At the Crossroads (Buckhorn, Montana #3)(73)

He laughed and looked up into Montana’s big blue sky overhead. This time there was no doubt. He felt as if Tory was giving them her blessing. “Thank you,” he whispered and stepped into this new life, feeling younger than he had in a very long time.

CULHANE WALKED OUTSIDE a free man and took a breath of the cold mountain air. He’d been cleared of all charges. The investigation of former sheriff Willy Garwood, however, was continuing.

If it went to trial, Culhane might be called in to testify. But with Dick Furu’s testimony, the prosecutor didn’t really need too much more. The former sheriff would be going to prison. For how long would depend on whether or not Garwood’s rich and powerful friends helped him out.

Right now, all he could think about was going to Alexis. Thanks to Earl Ray, he’d been kept up to date on her condition. She was being released today. The ex-military man had pulled some strings and gotten him and Alexis out of a legal mess much sooner than he’d thought possible. Even better, Earl Ray had kept him informed of Alexis’s medical status. He’d been relieved to hear that the bullet had only grazed her skull, leaving what Earl Ray said would be a cute scar but that she and baby were doing fine.

But as he neared the curb, he saw Earl Ray standing beside his pickup waiting for him.

“What’s this?” Culhane asked, suddenly worried that maybe things weren’t as good as he’d told him.

“Hop in and I’ll tell you,” Earl Ray said smiling.

Culhane balked. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me and Alexis. I owe you a debt of gratitude, but I need to see her. I need to know that she really is all right.”

“I understand, but take my word for it, she’s fine. Your lawyer and I agree that this other matter needs to be settled first. Indulge me just for a little while. Alexis is being picked up by her parents from the hospital as we speak. She’s going to their house for a while.”

That set off alarm bells. Admittedly after everything they’d been through, he could understand that she might be having second thoughts about a lot of things—him especially. But what about the baby? Earl Ray had assured him that the baby was fine. Still, he needed to get to her to see for himself that she and the baby were really doing well.

“If she is all right, why is she going to—”

“They just want to spoil her for a little while. She’s fine, I promise.”

“And the baby?” he’d asked, heart in his throat.

“The baby is fine, too.”

Culhane finally let himself breathe. Still he couldn’t wait to see her, put his arms around her and hold her. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you,” Culhane said.

“I just did what I could.” Apparently the man could do a lot. “I promise I won’t take much of your time. Consider it a favor. It’s something I promised to show you.”

“You promised who?” Culhane asked suspiciously as he and Earl Ray climbed into the truck.

“I’m sure you’re aware that your father’s lawyer has been trying to reach you for some time,” the older man said as he started the engine.

Culhane groaned under his breath. “I don’t care about the money.”

“So I’ve heard. Anyway, when I told him I was planning to see you today, he gave me something that I promised to pass on.”

AS THEY DROVE out of town, Culhane saw Christmas lights and decorations adorning houses and businesses everywhere he looked. He’d almost forgotten about the holiday—something he purposely had done since he was twelve. Until this year. It would be his first with Alexis as a couple.

He wanted to start a new tradition with her—after years of believing he could never enjoy it because of the painful memories of his mother.

He’d been trying to come up with something special for Alexis for Christmas—something other than the engagement ring he’d been carrying around. Asking her to marry him was only part of it. He wanted to give her something that would make her brown eyes turn that warm honey color he so loved.

Culhane felt as if he’d wasted so much time digging his heels in about getting serious. The moment he’d met her, he’d felt that special something, and yet he’d held off even asking her out. He’d been afraid that she’d disappoint him. Or worse, that he’d disappoint her.

Alexis had turned out to be like no woman he’d ever met. With Alexis, what you saw was what you got. She was the most honest person he knew. So why had she kept the pregnancy from him?

Because, you fool, you’d said you wanted no part of marriage and babies.

That’s because he had wanted to be honest with her. At that time, it was true. But that was before he’d gotten to really know her. All he’d been thinking about this past year was spending the rest of his life with her, making a home, making a family.

But you haven’t told her that.

“How do I convince Alexis to marry me without her thinking it’s just about the baby?” he asked Earl Ray as the two of them drove out of town twenty minutes later.

The older man laughed. “I’ve been such a fool myself, I’m probably the wrong person to be giving you advice. But I will, anyway, because I can see that you both love each other. Am I wrong?” Culhane shook his head. “A simple proposal won’t do it. She needs to know what you have planned for your future together now that there are going to be three of you. I understand you aren’t interested in going back to your job as deputy.”