Echoes of the Heart (54 page)

           
They
would have to broach the subject of their marriage at some point.
 
He had to know where they stood.
 
He knew he would need to go sometime but the
thought of leaving her here alone and pregnant with his child made him feel
worthless.
 
He had to know what she
wanted to do.

           
He
tried to sound light.
 
“By the way, what
do you suggest we do about our situation?”
 
Hesitating for a moment not wanting to disrupt their reunion, he charged
forward.
 
“I want to be married to you,
Rae.
 
Our separation is unbearable.
 
There must be some way we can work this out.”
 

Her face remained
stoic as he spoke.
 
“I have the ranch and
the new position in Washington and you have your thriving business here.
 
What do you suggest, a long distance
relationship?”
 
He held his breath
waiting for her reply.

           
She
sat up suddenly, and their eyes locked.
 
“No, it’s not enough!”

           
The
alien knife of panic stabbed into his chest, despair spreading like a malignant
cancer through his body at the sound of the all too familiar rebellion.
 
He groped for another solution before she
continued.

           
“I
just want to be with you, Cash.
 
None of
this seems important when we consider our child.”
 
She took in a breath while he sat,
astounded.
 
“Sally can be my partner and
take care of the office and warehouse here in New York.
 
She can go to Paris.”
 
She drew her knees up to her chest and folded
her arms around her knees.
 
“I will hire
a governess and she can take the children.
 
It will be a nice holiday. I can do my design sketches wherever I
am.
 
I want us to raise our baby
together.”

           
His
brow wrinkled, eyes spread in surprise.
 
He could not believe his good fortune.
 
“Your idea sounds perfect for me, but are you sure you would be happy at
the ranch and spending time in Washington?”

           
“I
would be happy anywhere as long as you love me and we are together.”
 
Her eyes dropped slowly, lashes shadowing the
sparkle as she reached her arms out to him.

           
Cash
pulled her near, his voice low and sincere.
 
“There is no doubt in my mind I will love you forever.
 
Rae, will you marry me?”
 

           
He
had finally asked!

           
He
kissed her mouth softly and they made love slowly, each enjoying the other and
looking forward to a lifetime together.

Epilogue

           
They
honeymooned at Niagara Falls before returning to the ranch and planned a voyage
to Paris for the fashion show the following year.

           
The
happy couple renewed their vows at a huge church ceremony in Chamberlain then
set up the nursery together waiting for their little arrival to join their
lives.

           
While
Cash worked at ranching, she re-decorated the immense ranch house, spending a
lot of his money in the process but got no complaints.

           
Designs by Raeden
continued to grow, and
under the watchful eyes of Sally, they opened up a new market for Raeden’s
gowns in Washington.

           
Some
days they would spend hours in the shade by the stream talking or reading to
each other, at times laughing, teasing and ending up in their bedroom. Nights
always found them entwined in each other’s bodies, asleep after making
passionate love.

           
When
the infant arrived, Cash remained by her side rinsing her face with cool water
and encouraged her through the arduous labor, remaining mute when she swore at
him for his part in the conception.
 

They named the
perfect child Nathan Cash Rydell.
 
He had
his father’s large black eyes and sturdy physique, adorned with thick chestnut
hair.

           
Cash
recommended a child for each of the empty bedrooms in the house.
 
Though Raeden would feel content if blessed
only with Nathan, she relished the idea of making many babies with Cash.
 
Her life felt complete, she had never been
happier.