The Bounty Hunter's Redemption (31 page)

God had seen to the boy’s safety. Nate knew that now. No mere mortal could control the uncontrollable, as he’d tried to do. “As evil as Stogsdill is, he didn’t have it in him to harm a child. The only explanation is God.”

The smile she gave him was a gift.

“Thanks to you and God, Carly, we’ve rid the world of a menace. A task I’d set out to do as an eighteen-year-old boy, almost eight years ago. After all those years pursuing him, having him in jail is a huge relief, but it also feels strange, almost unreal.”

“You were young for such an enormous task.”

“We both had to grow up quickly.” He had to know. “Are you still planning to leave town?”

“Anna will pay for my supplies. With my half of the fees from the Schwartz order, I’ll have funds to start a new business in a new town. This time the name on the sign out front will be mine.”

“What it should’ve been all along.”

“Max wouldn’t have allowed that. But now I’m making my own decisions and a new start.”

“Please don’t leave, Carly.” He ran his thumb over the back of her hand. “Give us a chance.”

Her gaze locked with his. “Today, when you had the chance, why didn’t you shoot to kill?”

He cupped her hand with his. “I discovered I couldn’t kill Stogsdill in cold blood, unless I had no choice.”

“You’ve changed. In more ways than one.” The tender look in her eyes was almost a caress. “You just gave God the credit for Stogsdill not harming Henry.”

“Today taught me that I can’t handle this life without God in it. I asked Him to forgive me for the life I’ve lived. For the mistakes I’ve made.” He swallowed hard. “And I think He has. I’m finally free of the guilt and hate I’ve carried.”

“Oh, Nate...”

“I’ve always believed in God, but I was angry with Him for allowing evil to flourish.” Tears welled in his eyes, threatening to undo him. Carly squeezed his hands, enabling him to continue. “I didn’t believe God could love someone like me.”

“I’ve known you were a good man for quite a while. I’m relieved you now see that, too.”

* * *

Carly watched the play of emotion on Nate’s face. With every particle of her being, she knew this man, toughened by the terrible tragedies in his life, had released all that stood between him and a forgiving God.

Nate loved God. And she believed he loved her and Henry. He’d shown his love for them, time and time again, but vengeance—that need to bring down Stogsdill—had stood in the way, along with his fear he’d bring disaster down on their heads.

Now nothing stood in the way. Certainly not losing the shop to Anna. God was their security, not the business she’d paid a terrible price for. God had her and Henry in His grip and would provide for their needs. Had he already done that when He’d brought Nate to town? Had He known that together she and Nate would heal their wounds and find love? Had He known Nate would be the dad Henry had prayed for?

Why had she taken so long to understand the truth? Tears flooded her eyes. She loved Nate. Heart and soul.

Did she have the courage to tell him? She’d prayed about her feelings for Nate on the ride into town. Would he put down his gun and prove he was part of God’s plan for her and Henry? Could Nate be a man who stayed? A man to settle in one town, committed to a family?

She wouldn’t continue living in the shadow of her own life. She’d speak up. Set things in motion. Take action, as she’d done when she’d ridden out to save her son.

She motioned to the gun belt riding Nate’s hips. “Are you giving that up?”

Without one word, Nate released the buckle and tossed his gun belt onto the floor, then pulled her close. “Only a fool would choose a six-shooter over an amazing woman like you.”

Tears stung her eyes. “I love you, Nate. Goodness knows I’ve fought it with everything in me. But there it is.” She raised her chin. “So what are you going to do about it?”

He grinned. “I like a woman who knows her own mind. Guess it’s time to buy a livery.”

“What?” she said, swatting at him.

“Appears my feisty seamstress’s apt to stitch a nip or a tuck in my hide if I don’t get it said.”

He dropped to the floor on one knee and took her hand, gazing up at her. What she saw in the depths of his smoky-gray eyes spoke the words she longed to hear and knew were coming.

“I love you, Carly, with all my being. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”

“Yes, I’ll marry you!” She rose, pulling him to his feet and into her arms. Nothing had ever felt so right.

