A Haunted Twist of Fate (31 page)

“Good. I feel very good. Are you okay?”

Brenda touched her neck. “Yes. That was one of the
strongest entities I’ve ever had to confront. It’s hard to imagine what drives
people, now or then, to commit heinous crimes, isn’t it? I guess we’ll never
know why Dean Averill’s heart was tainted.”

Speaking of Frank’s grandfather—her great-grandfather—that
way made Shay’s own heart heavy. The old man had no idea of the grievous sins
his kin had committed. And he never would. She’d keep her promise to Callie and
Everett about setting the record straight, but not before Frank passed.

As she walked Brenda downstairs and paid her, she
noticed there was a different feeling in the saloon. It felt lighter, peaceful,
and finally at rest. “Thank you, Brenda. I don’t know what I would have done
without you.”

“Thank
you
, Shay, for trusting me. I look
forward to getting to know you better. Let’s have lunch sometime soon.”

“I’d like that.”

Brenda stepped outside. “Sleep well. It’s all over
now.”

Forty-Nine

“Hi darlin’.”

Colt’s voice sounded as smooth as honey, which sent
tingles across Shay’s neck and straight into her heart. “Did I wake you?” She
paced the floor with the phone to her ear. After what she’d just gone through,
there was no way she could simply crawl into bed and fall asleep.

“No. I’ve been watching TV and waiting for your
call. I couldn’t sleep, wondering if you were okay. Did everything go as
planned?”

She was so glad he’d asked. “Better than I expected.
Brenda did it. All the ghosts are gone, Colt. And I learned the truth about
what happened to Callie. You won’t believe it when I tell you.”

“Yes, I will. I’ll believe anything you say.”

A long pause hung between them. Shay held her
breath. Her lungs were about to burst with expectation and renewed hope and joy
for the future.

“Do you want me to come over?” he tentatively asked.
“I’d be glad to listen if you feel like talking.”

She released her breath. “Yes. I’d like that very
much. See you soon. And Colt, bring your toothbrush.”

* * * * *

When
she opened the door, he stepped through and held up his toothbrush. She smiled
and kissed him.

“What’s
that for?” he asked, once they’d parted.

“For
being you. For being so patient and sweet and for giving me time.” She ran her
hand through his hair and stared into his sparkling green eyes.

He
cocked his head. “Is something happening here?”

“Would
you mind if it was?”

“Not
at all.”

They
kissed again.

Colt
stepped back and gnawed on his lower lip, looking unsure. “Shay, I—”

“Ssshhh.”
She placed her finger on his lips. “I love you, Colt.”

His
eyes lit up. “Are you sure?”

She
nodded. “More sure than of anything else in my life.”

He
cupped her face with his hand and kissed her with vigor. With no more words
spoken, he kicked the door shut, turned the lock, and wrapped his good arm
around her waist.

As they sauntered up the staircase, she planted tiny
kisses all over his neck. He smelled so good; spicy and masculine, and his arm
felt so strong and protective around her. Her heart beat a hundred miles a
minute. There was no hesitation once they’d entered her bedroom.

Later, they stayed molded for a while, slick with
perspiration, breathing raggedly. Their lovemaking had been as wild and
powerful as an unstoppable storm, but also beautiful and spiritual, as their
bodies had united as one.

When at last he moved off her, she dropped her head
onto his chest and listened to the erratic skipping of his heart. As if he
couldn’t get enough of her, his free hand rested on her belly. He seemed in no
hurry to separate himself from her.

After a few minutes, they rolled to face each other
and their legs entwined.

“Do you want to hear about the exorcism that took
place here tonight?” she asked.

With his eyes shut, Colt kissed her softly once and
pulled her close, as if he never wanted to let go. “There’ll be time for that
tomorrow.  Right now I just want to hold you.”

Satisfied and content, Shay tucked her hand under
her cheek and closed her eyes, too.

It was pitch black when she bolted awake sometime
later. The bedside clock she stared into flashed three a.m. Colt spooned her
with his casted arm resting on her arm, and his face was buried in her neck.
The intimacy they shared was a reminder of what life could be like from here
on.

Fifty

Shay’s warm body was curled next to Colt when he
woke hours later. He turned his head to stare at her beautiful face. Had last
night been a drug-induced dream? Or had she really told him she loved him? Smiling,
he knew it hadn’t been the painkillers.

Soft breath escaped through her lips. Her eyelashes
fluttered and her mouth twitched into a tiny smile. Who or what was she
dreaming about? Him, he hoped. Leaning on his uninjured elbow, Colt watched her
sleep and knew he wanted this simple pleasure to be his every morning.

Maybe she sensed him, because Shay stirred and her
eyes opened.

“Good mornin’, darlin’.”

“Good morning, Colt.”

He pressed his lips to hers, believing they were
meant to be together. Now, more than ever, he was certain she was the woman
he’d been waiting for.

“I slept great last night. How about you?” she
asked, yawning and stretching her arms above her head.

“Best sleep I’ve had in years.” He kissed her again
and then gently tugged her out of the bed by the hand. There was no time to
waste, now that he’d made up his mind.

“What are you doing?” she chuckled. They were both
naked, but she didn’t seem to mind. When he bent on one knee and folded her
hands into his, her mouth dropped open.

“You know I’ve never believed in the supernatural,
but all that’s changed since we met,” he said. “Fate has brought us together. Shay,
you’ve made me the happiest man on earth. I love you. I don’t want to spend
another day without you. Will you marry me and be my wife?”

