Page 121 of Better Together

Jennifer jerked her chin. “I’ll come get you in a minute for a statement. Just don’t leave.”

“We won’t,” Remi answered as she took his hand and followed him toward the sidewalk where the kids waited.

Abby spotted them first, and her eyes widened at the same time she pushed out of Grady’s arms. She ran straight to Remi, and Colt made a beeline for Ben. Wrapping the little boy in his arms, he inhaled a deep breath as he buried his face in the crook of Ben’s neck. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks to you! Hudson told me you chased that guy down!”

Colt shook his head and let his gaze run over Ben’s face and arms, checking for injuries. “I would never let you go without a fight.” Colt wrapped Ben in a tight hug, wishing he could hold on forever. “I love you, bud.”

“Love you too,” Ben whispered back.

Jennifer shouted behind them. “Hey!”

Colt turned but kept his hold on Ben.

Jennifer pointed to the feed and seed. “You can wait inside. I’ll come get you in about ten minutes.”

Colt hadn’t noticed, but fluffy flakes of snow drifted slowly over the parking lot. Ben shivered in his arms. “Let’s get you warm.”

“Uncle Colt!”

Abby reached her arms up to him, and he set Ben on his feet to wrap Abby in the same, rib-crushing hug as Ben. “Hey, sweetie.”

“I love you,” Abby whispered.

“I love you too. You have no idea how much I love you.”

Abby snuggled closer to him. “I do.”

Remi’s soft voice shook behind him. “I’m so sorry,” she told Ben. “I love you, and I’ll never let you out of my sight again.”

“Does this mean I don’t have to go to school?” Ben asked.

Remi looked up at Colt in the same moment her tears returned. “Don’t judge me if I turn into a hover-mom after this.”

Colt stood to his feet, pulling Abby up with him on his hip. Remi stood with Ben, and Colt wrapped his arms around the three people he loved most. “I think you still have to go to school, but I might try to bribe the school resource officer to keep you in his sight all day.”

“Aw, man,” Ben groaned.

Remi brushed a hand over Ben’s hair. “I’ll do anything to make sure you’re safe.”

Colt stared at the woman who’d made good on her vow to fight by his side. There wasn’t a better woman out there for him, and he’d be thanking God day and night for sending Remi into his life.

She looked up at him, and he brushed a thumb over her cheek. “I love you.”

Remi blinked misty eyes and smiled. “I love you too, Walker.”

“Me and you against the world?”

Remi slid a hand behind his neck and pulled him down to her, pressing her lips against his in a sweet, short kiss. “Until the very end.”

Chapter34

Remi

Abby whined and squirmed in her car seat. “I don’t like these shoes. They hurt my feet.”

Remi opened the glove compartment in Colt’s truck as he parked beside the Weston County Courthouse. “I know we have bandages in here.”

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