Chapter 33

33

She was safe in his arms at last. Holding Bethanne close on the couch in her living room, Jay tried to come up with the right words to convey everything he was feeling. But how was that even possible? Too many emotions kept running through his head. Love. Relief. Fear. Anger. All of it tangled together.

Then he realized that Bethanne didn't expect him to spout any words of wisdom. All she needed was his arms around her.

He could do that.

"You still okay?" he whispered.

He, Lott, and Bethanne had arrived at the shack just as all the commotion was finished. When Chief Foster saw them, he radioed for another ambulance. In seemingly no time at all, Bethanne had been on a stretcher, and he'd been sitting by her side as the ambulance rushed toward the hospital. Lott was riding with one of the police officers. After she'd been bandaged and seen at the hospital, her parents had taken her home. But beforehand, she'd asked Jay to visit soon.

That was why he was now sipping hot tea next to her. She wore a faded gray dress, a clean kapp, and fluffy socks. She was also curled up under a blanket with her own cup of tea. At first, he'd been worried about her being chilled, but her mamm said Bethanne simply wanted to feel cozy.

Jay could understand that.

Bethanne suddenly looked at him. "Did you say something?"

"I asked if you were okay, then I realized it was kind of a dumb question. Of course you aren't." Her cousin was in the hospital, and they'd both been through a traumatic experience. Her feet were covered in bandages, and her hands and wrists had to be so sore.

Moving to rest against him, Bethanne murmured, "Why do you think I'm not?"

"You know why."

"Are you sure about that?"

Something in her voice made him pull back far enough to see her face. "What are you trying to say?"

"That I'm okay, Jay."

Her voice was softly reassuring. Humbling him. Was she actually trying to make him feel better? Running a hand down her side, he gave thanks for about the hundredth time that she was unharmed and safe. "I'm glad, Bethy. I was so worried about you."

"I know. I was too." Looking more troubled, she added, "And Candace. I thought he was going to kill her."

He shuddered at the memory. When he'd seen Candace getting loaded into the ambulance, he'd thought Scott had killed her. He reckoned Ryan had thought the same thing. The police officer looked like he was going to expire there on the spot.

"He didn't, though." Turning so she could sit up a little, he said, "Do you remember what the officers said when they found you?"

"Kind of."

"They said you girls were strong and brave. You two were amazing and you should be proud of yourselves."

"I'm glad we survived. I'm glad I found you too."

"You did find me and Lott. You told us where she was, Bethy. You helped save her."

"Jay. There was so much blood."

"I know. But she's going to be fine. And Scott's behind bars. You're both safe now, and you'll get through this together."

"That's what Candace and I kept telling each other. That we were going to get through it together." Releasing a ragged laugh, she added, "Once, we even promised to be in each other's wedding."

"I like that idea." Kissing her brow, he whispered, "I cannot wait to make you mine forever."

His words were dreamy. Sweet. Made sweeter by the fact the ordeal was over and she was going to be able to spend many, many days with him for the rest of her life. "I can't wait to be yours," she admitted.

A look of complete satisfaction slid into his expression. "It's settled, then. As soon as Candace is healed, we'll marry."

"Jay Byler, are we seriously planning our wedding on this living room sofa?"

"Yep."

"With my hands all bandaged up?"

"Yep." He grinned. "You know I love you." Caressing her cheek, he continued, "Bethanne, I've waited for you for years. Don't make me wait much longer."

"I won't."

He leaned back to see her expression. "Do you mean it?"

She nodded. "Jay, I've wasted so much time. I let myself descend into such a dark place after Peter died. I don't want to live in the past anymore. I don't want to wait another day to do the things that I want to do."

"It's settled then. We'll marry in a couple of weeks."

"Jay."

"I'm serious. I want to know that you'll be there every day when I get home. I want to know that you'll be the first thing I see every morning and the last thing I see every evening." He knew he was likely sounding too determined, but he didn't care. After all, not long ago, he'd thought he'd lost her forever. How would he have survived that? "Please don't be scared. I won't push you, though."

