13. Missy
Missy
I t’s been three days since Roulette and Jagger tried to kidnap me in the barn. I’m relieved that they’re in jail now, and I don’t have to be afraid anymore. But I’m still worried about the upcoming trial.
Audrey has called me several times, and Sheriff Luke has stopped by every day to check on me. Ernie and Lorna gave me several paid days off. They said I could take the whole week, but I plan to go back to work tomorrow.
If I have to keep sitting around the house while Griffin refuses to let me lift a finger, I’m probably going to climb the walls. You’d think I was in traction by the way he wants to wait on me hand and foot.
When I complained to Lorna about it, she told me to get used to it. She said it’s just the way of the men in our town. They believe in spoiling their women day and night. Then she sighed like she was thinking about Ernie.
“A walk around the farm is perfectly safe for both of us,” I tell Griffin who is scowling down at me.
I have Daisy on my hip with her little floppy hat and sunscreen on. She looks ready to have some fun in the sun. We’re both getting cranky from spending so much time indoors.
“I’ll come with you,” he says as if he doesn’t have a million chores around the farm that need doing.
“We’ll go with Aunt Dorothy,” I offer as a compromise. I know he’s scared of losing the two of us. That’s the only reason he’s acting like this. He’s so protective, and that instinct isn’t going to switch off because the men who were after us are in jail.
“And you’ll call me when you get home,” he says, as though he won’t be two miles away fixing fences and tractors.
I chuckle. “Yes, bossy. I will call you.”
He narrows his gaze and opens his mouth, but before he can respond, his phone vibrates. I see Luke’s name on the display before he answers. “Yeah, I’ll tell her. Thanks for letting me know.”
He hangs up. “Do you remember I said Roulette and Jagger were transferred to another county the day after they were arrested?”
I nod. There’s a whole list of crimes that Roulette and Jagger will be charged with soon, and that’s not to even touching on all the warrants that were out for their arrest. The two of them have a long criminal history.
“They both passed away in jail,” he says without a hint of emotion.
I blink, certain I misheard him. That’s not what I expected him to say. “There was supposed to be a trial. How did this happen?”
He shrugs. “The people they work for were cleaning up loose ends. There will be no trial, and the investigation will stall unless someone in the jail comes forward.”
I’m relieved there won’t be a trial, but these were still human beings. They probably had loved ones and friends, people that cared about them. They were once babies on their moms’ hips just like Daisy is on mine right now. “And that makes it OK?”
“No, it doesn’t. But they tried to kidnap you, and they would have killed you without a second thought. Ask me if I care that they’re dead. Frankly, I hope they suffered. I hope they were terrified in their final moments. That’s what they deserve for all they put you through.”
“So, this means it’s really over?” I ask, my heart beating fast at the possibility.
“It’s over,” he says as Daisy lunges for him. He catches her easily, smiling down at her for a moment before he turns his attention back to me. “You and Daisy are free forever.”
“You did it. You made us safe,” I breathe out the words. After months of thinking that the rest of my life would be spent on the run, I’m safe. I don’t have to look over my shoulder anymore.
He wraps an arm around me and presses a soft kiss to the top of my head then one to Daisy. “My two beautiful girls. This is the start of all the good things that are coming for you.”
I take a shaky breath, inhaling his scent and feeling it wash over me. “Maybe the three of us could go on that walk together.”
His laughter ruffles my hair. “Yeah, let’s go for a walk as a family. I have something I’ve been wanting to show you.”
“Do you know where you’re standing?” Griffin asks me. I bounce Daisy in my arms and look around, surveying the cleared plot of land. I’m pretty sure there were a lot of trees here two or three days ago, but I can’t be sure.
We’re about three miles behind Aunt Dorothy’s house. Griffin wanted us to ride over on the utility vehicle before he brought me to this empty field.
“Is it a new pasture?” I ask.
He holds out his hands, indicating the area.
“No, we’re standing in the backyard where Daisy will spend her days playing.” He points to a spot a couple feet away. “That’s where she’s going to have the world’s biggest playhouse. And over there is where her swing set will be.”
“Daisy’s backyard,” I repeat, the idea exciting me.
He nods, and there’s no mistaking the pride in his expression. “This is where I want to build our home. A home for our family.”
My heart flutters at the idea. Is he saying what I think he’s saying? Before I can ask him, he gets down on one knee and holds out a ring.
“Missy, I’ve been crazy about you since I laid eyes on you.
I caught you at Ernie’s Diner that day, but I’m the one who really fell.
I fell hard for a kind, sweet, and spunky woman who makes my heart beat fast. I’m obsessed with you, and I don’t care who knows it.
If you let me, I’ll spend every moment of forever taking care of you.
I love you, and I want you and Daisy to have my last name.
Will you marry me and make us a family?”
I blink back tears, everything blurring in the morning sun. “I’m so glad we found each other. I would love to marry you and spend our days raising Daisy together and building a home. I love you, and I want forever.”