He lowered his head and kissed her. She gently cupped Nate’s jaw and returned that kiss, her heart hammering wildly in her chest.

“I don’t want to wait long to get married,” he said.

“Anna helped Vivian dress for her wedding tonight. The Harders handled delivering the guests. Now I’m free to make my wedding dress.” She cocked her head at him. “Will we marry in church?”

“Of course. Where else?”

She’d have the wedding she’d always dreamed of.

“You know, Carly, after we’re married, Anna could move into the quarters behind the shop and we could rent the cabin to Lloyd and Lester. They’re old enough to be out on their own.”

“Where would we live?”

“How would you like to take the reward money and build that house in the woods you’ve been wanting with the white picket fence and a shade tree for Henry to climb?”

“You’d do that for me?”

“I’d do anything for you.” He smiled. “I have an ulterior motive for wanting Lester and Lloyd close to the livery.”

“Why? Won’t you be working there?”

“Yes, but I’ll be a new father and bridegroom. That’s going to keep me mighty busy.”

His words heated her cheeks. “I’ll miss working in the shop.”

“I want to provide for you and Henry. But you can work as much or as little as you want. You and Anna can figure it out.”

“That’ll give me more time with Henry, something I’ve always wanted.”

“Just Henry?”

“No, silly. More time with both of the men in my life.”

He took her in his arms. “I intend to spend a lifetime showing you dreams do come true.” He smiled down at her. “Do you know how I know?”

“How?”

“God brought me you.”

Tears stung her eyes. “That’s what I told Henry.” She inhaled deeply. The stench of her past now smelled as sweet as the honeysuckle growing on the trellis at the end of the porch. “When has this world ever smelled sweeter?”

The screen door squeaked. Henry appeared in the doorway, clutching his stuffed elephant. “Mama, I had a bad dream.” Then he raced across the porch and slammed against Nate’s legs. “Nate! You saved me.”

“Hi, buddy. God saved us all.”

Nate sat on his haunches and gathered Henry close. “Is it okay with you if I marry your mama?”

“Would I be your boy?”

“Yes, you would.”

“Hurray!” Henry darted out of Nate’s arms and raced around in a circle, like a puppy chasing its tail. “I got me a new pa, Mama.” He looked up at Nate. “A good pa.”

“The only kind of father for a good boy like you.” Nate gathered Henry in his arms, then stood and tugged Carly close in the other, kissing both their cheeks. A kiss with the promise of now and forevermore.

Henry took Nate’s cheeks in his hands. “You aren’t gonna leave town, are you?”

“No, my boy. I’d never leave a town where I found myself, found my family, found God. All waiting on a bounty hunter to find his way home.”

Epilogue

T
he hot, sticky days of summer gave way to the first cool night of fall. Life had settled into a routine, a new routine where Carly woke up with the man she loved every morning and fell asleep in his arms every night.

As Henry counted stars, his arm around Maizie, Carly ambled up to the porch where Nate sat on the swing, relaxing. The welcoming smile on his face said he’d found his place in the world and was never leaving.

She slipped in beside him and nestled into the crook of his arm. “I love you, Nate Sergeant.”

Nate leaned down. “You’ve made me a very happy man, Mrs. Sergeant,” he whispered near her ear, sending a shiver cascading down her spine.

This loving man had healed Carly’s wounded heart. And brought Anna into her life, a woman she’d come to love like a sister during long days of cutting fabric and stitching hems. The last couple of weeks, Sheriff Truitt had come courting Anna, putting a perpetual smile on her face, as if it had been stitched in place.

At times life seemed so perfect, so wonderful, Carly wanted to pinch herself to ensure she wasn’t dreaming. She leaned back, studying Nate’s face in the light of the moon. Was he as content running the livery? “Do you miss chasing outlaws?”

“Nope. I love being a family man with my wonderful wife and son and a baby on the way.” He kissed her forehead. “I thank God each day for the peace of my life.”

