A Widowed Rancher Stopped for a Mother and Daughter in the Rain… She Said ‘Stay Back or I’ll Shoot
Chapter 14
Thomas knew the evidence had to leave the valley.
They sent the documents to the capital with a trusted courier.
But Mercer found out.
The courier never arrived.
Thomas feared the worst.
Then, three weeks later, a letter came.
The courier had survived.
He had hidden the documents.
The governor’s representative was arrested.
Mercer’s remaining allies began turning against him.
Finally, Mercer was captured in a mountain settlement.
The danger ended.
But Thomas was changed.
He no longer wanted to live alone.
He no longer wanted to pretend that needing someone was weakness.
One evening, he took Sarah to the oak tree overlooking the pasture.
The sun was low.
Lucy was playing nearby.
Thomas reached into his coat.
Sarah looked at him.
“What is that?”
“A question.”
He held out a small ring.
It was plain silver.
“I don’t have a grand speech.”
“I wouldn’t want one.”
“I don’t know what tomorrow brings.”
“Neither do I.”
“I only know that when I saw you beside that broken wagon, you pointed a pistol at me.”
Sarah smiled.
“You deserved it.”
“I probably did.”
She laughed.
Thomas knelt.
“Sarah Bennett, will you stay?”
She looked at him.
“For how long?”
“Forever, if you’re willing.”
She was silent.
Thomas began to rise.
“Yes.”
He stopped.
“What?”
“Yes.”
She took his hand.
“I’ll stay.”
Thomas smiled.
Lucy ran toward them.
“Does this mean I’m staying too?”
Sarah laughed.
Thomas looked at the little girl.
“You were never leaving.”
Lucy hugged him.
Thomas froze.
Then slowly wrapped his arms around her.
His eyes closed.
For six years, he had thought his family had ended.
He was wrong.
It had simply been waiting for him to recognize it.
