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  She laughed. “No, you stay and do what you have to do.”

  “I don’t suppose you’d just wait there in the shower for me?”

  “Bye, Boone,” she said with a smile, and hung up the phone.

  She dressed in cutoffs and a T-shirt, pulling on sneakers. She caught her hair up in a clip and then went downstairs to walk to the ruins.

  Boone was talking to a fireman and saw her coming. He left the fireman and came to meet her.

  “You didn’t pay any attention to me asking you to stay home.”

  “No. The adjuster is on his way here—”

  “He’s already been here and I’ve talked to him.”

  “That was quick.”

  “Yes, it was. He’ll get back to us in the morning. The firemen will hang around tonight to make sure no sparks flare up. There goes the evening we’d planned. How about just coming to my place to eat?”

  “That’s fine with me,” she replied as she stood looking at the ashes and charred boards. She shivered. “Boone, I should have listened. This could have been dreadful.”

  He squeezed her shoulders. “Don’t worry about it. The stable is gone and no one was badly injured, no horses lost. Now we can get rid of another one and build two new stables.”

  “Get rid of all three of them. I don’t want to look at any of them because I’ll always remember trying to get those horses and myself out of the fire.”

  “Good. I’m glad to hear you say that. I’ve already called a firm to come out and give us some estimates.”

  She looked up at him. “Boone, the fences can be replaced, too. I’ve hung on to the old ways when I shouldn’t have.”

  “Stop worrying,” he said. “We can discuss all that later. The big thing is that you and our baby are safe. “

  He hugged her lightly and she buried her face against his chest. He smelled of smoke, but she didn’t care. Our baby. His words warmed her heart.

  “I see your uncle and one of the firemen looking at us, Erin,” Boone said, releasing her.

  “I better see if Uncle Perry wants to talk to me,” she said.

  “I’ll check with them. You go home. If they need you, I’ll come get you.”

  When she walked to her house, Boone called, “How about half past seven?”

  She nodded and turned away. Still shaken by the fire, she knew she would never forget it. Nor would she forget how stubbornly she had clung to old ways.

  At a quarter before seven, dressed in black silk slacks with a black silk halter top and her hair looped and pinned on her head, Erin walked to Boone’s house and entered through one of the back doors. “Boone?” she called to him.

  He came out of the kitchen and smiled at her, and her heartbeat quickened. He was in a brown shirt and slacks and looked marvelous.

  “Hi, beautiful lady,” he said, walking up and sweeping her into his arms to lean over her and kiss her soundly. He swung her upright again and released her. “Do you look gorgeous!”

  She smiled at him. “Thank you. You look rather great yourself.”

  “Come have a glass of ice water or whatever you’re allowed to drink now.”

  “Ice water sounds fine,” she answered. And he laced his fingers through hers to hold her hand as they went to the kitchen.

  They sat on the terrace where he had a table set with a white linen cloth. They ate a tossed salad and then Boone grilled steaks and had twice-baked potatoes and steamed asparagus. The dinner was delicious, but she could barely eat because all her attention was on Boone.

  The sun slowly set and lights came on at the fringe of the terrace. Boone lit the candle in the center of their table and he had soft music playing. A cool breeze made the setting perfect and she forgot the afternoon’s crisis, her worries and problems, just relishing being with Boone.

  They both left half-eaten dinners while they talked and he made her laugh. She felt giddy, happy, still wondering if he really knew his own feelings.

  It was almost dark beyond the terrace when Boone pushed away his chair and took her hand to pull her up into his arms.

  She thought he was going to dance, but instead, he held her lightly with his arms around her waist. He gazed down at her solemnly and then framed her face with his hands.

  “Erin, I love you with all my being,” he said in a rush, and her heart thudded. “I want you to marry me. I’m not asking out of duty or obligation or any of those reasons. When I told you that I would never marry, I didn’t know what it meant to really be in love with someone. I’ve had affairs, but I’ve never been deeply in love.”

