Maddie threw her arms around Dev, giving him a quick hug. “It’s a wonderful present, Dev.”
Dev set her away from him carefully, shooting glances toward Boone. “Uh, Maddie…”
Maddie grinned at Boone. “Oh, Boone doesn’t mind. He knows I’m crazy about him.”
Boone pulled her into his side. “Boone does mind. Keep your hands off my woman, Marlowe.” But his eyes sparkled, and he held out a hand. “Thank you. It may not be all you wanted to deliver, but it’s very good news.”
Dev shook his hand. “So you think you might even call me by my first name if I find your brother?”
“Since I know you don’t have designs on Maddie, I’ll do it now.” Boone chuckled. “Thanks, Dev. We appreciate all you’re doing.”
Then Boone looked at Maddie, his eyes full of promise. “Now, if that’s all…”
“Wait.” Dev cleared his throat, his face growing sober. “There’s something else.”
Boone stiffened at his tone. “What’s that?”
Dev reached into his briefcase and drew out an envelope. “I have something for you.”
Boone recognized his name written in Sam’s bold hand. “Why now?”
“I don’t pretend to understand Sam’s thinking. All I know is that he asked me to hold this until after Maddie had been here thirty days. Yesterday was the thirtieth day.”
“I don’t want it.”
“Boone…” Maddie cautioned, placing one hand on his arm. “Maybe it will be something good.”
He had his doubts, but as he looked into Maddie’s eyes, he realized that it didn’t matter anymore what Sam had done. His father had brought Maddie into his life, for whatever reason, and that had been the best thing the man had ever done. It might not be what Sam had intended, but Boone didn’t want to imagine his life without meeting Maddie. Still, he didn’t want any more of Sam’s surprises to hurt her. If the letter inside was bad, he just wouldn’t let her read it.
“It doesn’t really matter,” he said. “You’re here. I have to thank him for that.”
Maddie’s smile reached into his heart like a warm, calming hand.
His life was so rich, so full of promise, now that Maddie was by his side. He couldn’t wait until tomorrow to tell the world that she belonged to him.
But his fingers still trembled a little as he sliced open the envelope. A single sheet lay inside.
Son —
By now, anything may have happened between you and Dalton’s daughter. At worst, I’ve done the right thing and given her a chance to keep her family home. If that’s the case, you’re probably mad as hell at me, and I can’t blame you.
I’ve done a lot that was wrong by you, Boone. You didn’t deserve it. I’ve never told you how proud I am of the boy who held this place together. Or the man who came back, even though it cost him a wife.
I didn’t like Helen. I won’t pretend I did. I wanted you to have a woman like your mother, a woman you could love with everything in you. Helen was never that kind of woman. She wanted you to be someone else. That was damn stupid of her. You’re a fine man, just the way you are.
I’m going to hope that my best-case scenario happened, that you and Maddie Rose hit it off. No one can predict what will happen when a man and woman meet, but I like what I hear about her from Devlin’s research. And she comes from good stock. Rose Wheeler had a hard life, but she took what was dealt and never let it turn her hard. And Dalton…well, bad as I did him, Dalton was my best friend and a good man. Not many would sacrifice what he did. Both of them knew how to love people, and from what I can tell, Maddie Rose does, too.
You need that, Boone. You need someone to make you laugh. I hear she laughs easily, that she’s got color and spark to her. I don’t want you to live out your life alone.
But either way, I don’t expect you to forgive me. I missed a lot of years with you and your brother. I’ll never forgive myself for that. I just couldn’t get past losing Jenny, but she wouldn’t be proud of what I did.
I should have sent for you sooner. Now the doc says there’s no time. Just as well, I guess. I don’t know how I’d face you. I just hope to God you can find Mitch and bring him home. And I’m going to hope, like some sentimental old fool, that Maddie Rose is there when you do. Dalton and Rose would be happy.
I don’t know if it’s much solace to know I paid for my mistakes. I lost two fine sons, and I’m sorry for it.
Dad
“Here,” Boone handed it to Maddie. He didn’t trust himself to speak.