"Check your house," Cal told him. "Just in case they went there looking for you."
Addie had already started running toward the barn, so Cal jumped in his truck and drove in the opposite direction, around the bend and up a slope that would give him a good view of the eastern quarter of the property. If those boys were on horses, he stood a good chance of catching sight of the little devils. And a better chance of finding them before they broke their necks.
* * *
The longest twenty minutes of her life passed before Addie saw the truck approaching from north of the cattle pens. It took a few seconds for her to see the horses tied to its bumper, the reason the truck was moving so slowly, and to realize that Cal had found the boys.
"John!"
"I see, Miss Addie, I see." He sat down on a tree stump and wiped his brow with an old, red handkerchief. "Those boys just about gave me a heart attack. I could be too old for this kind of excitement."
"You were waving a rifle around a little while ago," she pointed out, her heart suddenly as light as the clouds drifting overhead. The boys must be safe, or Cal would be driving faster. She could make out two small heads next to Cal through the window. They were sitting up. Their bodies weren't bruised and broken in a ditch somewhere. They were safe.
"They need a damn good spanking," her grandfather muttered. "They could have hurt those horses."
"Don't worry. They're going to be punished." Starting with missing the party this afternoon. Then there would be no more riding lessons for a long while, plus being confined to their room. Without toys. She didn't believe in spanking, but she was close to making an exception.
"You could do a lot worse than him, you know," John said, watching the truck approach. "He's a good man. He'll do right by you."
"Yes, I know. I guess I wanted more than duty," she confessed. "I love him very much."
"And Cal loves you," the old man declared. "He's just about crazy from loving you. Has been from the start, Addie, since you first came here. Maybe he doesn't say it, but he's shown you every day that he cares for you." He motioned toward the truck, now so close she could see the boys waving to her. "I guess it's up to you to get him to stay."
"Without holding a gun on him," Addie said.
"I'd save that as a last resort." John struggled to his feet as the truck pulled to a stop in front of them. "But if you need some bullets, just let me know."
She didn't need ammunition, but she could have used some courage. Cal hauled two shaking boys from the truck and turned them over to their mother, who grabbed their dirty hands and threatened to keep them in their room until August. John untied the horses and led them away after giving the boys a piece of his mind.
They cried.
Addie hardened her heart and took them to the house, Cal following close behind. She sent them upstairs to wash up and get in their beds for the afternoon, and they cried even harder.
"Hey," Cal said, before they reached the staircase. He crouched down in front of them. "You disobeyed John and you put your horses in danger. Are you going to do that again?"
They shook their heads and sniffed.
"Good. So you learned something. Remember what I said in the truck?" They collapsed into his arms, making Addie wish she could do the same thing. She watched him hug them, then he said something she couldn't hear and sent them upstairs.
Cal stood and turned toward her. "They're going to do a lot worse, you know."
"Yes." She shuddered to think of it. "It's a good thing you were here. You're not really leaving me, are you?" She had seen the boxes in his truck, and knew he was ready to drive off.
"I think," Cal said, moving closer to stand in front of her, "I'm going to have to stick around. Just in case you need me again."
She looped her arms around his neck and gazed into his dark eyes. "I do. Need you."
"Yes." His hands slid down her hips and pulled her body against his. "I know. But you're going to have to marry me eventually, sweetheart. Your grandfather was serious about a shotgun wedding."
"Say it again," she whispered.
"I love you, Adelaide Larson." He smiled before he kissed her.
"Why didn't you say so before?" She'd have given half the ranch to hear those words from him.
"Ah, Addie," he sighed, burying his face in her hair. "Those aren't easy words. And until you came along, I guess I didn't even know what they meant. I guess I had to think about leaving you before I realized I couldn't go."
"Are you proposing again?" She tilted her head and looked up. Her cowboy smiled, and Addie knew that she didn't have to worry any longer.
"Sweetheart, I'm going to keep asking until you say yes. I don't give up easily."
"I like that in a man."
"Say yes," he growled, then picked her up and swung her into his arms. "And we'll start on the honeymoon right away."
"We have about five and a half months," Addie teased.
"There's no need to rush into anything."
"No way," he said. "I don't want to give you time to change your mind."
"A grandfather and a husband all in one weekend? I can't believe my luck." She reached up and caressed his cheek.
"Neither can I," Cal whispered. "Do you think the kids will take a nap?"
"Even if they don't, there are five other bedrooms in this house," Addie pointed out. "And they all have locks on the doors."
His arms tightened around her as he carried her down the hall toward the empty front bedroom. "This is a heck of a lot better than the Sleepy Time Motel."
"Yes," she whispered into his throat. Had she been any happier, she would have floated right out of his arms. "And this time we know each other's names."
* * *
Epilogue
«^
"She's the prettiest thing I've ever seen," John declared. He wore his best overalls and a clean, white shirt, his boots polished to perfection and the few hairs on his head combed neatly in place.
Paula tucked her arm in his and wiped her eyes with a tissue from her purse.
"This is the happiest day of my life," she said. "I had my doubts, John, but I think we can stop worrying now. It's going to be all right."
"Well, 'course it is." He patted his daughter-in-law's hand. "These things have a way of working out."
Kate hurried down the corridor, the twins jogging beside her. "Well? Have you seen her yet?"
"See for yourself. She's dressed in pink, of course, and she has dark hair," Paula said, holding out her arms to her grandsons. "Come here, sweethearts, and see your new sister."
"Where's Mom?" Ian asked.
"And where's Dad?" Matt wanted to know. Since the wedding, the boys had insisted on calling Cal "Dad" every chance they got. John swore they were going to wear out the word, but Paula still blinked back tears when she saw Cal interact with her grandsons. He was a true gentleman, and she'd long forgiven him for carrying her daughter to a motel room two hours after meeting her.
"They're in your mom's room," Paula assured them. "We'll go say hello in just a minute." But Cal surprised her by coming around the corner of the corridor. He swung both boys into his arms and carried them over to the nursery window.
"There is your sister," he announced, his voice sounding oddly hoarse. "She's the pretty baby in the middle."
"I see her!" they shouted in unison.
Kate and John stepped closer, but Paula had to reach for her tissue again. She didn't want to look like a mess when she saw her daughter.
"Addie's okay?" she asked her son-in-law.
"She's doing great. Go see for yourself," Cal said. "I'll handle the boys."
"Thanks." She hesitated, taking another long look at the gorgeous infant behind the glass. "Oh, I almost forgot. Have you and Addie decided what you're going to call her yet?"
His smile just about took her breath away. "Valentine," Cal replied. "What else?"
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