Page 54 of Burning for the Truth

We drive until Valley B comes into view.

“What are we doing?” I ask again.

“Trust me, sweetheart,” he says as he turns off his truck and hops out before coming around to help me. He leads me to where Whiskey and Gypsy are already saddled and ready to go.

“Going on an evening stroll, huh?” I laugh.

“Something like that,” he replies as we mount the horses.

We ride leisurely beside each other, close enough for him to hold my hand. The sun is starting to set. The crickets are chirping, and I see lightning bugs all in the field. When he starts to slow down, I see the hilltop where we last were. It was where I stopped when I ran from him when I was upset both only a couple months ago and many years ago when my horse, Buttercup, threw me. Both times he came for me, he saved me. He never ran from my pain, he’s always faced itwith mehead-on,even when I thought I didn’t want him to.

There’s a tree on this hilltop. He helps me down and ties the horses up where he’s already fixed up treats for them. I stare at the sight before me, and he’s set up a picnic. No actual flames, but battery-operated candles flicker along with battery-operated lanterns hung in the tree above the blanket. He’s got it all, from dinner to wine to dessert.

My hand covers my mouth. “Dean, this is beautiful. Thank you.”

He stands in front of me and takes my hands in his. “I know we haven’t talked…not really, since you found Drew’s letter. But, baby, I promise I was going to give it to you. At first, you said you weren’t ready, but I should’ve given it to you anyway so you could decide when you were. I shouldn’t have made that choice for you. Please forgive me. I only had it because Drew told me where to find it and that he had something for you and wanted me to make sure you got it.” He continues with hope blossoming in his stormy eyes. “I know I’m not Drew. He was such a good man. But if you’ll let me, I’ll show you every day how much I love you, and I’ll try with everything in me to be the man you deserve.”

A tear slips down my face. “I’ll always love Drew, you know that. But what we have is something no one can question. I forgive you. I shouldn’t have overreacted. I most definitely should’ve let you explain. And for that, I am sorry. Please forgive me. What I regret the most is walking away that night and telling you I was letting you go. It’s the only lie I’ve ever told. I’ve been holding on to you since I was thirteen even if I didn’t want to admit it to you or myself.” I laugh through my tears.

He laughs too. “Yeah, you can be pretty stubborn, but it’s one of the many things I love about you. I want you to know I tried to save Drew. I’m struggling with the fact I couldn’t. I don’t blame you if you’re angry with me because I live with the guilt of surviving when he didn’t every day and how I know it hurt you too. I’m so sorry,” he says with tears streaming down his face.

I grab his face gently and wipe his tears away with my thumbs. “Don’t you dare blame yourself. I know you, Dean. I know you did everything in your power to save him. There are some things in life we can’t control, and we have to accept it and make the best of what we’re dealt. You have nothing to apologize for.”

He stays silent as he stares into my eyes. “I never want to disappoint you. I want to make you proud, and I want to make you happy.”

I smile and kiss his lips. “You do, Dean. I’m so proud of you. I love you, Dean Warren. Don’t doubt it for a second.”

He touches his forehead to mine. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, babe. I’m sure. The love I have for you has always been a part of me and it always will. It’s a force all its own. Haven’t you noticed how we’re always pulled together?” I laugh and kiss the tip of his nose.

“I have noticed that, but I never thought you did. I only ever tried to show my love for you by protecting you even if it didn’t always seem like it.

“Since we’re on the same page…I think.” He smiles and kisses me before dropping to one knee. It takes a moment to register what he’s doing even as he pulls out a ring box. “Briella Brigg, Bree, BB…sweetheart,” he begins. He swallows with tears shimmering in his eyes. “I know a lot has happened over the last year, and I know we haven’t even officially dated, but I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don’t have to date you to know that. I’ve known you all my life, and all the moments before, when the timing wasn’t right…they were leading us to now, when it is. There is no one else I want to go through the madness of life with than you. I want you to have my last name, I want you to be the mother of my children. I want to be the one you run to with everything, because you’re that for me. You saved me, Briella. I was always supposed to be yours and you were always supposed to be mine. I’ll always hold on to you. Will you save me one more time and marry me?”

I kneel in front of him. “Yes, baby. A million times over, yes! I’m holding on to you like I always have, and I won’t let go.” He slides the ring on my finger and kisses me until I’m panting for more. I barely have a chance to look at it as he leads us to where the food is laid out.

“Do you want to eat before it gets too cold?” he asks laughing with a blush on his handsome face. He starts to pour the wine and I stop him. “What’s wrong? Did I get the wrong kind?” he asks.

“No. I have something to tell you. A little secret I’ve been keeping over the last few days.” My heart thunders in my chest knowing I’m about to change his life forever.

He stares at me, confusion on his face…wrinkle lines evident on his forehead.

“I can’t have wine for about nine months,” I admit quietly.

He still appears confused until I step closer. “We’re pregnant, Dean. You’re going to be a dad.”

When it registers, he picks me up and twirls me around in his arms. “I was hoping you’d be happy,” I say as he puts me back down.

His eyebrows furrow slightly in confusion. “Wait, I thought you were on birth control.”

I laugh. “I was. But there’s a small percentage who still get pregnant. One more thing that’s imperfectly on time in our love story.” He smiles and hugs me again.

But when he pulls back, his face pales. “Oh no. Your brother is going to kill me.”

I throw my head back and laugh. “I’m sure he knows how babies are born considering he has one of his own. And you asked me to marry you before you even knew, so….it’ll be fine.”

He laughs but still seems worried.

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