Shotgun Grooms
Page 25
A half smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Damn, but he’d missed that temper. What had ever made him think he could live without her? Then shifting his gaze to the driver, sitting hunched on the bench seat, he called out, “Throw me down the lady’s bag.”
“Don’t you do it,” Molly ordered the man, who stopped moving when she spoke.
“Throw it down,” Jackson called again and, when she would have shouted, he cut her off, saying, “I’m taking you home, Molly.”
From inside the coach, Captain Blood yelled, “Man overboard! Abandon ship!”
Jackson laughed and reached past her for the birdcage. Hauling it out, he looked at the damn parrot and muttered, “I never would have believed I’d miss you.”
“Nothing’s changed, Jackson,” Molly said quietly, tearing his attention away from the bird. “I won’t go back to the way things were. I won’t live with a man who doesn’t love me.”
He sighed and set the birdcage down gently. Looking into her face, he saw the pain in her eyes and cursed himself for ever bringing her a single tear. She’d given him so much and, in return, he’d taken her heart and thrown it away. And silently he made a vow to everything he held dear that never again would he give her cause to grieve.
Cupping her face in his palms, he stared down into the eyes that would haunt him forever and said the words he should have said so long ago. “I do love you, Molly.”
Her quick intake of breath hit him like a fist in the gut and the sheen of tears filming her eyes finished him off.
He’d been such a fool. Someone upstairs had been looking out for him, had sent him a second chance at happiness. And he’d almost missed it through his own blindness. His gaze moved over her features as he prayed desperately that he wasn’t too late. “I think I’ve always loved you.”
More than anything in her life, Molly wanted to believe. But she had to ask, had to know. “What about your past? Your other family?”
Jackson sighed, a fading sorrow briefly flashing across his face. “I’ll always regret not being able to know and love my son, Molly. That will probably never go away.”
She nodded, understanding that pain and realizing his first child would always be there in his heart. And that was as it should be.
“But I’ll love the children we have together, Molly, and I’ll treasure each one of them—whether God sends us one…or twelve.” His hands moved on her face, his thumbs stroking the tears away from her cheeks, his gaze moving over her features. “As for Eliza,” he continued, and she held her breath. “She was my first love. But, Molly,” he said, willing her to believe. Willing her to see what was in his heart and hoping she still wanted it. Wanted him. “Molly, you are my last love. You’re my future. My heart.”
Her own heart burst. It was the only explanation for the sweet, full ache in her chest. Molly stared up into his blue eyes and read the truth there. He loved her. He wanted her. And that was more gift than she’d ever dreamed of.
Here at last, she’d found her place. Here, with this man, she’d found her love.
Smiling through her tears, Molly reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. He inhaled sharply, reeling with the relief of knowing she was still his. That he still had a chance to love her. To revel in the love she had for him.
His arms closed around her, holding on as if she meant his life—and she did. Bending his head to the crook of her neck, he inhaled her scent and felt it warm him down to his bones.
“Well, little lady,” the driver called out, clearly impatient to be on his way, “you comin’ with me or goin’ with him?”
Molly didn’t let go of Jackson. She just turned her head and grinned at the driver. “I’m goin’ home.” She looked back at the man holding her and added, “With my husband.”
“Crazy dang females,” the man muttered, and grabbed her carpetbag and tossed it onto the ground. Then he snapped the reins and the horses took off, sending a cloud of dust into the air.
“Thank God for crazy dang females,” Jackson whispered just before he kissed her, long and hard and deep, showing her without words just how much he cared. How much she meant to him.
And when he finally lifted his head, he smiled down at her slightly dazed expression and asked, “Why’d you leave all your things at the cabin, Molly?”
She blinked at the unexpected question, but the answer was simple. “Because none of it was mine anymore. ’Twas ours. It all belongs at the cabin now.”
“Like you,” he said softly, cupping her face in the palm of his hand.
“Aye,” she agreed with a smile and covered his hand with hers. “Like me. Now take me home, husband. I’ve a surprise for you.”
“Molly, as long as I have you, I’ll never need anything else.”
“Ah,” she said, giving him the full force of her wide, beautiful smile, “but our baby will be needin’ you.”
Jackson just stared at her for a long moment, while the realization of just what she was saying sank in. A child? Their child? Oh God, what he’d nearly missed through his own pigheadedness. Humbled and grateful beyond words, he gathered her close, pressing her to his heart, where she would always remain.
“I love you, Molly Malone MacIntyre,” he whispered, his voice soft and low and filled with promise. “Forever and then some.”
Molly nestled her head on his broad chest and listened to the steady drum of his heart, counting each strong beat as a blessing. He loved her. There were no doubts, now. She felt his love surround her, fill her, and Molly knew the child within would grow strong and proud and loved and, no doubt, as stubborn as his father. She silently thanked her lucky stars and whatever fate had led her to this man. And aloud, she said, “Forever and then some, Jackson MacIntyre.”
“Steer for home, matey,” Captain Blood screeched. “Safe harbor!”
Jackson threw his head back and laughed. Then, one arm still around Molly’s shoulders, he said, “Good idea, Stew Pot. Let’s go home.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6810-8
SHOTGUN GROOMS
Copyright © 2001 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
LUCAS’S CONVENIENT BRIDE
Copyright © 2001 by Susan Macias Redmond
JACKSON’S MAIL-ORDER BRIDE
Copyright © 2001 by Maureen Child
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