Epilogue #2
“It’s me he means to marry,” Rachel murmured. “Not Jennifer. They changed their plan. Nathan was going to give me to him.”
Adam’s whole body went rigid. His arms grew so tight around Rachel that it hurt. But at the same time, she didn’t want him to let go.
“We have each other over a barrel,” Adam called to Levine. “You’re not going to get Rachel. Even if she wants to return to you, I’m not going to let her. So you might as well give me Jennifer, because you aren’t going to be able to use her to manipulate Rachel. I’m taking Rachel away.”
So saying, he lifted Rachel up in his arms and turned toward Chestnut.
“No!” Rachel cried out. She struggled, but his hold was too tight. “Adam, wait—you can’t!”
“Trust me,” he breathed.
And she did trust him. In spite of everything that had happened between them, she trusted him fully and implicitly. She relaxed and allowed him to put her on the horse.
“If anything happens,” he murmured, “you ride away. Don’t try to help. The best thing you can do is to get away.”
“Not until Jennifer is safe,” she said through gritted teeth. “I trust you, but…I won’t leave without her.”
He gripped her arm briefly, saying nothing, and she wondered if he knew she meant it. Until she knew Jennifer would be safe, she wouldn’t leave.
Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might break a rib. She wrapped her arms around Chestnut’s neck and closed her eyes, unable to watch.
She heard the sound of pounding feet. An angry yell in a male voice, though she couldn’t tell who it belonged to. Jennifer screamed, and it pierced her heart.
In that moment, no Bible verses came to Rachel. There were no words. Her prayer was nothing more than a wordless cry of desperation, a plea to God to protect them all.
The fear was paralyzing. Time seemed to stop altogether, and Rachel sat frozen on Chestnut’s back. His mane pressed into her face. She forced air in and out of her lungs.
And then she felt hands on her—first on her shoulders, then wrapping around her waist—and her eyes flew open in horror.
But it was Jennifer.
Adam was lifting her onto the horse, and in the next moment he had mounted behind the two of them. He kicked Chestnut into motion and the three of them rode away.
Rachel looked back over her shoulder.
Levine and Nathan were running for horses of their own, but they were going to be too late. Adam’s head start was too big for them to make up now.
Rachel’s hand found Jennifer’s. She closed her eyes again and melted into the arms that were around her.
They were going to be all right. They were free.
***
Half an hour later, they were sitting in the sheriff’s office.
Adam hadn’t removed his arm from around Rachel’s waist, for which she was grateful. She was shivering as violently as if she had a fever, even though the office was warm and welcoming. She closed her eyes and breathed in the pine scent of the walls, still clinging to Jennifer’s hand.
“You took a risk, telling him that I was coming with a posse when I didn’t even know you were there,” Sheriff Montgomery mused.
He was sitting behind his desk. He had poured glasses of brandy for everyone, but neither Adam nor Rachel had touched theirs.
Jennifer had taken several long swallows, and to Rachel’s surprise, she was calm and steady. She was even smiling.
“I had to take that chance,” Adam said. “I had to do something to try to frighten him. I don’t think he believed me, but I startled him just enough that his attention to Jennifer faltered.
” He nodded at her. “You did well to run for the horse the moment you were able. If you hadn’t thought so quickly, I’m not sure we would have gotten away. ”
“I’m just grateful you came for us, Mr. Summers,” Jennifer said emphatically. “I don’t know what my father meant to do with me once Rachel was married, but I’m sure it wouldn’t have been good. This way, I can get away and begin the new life I wanted.”
“You’re still going?” Rachel met her gaze.
“Nothing has changed for me,” Jennifer said sadly.
“I know you’re not coming with me anymore, Rachel.
I know that this has changed everything for you.
I see it in your eyes, and in the way you let him hold you.
And it’s good. I want you to stay. I want you to have this.
You deserve to be with someone who cares for you like this.
But me…I want the freedom we talked about.
I want that future. I’m going to get on a train tonight and leave this life behind. ”
Rachel leaned forward to embrace her. “I think you should,” she whispered. “I think you’ll be much better off—much happier. But I hate to have to say goodbye now that we’ve finally found our way to one another.”
“Miss Foster, you should allow me to escort you to the train when the time comes,” Sheriff Montgomery said. “Best you not be on your own with those two about.”
Jennifer nodded her thanks. “I’d be very grateful.”
Adam rose to his feet, taking Rachel by the hand, and pulled her to the far side of the room. He lowered his voice so that they could speak somewhat privately.
“If you wanted to go with her,” he said, his gaze searching hers, “I wouldn’t…
blame you for it. I wouldn’t be angry, or…
resentful, in any way. I know what she means to you.
But I need to tell you very clearly that I don’t want you to go.
I want you to stay with me. To be with me.
” He touched her cheek. “I’m so sorry I was too frightened to say it before.
I’ve lived in fear of love—of being hurt—but my love for you is bigger than my fear.
I don’t want to lose you. I want you to marry me, Rachel. ”
She sucked in a breath, staring at his earnest expression. “Adam…”
He stroked her cheekbone with his thumb. “I know what you’ve just been through,” he murmured. “You don’t have to answer me right now.”
She shook her head. “I can answer.”
He inhaled sharply, his eyes going wide with hope—fear? Even now, he wasn’t certain of her?
“It’s yes,” she assured him. “Of course it’s yes, Adam.”
His face brightened. “Truly?”
In answer, she allowed the swell of courage and love she felt to carry her forward. She rose up on her toes to kiss him.
He met her halfway there.
His lips were warm and reassuring, and the scent of him—leather and musk—overwhelmed her. It was at once utterly new and completely familiar. His arms wrapped around her, holding her to him, shielding her from the rest of the world.
Grateful tears slipped down her cheeks as she sank into the kiss.
Oh, God…I had no idea what I needed. I had no idea what to ask You for.
Thank You so much for giving it to me anyway.
She broke the kiss and looked up at Adam. “I love you,” she breathed.
“I love you too,” he murmured, and joy radiated from him. It was impossible not to feel it. “I can’t wait to make you my wife.”
THE END?
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