Blood Blade Sisters Series (56 page)

Chapter Twenty

Lucy stretched, carefully extricating her arm from beneath Finn. He stirred but didn’t waken and Lucy curled on her side and watched him sleep. With the lines of his face softened by sleep, he looked years younger. Almost like the young man she’d first met so many years ago. She reached out a gentle finger and brushed a lock of hair off his forehead, overwhelmed with happiness at the thought that she’d get to wake up to his beloved face every day for the rest of her life.

After Lucy had been released, Finn had taken her straight to the first judge he could track down and demanded that they be married immediately. Lucy had no objection. And though her sisters had been a bit disappointed that they didn’t get to throw her a huge church wedding, everyone had been so euphoric over the outcome of Lilah’s revelation, no one had voiced any real complaints.

Lucy frowned. Lilah was the one concern that marred her happiness. Mr. Fitzhugh was very optimistic, more so than he’d been for Lucy, which, all things considered, was something indeed.

“What has put such a frown on your face?” Finn asked, his sleepy voice breaking into her thoughts. “I know it couldn’t be anything I’ve done…or didn’t do,” he said with a wicked smile.

Lucy’s stomach flipped at the reminder of how they’d spent their hours the night before. Just the memory made her toes tingle.

Finn drew a lazy finger across her brow, smoothing out the crease, and continued trailing it down her face until he reached her lips.

Lucy kissed his fingertip and then nuzzled her face in his hand.

“What’s wrong, love?” he asked.

“I’m just worried about Lilah.”

Finn pulled Lucy down for a kiss and then tucked her against him. “I’m actually very hopeful. Mr. Fitzhugh has been beside himself at the evidence we were able to give him. Coming from Lilah, they can be presented without implicating me, which fulfills your requirement that I keep out of it,” he said, pulling her closer. “Things are looking very good for her indeed.”

“I hope so,” Lucy said. “You never told me what sort of evidence you turned over.”

“You didn’t want to hear about it at the time,” Finn gently reminded her.

“Well my plate was a bit full at the moment.”

Finn laughed. “Very true. Well, once I found Lilah, I was able to get back onto Halford’s property. More importantly, with Lilah’s help, I was able to get the servants to trust me enough to cooperate with me. After Halford’s death, they’d begun cleaning out the house, putting everything in storage, which made finding the evidence I needed very difficult. But with Lilah to smooth the way, we were able to find what we needed.

“We went back to the shacks on Halford’s property.”

“The shacks?” Lucy shivered. “But what about…those men, what happened to…?”

“Lilah and I buried them.”

Lucy’s eyes widened and Finn continued. “They won’t be found, and I doubt anyone misses them. If any of the servants saw what we did, they won’t betray us.”

Lucy let that sink in for a moment and then nodded. “What did you find when you went back?”

“With the help of Halford’s staff, who were only too happy to assist now that Halford was no longer there to beat terror into them, we recovered the secret shipments he’d been ferrying in. Cases of opium had been stockpiled, and the crates of contraband. I was also able to retrieve the papers and ledgers and it all proved how corrupt Halford was.”

“Well, glad to discover you kept busy while I was locked up,” Lucy said with an attempt at levity. In truth, she was overwhelmed with what her husband and her friend had gone through in order to set her free.

“Lilah did society a favor by getting rid of Halford, and I think there are very few people left who don’t agree. Add to the fact that Halford was the only one armed in the whole altercation and had already shot me and was threatening to harm you, Mr. Fitzhugh says that Lilah’s act is being hailed by many as heroic. She might be given a cursory sentence since she had, in fact, killed the man, but the main consensus seems to be that the verdict will be light.”

“I hope so, but I won’t rest easy until Lilah is free.”

“I know, my love. And we’ll do everything we can to ensure she is.”

Lucy buried her head against Finn’s chest and breathed deeply.

With a sudden growl, Finn rolled, pulling Lucy along with him. She yelped in surprise, giggling as Finn rolled her beneath him.

“There’s only one sure way I know to keep your mind off your troubles,” he said. He ground his hips against her and Lucy gasped, arching into him. All thoughts of anything but the magnificent man above her evaporated on a wave of love and desire, and Finn gamely kept her distracted until they fell back into a satisfyingly exhausted sleep.

