With This Ring (Denim & Spurs Book 1) (24 page)

Samantha,

There are a wealth of things I wish I had ability to be able to tell you, however, I can’t find the words. I see you here and I realize perhaps this is your home. People who love and respect you surround you. You work around the horses you love so much. It shows in everything you do, the sparkle in your eyes, the laughter in your heart and soul.

You were wrong in that I was out of your league. It is you, Samantha, who is out of mine. I don’t know how I ever believed I could compete. I have returned your bracelet, although to be honest, I wanted to keep it. To keep a part of you with me. Happy life, Samantha Mallory.

Yours for eternity,

Dustin

She read it four more times before she realized the little spots gathering on the paper were her tears. Setting the paper down, she swiftly attached her bracelet, then went for her phone. She dialed Dustin but didn’t get a response. The call went straight to voicemail. She hung up before leaving a message.

I don’t know how I ever believed I could compete
. Those words ran a litany through her head. He was gone. He’d come all the way here and had left.

“Two options, Finn. Let it go and move on with your life or go to him and give him yet another chance to tell you.” She moved toward the door before her own words had even faded from the air. Tugging her coat on, she fought against the wind and snow to the large main house where Rolf and his family lived. Pressing the bell, she waited, shivering, for the door to be answered.

Rolf himself got the door and waved her in. “What are you doing out in this weather? I said to stay in and stay warm.”

She tugged on her gloves and shifted her feet, suddenly unsure of how best to proceed. This family had been her second home since the day she left Branchwater, Texas.

Rolf led her to the living room and seated her by the fire. “You’re leaving us.”

She peered up at him, his pale hair gleaming in the flickering light, staying silent as words had escaped her. He crouched beside her and settled a hand on her thigh.

“This cowboy who came here. He came for you,
ja
?”

“I’m not sure if he did or not. But I know I have to go and see if we truly have…something.”

“Look at me,” he ordered in Norwegian. “You have something. We all saw the way he watched you. He may not be able to tell you in the way you want, but he is yours and no one else’s.”

“I don’t know about that,” she replied in the same language. “We’re so different.”

“Which is what makes love so important and special. Our differences. Go, find out. You will always be welcome back here.” He leaned close and brushed a kiss over her cheek. “You are part of our family. And always will be. Now, go get your cowboy.”

She hugged Rolf and headed back to her place. Packing, she felt this lightness in her heart she’d not experienced before. Despite the pressing need to leave immediately, she knew it wouldn’t be all that smart and so climbed into her bed and slept.

* * * *

A week later, she pulled into the drive leading up to the Diamond J. There were a few vehicles she didn’t recognize down by the barn, and she parked while watching some horses being loaded in the trailers.

She hopped out and zipped her jacket up. While it wasn’t as cold as the weather she’d left, it wasn’t balmy either. A few more horses went easily into the trailer, and she meandered in that direction.

Connor spied her first, and she gave him a small smile. He nodded his head and ducked back in the barn. When he returned, Dustin was with him, clad in all his usual attire of tight jeans, shirt, boots, and today he wore a sheepskin jacket with the lining. His Stetson sat low, covering his face, hiding his eyes.

“Did you want to?” she blurted out, closing the rest of the distance to him.

His head jerked up, allowing their gazes to meet. Immediately that intense passion arced between them. “Samantha, what are you doing here?” he asked.

“Did you want to?”

He stopped right in front of her. The blue of his eyes piercing her soul and all she longed to do was jump into his arms. He glanced around, and she followed suit. Five men stood there watching them. She didn’t budge, as it was now she would find out her truth.

He returned his gaze to hers. “Did I want to what?”

“Compete.”

He gave a sharp nod as recognition filled his cobalt gaze. “More than anything in this world.”

“Then why’d you leave? And why didn’t you keep the bracelet?”

“I told you why.”

“Not good enough, Dustin. Tell me.”

“Last woman I said it to,” he shrugged, “well, you know how that turned out.”

“I’m not her, and I want to hear the words.”

His nose flared, and she felt her stomach drop to her feet. “Never mind, I have my answer.” She whirled around. “Sorry to have bothered you.”

He grasped her arm before she could go another step. “Why haven’t you told me?” He turned her back to him.

“I did. I told you I loved you all through school.”

His gaze flashed. “You said did, not do.”

She clamped her mouth shut and went over their conversation. He was right. She’d mentioned it in the past tense. “You think I would drive through that snow to come here because of a feeling in the past?”

“No more than I would drive through it to get to you.”

Finn blew out a breath. “Are we going to go around in circles on this?”

A grin tipped the corners of his mouth, making her realize even more how there would never be another for her. “Looking for me to rope you?”

