Jed meets Dove halfway down the steps, throwing his arms about her just as Eleanor does to me. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m all right,” I manage as she almost squeezes the breath from me. “I’m sorry I put you and Dove in harm’s way.”
“Don’t you even think that way.” Eleanor tightens her hold to emphasize her point. “We’re here and you’re here, and that’s all that matters.”
“Let them breathe, Momma,” Warren says with a bit of amusement, carefully tugging me back.
Eleanor hugs him and then turns back to me, cupping my cheeks with fierce pride glinting in her eyes. “And of course you’re all right. The men took care of that riffraff, I’m sure.”
My lips tip up faintly. I wonder what she would think of me if she knew the truth. Knowing her, she’d probably be just as proud. She runs a hesitant hand over Emmaline’s back. My poor darling clung to me the entire ride back, and I held her with aching arms. She shows no signs of letting go even now.
“And my Emmaline, Grandma’s sweet baby. How are you, my precious?”
I let Warren answer as my ears pick up Jedidiah and Dove to my left. “I…I love you,” I hear her tell him in her stuttering way. “So glad you’re safe.”
“And I love you.” Jed’s eyes meet mine as he holds hiswife, and when I silently nod my thanks to him with an uncertain smile, his chin dips back in response. The sight of their embrace has my heart stumbling in my chest and a whirlwind of memories and feelings sweeping in. I’d been jealous of her when we’d been trapped in the wagon together. So very jealous. At the time, I’d bitterly wondered what it would feel like for someone to love me enough to come after me. If someone ever could.
Now I have that someone, and I know it’s the most amazing feeling in the world to be loved, truly loved. I never dreamed one person, let alone an entire family, could love me and my baby.
“Ma’am.” A soft, husky voice draws my attention. Dalton presses his hat to his chest and runs a hand through his dark blond hair as he keeps a respectable distance away. “Sure am glad you’re all right. Warren would have moved heaven and earth to do whatever it took to find you.”
I’ve never had much interaction with my husband’s friend, but if Warren trusts him, I think I can, too. Especially since he apparently stayed to protect Eleanor and Dove. “Thank you,” I say with more graciousness than I would have when we first met. “I’m glad he didn’t have to go that far.”
Warren’s arm tightens around my waist in a move so subtle that I don’t even think he knows he did it. “He’s right. Hell itself couldn’t keep me away from you.”
Sullivan hugs my leg and yawns. “I’m tired.” A quick check of his forehead confirms it’s still a bit warm. We need to get him inside soon.
“And who is this fine young man?” Eleanor bends down with a smile.
Cornelius pats his shoulder. “This here’s Sullivan, our new grandson.”
“What a handsome lad you are! How old are you? You can call me Grandma. Let’s come sit over here for now.” Sullivan takes her offered hand without a second glance, and they head for the porch steps.
Now there’s a space of silence between me and Cornelius. His kind eyes meet mine. “Daughter, I sure am proud of you. Not everyone could have kept a level head in a situation like that, but you did. And Lord have mercy, but you’ve got quite the arm on you with the beatdown you gave that son of a bitch.”
He’s proud of me. Warren says it all the time, but with Cornelius, it feels fatherly. And it’s a good feeling.
“Thank you.” I lightly, but deliberately, place a hand on his arm. I’ve never willingly touched any man other than Warren, and since my daughter’s birth, I had always been of the opinion that no man would ever be alone with her. But this man raised my husband and his brother and taught them how to be good men, and I believe he will be a good grandpa to both of my children now. “Thank you for coming after me. And for caring for the children while…” While their parents and uncle killed a man.
Picking his gaze up from where I touched him, he forms his mouth in a ghost of a smile. “You don’t have to thank me for that, Mara. I may not have known you for long, but you’re family to me. So’s that little girl of yours.” He gently pats Emmaline’s small back with a work-roughened hand. “And I always take care of family.”
“Including me?” Sullivan’s small voice asks from the steps.
Cornelius smiles tenderly. “Especially you.”
A loud bellow startles everyone, and the men reach for their guns before they realize it’s only Rosie. “Damn it, Rosie,” Warren huffs as the brown calf prances closer. “We’re all out of apples right now.” Rosie headbutts him, and we all laugh a bit at the ridiculous sight of Warren being bullied by a small cow.
With an admonishment to rest, a promise to visit later, and one final round of hugs, the other Shays leave. There’s an emptiness in the air I hadn’t expected, but now I know what fills it—family.
At least with this family, I know they’re never too far away.
Warren watches until they disappear from view, and now that they’re gone, there’s a restless weariness to him. I had the entire trip back to reflect upon the taking of a life, but the only regret I have in this moment is that it didn’t happen sooner.
Then again, I suppose there’s a reason it happened as it did. Sullivan needed someone to find him, and I’m so very relieved that it was us, because now I know he’s safe. My fiercely protective husband who took pleasure in exacting no small amount of vengeance upon my nightmare made sure of it. I lift Warren’s free hand to my mouth and lovingly kiss the split knuckles. He did this for me. For the family we made together. Warren’s head dips, bestowing the same caress to me before linking our fingers together.
Sullivan yawns again, this time even longer than the ones before, and the moment is broken. “Looks like you’re about dead on your feet, son,” Warren says, holding out his arms. “Come on. I’ll carry you inside.”
With little more than a blink, Sullivan stretches his arms up. Warren shares a tender look with me as Sullivan holds tightly to his neck, and I swear that my heart melts again.
