Chapter Seven

S arah’s bravado evaporated by the time she made it down to the admission desk. She found Madge stacking charts. “Anyone hurt?”

Madge shook her head. They both watched Henry Henriksson being placed into a police cruiser. Madge shifted her attention, sighed, and fanned herself. “The only good thing about today is seeing all these fine men in uniform.”

Sarah’s knees started to collapse so she sank into the nurse’s chair and bent over and hugged her legs. “I can’t believe you’re lusting after guys when we have bullet holes in the walls.”

Madge chuckled and then gave another whistle. “Although Wrangler jeans work just fine too on a handsome cowboy. Hm, mmm.”

“Tell me you aren’t drooling over my brother.”

“Him and his friend. Is he taken, sugar?”

Sarah scrambled to her feet in time to see Cal being forced into the back of another police cruiser. “He just saved my life on the roof.” And told her he loved her. Her throat closed. “He’s definitely taken.” She just wished the cops would stop harassing him.

Madge smiled slyly. “She’s a lucky girl.”

“I am.” She caught Madge’s dark eyes and grinned, even as tears started streaming down her face. “I really am.” She cleared her throat and picked up a chart. “Okay then. I want to get home before Santa arrives with my presents, so let’s get this chaos sorted and people out that door.”

“You got it, doc.” Madge gave her a wicked grin. “And, Sarah? Have fun opening your presents, honey.”

“I intend to.” Every day. She wasn’t going to mess this up, even if Cal didn’t bring her a ring, as long as he came home to her, she’d love him for the rest of their lives.

***

Cal walked out of his cottage, clean-shaven, wearing black dress pants and uncomfortable shoes that he’d bought for Nat and Eliza’s wedding, a freshly-ironed blindingly-white shirt, and a black Stetson. He took a deep breath. This was it.

“Sounds like you are preparing yourself for battle,” came a voice out of the darkness.

He looked left and saw Sarah standing in the moonlight. She was wearing those boots again, and another red dress, but this one looked like it was made of wool and had long sleeves. His mouth went completely dry. His thoughts fried. He was pretty sure she was trying to kill him with longing and old-fashioned lust.

“Did I thank you for saving my life today?” she asked quietly.

“You’re here, aren’t you? That’s all the thanks I need.” Knowing she was safe after that fuckwit had held a gun on her—sweet Jesus, he didn’t want to think of it.

She moved closer, and he watched her carefully. She stood toe-to-toe with him and placed her hands on his chest, reached up on tiptoes and caught his lips with hers. She tasted like honey and cinnamon, smelled like apple pie.

He closed his eyes and kissed her back. God, he wanted her. Totally wanted her. Forever.

She pulled away. “I found this.” She took the letter he’d left from her pocket. “You were leaving me.”

He nodded.

“For my own good?”

He grimaced. “It seemed logical at the time.”

Her eyes looked down at the frozen ground. No more snow yet, but Cal could smell it in the air.

“Does it seem logical now?” There were tears in her voice, and he hated that he’d hurt her, that he’d made her cry.

“No.” He shook his head and caught her hand. Dropped to one knee. “Sarah Sullivan. Would you do me the very great honor of becoming my wife?” He pulled the small black velvet box from his back pocket and flipped it open. “I love you—which I also told you in the letter—and when I realized you were in danger today I finally figured out I’m not responsible for everything that happens in this world, and I’d like to do my best to make you happy for as long as we’ve got.”

Her hand trembled as she reached for the ring. “You found the one I wanted.” She touched it reverently. “Oh, Cal, you didn’t really have to get me a ring. I know how expensive it must have been.”

Expensive ? Did she really think he gave a damn about the money if this was the one she wanted? He took the ring out of the box and held it out.

She slipped it on her finger. “It fits.”

“Is that a yes?”

She pressed her lips together while he held his breath. “Yes.”

He whooped and jumped to his feet, sweeping her off hers and swinging her high into the air. “She said yes!” he shouted, and the echo bounced back at him from the hills.

He laughed when a cheer went up from down at the ranch house. He kissed her properly then and she kissed him back like she needed to climb inside him. He finally pulled back and looked at the ring sparkling on her finger. “I love you, Sarah Sullivan. As much as I’d like to go back to the cottage and peel off that dress inch by inch, I think we better go join the family.”

She smiled up at him and touched his face. “How could you ever imagine I’d be better off without you?”

He touched his forehead to hers. “Cowboys aren’t as smart as ER docs.”

“Oh.” Her eyes went wide. “I have something to tell you…” She took his hand and told him of her plans to take over the local family practice as they walked down the hill.

When they got to the main house the others rushed out of the front door and surrounded him with hugs and backslaps. How could he have thought he could leave this all behind? How could he have thought he had a right to make other people’s decisions for them? They were all in this together. He glanced from Eliza’s grinning face to Ryan’s knowing smile. They’d been to hell and back and were still here fighting. Cal made his way to his fiancée, who was being hugged by her big brother. Cal tugged her away, picked her up, and kissed her thoroughly in front of everyone.

“Merry Christmas, Sarah,” he said when they came up for air.

“Is Santa here yet, Unca Nat?” he heard Tabitha pipe up excitedly. None of the kids from the daycare had been hurt or had even heard gunfire, thank goodness.

Nat picked up his niece, tossed her in the air so she squealed with joy. “Not yet, kiddo. But Sarah and Cal both got to open one of their presents early. How about we all go peek under the tree and sneak one present before we eat supper?”

Tabitha squealed and led the way. They all followed her into the den.

Sarah held Cal back for a moment and squeezed his hand. “I did get exactly what I wanted for Christmas.” A light sparkled in her eyes just before she gave him another tender kiss on the side of his mouth. “And I’m not talking about the ring, cowboy.”