Stunned, not only by the amount of words Esteban issued at one time, but by the fact he killed both King and Oscar, Jakecould do nothing but stare at him. Relief rushed through him, so swift, so hard, his knees grew weak. That feeling didn’t last long. “We need to get Lucy.…”
“Lucy is fine.” Esteban gestured toward the batwing doors.
A crowd of people stood in the entrance to the saloon, holding the doors open. No, not a crowd.His family. Lucy, flanked by her brothers, her hand in Ben’s, stood in the doorway. She didn’t look worse for wear. Yes, tears had stained her cheeks, and she had an ugly mark on her face, but she was alive and well, and apparently very angry. Gratitude that she had been found, unharmed, constricted his throat as his gaze drifted to Teddy, who gave him a slight nod, then to Heath, who flashed a triumphant grin. Antonio looked satisfied, his arm around Charley. The Marshal was there as well, the shiny star pinned to his vest winking in the sunlight. He didn’t see King’s henchmen. He assumed they were in jail, exactly where they belonged.
His gaze scanned the crowd, looking for Evie. And then he saw her as she moved into his sight. His Evie. There were tears on her face too, but her smile was warm and encouraging. And appeared to be only for him. Love swelled his heart, making it beat a little faster. He started walking toward her, toward his future.
“Don’t forget your money,” Esteban said, as he jerked his thumb to the valise on the table.
Jake backed up a step, grabbed the valise by the handles, and headed toward the door once more. As soon as he stepped through, he dropped the valise on the wooden sidewalk and pulled Evie into his arms. “It’s over,” he murmured, still astonished that he hadn’t died facing King.
Evie gazed into his face, her eyes seeming to drink in the sight of him as her hands splayed across his chest. “Are you all right?”
“I am now.” He dropped a kiss to her lips, regardless of everyone watching, then blurted out, “Marry me.” There were audible gasps from those around them, but he ignored the sound, his focus solely on Evie. A myriad of emotions played across her beautiful face, surprise being the most noticeable.
“Yes, I’ll marry you.” Tears sprang to her eyes and her smile widened.
True happiness surged through him, truer than anything he’d ever felt before, and love? That was there as well, filling his heart, making it pound harder in his chest. “When?”
She laughed as her arms tightened around him. “I don’t know. Planning a wedding takes time, Jake.”
His gaze settled on her as his hand gently caressed her cheek, then cupped her chin. “Now.”
Evie’s eyes widened. “Right now?”
“Yes, why not?” He smiled. “I don’t want to waste another minute. I want everyone to know how much I love you.”
She laughed in that deep way she had, and it reverberated in his heart. He wanted to hear that sound for the rest of his life. “Everyone already knows, Jake.”
“Good, so you’ll marry me right here, right now. We’re all here. I can’t think of a better time.”
She shook her head, instantly sobering. “But we’re not all here. Hilde, Felicity, and Marisol would be very angry with me if they weren’t involved in the planning. They’ve been waiting for this day as long as I have.” Her smile was full of promise, her eyes begging him to understand, and his heart melted. He could deny her nothing. “And I couldn’t imagine getting married without the boys’ wives. Or the children.” She caressed his cheek, her hand warm on his skin. “Don’t you want Father O’Malley there as well?”
“I do.” Jake agreed, then dropped another kiss to her lips as he tightened his arms around her, determined never to let go, not today, not tomorrow, not ever. “You tell me when.”
“Two weeks?”
“I can live with that.” He smiled as he as he took a step away from Evie, though he didn’t let go of her hand, then looked at those around him, so grateful he had responded to Lucy’s advertisement in the first place. “We’re getting married.”
Lucy let out an excited squeal then grabbed Evie in a bone-crushing hug, while Charley was the first to extend his hand to him, followed by Heath. “Congratulations, Jake.”
“If you ever make her unhappy,” Esteban warned as he patted the handles of the guns in their holsters, “You know I know how to use these.”
Despite the implied threat, Jake didn’t take offense, though he was surprised it was Esteban who issued the warning and not Teddy. “I won’t make her unhappy. You have my word.”
“That goes for me as well, Jake.” Teddy said, as he grabbed his hand and shook. “I may not shoot you, but I can certainly knock you on your ass.”
Jake wasn’t too sure about that, but there would never be a need to find out, so he just laughed.
Antonio was the last, clasping his hand in a tight grip. “Welcome to the family, son.” He grinned, his bushy mustache lifting. “Are you sure you want this?” He gestured to everyone gathered around them, all talking at once, giving and receiving hugs and heartfelt tidings of good wishes. “We all come with her.”
“I’ve always wanted to be part of a family.” His throat constricted with emotion. “This one will definitely do.”
EPILOGUE
Jake stood in front of the rose arbor, the white banner threaded through the slats fluttering in the breeze, the smell of roses permeating the air. He looked out at the guests assembled in front of him and felt a surge of love so profound, it made his heart skip a beat. It was a small group, mostly Evie’s family, soon to be his family, too. A few friends, again, all Evie’s, though they had accepted him into their fold. He was both honored and humbled for that privilege. His fellow bunkmates were there as well, men he’d come to admire and formed a kinship with in the past few months.
Father O’Malley stood beneath the framework of intertwined roses, the well-worn Bible Jake remembered from long ago open in his hand. He smiled briefly before he turned serious.
