by Jenna Brandt
A pretty woman with strawberry blonde hair came to stand behind the girl. “Why don’t you come on in, Ranger Moreley. I’m Abigail Emerson, Levi’s wife.”
“Pleased to meet you ma’am, and you can call me Emmett. Your husband already does.”
She nodded. “Then you should call me Abigail.”
Emmett entered the small house. Despite its size, it was warm and comfortable. It was obvious a loving family lived within the walls from the stack of children’s books on the table in the living room, the family pictures on the wall, and the piano in the corner.
She must have noticed his eyes settle on the piano, because she said, “The piano was a gift from my husband. He knows I loved to play, but we couldn’t afford one when we got married. He found it in an abandoned farmhouse, restored it secretly, and gave it to me on our one-year anniversary.”
Emmett raised his eyebrows in surprise. It turned out Deputy Levi Emerson was a romantic at heart. “He did a mighty fine job. The piano is beautiful.”
“After dinner, I can play for you if you like,” she offered as they arrived in the dining room towards the back of the house.
“That would be enjoyable, I’m sure,” Emmett said.
Standing next to Levi, was Jake, along with another shorter, blonde woman. She was holding a small baby in her arms with a toddler clinging to her leg.
“Good evening, Emmett,” Jake said. Gesturing to the woman next to him, he added, “This is my wife, Rebecca, and our two children. The baby’s name is Samuel, and the little girl holding onto her leg for dear life is Beth.”
“Howdy,” he said with a nod.
“Good evening,” Rebecca said with a smile.
“Why doesn’t everyone take a seat,” Abigail suggested as she headed towards the kitchen. “Dinner will be finished in a moment.”
“I can help,” Rebecca offered, trying to get her daughter to let go of her leg.
Abigail shook her head and let out a laugh. “You’ve got your hands full already. I can take care of dinner,” she said before disappearing into the kitchen next to the dining room.
Everyone took seats around the table which was already set with sensible plates, utensils, and glasses.
“Are you rested up, Emmett?” Jake asked, eyeing the other man for signs of fatigue. “It’s been a long couple of days.”
“It has. Today has been just as long. I spent most of the day making sure everything was correct for transferring the gang over to Abilene. There’s concern the local jails out here are not secure enough to hold them. They still have friends who could try to break them out.”
“Not on my watch,” Levi said with narrowed eyes. “Our jail might be small, but it’s the most secure in all of Taylor County.”
Emmett realized he might have offended the other man and quickly apologized. “I’m sorry. I meant nothing by that. It’s not my opinion, but the captain’s. I have full confidence in all of you.”
“Don’t worry about Levi. He just takes a lot of pride in his job,” Jake said.
“That happens after having a crummy one like bounty hunting,” Levi explained. “I never told people what I did back then, but now I have something to be proud to share as my profession.”
“Speaking of bounty hunters,” Rebecca said with a knowing smile, before handing Beth over to her father to sit on his lap. “I heard one was involved with the Beckett Gang, a woman, of all things.”
Emmett stiffened, surprised the conversation had turned to the subject of Naomi. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t been on his mind all day, wondering what she was doing and where she was at. It was more of the fact he didn’t plan on discussing her openly with anyone.
Jake nodded. “That’s right, Emmett found her on the train, knocked out cold and absent of her memories when she came to. None of us were sure what to make of her, but it turns out, she was quite an asset to the case.”
“Well, that’s good to hear,” Rebecca said, shifting the baby in her arms. “What did you think of her, Ranger Moreley?”
“You can call me Emmett. As for the woman bounty hunter, she was a firecracker. Stubborn as all get out, full of lip, and downright difficult.”
“In her defense, you took her into custody, treated her like an outlaw, and dragged her all over Taylor County. Most women would act that way under the circumstances,” Levi stated with a smirk. “I know my wife would have thrown a fit.”
“Oh, yes, I would’ve hated that,” she said, placing the pot roast in the middle of the table. “She deserves a little grace, considering.”
“Isn’t there anything you liked about her?” Rebecca probed. “She couldn’t have been all bad.”
“Well, she was smart as a whip, had a keen eye for detail, and was kind once you got past her defenses.”