Epilogue

Lucy stepped down from the coach and took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the clean, Californian air. She was home. She had never seen anything so beautiful. The house nestled in its clearing. The stables and paddocks spread out behind the house, flowing into the cow pastures. The ranch’s garden was bursting with vegetables, and Lucy’s mouth was already watering at the thought of sinking her teeth into one of the crisp apples from the orchard. She felt like she’d died and gone to heaven.

A squeal from the direction of the house stole her attention and she braced herself as Carmen, the Richardson’s housekeeper and surrogate mother, came barreling out of the house. She crashed into Lucy and swept her into a smothering hug.

“Ah,
mija
, you’re home at last,” Carmen said, backing away just enough to squish Lucy’s cheeks between her hands.

Lucy laughed and returned Carmen’s hug. “It’s long overdue, I know.”

Miguel, Carmen’s husband, hung back, waiting for his wife to finish her hellos before he came to envelope Lucy in his arms. “It’s good to have you home. We’ll have to make sure we keep you here this time, eh?”

“I think we’ll be sticking around awhile,” Lucy said, glancing back at the coach where Finn was unloading their luggage.

“So,” Carmen said, her hands on her hips as she sized up Finn, “you are the one who stole our Lucy’s heart.”

“And brought me home,” Lucy reminded her.

“For that,” Carmen said, opening her arms wide to give him a welcoming hug, “we’ll be forever grateful. Welcome home.”

Finn nodded, his eyes looking suspiciously bright to Lucy. But he went back to the luggage and the moment was lost in a flurry of activity as Cilla and Leo and their son clambered down and came forward for their hugs and kisses.

It wasn’t until later that night, when Finn and Lucy were settled in the bunkhouse, where they’d stay until their own home could be built on the property, that Lucy had a chance to gauge how Finn was really feeling.

“Are you happy we decided to move out here?” she asked.

Finn smiled and pulled her into his arms. “Of course, I am. Why do you ask?”

Lucy shrugged. “I don’t know. You’ve just been quiet tonight.”

Finn burrowed them down farther in the pillows. “It’s a lot to take in. I’m used to being on my own. Not…”

“Not part of such a loud, obnoxious family?”

Finn laughed. “Your words, my dear.”

Lucy smiled but pressed on, wanting to make sure of his feelings. “Will you be happy here?”

Finn tilted her face to his, pressed a tender kiss to her lips. “I will be happy anywhere you are, love. And this place…in this place . . .I can be myself. It’s been a very long time since I’ve had a place I could call home.”

Lucy drew her finger along the tattoos on his chin; let her thumb trail along the T-shaped marks on his cheeks. She’d wiped the makeup from his handsome face the moment they’d entered the bunkhouse. And she didn’t want to ever see them covered again. They were part of who he was—her wonderful, miraculous husband.

She leaned up to kiss him, her heart so full of love and happiness she felt she’d burst from it. Finn deepened the kiss, pressing her back against the feather mattress beneath them.

“I only need you,” he murmured. “You are my home.”

She gazed deep into his eyes and smiled. “And you are mine, my love.”

…

Lucy stood on the platform, her eyes glued to the horizon. Brynne, Richard, and their children were due to arrive at any moment. It had been a year since Lucy had said good-bye to them and now, finally, they were coming to California for good.

After Lucy’s ordeal, the ranch had become the haven they so desperately needed. Finn could be himself there, though it did take a little while for the townspeople to get used to him. But he was accepted there as he never would have been in Boston and certainly not in North Carolina. And most of his time was spent on the ranch. He had a good hand with horses and under his care, the horse stock on the ranch were flourishing.

Lucy had restarted the town school and had been very happy to discover how many adults in town were interested in attending the night classes she offered for them.

Cilla and Leo had always been at home on the ranch and had welcomed Lucy and Finn with open arms. Lucy and Finn had their own house on the property now, a beautiful home perfect for their new family. They were close enough to the main house that they could keep each other in view, but far enough away that they had their privacy.

And now Brynne and Richard were coming. The town was in need of a good doctor and Richard had insisted that he would be happy anywhere there were patients who needed him. And he knew Brynne would be happiest if she could be near her sisters.

The train blew its whistle in the distance and Lucy grasped her skirts, leaning over the edge of the platform to try and see around the bend. The excitement coursing through her had her nearly bouncing on her toes. Finally, they’d all be together again!

Finn laughingly came up behind her and wrapped his arms about her waist. “You’d best be careful, love, or you might fall right off the platform.”

