Western Dilemma

by Janelle Daniels

  His words overwhelmed her. Never in her wildest dreams had something like this happened. Everett, the man she’d fallen in love with, loved her. She could turn him away, could reject everything he’d said, and she knew he would keep his word and leave. But even thinking it rent her heart in two.

  She’d always used her mind to figure out what to do. But this was one instance where her mind couldn’t tell her what was right—so she followed her heart.

  She looked into his eyes and saw his love for her and his fear that she would reject him. “You hurt me.”

  His face fell, but he nodded. “I did,” he said, unable to deny it. “It was never my intention, but the result is the same.” He lowered his head.

  Unable to see him hurt, she let go of one of his hands, and brought hers to his cheek, stopping the descent. His eyes came back to hers. “I love you, Everett.”

  Shock filled his eyes, then hope. “You do?”

  “I do,” she said softly. “That’s why I went to the mine the day of the announcement. I was going to tell you.”

  He looked away. “I was planning to tell you before the announcement, but the date got pushed up at the last minute, and it was too late.”

  She nodded sadly. “I can’t say everything’s been perfect, but life isn’t perfect. And although I might not have known your name, or that you are one of the Copper Kings, I came to know who you are as a person. You’re kind, funny, and intelligent, and you make me feel things no one ever has. I fell in love with you, Everett. Even when I thought you were just a miner.”

  “I’ll be a miner if you want me to be,” he said seriously.

  She shook her head and laughed. “Absolutely not. It was one of the things that kept me from acknowledging my feelings in the first place. I don’t want to marry a miner.”

  His eyes heated. “Then who do you want to marry?”

  She didn’t shy away from his look. “You. Everett Clarke. Safety supervisor, doctor, hero. Take your pick. I don’t care what title you have as long as I get to be with you.”

  A rush of relief burst through him, and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him. “Marry me, Emery. I don’t want to be without you even one more day.”

  She nodded, her eyes watering, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes. I’ll marry you. I’ll be with you, work with you, and spend the rest of my life with you. Through the good times and the bad,” she promised.

  As if the chains of sorrow had been unlocked, happiness flowed through each of them, and she was smiling as his lips met hers. He kissed her repeatedly, telling her without words of his love and devotion until he pulled away abruptly. “You truly mean it, right? You’re not going to change your mind?”

  She chuckled. “No. Are you going to change yours?”

  “Absolutely not! You’re stuck with me forever now.”

  “Good.” She gave him a quick kiss then pulled back teasingly. “But just remember that I’m in charge around here.”

  He grinned. “You can be in charge whenever you want,” he said softly before kissing her again.

  At his words, she melted into him, the frenzy of earlier passing. The promises they were making now would last forever.

  She thought she’d known what life would be like when she headed west, and while some things were the same, she’d never imagined it could be like this. She’d never imagined such happiness.

  It might’ve been hard to decide to leave her old life, but she knew she’d made the right choice.

  Love was always the right choice.

  Epilogue

  “I can’t believe you did this!” Emery glanced around the new library in their home, full of so many books it boggled her mind.

  Everett stepped behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and placed a kiss on her neck. “If you ever tell me there’s something you want, I can guarantee I’ll find a way to get it for you.”

  “Yes, but”—she gestured wildly at the fortune before her—“I never imagined you’d do something like this.”

  He laughed. “You said you wanted a variety of books for the girls’ education. I know they’re learning a lot in school—they know more Greek mythology than I do—but I want them to have access to everything. This way, they’ll have it.”

  Emery’s eyes teared as she stared at the books. They were just another example of how much Everett loved her. Their marriage had been the most joyous, wonderful years of her life.

  He turned her in his arms and held her close. “Do you like it?” he asked softly.

  “So much I hardly know what to say.”

  The grin she loved so much flashed across his face. “Good. I thought it would be a good surprise. The girls wanted me to tell you once they got home from school, but I knew you’d see them before they got the chance.”

  He pressed a soft kiss to her lips that heated quickly. No matter how long they’d been married, no matter how many times they’d been together, their passion for each other had only grown.

  But before they decided to leave the library and head toward their bedroom, Emery wanted to give him a surprise too.

  She held a hand to his chest, lightly pressing until he pulled away.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  She smiled. “Yes. But I have a surprise for you too. And since this seems like the perfect moment, I wanted to give it to you now.”

  He grinned. “What is it?” He looked around the room as if expecting something to jump out.

  She shook her head and laughed. “I don’t think you’ll find it by looking around here.”

  “No?”

  She shook her head softly and took his hand, placing it over her abdomen. “You can’t see it now, but in a few months, it’ll be much more noticeable.”

  He froze, shock written all over his expression before joy took its place. “Are you certain?”

  “As certain as I can be without an exam.” She laughed.

  He whooped and pulled her in close, kissing her thoroughly before breaking the kiss and kneeling in front of her.

  She wobbled, caught off guard, but he brought his hands to her hips, steadying her. He pressed a soft kiss to her flat stomach. “I promise I’ll buy you an entire library too, if it’s what you want,” he said, talking to the baby. “We both love you so much and can’t wait to see you. Grow strong and healthy. That’s your job right now.”

  Emery chuckled. He’d done this when she carried the girls as well. He believed babies could hear voices outside the womb, and he was determined to talk to their children and reassure them.

  She didn’t know if they could hear him or not, but she loved that he did it anyway.

  Everett was more than just her husband. He was her partner, her love, her champion, and her best friend.

  Although their start had been rocky, he’d shown her every moment since that she was loved. He’d kept his promises, never holding anything back.

  Life was a fantasy, one she’d only ever thought existed in books. He’d given her everything she’d ever dreamed of.

  True love was better than any story.