It was the money clip, with all of Papa’s money present inside it.
She picked it up and slid it into the case. How had it gotten onto the chair? She didn’t remember knocking it off the desk.
Downstairs, she found Nick pacing the entryway. All the emotions she’d felt over the past several hours came rushing back to her.
“Shall we sit?” he asked formally, gesturing at the chairs off to the side.
The desk clerk stood nearby, looking all too interested in what they were doing, meeting up at such an hour.
“If it’s all the same,” Willa said, “I’d rather go outside.”
Nick nodded, looking relieved, and held the door open for her.
The cold air was welcome after everything that had happened. Out here, there was fresh air, a clear sky filled with stars, and flurries drifting gently to the ground. A few men hollered at each other from the saloon nearby, but it didn’t startle Willa. In fact, it felt normal. As if Creede had grown to be a part of her.
“How did you find the marshal so quickly?” Nick asked after a moment. They’d taken a few steps away from the door and the clerk’s eager eyes.
“He was just outside. Apparently he’d been called to break up a fight at the Frogs Knees and was on his way home for the night.”
“That was lucky.”
Willa thought for a moment. Between the marshal’s appearance and the money clip on the chair, it felt as if there were something more at work. Something larger than themselves. “No, I believe it was Christmas.”
Nick tilted his head, as if he didn’t quite understand, but that was all right. The spirit of the holiday had been at work all along, and although Willa still felt some anger and disappointment toward her father, she also felt peace. They would be fine. He was getting better, and she’d already forgiven him. More than anything, she wanted that feeling to grow.
“Nick—”
“No, please. Let me speak first.” He looked at her with pleading eyes, so dark in the snow and the lamplight that she couldn’t see their usual color.
When she didn’t reply, he went on. “I was wrong to enter that wagon, and I apologize for it. I should have left well enough alone when you asked me to, but I’ve always had a zealous sense of curiosity, and I let it get the better of me. I’m sorry, Willa.”
He held his hands at his side, and more than anything, she ached to have him take hold of her own hands, but it felt as if he had more to say. “All right,” she said, hoping he might continue.
“But when I found out, I was torn. I thought at first I wouldn’t tell you about it. You’d specifically told me you didn’t want to know, but Willa . . .” Anguish crossed his face, making it so hard for her to simply stand there without laying a reassuring hand on his arm or telling him all would be fine. “I love you,” he finally said.
Her heart melted. “Nick . . .”
“I couldn’t keep that kind of secret from you. Not when I hoped we might spend our lives together. How could I do that to you?”
Spend their lives together? Willa drew in a breath. What was he saying?
“Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?” he asked, raw emotion written across his face.
“I . . .” Willa couldn’t find the words, not when her heart was tripping over itself and her head felt dizzy.
“I understand if you can’t,” he said, his features falling. He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I thought I might remain here, but perhaps it would be best if—”
“Yes.”
He blinked at her. “Yes?”
“Yes, of course I forgive you. Nick, I . . . I love you.”
Her words hung in the air between them. Nick’s breath frosted the air, and the snow fell lightly to the ground. Somewhere, off in the distance, came the familiar notes of “O Tannenbaum.”
Nick’s mouth opened. He shook his head, and then a smile bloomed, changing his entire expression. He reached forward and crushed her to him. Willa laughed, loud and joyful. She’d never felt so happy in her entire life. Even after everything, she wouldn’t trade any of it for this moment.
He took her face in his hands and beamed down at her. “I love you too. Willa Rousseau—”
