by Jillian Hart
"I totally agree." Magnolia nodded emphatically.
"So, someone is going to need to drive me to town later, because I want to talk with Milo." Determination darkened Verbena's blue eyes.
"What about the other guy?" Magnolia tipped the pot, filling the cups on the table. "I'll drive you to town, but we probably still need the cowboys to come with us."
"Fine, but I think we need a smaller force." She felt safer. "Whoever that man is, he can't have anything personal against us. We don't know him."
"That's right." Magnolia winced when she spilled coffee on the table. "I'm sure that handsome bounty hunter will find him. Right, Verbena?"
"No need to keep pointing out to me that he's handsome." Verbena blushed a rosy shade. Proof she had not only noticed the big guy's handsomeness but rather liked him. Excellent. Done pouring coffee for everyone, she set the pot on a trivet just as a knock rapped on the front door.
Wait, she recognized that snappy rhythm, that good-natured tune. Her heart filled, her happiness soared and she was rushing across the room without realizing it. "It's Tyler."
Her beloved Tyler. She saw his silhouette behind the curtained window. Tall, broad-shouldered, with his Stetson at a jaunty angle. She unlocked the door and swung it open, so anxious to see him that the cold November air didn't seem to touch her as she skidded to a breathless halt in front of him.
"Hey, there. I heard the good news." A chuckle warmed his words as he pulled her against his strong chest. "Got to hand it to Zane. He brought Craddock in without a shot being fired."
"Oh, you've met the bounty hunter guy?" She wrapped her arms around Tyler, snuggling close, breathing in the wonderful scent of wood smoke on his rain-damp coat.
"I stopped to talk to him on the road. Just glad you and your sisters are safe." He released his hold on her, stepped back, his brown eyes soft with relief and love. So much love. He ran the back of his knuckles along the side of her face with such gentleness, tears burned behind her eyes.
Oh, how she loved this man. Devotion to him filled her, warm and sustaining. "Come in out of the cold. We were just about to sit down and eat. Do you want to join us?"
"Tempting, but I already had breakfast." He reached for something propped up against the side of the house. The beautiful oak strips were carefully beveled and shaped, shining like polished glass. "I've got a few finishing touches for your bedroom and then it's done. Figured you'd want me to get started."
"You figured correctly. Get moving." She laughed, he laughed, she swung the door open wider. "Get in there. Get to work. I'll get you some coffee."
"As you wish." He hefted the strips of molding over his shoulder, hauling them through the doorway. Outside the rain blew in, his horse Clancy stood at the hitching post looking woebegone in the weather. "Give me a few minutes before you come up. Better yet, wait for the hammering to stop, then head up. Good morning, McPhee sisters."
"Good morning, Tyler," Rose and Verbena called in unison from the table.
Iris nodded in a friendly greeting.
"Tyler, welcome." Daisy smiled as she poured syrup over her pancakes. "Guess if you're done with Magnolia's room, you'll start renovations on the last bedroom?"
"That's the plan. Rose's room will be done by the end of the week, if our supplies come in on time." Shadows darkened his eyes, although his dimpled grin didn't waver. This was his last construction project. He'd agreed to go to work in his father's real estate office when the renovations on McPhee Manor were done. "That downstairs sunroom is almost finished, that means we can put all the manpower on the rest of the bedrooms. It won't be long now and we'll be done and out of your way."
"Oh, we don't mind that you're here," Verbena called out sweetly, looking bright. Her soft brown hair tumbled around her face. She still looked like she was blushing, like she was keeping a secret. "Especially Magnolia."
"Yeah, I don't mind having you around at all." Magnolia brushed his sleeve, just to touch him, to prolong the contact.
He tossed her a dashing grin before heading up the stairs, his boots thudding on the oak steps, disappearing into the shadows. It wasn't a minute later and the bam, bam of his hammering echoed through the house.
"After Tyler's crew is done here, they start on Beckett's cottage." Iris nibbled on a very crispy bacon strip. "It's too bad Tyler won't be involved anymore."
"It is, but Chadwick will be in charge." Tyler's second in command. Magnolia chose a plain mug and carried it to the table. "He's reliable. I just wish Tyler could keep doing what he loves."
