“Rosa, I thought I told you to drive the perimeter roads?” Brady cocked an eyebrow at her as he waited for an explanation as to why she’d ended up so far into the mountains.
“Well, I was driving the roads,” she explained. “We—uh, Tyler and I just decided to walk a ways into the woods to look around. I tried to radio. But the signal was gone.”
“Conveniently so,” Brady said with a sly roll of his eyes.
Tyler’s arm came around Rosalinda’s shoulders in a display of protective support. “I made her go to the cabin,” he told Brady. “I had a gut feeling and I made her follow it.”
Brady suddenly grinned at the both of them. “If you ever decide you want to go into law enforcement, Tyler, just let me know. You two are quite a pair.”
Smiling, Tyler said, “I think one deputy in the family will be enough.”
Brady laughed, suddenly excusing himself as someone called to him. Tyler used the moment to pull Rosalinda away from the throng of people and into the quiet shadows of a barn.
“Tyler, did you really mean that? About one deputy in the family?”
He wrapped his arms around her. “I meant it. I’m a rancher. I don’t have any desire to be a lawman. But the real question is—do you want to marry me? Back in Austin—”
“I handled your proposal badly,” she interrupted. Slipping her arms around his waist, she pressed her cheek against his chest. “I realize I hurt you, Ty, and I’m sorry for that. I’m not a coward, but I must have seemed like one to you.”
Groaning, he pressed his cheek to the top of her head. “Tonight proved what I already knew. You’re a brave and incredibly strong woman. That night in Austin I was thinking about what I wanted instead of listening to what you were trying to tell me. Since then, I’ve had time to think and I’ve come to understand why you were afraid to say you’ll marry me. So I’m making a promise to you now, Rosa. I’ll never walk off again. I’ll always be at your side. No matter what problems we might face in the future.”
“Oh, Ty, I love you. I’ll always love you. And I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, too. I’m a heck of a lot stronger than those old fears and I’m not about to waste any more time on them. I’ll marry you tonight, darling. Tomorrow. Or as soon as we can arrange it.”
Tilting her face up to his, he kissed her with such longing that tears of happiness slipped from the corners of her eyes. “Rosa, you might not believe this, but when you called earlier this evening, I was just about to reach for the phone. To call and beg you, if necessary, to take another chance on me.”
She blinked at the tears that continued to spill onto her cheeks. “I’ve missed you so much. All this week I’ve been miserable and then something happened tonight—a sweet little friend helped to settle everything in my mind. Someday I’ll tell you about her. But right now I think I should ask how you’re going to feel about having a wife who’s a deputy sheriff.”
His arms tightened around her. “I’m going to feel very proud, Rosa.”
“Not worried about my safety?”
“I’d be lying if I said I won’t worry on occasions. But after seeing you handle Saul tonight, I know how capable you are. And I want you as the woman you are now. I don’t want to change you. I’ve seen firsthand how that destroys people and families.”
Easing her head back, she gazed up at him, her eyes shining with love. “Deputies can be wives and mothers, too. And I love my job. But I love you even more. If being a deputy ever got in the way of our marriage, I’d give it up in a flash.”
“It will never come to that.” He rested his forehead against hers. “Our marriage isn’t going to be like my parents’ marriage, Rosa. Ours is going to be an equal partnership based on love.”
“Love. I’m definitely feeling that right now.” She brought her lips close to his. “Do you think anyone would notice if we slipped away? Remember, Gib has made us that nice dessert tray. It’s time we do a bit of celebrating.”
“Mmm. From now on, every day of our lives is going to be a celebration, Rosa. So we might as well start tonight, don’t you think?”
She kissed him, then with a sly little laugh, tugged him out of the shadows and toward her truck.
“Finally,” she said. “The deputy gets her man.”
Epilogue
November arrived in Lincoln County with a snowstorm that covered the mountains and had the skiers flocking to the area to enjoy the freshly powdered slopes on Sierra Blanca. The influx of visitors was creating extra work for the sheriff’s department, but Rosalinda had managed to get the day off and she’d spent three-fourths of it riding horses around the ranch, helping her husband search for any cows or calves that might be stranded in snow drifts.
She and Tyler had been married for four months, and since then each day had been as Tyler had predicted, a celebration of their love.
“I hope Gib has something warm to drink,” Rosalinda said as she kicked her boot free of the stirrup and climbed to the ground. “I think my feet are frozen. Come to think of it, my nose is numb, too. Is it still there?”
Chuckling, Tyler plucked Moonpie’s reins from her hand, then leaned over and kissed her nose. “Yep, it’s still there. Let’s get the horses settled. It’ll be suppertime soon.”
Minutes later, they entered the house, stopping by the mud room long enough to remove their coats and hats before moving on to the kitchen. Inside the blissfully warm room, Gib was at the stove stirring something that smelled like chili. Nearby, Edie Pickens stood at the cabinet counter tearing lettuce into a wooden bowl.
