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  Once outside, Ross opened the barn doors and ushered Jared and Joanna in first. Before Amelia, and his father could enter, Ross slammed the barn door shut behind them and placed the wooden bolt in the slot to lock it.

  “Why did you do that?” his father asked.

  “Amelia and I think they need some time alone. C’mon, let’s go inside. I’ll challenge you to a game of checkers.”

  Joseph Steele smiled. “Sounds like an excellent plan.”

  Jared and Joanna swung around when they heard the barn door slam shut. They looked at each other and Jared shrugged.

  “Why do you think Ross did that?” Joanna asked.

  “I don’t know, but as long as we’re here, what do you think of her?” Jared pointed to a horse the color of butterscotch.”

  “She’s mine?”

  “Yes, and she’s very good-natured.”

  Joanna stepped up to the horse and stroked her nose. “She’s beautiful. Thank you, Jared.”

  “What will you name her?”

  “Hmm,” Joanna tapped her finger on her chin. “I had a friend at the orphanage who was probably the closest to family I've ever had. Her name was Lorraina, but we all called her Raina. I think I’ll call her Raina.” Then a thought hit Joanna. “Where will I keep her? I’m not sure how long I’ll be staying here, with Ross and Amelia. I’m afraid I’ve stayed too long as it is.”

  “That’s one of the things I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “All right, but,” Joanna looked a bit frightened, “how will we get out of here?”

  Jared chuckled. “I bet they think we need some time alone.”

  “Do we?” Joanna asked.

  “We do.” Jared looked around the barn and noticed what Ross and Amelia had placed at the far side of the barn. “Look, Joanna,” he pointed, “they even provided us with a sofa, and is that a teapot on the table?”

  “Good golly, how'd that get in here?” she said. “This is definitely a set up. Jared, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know they’d do this. I hope you don’t think I had anything to do with this.”

  Jared smiled at her. “I think it’s delightful and thoughtful of Ross and Amelia. I wondered how I’d get you alone to talk things over.” He took her hand and led her to the sofa. Once they'd both been seated, he said, “Will you do the honors?” He pointed to the teapot and two cups.

  Joanna smiled and poured them each a cup of tea.

  “First of all, I want to thank you for cleverly clearing my name.”

  “You’re welcome. It was something I had to do. Is that why you bought me a horse?”

  “No, I want to teach you to ride. I’m sorry I refused to do that before.” He sighed loudly. “Joanna, I’ve missed you.”

  “You have?”

  “I had to work every moment I had to cure and sell as many skins as I could so I could afford to buy Herman Berger's property. It’s perfect. The house sets back from the road and is surrounded by woods and I’m going to breed horses. I’m going to pay Herman tomorrow. I've earned every penny myself.”

  “Congratulations,” Joanna said. “It sounds perfect for you.”

  Jared slipped down onto the straw-covered ground and onto one knee. “Joanna, will you marry me and share the new property with me?”

  Joanna’s heart felt as though it would burst from her chest. It took her several moments before she could breathe enough to answer him. “Yes, I will.”

  Jared smiled and pulled a ring from his pocket. “I hope you like it.”

  Joanna gasped. The ring was beautiful. The green stone surrounded by tiny diamonds, sparkled at her. A tear rolled down her cheek and landed on the ring.

  Jared wiped her tears away with his hand. “Now, you’ve gotten your ring wet.”

  Joanna gave him a tearful smile. “It’s perfect.”

  “That’s a real emerald,” he said proudly. “It belonged to my paternal grandmother who told me to present it to the right woman when I found her.” Jared stood and sat beside her on the sofa. “I’ve found her.”

  “Oh, Jared,” Joanna said with a sob, “I’m sorry…I’m just so happy.”

  Jared put his arm around her and pulled her close to him. He handed her his handkerchief, which she took and pressed to her face as she rested her head on Jared’s chest.

  “I still have the marriage license, but my father will want to throw us a proper wedding. Would you like that?”

  All Joanna could do was nod.

  “How about a kiss to seal the deal?” he asked.

  Despite her tears and emotions, she laughed before putting her arms around his neck and letting him kiss her lightly. She wished for more, but he didn’t oblige. Instead, he just looked at her with his big, cerulean-blue eyes. She saw so much in those eyes. They told her he was sincere and that he loved her very much. She smiled, and he touched her lips lightly again.

  “I don’t trust myself locked in this barn alone with you to give you the kind of kiss I’d like to. I’ll save it for our wedding night. I love you, Joanna Rodgers.”

  “I love you, Jared Steele,” she said.

  They drank their tea and waited patiently for Ross to unlock the barn.

  “Do you think they’ll let us out of here soon?” she asked.

  Jared snapped his fingers. “Come with me, love.” He took her hand and led her through the rear of the barn to a door hidden behind bales of straw.

  “Shall I?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  He opened the door, and they walked to the house.

  “Did you know that door was there the whole time?” she asked.

  “I knew, but I'd forgotten all about it since I had my mind on other things.”

  Joanna's mind whirled as they walked to the house. Things happened so fast, and there were a few things she needed to know now. She stopped walking.

  Jared gave her a questioning look.

  “Are you sure you aren’t feeling guilty about all the things that have happened? I need to be sure you love me and you aren’t proposing out of guilt or as a reward for having cleared your name.”

  Jared laughed; Joanna wasn’t sure what that might mean. Was he mocking her?

  “I don’t think my question was at all funny, Jared.”

  He held her face in both of his hands and kissed her nose. “I felt guilt for a long time, but it has nothing to do with how I feel about you. It seems everything I did wound up causing you harm, so I turned that guilt into a vow to take you under my wing and keep you safe—forever—because I love you. I’m sorry for laughing, but it struck me as funny because my feelings started out as guilt, but then it turned into something much stronger and much longer-lasting.

