“I will take her,” Alvarez said, putting his hand on Angeline’s shoulder. She closed her fingers around the knife she’d been concealing. Was this her chance?

  “Take your own daughter? I don’t think so,” the man said. “I’ll do it.”

  Alvarez hauled her up and dragged her around the table to the man. Josephine cried out and lunged for her. “No!” she yelled. “Leave her!”

  “It’s okay,” Angeline said. “I’ll be fine.”

  Her mother was crying, and another thug came to restrain her. Angeline slipped the knife into her apron pocket and went with the thug to the dinning room. She wanted to go. It was her chance.

  In the dining room, she found Tucker lying bloody and bruised with his face on the table. His eyes were swelling shut and blood seeped from his mouth. His father had red welts on his cheeks as though he’d been hit, but less hard.

  “Right,” Oswald said, wiping his hands on his handkerchief. “I can’t believe how hard you’re making this, Tucker. Just sign the papers. Your father did—now it’s your turn.”

  Tucker shook his head. “No,” he said.

  “Right. Liam, cut her little finger off,” Oswald ordered.

  Tucker screamed. Angeline, lost as to what was going on, shrank back. She reached into her pocket and, as people tried to restrain Tucker, she slipped the thug’s grip and dove at Oswald. Her knife was sharp, and it sliced him across the neck in a clumsy jagged line. Blood welled and spilled from the wound. Oswald’s eyes grew wide.

  Angeline stepped back, shock running through her. She’d never done anything like that before in her life. Was he going to die? Had she really slit his throat? It wasn’t a very long cut, but it was bleeding.

  Angeline turned to Tucker in time for the thug to punch her in the stomach. She doubled over and hit the floor, gasping for breath.

  Suddenly, gunshots rang through the air and people shouted all around her. Angeline just kept trying to breathe. A man fell beside her, blood seeping from a relatively small wound in his chest. His eyes were glazed, and he was clearly dead. She had no time to ponder this as before she could move, one of the thugs fell on top of her and everything went black.

  Epilogue

  Two days later

  Tucker hated this room. It was white, sterile, and dull. But then, it was a hospital, and he supposed there were worse places to be. In a box in the ground was one. His wounds were healing nicely. His broken ribs would take a good while longer to mend, and he wouldn’t regain full vision in both eyes for a few more days. So, for now he was relegated to a bed with white sheets in this white room.

  He sighed.

  “Don’t sigh so,” someone said.

  Turning, Tucker saw the blurry form of Enola standing over him. He recognized her sandy hair, which was much the same as his.

  “Enola,” he said.

  “Ethan,” she repliedand sat in the visitors’ chair next to his bed. “I take it you can see me a little better than yesterday?”

  “Yes, you’re just a bit of blur,” he said.

  “Amazing you can see anything through those purple grapefruits you’re calling eyes,” she said. “They did a masterful job on you.”

  “I’m sure that’s what they were aiming for,” he said, shifting. Everything hurt, from his head to his toes. And with nothing to distract himself, he was wallowing in the pain.

  Enola took his hand in hers and he was grateful for the contact. He squeezed her hand.

  “Have you seen Angeline today?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Enola said, “I’ve just come from seeing her. She’s doing well. Her ribs will also heal. I can’t believe that man fell on her with enough force to break two ribs and her collarbone. Poor thing. Her concussion is also better. She should get out of here around the same time as you. Won’t that be sweet?”

  “Sophie?” Tucker asked. “Is she alright? I know she made it to the sheriff’s but—”

  “She came to see you, but you were asleep,” Enola said. “She has a sniffle but she will be fine. Harry’s looking after her and Henry, who was very helpful when the sheriff arrived. He told them everything that had been going on and how many men there were. I never thought the old codger had it in him.”

  “Me either,” Tucker said. “He proved quite a blessing. And how is Mal doing?”

  “He’s fine. Being discharged now. But I think there’s at least one nurse who will be sad to see the big man leave. Her name is Betty, and she’s besotted with him,” Enola said.

  Tucker had never known Mal to court anyone. Perhaps things would change. He’d like to see his best friend happily married.

  “You might be interested to know,” Enola continued, “Angeline’s father has been coming to visit her. He’s trying to mend bridges.”

  Tucker had heard something about one of the gunmen being Angeline’s father and had dismissed it as an impossibility.

  “So, he’s really her father?”

