Lawfully Matched, Justified, and Redeemed
Page 25
“Come on, Syd, it’s only for a few hours,” Dani cajoled as she patted the crate.
Sydney let out a soft huff, but she picked up her bone and walked into the metal crate.
“I promise I’ll let you out as soon as I get back,” Dani said with a smile as she shut and locked the door. Then she turned her attention to Calvin. “Alright, I’m ready.”
Calvin held out his hand and Dani took it, enjoying the pulse that shot up her arm. Even four months later, his touch still elicited sparks.
He held the truck door open for her - another trait that Dani found charming, before shutting her door and climbing into the passenger side.
“Where are we going for dinner?” she asked.
“You’ll see,” he said with a sly smile.
Dani’s heart skipped a beat in her chest.
Fifteen minutes later, Calvin pulled into a spot in front of Falls Terrace. The restaurant was one of the pricier ones in town mainly due to the beautiful view of the waterfall out its back wall which was solid glass. As they entered the building, Dani couldn’t help wondering what he had in store.
The host led them to a table closest to the glass. Calvin pulled out her chair, pushing it into the table as she sat. Then he took his seat across from her. Dani didn’t know which the better view was - the lights on the waterfall outside or Calvin sitting across from her.
“Welcome to Tumwater Falls,” the waiter, a young man clad entirely in black, said as he approached the table. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“Can we have a bottle of your finest red wine?” Calvin asked.
The waiter smiled and nodded before turning away from the table to retrieve the wine.
“Wine, huh? Is this a special occasion?” Dani asked with a teasing tone.
“It’s always a special occasion when I’m with you, but yes tonight is more special than other nights. I have a very important question for you.”
As he rose from his chair, Dani’s heart surged into overdrive. A minute later, his knee was on the floor in front of her. Dani’s breath caught in her throat. Though she had hoped for this moment, she had not expected it to arrive so quickly.
Calvin reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. “Dani Higgins, I know it hasn’t been long, but I can’t imagine you not in my life. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
He popped the lid open and tears sprung into Dani’s eyes. The ring was small, but one of the most beautiful she had ever seen. She wanted to answer yes, but her throat was constricted with emotion. All she managed was a nod, but it was an enthusiastic one as Calvin took the ring out of the box and slid it onto her finger.
As he leaned in to kiss her, clapping and cheering erupted around them. Dani couldn’t remember a time she had been happier.
Chapter 21
“You sure you want to go through with this?” Chris asked as he straightened his tie in the mirror.
“Very funny, little brother,” Calvin said, coming up behind him and throwing an arm about his shoulder. Now that Chris was clean and sober, the resemblance between the two brothers was much greater. Chris was clean shaven, but they shared the same hazel eyes inherited from their mother and the same strong nose and chin their father passed to them.
“You know I’m only kidding,” Chris said. “Dani is amazing. I hope I find a woman like her soon.”
“You will,” Calvin said, patting Chris’s shoulder. “Remember, you’re kind of starting fresh, but you have a new job, a new home, a church, us, and most importantly God on your side. He will send you the right woman when it’s time.”
Chris had been out of rehab for six months. Around the second month, Calvin managed to find him a position with his company. Together, they fixed up Chris’s old house to salvage some of his deposit, and Chris moved in with Calvin. He would soon be the sole owner of Calvin’s house as Calvin and Dani had decided to live in her house after the wedding.
“You’re right. I’m so glad I got the chance to start over again. Okay, you ready to get married?”
“Absolutely,” Calvin said with a smile. He had waited for this moment for eight long months. Originally, they planned to wait only until Chris was out of rehab, but then Dani decided she wanted to get married a year from the day they met which added another few months. He hadn’t minded too much though as it gave them time to get everything else settled and in order. And really, as long as Dani became his wife, he would have waited as long as it took.
“You have the rings?” Calvin asked Chris.
“Yep, right here.” Chris patted his pocket and the two headed out to take their place in the sanctuary.
The small church was nearly filled to capacity between their church friends and Dani’s friends in the department, but Calvin only vaguely registered them. His gaze was fixed on the back door of the sanctuary, where any moment, the woman he loved would appear.
The music started, and the back doors opened. Gabby, Dani’s half-sister, entered first. She was pretty much the opposite of Dani with darker hair and a fuller figure, but Calvin was still glad she'd come. Dani had worried her family wouldn’t show, but her mother and both her half-brothers made the trip as well. It warmed Calvin’s heart to see them rekindle their relationship over the last few days, and he hoped they would continue to get together after the wedding.
