Doc cocked his head to one side and studied him. “Dylan, was there a reason you wanted to see me? If not, I’m going to head back to the diner. I’m not sure Robin can handle the dinner rush all by her lonesome.”
“Go on. Head back to the diner. I’ve got to drive back to the ranch and see Holly.”
Pure adrenaline was racing through his veins. He suspected that a silly grin had popped up on his face.
Doc nodded. “Okay, then. If you’re sure you don’t need me. I’ll see you later.”
Doc walked away and headed down the street toward the Falls Diner. He cast a few curious glances back in Dylan’s direction.
Dylan waved at him and jumped into his truck, full of fire to get back to Holly. All of a sudden his palms began to moisten as he gripped the steering wheel. What if Holly didn’t want to see him? What if he’d blown it? No, he wasn’t going to get his head tangled up in negative thinking. He had to take action! He had to make things right with her before the sun went down on this day. As he made his way back toward Horseshoe Bend Ranch, he prayed that he hadn’t burned any bridges he couldn’t rebuild.
Chapter Twelve
Holly sat in the stables, watching as the sunset dipped down beneath the horizon. A riot of colors lit up the sky. Oranges, pinks and purples. For the past few hours she’d been putting off heading back to the house. It would soon be nighttime, and once this day was done, Dylan would be out of her life. She’d wake up tomorrow morning to the stark reality of his absence. And even though she was willing herself to be strong, her body trembled at the daunting task stretched out before her. How would she manage to carry on without falling apart at the seams?
Count your blessings. She’d grown up hearing those words roll off her mother’s tongue. She and Tate used to joke about how frequently that sentiment was ingrained in their minds. Although she knew it was true, she was having trouble practicing it at the moment. Try as she might to stay positive, her head was pounding with tension while her thoughts were jumbled and chaotic.
Over time she’d really grown to believe that she had a future with Dylan. Fool, a little voice whispered. Fool for believing in happily ever afters and fairy-tale endings. It worked out that way for some people, but not for her.
She heard a rustling sound behind her. It sounded like cowboy boots crunching against the wood floor. Malachi. She couldn’t face him. He’d see it all on her face in an instant, the same way he always did. It was too soon to share her sorrow. She wasn’t ready to tell anyone yet. She ducked her head down, determined to avoid eye contact with him. There would be time later to tell him Dylan was gone.
And Tate, also. Although he wasn’t an I-told-you-so type of person, she still cringed at the prospect of having to broach the subject with her overprotective brother. She raised her hands to her mouth as a tight, familiar sensation gripped her. She had to stop herself from crying out. Loss. It made her whole body ache. Having been down this road before, she knew the loneliness and pain that awaited her. The endless nights between darkness and dawn where nothing could fill the void. The very thought of it made her clench her fists at her side. Once again, she’d have to be as strong as granite, even when it felt as if her world was spinning out of control.
“Holly.” The deep pitch of the voice surprised her. She whirled her chair around, her eyes drinking in the sight of Dylan. He was standing a few feet away from her, his short dark hair tousled, a sheepish expression on his face as he gazed at her. For a moment her mind went blank. Why was he here? Wasn’t he supposed to be on the road, hightailing it out of West Falls? Wasn’t he supposed to be gone?
She said the first thing that came to mind. “Did you forget something?”
He nodded his head. “Yes, I did. I forgot you, Holly.”
“Wh-what are you talking about?” Had she heard him right? He’d forgotten her?
He moved toward her, reaching her side in seconds. His eyes skimmed over her face with a look of such tenderness it robbed her of the ability to speak. She had so many questions sitting on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t give voice to any of them. All she could do was stare at Dylan. She’d truly believed that she would never see him again. He was smiling at her now, a full-on, gorgeous, pearly-toothed smile, which reached right into her chest cavity and tugged at her heart.
“For a little while there, I forgot about us. About what you mean to me, what you’ve always meant to me. I forgot that running away from my problems has never worked out in the long run. And I forgot how very much I love you.”
I love you. Three little words, spoken with such tenderness. And conviction. The raw intensity in his voice brought tears to her eyes. But a little while ago, he hadn’t been so certain. He’d been on the verge of walking away from her, hadn’t he? How could she believe in this when she’d come so close to losing him?
“I see the confusion on your face, and I don’t blame you one bit. A few hours ago I walked away from you, and now I’m back telling you that I’m in love with you.” He reached out and clasped her hand. “But it’s true. I love you, Holly.”
She pulled her hand away from him, needing to focus on her feelings rather than get swallowed up by the emotion of the moment. More than anything in the world, she’d wanted this declaration of love from Dylan. As their relationship had developed, she’d dreamed of a moment like this. She’d hoped and prayed for it. Having him here in West Falls had served only to intensify her feelings toward him. He was everything she’d ever hoped for wrapped up in a rugged, handsome package. Brave. Kind. True. They shared the same values, and there weren’t many men who cherished the land the way Dylan did.
