Josie ran. Faster thanshe’d ever run in her life, and she didn’t look back. She burst through the doors of the church, frantically trying to figure out where to go. There couldn’t be a ceremony if she wasn’t there. And if she was fast enough, she could get home first and warn George.
George, who stood right in front of her.
She stopped. It wasn’t just George standing in front of her with a shotgun, but Faith and Beau, nosy Mrs. Purcell, and a few other men from town—all armed. “Where? How?” she sputtered, before Faith reached out, grabbed her by the arm, and yanked her toward them.
Arlen and Sheriff Darcy burst through the doors, immediately followed by Mr. Porter and his men. And then Pastor Collins. Arlen and Sheriff Darcy turned to join the townspeople, while Porter and the others came to a quick stop across from them.
“I’d say you best put down your guns,” Darcy said. “I believe we have you outnumbered.”
The men looked at each other, and then, one by one, they laid down their weapons. All except Mr. Finnegan, who took off running. Being short of stature, it wasn’t long before Sheriff Darcy caught up with him.
“How did you know to come?” Josie asked Faith as Arlen helped the sheriff round up Porter and the others.
“I went to the livery to drop off some mail to Becca, and she mentioned you came looking for Mr. Thomas. Your horse was still stabled, and, well . . . I can’t explain it but something felt wrong. And when I saw the sheriff and Mr. Thomas riding for the church, Iknewsomething was wrong. I told Beau just as your brother burst in. He said Mr. Thomas had come to town to look for you, and he’d been too worried to stay back at the ranch. We found a few others, and here we are.”
Josie flung her arms around her friend. “I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”
Faith held her by the arms. “Thank me by following your heart.”
Josie hugged her again.
“Josie.” George’s voice sounded from behind her.
She turned. There he was, whole and healthy, and with that annoyingI told you sosmirk. “I’m sorry,” she said, throwing her arms around him.
“No, I’m the one who should apologize,” George said.
Josie leaned back to assess her older brother.
“I shouldn’t have sent for a husband for you. I only worried that I wasn’t doing well by you, and that Papa would be disappointed in me. So I tried to do what he would have wanted.” He paused. “It was meddlesome, and I should have trusted you to make your own decisions.”
“Thank you.” It didn’t matter how she felt about Arlen. This apology from George meant everything to her. “You don’t know how much heart I take from that.”
“We’re partners, you and I,” he said. “And you need to know that I have all the faith in the world in you.”
Josie thought she might cry right there in the street, and so it was a blessing when Arlen appeared beside them, distracting her.
“I’ll see if the sheriff needs any assistance,” George said with a knowing grin before slipping away.
So many emotions rose inside Josie as he stood there.
“Are you all right?” Arlen asked the very second Josie said, “I didn’t want to marry him.”
They both laughed.
“I know you didn’t,” Arlen said. “What did he say to persuade you?”
“He threatened George. I couldn’t live with that.”
“I understand. Are you hurt?”
Josie shook her head. “I’m fine. Especially now.” She gave him a little smile. Faith had told her to follow her heart. And never had Josie been so sure of what was in her heart than when she’d stood in front of the pastor, about to be married to Mr. Porter.
It was high time Arlen knew it too.
“I . . . Arlen . . .” Why was it so hard to put it into words?
“I love you,” he blurted out. “I know you told me you had no use for a husband, and while I admit I saw that as a challenge, I also respected your feelings on the matter. But Josie Cummings Gresham, I’ve fallen deeply in love with you, and I need you to know that.”