She nibbled her lip and tears sprang to her eyes. He
felt her hands trembling inside his. “Are you serious?” she whispered.

“As serious as a heart attack.”

“What about children? You said—”

“I want children,” he assured, squeezing her hands
tight. “I want babies with you. We can start trying tonight, if you want.”

“Oh, Colt.  You’re going to be a wonderful husband
and father.  I’m not afraid anymore.”  Her mouth widened. “Okay.”

His eyebrow lifted. “Okay?”

“Yes. I’ll marry you. I’d be honored to become your
wife.”

“Yee-haw!” He rose to his feet and grabbed her
around the waist and planted another big kiss on her lips. Feeling like a
superhero, he lifted her off the ground and swung her around with his good arm.
“I don’t want to waste another second. Let’s buy you a ring and plan the
wedding.”

“So soon?”

“Honey, it’s never too soon to start your life with
the one you love.”

* * * * *

Shay spied the perfect ring in the first jewelry
store they visited. It was a gorgeous emerald-cut diamond in a white gold
setting. Simple and not too big, and it was in stock in her size.

“Is this the one?” Colt asked, as she admired it on
her hand.

She’d seen the price tag, and although it seemed a
reasonable amount, she had no idea what his budget was. With her fortune, she could
have bought her own ring.  But despite being an independent woman, she was
old-fashioned that way. Besides, Colt never would allow it. He’d said as much
in the car.

“I know you’re filthy rich,” he’d started, “but I’ll
be buying your ring. And I won’t be touching a dime of your money now, or once
we’re married. I know you used some of it to buy the Buckhorn, but the rest is
yours to invest, or do with as you please. I want to make it perfectly clear. I’m
marrying you for love, not money. I have enough of my own. I can take care of
us, and our family. I don’t need—or want—a sugar mama.”

That last statement had got her to laughing until
she got a stitch in her side. He’d been uninterested in her fortune from day
one when she’d told him about it. To hear him reinforce the sentiment now was
all she needed to forget the past and look forward to the future.

“Yes. This is it,” she said, feeling her face
beaming.

The transaction went smoothly. Colt paid for the
ring and she wore it out of the store. “I’ll never remove this for as long as I
live.”  As she climbed into the driver’s seat, she continued to gaze at it.

“Maybe I should drive,” he said, slamming the car
door. “You may wreck us if you can’t keep your eyes off the ring and on the
road.”

She stuck the key in the ignition and the engine
turned over. “I won’t wreck us. We both don’t need broken arms for our
wedding.”

“Speaking of the wedding, how soon do you want it to
take place? Do you want a big ceremony or a small one?”

The car idled. From the time women were little
girls, most dreamed about their weddings. Because of the way she’d grown up,
Shay had always thought she’d have a grand wedding and a fabulous reception. But
now that she’d found the perfect guy, and her life had taken such an unusual
path, none of that mattered anymore. Colt was a simple man. Her parents were
gone and she had no family now, except his, and Frank. Everything had changed
since she’d settled in South Dakota, bought the saloon, and met Colt. She no
longer needed the things that had once seemed important. Anyway, Colt had been
married once already. Maybe he didn’t want another big wedding.

“I don’t care if we get married at the courthouse,”
she answered with honesty. “I just want to become your wife as soon as
possible.”

He grinned. “I second that last part. But you might
regret it later if we don’t have a formal ceremony. Anyway, I want to see you
in a gown. You’ll make a gorgeous bride.”



“Thank you, Colt.”

“And my mama might throw a fit if we run off and
elope. She enjoys weddings, and she does like a good party afterward.”

What a dummy I am, Shay thought. Of course his
family and friends would feel hurt if they weren’t invited to their wedding.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized, feeling embarrassed. “That
was stupid of me to even think of excluding your family. I never meant—”  

He interjected. “I know you didn’t, sweetheart. I
never thought that. I’d take you to the courthouse and marry you this very
minute, but I know every woman wants to have a nice wedding. We can look at the
calendar and pick out a date. We can make it the day after this cast comes off,
if you want.”

Careful not to bump his arm, she scooted over to him
and gave him a long, passionate kiss. “I like that idea.” Another thought
occurred to her just then. “Colt, where are we going to live? Your place or
mine?”

He scratched his chin. “Good question.”

She thought about it a moment. It made sense for her
to move into his house since the saloon had no real kitchen or living area. It
wasn’t a traditional home. When she’d bought the place, her initial thought was
to maintain the historical integrity of the building while renovating the
upstairs and turning it into a bed and breakfast. A B&B still seemed like a
good plan, now that the spirits were gone. She could be there during the day
when Colt was working, and hire a manager to handle things at night. At least,
that would work until the first baby came.

“Seeing how I’m a realtor,” he said, interrupting
her thoughts, “I know all the good deals around. We can sell my place and find
our own home, if that would please you. I wouldn’t want you to be uncomfortable
since I shared the house with Denise.”

It was obvious he had only her feelings in mind and
wanted to do what would make her happy. “What pleases me is that you would even
consider that. I love your house. It’ll make us a fine home.”

“Okay. That’s one big decision made. See how easy
this is? Now, there’s one more thing we can’t put off.”

“What’s that?”

“Telling my family about our engagement.”

“What do you suggest?”

“I was thinking we could invite my folks and Brady
and Dawn to a restaurant for dessert after the chuck wagon show tonight. We can
tell them all together.”

“Great idea.” Everything was moving fast, but it
seemed so right. Shay’s heart leapt inside her chest.

“I’ll call Mama and Brady now. I’ll ask them to meet
us at the Alpine around eight o’clock.”