  She gazed into his eyes, held totally by his solemn words and expression.

  “Erin, I’m in love. I love you and I don’t want to be away from you or live without you.”

  “Oh, Boone!” she whispered, tightening her fingers around his while her heart thudded. “And you really want this baby? You said you’d had all the diapers and bottles—”

  “Erin, those were brothers and sisters. That is entirely different. Yes, I want our baby! I want you to be my wife.”

  “You’ve been so sure most of your life that you didn’t want to marry,” she said quietly.

  “I told you, I’ve never been in love before. Erin, everything you do is special to me,” he said in a husky voice. “I think about you all the time and I want you more every day we’re together. I want you to be my wife. I want to come home to you, have this baby with you. I will love you forever.”

  “You’re not doing this because I’m pregnant? I want the truth,” she said.

  “I swear, I’m not. If you found out tomorrow that you aren’t really pregnant, I’d still propose to you. I’ve thought about it and I hate being away from you. And I couldn’t bear it when you said you wanted us to stop seeing each other. You’re special, Erin. So incredibly special. I love you,” he said. “Will you marry me?”

  She closed her eyes as joy made her shake.

  “Ah, Erin, I know how I feel and what I want,” he continued, and she realized he thought she didn’t believe him. Her eyes flew open and she flung her arms around his neck.

  “Yes! Oh, yes! I love you with all my heart!”

  His arms tightened around her instantly and he leaned down to kiss her, holding her close in his embrace.

  When he drew away, she looked into his blue eyes and saw the love shining in them. Holding her with one arm, he fished in his pocket and withdrew a small black box to hold out to her.

  Wordlessly, with trembling fingers, she opened it and looked at a dazzling diamond. “Oh, Boone!”

  “It’s just a token of my love, a way to bind you to me forever, darlin’.”

  She threw her arms around his neck again and kissed him long and hard. The next time he stopped her, his eyes had darkened with passion. He swept her into his arms and carried her inside to a bedroom to make love to her.

  “I do mean it, and you said yes.” He picked up the ring to slide it on her finger. Then he kissed her, and Erin forgot where they were and everything else except the tall man holding her in his arms and declaring his love for her.

  Later, when she was wrapped in his arms in bed, he lay propped on his elbow and looked down at her.

  “Erin, let’s not wait long for this wedding. I’m talking about this week or next.”

  “You have a huge family. I want to meet each one of them and I want you to meet my sister and you’re not rushing me into a wedding.”

  “Don’t take months. I can’t stand that.”

  “Not months, but more than days!” she replied, laughing. Happiness welled up in her, making her giddy. She was marrying Boone!

  “Darlin’, you’ve made me the happiest man on earth tonight,” he said in a husky voice that sent a thrill spiraling through her.

  She placed her hand on his cheek. “I love you. And I hope you mean what you say in the depths of your heart.”

  “I do. I know what I want. It’s you, darlin’. That was pure hell being without you. How soon can we have a we
dding?”

  “How about two months from today?”

  “How about one month from today?”

  She laughed. “All right, but you’d better help me with everything!” She stroked his cheek. “Are you going to get your way all our married lives?”

  “I’m going to try, but my main aim is to please you—is one month so bad?”

  “No, it’s not bad,” she said, smiling at him. “It’s not bad at all.” She looked at her sparkling new diamond ring and knew that the next month would fly past as if it were only a day. She tightened her arm around Boone’s neck and pulled his head closer so she could kiss him again.

  Epilogue

  I t was the first weekend in October with bright sunshine and blue skies on a Saturday morning. Erin could not believe that her wedding day was finally here. They had settled on the first week in October, slightly longer than Boone wanted, but not a lot longer.

  She sat still while her sister, Mary, straightened her veil.

  “You look beautiful,” Tina Courtland said, and Erin smiled at her friend.

  “My baby and I, you mean,” Erin said, patting her stomach and smiling.

  “You hardly even show,” Mary said.

  “My waist is thicker, but that’s all right,” Erin replied.