  “I could ask you a similar question: could your feelings for me be gratitude for my excellent nursing or because I fought a gunfight to protect you?”

  She raised her eyebrow at him. “Checkmate. But those aren’t reasons for gratitude—they're the reasons why I love you.”

  They entered the house arm in arm.

  Ross stood up and laughed when they walked into the sitting room. “You found the back door. Not too soon, I hope.”

  Joanna held out her hand.

  “Oh,” Amelia squealed. “I'm finally getting the perfect sister-in-law. The ring is gorgeous.”

  “Congratulations,” Joseph said. He hugged Joanna and slapped his son on the back. “I’ll throw a wedding that will show all of Hays how I feel about you both.”

  “Congratulations, brother,” Ross said. “Dare I hope my plan had something to do with this?”

  “Certainly. You read my mind: I didn’t know how I’d get Joanna alone today. It was perfect.”

  Ross hugged them both. “Let’s get to planning a wedding.”

  Epilogue

  The wedding was planned for after the election. Joseph won by a landslide; Bradley McKenna got three votes.

  Joseph Steele walked Joanna down the aisle to where Jared waited. Amelia and Ross stood beside him. The church was so full,
some of the guests were forced to stand in the back for the lack of seating. Everyone wanted to be included in the wedding since they knew the reception would be the talk of Hays for months to come. Most of them had also attended Ross’s wedding. Joseph being the mayor, and Jared’s re-entry into society helped make the wedding a memorable occasion for all of Hays.

  After the ceremony, Joseph, Jared, Ross, Joanna, and Amelia stood at the door to greet the guests and invite them to Joseph’s house for the reception afterward.

  A large, covered patio, decorated with lanterns at the rear of Joseph’s home was the arena for the reception. There was an enormous counter at the far end, loaded with dishes of food. Large tables had been set up in the yard beyond the terrace for the guests. A fiddler stood on the patio to play music, and after dinner, Jared took his bride into his arms and danced to a slow song.

  Jared looked into his bride’s eyes and whispered, “You look beautiful. When I saw you walking down the aisle earlier, you took my breath away. I love you, Joanna Steele.”

  “And you,” she said, “waiting so patiently at the altar, looking so nervous though your eyes sparkled with joy. I love you, dear husband.”

  Jared kissed her forehead. “Would I be less of a gentleman in your eyes if I said I wanted to leave our reception and sweep you into my arms and into my bed?”

  “Oh, my! What a delightful idea.”

  “Do you think so?”

  “I do,” she whispered. “If I recall, your bed is quite comfortable.”

  Jared danced Joanna through the double doors leading to the dining room. He danced her through the sitting room, the parlor, and out the front door to their buggy. Jared picked her up, set her on the seat, came around, and hopped into the driver’s perch. They were off with a flick of the reins.

  Their new home wasn’t ready yet, and they spent their wedding night in the cabin Joanna loved, much to her delight. The couple had decided to keep the cabin as their getaway place whenever they needed to be alone together.

  After they’d consummated their marriage, they lay together in bed, her head on his chest.

  “Jared, I think there are three of us in this bed.”

  Jared sat up. “Bear! Didn’t I tell you that when Joanna’s here you need to sleep on the rug?”

  The dog crept up and licked his face.

  “All right, you can stay, but you need to sleep at the foot of the bed.”

  Jared picked the dog up and laid him at their feet. “And if things get too active in this bed for you, the rug by the hearth is nice and warm.”

  Joanna giggled. “Too active?”

  “Since this was the first time for both of us, we’ll need a lot of practice,” he said.

  “Oh, of course.”

  Jared nuzzled her neck, planting kisses from one cheek to the other. “I want a family soon. Do you?”

  She giggled at his kisses. “I’d love to have children, Jared.”

  “Let’s get to work on it, then.” Jared kissed her passionately. It wasn’t long before Bear jumped down and curled up on the rug by the hearth.

  When Joanna awoke, it was morning, and Jared still slept soundly beside her. Their quilt had become tangled around them, and she stared down at her bare foot. The scar ran crisscross around it, but made her smile rather than frown. The scar would be a constant reminder to watch her step, and also that sometimes traps can capture more than the trapper bargained for. She cuddled up to her husband and thanked God for her trapper.

  THE END

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  Other books by Barbara Goss:

  1. Forbidden Legacy

  2. Captured Heart

  3. Stolen Heritage

  4. Dangerous Illusions

  5. Silent Love

  6. The Final Vow

  7. The Kissing Bridge

  8. Drawn from Darkness

  9. Temptation by Moonlight

  10. The Romantic Ruse

  11. Shadow of Shame

  12. Shadow of Deceit

  13. Shadow of Regret

  14. Shadow of Hope

  15. Shadow of Love

  16. Shadow of Faith

  17. Shadow of Second Chances

  18. Sunshine in the Rain

  19. Yesterday’s Rain

  20. Mail Order Mishap Book 1

  21. Mail Order Vixen Book 2

  22. Mail Order Ruse book 3

  23 Mail Order Calamity Book 4

  24 Mail Order Compromise Book 5

  25. The Guilty Proposal

  26. The Reckless Proposal

  27. The Shotgun Proposal

  28. The Housekeeper’s Proposal

  29.

  30. Looking for Love:

  31. Delightfully Deluded

  32. Ricochet Romance

  33. Wanted: Horse Breeder

  34. Wanted: A Trusting Heart

  35. Lawfully: Rescued

  36. A Bride for Nathan

  Most of my books are also available in audio.

  Barbara Goss, Author

  My website: http://www.barbaragossbooks.com/

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraGossBooks

  Twitter:https://twitter.com/Barbee44