AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Look at all of this beautiful land,” Honor said, spreading her arms wide as she whirled around with her face upturned to the sky.
“It stretches out for as far as the eye can see,” Joshua said in a voice filled with awe. “Bud created a lasting legacy for his family.”
“He was one in a million. A true pioneer.” Honor smiled at Joshua. “Thank you for coming back home.”
“It’s where I belong. God led me straight back to you. And to this amazing town.”
“You’re a real-life hero. I think the residents are going to put up a statue in your honor since you decided not to sell the Diamond R. You earned everyone’s undying devotion. And respect.” Honor could hear the pride ringing out in her voice. The man she loved was an amazing human being.
Joshua chuckled. “Let’s just say I’m most relieved to find myself in Jasper’s good graces. Being on his bad side wasn’t pleasant.” He scrunched up his face, which made Honor chuckle.
“And my brothers have given us their blessing,” she said, blinking away tears. It had always been important to her to know that Liam, Boone and Cameron approved of the man she intended to spend the rest of her days with. They had all rallied around Joshua in the aftermath of the town council meeting where he’d announced his plans to keep the Diamond R Ranch in the family.
He let out a low whistle. “I almost can’t believe it. They’ve been very gracious to me.”
“As they should be,” Honor teased. “You’re all kinds of wonderful.”
“You’re not so bad yourself,” Joshua said.
She shook her head. Sometimes she couldn’t believe how beautifully everything had worked out. Right before the town council meeting Honor had been at her lowest point. It had been nearly impossible to hold on to hope.
“Our path has been anything but smooth,” she said.
“True. But the beauty of our situation is that our love never died. Not really. I never stopped loving you, Honor.”
She looked up at him, her heart brimming with joy. “It feels as if I’ve always loved you.”
He ran a hand across her face. “I hope you always will.”
“After everything we’ve been through, I can’t imagine not loving you.” She grinned at him. “Joshua. I have something important to ask you.”
“You can ask me anything.”
Give me courage, Lord, she prayed. I want a future with Joshua and Violet more than anything else in this world. I want to spend the rest of my life loving and being loved by them.
“A little more than six years ago you proposed to me. You said that despite our age and the lack of support from my family, we could withstand anything and everything life threw in our direction. Unfortunately, we couldn’t live up to that promise we made to one another.” She reached for Joshua’s hands and squeezed hard. “I want to ask you, Joshua Ransom, to marry me. We’re six years older and wiser now. And we have the full and unwavering support of our families. I want to be your wife. Through good times and bad. And I want to be Violet’s mother. I’ll be there for her come what may. Through the terrible twos, potty training, the teen years and her first romance. I can’t offer you perfection, but I won’t ever forsake either one of you, Joshua. Not ever.” Tears were streaming down her face and Honor didn’t bother wiping them away. She wasn’t hiding her feelings anymore. This man was who she wanted to grow old with and shelter from the storms of life. It would be her privilege to be his wife.
“Honor, marrying you would be the supreme honor of my life. I wanted you to be my wife six years ago. That hasn’t changed in all this time. I still want you. It would make me the happiest man in all of Alaska to be your husband.”
He dug in his pocket and pulled out a shiny diamond solitaire ring. Honor gasped. She covered her mouth with her hands.
“I guess you recognize it. So many times over the years I was tempted to throw it into the river.” He shook his head. “I couldn’t even think about us because it hurt too badly to go down that road. But something made me hold on to this ring. I couldn’t let go of what it represented. When I bought it, I didn’t have a whole lot of money to spend on it. But when I gave it to you, it was as if I’d given you the sun, moon and the stars. You didn’t care that it wasn’t the biggest or the brightest. Because you loved me.” He held it out to her. “This ring signifies the most wondrous love I’ve ever known. Or ever will know.”
“Oh, Joshua. It’s still the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen,” she exclaimed.
“Honor, will you wear my ring? Again? And this time promise never to take it off. Will you marry me?” Joshua asked.
Honor began laughing through her tears. “Hey! No fair. I asked you first. You never gave me an answer.”
Joshua reached for her hand and slid the ring onto her finger. “This is my answer. Yes, Honor. I’ll marry you. Anytime. Anyplace. Anywhere.”
Honor threw herself against Joshua’s chest and wrapped her arms around his neck. He placed his hands on either side of her waist and whirled her around. Honor let out a squeal of delight and hung on for dear life. Finally, after all these years, they were getting married. And she would be a mother to Violet. All of her dreams were coming to fruition. She was incredibly blessed.
She had never imagined Joshua’s return to Love would result in their falling in love all over again. Their reunion had been given a push in the right direction by the good Lord above. She just knew it!
All things were possible with love, truth and faith. She truly believed it now. She and Joshua had been through the fire and come through the ashes to form something stronger than they had ever imagined. And there was no force on earth that they would ever allow to separate them again.
Like their beloved hometown, their love would endure.