  “You look absolutely gorgeous,” Mary Frye agreed. “And you’re marrying someone so handsome that I can’t believe he’s not in movies. What a waste! Sure you don’t want to come out to California and let your husband get into movies?”

  “I’m sure,” Erin replied with amusement, looking at her image in the mirror. At Boone’s request, she wore the ancient necklace, the emerald cross on the heavy gold chain. Her white silk wedding gown was total simplicity with thin straps and a straight neckline and slim skirt with a long, removable train.

  Her hair was piled on her head with some tendrils curling around her face, and her veil was turned back, forming a gauzy halo around her face.

  Her sister stood close beside her and they looked at each other in the mirror. Older, slightly taller, Mary’s brunette hair was a dark contrast to Erin’s red hair. Mary smiled at her sister and squeezed her waist. “I’m so happy for you.” She dabbed at tears that came to her eyes.

  “Mary, don’t cry!” Erin exclaimed. “I’m happy. It’s all wonderful. Boone is marvelous and our baby is wonderful.”

  “I know. I’m just happy for you.”

  Wanting to get the wedding started and over, wanting to be Mrs. Boone Devlin, Erin glanced at the clock.

  “It’s time,” Tina said, looking at the clock, too. Mary handed Erin her bouquet of white orchids, tulips and roses and Erin turned to go, stepping into the church hall.

  Her uncle was escorting her down the aisle, and when she met him, he wiped tears from his eyes.

  “How I wish your daddy could see you. You’re beautiful, Erin, and he would be so proud of you. Your daddy and your mama both.”

  She patted Perry’s hand that was on her arm. “I’m glad you’re here to walk me down the aisle. That would please Dad.”

  Perry nodded, and then they went to the foyer and waited while Mary walked down the aisle and then Tina and another friend, Gracie.

  At last it was time for Erin and she took a deep breath and walked beside her uncle. The moment she turned through the wide doorway, she saw the crowded sanctuary, the wedding party, and then her gaze flew to meet Boone’s.

  He was more handsome than ever in a tux that heightened his dashing dark looks. Tall, standing straight, he was watching her and the rest of the church and guests vanished from her consciousness. She couldn’t hear the music for her pounding heart. She was marrying the love of her life! Joy overwhelmed her and she couldn’t stop smiling.

  Boone stood waiting, looking at Erin walk down the aisle and he was dazzled by her beauty, thinking he was marrying the most beautiful woman in the world.

  He was awed, feeling incredibly lucky, frightened when he thought how close he had come to losing her through his own foolishness. How could he have ever wanted to say no to marriage to Erin? And she was having their baby!

  This was all better than that fabulous inheritance he had received from John Frates and if he had to choose one or the other, he would pick marriage to Erin without hesitation.

  Then she was right there, gazing up at him and he was dazzled, trembling with excitement and feeling like the luckiest man on earth. He took her hand and they repeated vows that he never even heard and finally he could kiss the bride. His bride. Erin Devlin. It was magic. He kissed her lightly, feeling her warm soft lips beneath his.

  “Forever, darlin’,” he whispered in her ear and then he straightened and wrapped her arm in his. They walked back up the aisle as man and wife.

  The celebration began when they reached the foyer. Boone swept her into his arms and spun around.

  “Boone!” she cried, laughing with him. “Put me down! We have to do pictures!”

  “Love you, Mrs. Devlin.”

  “And I love you. Are you sober?”

  “Haven’t touched a drop of alcohol, but sober? No. I’m overjoyed and can’t hold it in.”

  “Well, hang on for a couple more hours,” she said. “Now put me down and let’s get the picture-taking over with.”

  They posed for pictures and then were driven in a white limousine to the Stallion Pass Country Club for the wedding reception that spread from the ballroom across the terrace. A band played and Erin danced the first dance in her new husband’s arms, looking up at him and knowing she would remember this moment for the rest of her life.

  “I love you, Mrs. Devlin, and can’t believe that you’re mine.”

