by Kat Brookes
“Garrett,” she said with a panicked groan. She couldn’t do this. They’d already discussed the reasons why. Tears filled her eyes.
“Hannah, please hear me out,” he said tenderly. “The more I came to care for you and Austin, the more I wanted to throw a lasso over time to keep it from moving forward. But that wasn’t an option. Telling you that I’ve fallen in love with you is. I want to marry you and take that trip to see the northern lights you’ve longed to go on for our honeymoon. And if you want more children, I’m willing to adopt. We can have that large family you’ve always dreamed of.”
A small sob escaped her lips. “Oh, Garrett...”
“I’m not ready to let you walk out of my life without fighting for you,” he told her. “Fighting for us.”
She shook her head. “We’ve already been through this. Neither of us is free to move at this point in our lives, and I can’t do a long-distance relationship.”
He reached for her hands. “What if you don’t have to?”
“Garrett, you can’t leave the business you’ve built here with your brothers for me,” she told him, despite her heart wishing otherwise.
“If that’s what it takes,” he said.
He would do that for her? Tears blurred her vision. “I would never let you do that.”
“Then we’ll make the long-distance thing work until you feel your father can manage on his own,” he told her. “I’m willing to wait as long as it takes if it means you’ll be a part of my future. Or have him move to Bent Creek with you and Austin. He’s retired, so you wouldn’t be asking him to leave his job.”
“But I would be asking my father to give up the life he’s built in Steamboat Springs, the friends he’s made, for me. I can’t do that. And I can’t take his grandson away from him. Not this soon after losing Mom and Heather,” she said, eyes tearing up. “And it wouldn’t only be me moving here if I accepted your offer. I have a son that I’ll be raising.”
“I know that. I want the entire package, you and Austin. How do you feel about raising children and horses?” he countered with a casual shrug, flashing her that charming cowboy grin she’d come to adore.
“Garrett, be serious,” Hannah said. Only Garrett could make her want to cry and laugh at the same time.
“I am,” he replied, meeting her tear-filled eyes. “And I hope someday to be the man helping you raise your son. I love you, Hannah Sanders, and, at the risk of sounding a little too self-assured, I think you feel the same way about me.”
It would be best to put that notion to rest, to tell him that she was grateful for all he had done for her, but nothing more. Only that would be a lie, something she couldn’t bring herself to do. “I do love you,” she admitted softly. “With all my heart.”
His smile widened. A second later, Garrett was kneeling before her, her hand still in his as his free hand slid into the front pocket of his jeans, pulling out a small black box. “Your father has given me his blessing.”
Hannah placed her hand over his before he could open the box, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I love you, Garrett Wade. I always will. But I can’t accept your proposal. You deserve to find happiness with someone who is free to be with you here in Bent Creek. As much as I want to be that woman, I can’t leave my father to deal with his grief alone. And I have no idea how long it will be before I feel comfortable doing so.”
Garrett searched her face for a long moment, as if trying to commit it to memory. Then, with a nod of surrender, he stood and released her hand, tucked the ring box back into his jeans pocket. “We’d best get back to the house. I’ve kept you out here in the cold long enough.” He turned, opened the barn door and then reached for the lantern.
Hannah wanted so desperately to throw her arms around Garrett and tell him she was sorry. That she wanted more than anything to be his wife. But life didn’t always work out the way one hoped it would. She knew that better than most. Brushing the tears from her cheeks, Hannah stepped out into the night, her heart breaking.
They walked back to the porch in silence. But when they reached his parent’s front door, Garrett turned to her. “Just so you know. There will never be another woman for me.” That said, he opened the door, the cold wind whipping in behind her, forcing Hannah to step inside before she could respond.
“Back already?” Tucker said when they entered the living room.
“A cold front moved in,” Garrett muttered, not meeting Hannah’s gaze. He was closing himself off again. She could feel it. And it was all her fault.
“Take off your jackets and warm up by the fire,” his mother suggested.
“I have to get going,” Garrett announced.
“Already?” Autumn asked in surprise.
“I have a few things I need to do at home yet this evening,” he told them.
“Will we see you in the morning?” Hannah asked, not wanting this to be the way they parted ways. With Garrett hurting and her regretting.
He finally looked her way. “I’ll be here.” With a nod, he bid everyone good-night and then walked out.
Hannah shrugged out of her jacket and draped it over her arm. “I think I’ll turn in early tonight.”
“Is everything all right, dear?” Emma Wade asked with a worried frown.