"We were blessed with our pa." Daisy forked up a bite of pancake. "He never tried to control our lives or dictate what we would grow up to be."
"He loved us as we were." Iris stared at her plate, sad.
They would always be sad for the parents they'd lost. The loving parents who'd given them what mattered in life. Magnolia reached for the pot, careful not to spill the rich, bitter brew. The delicious scent of coffee wafted up as she poured. Years ago, when they'd been struggling with debt and loss, it took everything they had to get through it.
But look where it had brought them. No way could they have guessed then, that they would end up here, that she would be engaged to the best man ever.
Life could really awe you, she thought, full of thankfulness. Now Ernest was caught, Verbena was that much safer, and the future had to be nothing but bright. She couldn’t wait to see all the amazing things yet to come.
"Magnolia? The hammering has stopped." Verbena broke into her thoughts, her words coming as if from a great distance. "Look at her. She must be lost in a daydream."
"Maybe she's thinking of planning her wedding," Daisy said, humor making her words light. "I really need to do that. December will be here before you know it, and Hailie wants it to be a big celebration. Like a Christmas party."
"Ooh, I have some ideas." Magnolia blinked, shaking her head, bringing her thoughts back to the room and the sisters she loved. "Not for my wedding, but yours, Daisy. We could do Christmas colors."
"Red and green? That's pretty bright for a wedding." Iris stood up to add some sugar to Tyler's coffee cup. "Although we could add silver and gold."
"That would be gorgeous," Rose agreed around a mouthful of scrambled eggs. "I can see the cake now. Three tiers. White frosting, red poinsettias, green leaves. Gold lacy trim."
"We could have a Christmas tree in every room." Verbena, who loved Christmas trees, didn't seem to think it was excessive at all. "Remember the ornaments we found up in the attic when we were storing some of grandmother's old stuff?"
"I don't remember," Magnolia confessed as she swirled away from the table. But she did remember the day, handing up boxes and crates into the attic to Verbena, with Tyler and his kiss dominating her thoughts. Funny how he was still dominating her thoughts.
As she sashayed up the staircase, her sisters continued the wedding discussion over the clink of silverware.
"I'd have to see them," Daisy said, interested but not quite sure. "Grandmother Maureen had expensive taste, but expensive doesn't always mean pretty."
"True. That's why Tyler is ripping down that wallpaper in my bedroom to be." Rose gave an amused laugh. "We'll go up and take a good look at the ornaments. If they turn out to be hideous, we can order new ones. We've got enough time before Christmas."
"We can talk to Gemma," Verbena suggested, her voice fading.
Magnolia smiled to herself, hurrying down the hallway careful not to spill the coffee cup she held. The room Iris and Daisy shared was on the right, the one she shared with Rose and Verbena on the left. Her new bedroom door stood open at the end of the hall, the door wide open for her to see what her husband-to-be had done for her.
Her heart rate sped up, bumping along with anticipation as she followed the lemony glow of lamplight toward the threshold. New door, polished to a red-golden gleam, giving way to a matching new, plank floor. She hesitated in the doorway, jaw dropping, wonder filling her.
"Do you like it?"
Tyler stood in the center of the room, hands on his hips, hope in his gaze. He'd done this for her. Put his love into it.
It showed.
"It's enchanting." She blinked tears from her eyes, speechless, gazing around the empty room, at the rich luster of the wood floor, at the whimsical yet dainty cream colored wallpaper with tiny sprays of pink roses, at the new large bay window that would let in cheerful sunlight. Beneath it stretched an exquisite window seat, one he'd made for her just because she loved them. Overcome, she stumbled over to it, ran her fingertips along the polished wood. Felt breathless. "It's a dream."
"You're the dream." He took the coffee cup from her and set it on one of the empty shelves of the built-in bookcase. His carved chin hitched up, gesturing toward the window. "Take a seat. I have something else to give you."
"What could possibly be better than this?" She couldn’t think of a single thing. She had everything, she didn't need one thing more. Since her knees were wobbly anyway, she eased onto the edge of the smooth, glossy wood of the seat. The first thing she'd do was make a cushion for this, thick and comfy, and add throw pillows to match. She could sit right here and read, or dream of the sweet life she intended to have with him, her one true love.
