Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
Three days later
“I’m not an invalid,” Dwayne grumbled as Tate settled him on a couch at Haven Ranch.
A fire in the hearth warmed the lobby. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the property, the sun hung low.
The ice had long since melted. This New Year’s Eve would be unusually warm.
Nothing like a forty-degree swing in the temperature in one week to make the old Texas adage true: Don’t like the weather, wait a minute. It’ll change.
Annie hovered nearby with a blanket. She’d spent the last few days recovering from a severe concussion.
Tate didn’t like thinking about how close he’d come to losing her.
Those harrowing hours waiting for the storm to break.
Then the dangerous journey to the hospital over ice-slick roads, once the county cleared a single lane on Clemmons Bridge.
It was an experience he prayed never to have again.
She spread the flannel over Dwayne’s legs. “The doctor ordered you to rest. It was the only way he’d release you. Don’t make me call and tell him that you’re ignoring his orders.”
Dwayne surrendered, leaning back against the couch cushions. His complexion was gray. The gunshot wound to his abdomen had required several hours of surgery and strong doses of antibiotics, but it’d missed any major organs. He’d been fortunate.
Bud, not wanting to be left out, settled on the carpet near Dwayne.
Tate gave the shepherd mix a good rub behind the ears.
They’d become fast friends while Dwayne was in the hospital.
In Tate’s mind, Bud was a hero. He’d tracked Marcus from the shed to the cabin to the barn, then taken down Heather when it counted.
“Are you spoiling my dog?” Dwayne eyed Tate with mock disapproval.
“Afraid so.” Tate gave Bud one last rub and then rose. “From now on, once a week, he gets steak. He’s earned it.”
Dwayne took over petting the dog. “He sure has.” His expression grew despondent as he glanced between Annie and Tate. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am—”
“We’ve been over this.” Annie’s tone was gentle but firm. “You don’t need to apologize anymore.”
Dwayne nodded, but he appeared…lost. Older. Marcus’s actions had left him bereft.
Brooke and Evan entered the lobby with trays of drinks and snacks.
Tate stole a couple of cookies before following Annie out onto the wide front porch.
She settled onto a cushioned bench, tucking her feet underneath her, holding a mug of coffee.
The sky had gone deep purple at the top and orange along the hills.
Tate joined Annie, pleased when she scooted closer.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “It was kind of you to allow Dwayne to stay on, given everything that’s happened.”
“This is his home.” Annie stole one of Tate’s cookies.
“Besides, he needs us. More than ever now that Marcus has accepted the plea bargain and is going to prison for the rest of his life.” She frowned down at the sweet as if she’d lost her appetite.
“I’m glad he can’t hurt anyone again. Marcus deserves to be in prison.
But I also have compassion for Dwayne. I can’t imagine raising a child…
loving him…and then learning he’s a killer. ”
Tate nodded. His own anger toward Dwayne had waned since the arrests, and like Annie, he’d found compassion for the older man.
It’d been hard for Dwayne to face up to the truth, but in the end, he’d done the right thing.
He’d even taken a bullet for Tate. “Do you think he’ll continue to visit Marcus in prison? ”
“No doubt. He won’t give up on him.” Annie handed the cookie back to Tate. “Funny thing is, if Heather and Marcus hadn’t met, I don’t know that either of them would have done anything.”
Tate tended to agree. Heather had refused to take a plea bargain or speak to investigators, so all they had was Marcus’s side of the story.
According to him, he was angry about Seth’s death and looking for a way to get revenge.
Heather—also grieving Seth and angry about the way her life turned out—shared his desire for retribution.
For years they’d worked on a plan, but never settled on one.
Until the reunion.
“When I interviewed Marcus,” Tate said, “it was clear he saw his role as ordained. Remember the text he sent us: Vengeance is mine. I recognized it as a Bible verse at the time. But Marcus forgot the most important part of that verse, which is the last half.”
