Last chapter! Thank you so much for joining me in this western adventure! 

When I woke, my first sensation was the softness of a bed, the clean smell of freshly washed linens against my nose. Moving a little, I worked hard at opening my eyes until at last one cracked open. The room was almost too bright and I instantly squeezed my eye shut again. That sudden flash had penetrated the fog around me though, and my brain was alert. Trying again, this time I kept my eyes squinted until I could roll my head toward the shadows in the corner.

It was my room, clean and fresh. A gleaming white porcelain pitcher with bowl were on the dresser, a single wildflower lying across it. Next to the bed, my nightstand was covered with a towel and a bowl of water with a damp cloth in it. Had I been sick? I couldn't quite remember.

The last I knew; I was fighting a Blackfoot over sole possession of my rifle. He'd lost. Moving a little shoved sharp pain through my side.

Pulling the covers away with a grunt, I looked down, seeing a white bandage wrapped securely around my navel. A small spot of blood had seeped through and I frowned. A gunshot, that's right. Something familiar about the wrapping nagged at me – I jolted upright with a gasp.

Struggling to sit up, panting in pain, I swung my bare feet to the floor, tugging the top sheet around me as I stood. Hot pokers stabbed through my middle as I folded in half, groaning, gasping, but my mind was churning. Focused.

Clenching my jaw, digging nails into my palm to help concentrate, I gathered my strength. Shuffling, taking small steps toward door, I almost collapsed before reaching it. A wave of cold sickness worked its way up my throat.

No, I couldn't give up! Swallowing hard, driven by desperate hope, I shoved everything into the back of my mind. Pulling the door, I came face-to-face with a group of strangers. The silence was deep and instant.

I didn't care. 

"Signorina Stone, please, you must return to your bed," Whip came forward, trying to block me with his body. Shoving against his chest was like trying to move a mountain. My arms shook.

"Please, Miss Lilli," voice urgent, his hands went to my shoulders. "You are unwell,"

Unreasoning hatred welled in me. Couldn't I just for once do what I needed to do without interference?

"You step aside, Vin Rigo, or so help me I'll give you such a thrashin'!" We both knew I was in no condition to make good on my threat. He moved to turn me toward the bedroom.

"Let her be." It spread through the room like smoked honey, rippling across my skin.

Every head turned as Whip stepped aside. My heartbeat increased when I saw him. Same faded gray trousers, a deep red shirt, and low, sweeping brim. Leaning casually in the doorway, he just looked at me. No one made a sound as we gazed at each other.

His skin had darkened, and he was leaner, more savage than before. His jaw was still a little too wide, his nose a little too crooked, lips a little too narrow, but at that moment I saw none of that. He was the man I loved, the man I'd been waiting for. Now he was here, just looking at me, a smile in those impossibly black eyes.

It drew me forward, half expecting him to vanish as the work of a dream. But there he was, living and breathing before me. I took another step, holding my side, gasping slightly. His smile reached down to touch the corners of his mouth. It triggered a response in me as I shuffled forward a few more steps.

The terrible ache in my midsection became blinding, but I was too close to stop. Ranse made no effort to come closer, just watching as I slowly made my way toward him. Men rose, moving out of my way as I passed them. So close, but I couldn't breathe anymore, could hardly see through the pain. I stumbled.

I never hit the floor. Caught in his arms, lifted into the safety of his embrace, I was home at last. Skimming my hands up his chest to wrap my arms around his neck, I buried my fingers into his hair. He stiffened when I blindly tugged his lips to mine, urging them to part. Then he softened, pulling a soft moan from me as I breathed him in.

I was home. The scent, touch, and taste of him assured me I wasn't dreaming. Ranse held me tight, the growing urgency of our kiss assuring me he wasn't going anywhere. Someone cleared his throat softly, slowly breaking us apart. With my head against his shoulder, Ranse carried me to the bedroom without a word.

Nestling me under the covers, he brushed a loose lock from my brow. His smile was still in place.

"You sure make a man wait long enough, Lilli Stone," he chided, honey and smoke raising gooseflesh on my arms. Smiling back, I toyed with the soft folds of his sleeve.

"You're one to talk. I didn't think you would ever come back,"

"Didn't you get my letter?" his tone was gentle, but I flushed guiltily.