"I didn't make one of these, I made two." He folded his six-foot frame down beside her, steely shoulders set, back straight, his chiseled face carved with love. "I'll be putting the second window seat into the parlor of my house for you. It's going to be your house soon."
"I hadn't thought that far." Okay, this was even better. She nudged him playfully. "Our own house. There's been so much going on, and, honestly, I haven't got past the bliss of you proposing to me."
"Neither have I. It's some good bliss." His eyes crinkled in the corners as he looked upon her, seeing into her, eyes full of love. "I promise you this, what's ahead is going to be even better."
"Is there something better than bliss?" She asked, lost in his smile, drowning in the true, honest promise in his gaze.
"Yes, and we're going to find that out together." He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a stunning emerald on a golden band, glinting in the light from the crystal wall sconces. He reached for her hand. "My grandmother's engagement ring. This is for you, for the amazing woman I am going to love for the rest of my life."
"Oh, Tyler," she breathed, jaw dropping in surprise and wonder at the most beautiful setting she'd ever seen. That emerald, as big as her thumb nail, was encircled by brilliant rectangle diamonds, all sparkly and stunning and stately. As the gold ring slipped over her finger and into place, she could only stare at it, touched by what it represented. "A lifetime of love."
"Yes." He took her hand in both of his, as if to memorize this moment and the shine of his ring on her finger. "My grandparents were kindred spirits, happy in every possible way. That's us, Magnolia, you and me."
"It is." She couldn’t deny it. Love filled her so deep she couldn’t see anything but him. Their gazes melded, locked together, and there was no distance between them. They were the same soul. She could feel her heart rate slow, to match his. Kindred spirits? They were that, and more. Much more.
"I want to start planning our future together." His dark gaze gentled, full of emotion, as if nothing on earth could ever be as precious as she was to him. "You'll have to see the house, so you can tell me if you want anything changed or added on. You've got to meet my dog."
"Oh, I'd love to meet her." Magnolia blinked back joyous, rapturous tears. "I've always wanted a dog."
"But first let's get you settled into this room, so I have time to make any renovations you want. So the house is just the way you want it." He looked so good there, with his thick hair tousled, shoulders strong, relaxed and happy. The best man. Her man.
Incandescent, she felt too happy to answer. She could only nod, caught in the beautiful feeling that came over you when all your dreams were coming true.
"Can we come in yet?" asked a voice in the hallway. Rose.
"Yeah, we're waiting out here," another voice chimed in. Verbena. "We want to see the room."
"And the ring." Iris peered around the doorway. "It's too bad Daisy missed all this. She hurried off to fix breakfast for Beckett and Hailie."
"Ooh, an emerald." Without waiting for an answer, Verbena waltzed in, half skipping, beaming her special sweet brand of happiness. "It's stunning. It's the most beautiful ring I've ever seen. You did good, Tyler. Mags, I'm so happy for you."
"I know," Magnolia blinked back tears, those pesky things, getting in the way and blurring her vision when she most wanted to see the happiness on her sister's faces. For they were all happy here in Montana, with their new lives unfolding, with two weddings to plan, and that meant more people to bring into the fold of the family.
She tightened her grip on Tyler's hand, not wanting to let him go. He was the reason she felt floaty and shivery and breathless with hope for the future. What a magnificent future it was going to be.
Chapter Thirteen
On the muddy main street of Bluebell, Zane shivered in the cold air, dismounted and wrapped Winchester's reins around the hitching post. He retrieved his rifle from the saddle holster.
On the boardwalk a few yards away, a very proper young lady in silks and ruffles and bows took one look at him, gasped, and rushed by with a clickety-clack of her fancy shoes as if she couldn’t get away from him fast enough. Winchester huffed his opinion. Zane merely shrugged. It happened. No getting around that.
But it was a good reminder of exactly how crazy he'd been kissing Verbena this morning. Frustrated at himself, shaking his head, he stomped across the boardwalk straight to the sheriff's office and flung open the door. At least if he filled his mind with work, it might shove out the memory of that kiss.