But he was also still tormented by his past, so much so that it might affect their future. She needed to be certain Dylan’s feelings were strong enough to pin all her hopes and dreams on. If not, how could they ever make it through the hard times that were sure to come their way? She swallowed past the lump in her throat. There were things she needed to say to Dylan if they were ever to move forward.
“I thought I’d lost you. You have no idea of what that felt like, what the past few hours have been like for me. It was the death of everything I’ve been holding close to my heart for the past year.”
Dylan winced. “Holly, I’m so sorry for hurting you. As a man, I’m far from perfect. For a moment I faltered, and I let fear take over. But the truth is, I could never have left town, because the love I feel for you wouldn’t let me.” He let out a harsh laugh. “I didn’t even realize it until I tried to leave. The weight of it hit me full force when I couldn’t even bring myself to gather up my belongings.”
His rugged frame shuddered. “No matter how I tried, I couldn’t leave. Because it didn’t make sense to be separated from the woman I love. And I do love you, so very much. It’s been building up these past few weeks and months, but it wasn’t until I got to know you up close and personal that I fell right over the edge. I got to see how truly amazing you are. My precious, courageous Holly. I’m completely, absolutely crazy about you.”
His words were so humble and powerful. He was admitting his imperfections and his mistakes. He was laying it all out for her, warts and all. And he was telling her from the depths of his soul how deeply he loved her. She couldn’t ask for more. Moisture stung her eyes as the full impact of his declaration washed over her. Finally, after all her years of wishing him into being, she’d found her other half.
“Dylan, I love you, too.” She bowed her head as tears slid down her cheeks. “And I feel so overwhelmed to be loved by you. I’m so grateful that you turned your truck around and came back to me.”
“I’m the one who’s grateful. The day I received your first letter was the beginning of a whole new life for me.” He squatted down so that they were near eye level. He brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes, then reached for her hand again. This time she didn’t pull away. She squeezed his h
and tightly. At this rate she might never let it go.
She bit her lip, feeling conflicted about shattering this perfect moment. “Dylan, you have to promise me something.”
He lightly caressed her palm, his huge smile highlighting the dimple in his chin. “Anything, beautiful. You know that.”
“You have to try to broker peace between you and your father.” Dylan immediately tensed up and pulled away from her. He let out a low groan. Abruptly, he turned his face away from her. She reached out and grasped his chin, slowly turning his face back toward her. “I’m not saying you have to forgive him. That’s between you and God. But in order to move forward, you need to get your house in order. You need to tie up all the loose ends, otherwise our future together could be clouded by everything you’re holding on to.”
Dylan frowned at her. A slow hiss escaped his lips. “You’re right. I know you are. It’s hard to move forward when there are still things from the past I’m conflicted about.”
“So you’ll do it?” she asked. She was almost holding her breath in anticipation of his response. There were mountains standing between Dylan and his father, but she truly believed reconciliation was possible. In her own life she’d reconciled with Cassidy after not speaking to her or seeing her for eight years. And she’d managed to forgive her mother for keeping Cassidy’s letters from her. Deep down, Dylan loved his father, and she suspected R. J. McDermott loved his son, otherwise he wouldn’t have made the effort to find Dylan. Everything in her life had taught her that with love, all things were possible.
“I’ll try my best to meet him halfway, to hear him out. I’m not making any promises, but I’ll give it a shot,” Dylan said. His expression softened. “It won’t be easy, but I’ve been trying to be a better man. I reckon forgiveness is a big part of that. It’s a very humbling thought.”
“All I ask is that you try. When and if you close the door on your relationship with your father, you need to be at peace with it. I just want you to be at peace, Dylan.”
The corners of his eyes creased as a slow smile began forming on his face. “When did you become such a wise woman, Holly Lynch?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it was the day I decided to become your pen pal,” she teased. “It forever changed both our lives.”
Dylan raised his head and delivered a quick kiss to her forehead. “I’m so very thankful that God placed the two of us in each other’s paths. I promise never to take our love it for granted again.”
She shook her head and smiled. “Nor will I. We’re truly blessed, aren’t we?” She leaned forward and placed a sweet, triumphant kiss on Dylan’s lips. He reached out so that his palms could cradle both sides of her face as the kiss deepened into one of pure celebration. As the kiss ended, Holly murmured his name, rejoicing over the love she’d found with her cowboy soldier.
Epilogue
Three weeks later
The stack of letters was sitting on her bedside table when she woke up in the morning. Her mother had promised weeks ago to find the letters from Cassidy she’d hidden up in the attic all those years ago. There were twenty-one letters in all. One by one, she read the entire stack. Some made her laugh out loud, while others made her shed a few tears. Over the years the letters dwindled down to almost nothing. No doubt Cassidy had gotten the message loud and clear after not hearing back from her. She was so thankful her mother had saved them. In all those years Cassidy had never really left her. She’d been there in spirit, if not in body. That knowledge filled her with such hope. Even when things seemed darkest, the dawn still came.
