Finally Home (21 page)

“
Wait,” she called after him. “That’s all your going to tell me?”

But he was gone in a hurry. Pouting, she walked around the corral and started up the grassy hillside. Maybe her grandparents were surprising her with a visit! But...it wasn’t them.

As she moved one foot in front of the other with sudden difficulty, her heart skipped a beat. Beneath the sprawling oak tree that hugged the dividing fence between the ranch and her old house, there was a blanket, a picnic basket...and Noah.

He stood, took of his cowboy hat, and tossed it onto the blue-checkered blanket. “How ‘bout some breakfast?”

She felt heat rise to her cheeks and began to tremble. This had to be a dream. Would she wake up any moment and find she was in her bed? “Wow, breakfast...I uh, looked for you this morning. Maria thought you had left.”

“
Well, I sort of did. I left...to come here,” he spread his arms wide. “I wanted to thank you for being so good with Amos last night.”

“
I’m glad he’s all right,” she moved to the blanket and kneeled on it. “This is such a surprise.”

Noah opened the wicker basket. “Sorry,” he pulled out two plates and a chunk of cinnamon coffee cake. “I forgot the napkins.”

“
Oh, I will never forgive you, Noah West!” she crossed her arms and stuck out her chin, pretending to be upset with him.

He flashed her a crooked grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Not even if I offer you cafe mocha?”

She snatched the plastic cup of coffee from him and inhaled the wonderful scent of chocolate. “Ok...you’re forgiven!”

Noah stretched his long legs across the blanket, his eyes fixed on Amanda. “As long as you’re giving out forgiveness...how about forgiving me for yesterday, too?”

She swallowed a sweet piece of cake, then set her coffee cup on the blanket. “For what?”

“
Going to Ellinger behind your back,” he looked away, his eyes focused on the valley below and the spread of the ranch that filled it. “That’s what you’ve been wanting to talk to me about, isn’t it?”

“
Yes...that’s part of it,” she reached out to squeeze his hand. “Like I said last night in the stable...you saved the ranch.”

“
Saved it? That wasn’t my intent,” he admitted. “All I wanted to do was make sure that contract was torn up...since you were making a big mistake.”

“
Since when is it a big mistake to sell the ranch? That’s all you’ve been wanting to do--”

“
Just don’t,” he pressed his fingers to her mouth. “Don’t be getting all riled up.”

She gently pulled his hand away from her mouth and placed it on her coat, over her heart. “Then...no more games. No more sneaking behind each other’s backs with sacrifice on our minds. We no longer need to do that to prove our feelings, Noah.”

He abruptly stood and walked over to the fence. “You know why I picked this spot for our breakfast?”

“
Yes, I think I do,” she went to him. “But why don’t you tell me anyway.”

Slowly, he turned to her, his eyes bright with sentiment. “It’s where we met.”

Grinning, she kicked a fence post. “I know...the day those mares got loose and rammed into this fence. And then you appeared out of nowhere...Noah to the rescue.”

“
Not that day,” he corrected her. The back of his hand brushed her rosy cheek. “When we were kids. The first summer you came to visit. Your little pink dress got snagged on this fence...and I helped you.”

“
Oh, my...” she cried. “You remember that?”

“
See, I’m not so much a scoundrel....”

“
I stopped thinking you were a scoundrel the day I learned what’s been motivating you all these years...what’s been driving you away from the place you love...and the people who love you.”

“
What...do you mean?”

“
Your brother...I know about Jacob.”

He grabbed her chin, gazing at her fiercely. “How do you know about him?”

“
It’s not important who told me...I’m just so sorry! For you to witness his death...it had to be devastating!”

He buried his face in her hair, didn’t want her to see his pain. His hands circled around her...never wanting to let go. “I’ve always blamed myself. Thinking, if I only knew what was gonna happen to Jacob that day...I could’ve stopped that damn horse from throwing him!”

“
But it wasn’t your fault...just like it wasn’t your fault that Amos held that gun to his head!” she took his hand and led him to the blanket.

He shook his head, his jaw clenched tight. “I tried to help Amos. But he wouldn’t listen. I felt guilty for not having the strength to convince him--”

“
How can you ever live your own life if all you ever do is feel guilty about not being able to live other people’s? What a burden to give yourself! You have to let go of the past...the blame your parents unknowingly laid on you...the blame you laid on yourself.”

He cradled her head against his chest and leaned back against the oak tree. Soothing her, he brushed his lips over her hair. “Not being able to control
falling in love
with you... was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Slowly, she lifted her head, her eyes filled with tears, her hands shaking in disbelief. “I think my hearing is going...I thought you said--”

“
You’re pretty ears heard me right,” he nipped on her ear with his teeth.

“
This can’t be real...I was all set to tell you that...I loved
you
...I never expected you to say...oh, Noah...” she grabbed him by the collar and tugged him forward, her lips seeking his as they caressed his face.

It was an urgent kiss, when their mouths finally met. A kiss filled with pent up passion and misguided love.

Amanda stroked his face, his neck, always hoping...but never dreaming that she would hear those words from him. She moaned in pleasure as he pressed his hands to her back, pushing her to his hard chest, increasing the pressure of his lips.

His hands moved to open her coat as he persuaded her to lay back on the blanket, then he dragged his lips from hers and rested his head on her chest. Breathing heavily, he laughed. “I never thought living my own life would feel this good!”

“
This is just the start...when we begin dating--”

“
Dating! Woman, we’re way past dating,” he sat up and pulled her with him. “That’s for people who don’t know anything about each other.”

“
Then what do you suggest?” she kissed the palm of his hand.

“
I have a plan...but I’m not tellin’ you until Christmas,” he lightly patted her cheek.

