After the Storm (38 page)

“You know those words?”

He chuckled. “You aren't the only one in Haven who speaks Gaelic. I remembered you speaking them at a very tender moment, so I wanted to find out what they were. ‘Love of my heart,' right?”

“Yes.”

“And you love me.”

“Yes.”

“And I love you. Will you be my wife?”

“If you are asking me because of the children—”

As if on cue, she was interrupted by a shout of “Mama!” She saw Megan and Brendan hurrying toward them. Megan was carrying a very wet and very unhappy rabbit and a white ribbon. She was grinning broadly. Brendan was leading his cow, which seemed unhurt, although straw was sprayed over it.

Samuel brought her face back to him. “This has nothing to do with the children. I'm asking because I want
you
in my life, Cailin. I love
you
. The children are a bonus, like in any marriage.” He chuckled. “They were just an early bonus. So will you marry me?”

“Yes.” She could not imagine what more she would want to say, for that one word said everything her heart longed to sing out with joy.

He pulled her into his arms, and his mouth caressed hers with a promise of rapture that needed no words. Around them, applause and cheers sounded. Not just from the children, but from the extended family they had found in Haven.

Drawing back, she said, “I must ask you one question.”

“What is it?”

“Will you forget your vow to avoid weddings and come to our ceremony?”

He ran his finger along her cheek as he murmured, “I'll be glad to trade that vow for another—to love you for the rest of our lives.”

About the Author

Jo Ann Ferguson is a lifelong storyteller and the author of numerous romantic novels. She also writes as Jo Ann Brown and Mary Jo Kim. A former US Army officer, she has served as the president of the national board of the Romance Writers of America and taught creative writing at Brown University. She currently lives in Nevada with her family, which includes one very spoiled cat.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2002 by Jo Ann Ferguson

Cover design by Julianna Lee

ISBN: 978-1-4532-4847-8

This edition published in 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

345 Hudson Street

New York, NY 10014

www.openroadmedia.com

THE HAVEN TRILOGY

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