“I appreciate your concern, but why don’t we go across the street and ask the preacher to marry us?”
He shifted to study her. “You’re that certain?”
“I couldn’t be more certain.” She caught his hand and drew him forward.
“Wait!”
Doubt flared like a burst of hot flames. Was she rushing him too much?
“Shouldn’t we find Eddie?”
She muffled her laughter behind her hand. “Would you believe I forgot about him?”
Jace’s chuckles brought heat to her cheeks.
Hand in hand, they crossed the street and told Cal and Eddie they were going to the preacher to be married.
Eddie climbed from the wagon and took Jace’s hand. “You’ll be my papa?”
“Yes, I will. Is that all right with you?”
“Yes, yes.” He jumped up and down.
Cal grinned at them. “Glad you’re doing this, boss. She’s a good woman.” He nodded. “It’s what Chet would want.”
“Thank you.”
“Boss, you can take your family home, and I’ll return your borrowed wagon.”
Jace clapped the man on the back. “Remind me to give you a bonus next payday.”
Dianne smiled her thanks to Cal before the four of them crossed the street and knocked on the door with the white cross above it. The preacher’s wife answered, and when they explained what they wanted, she ushered them inside and went to the garden to find her husband.
Recognizing both of them, he nodded. “It’s plain you’ve found what your hearts need.”
A few minutes later, they exchanged vows. “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
In a reverent whisper, Dianne added, “Forever and always.”
Jace echoed the words just before his lips caught hers.
Epilogue
MIDSUMMER
Dianne checked the dishes set out on the long tables outside. Today was a celebration for the completion of the barn. Several neighbors had helped with the work, and she and Jace were about to thank them with this feed. Cal and Lee had helped by roasting venison in a pit.
Addie and Nash Burns were there. They ranched an hour’s drive away but had come frequently to help. Over the weeks of barn construction, Addie and Dianne had become close friends. Dianne had confessed to Addie her fear of Al. The next visit from the couple, Addie informed her she’d asked the preacher, her adoptive father, to look into it. She then shared the news: a man with that name and fitting that description had been shot dead in a drunken brawl at one of the mining camps. It brought huge relief to both Dianne and Jace.
“Now I don’t have to be watching the ridges every day and barring the door at night,” Jace had said upon hearing the news.
Eddie had grown several inches. There’d been no ill effects from his fall. As he followed Jace across the yard, imitating his way of walking, Dianne smiled.
“It’s good for him to have a man to emulate.”
Addie helped Dianne set out the last of the food. With everything ready, Dianne signaled to Jace who stood with a group of men around him. Among them were Cal and Lee and two other young cowboys Jace hired.
They all came to the bountiful table.
