ELLA WENT HOME LONG enough to clean up and pulled her hair up into loose curls. Then she changed into one of her dresses from New York, not wanting anything on her that reminded her of Dallas King. As she walked back into town, Daxton and Colton walked out of the sheriff’s office. She didn’t know what had happened inside, but they both were laughing. She stopped on the other side of the street and watched, biding her time. She had waited for Colton this long. A few more minutes wouldn’t make a difference.

“That was great!” Daxton exclaimed, laughing. “I’ve never seen Dallas so worked up before!”

Colton was snickering so hard that he dabbed at tears in his eyes. “Thanks for going along with it, Sheriff! The look on his face was priceless!” He thought for a moment, and asked, “So, how long are you going to leave him in there?”

Daxton smiled. “Well, until he cools off. But I am going to make him apologize.”

Colton offered him his hand. “Thanks for everything, man. I truly appreciate it.”

Daxton shook his hand. “Anytime. I never had so much fun before you moved here!” He looked over and saw Ella standing on the other side of the street. Daxton nodded toward her as he peered at Colton. “I think you have some unfinished business to attend to.”

Colton nodded. “Thanks, again.” He slapped him on the back, and Daxton walked toward the hotel restaurant. Colton saw Ella and headed toward her, smiling. He looked sexy in his gun belt, leather vest, white shirt, and jeans, even though he had a bloody lip and his shirt was torn, revealing the heavy muscles beneath.

“Hello, stranger,” she cooed as she clasped her hands in front of her. “Long time no see.”

His eyes widened as he looked her up and down. “Well, don’t you look nice!” Then, his smile faded. “How are you? Really?”

She nodded. “I’m fine. Thank you.” She unclasped her hands and started walking down the walkway as he followed. “Actually, I’ve never felt so free.” She let out a deep breath. “I feel great. Thanks.”

Colton shoved his hands into his pockets as they walked. “Well, if you still want to be respectable, I can arrange that.” He pulled her to a stop and wrapped his arms around her waist.

She smacked him lightly on the chest. Then she ripped a corner of his shirt, revealing more of his muscled chest, and dabbed at his lip. He pulled her to him, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “That was the worst proposal I’ve ever heard.”

She frowned as he removed her hands and smiled when he got down on one knee, holding his hat against his chest. “Miss Ella Raines, will you do me the extreme honor of becoming my wife?”

She smiled as she placed her hands in his. “Yes.” When he was on his feet, she smacked him again on his chest. “Well, you waited long enough!”

He laughed as he feigned being hurt. Then he crushed his lips to hers. When he pulled back, he lifted her off her feet and swung her around. She had never felt so happy in her life. It was as if they had always been together, and she knew they always would.

When he pulled away, he tucked her arm in his. They took their time as they headed toward the restaurant. “So, where would you like to live? Would you like to move back East?”

She pulled him to a stop and bit her lower lip as she looked into his eyes through her lashes. “I hope you’re not mad....”

“What?”

She licked her lower lip. “I found some property just west of town. I have enough money to buy it, if you like.”

Colton laughed. “Where did you get the money?”

She shrugged. “I inherited and saved the money. Mia was my roommate and we shared expenses.”

Colton looked at her in disbelief. “How did you get to be so good with money?”

“My father had businesses before he died. As an only child, it came to me. I’m not poor, Colton,” she stated matter-of-factly.

His eyebrows raised. “Then why were you a dance hall girl?”

“Women are only eligible for so many types of employment.” She shrugged. “I took the job that paid the most.”

He looked at her in disbelief. “So, it never was about the money with Dallas King?”

She shook her head. “Just respectability. But I realized that there are other ways to be respectable.”

He bent down and gave her a long, lingering kiss. Then he dug into his pocket and handed her a wad of money. “Here. Put this toward your house, courtesy of Dallas King.”

She laughed as she looked down at the money. “How in the world...?”

“Call it an early wedding present. It’s the money you gave to Dallas.” Colton shrugged. “When he shoved it in my pocket, I wasn’t about to give it back to him. It’s yours, after all.” Colton smiled as they resumed walking. “I hope you don’t want to buy a farm. I’m willing to settle down, but I don’t want to be a farmer.”

She laughed. “Then how does being a rancher sound to you?”

He looked at her as he raised an eyebrow. “I could live with that.”

She let out a deep breath. “It may take us a while to get on our feet. I don’t have enough yet to buy cattle and make the repairs, but if we work together, we will have enough soon.”

Colton laughed as he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Don’t worry. I have enough to cover it.”

She smiled as she raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

He laughed. “Ella, darling, I never said I was poor, either.” He smiled as they resumed walking.

She smiled. “Then why don’t we buy something together? Between the two of us, we should have more than enough.”

Colton wrapped his arm around her waist as he smiled. “Sounds good to me.”

Ella laughed. “It’s funny how life works out sometimes.”

“Yes, it is,” he mused as they came to a stop in front of the restaurant. “So, you want to stay here, in a place called Whiskey River?”

She shrugged. “Why not? It’s the best place in the world... now that I’m here with you.”

He paused as he held the door open for her. “Somehow, I think we’re going to be just fine.”

And Ella knew it was true. She now had everything she wanted. She’d never dreamed that all of her wishes would come true... here in Whiskey River.

The End

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The series continues in

Mail-Order Husband (Whiskey River Brides, #2)

March 2018