  “That I am, Boone,” she said solemnly. “I love you beyond measure. You are the only man I’ve ever loved.”

  “And you, darlin’, are definitely the only woman I’ve loved. Erin, you’re so incredibly special.”

  “You’ve made me so happy,” she whispered, dancing in his arms and enveloped in love, looking up at his thick brown hair and deep blue eyes and wondering how such a handsome man had fallen in love with her.

  “How long do we have to do this?” he asked.

  “About another hour and then maybe we can slip away.”

  “I’ll work on that. You schmooze the crowd, and in an hour I’ll come get you.”

  “If you get to enjoying yourself and want to stay, we can,” Erin said.

  “You don’t want to be with me?”

  “Of course I want to be with you! More than you can imagine.”

  “Don’t think so, darlin’,” he drawled, wrapping his arms around her and dancing close.

  “Boone, everyone is watching us. Behave.”

  “I’m a man in love.”

  She smiled and danced with him and then with Uncle Perry. Next, several of the Double T cowboys took turns dancing with her and wishing her well.

  Later, after the cake had been cut, Boone was standing with a group of friends. Mike Remington wished him well and Jonah Whitewolf looked at him with a twinkle in his eye.

  “I think it’s time we passed that white stallion on to the new husband. So your wedding present from me will be delivered in about a week.”

  “What white stallion?” Boone asked, and then remembered the legend and that one of the men had given the horse to Jonah when he married. He looked around the circle of men and realized they had gotten together about this. “All you guys have owned this horse, haven’t you?” he asked, looking at Gabriel Brant, Josh Kellogg and Wyatt Sawyer, men who had grown up in the area.

  “That’s right,” Mike said. “Then Wyatt gave him to me and I passed him on to Jonah. He’s getting to be our wedding gift horse.”

  “Not a white elephant, but a white stallion,” Jonah said, and the others laughed.

  “Gabe, Josh, Wyatt, Mike and now Jonah—that horse is going to wear away from being passed from person to person,” Boone said. “And I hate to look a gift horse in the mouth, but we have a lot of horses and I thi
nk my wife is rather particular about bloodlines.”

  “You can keep him off to himself,” Mike said, grinning. “We don’t want to break the chain.”

  “Erin has her own tie to that legend. She’s supposed to be related to the woman who lost her love, the brave warrior.”

  “All the more reason you should have the horse,” Jonah said. He clapped Boone on the back. “That horse is yours. Of course, he’s not exactly wild any longer. Wyatt tamed him.”

  “And then, Jonah has never seen a horse he couldn’t ride,” Mike said dryly, “so he’s a little on the tame side now, but we’ve got to keep the legend going and at the same time ensure that you find your true love.”

  “I found her and I don’t need the help of you guys or your white horse.”

  “We’ll have a barbecue at our place and celebrate when Jonah delivers the horse,” Gabe Brant said.

  “Maybe we should have the barbecue at his place,” Mike suggested, “so we can watch him ride the stallion.”

  “I’m not riding that horse for the benefit of you guys. Besides, I’ve had my rounds with one of Erin’s, an old roan that will make your white horse look like a gentle lamb.”

  “Hey, let’s have a contest,” Wyatt said. “You ride the white stallion, and I’ll ride your roan.”

  “I’ll take you up on that one,” Boone said, laughing with them.

  “Here comes your wife to rescue you,” Mike said. “I heard she rescued you from Perry and the boys. Looks like all that army training just couldn’t stand up against a bunch of Texas cowboys.”

  “Yeah,” Jonah teased. “I heard you had bruised ribs and black eyes—”

  “You guys,” Boone said, and turned to smile at Erin and slip his arm around her waist. “Let’s get out of here, darlin’. I’ve had enough of these locals yahoos with their horse tales and conniving plans.”

  “Conniving plans?” she asked, looking at his grinning friends.

  “That’s right. Come on. See you guys later. A whole hell of a lot later. Like in a couple of months.” He led her away and she looked up at him.

  “What was all that about?”