AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The judge looked down at something on his desk, then looked to the jury, at one young man in particular.
“Will the foreperson please rise and read the verdict?”
The young man stood, this throat bobbing as he swallowed.
“On the charge of battery in the first degree, we find the defendant guilty,” he said.
I exhaled, trying to calm my racing heart.
“On the charge of stalking—”
Guilty.
“On the charge of breaking and entering—”
Guilty.
I leaned forward, watching Kirk’s face as the charges were read. His eyes were on the judge, his face totally expressionless.
“On the charge of attempted murder in the first degree,” the foreperson said, glancing up to the judge. “We find the defendant guilty.”
Moira let out her breath. I roped my arm around her shoulders, shaking her a bit as tears slid free from her eyes and she smiled.
“Guilty on all charges—” the judge began, but I was no longer paying attention.
I took Moira’s face between my hands, looking into her eyes. “It’s over,” I rasped, kissing her firmly. “You did it.”
We filed out of the courtroom a short time later with my lawyer by our side. He was chipper, his voice lifted as he discussed the case and how swiftly the verdict had been decided. It had only taken the jury thirty minutes to deliberate and find him guilty. I’d been expecting to have to stay in Helena for another few days.
But now, we were free to go home.
* * *
Moira stepped out of the bathroom. She was towel-drying her hair, her body clothed in one of the big, fluffy bathrobes the hotel provided.
“I checked on the boys,” I said, glancing up from my laptop.
“Are they sleeping?” she asked, a soft smile touching her lips.
I nodded, closing my laptop and setting it on the bedside table. I motioned her over, and she stepped over to me.
“You are the strongest woman I’ve ever met,” I said, gently taking her hand and pulling her onto my lap.
“I try,” she teased, leaning down to kiss me. Her wet hair tickled my cheek as she pulled away. “You’re pretty strong yourself.”
I gave her a look, my fingertips running over her collarbone beneath the robe.
“Are you ready to hit the road in the morning?” I asked.
“Yes,” she breathed, straddling me. “Just in time to take down the Christmas decorations, too.” She sighed, rolling off my lap and sprawling out with her arms and legs splayed next to me in bed. “I have to go to Bozeman for the meeting next week, though.”
I smiled to myself before settling against the pillows and rolling over to face her.
Moira had been consulting on projects in Hot Springs but had expanded her clientele to Bozeman and the towns in between. Her home office was getting a lot of use for sure, but she did have to travel for work occasionally.
We enrolled Day in school and it was going great so far. Jason and Luke were in his class, too, which seemed like a dream to the kid.
We’d settled into a routine over the last six months, and things felt… right. Easy.
