“Your reason?”
“Because you wanted one and I knew that pup and you belonged together. It would make you both happy. So, I did it.”
“How did you remember it was my birthday? Was there an ulterior motive in that?”
“I heard you tell Tillie when your birthday was. I put it in a safe place in my brain to remember. My only motive was to do something that hopefully would make you smile, and because I was sorry.”
“I am stubborn. I usually get my way…either because I’m a judge no one wants to cross or I scare them…because I am a judge. Either way, people have a certain perception of me. But you didn’t seem to let that bother you one way or another. I didn’t like you when we met.”
He looked a little unsure of where she might be going, but he kept silent.
“But you grew on me. Your family helped with that, and all the wonderful people I met in Destiny’s River only made it more perfect. I could breathe. I could do things I had not done before. And no one treated me any different because of what I did…only who I was.
“And then we kissed. And a lot of things changed. I am a judge whose job is in a courtroom in Austin. You are a marshal who travels all over. How do you see a romance playing out between us?”
“If I might speak, I have given some thought to that.”
“Then speak.”
“No one says you must stop being a judge…because you’re very good at it. I don’t have to give up what I enjoy as a marshal because my base is right here…same building as you happen to have your courtroom. But I love my country roots. And from what I saw and heard you speak about, you love that life, too. There are long weekends and holidays and that river will be right there waiting anytime for us.” He paused. Somehow, the space between them had shortened a bit. But there was still room.
“I guess what I’m saying is that I know how I feel. I love you, Erin Latham. I could only hope with my whole being that you might be able to feel something for me, too.”
Erin’s heart was beating out of her chest. This is what it feels like. She thought it was a feeling she might never know. But this tall lawman had stormed into her court one day and never left it or her.
“I have deliberated and your case has merit, and I will need to take it under consideration for quite a while.”
He reached out his hand, a warm emerald glow surrounding her and filling her with immense joy. Her hand met his and was engulfed in something strangely like walking into a warm, firelit room on a snowy night…home, safe and sound.
“Quite a while? As in a few years or more?”
“If you’re lucky, it could be a lifetime sentence.”
She didn’t hesitate as he drew her slowly toward him, their hands joined between them. She could feel the hammering of his heart, and it matched hers. There was one final pronouncement from the court needed.
“Rance Parker, I should have known you were going to turn my quiet world upside down. And it makes me very happy to have you do it. I love you, first, last, and always. If I had my gavel, I would slam it down, case over.”
“I think a kiss would do just as well to seal the verdict.”
Epilogue
“I have never seen a wedding cake topper like this one.” Tillie laughed, standing beside Cassie and Tori, admiring the four-tiered wedding cake standing on the lace-covered table in front of them.
“Ally engaged a friend of hers from a bakery in Austin and told him what would be great if he could make the mold and have his people come up with it. And he did,” Tori responded. “Rance and Erin both loved it on sight.”
“The groom in a marshal’s outfit with hat and badge even, carrying a bride in his arms but she has a black robe over her wedding gown and a gavel in her hand instead of a bouquet. It is so appropriate.”
“Our little brother has done well. He managed to find the perfect partner. Whoever said opposites attract hit the nail on the head with the two of them,” Cassie said.
“They had the longest engagement of any of us—that’s for sure. Almost a whole year, but the day is finally here,” Tori responded with a grin. “And we best get this wedding moving. Cassie, you round up the guests, get them settled and then give Matt a heads-up. I’ll get our bride in place.”
Rance kept pacing back and forth, from one window to another and back again. Matt sat in the easy chair behind the desk, with his booted feet propped up on top of the papers there. He didn’t seem to have a care in the world as he watched the pacing groom-to-be.
“Glad you’re enjoying this,” Rance said, throwing his brother a frown, while still pacing.
“Oh, I am.” He smiled in return. “It’s always enjoyable watching others go through these final moments in their lives…before it all changes.”
“You don’t seem like you suffered too much from going through it,” Rance pointed out.
