Runaway (19 page)

Three Weeks Later

Reverend Moore was smiling as he looked from Lane to Destiny and concluded their wedding ceremony. “I now pronounce you man and wife. Lane, you may kiss your bride.”

Lane smiled down at Destiny and then reached out to draw her to him. “I love you, Destiny Madison.”

“I love you, too, Lane,” she responded.

He gave her a sweet kiss, and a loud cheer went up from the crowd that had gathered at the church to celebrate this, their real wedding. They broke apart, laughing in delight as the guests came up to congratulate them.

After greeting everyone, they went to the church hall to attend the reception they’d planned. The musicians were ready to start playing as Lane led Destiny out on the dance floor for their first dance together. He took her in his arms and began to squire her about the room.

“Destiny and Lane look so perfect together,” Sylvia said to her daughter as they stood at the side of the dance floor watching the happy couple. “I still can’t believe everything has turned out so well. It’s been quite an adventure for Destiny, but I think it was worth it, since she ended up with Lane.”

Sylvia had first met Lane just a few days before when she and Mary had arrived in Bluff Springs, and she’d known immediately that he was a fine, upstanding man.

“And it all turned out well for us, too, Mother,” Mary said, smiling up at Sylvia. She was thrilled to be away from the city and the terror of her memories of that awful night when Raymond had threatened them.

“You’re right. It has. I loved Destiny’s mother very much, and now to be out here with Destiny and Lane—Well, life’s going to be a lot better for us from now on. Thank heaven Miss Annabelle’s lawyer figured out what Raymond had done. We’ll never have to worry about him again,” Sylvia said.

“Good.” Mary paused for a moment and then couldn’t help grinning.

Sylvia noticed her smile and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Mary gave a girlish giggle as she said, “Mr. Howard sure looked silly with his broken nose.”

“Yes, he did,” Sylvia agreed. “And I think the look suited him just fine.” She smiled at Mary. Her relief had been great when she’d learned that Raymond’s deceit had been discovered, and she’d been truly honored when Destiny had sent a telegram, asking them to come to Texas live on the ranch.

Sylvia was surprised when Ol’ Mick came up to them. She’d met him her first day in town, when he’d taken Mary and her out to the Circle D, and she’d thought he was a nice man.

“Miss Sylvia, would you like to dance?” Ol’ Mick asked respectfully.

“Why, I’d love to.” She almost felt like a young girl as she allowed him to take her out on the dance floor to join the other couples.

Mary watched her mother go and knew their lives were only going to get better now that they were in Texas.

Caroline and Steve were celebrating, too, along with the rest of the ranch hands. Now that Lane had decided to give up being a Ranger, and he and Destiny had bought the Circle D at the auction, the uncertainty they’d been living with was over. Lane had big plans for the ranch, and they were all going to work together to turn it into one of the most successful spreads in the state.

It was much later that night when Lane and Destiny returned to the ranch. It had been a long day, but a wonderful one, and they were looking forward excitedly to the night to come.

“Wait a minute, Mrs. Madison,” Lane said as Destiny started to go inside ahead of him.

He took her up in his arms and carried her across the threshold, kicking the door shut behind them.

Destiny had linked her arms around his neck as she looked up at him and smiled sensuously. “Aren’t you going to put me down?”

Lane didn’t bother to answer her. He just kissed her instead and started straight up the steps with her still in his arms. He didn’t put her down until they were in the bedroom.

“Do you want me to put on Gertrude’s wedding present again?” she asked seductively.

“The only wedding present I need right now is you,” he told her.

And Destiny gave him the best gift of all.

She gave him her love.

I recently discovered Country/Western singer Royal Wade Kimes. If you like songs about the Wild West check him out. His CD
How The West Was Sung
is great!

“Smith fulfills her title of ‘Queen of the Western Romance’ in this fast-paced, suspenseful offering.”

“Readers will be entertained and find themselves cheering for the good guys in the final shootout.”

“Nobody does a Western better than Smith.”

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“Smith is the consummate storyteller. The pacing is quick, with snappy dialogue moving the story forward at breakneck speed.”

“As sexy and gritty as [Smith] has ever written.”

“Bobbi Smith is a terrific storyteller whose wonderful characters, good dialogue and compelling plot will keep you up all night.”

“
Forever Autumn
is a fast-paced, delightful story.”

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“The very talented Bobbi Smith has written another winner.
Eden
is filled with adventure, danger, sentimentality and romance.”

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“Another wonderful read by consummate storyteller Bobbi Smith…. Filled with adventure and romance, more than one couple winds up happily-ever-after in this gem.”

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“An action-packed read with roller-coaster adventures that keep you turning the pages.
The Lady & the Texan
is just plain enjoyable.”

“A wonderfully delicious ‘Perils of Pauline’ style romance. With dashes of humor, passion, adventure and romance, Ms. Smith creates another winner that only she could write!”

RAPTURE’S TEMPEST

WANTED: THE HALF-BREED

LAWLESS, TEXAS

HIRED GUN

DEFIANT

HALFBREED WARRIOR

BRAZEN

BAYOU BRIDE

HUNTER’S MOON
(HALF MOON RANCH)

FOREVER AUTUMN

LONE WARRIOR

EDEN

WANTON SPLENDOR

SWEET SILKEN BONDAGE

THE HALF-BREED
(SECRET FIRES)

WESTON’S LADY

HALF-BREED’S LADY

OUTLAW’S LADY

FORBIDDEN FIRES

RAPTURE’S RAGE

THE LADY & THE TEXAN

RENEGADE’S LADY

THE LADY’S HAND

LADY DECEPTION

The Brides of Durango series:

ELISE

TESSA

JENNY

Writing as Julie Marshall:

MIRACLES

HAVEN

A LEISURE BOOK
^®

July 2009

Published by

Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016

Copyright © 2009 by Bobbi Smith

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E-ISBN: 978-1-4285-0695-4

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