“Do I need to get out the ice pick and chip the icicles off you two?” Gib asked.
“How about a blowtorch?” Rosalinda joked as she flexed her stiff fingers.
“Mmm. I smell something spicy and warm,” Tyler said. “How long until supper?”
“Not long,” Gib answered. “Edie has cornbread baking in the oven. It’ll be done soon.”
As soon as Edie had gotten well and back on her feet, she’d shocked everyone by filing divorce papers. The ranch patriarch had initially exploded, but once he’d seen that Edie wasn’t going to back down, he’d realized that his marriage was over. Edie hadn’t asked for much in the divorce settlement; her freedom had been her real reward.
Tyler had been just as surprised as everyone else about his mother’s change of heart. Because he’d experienced firsthand the terrible results of meddling in someone else’s marriage, he’d never urged Edie to divorce the man. And though he wanted his mother to be happy, Rosalinda understood there was a small part of him that hurt because his parents were no longer a loving couple. But then, he’d be the first to admit that they’d not been a loving couple for many years. The divorce had only legalized the situation.
For the past month, Edie had been living with them on the Pine Ridge Ranch, and during that time Rosalinda had watched a frail, timid woman blossom into a stronger, happier person and the bond between her and her mother-in-law was growing stronger every day.
Walking over to his mother, Tyler put his arm around her slender shoulders. “Mom, are you telling me that Gib is actually letting you help him cook?”
Edie laughed. “Gib knows he doesn’t have to worry about me taking his job.”
Gib chuckled. “Well, I’m sure not opposed to having help. In fact, I’m downright enjoying it.”
The smiles on the two men’s faces reminded Rosalinda of just how much their lives had changed since that day she’d arrived here on the ranch to question them about the fire. The big house was a home now, with rooms full of love and laughter.
She only wished that things were going so well with Tyler’s family back in Texas. During the past couple of months, Tyler and Warren had exchanged a few phone calls. Clearly, there was still a huge gulf between the two men, but at least they were both trying to communicate with each
other. And that was a start at rebuilding a bridge between them.
However, the situation with Trent wasn’t as hopeful. His drinking had steadily worsened and Warren had seemingly lost any chance of redeeming his son. For reasons that appeared to be purely financial, DeeDee had decided she didn’t want a divorce after all and was doing her best to lure Trent back home. Tyler wanted no part of his brother’s life. Not until the other man decided he wanted to live in a decent, worthwhile manner.
As for Rosalinda’s family, she and Tyler had traveled up to Gallop for a visit and the Lightfoots had all promised to come to the ranch over the holidays. She was very much looking forward to a big family gathering.
Walking over to the patio door, Rosalinda peered out at the snow-blanketed ranch yard. “So what do you think about this snow, Edie?”
“It’s beautiful,” her mother-in-law answered. “It makes me think Christmas is coming.”
“It is coming, Mom,” Tyler spoke up, then looked to Rosalinda and smiled. “And we’re going to have a big party. Rosalinda’s family is coming and we need to invite the Cantrells and some of the Chaparral hands, along with all the Pine Ridge cowboys. Don’t you agree, honey?”
“Oh, yes,” Rosalinda agreed, her eyes shining. “It’ll be such fun. With a big tree and twinkling lights and all sorts of good food.”
“Friends and family,” Tyler mused aloud. “That’s what Christmas is all about.”
Rosalinda couldn’t help but notice that Edie’s expression had taken on a forlorn look.
“It sounds wonderful,” the woman said wistfully. “We’ve not had anything like that on the Rocking P since you twins were little boys. I wish I could be here.”
Hurrying over to the woman, Rosalinda asked, “Why can’t you be here, Edie? Don’t you like it here with us?”
Tyler’s mother gave her a wobbly smile. “I’ve never been so happy,” she admitted. “But you two are still newlyweds. You don’t need your mother-in-law around, getting in the way, taking away your privacy. I’ve already out-stayed my welcome. I’m going to have to find a place of my own in Ruidoso or somewhere nearby.”
“Don’t talk that way,” Rosalinda gently scolded her. “This house is enormous. When Tyler and I want to be alone, we can find a spot.”
Tyler chuckled. “That’s right. We can go all the way to the old cabin if we have to,” he teased, then seeing the uncertain look on his mother’s face, he gently touched her cheek. “Mom, seriously, we’d love to have you here for as long as you want. But if you want to have a place of your own, that’s your choice. That’s the most important thing. And it’s the one thing Dad never gave you.”
“No,” she admitted. “I never got to have a say about anything at any time. Until you and Rosa gave me the strength to do something about it.”
“Well?” Tyler prompted. “Are you going to hang around and help Gib chase after all the babies Rosa and I are planning on having?”
She looked at Rosalinda, then to her son, and suddenly her eyes filled with happy tears. “I wouldn’t miss that for the world.”