She ran a hand over her belly. “In about five months that peace you esteem will be interrupted with a squalling baby.”

“Nothing sounds sweeter than to walk the floor with my son or daughter tucked in my arms,” he said, covering her hand with his.

Carly’s gaze settled on Henry’s small figure, lying sprawled on his back, his face lifted to the sky. “After years of being an only child, I hope the baby doesn’t make Henry jealous and demanding.”

“We’ll take one day at a time and learn as we go. But, knowing Henry, he’ll be a terrific big brother.” Nate pulled Carly to him, encircling her with his arms. “When I entered your shop that day in April, I had no idea God had far bigger plans for me than I could have imagined. I’m a slow learner, but I’m not about to forget our great God redeemed a lost bounty hunter, then turned him inside out into a family man.”

Henry clomped up the porch step, raced toward the swing, then wiggled between them. “Then how come your insides aren’t on the outside, Pa?”

Nate chuckled. “You make a good point, son.”

Carly ran her fingertips through Henry’s hair. “Are you done counting stars, little man?”

“There’re so many, Mama, I kept losing my place.” He patted Carly’s belly. “Hi, baby sister. What you doing in there?”

“What if your baby sister turns out to be a brother?” Nate said, his eyes shining with love for her son. “Wouldn’t you like a boy to play with?”

“Mama needs a girl for her when you and me go fishing.”

Carly met Nate’s amused gaze. He gave her a wink.

“You’re a thoughtful son to think of me,” Carly said.

“The next one can be a brother for me. Then the next one—”

“Whoa, cowboy, let’s not get too far ahead with those plans.”

“Yeah, better save some babies for Aunt Anna and Sheriff Truitt.”

Carly exchanged a smile with Nate. “Maybe we should give them time to marry first.”

“Okay.” Henry leaned back and looked up at Nate. “Pa, can I help finish building the cradle?”

“I could use the help of a big boy like you. But for now, what do you say we try counting those stars one more time before I tuck you into bed with a story?”

“Will you tell the story again about the prince saving the princess?”

“That should be easy for your pa since he’s the prince in my real-life story,” Carly said, her voice husky with emotion.

“You’re his princess, Mama. Pa said so.”

Nate lifted Henry in his arms, then walked to the step and sat with Henry in his lap. The two most important people in Carly’s world gazed up at the clear night sky.

“One, two...” Henry said, his voice getting sleepier as he rattled off a growing tally.

One hand resting on her belly, embracing the child who would join them in a few months, Carly counted her blessings as Nate and Henry counted the stars. Though she had far too many to number, Carly intended to spend the rest of her life thanking God for the wonderful gifts He had given her, the fragrance of the future sweeter than anything she could have imagined.

But, wasn’t that exactly what she would expect from their loving God?

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from
INSTANT FRONTIER FAMILY
by Regina Scott.

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed
The Bounty Hunter’s Redemption
. Gnaw Bone, the setting of this novel, is a real, unincorporated community in Brown County, Indiana. I couldn’t resist using the unique name for my fictional town, which in no way is intended to resemble the real place or its residents. Intrigued by the origins of the name, I found a couple theories in Wikipedia. Some say the town’s name derives from the original French settlement in the area, Narbonne, which early English settlers heard as “Gnaw Bone.” Another theory suggests that someone was looking for a man and was told, “I seed him over at the Hawkins place a gnawin’ on a bone.” I favor the latter folksy explanation.

I’m often asked where story ideas come from. The idea for
The Bounty Hunter’s Redemption
came from a sentence that popped into my mind one morning. I quickly grabbed the pen and pad that writers keep nearby and recorded the words I feel God gave me:
When you’ve been married to a polecat, it takes a while to get rid of the stench
. From that cryptic sentence sprang the seeds for Carly’s story. Whatever way the ideas come, I’m privileged to pen stories I hope bring glory to God and provide a “happily-ever-after ending,” what God wants for each of us.

I love to hear from readers. Please write me at my website
janetdean.net
.

Blessings,