"Zane." Milo shoved back from his desk, grinning wide, leaving a cup of coffee steaming on his paper-strewn desk. The lawman's face held traces of exhaustion.
After all, Zane had banged on his door at three-thirty-eight in the morning and the sheriff likely hadn't been back to sleep since.
Milo pulled out a chair, hauling it toward the stove. "It's cold out there. Come warm up."
"Can't say no to that." He booted the door closed behind him, eyes skimming past the other two deputies in the office to the single jail cell in the far back corner. The lanky, disheveled form of Ernest Craddock slumped on his narrow bed, elbows on his knees, hands dangling, head bowed. Defeated looking, except for the hard, cold gaze. Alert, icy with hate, those eyes tracked Zane as he crossed to the stove and folded his big frame into the chair. He accepted the steaming cup one of the deputies handed him.
"We owe you," Wade said with a respectful nod. He was a clean-cut guy, not too tall, not too short. Average with what Zane thought of as innocent eyes--eyes that hadn't seen much violence or the dark side of humanity. That was a good thing.
"No, it was my pleasure." He accepted the cup, shrugging. Hard to take credit for the skills his father had taught him, a man who'd been a solid and proud member of the dark side of humanity. Zane took a sip, appreciating the hot brew as it scorched his tongue and seared its way down. "When are you moving the prisoner?"
"I sent a message to the U.S. Marshal station over at Bear Hollow asking them to deliver him for trial." Milo retrieved his coffee cup, took a sip. "I want help with this one. He needs special consideration."
Zane recognized that reined-in fury, had seen it before in his friend. Milo's greatest strength was his self-control, his ability to think when others would act rashly. An admirable thing. Zane slurped in another wonderfully hot swallow of coffee. "That's what Craddock deserves. Special consideration."
As in, double the guards. No chance of something going wrong, no chance of escape.
"Is the nearest judge in Deer Springs?" he asked, swiveling his gaze to the window, already thinking ahead. Looked like he'd be heading in that direction, too, judging by the boot tracks he'd been hounding all morning. Looked like his other quarry was on the run, and he regrett
ed that because it would take him away from this little mountain town.
Away from Verbena.
"Yep," Milo answered, circling around to grab the other captain's chair and swing it over. "But it's a circuit judge, traveling between towns. He's gone this week, so I'm sending Craddock to Bear Hollow. They've got the best jail there, good and solid. Less chance of something going wrong."
"Good plan." Zane felt the back of his neck prickle, like something was wrong, his instincts kicking up. Through the large front windows, he had a good view of a portion of the main drag, where a gray-muzzled, swayback gelding pulled a buckboard into sight, plodding dutifully along. His heart kicked, he sat up straight, recognizing that horse, that vehicle.
Sure enough a cheerful blond woman held the reins in the front seat, and tucked right beside her was Verbena. Laughing, more beautiful than ever. The hat she wore was new, lined with bluebonnet blue silk, bringing out her eyes. How they gleamed with happiness as the sisters laughed together, rolling by in their vehicle.
As if she were aware of his presence, felt the touch of his caring gaze, she turned toward the window and smiled.
Smiled .
That hit him like a punch. No wonder his instincts were going off. No good could come from that kiss. But it had been the most pure, true thing he'd ever known.
"She's a beauty, isn't she?" Craddock croaked from behind steel bars. "With looks as rare as Aphrodite. Like Helen of Troy."
"Shut up," Milo barked, feet on the floor, jaw clenching tight with anger. "We've had enough of you."
"Well, I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to that dog of a bounty hunter." Those ice blue eyes glimmered as he tracked Verbena's vehicle rolling out of sight. Hunger lived there, something ugly and violent. Chains rattled as he shifted his feet and stood. "I saw the way you looked at her. You'll never have her."
Zane bit the inside of his mouth, to keep from answering. No way would he give Craddock what he wanted--a good argument, the feeling that he was right. Well, the truth was, the criminal wasn't wrong. There was no way Zane Reed, the son of a notorious outlaw, a man who'd crossed too many lines himself, would ever wind up with a beautiful, sweet, kind, funny woman. If she really knew him, she'd never look at him again.