Daughter on His Doorstep
Page 19
Laurie gazed at him in wonder, her heart racing in her chest. He couldn’t know how much his words meant to her. She wondered if he understood what his words meant, period. “But, Trey, you said you didn’t love me.”
“No, I said I didn’t trust love, and I don’t. It scares the hell out of me. I don’t know if that’s what I feel for you. All I know is I want you and I need you in a way I’ve never wanted or needed another living soul. If you don’t love me, give us a chance. Maybe it will come in time. I know I’m not the most open guy around, but if you want me to spill my guts, I’ll talk about myself until you’re sick of hearing it. I swear to you I’ll never lie to you or betray you in any way. Stay with me, Laurie. Be my wife. We can make it work, whatever it takes. I know we can.”
Her vision dimmed. She had to blink to clear away the flood of tears in her eyes. “I don’t believe any woman has ever heard a more beautiful declaration of love than what you just gave me.”
“If that’s love, then I’ve got a never-ending supply inside me for you. Marry me, Laurie. Say yes.”
With a sob of joyful surrender, she slid from the chair into his arms. “Oh, yes. Yes, yes, yes.”
Trey closed his eyes and held her as tightly as he dared. “Thank God.”
Epilogue
Two Years Later
Anyone driving along the north side of the Flying Ace Ranch that Tuesday afternoon would have seen Trey Wilder out standing in his field.
He stood with his hands on his hips, surrounded by one of the best stands of alfalfa anyone in Wyatt County had seen in years. He was outstanding in his field, if he did say so himself.
The feeling of satisfaction that filled him had been with him for two years now, and very little of it had to do with crop production, and everything to do with the cause of that rooster tail of dust coming down the road toward the house.
They’re home.
With a shout and a wave, he left the alfalfa in a hurry and met the car as it turned into the driveway. As soon as it stopped, girls tumbled out. Three of them, and they were all his. Carrie, Amy and two-year-old Katy ran to him.
“We’re home, Daddy,” Amy cried.
“Did you miss us?” Carrie wanted to know.
“Hungry.” Katy liked one-word sentences, and she liked her food on demand.
Another female climbed out of the vehicle. She was the other half of his heart, this wife of his. Then Laurie Wilder placed her bundle in his arms and grinned.
“She’s all yours now, Daddy, and she needs changing.”
Trey looked down into the face of their youngest daughter. “Her three-month checkup went okay?”
“She’s the picture of health.”
“We knew that, didn’t we, sweet Sara?”
Trey leaned over the baby and gave his wife a slow, deep kiss. “Have I told you today I love you?”
“No,” Laurie said, her green eyes twinkling. “Why don’t you?”
Trey kissed her again. “I love you.”
“There they go again,” Carrie said in the bored tone she’d recently acquired, now that she was an older woman of eight. “Come on, girls, let’s go find something to eat. A person would starve around here waiting on those two to stop kissing.”
“Kiss me, Mama, kiss me.” There were some multiword sentences Katy could manage just fine, and that was one of her favorites.
Trey rested his forehead against Laurie’s. Never had a man been blessed with so many treasures, and he was deeply grateful for each and every one.
And it didn’t hurt anything that he was the only man in a houseful of females. Every man should be so blessed.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-4019-3
DAUGHTER ON HIS DOORSTEP
Copyright © 2001 by Janis Reams Hudson
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* Wilders of Wyatt County