by Linda Warren
She rubbed her face against his, knowing how hard this was for him, and loving him all the more. “I love you, too.”
Eli sat on the ground with her in his lap and they clung together. Neither was the least inclined to move.
He gently caressed her hair, her shoulders and her arms. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t say that to you the other night. But I’ve been so afraid of love—even when it was good, like with Ma, Pa and Ginny. Somehow I felt I didn’t deserve it. I just couldn’t expose that part of myself—that vulnerable part. The heart of that little boy who felt no one loved him.”
She touched his face, wanting him to feel her love—always.
He caught her fingers with his mouth, then kissed her palm. “Instead I held those feelings inside, hurting myself, hurting others. But when I saw the pain in your eyes at the hospital, I knew I couldn’t keep doing that. I loved you and I deserved a life with love. I was going to tell you tonight, but…” He gripped her tighter. “I thought I was too late again. Oh, Caroline, Caroline. I love you.”
She kissed his cheek, his lips. “I know.”
“Eli,” Caleb said.
He glanced up.
“We have to get Caroline to a doctor.”
“Oh. Yes.” Eli rose to his feet with her in his arms.
Caroline didn’t protest. She was exhausted.
As they headed back to the camp, suddenly torturous screams filled the night. Eli quickly hustled her into the back seat of a car and Caleb took the wheel. Soon they were leaving that gruesome place behind. She didn’t look up. She didn’t want to see what was going on.
Eli held her tightly and she rested against him. Neither spoke as they traveled through the night. Once they reached the hospital, Eli carried her inside and laid her on a gurney. A nurse whisked her away and Eli followed.
“The doctor will examine her,” the nurse said. “You’ll have to wait outside.”
Gently, he brushed back Caroline’s hair. When he saw the bruises on her face, his stomach churned with fears he’d been feeling most of the night. She’s alive, he reminded himself, and he kissed her forehead.
She raised her hand to touch his face and he saw her wrists, with their rope burns and bruises. He cleared his throat. “I have to go tell your mom you’re okay.”
“Yes,” Caroline murmured as exhaustion overtook her.
“Do not leave her alone,” he told the nurse.
“Yes, sir.”
Eli left the cubicle and walked to the waiting area. He stopped when he saw who was there—Tuck, Jake, Beau and Caleb. They immediately embraced him, all of them at once. His knees buckled and his brothers held him up and he knew what family was about—having someone to lean on when the world caved in. It took a moment, but he gained control.
“You okay?” Tuck asked.
“Yeah. She’s alive. I was so afraid I’d find her dead—like Ginny.”
The room became very quiet as the men realized they were witnessing a first—Elijah Coltrane admitting to being afraid.
“I’m okay,” he added, noting their worried glances.
“How’s Caroline?” Jake asked.
“She has some cuts and bruises and she’s exhausted, but she’s alive.” He couldn’t seem to stop saying that.
They heard high heels clicking on the tiled floor, and Joanna and Grace hurried in.
“Where’s my daughter?” Joanna asked Eli.
“They’re checking her over,” he replied. “She’s fine.”
Joanna hugged him. “Thank you, Eli. Oh God, thank you.” She brushed away a tear. “Can we see her?”
“Go through that door.” He pointed and they quickly left.
Eli saw Tom and Bill walk in.
“How’s Ms. Whitten?” Tom asked.
“Shaken up, but alive,” Eli answered running both hands through his hair. He’d lost his hat somewhere, he realized. “What was the screaming about?”
Tom and Bill glanced at each other, then Bill said, “We took the cuffs off Naomi’s feet and stood her up to get her in a car. While we were waiting for the vehicle, she and Ruth started talking and chanting weird stuff. Before we knew what they were planning, they both jumped into the fire. We tried to reach them, but the flames were too hot.” He exhaled a breath. “God. It was awful. Been an agent for fifteen years and never had to deal with anything like that.”
“I haven’t seen anything like this, either,” Tom added.
“Nor do I ever want to again.”
Eli didn’t wish to hear any more about Buford and his followers tonight. He just wanted to get back to Caroline. “I’d better go,” he said. He embraced his brothers again, then walked away, feeling richer than any man on earth.
Joanna and Grace came out of the cubicle. “She seems tired,” the older woman said. “So we’ll wait outside and let her rest.”
Eli went in and watched Caroline for a moment. She lay on her side, her eyes closed, and it was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. He sat down at the side of the small bed, realizing his clothes were torn and dirty. But it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that he had her back.
He had a second chance.
“Eli?” she whispered.
“Hmm?”
“What time is it?”
He glanced at the clock on the wall. “Ten after nine.”
“You’re late.”
“What?”
“We had a date at eight o’clock.”
He smiled. “I was busy saving a woman who has suddenly become my whole world.”
“Oh.” She rolled onto her back. “Thank you, Eli.” She touched his face with her hand, and he noticed her wrists were bandaged.
“You did that the first time I rescued you from Buford’s camp, and I knew you were a woman who liked to touch and be touched.”
“But you didn’t like me touching you.” She trailed her fingers down his arm, feeling his scars, a reminder that would be with them always.
“No.”