"I couldn't make myself read it," My eyes shot to him when Ranse chuckled thickly.

"Thank God! I thought you were mad and didn't want to see me again." Shifting a little he regarded me soberly. "Then again, maybe you won't."

"What did you write?"

"Something I never wanted to look into your eyes and say."

"Oh," with sharp disappointment, I realized he'd come because I hadn't answered the letter. Not-

"That's not why I came, Lilli," he was reading my expression. "At least, that's not the only reason I stayed,"

"What do you mean?" I let him take my fingers in his hand, gently feeling the roughened skin of my knuckles. It was a bewitching feeling as he brought them to his mouth.

"Your husband came hunting trouble with me." I knew instantly, but I could tell Ranse felt he had to say it. Sweeping off his hat, he ran thick fingers through the blackness of his hair.

"He made a few ugly accusations, called me a name, but wasn't smiling when he said it. I've no patience for that, so I gave him a proper burial after he tried to kill me."

The corner of my mouth turned up a little in a dim smile as I sighed. Cooper...what a fool. Slanting my eyes to his, I lifted my chin.

"Tell me what happened between you three. All of it."

Ranse shrugged in a half-careless manner, but I could tell this was a sensitive subject, even after so many years.

"I was young when I first knew Susie and her father, Major Walsh. We were all stationed at Fort Lipitilian. She was friendly, always smiling at me. The man you know as Cooper Todd was there too. He always had his eyes on Susie, but at the time I didn't much care.

"Susie showed interest in me, which was rare, me being a half-breed Apache, and I liked her. Her father objected but she didn't care. I didn't know it at the time, but she had been seeing Todd all along. Though she liked him, she hadn't made her mind to marry him. Only thing, nobody told him that. We fought over her and being that I'm half Indian, I was the one shipped to another post. Susie married him a few months later, I heard.

"How it was between them I don't know, but I didn't see her again until that night in New Orleans. She was a working girl then, and tied in with some local loudmouth, Blackjack Barlow. She recognized me right off and we sat down and started talking old times, laughing over childish things. I still liked her, and I felt sorry for her too. When she asked me to take her away, I naturally said I would.

"Out in the barn I was saddling my horse when I heard her gasp. Todd was standing there, the strangest look in his eyes. We recognized each other right off, and when he reached for Susie, I stopped him. I could see how scared she was. He started cussing, calling Susie a- an unpleasant word. I objected. Barlow found us while I was straightening Todd out.

"Susie tried to stop him, but he grabbed her and started slapping her around. Right about then Copper sees him and goes for his gun, shooting Barlow point blank, twice. I've lived a long time on a split second, so when he turned the gun on me, I already had mine in hand. I nailed him through the shoulder, and he dropped the gun." His lips curved slightly in a wicked grin. "For good measure, I might have belted him in the mouth.

"With Barlow dead, Cooper hurt, Susie roughed up, I figured they'd get me hung. So I lit out. More than a few townsfolk saw me go and I had a fixed reputation. Time to time I'd run into Todd, but I never picked a fight. For a long time he fought shy of me. We had enough to worry about without trying to kill each other."

"So when I threw him out, he still blamed you, all these years later?" Ranse shrugged. "What ever happened to Susie?"

"I don't know. I heard she stayed with him for a little while, but every time I ran across him, he was alone. I saw her once after that, in California."

"He said that you...had her after she was his wife." I looked right into his eyes. "Is it true?"

Slowly leaning down, his lips went next to my ear.

"No." Tears burned my eyes, but I slipped my arms around his neck, choking back a sob. Concerned, he pulled free. "Lilli,"

"No, I'm okay," roughly wiping my tears with the back of my hand, I half-laughed. "You're telling the truth."

"Of course. I'll never lie to you." He framed me between his arms. "Now...can we talk about getting married?"

Bringing his hand to my face, I nuzzled my cheek against the rough heat of his palm. Those midnight black eyes smiled at me in such tenderness that I felt myself melt inside. I'd never felt for anyone else what I felt for him. I never would, for he belonged to me, just like I belonged to him. Then I paused.

"What about your pretty squaw up north?" He blinked, then grinned.

"Not mine. She just cooked for me."

