Springtime at Cherry Tree Cottage (45 page)

‘Oh, I shall be there. I wouldn't miss it for the world.' She bursts into tears. ‘I love a good wedding.'

Robbie stands up, holding his arms out to her. ‘Come here. Let me give you a hug.'

Sally Ann embraces her stepson and congratulates us both on our engagement before she rushes away back down the path.

‘Mum, where are you going?' Robbie calls.

She stops briefly. ‘To tell the others and fetch another bottle of champagne. This definitely calls for another celebration.'

Maisie runs off after her, leaving me and my fiancé alone together.

He takes my hand. I can feel his fingers wrapped around mine, gentle with repressed strength and power. I can feel the heat in his skin and read the desire in his eyes as he draws me closer.

‘I want to be worthy of you, Flick,' he says. ‘I want you to let me be your hero.'

I close my eyes, picturing him in his dark breeches, leather boots, and one of his flamboyant and rather ridiculous cheesecloth shirts, galloping his proud black stallion around the Devon countryside.

I recall his endless patience with Maisie when she refused to sleep in her own room, his respect and appreciation for Nelson and Rafa, his kindness in taking me in when Mel kicked me out, his enthusiasm for helping Ashley begin to communicate through the healing power of horses, and his willingness – with a little persuasion from me – to give a funny little pony like Paddington a forever home.

I lean up, press my lips to his ear and whisper through tears of love and happiness, ‘Robbie, my darling, I've looked up to you since the very first time we met. You
are
my hero, and always will be.'

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Epub ISBN: 9781473507470
Version 1.0

Published by Arrow Books 2016

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Copyright © Cathy Woodman, 2016

Cathy Woodman has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.

First published in Great Britain in 2016 by Arrow Books

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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 9780099598923