  “Definitely,” Enola said. “He’s been talking to her and her mother quite a bit. They were inclined to listen to him when he turned on Oswald’s men, and shot six of them, before the sheriff could get through the kitchen door. He is marvelously fast with those guns of his.”

  Tucker took it all in and couldn’t quite wrap his mind around it. It seemed too strange to be real. “Where has he been all this time?” he asked, meaning Angeline’s father.

  “Oh, various jobs, working as a hired gun. But lately he’d been working for legitimate businessmen instead of thugs and he’d started thinking about family and life and regrets,” Enola said, sounding wistful. “I guess he’s gotten on in years and wanted to make amends, or at least peace, with his past. He came to Texas to find Josephine and talk to her.”

  “I’m sure that’s going well,” Tucker said sardonically.

  Enola moved. He could only see the blur of her movement. He was aching again and wished the nurses would come with some laudanum. The pain in his ribs was truly awful.

  “What I don’t understand,” Enola said, “is why did you have to sign the contract, as well? I thought Father owned everything?”

  Tucker chuckled and winced. When the fire in his chest had died down, he said, “Father is a smart man. He had the lawyer add me as a director of the farm. Apparently, he’d done it ages ago and never told anyone. Including Oswald. It was only when his employers’ lawyer drew up the contract that he found out I also had to sign. So, they had to bring father to the farm to make me sign.”

  “That went well for them,” Enola said. “I don’t envy Oswald when he recovers. He’s going to have a lot to answer for.”

  “What?” Tucker asked. “Oswald is alive?”

  “Oh, yes,” Enola said. “The authorities are very keen to talk to him.”

  That made Tucker smile. Hopefully Oswald would spend a long, long time in jail.

  Enola sighed. “Well, you look exhausted. I’ll come and visit again tomorrow.” She leaned in and kissed his forehead. “Take care, big brother.”

  Tucker smiled and soon sleep took him.

  ***

  October slipped into November, and that month too slipped by. Soon enough, it was December.

  Tucker and everyone else had fully recovered from their injuries and life had returned to normal. Well, sort of. Jose Alvarez was a new inclusion in the family—he had certainly gone out of his way to make amends. Josephine would probably never fully forgive him, but Angeline was willing to give him a chance.

  He could have told the other thugs about the knife Angeline picked up off the table, but he hadn’t. And it had made all the difference. Tucker was willing to give the man a chance, and that was why there was an extra guest at a very special event.

  “Do I look alright?”

  Tucker blinked and turned his attention to Henry. The older man stood before the mirror in his room and fiddled with his cravat.

  “It has to be perfect,” he said.

  “It is, Henry,” Tucker’s father said. He poured a little brandy into a glass from a decanter on the dresser. Then, walking across the room, he handed the glass to Henry. “Bottoms up, old man! It will take the nerves away.”

  “Oh, thank you, Edwin,” Henry said. “I can’t believe how nervous I am.”

  “I’m sure the fact that the father of her child is a crack shot and is here has nothing to do with it,” Tucker said.

  “Ethan!” his father snapped. “Honestly, if you can’t be encouraging then you’d better leave.”

  Chuckling, Tucker left the room and went downstairs. The whole place was in an uproar and Sunflower looked grumpier than ever, and he avoided her as she yelled at some poor soul for doing something wrong.

  He met Angeline coming the other way. She was breathtaking. Dressed in a buttercup yellow dress with her hair mostly up but some of it hanging down in curls, she made his heart beat a lot faster.

  “Tuck,” she said when she saw him. “How’s Henry?”

  Tucker took her hand and pulled her into what turned out to be the broom closet.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, laughter mixed with mistrust in her voice.

  “I’m stealing a moment with the most beautiful woman in the whole place,” Tucker said, wrapping his arms around her.

  Angeline giggled and let him kiss her, just a little. Just enough to get his blood surging through him and his lust in full swing. Then she pushed him back into the brooms and, opening the door, vanished from sight with a wild laugh.

  Tucker spent a few moments gathering himself before stepping out and walking causally out to the Williams’ barn. It had been cleaned out, the cows housed elsewhere, for this momentous occasion. After all, it wasn’t every day that the master of the house got married.

  He met everyone on the way to the barn, where Mal was helping to hang lanterns. His new love, a young nurse named Betty, smiled at Tucker.

  “You looked flushed. Are you running a fever?” she asked, raising a hand to feel his forehead.

