Page 56 of Rancher to the Rescue

She met his gaze, her eyes were wide, and he saw so much emotion behind those beautiful blues. Her thick glasses couldn’t hide the beauty there. “The same thing happened to me, like a lightning bolt.”

“I don’t know if I’m Angel’s father but I already feel like we’re supposed to be a family. Together. The three of us,” he continued.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself, Adam,” she said. “What do we do with it, though?”

“Make a commitment right here and now,” he said without hesitation. Knowing she’d felt that same jolt when they’d met spurred him on. “I have fallen in love with you. Hard.” He saw the glittery need in her eyes. “I’ve been around a long time and dated more people than I care to count trying to find something missing in my life. Turns out, nothing was. I’m whole. You’re whole. And I’m a whole lot better when you’re with me. What I’m saying is that I love you, Prudence.”

She brought her hand up to cover a gasp. And then she studied him. Really studied him.

A wide smile broke out on her face as she dropped her hand.

“I love you too, Adam. And I can’t imagine ever loving anyone more,” she said.

“It’s crazy because I thought I missed my chance. That love and a family was going to work out fine for my brothers. But because I waited, I thought I’d somehow missed my chance,” he said. “Until you came along. And then I realized why it had never been right before. Because I hadn’t met you.”

“That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me before, Adam Firebrand.”

“Then make me the happiest person in the world.”

She gasped a second time as he reached for her hand, taking it in his, and he could feel hers trembling ever so slightly. “Marry me, Prudence. Allow me to spend the rest of our lives getting to know you and proving to you every day that you made the right choice.”

Now it was his turn to be nervous. It was a strange sensation. One he’d never felt before. And yet, with Prudence he figured there was so much more to explore.

“Yes,” she said instantly. “I’ll marry you, Adam. I’ve never been in love with anyone like I love you. And whether Angel turns out to be ours or not, she’ll always be part of our family.”

Adam kissed his future bride, his love, his life.

And one word came to mind…home.

A horn honked, breaking into the moment. Prudence pulled back and laughed. Mischief danced in her eyes—eyes that he couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life staring into.

She shifted into reverse and then made her way to the exit.

“Miss Peabody and Hutch will make great additions to the main house,” Adam said. “My cabin isn’t big enough for all five of us.”

“Will your family be okay with us moving in like that?” she asked.

“You saw how few people were willing to go inside now that the Marshall is gone. I imagine we won’t get too much blow-back if we go through the right channels,” he said. “Besides, the only time that place has ever felt like home has been with you, Angel, and the dogs in it. It’s time for a change around Firebrand Ranch.”

Change was inevitable. In this case, it was time to breathe new life into the old place. And he figured his father and uncle had bigger battles to fight.

“I love it there,” Prudence said and that was all he needed to hear.

“Then, we’ll start moving in tonight,” he said.

“What if she…”

She couldn’t seem to finish her sentence, but he knew exactly what she was going to say.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” he said. “Either way, we’ll find a way to have her as part of our lives.”

“You knew her mother best. It’s important to keep her memory alive,” Prudence said from a voice of experience. “We never talked about my parents or my sister after the murders.”

“That’s a done deal,” he said without hesitation. He absolutely planned to ensure that Libby’s memory was alive and well for Angel. “Do you have any pictures of your family to put up in our new house?”

He hadn’t seen any at Prudence’s home.

“In a box in the attic,” she admitted. “I’m not sure why I never took them out.”