“And now?”
His eyes held hers. “Now I don’t want you to ever stop touching me.”
“Say it,” she said, her eyes never leaving his.
He knew what she meant. They both did.
“I love you.” The words came out slow and husky. Jake was right. It was easy.
She sat up and wrapped her arms around him, and he held her in a fierce grip. “I love you, Eli,” she whispered. “I knew it the first moment you touched me.”
He kissed her deeply, cupping her face in his hands. “Then let’s make this legal.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “By legal, Ranger Coltrane, do you mean marriage?”
“Yes, ma’am. I do.”
“Does this proposal have anything to do with ethics?”
He grinned. “Not one thing.”
“Then yes, yes, I’ll marry you. Anything to keep you an honorable man,” she teased with laughter in her eyes.
He smiled, seeing clearly what he wanted—home and a family with a woman he loved. He’d never thought that would happen for him, but now he was accepting and giving with everything in him. The past would haunt them occasionally, but they would face it together. And they had a big family to support them. He didn’t feel alone or forgotten anymore.
He felt loved.
EPILOGUE
Six months later
THE COUPLE CIRCLED the dance floor, and all eyes in the ballroom watched the groom in his tux and boots and the bride in a beautiful white gown. Eli held Caroline like a priceless piece of china and she sparkled in her husband’s arms.
“How much longer?” he whispered against her forehead.
She smiled up at him. “Not too long now. You’re doing great.”
Caroline had never planned to have a big wedding. She’d thought she’d leave that to Grace. That had been the defiant Caroline, doing the opposite of what her parents wanted. Since the horrible incident with Buford and his followers, and her father’s heart attack, she had a clearer und
erstanding of herself and her family. She didn’t need to do a thing to get her parents’ love—it was there, and she’d learned to accept it, to compromise and talk when they disagreed.
Her father, being in a better frame of mind, helped tremendously. He had actually made the last six months enjoyable. He hadn’t retired from politics, but had changed his diet, his bad habits and had slowed down. They seemed to have needed to experience these bad times before they could accept who and what they were.
Caroline was a congressman’s daughter and she knew her behavior reflected on him. After almost losing him, she didn’t want to cause him any more pain. Those attempts were petty and she was above that now.
When she and Eli had talked about marriage plans, she’d realized he wanted the wedding to be as simple as possible. Her parents, on the other hand, wanted a big wedding. But Eli’s wishes came first.
Being an extraordinary man, he’d sensed that she was torn, and said that, since he planned to get married only once, they might as well do it right. And they had. It had been a fairy tale day with family and friends.
Now Eli was ready for the honeymoon. She was, too.
Eli had also gone through changes. Accepting his brothers had been a turning point for him. It had removed the curse of the past, allowing him to love and accept love. That had never been easy for him, since he’d felt so unloved as a child. The Tuckers had shown him love, but he never knew quite how to handle it. Now he did.
He had so many inner conflicts about his father and his love for Ginny. But talking to his brothers had helped to heal those deep wounds. These days Eli didn’t have a problem with those three little words. He made sure Caroline heard them every morning when she woke up and every night before she went to sleep.
They had weathered the past and were stronger for it. They’d learned about family and love, they’d discovered their strengths and weaknesses. Caroline was happier than she’d ever been in her life, and she saw that happiness mirrored in Eli’s eyes.
The song ended and Stephen walked toward them.
“I guess I have to relinquish you to your father,” Eli said, his voice reluctant.
She touched his face. “Just one last time, then I’m yours forever.”
“That sounds about right.” He stepped away and gave Caroline’s hand to Stephen.
While the bride danced with her father, Eli danced with Joanna, then with Aunt Vin and Elise. As the wedding went on, he danced with just about every female but his wife. After an hour or so he finally stepped to the side, and Tuck brought him a beer.
“Thanks. Everything set?” Eli asked, taking a couple of deep breaths.
“Yes. Caroline doesn’t know?”
“Not yet.”
Tuck watched Grace talking to one of the waiters. “You must be very sure of her reaction.”
“You bet….” He noticed Tuck’s gaze. “Why are you staring at Grace?”
“Because if she starts my way, I’m disappearing.”
Tuck and Grace had not gotten along from the start, and all through the wedding preparations the tension between them had been obvious.
“Cut her some slack.”
“If she tells me to do one more thing, I might strangle her.”
Eli laughed at easygoing Tuck getting his feathers ruffled. “As best man and matron of honor you have certain duties, but I don’t think strangling each other is one of them.”
Tuck took a swallow of his beer. “I’ll try to remember that.”
They watched Caroline sail by in Beau’s arms.
“Our lives are changing, Eli,” Tuck murmured.
He caught the forlorn note in Tuck’s voice. “I’m not dying. I’ll be living right next door to you.”
He and Caroline had started construction on the house he’d always planned. They would live in her apartment until it was finished.
“I like that,” Tuck said. “Ma and Pa would, too.”
Eli felt the same way.
He patted Tuck on the back. “There’s a lot of beautiful women here tonight. Ask one of them to dance, and have a good time. You love to dance.”
“I might just—”
“Jeremiah.”