“
Noah! How cruel,” she pouted and kissed his lips. “Now I’m going to have to pry that secret plan from you....”

“
Try all you want, but I’m bullheaded...remember?”

Shoving him to the blanket, she swung a leg over his body and sat on his muscled stomach. Then her hands went to work tickling every spot she could think of until she hit her target. Noah began to laugh uncontrollably as her fingers tickled the sides of his stomach. “I’ll stop if you tell me the secret.”

“
All right!” he used all his strength and rolled over so that she was now beneath him. “The secret plan is...wrapped up until Christmas.”

Sighing, she stared into his mischievous eyes. “Guess I’ll have to wait, then!”

“
Yes, you do. But you don’t have to wait for this,” he lowered his long body beside hers and cupped her face with both hands, kissing her fervently.

Amanda, feeling woozy from Noah’s passionate kiss, laid her head on his shoulder. “Noah...I need to know...are you going to stay now?

His lips grazed her temple. “My home...is where you are. Yes, I’m staying.”

“
I love you,” she whispered through trembling lips.

His hands caressed her hair. “And I love you, Amanda.”

********

Grandma Kate hung an ornament on the Christmas tree. It was an angel that she had made herself. One that she hoped Amanda and Noah would hand down to their grandchildren one day...

“
It’s beautiful,” Amanda hugged her grandmother and touched the ceramic angel.

“
Thought it would look nice on your tree,” Grandma Kate’s eyes darted to her husband, who was napping on a recliner. “Actually, your grandpa tried to make one for you, too...but it didn’t turn out.”

Amanda giggled, trying to imagine her grandfather crafting something. “Maybe Noah can give Grandpa some lessons on working with his hands.”

“
How’s that going? Is he making furniture again?”

“
He’ll start at the beginning of the year. I think we’ll turn your old house into a workshop for him,” Amanda gazed at the seven-foot tree, admiring the sparkling lights and homemade ornaments.

“
Honey, it’s your house now,” Grandma Kate sighed, then joined her granddaughter in adoration of the tree. “It’s just gorgeous.”

“
Noah found it by the north pond. He said he’s never seen one like it on the ranch before.”

Amanda didn’t mention to her grandmother that Noah also had said the tree would work perfectly in his secret plan. Oh, how she couldn’t wait to know what it was!

“
Miss Amanda,” Maria bounced into the parlor with a plate of sugar cookies shaped like Santa Claus. “Noah said you must meet him outside.”

Frowning, Amanda slipped on the shoes she had abandoned for comfort a few hours ago. “Oh, he’s going to get it for making me go outside in this cold weather.”

“
You’d never know she’s from Chicago,” Grandpa Abe chuckled from the recliner, then closed his eyes again.

Glancing sideways at her grandfather, Amanda smiled. “Go back to sleep, Grandpa, or I’ll sneak some mistletoe over your head later...and make you kiss Maria.”

“
Oh heavens,” Maria fanned a hand before her red face.

Amanda peeked out the bay window in the dining room on her way to the front door. She couldn’t see Noah on the front porch, or in the corral. Marching to the door, she snatched her coat from the coat rack and tossed it over her shoulder. As she closed the door behind her, she pulled on her coat and strolled across the porch. “Noah, where are you?”

“
Right here, my love,” he answered huskily.

She whipped around and found him walking up the porch steps. A tingling sensation rippled over her skin, just like it did every time he was near. She flung herself into his open arms, closing the gap between them. It wasn’t long before her lips were warmed by his, caressed by his.

Breathless, she clung to him as he guided her to one of the porch swings. His fingers slid down her neck and shoulders, then closed over her hands, squeezing them gently.

“
What’ve you been doing outside for so long?” she grinned, eyes shut in contentment, head nestled in the crook of his neck.

“
Brushing down Stormy. His coat’s getting nice and thick,” he set the swing in motion with a push of his foot.

“
Won’t be long before he’s big enough for me to ride him,” she looked at him. “You will let me ride him...won’t you?”

“
Of course! He’s your horse.”

“
Sometimes I forget...that even the horses are half mine,” she giggled.

“
Ready for your surprise?” he suddenly whispered across her ear.

She nodded in anticipation.

Taking Amanda’s hand, he drew her to her feet. “Now, close your eyes.”

“
But Noah, I’m so excited...I may not be able to keep from peeking!”

He covered her eyes with his hand. “Then, guess I’ll have to make sure you don’t!”

She clutched his free arm as he steered her through the house. She couldn’t tell where he was leading her, but heard the sound of music. Her feet shuffled along beside him, almost stumbling over a rug.

“
All right, open your eyes,” Noah removed his hand and watched her reaction.

Her brows crinkled in confusion as she faced the glowing Christmas tree, then she gazed around the empty room. “Where’s my grandparents and Maria? And why did you bring me to the tree?”

“
Just look
on
the tree, sweetheart,” he crossed his arms and fell back onto the recliner, observing her frustration with delight.

“
Ooooh, Noah West! What are you doing to me?” she circled the tree and glowered at him over her shoulder.

“
Use those beautiful eyes, baby...eyes like an angel,” he stretched out on the recliner, admiring the woman that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

She sighed dramatically, catching on to his hint, then glanced at the antique angel positioned on the point of the tree. Her vision blurred with tears. A diamond ring rested on the angel’s hallo. Dashing for the ladder she had discarded earlier, she placed it by the tree and climbed up.

“
Be careful,” Noah warned as he noticed her foot slip. Quickly, he leaped from the recliner.

“
It’s marvelous!” she gushed and started to jump off the ladder with the ring, but Noah caught her in his arms.

“
Remind me not to ever let you get on a ladder again,” he kissed her cheek and released her.