Page 78 of A Dangerous Heart
He wasn’t finished. “And I’m sorry that I left. Sorry you felt you didn’t have any other choice but to come for Eli alone. I’m not living in the past anymore. I want to be a real family, like you said.”
New tears welled in her eyes. Joyous tears, for him. For what he was offering her.
Her heart was full to bursting. “You do?”
He nodded gravely. “I love you, Clare. You came and brought my heart back to life. Brought me back together with my family.”
She reached a hand up to cup his cheek. “Oh, Isaac, I love you too.”
Maybe he’d needed to hear the words spoken out loud, because the vulnerable light in his eyes faded, giving way to a deep, abiding joy.
He pulled her back into his arms, close to his heart, and kissed her. She met his kiss eagerly, pouring all her overflowing emotions into the moment. Isaac loved her. She’d found the place she belonged, right here in his arms.
She’d come searching for a new name, a way to protect herself. But at Isaac’s side, she’d faced her own demons and found the home her heart truly craved.
Chapter 20
“Just cast my line one more time,” Ben begged. “I won’t get it snagged this time.”
Isaac looked over from where he was sprawled on the blanket, one hand holding his head up on a propped elbow. Clare was perched next to him, watching too. Ben sat on the riverbank under a twisted lodgepole pine. He inched forward so that he was as close to the edge of the bank as possible without falling in.
Eli stood in the river, boots submerged in a few inches of water.
“You said that about a hundred times before.” Eli sighed. “Give me the pole.”
Ben’s leg was healing well, but he’d taken to hopping on one leg all over the ranch. Isaac had lost count of the number of times Eli had had to step in and steady Ben as he’d teetered precariously on one leg, ready to topple, after he’d mislaid his crutches.
A few weeks had passed, and November had sent them a surprisingly warm and clear day—the kind of day perfect for fishing. Clare had decided it was a grand day for a picnic. Who was he to argue? In fact, he couldn’t quite remember why he’d fought so hard against settling down.
“He’s too close to the edge.” Clare eyed Ben like the proverbial mother hen, her body tense, ready to fly into action.
Isaac clasped her hand, and her gaze turned to him. Ben chattered and Eli groused some more, but it was a good-natured response.
“Eli won’t let him fall in,” Isaac said. The oatmeal cookies could wait. He’d let his eyes feast on her pretty face. With the boys constantly underfoot, a moment alone with his wife was as rare as hen’s teeth.
“Look, it’s a frog! We ain’t seen a frog since we were on the farm. Let’s catch it.” Ben started to get up.
“Haven’t seen one. We haven’t seen one,” Eli corrected. “You can’t chase a frog with your bum leg. Here, take the poles. I’ll get ’im.”
Something in Isaac’s chest hitched.
Ever since the shoot-out and rescue on Quade’s property, Eli had settled. There were still moments of stubbornness, but Eli had made his choice—to be a part of this new family.
“Hurry! Oh, you missed him.”
Eli bent and tried to close two hands around the frog. It jumped just in time to evade his grasp. “He’s a clever little critter,” Eli said.
Ben laughed in response.
The laughter rippled across Isaac’s soul.
His gaze moved back to Clare, who was watching him, not the boys.
She smiled. Her hazel eyes reflected her deep, heartfelt love for him. “They’re just boys being boys,” she said softly.
Isaac nodded. He knew she was grateful for the new life she and the boys had found here. She’d told him so, one of the nights they’d lingered over coffee after supper. She’d told him her worries and listened to Isaac’s in return. They were on their way to becoming that real family she wanted.
“He jumped thataway!” Ben’s shout echoed over the water.
