Love Inspired May 2015 #2 (54 page)

Read Love Inspired May 2015 #2 Online

Authors: Missy Tippens,Jean C. Gordon,Patricia Johns

Tags: #Love Inspired

BOOK: Love Inspired May 2015 #2

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“Even if nothing happens between you and me?” she asked, a teasing smile coming to her lips. She didn't mean a word of that. She was too grateful to see him again to even consider pushing him away again.

He stepped closer, his forehead gently touching hers, and he chuckled. “I'll just keep trying.”

Rachel laughed and pulled away, heat rising in her cheeks. “So I suppose we could see how things go...”

“I want to marry you,” he replied, tugging her back. “I want to be together, a family, for the rest of my life. I love you. I want to take care of you and wake up to you. I want to raise Chris with you and make sure that no one ever pushes him around again. I just can't see myself happy anywhere, unless I've got you with me. And you need to be here for Chris, and that means I stay.”

“You're putting us first?” she asked, tears misting her eyes.

“You'll always be first in my heart. You know what the job entails, and it demands a lot, but I can promise you one thingâI'll never turn off my phone. I'll always take your call.” He paused and gave her a roguish grin. “Unless I'm actually inside a burning building, of course...”

Rachel laughed softly. “It sounds like a good deal.”

“So what do you say? Will you marry me?”

She nodded, words stuck in her throat. She could feel the beat of his heart against her hands, and his warm gaze pulled her in. Matt leaned down and pressed his lips gently against hers. She slid closer into his strong arms, the scent of his aftershave filling her up. Pulling back, he looked down into her face with a grin.

“That was a yes, right?” he clarified.

“Yes!” She laughed, and he kissed her again.

When he finally pulled back, she found herself breathless and a little weak-kneed. She looked over to find Chris staring up at them, his small face screwed up into an expression of “ick.”

“Ew,” he said reproachfully.

“Chris, Mr. Bailey is going to stay after all, and I think we have something to talk to you about.” She glanced up at Matt, and the big firefighter shot her a grin.

“We also have a ring to shop for,” he said softly, pulling her hand into his. “And wedding plans to make.”

“You could also buy me ice cream,” Chris suggested helpfully, and Matt laughed, throwing an arm around his shoulders.

“Hop up in the truck, Chris,” he said. “Ice cream it is.”

Epilogue

T
he little parking lot for Peace Hills Christian Church was packed, and all along the gravel road, cars parked on either side. The small copses that sprang up out of the rolling fields shone orange and crimson in all their autumn glory. The mown fields stretched out like gold, huge round bales of hay dotting the landscape around the little white church, freshly painted during a community work bee. It was high time the church was painted again, everybody said, especially for a wedding.

Chris, dressed in a little tuxedo, sat on the steps to the church, staring stoically out at the fields while muffled organ music filtered out from inside the church. Rachel sat next to him, her ivory gown billowing out around her, her veil pushed back over her dark hair and fluttering in the cool breeze.

The school year was off to a successful start. Chris hadn't been in a fight yet, and his teacher had already told Matt and Rachel a few times what a smart kid he was and how impressed she was with his maturity. He'd been teased once or twice, but he'd come home and told his mother about it right away, and Matt had gone in to have a word with the principal, and the teasing stopped. Matt wouldn't have accepted anything less. He was respected in this town, and his word went a long way.

The teachers were taking the bullying seriously, and they were already planning school-wide adoption education to clear up some of the misconceptions. He and Rachel were determined to find the support they needed as parentsâparents! He never thought he'd step into fatherhood so easily, but he had.

Matt crouched down in front of them where they sat on the wooden steps of the church. The forlorn look on Chris's face made the inside of his chest ache. This boy had been through enough, and with the wedding drawing closer, Matt had been afraid of this happening.

“Are you two okay?” Matt asked. Rachel shot him a grateful smile. She reached out and took his hand.

Chris looked miserably over at Matt. “No.”

“What's wrong, Chris?”

“I don't think I want you to marry my mom, after all.”

Matt sighed and leaned his elbows onto his knees. The three of them sat in silence for a couple of minutes, watching the mowers in the distance creeping over the fields. Warm autumn sunlight poured over their shoulders, and a chill in the air cooled them just as quickly.

“What made you change your mind, kiddo?”

“I dunno.”

“You're used to being your mom's main guy, aren't you?” he asked.

“I can take care of my mom,” Chris replied, his voice low.

“I know. And you've done a good job of that,” Matt said. “So I guess you and I should probably talk about this man-to-man, right?”

Chris looked up, surprise registering in his blue eyes. “Yeah, man-to-man.”

