Tate wrapped his hands around her arms and pulled her stiff body to his and kissed her forehead.
“I made you a promise, sweetheart. One I mean to keep. The telegram was from Allan Pinkerton. Along with whatever proof we have against Sutton, he’s instructed us to take enough to cover our expenses and pay, as well as the reward money due to Roberts’ mother.”
He cradled her face between his gloved hands.
“I meant what I said, darlin’. I’m done living the outlaw life. You’ve made an honest man of me.”
Tate glanced over at his best friend.
“Go gather our things and meet us back here.”
He dropped his gaze to Cat’s face.
“On second thought, Cat and I will grab our own bags and meet you back here in, say, an hour?”
Ignoring Thad’s chuckling, they hurried back toward the house, hand in hand, and burst through the door together. Before they got halfway through the kitchen, Tate stopped. She glanced at him, wondering what was going on in his head.
“Cat, I don’t know who I am, where I’m supposed to go, or even how to get there.”
She cupped her hands around his jaw and kissed the end of his chin, her eyes never leaving his.
“Then we’ll figure it out together. You are a good man, Matthew Tate, whether you believe it or not. You protect those you care for without hesitation, and you do the same for people you have never met. A bad man wouldn’t do that. A bad man wouldn’t think twice about letting someone else suffer if he gets what he wants. So you used to be an outlaw? I used to be a southern belle. That’s not who I am now.”
She rubbed her thumbs across the dark whiskers on his cheeks, loving the sensation as it tickled her skin.
“People change—we’ve changed. I believe, for the better. All I ask from you, as my husband and my friend, is to love me as much as I love you.”
She smiled. “Can you do that?”
He nodded, and for the first time since meeting him, the shadowy doubts in his eyes disappeared, replaced by the promise of so much more.
“Then love me now, my Jack of Hearts. Right here before Thad shows up, and we have to leave.”
She stood on the toes of her boots and wrapped her arms around his neck, breathing in the scent of campfire and leather, breathing in the familiar and wonderful scent of the man she loved.
Tate frowned. “Jack of Hearts?”
Cat chuckled.
“You steal hearts like the he does. As a royal, the Jack is a leader who supports and helps the other cards, just as you do. You are my Jack of Hearts.”
Tate’s arms pulled her tight against him.
“I’ll love you forever, Catriona. Like our vows, for better or worse. I can’t promise you we’ll ever have a house or even an easy life, but I can promise you my heart.”
Cat pulled away just enough to look up into his eyes.
“That’s all I’ll ever need.”
Thank you for reading The Agent’s Mail-Order Bride. I hope you enjoyed it!
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* * *
Heart of the Soldier
He battles the German war machine. Her magic helps the French Underground. Will love push them together or will the war pull them apart?
Called to defend his country, Stuart Williams finds himself on the front line against the Nazi War Machine. But when he meets a beautiful American Resistance fighter, his focus becomes divided between defeating Hitler and protecting her from the enemy.
Trapped by the Germans in France, American college student, Caroline Grayson, uses her magical ability to read maps, helping the Resistance track the enemy’s movements and help their cause against Hitler. When she finds an American soldier lost behind enemy lines, she's not only fighting Nazis but also her traitorous heart.
Helping the Resistance, Caroline puts her life in danger, but Stuart’s first allegiance is to the army, and he’s forced to leave Caroline behind. When enemy tanks attack his regiment, he’s captured and thrown into a prisoner of war camp. At the war’s end, will Caroline use her magic to find and rescue him or will he succumb to the Nazis’ brutality?
Also by Heidi Vanlandingham
For individual buy links: www.heidivanlandingham.com
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Western Trails series
Trail of Hope
Trail of Courage
Trail of Secrets
American Mail-Order Bride series &
Prequel to Mail-Order Brides of the Southwest
Lucie: Bride of Tennessee
Mail-Order Brides of the Southwest series
The Gambler’s Mail-Order Bride
The Bookseller’s Mail-Order Bride
The Marshal’s Mail-Order Bride
The Woodworker’s Mail-Order Bride
The Gunslinger’s Mail-Order Bride
The Agent’s Mail-Order Bride
Coming Soon
Heart of the Soldier
About the Author
Heidi Vanlandingham was born and raised in Oklahoma and currently lives in the central part of the state with her family. At a very young age, she discovered books and a love of writing. It didn’t matter what implement found its way into her hand—pencil, pen, or crayon (red and green were her favorites)—she rewrote all her favorite stories by scribbling her (often unintelligible) words over the printed pages. Thankfully, her technique has improved and she currently writes historical western, sassy fantasy, and paranormal romances.
* * *
For more information about Heidi
www.heidivanlandingham.com
[email protected]
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