Tilly rested her free hand on his chest, and he opened his eyes. “Yes, I worried. Of course I did. But that happens in life. It’s nothing you should apologize for. And as for the other . . .” She trailed off and looked down, not sure if she wanted to see the truth in his eyes. “Do you want to be married to me now? It’s all right if you don’t. I’ll understand.” Her voice broke a little on the last word, giving away exactly how difficult it would be if he said he didn’t.
“Tilly,” he said softly after a second. When she didn’t look up, he rested his fingers beneath her chin and lifted it until she was looking him in the eye. “I wasn’t certain at first. It was all so new and unexpected and, honestly, I was afraid. But now? Now I can’t live without you. I love you. I realized that earlier today as I was deciding what to do next. The thought of you is what made me come here and stand up to Dutch Rodgers.”
Tilly blinked as tears filled her eyes. “You . . . love me?”
He smiled. “I love you.”
Before she could comprehend what that meant, he raised his head and met her lips. Tilly closed her eyes as his hand moved to cup her cheek. This was everything she wanted. But there was one thing she needed to tell him first.
She pulled back just slightly and opened her eyes. “I love you too, Liam Hannan.”
He smiled at her then. “In everything that happened, I didn’t have the opportunity to tell you that I did find a place for us. It’sjust a room behind the church, but I promise it won’t be like that for long.”
“I don’t care where it is, so long as you’re there with me,” she said.
That made him smile even more. His hand moved to the back of her head, and he pulled her down to kiss her again. Joy rose like the sun inside Tilly as his lips parted hers. This was the marriage she’d dreamed of—a man just like Liam and a happiness that was impossible to chase away.
And even though she knew it wouldn’t always be easy and that difficult times would come again, she could weather them with Liam at her side. If they were together, nothing could break them. Almost as if he knew what she was thinking, Liam leaned back and looked at her.
“You’ve made me so happy,” he said.
Tilly smiled at him. If only he knew how happy he’d made her. She closed the space between them, catching him by surprise when she kissed him. He laughed beneath her lips.
It didn’t matter that Dutch Rodgers was still just down the hallway. In the morning, he would be gone.
And their lives could start again—together.
Epilogue
CHRISTMAS DAY
“It’s freezing out here. You two will catch your death if you don’t come in soon,” Edie said when she poked her head outside the door to find Tilly and Liam nestled together outside.
“We’ll be in shortly,” Liam called.
Edie shook her head even though she was smiling as she shut the door.
Tilly twisted her neck to look up at Liam. “I imagine Jamie is making a fuss about eating dessert.”
“Wiley too. I’ve never seen a man put food away like my brother-in-law,” Liam replied. “It won’t hurt them to wait a few more minutes. It’s Christmas Day, and patience is a virtue.”
Tilly laughed and tugged his arms tighter around her. The truth was, they were enjoying every second of this time alone. The town was quiet, as most folks had gone inside for their own Christmas dinners, and out here it felt like it was just them, the silent expanse of the road and the railroad tracks, and the soaring mountains, all draped in a fresh coat of white snow.
“It’s perfect.” Tilly almost breathed out the words, afraid that speaking too loudly might interrupt the moment.