  Tucker ducked under her arm and shook his head. “Nope. I’m just happy.” He’d had enough of nurses and medical care. And, truth be told, there was something in his pocket that was burning a hole in it.

  It had been for the last two weeks, but Tucker just hadn’t been able to find the right moment. But today. He’d do it today.

  “You done it yet?” Mal asked.

  Tucker shook his head. “Nope, not yet.”

  He ran into Enola, who was fixing a flower arrangement. She frowned. “Honestly, who gets married in December? The only flowers available are holly and ivy, and that makes it look dreadfully Christmassy, don’t you think?”

  Leonard, her husband, shrugged. “You know I have no opinion on flowers, darling.”

  Tucker smiled. That man would survive his sister. He patted his brother-in-law on the shoulder as he went by. He had no destination in mind, only knew that with his own nerves twanging, he had to keep moving.

  He made a couple of circuits of the chapel, which was the parlor, and the reception venue, the barn, and then reported back to his father that all was ready. The minister was in place, the food was just about ready, and the guests were arriving.

  When everyone was seated and Josephine was done getting ready, the wedding began. He sat down in front with Sophie and Harry. That relationship seemed to be blooming nicely. Sophie was sporting a large diamond on her finger and their wedding would be in April.

  It truly seemed that all was turning out for the best. Now all he had to do was find the courage to make his life nothing but roses.

  When she walked down the aisle preceding the bride, Tucker’s breath caught in his throat. She was so beautiful. And followed by both her parents, Alvarez walking Josephine down the aisle, she seemed so proud.

  All through the ceremony, his eyes never left her as she stood by her mother. When she came and sat beside him, Tucker took her hand in his and she kissed his cheek, sending sparks through him. He wanted to marry her more than anything. But he wasn’t sure about her. She’d never mentioned getting married, having a family or anything. He wasn’t sure if it was something she’d be interested in. But as Enola and Sophie had both told him numerous times, he would never know if he didn’t ask.

  So, he would. He’d ask today.

  The ceremony ended and Josephine Murray became Josephine Williams. Her daughter shed a few happy tears that Tucker was pleased to have wet his suit jacket, and the happy couple invited everyone to celebrate with a delicious dinner and some dancing in the barn.

  First, Henry had organized a photographer to come and take some pictures.

  “For the family albums,” he said.

  And they were all drawn into pictures. Even Harris, George, and Mal were dragged in front of the camera and forced to pose. Tucker suspected there would be many generations to come who would look at these and wonder who on earth they all were.

  The day wore on. Food was served and everyone ate and drank their fill. Even his mother had a glass of wine. Only one, and she seemed to have a good time.

  “Have you asked her yet?” his mother asked. They were sitting at one of the tables with the empty plates scattered on it. She was swirling a glass of something, but Tucker didn’t ask what. He thought it might be one of Josephine’s concoctions, which were apparently not strictly alcoholic but certainly made the drinker think they were.

  “No,” Tucker said.

  A little way away on the dance floor, Angeline stood talking and laughing with Enola, Sophie, and Andrea. Whatever the joke was, it was clearly hilarious, because all four women were hanging on one another, chortling.

  “Well, do you think you might get around to it before I’m in my grave?” his mother asked. “The night is not going to get younger and there’s no better time. She’s happy and having fun. Go on! Go ask her.”

  She was right. Tucker stood. He patted his breast pocket and stepped onto the dance floor.

  He took her hand, and soon they were out in the night under the cold sky. He wrapped his jacket around her shoulders and, with very few words, asked Angeline the most important question he would ever ask.

  Her eyes glittered like the stars, and she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with such vigor and force that Tucker almost fell over.

  “I take it that’s a yes,” he asked, chuckling.

  “Yes! Yes! Of course, it’s a yes!” Angeline said.

  She kissed him then. Her lips were soft andtasted of raspberry cordial. Her body pressed against his, and Tucker knew this would be forever. He’d never forget this night, when so many things had gone right. It was the exact opposite of a night not long ago when everything could have gone wrong.

  He was eternally grateful that it hadn’t. He had the chance now to live a life of happiness, free to make his own choices with the woman he adored. And, come what may, he knew they would make it through together.

  THE END

  Can't get enough of Angeline and Ethan? Then make sure to check out the Extended Epilogue to find out…

  What joyful occasion will Angeline’s extended family gather to celebrate?

  What new challenge will the Tucker family have to face and how will they overcome it?

  What holds the future for the Tuckers’ farm??

  Click the link or enter it into your browser

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33