Page 117 of Love’s Silver Bullet

Until his eyes jolted open, the feel of the gauze dressing reminding him of who he was.

He was the marshal.

A marshal that Finn desperately needed.

And a marshal who owed a great debt to that very man.

Expelling a draining sigh, Jake looked up. “I thank you for your wise counsel, Finn, and I fully intend to follow through with everything you’ve said. Even so,” he said with a cramp in his heart, “I still have my reasons for not marrying Sheridan, so I’d like to just leave it at that.”

Giving a slow nod, Finn rose with a heavy sigh. “All right, son. I’ve done my best to convince you, but ultimately, it’s your decision in the end, so I’ll just let it go. You get some sleep, Jake, because we need you.”

“Yes, sir.”

Giving Jake a light clap on the back, Finn headed for the door.

“And, sir?”

Finn turned, hand on the knob. “Yes, son?”

Jake fought a gulp. “Thank you for everything—from the moment you first took me in at the age of twelve until this very moment. I owe you my life, sir.”

Finn smiled. “I doubt that, Jake, but you’ve been a blessing to us too.” He opened the door, then turned, brow furrowing in a squint. “Oh, almost forgot. There’s just one more thing, son …” His mouth leveled into a grim smile. “You’re fired.”

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

“Can I get you anything else, Jake? More egg nog? Christmas cookies? A foot stool?” Sheridan fussed over Jake on the loveseat like he was the only one in the room. She had to! Thanksgiving literally spilled from her heart, so very grateful he was alive and able to join them for Christmas dinner along with Libby’s parents Maeve and Aiden, and Angus and Gert. Adjusting the pillow behind his head, she was pretty sure she was glowing more than the candles on their eight-foot tree, its flickering radiance dancing off of Aunt Libby’s painted glass ornaments.

There was no question Jake was different since Uncle Finn and he had talked, but neither would give her a clue as to why. He was no longer morose or cranky like he’d always been since she’d first kissed him that day at the shooting range, but more like the Jake she used to know. Crooked smiles and twinkling eyes and little-boy tease that always assured her she held a special place in his heart.

And, oh, how she longed to make that permanent!

But for now, the old Jake was back, and she gladly soaked it in along with the warmth of the fire in the hearth, its scent of wood smoke drifting in the air with that of gingerbread, cinnamon, and pine.

“Sheridan, sit,” Jake ordered with that easy smile she so loved, patting the seat beside him with a sparkle in his eyes. “You’ve been running ragged waiting on me, Half-Pint, and it’s wearing me out.”

“Hey,” Blaze said to Maggie while he held her close, the two of them sharing the sofa with Libby and Finn. “How come you don’t wait on me like that?” he asked with a mock scowl, giving her waist a pinch.

“Because you’re not injured, silly.” Sheridan giggled as she offered Jake a snickerdoodle from the plate on the table before passing them around to everyone else.

“Although that can be arranged,” Maggie said with a pensive tilt of her head, eliciting chuckles around the room.

“Might be worth it.” Blaze dove for her neck, gobble-kissing her like he used to do with his sisters before tipping her back in a kiss that lasted so long, Shaylee wrinkled her nose.

“I say we open presents,” her little sister said as she shook one of her tissue-wrapped gifts stacked under the tree, the paper crackling as much as the fire.

“Good idea.” Uncle Finn rose to promptly dispense presents to one and all. One by one, each opened gifts, unearthing treasures of love. From bags of butterscotch candies and peppermint drops for Maggie and Blaze, to new decks of cards for Angus and Bert, the parlour was filled with paper and bows and laughter and love.

When it came for Jake’s turn, everyone laughed when he unwrapped a tin of foot powder from Blaze and Dash, followed by a brand-new shiny marshal’s badge from Finn in the shape of a star. “Since the old one is tarnished,” her uncle said with a wink at Sheridan, “and you won’t be needing it anymore. Figured you needed a memento, maybe to mount in a frame.”

Tears stung as Sheridan blew her uncle a kiss, never believing he would actually fire Jake from the job just for her. He’d told her he’d done everything he could to sway him toward Sheridan, but in the end, the decision would be up to Jake as to what he would do.

Looking at him now as he opened his last gift, her heart swelled with affection for the man she would love forever, no matter what he would decide. Carefully pushing the tissue paper aside, he held up another sampler she’d made, and instantly she spied a sheen of moisture in his gaze.

“What’s it say?” Shaylee wanted to know, and when Jake turned it around, Sheridan couldn’t read it for the blur in her eyes, but she could read it in her heart all the same.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. – John 8:36

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