“Not to mention, she was easy on the eyes,” Levi stated, then quickly added as he looked over at his wife, “but not near as beautiful as you, sweetheart.”
She let out a laugh. “I know where your loyalties lie, Levi. I’m not a jealous woman or threatened by other pretty women. Otherwise, I couldn’t be friends with this one,” she shrugged her head towards Rebecca.
“Stop it. You’re making me blush,” Rebecca said averting her eyes. After a few moments, the pink left her cheeks. She looked up and asked, “But your description begs the question, if you admire her so much, why aren’t the two of you together?”
“We’ve barely known each other a couple of days,” Emmett excused away his decision to not pursue Naomi.
“Sometimes when you know, you just know,” Abigail countered. “Levi and I were married within weeks of knowing each other and look how happy we are.”
“It was just Ranger business,” Emmett said, but the excuse sounded hollow even to his own ears. He knew it was more than that. Something about her attracted him to her the moment he saw her on the train. He had tried to deny it the entire time they were together, but it had only grown stronger, and their connection deeper.
There was a knock at the door. Abigail scurried off towards the front of the house.
“Are you expecting someone else for dinner?” Emmett asked with curiosity.
“We are, as a matter-of-fact,” Levi said, but his attention was on someone behind Emmett.
With a turn of the head, Emmett realized that the surprise dinner guest was Naomi.
Eighteen
“Naomi,” Emmett said from his chair at the dining room table. The sound of her name dripped from his lips like honey. “I’m surprised to see you here.”
Abigail never mentioned that there would be a group of people present for dinner, let alone the one man Naomi both wanted to see and avoid all at the same time.
“Abigail invited me,” she croaked out. “I didn’t know you would be here.”
Emmett glanced around the room as did Naomi. All of them were watching them expectantly. It seemed they had been set up.
“Can we talk?” Emmett asked, standing up and moving over towards her.
“Is there anything left to say? When you walked away from me at the jail, it seemed quite finished.”
“I don’t think it is, and yes, I have something I need to tell you,” then glancing at everyone in the room, he added, “Alone.”
Reluctantly, Naomi let him escort her outside. As they stood on the porch in the cool fall air, she wondered what Emmett wanted to say. Had he found out she was staying in Rockwood Springs and thought it was a bad idea? He wasn’t from there, but maybe he thought she would do better to start over somewhere fresh.
“I want you to know… I need you to know… I—”
She could tell whatever he was trying to say was difficult. Gently, she placed her hand on his arm and coaxed, “You can tell me anything, Emmett.”
“I was stupid for letting you go,” Emmett stated, his eyes searching her face for a reaction.
Did he change his mind and believe she deserved to be in jail? Without being able to stop herself, she blurted out, “Are you putting me
back in jail?”
“What?” he asked, his brows coming together in confusion. “No, it’s nothing like that. I don’t know why this is so hard for me.”
Naomi relaxed, then inquired, “All right, then what is it?”
“I care for you, Naomi. I was attracted to you the first moment I saw you on the train. When I found out you might be part of the gang, I tried to push it aside. Somewhere along the way that attraction grew into something more. It complicated everything, so I tried to pretend it didn’t matter, but it does. I care for you, and I want to see if we can have something real.”
She sucked in a deep breath and held it. He was saying exactly what she wanted to hear, but should she trust it? It wouldn’t be the first time a man told her he cared only to find out later it was a means to get what he wanted. As she looked into Emmett’s eyes, she could see the genuine care there, and dare she hope, the beginning of love. Should she take a chance on what they could share together?
“If you’ll let me, I promise to show you how much I care,” Emmett vowed. “I’ll spend every day making you my priority.”
A smile formed on her lips, then spread across her face. She felt giddy with happiness from his confession. “I care for you too, Emmett. I didn’t think I deserved you, and what’s more, I didn’t think you could overlook my past.”
“Your past makes you who you are, Naomi, and I like you just the way you are, stubborn streak and all.”
She laughed, causing her whole body to shake. “I’m not the only one who is stubborn, I’ll remind you. I think we’re both going to have our hands full with each other.”
