Page 482 of Conveniently Wed
Yet there was one thing she had to tell him before anything more happened. She pressed a hand to his chest. “I have something to say that I mean with all my heart.” She bit down on her lower lip.
He took a sharp breath in as his gaze lowered to her mouth, then rose again to her eyes.
“I love you, Josiah. I know you may find that hard to believe?—”
“Shh.” He placed a finger over her lips. “I’ve been blind. I’ve loved you for so long, yet I treated you harshly, lettingmy jealousy and my misconceptions get the best of me. Yet you’ve been showing me for months what real love looks like. Everything flashed in front of me when I thought I’d lost you.” His voice hitched. “Your love for me has been so much deeper than what I’ve given you.” A mist veiled his eyes.
She stroked a wayward curl from his forehead.
Josiah’s eyes closed at her touch. When they opened again, they smoldered. “And He’s given you back to me when I thought all was lost.”
“Kiss me, Josiah. I love you so much it hurts.”
His lips found hers with aching softness. But then she pulled back. There was just one more detail to set straight. “I want to stay tonight and every night.”
The smile lines around his eyes crinkled. “With pleasure, Mrs. Richardson.”
Curled in the warmth of Josiah’s arms, Katie snuggled even closer. She had no intention of ever letting go. She had held nothing back and gained everything.
She turned in his arms to face him and kissed his lips. He stirred and sluggishly opened his eyes. A pleased look split his face.
“So, it wasn’t a dream?” He kissed her waiting lips and pulled back. “I’ve been so unlovable, and yet you’re here.”
She nodded and giggled. “God is a miracle worker.”
He rolled onto his back with a sigh and snuggled her close, pulling her to rest her head on his strong chest. “Never gave God much thought beyond the occasional church service, until Jeb started yammering about Jesus. Then Colby, now you. The changes are undeniable.”
“It’s called peace.”
He kissed the top of her head. “You know, I thought I could protect you. I thought I had everything under control. That burning barn made me cry out for mercy, and God answered. He kept you safe when I could not.”
“There have been substantial losses—the barn, some of your best horses?—”
He kissed her quiet. “If that’s what it took to bring me to my senses and soften my stubborn heart, then so be it.”
Her ear pressed against his chest. “I can hear the gallop of your heart.”
“No secret there. I adore you. It’s as if there was something bigger than I could understand drawing us together from the very beginning.”
“There was. ThoughIdidn’t yet know, God knew the best possible soul mate for me.”
He chuckled. “Soul mate? I do like the sound of that. I’m liking this God more by the minute.”
EPILOGUE
February 1868
Katie lumbered through the house. With her hands to the small of her aching back, she eased her heavy body into the rocking chair in the parlor close to the window. She moved a hand to her midsection and whispered to the large mound. “You can come anytime now. Just not today. There’s a storm brewing, little one.”
The swirl of thick snowflakes fell outside, transforming the earth to pristine white. She enjoyed the hypnotic twirl. Her eyes grew heavy, and she gave in to the tug of her drooping eyelids.
She woke to warm hands around her. Josiah knelt beside her with his head once again on her swollen abdomen. She reached out to smooth her fingers through his russet curls.
“Hello, darling.” He looked up at her. “How are my two favorite people in the whole world?”
She couldn’t help a laugh. She loved the way he included the baby in their conversations.
“It’s snowing again. So beautiful.” She looked out at the accumulated layers of white. There seemed to be no end to the dance of snowflakes coming down.