“Vengeance is mine. I will repay, saith the Lord.” Annie shook her head.
“So much wasted time being hurt and angry. God asks us to give grace to others, but what I didn’t understand for a long time is that forgiveness is for our benefit too.
We can let go of our hurt and our pain. It frees us to focus on what’s really important. Helping others.”
“Your generous spirit is one of the many things I admire most about you.”
“That’s sweet.”
“It’s the truth. I didn’t know if we’d ever be able to move past what happened at prom.” His gaze went to the brilliant sky. “I didn’t like the person I was back then and wasn’t sure you’d ever be able to see me differently.”
“You’re not the person you used to be. You proved that through your honesty and integrity.” Annie was quiet for a moment. “The thing is, Tate…I wonder…Have you forgiven yourself for what happened?”
He thought about the question. “Forgiven, yes. But I hold onto the memory. Not to beat myself up. As a reminder of who I could be if I stop paying attention.” Tate glanced at her. “Grady told me the Lord asks us to repent and make better choices. I’m determined to continue making the right ones.”
Annie smiled up at him. “You will. This is who you always were deep down.”
Her faith in him moved him beyond words.
Tate pressed a kiss to her temple, careful of the wound still healing along her hairline.
She snuggled deeper into the crook of his arm.
Then her eyes went distant, and he knew she was thinking about the case again.
She proved him right a second later when she asked, “Did Preston ever thank you for saving his life?”
“No, and I doubt he ever will. The bomb was small, designed to flush them out, not to hurt them. Everyone’s ears rang for a day, and that’s the worst of it. Preston’s already telling people he had the situation under control.”
Annie rolled her eyes. “Figures.” She sighed, resting her head against Tate’s shoulder. “I swept the lobby and dining room again this morning and didn’t find any more cameras. Grady and Luke did a good job removing them.”
“Good.” The wireless cameras were more proof of how planned out the murders were. Heather had spied on them from the comfort of her own room. The cameras even had audio, so she could overhear their conversations.
“Do you think Heather’s lawyer and the prosecutor will work out a deal, or will the case go to trial?” Annie asked.
“I think they’ll come to an agreement. Marcus has to testify against her as part of his plea deal, so it doesn’t make sense for Heather to go to trial.
She just hasn’t accepted the reality yet.
” Tate rubbed a hand down her arm. “It’s over.
Neither of them will ever see the outside of a prison cell. ”
“Which means we can ring in the New Year focused on more important things.” Annie tilted her head toward him, a smile playing on her lips. “Like you and me.”
“I like the sound of that.” They’d spent the last few days talking, and with every passing hour, he fell deeper in love with her. She’d changed. She was older, wiser. More measured in her worries and fears. But in many ways she was the same. Passionate and caring. Brave.
He went to kiss her, and she placed a finger on his lips, stopping him. “Not so fast, Ranger. I was promised tiramisu.”
“Were you?” His lips curved into a smile. “Good thing I made dinner reservations for tonight.”
Her eyes lit up. “You move fast.”
He snorted. “By my reckoning, I’m twenty years too late.”
“We weren’t ready then. Divine timing, you know.”
Tate cupped her cheek, running a thumb over her silky skin. Their gazes met. He saw forever in her gorgeous green eyes, and his heart skipped a beat. “I love you, Annie. We can take this as slowly as you need, have as many tiramisu dinners as it takes, but you should know…my heart is yours.”
Annie’s eyes glistened, and the smile that broke across her face stole his breath.
“I love you too, Tate.” She reached up to link her hands behind his neck.
“And I can’t wait to ring in the New Year with you.
Fresh starts should be celebrated properly.
Promise you’ll kiss me when the clock strikes midnight? ”
“Count on it.” He leaned closer. “But I’m hoping I don’t have to wait until then to kiss you. Why don’t we start celebrating that fresh start now?”
Annie’s laugh was soft against his lips as she closed the distance between them. The kiss was slow and sweet, filled with the promise of a happy future together.