AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His mind had wandered most of the trip. Morning Dove was free now. Walter would never hurt her again. The Judge had listened to all three of their stories and Walter’s had been more embellished than the last time he told it, something Marshal Lincoln had pointed out. In the end, the Judge sided in their favor but when Walter insisted on a jury to hear their case, the Judge had told him if a jury found him guilty, he’d hang. Walter agreed to a lengthy stay in prison instead, but he wasn’t happy about it.
Morning Dove’s future was hers to do with as she saw fit now. What she wanted to do with it, he did not know. Neither of them had talked about what came next on their way home. They’d spent the time talking about their life, about the things that made them who they were, and every night under the light of the moon, he’d loved her until they were both sated and unable to move.
Betsey was the first to reach them when they rode into the yard. She nearly pulled Morning Dove from her horse in her excitement, wrapping her arms around her when her feet hit the ground and hugging her so tight, Morning Dove’s face went red. His sister did much the same to him, but when he winced, she let go with a question of what happened.
“I’ll tell you everything but first, I want a bath and something hot to eat.”
“I can get you both. I’ve already got supper on the stove.”
Ben watched Morning Dove follow Betsey into the house. She turned back to look at him before shutting the door, a knowing smile on her face. Aaron was watching him with a raised eyebrow when he finally looked his way. “Don’t say a word.”
His oldest friend laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
He helped Aaron see to the horses, then followed him into the house. Morning Dove was already bathed and in a clean dress. Betsey was emptying the water from the tub, heating more to dump back in it when they headed inside the kitchen.
He stepped behind the screen when the bath was ready and washed, wishing Morning Dove had helped him, but she’d barely said three words to him since getting back. She blushed like a virgin when he looked her way, and he figured their newfound closeness was the reason why. Him being Betsey’s brother probably didn’t help any either. Being loving toward him when no one was looking was easy. Having someone be a witness to it was not.
The meal Betsey had prepared wasn’t anything special, but they cleaned all the dishes in record time. He and Morning Dove had lived off of dried meats and wild rabbits for the past week and getting something into his stomach other than that had made him ravenous.
Aaron and Betsey had wanted to know everything about their adventure and he and Morning Dove took turns telling them. Neither of them mentioned what happened between them.
After they’d eaten and helped clean the mess, Morning Dove disappeared. He found her outside, watching the sun disappear over the mountains in the distance. Willow Creek looked like a winding ribbon of twinkling lights from here, the dying sun glinting off the water. The air hung heavy with the scent of grass and occasionally, he caught a whiff of dirt and hay.
He stopped beside Morning Dove, giving her a brief glance before staring out across the valley. She looked sad and if he was honest, he was too. It would be night soon, and the thoughts of leaving and heading home without her didn’t settle right with him.
The conversation with Aaron all those weeks ago came back to him in an instant. He’d told Aaron he wasn’t good enough for Morning Dove. That he wasn’t anything more than a drunk barely getting by, but that wasn’t who he was now. He was still broke as hell, but other than the brief sip of whiskey he’d taken after being shot, he’d not touched a drop in over a month. Was he good enough for her now? Probably not—but he still wanted her. Hated the thoughts of going home and leaving her here.
You don’t have to.
The idea wouldn’t leave once it entered his mind.
Turning to face her, he smiled when she looked up at him. The sadness in her eyes made him hopeful she felt as miserable about him leaving as he did.
He pushed her hair away from her face before brushing his thumb across her bottom lip. “I’ll never be a rich man.” She gave him a confused look and opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off by saying, “my house is small and cold in the winter, but it keeps me dry and somewhat comfortable. The only thing it's missing is someone to share it with.”
Her breath caught and her eyes lit up a fraction.
His heart thumped. Hard. “Marry me, Morning Dove.” He glanced out over the valley. “Right here, where Aaron and Betsey were married among the wildflowers.
"I don’t remember much of anything about their wedding. I spent the entire day watching you.” He grinned and felt his face heat. “I was smitten the moment I laid eyes on you. My infatuation with you has only grown.” He stepped closer to her, cupping her cheek with his hand. “I love you. I never want to spend another day wondering what you’re doing. I want to see you smile at me when I get home from work and lay skin to skin with you every night for the rest of my life.”
Her eyes turned glassy, her lip caught between her teeth.
“Will you marry me, Morning Dove?”
The tears in her eyes were blinked away and the smile she gave him lit her entire face. “Yes.” Her breath hitched. “I would love nothing more than to marry you, Ben Atwater.”
She threw her arms around his neck and he kissed her without another word, drank her in and tasted her as if it was the last chance he’d ever get to do so. He held her close, lifting her off her feet, and didn’t look up when he heard the back door open, or when he heard soft giggles. He didn’t care who saw them. After tonight, everyone in Willow Creek would know about them, and he’d dare anyone to say a word about it. The days of Morning Dove being mistreated by the townsfolk here were gone. She’d never be subjected to their ridicule again. After the hardships she’d lived with, this woman deserved to be accepted and treated with decency and he’d see she’d get that respect even if he had to kick the ass of every man in Willow Creek. Morning Dove was his to protect, and he’d take his last breath doing just that.
Epilogue
Ben carried her into the house and Morning Dove knew the smile on her face was permanently etched there.
He set her on her feet, but kissed her long and hard before letting her go and looking around the room. “Looks as if someone’s been here.”
Morning Dove turned to see what he was talking about. He was right. Someone had been there.
The small table that separated the kitchen and sitting area was crammed with many things. Baskets and stacks of blankets and wooden crates filled with foodstuff. The air hung heavy with the scent of something spicy, and there was not a speck of dust on anything.