“Waiting for a cowboy to go after what he wants.”

“Any cowboy?” Connor asked from the side.

“Shut up, Connor.” Dustin never looked at him, only reached out and pulled her closer by the sides of her jacket. “Stay.”

“Why?”

“Because you love me.” She began to frown, and he tipped up her chin. “And because I love you.”

Would you look at that? Those words were way better hearing them in person than in a dream.

Grabbing the fleece on his coat, she tugged, drawing him closer until they were nose to nose. “You’re in the middle of something here, I interrupted. Sorry.”

“I’m not.” He kissed her. “Connor, handle this. I have something else to deal with. Guys, thanks for coming, and sorry, but I have another meeting to deal with.”

“Go on, man,” one of them shouted. The men laughed, and she didn’t mind.

Dustin swept her up in his arms and carried her off to his house. She buried her face in his neck. “I’m capable of walking.”

“If I let you go, you may decide to leave. Besides, I love having you in my arms.”

She closed her eyes. “Not a place I enjoy being more.”

He carried her to his bedroom and placed her down upon the mattress gently. Instead of backing up, he boxed her in. “Marry me.”

Knocking his hat off, she wove her fingers into his thick strands. “In a field of bluebonnets.”

“Anything you want.”

“I’d like a proper welcome, if you please. Then we can talk details.”

His grin sent shivers of desire through her entirety. “Sounds like a plan to me.” He lowered his head and kissed her, shoving all other thoughts to the back.

Epilogue

Dustin Kane shifted on his feet and fought with the need to adjust his Stetson. The air was warm as it blew across him. He peered up and saw the arbor he’d built covered in blue and white silks.

“It will be fine so long as you don’t stop breathing,” a low voice whispered beside him.

Glancing askew at the man beside him, he nodded. Connor looked good in his black outfit. His friend winked at him, and Dustin took a deep breath, willing himself not to panic. He gazed out and smiled at those watching him.

It wasn’t the three hundred it had been for the wedding, which didn’t happen. No, not at all. He knew each person who was in attendance. His housekeeper, Rosa. Marley, Judd Travers, and Connor were the ones he’d invited. Mrs. Pendle, Rolf, Gunnar, Gerda, and Kjerstin—the flower girl—had made the trip from Maryland to attend. The preacher was Terry Olden, and Dustin knew the bride as well as the man who would be walking her down the aisle. Mrs. Pendle was standing across from him, serving as the matron of honor.

He lifted his head at the sight of a covered carriage pulling up, being drawn by two chestnut geldings who gleamed in the sun. His heart sped up as the door opened and he watched Evan step down before reaching his hand back in to assist the final passenger down.

All air rushed from his lungs when he first laid sight on his bride-to-be. Stunning and beautiful. His knees trembled before he locked them to ensure he didn’t fall. The slim A-line satin dress was informal. The lines on it radiated asymmetrically, her shoulder straps plunged into the neckline, and the side hip had a beaded design. The lines and the beads were the same color as the field of bluebonnets she walked through to get to him. Her bracelet graced one arm, and around her neck was the necklace he’d given her at the Expo.

It had been a hard few months with her gone, but he understood she needed to finish up there before coming here to start their new life together. And now, she was here. Ten steps away from him and not stopping.

Her light brown eyes held him prisoner. Not that he had any intention of going anywhere. Her father placed their hands together and stepped back. Dustin squeezed tightly and smiled when she returned it.

The preacher began talking, and he tuned him out, focusing entirely on the woman beside him.

“Ready?”

She blinked and gave him a smile that told him she was imagining something they couldn’t do in public. At least not with witnesses. “Yes.”

“You look beautiful.”

“You’re not too shabby yourself, cowboy. I still want your Brumby.”

“Darlin’, keep lookin’ at me like that and I’ll give you anything you want.”

The preacher cleared his throat. “If I might interrupt for a minute.”

Samantha ducked her head, and her shoulders shook from her laughter. He cleared his throat and met the man’s amused gaze.

“Sorry.”

“No problem, just figured you might want to finish this up.”

He most definitely did. One more look out over the few gathered, to his horse that waited to carry them off to a small cabin on his property where they would be spending their honeymoon. She’d not wanted to go anywhere.

“Rings, please.” The preacher stepped back a bit.

Taking hers from Connor, Dustin turned back to her. He lifted her hand and slipped the ring on her finger. “With this ring,” he began, knowing his life was forever changed with those three words.

The End

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached
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She is married to a career military man. They are owned by three Borzoi, and a DSH cat. She spends her days sharing time between work, writing, and dog training.

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