"I'm not scared."

Jay was about to say something more when both Chief Foster and her parents approached. All three of them wore looks of concern.

Chief Foster crouched down so he was at eye level with them. "Bethanne, I know you're exhausted, but I wanted to stop by to check on you before I head on home. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Nee. I mean, no, thank you."

"We have a counselor who specializes in trauma response therapy. Isabel is excellent. If you'd like me to have her come over, I can call her for you."

"Thank you, but I don't need more counseling."

Her parents exchanged looks. Both of their expressions looked ravaged, and there were tear marks on her mother's face.

"Maybe just to be on the safe side?" her mother asked.

Deciding it was time to get her point across, she pulled off her blanket. "Jay, I need to stand up," she said.

"Of course." He got to his feet and then grasped her arms, gently helping her to stand.

It was soon obvious to all four of them, though, that Beth anne didn't need any help standing on her own two feet. She was standing tall and straight.

"Look at me. Yes, I'm hurt and tired. I'm also rattled and worried about Candace, but I'm all right."

"You really are, aren't you?" her father said. "I guess I was worried because..."

"Because I wasn't okay for such a long time. But I am now. I promise."

"And you, Jay?" Chief Foster asked. "You are doing well too?"

"I'd say so." He grinned at Bethanne.

"Jay and I were just discussing our wedding."

Her mother gaped. "Your wedding?"

"Jah. Jay asked me to marry him, and I said yes. We just want a simple wedding too," she added.

"Bethanne is taking pity on me and allowing us to have a short engagement," Jay added.

"We'd like to be married as soon as Candace can attend."

Her parents exchanged glances. Her mother said, "Bethanne, I think perhaps you should consider—"

"Nee. I'm not waiting any longer than we have to. I've been putting my life on hold long enough."

"All right, then."

Chief Foster chuckled. "Bethanne, we're going to need a statement from you, but given the time and the fact that there are so many other things to attend to, I reckon tomorrow morning will be soon enough." Turning to her parents, he said, "Martha and John, I'll plan on stopping by sometime in midmorning. Say, sometime between nine and eleven?"

John inclined his head. "Of course."

"Yes, thank you, Chief Foster," Martha added. "Thank you for everything."

"You're welcome, but to tell you the truth, it's Officer Mulaney and Lott and Jay Byler here who are the true heroes. They worked their tails off trying to get to you girls as quickly as they did. I'm very glad you're all right, Bethanne." He winked. "And let me be one of the first to offer my best wishes for a long life together."

"Danke," Bethanne said softly.

After shaking Jay's hand, the chief headed toward the door.

Her father exhaled. "Bethanne, I think it's time you got some rest. Your aunt Dora promised to keep us updated on Candace."

Bethanne knew that made sense, but she didn't want Candace to feel forgotten. "I'm still worried about her."

"Of course you are. We all are, but she's in good hands. The doctors and nurses will take care of her, and Dora and Wayne will look after her too."

"And I daresay Officer Ryan," her mother added in a loud whisper. "The looks he was giving her at the hospital showed how much he cares."

"I know he likes her a lot."

"It's more than that, Bethy. Trust me, it's love," Jay said.

Looking into his eyes, she felt a surge of warmth coat her insides. Yes, she was physically exhausted and emotionally wrung out. But the Lord was so good. In the midst of the hardest twenty-four hours of her life, He'd reminded her about how much she had to be thankful for. She had no doubt she and Candace would be even closer now.

She would also never take her family's love for granted again.

Just as importantly, she realized that her hardened heart had softened enough to start beating again. She'd discovered what real love felt like, and it was the love she felt for Jay. That was love. That was everything.

Reaching out a hand to him, she said, "I'm so thankful you're in my life. I'm so glad that you didn't give up on me. That you waited for me."

"Of course I waited. Giving up was never an option. My heart, you see, was never going to allow anything else." Right in front of everyone, he gently wrapped his arms around her and kissed her brow.