“It’s been a long day,” she told her, forcing a smile. “I’m tired and should try and get some rest before I have to get up through the night for feedings.”
Her father pushed out of the chair he’d been sitting in. “You get Austin. I’ll carry the bassinet upstairs for you.”
Nodding, Hannah walked over to where her son lay sleeping and eased her hands beneath his tiny, blanket-bundled form, gently lifting him. Then she turned and thanked Garrett’s family for all they had done for her and her son during their stay there.
“We’ll be here to see you off tomorrow,” Autumn said. “So, I’m going to save my goodbyes for then.”
The others nodded in agreement.
Tears pooled in her eyes. “Good night then.” Hannah carried her son up the stairs, her father, carrying the bassinet, followed behind her.
“What happened between you and Garrett?” he asked, the moment they entered the guest bedroom where Hannah had been staying.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she said, unable to look her father in the eye. He knew her too well. He would see her pain.
He placed the bassinet beside the bed and then turned to her. “I was expecting you and Garrett to come back to the house with an announcement. Not part ways like neither of you could bear to look at one another.”
“I told Garrett no,” she replied, a tear rolling down her cheek.
Her father’s brows drew together in confusion. “Why? That young man’s heart is overflowing with love for you. I thought you felt the same way about him. Was I mistaken?”
“No,” she said with a sniffle. “You weren’t.”
“So you do you love him?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Then why did you turn his proposal down? Is this about what happened with Dave?” he asked with a frown. “Because Garrett isn’t anything like your ex.”
Lifting her gaze, she said sadly, “No, it has nothing to do with Dave.”
“I know your relationship with Garrett happened faster than most do, but I believe it’s real.”
She walked over to place her sleeping son into the bassinet. “It’s not just about Garrett and me. There are others to consider. He can’t just up and leave his brothers and the business they run together. Although, he offered to give it all up for me. And there’s you.”
“Me?” he said with a lift of his slightly graying brows.
“Dad, I can’t leave you alone in Steamboat Springs,” she admitted. “Not now.”
“You gave up your chance at happiness with Garrett so I wouldn’t be alone?”
; Tears ran down her cheeks. “You’ve lost so much already. I won’t take your grandson away from you.”
He walked over and drew her into his arms for a comforting hug, resting his chin on the top of her head. “Honey, all I want is for you to be happy, something you won’t be back in Steamboat Springs. Not only because Garrett won’t be there, but because our home isn’t really home anymore. Not without your mother there.”
She lifted her head to look up at him questioningly.
“What would you say if I told you that I’d like a fresh start somewhere else?” he asked as he released her and took a step back.
“You would leave Steamboat Springs?” she asked in disbelief. “Where would you go?”
“I was kind of thinking Bent Creek would be a nice place to begin anew,” he said with a smile. “Especially, since my daughter and grandson will be living here.”
“But you’d be leaving the home you and Mom made so many memories in.”
“Memories can be taken with you anywhere,” he said with a wistful smile. “I’d like to find a smaller place with a little bit of land, maybe even get a dog, because Bandit and Buddy will be moving out when you do, and start making new memories for myself. More important,” he said, “I want you to find the same happiness I found with your mother. And for that to happen you need to follow your heart.”
Her father’s words were the answer to her prayers. She would no longer be forced to choose between the two men she loved most in the world. She could follow her heart, knowing right where it would lead her—to the kind, loving cowboy who had come to her rescue and had shown her what true love really was.
* * *
Garrett pulled up to his parents’ house, his gaze immediately drawn to Hannah who was sitting alone on the front porch. She wore a sweater and a denim jacket, but the way she was hugging herself told him Hannah was still chilled.
Cutting the engine, he stepped out of his truck and strode toward the porch. “It’s a little cold to be sitting outside,” he remarked.
“I was waiting for you,” she said, a hint of uneasiness in her voice. She stood and made her way down the porch steps until she stood in front of him on the walkway. “I thought we could take a walk.”
A frown tugged at his mouth. He knew what the walk she wanted to take was about. She wanted to tell him goodbye in private. Maybe so he wouldn’t cause a scene like he had the night before when he’d left so abruptly. “About last night,” he said. “I’m sorry I left the way I did.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you,” she replied. “I tried to call you last night, but I couldn’t reach you. Not that I blame you for not picking up the phone.”