“But it’s going to be worth it,” Emmett promised as his mouth descended towards her. “I’ll put up with anything to be with you, Naomi.”
His lips touched hers, a gentle, first kiss which held the promise of so much more.
Epilogue
He was nervous. Both Jake and Levi told him it was normal to be nervous on your wedding day, but Emmett felt like he would downright jump out of his skin. He had told no one though. He wasn’t nervous for all the reasons most grooms were. He had no doubts or fears about what was to come with his life with Naomi. It was just the opposite. He was nervous with excitement over spending his life with the woman he loved more than anything in this world.
“We need to get to the front of the church,” Jake said, patting Emmett on the back. “The wedding will start in a few minutes.”
Three months had passed since Emmett confessed his feelings for Naomi. He was still working as a Ranger, even though he had offered to quit, thinking Naomi would want him around full-time. She told him it might change once they had children, but for now, she was content working at the hotel, spending time with friends, and going to church. She knew he would be gone for long stretches of time, but she promised to always have a hot meal and a warm bed ready for him when he returned.
Emmett was grateful God brought him a woman who not only loved him but loved his dedication to his job. He never thought he could have both.
The men entered the church from a side door and took their spots on the right side. Pastor Gable was waiting and smiled as the men stopped next to him.
“You ready for this?” the pastor asked, with happiness in his eyes. “Your life will never be the same again.”
“I know, Pastor Gable, and I’m happy about that.”
Emmett looked down the aisle at the doors that led into the church. He knew that any moment, he would see the love of his life walking towards him so they could start their lives together.
The music started to play, letting Naomi know it was time to enter Rockwood Springs Church. She glanced beside her at Abigail and Rebecca. Both were dressed in pretty pastel church dresses, and were holding flowers in their hands. Tabitha was also there in a pretty pink dress, clutching a small basket of flower petals.
“It’s time to go,” Abigail coaxed her daughter, then gently pushed her forward and through the crack in the door.
Next, Rebecca went, and before Abigail finished up the processional, she turned to Naomi and gave her a hug. “I’m so happy for you. You’ll remember this day for the rest of your life.”
Naomi took in a deep breath, sent up a silent prayer that nothing would go wrong, and ran her hand down the floor length, cream dress she chose. Made of cotton, and picked more for cost than style, she still felt pretty in the simple gown. She hoped Emmett would think so.
She pushed the doors open, letting the outside light flood around her. Inside, the townspeople of Rockwood Springs filled the pews of the small church. Everyone stood to their feet, and she glided down the aisle, holding her own bouquet of white lilies in her hands.
At the end of the aisle, she could see Emmett’s smiling face. He looked striking in his dark blue suit and tie, the one he bought for their wedding and planned to use for special occasions going forward.
Emmett reached out his hand, and she placed hers in it. He leaned towards her and whispered, “You look beautiful. Your dress is gorgeous on you.”
Pleased that he liked it, she smiled back at him. “Thank you,” she whispered back. “You look handsome too.”
Pastor Gable spoke, talking of love and marriage, family, and commitment. The ceremony passed quickly as Naomi stared into Emmett’s eyes.
Rings were placed on fingers and vows were made, but all Naomi could think about was when the Pastor proclaimed that they were husband and wife. Secretly, she had wanted to hear those words since the moment she got to know Emmett, yet she had never dared to hope for it. Now, it was finally happening.
“By the power vested in me, by God and the great state of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Pastor Gable decreed.
Cheers and clapping thundered around the room. Naomi couldn’t contain the joy she felt, and tears of happiness slipped down her cheeks. She looked up in surprise, noticing that there were matching tears in Emmett’s.
“You may now kiss your bride,” Pastor Gable instructed.
Emmett pulled Naomi towards him, gathered her into his arms, and kissed her with all the happiness forever promised.
A Note from the Author
I hope you have enjoyed my book, Lawfully Forgiven, and plan to continue to read the rest of the Lawkeeper Series as well as my other books. Your opinion and support matters, so I would greatly appreciate you taking the time to leave a review. Without dedicated readers, a storyteller is lost. Thank you for investing in my stories. If you would like more info, please join my newsletter and get a free novella just for signing up for my Newsletter.
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