Then, without a moment's hesitation, Jake sank down onto one knee. Bethany and Clara squealed.
Emma sobbed sharply as she gazed down at Jake. He was looking up at her like she was the most precious thing in the world. And, right now, that was exactly how she felt.
Jake reached out to her. Emma placed her hands in his. She heard more gentle, happy sobs from those at the table. Jake's fingers curled gently around hers. Unlike earlier, her hands weren't shaking. There was no call for that, now. Joy was in the air. Unrestrained delight.
"Emma," Jake murmured slowly. "I've said how much I love you. And I believe you love me, too."
Emma nodded. The tightness on her throat made it impossible to utter a word. But, she saw the delight on his features. He knew she loved him.
"From the moment I first saw you, I knew you were the woman for me," Jake declared.
Emma glanced at Bethany and Clara. They were open-mouthed with amazement.
Emma looked down at Jake. Love filled her heart as she gazed at his handsome features. "I want to ask you, Emma, with all the hope in my heart, if you would agree to become my wife," Jake stated. He dragged in a deep breath and tried, visibly, to compose himself. "Will you marry me, Emma Dunbar?" His voice echoed across the yard.
Joy leaped into her heart, overwhelming her. Tears flooded into her eyes. "Yes," she announced, her voice cracking with emotion. "Yes, I will marry you, Jake Buchanan."
A thunderous roar exploded behind her as the entire Buchanan family exclaimed with joy, bursting into applause and cheering at the tops of their voices.
Jake kissed Emma's hand and stood quickly, sweeping her into his arms. He kissed her. The last barrier had crumbled, shattered to pieces. Emma sank into his arms, allowing sensation to take hold of her.
When the kiss was over, Bethany and Clara ran into the arms of Emma and Jake. Matilda was clearly overcome with emotion. Grace comforted Matilda as best she could, but it was clearly almost too much to take.
Emma, Jake and the girls turned to face the entire Buchanan family. She'd never seen so many happy faces at one table in all her life. Truly, God had blessed the entire Buchanan family.
Sheriff Nathan and Mr Curtis emerged from the ranch house. They came up to Emma and Jake. "Did I miss something?" Nathan asked, grinning at Jake. Emma could tell Nathan was teasing Jake. Both men shook hands. Nathan offered his congratulations to Emma.
Mr Curtis also offered his best wishes. "I guess this settles the matter," he said to Emma. Curtis glanced down at Bethany and Clara and smiled. Turning to Emma he continued: "If you and Mr Buchanan are getting married, I suppose you'll be living here at the ranch."
Jake nodded. "There's nowhere finer in the territory," he declared.
Curtis nodded, examining the ranch house with a careful eye. "A fine place." He turned to Emma and Jake. "In that case, I'd imagine adoption would be a formality," he stated.
"Does that mean Jake is our new pa?" Bethany asked.
Emma saw Jake start to choke up when he heard Bethany's words. Emma squatted down, gazing at Bethany and Clara. "If that's what you want."
Emma saw Jake look nervously at the two girls. Then Clara threw up her arms toward Jake. "Of course, it's what we want," Clara called out.
Jake lifted her up and hugged the girl. Bethany came to Jake, too. Emma saw tears of joy in Jake's eyes as he embraced his new family.
Mr Curtis turned to Nathan. "I think I'll be staying a while longer in Inspiration," he said. He smiled at Jake, the children and Emma. "Looks like I've got some paperwork to prepare.
Caleb came to Emma and Jake and the children. Soon, they were surrounded by members of the family. The air was filled with exclamations of delight and happiness. One of the ranch hands took a fiddle in his hands and started playing a jaunty tune. Some of the Buchanans started dancing.
Still carrying Bethany in his arms, and with Clara following alongside him, Jake led Emma away to one side, leaving all the revelers to their noisy, good-natured celebration.
"We're all going to be a family," Jake said to Bethany and Clara. The girls looked thrilled beyond all imagining. "How does that sound?"
Clara and Bethany grinned. "It sounds wonderful. And we get to live on the ranch?"
"Forever," Emma said to Clara. Emma gazed into Jake's eyes. "Isn't that right?"
Jake put Bethany back down and came to Emma. He wrapped his arms around her waist. "That's right, Emma. Welcome to Ranch Buchanan. Your new home."
And then he kissed her.
THE END
COMING SOON
Grace's story. A novel of Christmas in Inspiration
THANK YOU
Thank you for reading The Rancher's Devout Bride. I hope you enjoyed the novel.
The Brides of Inspiration series will continue with the story of Grace Buchanan.
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Brides of Inspiration series.
The Rancher's Bride Arrangement
The Rancher's Marriage of Convenience
The Rancher's Second Chance Bride
The Rancher's Bride Surprise
The Rancher's Bride Blessing
The Rancher’s Devout Bride Page 22