“Amen,” Gib exclaimed. “Now get the cornbread out of the oven, woman. It’s time to eat.”
Later that evening, after the hearty meal, Rosalinda and Tyler sat snuggled together on the couch while they gazed at the low-burning flames on the hearth.
“Mmm, this is nice. Just you and me and the glow of the fire,” Rosalinda murmured.
He pressed a kiss to her temple. “You’ve been so generous and loving to welcome Mom into our home. Thank you for that, my darling.”
A drowsy smile tilted Rosalinda’s lips. “We’re all family, Ty, and we’ll be even more of a family when our first baby arrives.”
Twisting around, he stared at her with hopeful excitement. “Are you trying to tell me you’re pregnant?”
She cupped her hand to his lean cheek. “Not yet. Are you disappointed?”
With a sexy chuckle, he pulled her onto his lap and brought his lips down to her. “No. It gives us reason to try again. And again. And again.”
Her soft laugh was smothered by his kiss.
* * * * *
It turns out someone else has a secret on the Chaparral—
Sassy!
Keep an eye out for the next Special Edition
MEN OF THE WEST title from
Stella Bagwell!
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Chapter One
New Year’s Eve. A night of mystery.
Just like she was mysterious. Beautiful. Exotic. And definitely mysterious.
Dark, auburn hair spilled in waves down her back, kissing the golden spine revealed by the cut-down-to-there black cocktail dress that clung to her lithe figure. Her companion’s dark blue gaze was focused intently on her face...dropping to her lips as she took a small sip of her martini. Slightly dirty, just the way she’d ordered. She lowered the cocktail and leaned a little closer to him, feeling more than slightly naughty. Beneath the table, she slipped her foot out of her sinfully high black heels and subtly slid her toes along his ankle...
“Excuse me, miss. Miss? Miss?”
The fantasy spinning inside Sarah-Jane Early’s head popped like a bubble of spent soap and she focused on the tuxedo-clad man standing in front of the hostess station she was manning at Red, looking none too patient. She was there not to daydream, but to help see to the needs of every guest of the wedding reception that had commandeered the popular Mexican restaurant for the night, and she quickly smiled. “Yes, sir, how can I help you?”
The man tugged at his skewed bow tie, casting a glance off to one side. “How do I get to the Red Rock Inn?” His question was hurried, and muttered half under his breath. She could have told him he needn’t have bothered trying to be so quiet. For the past three hours, the music from the reception had made conversations nearly impossible. She leaned a little closer to give him the directions to the hotel. He nodded, and took time to thank her before moving away to hold out his hand to the woman he’d obviously been waiting for.
In seconds, they were hurrying out the front door of the restaurant, the man’s arm wrapped possessively around the woman’s hips. It was obvious to anyone with eyes in their head that the couple couldn’t wait to be alone.
She knew there was no point in envying a couple in love...or even a couple in lust, or she’d be spending her life in a constant state of envy. Still, Sarah-Jane sighed and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
Fantasizing about wearing killer heels was one thing. Actually doing it was another. She wished she’d have just worn a pair of shoes from her own closet. She had a pair of black pumps. Admittedly they were nearly ten years old, purchased by her mother who had insisted that Sarah-Jane needed to wear the modestly-heeled things for her high school graduation. But they were leather and having been worn only a few times since, were still in good condition.
She glanced down at the shoes she was currently wearing. If she were honest, the only thing
in common these shoes had with the old ones in her closet were that they were black. She twisted one foot this way and that, and sighed again, a little wistfully. The shoes that Maria Mendoza had insisted she wear were beautiful. The velvety suede was as black as midnight and certainly suited the clinging black cocktail dress she was wearing better than her sensible old pumps.
Just thinking about the dress had Sarah-Jane’s fingertips twitching at the hem of it, as if she could eke out another few inches of cloth where there was none. The hem of the dress stayed midway down her thighs, where it had been since she’d donned the garment earlier that day. She couldn’t do anything about the hem anymore than she could do something about the diagonally-slashed cutout neckline that exposed much more of Sarah-Jane’s cleavage than she liked. If she weren’t positively devoted to Maria, who not only owned the restaurant along with her husband but also owned the knitting shop where Sarah-Jane really worked as an assistant manager, there’s no way she’d have worn something so unsuitable out in public. She was a lot more comfortable in the pullover shirts and khaki pants that she wore at The Stocking Stitch. She wouldn’t win any fashion awards, but at least she didn’t have to worry that people might think she believed she could carry off such a look.
Her gaze drifted from the empty lobby area of the restaurant back toward the bar where many of the wedding guests had migrated. Most of the wedding party remained, though Emily Fortune and her brand-new husband, Max Allen, had already departed. As had many of the older guests, leaving the younger crowd to stay on and party into the night.
There wasn’t an unsuitably-clad person in the bunch.
The Deputy Gets Her Man Page 20