“It wasn’t on purpose,” he told her. “I set my cell phone on the kitchen counter last night after I got home, and then went outside to sit and think for a while. I didn’t see that I had missed your call until this morning. My first thought was that something was wrong with Austin. But my brothers would have come to get me if that were the case. Not sure what else there is for you and I to say this morning other than goodbye.” It hurt even speaking the words. He didn’t want her to leave—ever.
“Let’s take that walk,” she said with a smile that made his heart yearn.
He had to be the man his mother had raised him to be and tuck his hurt and frustration away. With a nod, they started away from the porch. “At least, the wind isn’t whipping about today.”
“It wouldn’t matter,” she told him. “We’re going to the barn.”
The pain dug a little deeper. The last place he wanted to be with her was the place where Hannah had put an end to his hopes and dreams of a future together with her. “Okay,” he conceded in silent suffering.
They crossed the yard and stepped into the barn, only this time it was Hannah who closed the door behind them. Then she turned to look up at him. “I have to leave this morning,” she told him.
He nodded knowingly, his mouth pressed into a firm line.
“But only to go back and give notice to my job and help my father get the house ready to put up for sale.”
It took a long moment for her words to settle in. “You what?”
“Garrett Wade,” she said, her nervous smile softening, her beautiful green eyes searching his, “you are everything I could ever want in a husband. You’re compassionate, strong of faith and a devoted family man—one I’d love to raise my son with. So, if your offer of marriage still stands, and you don’t mind my father moving to Bent Creek to be near us, then my answer is yes. I would love nothing more than to marry you.”
He had spent all night preparing himself for their goodbye, praying to the Lord to watch over Hannah and her son. Now it seemed he might have the privilege of watching over them himself for the rest of their lives together. Joy filled his heart and spread through him.
“If you’ve changed your mind, I understand,” she said, worry replacing her confident smile.
The softly spoken words had him drawing her to him. Looking down at the woman he held in his arms, Garrett smiled. “Not a chance. You are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. As your husband, and as the father of your son.”
“And you’re okay with my father moving here?”
“More than okay,” he told her. “I suppose we should go inside and share our good news.”
“My father already knows,” she admitted. “And I have a feeling your family knows now, too.”
He chuckled. “You’re probably right.”
She leaned into him. “I love you, Garrett Wade.”
“I love you, too, Hannah Wade,” he replied, his heart filled with it.
Laughing softly, she said, “My name’s not Wade yet.”
“Just testing it out,” he said with a grin.
“It sounds perfect to me,” she sighed happily.
“No, you are,” he told her. “The perfect woman for me. Thank you for giving me the family I never thought I’d have.”
“Thank you for making my family complete,” she replied, tears in her eyes.
Emotion welling up inside him, Garrett lowered his mouth to hers in a tender kiss, one that promised a lifetime of love and devotion.
* * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from Courting Her Prodigal Heart by Mary Davis.
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Courting Her Prodigal Heart
by Mary Davis
Chapter One
Goshen, Indiana
With the reins in hand, Eli Hochstetler drove his vater’s supply-hauling wagon through Goshen in the early-June s
un. Dutch’s hooves clip-clopped on the pavement.
Daniel Burkholder sat on the seat next to him. “Have the church leaders given you permission to purchase a computer and make a website?”
Eli shook his head. “I haven’t asked yet.”
“Why not? The summer is going to be over before you know it.”
“I need to have more items made first.” Eli had branched out his blacksmithing from the practical horseshoes, weather vanes and herb choppers to decorative items like napkin holders, door knockers and small animal figures. This second group of items would be marketed toward Englishers, hence the need for a computer and website. Not everyone who requested such privileges were granted them.
“Shouldn’t you make sure they’ll let you before you go to the trouble?”
“I want to show them I have a need and meine work can support a business. I also need to learn about websites and such.”
“You can’t create your own website. They wouldn’t allow that. You’ll need an Englisher to do that.”
“I know. I’m not sure how to go about finding one.”
“Doesn’t every Englisher know about computers?”
Eli shrugged. “I think so. If I know a little, I’ll know how to talk to an Englisher about meine website.”
His attention gravitated toward Rainbow Girl. That was what he called the young woman with rainbow-colored hair. His gaze automatically followed her.
For the past six months, he’d seen this same girl every time he came to town, without fail. Her multicolored hair made her hard to miss, but she held herself differently today. Not the usual bounce in her step. Not the usual head held high. Not the usual carefree swing of her arms. Her head hung low, and her shoulders hunched over. Her fancy black knee boots scuffed the sidewalk, and her body shook as though she was crying.