God had given her that message when Dylan had showed up at Horseshoe Bend Ranch with his heart in his hands. In the end, love was stronger than fear and self-doubt. It trumped every other emotion known to man. She felt so very blessed to be this cherished. Life had never been so good. The very last envelope was a pretty blue, the color of a robin’s egg. The handwriting that spelled out her name belonged to Dylan. She would recognize the graceful slope of his script anywhere. Careful not to tear the envelope, she lifted the flap, then gently pulled out the stationery.
She took the letter and pressed it up to her nose, relishing the woodsy, rugged scent. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed receiving Dylan’s sweet, endearing letters. Her heart began to beat a little faster as her eyes scanned the page.
Dear Holly,
The simple act of writing your name down on this piece of paper makes me realize how much I’ve missed writing to you. All those weeks and months when I was in Afghanistan, and at this very moment as I’m putting these words to paper, I feel such a deep connection to you. Mere letters written on a piece of paper cannot express the depth of what you mean to me. I’d like to tell you with words while gazing into your eyes what you’ve brought into my world. I’m not sure if there are enough words in the English language to do it justice, but I’d like to try.
Please meet me at noon at this location—31 Trinity Pass Road. Just past the covered bridge.
With all my love,
Dylan
Holly pressed the letter against her chest, heaving a sigh at the beauty of Dylan’s sentiments. Her heart was thumping wildly in her chest. After everything they’d been through, the letter deeply resonated with her. Dylan had changed her world in so many amazing ways. He’d made her realize that she was capable and resilient and worthy of her own happy ending. And by loving her, he’d restored her faith in a bright future.
As her GPS navigated her toward the destination, she began to wonder where this journey was taking her. There was nothing out here but wide-open spaces. She came upon a stone entrance with a hunter-green placard announcing it as 31 Trinity Pass Road. Turning into the driveway, she rode for about half a mile until she spotted Dylan standing next to a stone house, with Leo cradled in the crook of his arm. She drew in a deep breath at the sight of him.
Dylan waved to her, and she beeped her horn at him in response. She parked in the makeshift driveway, maneuvering her wheelchair and then herself out of the driver’s seat with more speed than usual. Her curiosity was spurring her on. Why in the world had Dylan invited her all the way out here?
“Thanks for coming,” Dylan said with a welcoming smile as she wheeled herself over to his side.
“Of course,” she said. “Your note piqued my curiosity. I was counting the minutes down till noontime.”
Dylan placed Leo down on the ground and moved a step closer toward her. “Holly, I’ve never really had a place to call my own. In Madden I always felt not good enough. Even though it was my hometown, I never felt a sense of belonging. Being the object of gossip and innuendo doesn’t really lend itself to feeling accepted by the community.”
Just thinking about Dylan’s sense of isolation and lack of self-worth made her want to weep. It wasn’t fair that he’d been made to feel unworthy and an object of scorn.
“I’m so sorry you went through so much,” she said. It still amazed her how cruel people could be, particularly to a child.
“Being here in West Falls... It’s allowed me to put all that behind me. I finally feel as if I’m home. And I wouldn’t change the past, even if I could, because every step led me straight to you.”
“Oh, Dylan,” Holly whispered, her voice tight with emotion. “That makes me so happy.”
“You’ve brought tremendous joy into my life. Before I met you, I was lost. Running away was how I dealt with feelings I didn’t want to confront. I was so afraid of the past, so stuck on the painful things I endured that it was hard to believe I could find happiness. And I was terrified of not being strong enough to stay around. Growing u
p, I never saw any examples of true, enduring love. For me, it seemed like this elusive thing I could never grab hold of. You changed all that, Holly.”
He lowered his head and brushed a sweet kiss across her lips. He stood back and looked at her, his eyes brimming with wonder. “What you’ve taught me—grace, humility, forgiveness. And most of all, resilience.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of rolled-up paper. He just stood there grinning at her, not saying another word.
She wrinkled her nose. “What is that?”
Dylan unfurled it and held it up for her to see. “It’s the deed to this property. I own it.”
She felt her eyes widening. “Dylan. Are you joking?” She choked out the words. He handed her the document and she ran her eyes over it, quickly scanning the deed proclaiming Dylan Hart as the owner of one thousand acres of prime Texas land. She swung her eyes up from the parchment so she could look at him.
“How?” There was no way in the world she could utter anything other than a single word.
Shock and awe had her in its grip. Was this really happening?
“R.J.... My father...wanted me to have something to call my own. He wanted to give me part ownership of the Bar M along with Jane and Roger Jr., but I told him I’d be sticking around these parts. He understood that I want to settle down in West Falls. Next thing you know, we’re out scouting properties, and he’s giving me a big fat check and calling it my inheritance.”
Holly felt tears pooling in her eyes. “This is incredible. Not just the land, which is amazing in itself, but your reconciliation with your father. I knew the two of you were making progress, but I didn’t dare hope for something like this. After everything that happened in the past, you’ve allowed yourself to try to forgive him. You’re moving forward.”
Heart of a Soldier Page 17