Laurel, p.36
Laurel, page 36
He wandered up the canyon. The remains of Laurel's adobe reminded him of the ruins of his dreams, the unused chute of the unused capacity to love he had only just discovered. He turned his footstep toward the small meadow where he had shared the happiest moments of his life.
It was Laurel's meadow. Did he have the right to be here?
Yes, his memories were there along with hers. He wanted to be close to them. It was all he had left.
* * * * *
Hen saw her the moment she stepped into the sunlight. She seemed to pause a moment as her gaze swept the meadow, then she began to run toward him. He stood rooted to the spot. He closed his eyes and opened them again, but Laurel was still there. Adam, too. Both of them running toward him. It was no trick.
For a moment Hen couldn't move. The past was like anchors weighing his feet to the ground. He couldn't believe Laurel and Adam could love him enough to forget everything he was.
Then he realized it was because of who he was that Laurel loved him. Just as he loved her. He hadn't wanted perfection. He had fallen in love with a woman who needed him as much as he needed her.
Hen swept aside a lingering fear that she had only come back to warn him or give him a message. He was running toward her, his arms held out, his heart open. She ran into his embrace. He lifted her in the air and swung her around in his happiness to be holding her once again.
"I couldn't go," she said, between kisses made salty by her tears. "Are you really going to start a ranch on the Pecos?"
"As soon as I can find myself a wife."
"And you're not going to be a sheriff again?"
"Never."
"Then I would very much like it if you would marry me and take us with you."
"Are you sure? Ranching's not all that safe. I could fall off a horse or stumble and break my neck."
"I'll take my chances. However many years we have, Adam and I want to spend them with you. He'll probably turn into your shadow before the week's out."
Hen sobered. "How does he feel about me?"
"Ask him."
Adam stood back, just outside the circle of their arms, waiting, hoping to be invited in.
Hen turned to him. "I want to marry your ma. Is that all right with you?"
Adam nodded.
Holding Laurel's hand, Hen knelt down before Adam. "I've got another question. It's real important you tell me the truth. Will you do that?"
Adam nodded.
"Do you think you can like me enough for me to adopt you? I want you to be my son."
Adam threw himself into Hen's arms. Hugging the boy close to his chest, Hen stood up. Laurel's eyes were swimming with tears.
"I think that's a yes," she said.
Hen put his other arm around her. "There's something I want you to do for me, too. I want to adopt Jordy. He deserves a lot better than sleeping in livery stables and begging meals from Mrs. Worthy."
"Does that mean he'll be my brother?" Adam asked, unburying his head from Hen's shoulder.
"It sure does."
"Can I tell him?"
"I don't see why not."
Adam wriggled loose, dropped to the ground, and headed for the trail at a run. He stopped and turned back. "Shorty Baker is gonna bust a gut when he hears this."
Laurel laughed as she watched her son disappear into the trees. "You sure you can stand this much family?"
"You forget I have six brothers."
"I tend to think of you as being by yourself."
"I used to be, but not any longer."
Laurel reached into her pocket and withdrew an envelope which she handed to Hen.
"What's that?" he asked.
"Proof Carlin and I were married."
Hen handed it back.
"Don't you want to see it?"
"No. Save it for Adam."
Laurel slipped her arm around her husband's waist. It had taken her a while, but she had truly gotten everything she wanted.
Epilogue
Laurel felt like she was dreaming. She was getting married. In a church. In front of the whole town. And she was wearing a wedding dress Rose had brought with her. Hen, backed by his six imposing brothers, was already inside. She had asked Miranda and Hope to be her bridesmaids, Mrs. Worthy her matron of honor. They were all waiting for her to get up the courage to start down the aisle.
"Let's get going, Ma," Adam begged. "These clothes are killing me." He wore a suit belonging to Ruth Norton's younger son. He looked so handsome it brought a lump to Laurel's throat.
"It's easy after the first step," Iris whispered. "I would have walked barefoot over cactus to marry Monty."
"I'm okay," Laurel said.
"You sure."
She nodded.
"Come on, ma." Adam begged. "Jordy and Tommy will get all the food if you don't hurry."
Hen had insisted that Adam walk down the aisle with Laurel. I want everybody to know I'm marrying both of you.
Laurel still found it hard to believe she was marrying such a wonderful man, that she had so many friends anxious to stand up for her, that the whole town had turned out for her wedding. And it was all because she had fallen in love with Hen. She hadn't wanted to. She'd tried to drive him away.
She smiled to herself. Hen never listened to anybody. He always thought he knew best. Fortunately for her, this time he had. He'd already made most of the decisions about their ranch. She smiled again. Let him. She'd struggled alone for seven years. She didn't have anything else to prove. She was going to let Hen take care of her, and she was going to enjoy every minute of it.
She intended to take care of him, too. She meant to love him a little more each day. She had made a vow to make him believe he was worthy of her love. She hoped to give him children. He deserved a child of his own body. She planned to keep him happy, content, and to put some meat on his bones. He was too skinny. She wanted him to look just as impressive as Monty. She liked Iris, but she didn't mean to let her man have the edge.
And she meant to keep Hen safe. She had made sure to pack her shotgun. Any gunslinger who came looking for him would have to deal with her first.
Laurel reached out and grasped her son's hand. "Let's go."
"It's about time," Adam said, pulling at his shirt collar. "Shorty Baker's making faces at me. I'm going to knock his block off the minute I get out of this coat."
About the Author
Leigh Greenwood is the award-winning author of over fifty books, many of which have appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. Leigh lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. Please visit his website at http://www.leigh-greenwood.com/ .
Greenwood, Leigh, Laurel