He slides the ring on my finger, and I stare down at the solitaire diamond on the gold band. It’s like the one I picked from the catalog. I didn’t even realize that’s what Aunt Dorothy was doing when she and I got to talking about jewelry.
“It’s beautiful,” I tell him.
“It’s only the start of all the ways I plan to spoil you,” he says. He kisses me until Daisy grunts, indicating she wants to be in on the action. We laugh and both press a kiss to her chubby little cheeks.
We spend the rest of the day on our plot of land where Griffin shows me the plans that his friend drew for our house. We go over them together. I point out areas where we’ll need extra closets and maybe a bathroom for guests. He adds them right where I tell him to, grinning the entire time.
“I can’t wait to fill our house with more babies,” I tell him.
He gives me a soft smile. “I’ll give you as many babies as you want.”
“You look so pretty,” I tell Daisy as she tries to claw off the flower headband I put her in as part of her wedding clothes. “Just one more photo.”
“Take it quickly,” Aunt Dorothy says, managing to capture Daisy’s hands so she can’t destroy the offending headband.
It’s been two weeks since Griffin proposed to me. He wanted to wait and give me a big, opulent wedding. I didn’t want anything like that. What I wanted was to make our little family official. We’ve already started the paperwork so he can legally adopt Daisy.
Today, we’re getting married in the town church. Despite the fact that I’m new here, every seat is filled on both sides of the room. It seems everyone wants to celebrate this union with me and Griffin.
Audrey snaps the photo on her phone and passes it to Aunt Dorothy for a quick inspection. She beams at me. “She is precious.”
I trace the outline of Daisy’s face on the smartphone and have to swallow a lump in my throat. It’s three generations of women together. Aunt Dorothy, me, and Daisy.
There’s a knock on the door, and Russell is coming in. “Are we ready to get this show on the road?”
I pluck the headband from Daisy’s head, and she lets out a squeal that I’m pretty sure is one of triumph.
“Yes, please,” I tell him. He scoops her up in his arms and gives her a big grin. “Let’s go take our seat, so we can watch your mama and daddy have their special day.”
I give Daisy one last kiss before he takes her from the room. He’ll be holding her during the ceremony.
Audrey and Aunt Dorothy are my bridesmaids. With Daisy gone, I cross the room to the three-way mirror that Audrey set up. I put on the pearl necklace I wore on my first date with Griffin.
“That’s yours now,” Aunt Dorothy tells me.
I touch the pearls. “Are you sure?”
She comes up behind me, fussing over the necklace and making sure it’s right. She’s shorter than me, barely coming up to my shoulder. “That’s how family heirlooms work. They get passed from generation to generation.”
“Don’t start,” Audrey warns, reaching for the tissues when she sees me tearing up. I’ve gone through so many of them today. I didn’t know it was possible to be this happy.
When she’s finished, Aunt Dorothy wraps a bony arm around my waist and gives me a squeeze. “I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter.”
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close for a hug. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“Thank you for loving my boy,” she responds, her voice thick with unshed tears.
Audrey’s phone dings, and she glances at the screen. “It’s time.”
The three of us step into the back of the church as the music begins. Sheriff Luke and his wife, Austin, start down the aisle. He’s Griffin’s best man.
Audrey and Logan are next down the aisle. Over dinner last week, we asked them to be godparents to Daisy. They were thrilled and immediately agreed.
I scan the crowd, giving Lorna and Ernie a little wave when I spot them. For our wedding gift, they bought me a new car. It was kind of crazy to me, but that’s the type of generous people they are.
My eyes go to the man at the front of the auditorium, the one who takes away my breath in his simple black suit and that bushy beard. He’s making all my dreams come true today by giving me his name and his family.
Aunt Dorothy holds out her arm to me, and I take it, grateful she’s by my side today. She walks me down the aisle, practically strutting the entire time. I’ve never seen someone as proud as she is of me.
When she lifts my veil, she presses a soft kiss to my cheek and whispers that she loves me. Then she’s melting away and I can focus on my groom.
We repeat our vows, promising to love and cherish one another.
I didn’t know it was possible to be this happy or be surrounded by this much love.
It’s a palpable energy that I can feel in the church today.
It’s not just the love between Griffin and me, although that’s definitely strong.
It’s the love of Aunt Dorothy, Audrey, Luke, and dozens of others that came together to celebrate this day.
Griffin reaches for the ring, but before he puts it on, he tilts it so I can see the inscription. He gives me a wink, and I love that we have inside jokes and a secret language all our own. The inscription is one word with four letters etched on the gold wedding band: Mine.
I can’t help giggling when I see it. I wouldn’t expect anything less from this crazy cowboy who spends his time watching over me.
The pastor announces it’s time to kiss the bride, and Griffin brushes his lips against mine. It’s gentle at first but quickly turns so passionate that half the church is clutching their pearls and the other half is chuckling.
When he pulls away long enough to let me catch my breath, my cheeks are flushed, and my body is humming with awareness. This cowboy is now my husband, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him.