Taking Charge (Lone Star Burn #4)(72)

Steven wrapped his arms around her and quietly sobbed against her neck. “I’m so sorry, Lucy. I had to get out. I wanted to talk to you so many times, but I was ashamed of how I left. I didn’t think you’d want to see me.”

Lucy held her brother’s face in her hands and said, “You’re my brother, Steven. Nothing you do can change that.”

Steven nodded and wiped his face. “David told me you’d say that. We need to talk about the ranch, though. I have a job in Nevada. It’s a good one. I can help you out now. If you still need me.”

“Money isn’t necessary, but I will always need you.” As she said the words, she realized how much she meant them. So much of what she’d thought mattered didn’t. Steven was alive and looking as if he was on a good path. That’s all that mattered.

“You found yourself a good man.”

Lucy smiled through the tears still pouring down her cheeks. “I know exactly how lucky I am. I want to go see him, but I don’t want you to leave.”

“I’ll be right here when you’re done.”

Lucy wanted to ask him to promise. She felt a familiar fear nip at her heels, but she kicked it back. No amount of promising would make Steven stay if he wanted to go. She couldn’t decide what he would do, but she was in control of who she was and what she did. She had always believed in people, and it was time to start doing that again.

Believing was a choice. It wasn’t easy, but without it, life held no magic. She gave her brother a kiss on the cheek and headed in to see David.

He was sitting up in his hospital bed with a bandage on his head, looking miserable until he saw her. His face lit up, and she had no doubt how he felt about her. He looked down at his hospital gown. “Not exactly how I hoped to look when I saw you next.”

Lucy ran across the room and threw herself into his arms. They kissed long and deeply, like the reunited lovers they were. When they finally broke the kiss, Lucy said, “I love you, David Harmon. I love you so much, I’ll beat your ass if you ever do anything that foolish again. I want to marry you, raise a family, and live happily ever after with you. We can live in Mavis or Fort Mavis or on the moon. I don’t care as long as we’re together.”

David chuckled and hugged her tightly to his chest. “You stole my speech.”

“You stole my heart.”

They kissed again deeply. “I have missed you so much. I’m sorry about lying to you.”

Lucy hugged him tightly. “I understand why you did it. I’m sorry I doubted you. I never will again.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too. Now shut up and kiss me again.”

“Gladly.” And he did. A lot. She started smiling even through their kisses.

He raised his head, sporting a huge smile of his own. “Now that we have that settled, can you get me out of here? I want to go home.”

“Which one?”

“Whichever one you’re at will be just fine.”





Chapter Twenty-Four


On a beautiful sunny afternoon two months later, Lucy stood with her arm linked with Steven’s, waiting for the music to begin. The flurry of getting primped and made up was done. All she had to do now was walk down the aisle, not trip over the hem of the most beautiful dress she’d ever worn, and say, “I do.”

Lined up in front of her were Chelle, Melanie, and Sarah in classic navy bridesmaid dresses. David had said he wanted Lucy to have the wedding of her dreams; his only request was that they marry soon. He was impatient for her to be Mrs. Harmon.

Lucy had chosen to have their ceremony on the lawn of Ribblan Ranch, their new home in Fort Mavis. It would be a celebration not only of their wedding, but of the new life they were starting together. It was a simple setting: just white chairs in rows facing a makeshift altar beneath a large tree near the house. The view of the valley below was spectacular, though.

She couldn’t look out at the people waiting for the ceremony to start and not reflect on how grateful she was for how her life had changed. David was a large part of it, but even though they were marrying, she’d paid him back the full amount he’d loaned her for her ranch. Saving her ranch, knowing that she’d done what her mother had asked her to, had freed her.

She and David had talked about the future of her partnership with TAP. Although David loved trying out the toys and reading her blog, he asked her if it was her dream job. When Lucy had admitted that marketing was her dream, but not necessarily marketing for one business, he encouraged her to look into helping other companies, also. Lucy had been afraid it would take her away from David and their new home, but he assured her they could make it work. And she believed him—because David didn’t say anything he didn’t mean. She trusted him in a way she never thought she would trust anyone again.

The open setting allowed Lucy to see David as he stood with the minister, waiting for her. Their eyes met, and even across the distance, she saw his love for her shining in his eyes. She blew him a kiss and hugged Steven’s arm to her side.

Steven bent toward her and said, “Mom and Dad are looking down, and they’re proud of you.”

Lucy glanced up at him. “You too, Steven. Your suggestion that we give the ranch to Wyatt, but keep the mineral rights would have made both of them happy. He has been family to us, and he loves that place.”