Gabby smiled at him as she reached the front and then took her place on the opposite side of the preacher. The music changed then, and Calvin’s breath caught in his throat as Dani entered the sanctuary. Her blond hair was pulled up in some sort of elaborate updo with only a few tendrils curled around her cheeks.
She glided forward like an angel. The dress she'd chosen showed off her slender shoulders and pooled out around her feet in a satin train that made it appear as if she were walking on a cloud.
As she reached the front, she handed her bouquet to Gabby and took his hands. Just like the first time they touched, his heart sped up as their skin met.
“Dearly beloved,” the pastor began, “we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.”
* * *
Dani smiled as Calvin squeezed her hands. She couldn’t believe the moment was finally here or that her family showed up. The last few days had been amazing as she spent time with them and caught up on their lives.
“Do you, Calvin, take Dani to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold? Through sickness and in health? As long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” Calvin said.
“And do you, Dani, take Calvin to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold? Through sickness and in health? As long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” Dani said, not bothering to contain the smile spreading across her cheeks.
“Then by the power vested in me by God and the state of Washington, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
At those words, Dani’s smile stretched even further. She had waited a long time to hear them and she didn’t want to waste another moment kissing Calvin as her husband for the first time.
He winked at her as he pulled her to him and seared her lips with a kiss. Though the kiss itself was short, it held the promise of much more to come in a few hours and a heated blush spread up Dani’s cheeks.
“I can’t wait till this evening,” Calvin whispered in her ear.
“Me either,” Dani returned, “but right now we better get to the reception.”
“Whatever you say, Mrs. Phillips,” Calvin said as he took her hand and led her down the aisle.
Mrs. Phillips! Though new and different, she enjoyed the sound of it. As she passed Aaron and Margaret on the way out, she couldn’t help thinking about how much her life had changed in just one short year and how she owed it all to one all-powerful God and one former drug addict. He really did work in mysterious ways.
The End!
It’s not quite the end!
* * *
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January 1883
Adeline stood at the stove stirring a pot of venison stew. She hoped that making her father’s favorite meal would put him in a pleasant mood. Dread filled her at the thought of him spending another night extolling the virtues of marriage and attempting to convince her that James Cleveland would make the perfect husband. Mr. Cleveland was a pompous bore. Her parents and caretakers had attempted to imbue in her a sense of duty, but they’d failed. She would not deign to consider a marriage of convenience. She’d rather die an old maid.
At the sound of a gunshot, Adeline flew into the adjoining room. The wooden spoon clattered as it hit the floor. Bending down over her father, Adeline attempted to stop the bleeding. He’d been shot in the shoulder.
“Get up.” The stout bearded man spoke in a low growl.
“No.” Adeline made eye contact with the shooter. “I will not.”
“Then I’ll shoot a hole in that pretty little redhead of yours.”
“Go right ahead” She tore a piece off her petticoat and tied it around the wound. “I’ll not leave my father’s side willingly.”
The sound he emitted was more of a cackle than a laugh. He gestured with his gun to a taller man standing by the front door. “John, get her out of my way.”
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The Other Books in the Series
Lawfully Matched: A Texas Lawkeeper Romance by Lorana Hoopes http://amzn.to/2sj3m8T
Lawfully Loved: A Texas Lawkeeper Romance by Jenna Brandt: http://amzn.to/2skQmiX
Lawfully Justified: A Bounty Hunter Historical Lawkeeper Romance by Lorana Hoopes http://amzn.to/2C3BXfd
Lawfully Adored: A K9 Contemporary Lawkeeper Romance by Jenna Brandt http://amzn.to/2sDk6aL
Lawfully Yours: A Bounty Hunter Historical Lawkeeper Romance by Ginny Sterling http://amzn.to/2GDMiN8
Lawfully Held: A K9 Contemporary Lawkeeper Romance by Elle E Kay http://amzn.to/2HGmUYv
Check out all the law keeper books at The Lawkeeper Author Page
About The Author
Lorana Hoopes is an inspirational author originally from Texas but now living in the PNW with her husband and three children. When not writing, she can be seen kickboxing at the gym, singing, or acting on stage. One day, she hopes to retire from teaching and write full time.
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