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Her mother sighed and looked like she wanted to cry. “You need help, darling. There is a nice place in California. It is right on the ocean. Doesn’t that sound nice?”
Carly nodded. “I’ll go if Chance comes with me.”
“Give me the gun and we will get started on this trip,” Chance told her, putting his hands by his side slowly. “Your parents can pack you a suitcase.”
Noelle held her breath to see if Carly would give up. Carly lowered her gun slowly, but then it was as if she remembered Noelle was still there. She aimed at Noelle.
“I need to get rid of her. I laughed when she lost the brat.” Carly’s smile was cruel.
Chance looked angry, with murder in his eyes. “That is enough of that talk. That was my baby, too.”
Noelle closed her eyes and felt the tears run down her face. Carly’s words hurt, but that was her intention. To hurt. Any pity she had been feeling was slowly disappearing.
Carly aimed the gun at Noelle again. “Good-bye, Noelle.”
Jaxon popped up and shot Carly in the hand before anyone else realized what was happening. Carly and Louisa both screamed loudly. Noelle saw Louisa fall to the ground, and she briefly wondered if the woman fainted.
Chase pulled Noelle down to the ground with him and covered her with his body. Noelle heard a bunch of commotion and hysterical crying. The sound of more voices in her store made her want to peek out to see what was happening. Chase told her to wait for Chance to give the all-clear signal.
A few minutes later Chance was next to her and pulling her into his arms. Noelle wrapped her arms around him. Both of them were trembling. Noelle clung to him and sobbed. Chase and Jaxon were out on the floor talking to the sheriff. He wasn’t a happy man that they interfered.
“Is it over?” Noelle asked burying her face in his neck. She was trying to calm her nerves, but she felt her body shaking.
“Yes,” Chance whispered against her neck. “I wanted to kill her. She knew her words were cruel. I saw it in her eyes. She is one fucked-up chick.”
“I know. I felt sorry for her for about five minutes.” Noelle cried. Chance waited for the sheriff to take Carly away while he sat on the floor holding her.
When her emotions finally settled somewhat she looked around her store. “Where is Quinn? Is she safe?”
“Yeah. Chase got her out and into Mr. Sanchez’s store,” Chance answered. “She did not want to leave you. Chase is pissed at her.”
Noelle sagged with relief. “I didn’t want her hurt. I was so scared, Chance. All I could think about was that I wanted fifty or sixty more years with you. I wasn’t ready to die.”
He kissed her lips tenderly. He wiped her tears away with his thumbs. “I want forever with you, Noelle. Carly almost took that from us. I will never forgive her for this. Her parents better take her far away from here.”
She nodded, putting Carly out of her mind. She was glad it was over and she could concentrate on making a life with the man she loved. “Forever sounds about right.”
Chapter 17
Noelle sat on the barstool at Hank’s place. Chance and Noelle had gone to the courthouse to get married earlier in the day. Soon they would throw a huge party, which his mom was planning, but for now this was what they both wanted. She still wore a white silk dress that reached her knees. It had tiny pearls sewn along the neckline and short sleeves. Quinn wore a pale gold color that was in this fall. Her red hair was pinned up in curls on top of her head.
“To Noelle and Chance,” Chase cheered, lifting his beer bottle. Jaxon, Hank, and Quinn clapped. The bar was filled with people who joined in the cheers. The music was loud and energetic. The atmosphere was happy.
Chance kissed her knuckles and winked at her. His grin was the happiest she had ever seen. “Happy, Mrs. Brooks?”
Noelle laughed with her own happiness. Her cheeks hurt from smiling. She was a married woman now. It would take time to truly sink in. “Yes.”
“That is what I like to hear.” His brown eyes were filled with love and promises. Promises that she believed this time. Promises she knew he would keep.
If Carly’s craziness showed her anything, it was that genuine love was worth fighting for. Maybe Carly’s feelings for Chance had been genuine, but she expressed them in a dark way, trying to destroy Noelle. They waited for the gossip to die down before getting married. Summer had passed and cool September evenings came in. She hoped Carly never returned to Willow Springs. The whole town had been shocked by that day’s events. Chance had protected her from the majority of the gossip. The Sanders sold their house and moved to California. Chase assured them Carly would not be allowed her freedom for a long time.
Noelle put all thoughts of Carly out of her mind. This was her special day and should be filled with happy memories. No longer was she alone. She had a husband and mother-in-law and a bunch of great friends that helped her heal.
“Dance with me?” Chance’s words sent vibrations in her ear that made her shiver. She set her beer down and followed him to the dance floor.
She leaned her head on his shoulder and listened to the soft, sweet melody. She swayed along with the beat. His aftershave was musky and appealing. She placed a soft kiss on his neck.
Chance had been her rock the last few weeks, holding her when she woke up crying and feeling afraid. Finally she was feeling stronger and confident again.
