
She smiled. “I love it.”
Carefully, she undid the wrappings, smoothing the paper around what could only be a jeweler’s box.
She stared down at it. He…. What…?
Taking a breath, she opened it.
A ruby winked at her on a simple gold band.
Her gaze flew to his.
Wiping his hands on the covers, he gave a hesitant sort of grin. “Do you like it?”
“I do. I…. What is this?”
“It’s a ring.” He took a breath. “Pearl, will you marry me?”
All thought left her, and she stared at him, utterly speechless.
His smile died a little. “Pearl?”
Oh God. Oh God. He couldn’t feel she would say no. She nodded and nodded, and flung her arms about him even as she couldn’t stop nodding her yes. Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes.
His arms surrounded her. “I guess you’re going to have to tell Alice about us now, huh?”
She still couldn’t speak. Tears welled, and she hated they did, but the feelings inside her were too big for them not to.
Pulling back, she smiled through her tears, and the stupid lump in her throat wouldn’t let her speak.
Cupping her cheek, he wiped her tears away with his thumb. “Well hell, Miz Pearl, I never thought a proposal would make you cry.”
She shook her head. And still couldn’t speak.
He started to smile. “I’ve really thrown you, haven’t I?”
“I love you,” she finally managed to say.
His smile softened. “I reckon that might be the nicest thing I’ve ever heard.” Taking the box from her, he removed the beautiful ring and slid it on her finger. It was slightly big, but she didn’t care. It was absolutely beautiful. He was absolutely beautiful.
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the ring on her finger. “You make me happy, Miz Pearl.”
She smiled, tears threatening once again, damn it. “Me, too.”
“You make yourself happy?” he said with a grin.
“Don’t be a fool, Ethan Garrett.” And she threw her arms about him and held him tight and never let him go.
~About the Author~
Cassandra grew up daydreaming, inventing fantastical worlds and marvelous adventures. Once she learned to read (First phrase – To the Beach. True story), she was never without a book, reading of other people’s fantastical worlds and marvelous adventures.
Fairy tales, Famous Fives, fantasies and fancies; horror stories, gumshoe detectives, science fiction; Cassandra read it all. Then she discovered Romance and a true passion was born.
So, once upon a time, after making a slight detour into the world of finance, Cassandra tried her hand at writing. After a brief foray into horror, she couldn’t discount her true passion. She started to write Romance and fell deep.
The love affair exists to this very day.
Cassandra lives in Adelaide, South Australia.
You can visit Cassandra at:
http://www.cassandradean.com
Enslaved
I was to teach a slave.
Marcus, a gladiator in my father’s ludus, was compelled to my presence to learn of Rome’s gods, her legends. When first he came, fear consumed me - fear of this silent, resentful slave who burned with his anger.
Time, though, changes much. Marcus softened and I grew unafraid. As we became closer, I grew more than merely unafraid – I grew to love him. Never did I think we would be separated.
I was wrong.
Rough Diamond
The Diamond Series - Book 1
Owner of the Diamond Saloon and Theater, Alice Reynolds is astounded when a fancy Englishman offers to buy her saloon. She won’t be selling the Diamond to anyone, let alone a man with a pretty, empty-headed grin…but then, she reckons that grin just might be a lie, and a man of intelligence and cunning resides beneath.
Rupert Llewellyn has another purpose for offering to buy the pretty widow’s saloon. However, he never banked on her knowing eyes making him weak at the knees, or how his deception would burn upon his soul.
Each determined to outwit the other, they tantalize and tease until passion explodes. But can their desire bridge the lies told and trust broken?
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Epilogue
Fool's Gold Page 5