Dev rose. “I’m going to leave now, Boone. I don’t think I’m needed.”
Boone let him go. Asking why would do no good. It was the unanswerable question, why his father didn’t realize sooner, before everything went too far. He’d just have to be grateful for what he’d been given. The letter was icing on the cake.
Boone had Maddie, and that was all that mattered.
He heard her sniff and looked over. Maddie rose and came to stand beside him.
Boone pulled her down on his lap and held on tight. For a long span, they didn’t speak, just held one another.
“He loved you, Boone.”
“I guess he did, in his own way.”
“Are you angry that he figured it out too late?”
Boone loosened his hold enough to look at her. “I don’t know. I can’t be angry because anything changed would mean I might never have met you. If for nothing else, I’ll always be grateful to him for that.”
“We’ll find Mitch. We will,” she promised.
He nodded. “And we’ll meet Lacey soon.”
“I’m so sad for Sam.”
Such a tender heart. “He paid a high price.” He looked deep into her eyes. “I understand better now. If I lost you…” He wrapped her up tightly in his arms, his voice cracking. “I could be just like him.”
Maddie sat up straight and framed his face with her hands. “No, you would never do that. You already showed me that. You were ready to let me go if that’s what would make me happy. You’re not like him, Boone. You would never make Sam’s mistakes.”
“You don’t know that.”
Maddie looked deep into his eyes. “Yes, I do.” Then she grinned. “I take it back. You are like him in one way.” Maddie’s eyes twinkled. “Stubborn as sin.”
The weight of the moment vanished with her teasing. “Anyone ever tell you that you got a mouth on you, Maddie Rose?”
“Why, yes, I believe someone has.”
“I’ve got better uses for it.” Boone bent down to show her what he meant.
“You are so beautiful. Rose would have loved to see you in her dress.” Boone’s blue eyes gleamed with tender appreciation.
Maddie nestled against him, loving the moment of quiet they’d stolen on the porch. The entire town of Morning Star, it seemed, was packed inside the big white house that was now her home, having a wedding reception that looked as though it might never end.
Boone read her mind. “Do you think they’ll ever leave?” They’d decided to postpone a honeymoon until the lost siblings had been found.
She smiled. “Everyone pitched in to make it a dream wedding. They deserve to stay as long as they want.”
“Then I’m stealing you away and we’re heading for Dallas,” he growled. “I’ve waited too long already to get you naked.”
Maddie tried to laugh past the catch in her breath. “Dallas is a long way.”
“Forget Dallas. Fifty miles to Brownwood seems like the moon.” He tilted her chin up and sealed his mouth to hers in a hungry kiss.
Maddie’s knees went weak. She had it all right here—everything she had ever longed for in the years of wandering.
See if Texas whispers in your heart like it always has in mine.
It does, Sam. In the back of beyond, Maddie had finally found where she belonged.
Then she thought no more, caught up in the magic of the man who had finally let go, finally opened up a wounded heart and let her inside to find a love that still staggered her with its abundance. Maddie answered his kiss with a hunger that matched his.
“Ahem—”
Both of them started at the sound of Jim’s voice.
“I’m sorry to bother you two.” Jim’s eyes twinkled. “You know, there’s a party inside in your honor. Think you might want to attend?”
“Go away, Jim.” Smiling, Boone held Maddie close. “Just because you gave Maddie away doesn’t mean you can start acting like a father.” Then he shot Jim a glance. “And get those people to go home.”
Maddie laughed.
Jim did, too. “If you think I’m going toe-to-toe with Velda and Vondell, then you better go get your brain checked. My mama didn’t raise no fool.”
Boone sighed. “I hear you.”
“But you go right ahead, if you think you’re big enough.” Jim turned to leave.
“Jim—” Maddie spoke up then.
The foreman halted.
“Thank you—for everything.”
He nodded. “Never mind what that boy says. You need a father figure, I ain’t too old to take him to the woodshed.”
Maddie laughed. “I’ll remember that.”