AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sebastian’s head rears back, but he doesn’t let me go. “You knew and didn’t say anything?”
“No, it wasn’t my place, and I figured you’d look into it at some stage. I wasn’t hiding it from you, I just didn’t know for sure. Did you look into it?”
He nods.
“And?”
Tears fill his eyes, and that gives me my answer before he has to say anything. “You have Anna-Beth’s heart,” he chokes out, and I pull him back into my arms as he sobs on my shoulder.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.” We stand like this for a while as he silently cries. “I love you, Sebastian,” I finally say.
Clearing his throat, he says, “I love you too. I’m not upset or anything. I’m grateful for you and for the person you are. You were put in my path, and for that, I’m so happy. I’m thrilled I have you in my life now and in the future.
“I know this isn’t conventional and may seem a little crazy, but I know in my heart it’s you I want to be with for the rest of my life. I lost one person I cared deeply about, and I found you later down the track. I understand if you say no, but please, really consider it.”
What’s he going on about? It’s all romantic and stuff, but where’s he going with this speech?
As if in a Hallmark movie, he digs in his pocket and then drops down on one knee. My mouth drops, and my hands fly to cover it. “What are you doing?” I cry as tears fill my eyes.
“I’m wondering if you’ll marry me? It doesn’t have to happen anytime soon. But I want you to be mine, and I’ll gladly be yours if you’ll have me?” His dark eyes hold mine captive.
I start to give him the answer I want to scream and then pause. “It’s not because of Anna-Beth’s heart that you’re doing this, is it?” I ask, and I’m sure I sound stupid, but I need to know.
He frowns. “No. Not a chance. I fell in love with you before I even knew about the heart. I grew to love you as the person you are, not because of anything else. You’re my present and future. What do you say?” He stays on one knee.
I nod furiously. “Yes, I will.” Tears slide down my cheeks as he places the princess-cut diamond ring on my wedding finger and then scoops me up in his arms, spinning me around.
Claps fill the little barn.
My family stands in the doorway, Dad included. They were in on this, and they’re happy for me.
I couldn’t be more excited for the future and what it holds for both of us. I love Sebastian with my whole heart.
“WHY ARE YOU EVEN BOTHERINGwith Dotty again?” Delilah asks as she packs hers and Olive’s suitcase to go with Sebastian.
“Because I feel I need to. I don’t know why, and I can’t explain it,” I reply.
I never expected Sebastian to propose, but he came here and wanted to talk to all of us—especially Dad. He told us his intentions and the information he’d discovered about his late wife and Delilah. It actually brought a tear to our old man’s eyes. Dad couldn’t tell him no after that. He told Sebastian to make sure she came home often. Sebastian’s response was, “We’ll be home when we don’t need to be on the track, or whenever Delilah wants to come home, she can. I’m never going to stop her.” And that made Dad happy.
“Harley, can you make sure that Dad doesn’t close the library up? I don’t want to come home and find that door shut again. You hear me?” Her head comes up, and her hard eyes bore into mine.
“Yes, boss. We won’t close the doors again. I promise, especially since you’ll be coming home,” I say, and she goes back to her closet to grab some clothes.
“Yes, I will be.” She stops packing and stares at me. “Am I doing the right thing, or am I rushing into this?”
I shrug. “I can’t answer that… only you can. And you’re not running off and getting married this instant, are you?”
She shakes her head. “You’re right. I should just see what happens. I’m happy, and that’s what matters.”
“That’s what matters,” I agree.
“Now, about Dotty. Just forget about the girl and what Dotty has said.”
“I can’t get her out of my head. It’s driving me crazy. It’s stupid, I know, but I want to know that she’s okay and at least get her name.” Since I met the mystery neighbor, she’s all I can think about. Only a crazy person takes an untamed mustang and attempts to ride it.
“I went and saw Dotty a few weeks back to check on the girl because you wouldn’t shut up about her, and she said the girl is only visiting for a little while. You know her, she likes to be up in everybody’s business but won’t let anyone, especially our family, close to her. I’m surprised she didn’t pull a gun on you when you took the girl home. She’s been known to do that in the past.”
While walking home with the girl, I’d asked questions like her name. She gave me the letter M, and that was it. When we got close to the house, she took off at a run and didn’t stop until she was through the back door. Dotty was waiting at the fence line, her brows furrowed and that familiar grouchy look on her face. It’s like a permanent expression for her. She doesn’t let anyone in or near her property.
