“There’s no misunderstanding.” Rafe grabbed hold of Mr. Donahue’s collar and lifted him from the floor. “You kidnapped my wife from our home and attempted to force her to annul our marriage so you could marry her. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t hit you again.”
Hannah looked at Deputy Jackson, hoping he might step in. But he simply watched what was happening.
“Rafe,” Hannah said.
He looked up at her.
“All I want is to go home with you,” she said.
Rafe nodded, some of the anger blazing in his eyes subsiding. He dropped Mr. Donahue to the ground and rose, stepping back and allowing Deputy Jackson to approach with a pair of handcuffs.
Hannah held out her hand, and Rafe moved around the others to take it as Mr. Brown scurried away, likely trying to get out before anyone asked him any questions. She clasped her arms around him. “You found me.”
“I’ll always find you,” he said, pressing a hand against the back of her head to hold her close. “I promised to keep you safe.”
Hannah closed her eyes, breathing in the comforting scent of him. “I remembered.”
“Are you all right? Did he hurt you?” He moved his hands to either side of her head and leaned it back to look her in the eyes.
“I’m fine, now that you’re here.” She gazed up at him, drinking in every feature of his face before lifting a hand to trace the line of his jaw. “I love you, Rafe Garland. I don’t think I realized how much until I was taken from you.”
He swallowed but he didn’t look away. “I love you, too, Hannah.” His voice was deep with emotion, and it was all Hannah wanted to hear.
“Will you say it again?” she asked.
“I love you.” And then he gathered her up in his arms in a kiss that made her forget about everything that had happened.
This was all she wanted. Rafe, and a life with him. Making the decision to place that advertisement had led to this moment, and she would give it up for nothing. No one could come between them, and heaven help the man who tried.
“Rafe,” she whispered against his lips, wanting to tell him again that she loved him. But he captured her mouth again, so swiftly and so intensely that her mind spun. She clung to him, never wanting to let go.
“I can’t go serving food in here with you two. Get on out of here.” A hoarse female voice said from nearby.
Rafe made a groaning sound against Hannah’s lips before pulling away. He kept his arms around her, which was a relief because she didn’t think she could stand otherwise.
A woman Hannah presumed was the boardinghouse cook stood next to them, arms crossed. A slight smile lightened her face for just a second before she gestured toward the door. “Go on now, or these folks will carry you out.”
Rafe wrapped an arm around Hannah’s shoulders, and together they followed Deputy Jackson and a handcuffed Mr. Donahue past the crowd and through the door.
Back to Perseverance with her husband.
Back home.
Epilogue
Sixyearslater.. .
“Daddy!” A pair of short legs and a chubby body slammed into Rafe’s leg the second he walked through the door.
“Daniel, give your father a second to close the door,” Hannah said as she wiped her hands on a towel.
The little boy paid her no mind as he clung to Rafe’s leg and stared up at him. He and his older brother, Seth, looked exactly like their father with their dark hair and dark eyes. Hannah counted herself lucky that at least their daughter took after her, or she might have started feeling left out.
“Tally’s asleep,” Hannah said, nodding at their baby’s bassinet near the bed. “Seth is off playing with Flynn again.” Their oldest son followed Will and Mercy’s eldest boy around like a puppy.
Rafe finally managed to close the door, and a few snow flurries blew their way in from the force of it. “That means I have to go back out to fetch him later.” He cast a dejected look at the door.
Hannah laughed. “I’m happy to collect him.” She crossed to the window as Rafe picked up Daniel and danced him up into the air. The little boy squealed with joy.
