In the Rancher's Arms

Epilogue



Lying in her husband’s arms after making love, Tori stared up at the endless night sky. It was filled with more stars than anyone could ever count and most of them looked as if they were so close she could reach out and touch them.

“You were right,” she said, kissing Eli’s bare shoulder.

“About what, honey?” he asked, caressing her inside the sleeping bag made for two.

“Up here on the mountain, it really does feel like we were making love among the stars.” She smiled as she watched a shooting star streak across the heavens. “I’m glad you decided this is where we should spend our honeymoon.”

“It was something I wanted you to see,” he said, cupping her breast.

“I thought your dad looked very nice in his tux this afternoon,” she said, loving that Buck had been more than happy to walk her down the aisle.

“I think that Grandma Jean thought so, too,” Eli said, laughing. Blake Hartwell’s grandmother had not only attended the wedding, she had taken it upon herself to be the unofficial wedding coordinator, as well as Buck’s unofficial date for the celebration.

As they lay in each other’s arms, gazing up at the most amazing sky Tori had ever seen, she smiled. She had one more secret that she had kept from Eli for the past two weeks and it was time she let him know what it was.

“We should talk,” she said, running her hand over his wide chest.

His thumb teasing her nipple stilled. “I’m listening.”

“Remember you telling me that you wanted to take me on a Caribbean cruise for our first anniversary?” she asked, moving her palm down to his stomach.

“Yup. I thought you might like to go somewhere warm in the dead of winter.” His voice sounded a bit strained and she knew he was becoming aroused again.

Turning to her stomach, she placed her forearms across his chest, resting her chin on the backs of her hands. “I think I have somewhere else in mind that we should go sometime during the last week of January.”

“Where’s that, honey?” he asked, giving her a smile that sent her temperature soaring. “Tell me where you want to go and I’ll make sure to take you there.”

“I think we’ll probably need to spend some time at the hospital in Cheyenne,” she said, loving him more than she ever dreamed possible.

He frowned. “You want to tell me why?”

“Because that’s when our baby is due and I—”

“Baby?” He sat up in the sleeping bag and pulled her up with him. “You’re pregnant?”

Nodding, she kissed him soundly. “I’ve known for a couple of weeks, but I wanted to wait and give you the news as my wedding gift to you.”

“Honey, you couldn’t have given me a better present.” The love she saw in the depths of his dark brown eyes stole her breath.

“Buck is going to be beside himself,” she said, laughing. “I think he started hinting that he would like a grandchild right after we started planning our vows renewal.”

Eli grinned. “He’ll spoil the poor kid rotten.”

As he lay back in the sleeping bag and pulled her down on top of him, Tori had never felt more loved or happier.

She was finally realizing her life’s dream. She was the wife of the man she loved with every fiber of her being and there was no doubt in her mind that he loved her just as much. She was finally part of a real family and she was going to have a baby she could love and nurture. And all because she’d taken a chance and answered an ad to find love in a rancher’s arms