“Oh hush,” Lucy said, playfully batting at his arm.

The train pulled around the bend and Lucy nearly jumped out of Finn’s arms. “They’re here!”

Finn laughed and let her go. Lucy waited eagerly as the train pulled in, its wheels squealing as they ground to a halt. The moment it stopped one of the passenger car doors burst open and Brynne tumbled out and into Lucy’s arms. Richard followed with their children and shook Finn’s hand. Then they stood and watched with loving smiles as their wives greeted one another.

They chattered over the top of one another until Richard held up a hand, pointing back to the train. A huge smile broke out on Brynne’s face and she grabbed Lucy, spun her around, and clapped her hands over her eyes.

“What are you doing?” Lucy said, trying to pull Brynne’s hands from her eyes.

“We have a surprise for you,” Brynne said. “Are you ready?”

Lucy laughed. “Yes!”

“All right. Open your eyes.”

Brynne removed her hands and Lucy blinked a few times and looked in the direction Brynne had pointed her.

Lucy stared for a moment, struck dumb with shock. And then she clapped her hands over her mouth to muffle her shriek of joy. She ran forward and wrapped Lilah in a bear hug that nearly crushed the smaller woman. The two women sobbed as they clung together.

Finally, Lucy pulled away and clasped Lilah’s face in her hands. “You’re here. I’m speechless. I’m absolutely thrilled to see you, but what are you doing here?”’

Lilah looked down a little shyly. “Miz Oliver said there might be a place for me at the school here, or on the ranch. After…after everything that happened back there, well…there weren’t nothin’ there to stay for.”

“Of course there is a place for you! I could use the help, surely. And there is always plenty of work to be done on the ranch as well. But what about…?”

Lilah smiled and turned around. Ruby, Sam, and their boys stood on the platform. Lucy went to them, hugging them each in turn and then went back to Lilah.

“I can never thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me,” Lucy said, emotion choking her words. “I am so happy you are here.”

“So am I, Miz Lucy. So am I.”

The rest of the day was one of chaotic joy, getting everyone settled in, Brynne’s family in the main house with Cilla, Lilah’s family in the bunkhouse until a house could be built for them on the property.

After supper, when everyone had gone off to their various houses to turn in for the day, Lucy wandered out onto her porch and leaned against the railing. Finn joined her, standing beside her with an arm draped over her shoulders. Lucy leaned against him and sighed.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

Lucy rubbed her face on his chest, staring out into the setting sun. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy in all my days. It’s a little overwhelming.” She looked up at her husband with a smile. “But I hope it never ends.”

Finn leaned down and kissed her. “We have each other. And the Richardson sisters are all together again. How could life be any more perfect?”

Lucy glanced up at him with a sly smile. “I can think of one thing…”

Finn laughed and scooped her up into his arms. “You read my mind, love.”

He kissed her and carried her into their home, closing the door behind him.

Acknowledgments

To Erin Molta, Heidi Stryker, and Gwen Hayes—I am seriously the luckiest writer in the world to have you ladies. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate all you do. Thank you a million times over.

To Babs Hightower—you are a writer’s dream. Thank you so much for all the work you do to get my novels out in the world and in front of the people who will love them.

A huge thank-you to my sweet family for all their love and support. I promise someday the house will be clean and all your meals will be hot and on time. And in the meantime, I’ll keep the cereal coming and…well, there’s not much I can do about the house, but know that I love you more than anything in the world and am more grateful than I can say that you support me in this crazy business.

And to my readers, you guys are the reason I do what I do. Thank you so much for reading my stories.

About the Author

Romance and nonfiction author Michelle McLean is a jeans-and-T-shirt kind of girl who secretly wishes she could run around town in a big, poofy dress from the 1600s and hopes to someday be able to get away with crazy stuff like that by chalking it up to her eccentric writer personality. She’s addicted to chocolate and Goldfish crackers and occasionally writes by hand just so she can hear the scratchy sound of her favorite gel pen on a sheet of paper. Her husband also swears she has conversations with herself, but she and the voices in her head, heartily disagree.

Michelle is a contributor to The Naked Hero, Operation Awesome, and Scene 13 blogs. You can find Michelle at
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In addition to her husband and two awesome kids, she also has two amazing stepkids and one beyond-adorable step-grandson. She currently resides in Pennsylvania with her husband and two kidlets, an insanely hyper dog, and two very spoiled cats.

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