Rachel looked curiously between them. “Do you need some privacy for this?”

“No, that's okay,” Matt said. “I can say this stuff in front of you, gorgeous.”

Chris made a face and Matt chuckled.

“Okay, Chris, I'm going to say it straight. I love your mom a lot, but I see that I need to make a deal with you.”

“I don't need toys or anything,” the boy retorted reproachfully.

“That wouldn't be a deal man-to-man,” Matt said frankly. “This is a grown-up deal.”

“Okay...” Chris eyed him speculatively.

“I'm going to make you a promise, Chris. I promise that I'll never hurt your mom. I'll never make her cry, and I'll do everything I can to make her as happy as I possibly can. And I mean that. That's a solemn promise.”

Rachel's dark gaze met his, her soft lips turning up into a misty smile.

Chris's lip trembled. “But what about me?”

“I'll always need you, sweetheart,” Rachel said, pulling the boy against her. “Always.”

“Here's the thing, kiddo,” Matt said quietly. “You and your mom are a family because when she adopted you, she chose you to be her son. It doesn't matter how old you get, you'll always be her son. And now your mom and I are getting married because we chose each other. Choosing is what makes a family, Chris. I'm not just choosing your mom. I'm choosing you, too.”

Chris sat in silence for a long moment, and then he turned and looked up at Matt quizzically. “You're choosing me?”

“Absolutely. I'm choosing you to be my kid. And your mom to be my wife.” His gaze flickered toward his beautiful bride. “And when I marry your mom, I'm promising both of you that I'll be here for you for the rest of our lives. We'll be a forever family. I'm going to take care of you both, provide for you, look out for you, and even if I can't come home some nights because I have to be in the fire station, you can call me and I'll always pick up, no matter the time. That's a promise, kiddo. And you can bank on it. It's a promise I'm making inside a
church
.”

Chris looked back at the church doors, clearly impressed with the weight of those words. Finally he nodded. “Okay.”

“Okay.” Matt rose to his feet. “So, can we go in now and make this official?”

Chris nodded, and Rachel rose to her feet. The wind pushed against her gown, nudging and billowing the rustling ivory material. As she brushed her veil back, her dark waves shining in the autumn sunlight, Matt was struck anew with a wave of overpowering love for this woman. He watched in protective admiration as Rachel and Chris went up the wooden stairs toward the door, her veil fluttering out behind her, and the boy holding tight to her hand. He'd never forget this moment or this image in his mind. This would be the moment he told their grandchildren aboutâthe moment when his life truly began.

“Mr. Bailey?” Chris turned back.

“Yeah?”

“Can I call you Dad?”

A lump rose in Matt's throat and Rachel looked back at him, tears shining in her eyes. He nodded. “I'd really like that, Chris.”

Matt jogged up the stairs to catch up with them and pulled open the church door. Rachel leaned into his chest and looked up at him adoringly. He slid an arm around her waist, holding himself back from pulling her into his arms and kissing her quite thoroughly. That would have to wait until the ceremony.

“There you are!” Aunt Louise exclaimed, and just as quickly, she tugged Rachel out of his arms and toward a side room. “Quick, quick!” she ordered. “Matt, you are needed at the front of the church, and, Rachel, your makeup needs just one more touch-up...”

Today, he was making a promise in that little country church, and it was one he would guard for the rest of his life. Today, he would pledge to be hers and start a life as a husband, a father and part of their forever family. “Come on, Chris,” he said with a grin. “We'd better get up there.”

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from THE RANCHER TAKES A BRIDE by Brenda Minton.

Dear Reader,

When researching this book, I walked down to our local fire hall, smiled sweetly at the receptionist and asked to speak to someoneâanyone, reallyâabout how a fire hall runs. The very kind deputy fire chief cleared his throat from where he stood watching us at the doorway and said, “Can I help you out with something?”

I thought to myself,
I've got to use that in my book. That was fantastic
.

The book was born.

Not only did the deputy chief answer my questions and give me a tour, but he impressed me with his professionalism and won my respect. The firefighters who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe deserve nothing less.

I hope you've enjoyed this story, and I hope that you'll come by to see me on my Patricia Johns Romance Facebook page and my blog (
PatriciaJohnsRomance.com
). I love to connect with readers. If you message me, I'll be sure to answer. That's a promise...a novelist's promise, which is significantly less romantic than a firefighter's promise, but it's what I've got.

Each and every one of you is a living, breathing story, and with God that story always has a happy ending! In the meantime, let's stick together, ladies. The plot might thicken, but the ending is a guarantee. Let's build each other up and show the next generation of girls that together is the best way to be.

Patricia Johns