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“Always. Now, go wrangle your fella or whatever it is you’re supposed to do with your magic pistol.”
Grace rushed out to her car and drove to Star, unaware of the humidity, other vehicles on the road, or the storm clouds gathering overhead. When she turned onto Gibson property, she felt a slight trepidation of what Levi might say when she showed up unexpectedly, but she cast aside her doubts and bravely headed directly toward his house. She didn’t know why she felt he’d be there instead of out working in one of the fields. All she knew was that she needed to get to his house, to him.
She drove faster than she probably should have on the country road, but she felt such an urgency to reach Levi.
When his house came into view, she breathed a sigh of relief. She’d barely stopped outside when he yanked open the front door and took the porch steps in one giant leap.
Two more long strides and he was at the car, rushing around to open her door and pulling her into his arms.
No words were needed as he held her to him, murmuring in her ear how much he’d missed her, how sorry he was to have driven her away. Then he kissed her with a mixture of hunger and tenderness.
“What are you doing here?” he asked as he leaned back but kept both arms wrapped around her.
“I can’t explain it, but I just had to come see you, Levi. I know this will sound crazy, but I read the letter that came with the pistol again, and then I just felt this need to be here, with you.”
“It’s not crazy, Miss American Pie.” He brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and hugged her again like he never wanted to let her go. “I woke up with three words going over and over in my thoughts.”
“What words?” she asked, pushing back from him just enough she could see his face.
“‘Go to Grace.’ Those words repeated nonstop as I irrigated and even while I sat down to eat breakfast with Ma and Pop. When I told them, they both shouted at me to go to you. I was just changing my clothes, and here you are, and I’m so glad.” Levi released a long breath. “Grace, I was so awful to you. I’m sorry, so deeply and incredibly sorry. I pushed you away because I didn’t want to hurt you, but I ended up doing that anyway. I promise, if you’ll give me a second chance, I’ll never, ever do that again. Is there any hope that you might forgive me? Perhaps consider the possibility of a future together?”
“Of course, I forgive you. I’m a big believer in second chances, you know.” Grace grinned and pulled him closer for another kiss. Since she’d been the one to ask Levi for a first date, she supposed she might as well plunge ahead and share what was on her heart. “I love you, Levi Gibson, and I have from the first day we met. As for considering the possibility of a future together, I would love for it to come true. We can move at whatever speed is comfortable for you. I just … I don’t know how to explain it, Levi, but the first time I held that pink pistol in my hand, I opened my heart to the possibility of love. This morning, when I closed my eyes and envisioned love, your face was the only thing I could see. I truly love you with all my heart.”
Levi swung her around, then stepped back from her, holding her left hand in his right. “I have absolutely no right to ask this, Grace, but I love you with all my heart, and I have from the first day we met when you terrorized me with your thermometer, making me fearful of what you might actually do with it if I didn’t open my mouth.”
She grinned and lifted an eyebrow. “You stubborn types need to know when I mean business.”
“Yes, we do.” Levi brought her fingers to his mouth and kissed the backs of them, then continued. “It would be my greatest honor and privilege if you would agree to marry me, Grace. If you want to live here, that’s grand, but if you prefer to move to Holiday, your dad mentioned some land for sale south of town where he thought potatoes might grow.”
“We’ll stay here, Levi, and raise our family to be the fifth generation of Gibsons on this land.”
He smirked and waggled his eyebrows at her. “If you’re talking about having my babies, might I assume that means you’ll marry me?”
“Yes, yes, and yes!” Grace shouted.
Levi picked her up, swinging her around a second time before he let her slide down until their lips connected in a fiery kiss full of passion.
“Hey, you two. Save some of that for the honeymoon!” a deep male voice called from behind them.
Grace spun around and squealed, racing to throw her arms around her brother Jared as he walked toward them, holding Cindy’s hand. After weeks of delays, he’d finally made it home in one piece.
“Nice to meet you,” Jared said, holding out a hand to Levi once Grace turned loose of him.
“Welcome home,” Levi said with a friendly smile.
Just then, thunder boomed overhead, and rain started to pour from the skies.
Jared grabbed Cindy’s hand while Levi took Grace’s, and the four of them raced inside the house to start making wedding plans.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful bride,” Cindy gushed, adjusting Grace’s veil as they readied in the basement of the church in Holiday for Grace and Levi’s wedding.
The gown Grace wore, covered in rich Irish lace, had belonged to Grace’s mother, and Jo-Ann’s mother before her. The sweetheart neckline inset with lace that rose high on her neck and the lace sleeves that were puffed from shoulder to elbow and then tight to her wrist definitely had a Victorian look to them, which Grace loved.
Cindy, the maid of honor, and the three bridesmaids, wore lace-trimmed Gunne Sax dresses that had a years-gone-by vibe to them.
“Thank you for everything, my friend,” Grace said, giving Cindy a tight hug, then stepping back before she wrinkled her dress or started to cry and smeared the makeup the two of them had so carefully applied.
“Of course, Grace. I’m just so happy for you and Levi and elated the two of you will stay in Star.”