“Damn. She caught me unaware,” Tuck whispered to Eli as Grace walked up to them.
“Did you distribute the confetti I gave you for the bride and groom’s departure?” Caroline’s sister looked directly at Tuck.
“Yes, ma’am.” He saluted and clicked his heels. “Mission completed.”
“I don’t find that funny,” Grace said in a haughty voice.
“Neither do I,” Tuck replied, and walked off.
Grace frowned. “He really is very rude sometimes.”
Before Eli could respond, Caroline slipped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m tired.”
He kissed her forehead. “I think it’s…”
He paused as he saw Ben and Katie coming toward them. They were the ring bearer and the flower girl and looked adorable. Ben bowed in front of Caroline. “May I have…have this dance, please?”
Eli squatted down. “Are you trying to steal my wife?”
Ben giggled. “No. I’m too little. But…feel my muscle.” He held out his tiny arm. “It’s getting bigger and I throw…throw better. Daddy said so.”
Eli squeezed the thin biceps and felt a muscle the size of a jellybean. “Just keep practicing, champ.”
“That’s what my daddy says.” He looked at Caroline.
“I gotta dance now.”
Caroline took his hands and they walked onto the floor. Eli stared at Katie in her white dress. She looked like an angel.
“If you hold me, I’ll dance with you,” the little girl said, her face serious. “That’s how I dance with my daddy.”
Eli picked her up and twirled onto the floor. “You look beautiful today.”
“My daddy says I look like a princess.”
Eli kissed her cheek. “Definitely a princess.”
They danced until Jake and Elise found them.
“I danced with Uncle Eli,” Katie said.
Jake took her. “Now it’s time to dance with Daddy. And I think it’s time for you to go,” he whispered to Eli.
Eli hugged him. “Thanks for never giving up on me.”
“You’re welcome,” Jake replied.
Beau put his arms around both of them. “Wow. What a party. I’m going to pick the prettiest woman that will have me and spend the rest of the night—”
Elise cleared her throat.
“Watching a movie,” Beau finished without missing a beat, and everyone laughed. “Come on, munchkin, let’s dance.” He took Katie and danced away.
Elise hugged Eli. “Have a wonderful honeymoon.”
Eli grinned. “I plan to.” He glanced around. “Have y’all seen Caleb?”
“He’s over there.” Elise pointed toward the band.
“Goodbye,” they called as Jake and Elise took to the floor.
Caleb leaned against a pillar, his eyes trained on a table in a corner where Belle sat with an older lady. Eli knew it bothered Caleb that he hadn’t been able to find out who she was, but he and Social Services had found her a home and a job. Mrs. Gertrude Parker was elderly and quite wealthy, but her eyesight was bad and she couldn’t drive anymore. She’d taken Belle into her home, and Caleb had helped to get her a driver’s license so she could chauffeur Mrs. Parker wherever she needed to go.
Gertrude sponsored several charities and attended many social functions. The arrangement was working well, but Caleb still didn’t have any peace. Belle had had the bullet removed from her skull without any effect to her memory. She had flashbacks now and then but still didn’t remember who she was.
The photo in the papers hadn’t turned up anything, either. Belle was in limbo. And so was Caleb.
The Buford case was still going on. Three sets of teeth had been recovered from the fire and three women identified—all under the age of twenty-one. Now their families
had some peace.
Greg had determined that the other wives hadn’t participated in the killings, so he hadn’t charged them. The five men in jail were charged with capital murder and the first trial was in three months. Eli and Caroline had put it behind them and left the case in the court’s hands. They worried, though, that Belle would have to testify.
She and Caroline had grown very close. She was even a bridesmaid, at Caroline’s insistence. Belle had resisted every step of the way.
Eli hoped that one day she would remember who she was. He didn’t know how that would affect Caleb, for it was very clear that she had had a husband or boyfriend. Caleb definitely had feelings for her.
Eli walked up to him and gave him a big bear hug. “Thanks, Caleb.”
Caleb lifted an eyebrow. “Did I do something?”
“Yes. You became my brother.”
“I didn’t have any choice in that, but I’m awfully glad about it.” He smiled. “And thanks for inviting my mom and Andrew.”
“The past is over and I’m not harboring any more resentment.” Eli followed Caleb’s gaze to Belle. “Why don’t you ask her to dance?”
“I have and she’s not very comfortable with it.”
Eli patted his shoulder. “Then make her comfortable.”
Caleb took a deep breath and walked toward Belle.
Caroline rushed up to Eli. “It’s time.”
He took her hands and held her for a moment, giving Caleb time to dance with Belle.
“I thought you were ready.” Caroline looked at him, puzzled.
“I’m so ready,” he whispered in her ear. “Just wanted Caleb to have a little time with Belle.”
“Oh. You’re wonderful.” She smiled.
The band stopped playing and everyone headed for the entrance. Eli and Caroline ran through the throng of people throwing confetti. The two of them were covered with colorful hearts and stars as they climbed into the waiting limo.
Eli waved to his brothers, and the last thing he saw was Tuck frowning as Grace jabbered at his side. Yep. This was going to make an interesting family. But he’d think about that later.