"That's all?"

"I swear it, Lilli." His voice was silken honey. "Now, are you marrying me or what?"

"I like the idea."

"It's more than an idea." He urged gently, but I saw hesitance in his eyes. "Unless you have objections?"

"You left, Ranse."

"I should've stayed. I wanted to. If I'd thought there was a chance, that you wanted me to, I would have fought for you. It's just," he dug a hand through his hair in frustration. "You begged me to go, so...honestly? I'm half convinced you don't want me."

"Do you love me, Eli?" His eyes swung to mine.

"Yes."

"Then I'll marry you."

Grinning wickedly, he closed the distance between our lips.

"Do you love me, Lilli?"

"I always have."

"There happens to be a preacher in the front room." Then he kissed me.

~~~

The wind outside was howling, the storm having descended with a viciousness that spoke volumes about the winter to come. Laying snuggled in Ranse's arms, I was warm, happy, and safe. His heart beat strong and steady beneath my ear. I loved the sound of it. Able to tell I wasn't sleeping, he woke.

"What's wrong?"

Folding my hands on his chest, I rested my chin on them.

"I was thinking,"

"Do I want to know about what?" despite the words, his tone was pure honey. I answered with a teasing smile.

Crossing his hands behind his head he studied me for a moment, his dark features in shadow. I enjoyed the roll and flex of his muscle beneath velvety skin as he got comfortable.

"It worries me when you start keeping secrets, Lorelei Ransom."

I loved the sound of my name on his lips. He'd patiently waited several weeks while I recovered, gaining enough strength to walk around my home. Then, when I said okay, he whisked me away in a private ceremony with just the parson, Frederick Saunders, and his wife and daughter as witnesses. It was such a quiet affair that some hasty explanations were made to the other guests when my husband spent his first night in our room.

Holding me close, he'd told me what happened when he came back to Blue Water. Seeing me in a fight for my life, Ranse had shot the last brave before tending to my wound. The slug had torn through plenty of muscle, but miraculously hadn't hit any organs. The exit hole was the size of my fist. I'd hung on in a fever for near a week.

True to his nature, Ranse had gone directly to the Blackfoot, challenging them to a fight. Their champion against him, winner taking the valley and the woman they seemed to want so desperately. This appealed to their sense of bravery and courage, and his challenge was accepted.

I did not have to ask the outcome. Whip told me The Hill now totaled twenty-nine. That had been eight weeks ago, and when the group pulled out to keep going, Whip had been invited to go with them. He was reluctant, but I could tell he was not done exploring the wide-open lands of the west. I urged him to go.

It had been just Ranse and I for the last six weeks, no visitors coming to Blue Water. It was unusual, but I had a feeling word was out that a new man occupied his place at my side. Folks were naturally fighting shy of us, giving us time to enjoy the change.

For myself, I welcomed it. Gazing into my husband's eyes, I pushed up to kiss him. Our lips clung, his large hands sliding into my hair, leaving me breathless. Parting slowly, the beat of my heart echoed in my ears.

"Tell me what you're thinking."

"What the right number ought to be," my fingertip traced lightly over his bottom lip.

"The right number?" arching thick black brow, he studied me. "What are we numbering, Lilli?"

I whispered it into his ear. Sliding strong arms around me, Ranse flipped us over, settling onto his elbows. Giggling softly, lacing my fingers behind his neck, I smiled up into the blackness of his eyes. He smiled back, warm and loving.

"You sure that's what you want?"

"I've never been more certain of anything,"

"If you're asking, I think eight," fingers caressed my brow before running into my hair. "Five boys and three girls."

"I'd like that Ranse, strong sons just like you, and daughters who will grow up with you wrapped around their fingers."

Chuckling, he kissed me before nuzzling my neck.

"You're the only one I'm wrapped around."

"For now," my blood was humming. "Can we start trying right away? I don't want to waste any more time."

"Start picking out names, then." He shifted a little, pinning one of my hands to the mattress, our fingers twined. "I don't like to waste time either."

True to his word, that next summer we had our first strong infant son. He was a miniature copy of my half-Apache husband. We called him Eli.

For another western adventure, keep up with my new book, Beyond the Green, updated daily!

Thank you so much!! 

Sara