Page 62 of The One Who Risked it All

Her quiet laughter warmed me more than any fire could. As we lay there, enveloped in our little cocoon of warmth and love, I felt a sense of peace I’d never known before. Whateverchallenges we’d face, whatever obstacles life threw our way, I knew we’d face them together.

No matter what I had to give up to be with Carla, I’d risk it all in a heartbeat.

Epilogue

CARLA

Istood at the edge of Minden Park, my heart doing a happy dance as I scanned the bustling crowd. The vibrant energy of the town fair surrounded me, a cheerful reminder of how far we’d come. My eyes searched for him, the man who—against all odds—had become my everything.

Adjusting my sundress, I felt a familiar flutter of excitement. Eli and I had faced down family feuds, misunderstandings, and years of tension to get to this point. Now, with all of that behind us, today was just about fun and celebration.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the crowd. Mrs. Henderson waved at me from her craft booth, and I returned her greeting with a bright smile. “Those quilts look amazing, Mrs. H!”

“Thank you, dear,” she called back. “And you’re looking radiant!”

I laughed, the warmth in her words matching the sunlight streaming through the trees. This was home—the place where everyone knew you, and life felt like a patchwork quilt of love and laughter.

As I neared the bake sale booth, Rebecca spotted me and grinned. “Looking for someone special?” she teased.

I rolled my eyes, but my smile gave me away. “Just enjoying the day.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Rebecca said knowingly. “Well, a certain firefighter might be looking for you too.”

My heart skipped a beat as I thanked her and made my way toward the auction stage. The colorful banners and cheerful music created a lively backdrop for the event. My gaze swept over the stage, and there he was—Elijah Wells, standing tall and confident in his firefighter uniform, the sunlight catching the easy grin that never failed to steal my breath.

As if sensing my gaze, Eli looked out over the crowd. When his eyes found mine, a slow smile spread across his face, and the world around us seemed to blur.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the auctioneer’s booming voice called out, snapping me back to reality, “it’s time to bid on a date with one of our newest hometown heroes. Introducing Evan Mercer! He just moved here from Chicago and we’re lucky to have him joining the MRFD as a new firefighter! Do I have $50?”

Paddles flew up in the air as community members bid on the opportunity to personally welcome Evan to town. But my eyes were entirely fixed on Eli, standing in the background, waiting for his turn.

Eli’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he gave a playful wave. As four hours with Evan Mercer was sold to the highest bidder, I couldn’t contain my happiness. The past five months with Eli had been everything I ever wanted.

“Up next, we have Elijah Wells. To know him is to love this Minden native.”

My heart thumped as the bidding began.

“Do I hear $50?” the auctioneer called.

Paddles shot up, and I quickly joined in. Eli’s amused expression turned into something softer, something just for me. With each bid, I felt the excitement build—not just for theauction, but for the moment I knew was coming. I wasn’t going to let anyone else steal my time with my firefighter.

“$500!” I called out, my voice steady despite the pounding of my heart. The auctioneer called for further bids, but the crowd fell silent. The town of Minden was solidly behind us as our families had put the feud to rest.

The crowd erupted in cheers as the auctioneer declared, “Sold! $500 to Miss Carla Putnam!”

Eli stepped off the stage, weaving through the crowd until he was standing in front of me. His grin was brighter than the sun as he took my hand. “Quite the bid there, Putnam. You must really want that date.”

“Maybe I just didn’t want anyone else to have you,” I teased, my cheeks warming.

Eli’s gaze softened as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. The world seemed to tilt as he dropped to one knee. This was really happening?

“Carla,” he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion, “I’m pretty glad you bid on me. No one else gets to have me, because I don’t want to give this ring to anybody else. You’ve become my best friend, my fiercest ally, and the love of my life. Will you marry me?”

Tears blurred my vision as I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. “Yes, Eli. Of course, yes!”

Cheers erupted around us as Eli slipped the ring onto my finger and stood, pulling me into his arms. Our kiss was met with applause and laughter, a perfect reflection of the joy we felt in that moment.

As the crowd celebrated around us, Eli leaned close, his voice low and full of promise. “This is just the beginning, Carla.”

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