Tracie Peterson Page 25
“What question did you ask her, Harry?” Brianna looked up intently.
“I asked if she’d marry me,” Harry said, putting his free arm around Brianna. “I’ve been asking her for ages and she always manages to avoid giving me an answer.”
“Oh, that,” Brianna said, as though Harry had said nothing of importance. “Of course she’ll marry you.”
Melissa and Peter broke out in laughter again, while Harry turned to Cara. “Smart kid. I’m going to like being her new dad.”
Cara shook her head. “I guess I don’t have a choice,” she said, feigning a pout.
“The only choice you have,” declared Harry with a firm grasp on her waist, “is the right to remain silent, only if you don’t love me enough to say yes.”
Cara nodded. “In that case, I love you, Harry Oberlin, and I will marry you.”
“Yea!” Brianna cheered and began to dance around again while Harry kissed Cara solidly on the mouth.
“Well, now that we have that settled,” Melissa said, sweeping back waves of auburn hair, “when is the big day?”
“Next week,” Harry said without batting an eye.
Cara looked up at him in stunned surprise. “Next week?”
“Sure. I’m not giving you room to get into trouble without having the ability to offer you twenty-four-hour protection.”
“No more sleeping down the hall, eh?” Cara teased.
“Nope.”
“It’s just as well. I feel the same way,” Cara replied. Growing serious, she looked at her friends and daughter. “You know, I’m really sorry I got you all into this mess. So many lives were affected by the deception of one man, and when I relive that night and see Danielle holding a gun to her father . . .” Her voice trailed off as she shuddered. “She just wanted to be loved,” Cara murmured and pulled Brianna close. She smiled down at her daughter. “She just wanted a father’s love.”
“She’s got us now, right, Mom?” Brianna asked enthusiastically.
“What’s that?” Melissa questioned.
Cara stroked her daughter’s hair. “Danielle has been given her freedom, on the condition that she perform community service and remain in counseling for a year. I suggested her community service be performed with HEARTBEAT Ministries.”
Melissa nodded. “Was she open to the idea?”
“Very much so, especially now that she’s interested in learning more about God,” Cara replied. “She has a great deal to work through, but she’s a strong sweet-spirited girl. It took the evil of Kerns to push her to the edge of destruction, but I know the love of God will bring her back. When I think of how tragically it could have ended, I can only thank God for the protection He offered each of us.”
“Me too,” Melissa said as Peter put his arm around her shoulder. “It made us both think more about what life had to offer and what we want out of it. I can’t say that I understand everything about this faith stuff, but I do know that I plan to investigate it in more detail.”
“And she’s going to have plenty of time on her hands for personal investigation,” Peter joined in. “At least when she isn’t busy running after a very lively one-year-old.”
“What?” Cara’s eyes widened in surprise. “What are you talking about?”
“We’re adopting Jamie Davis,” Melissa announced with a glowing expression that left no one in doubt of her happiness.
“Congratulations!” Harry and Cara exclaimed in unison.
“I guess everything really does happen for a purpose,” Melissa said, glancing at Peter.
“This calls for a celebration,” Harry stated. “We’ll celebrate our engagement and your adoption.”
“Don’t forget me,” Brianna said, taking Harry’s big hand in hers.
“Never in a million years!” Harry declared and reached down to lift Brianna into the air.
Cara watched the scene with a great deal of satisfaction. So many lives had been demaged by the actions of one man. She thought sadly of Teri and of the baby who would never know her birth mother. Then seeing the joy on Melissa’s face, Cara knew that Jamie would never want for love. Feeling her heart swell with happiness, she studied Harry and Brianna as if seeing the hand of God in motion. The past was clearly settled, and the future held a great deal of promise. They were caught up together in love, and to Cara it seemed the very best way to be.
TRACIE PETERSON is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 80 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Belgrade, Montana.
Visit Tracie’s Web site at: www.traciepeterson.com
Books by Tracie Peterson
www.traciepeterson.com
House of Secrets • A Slender Thread • Where My Heart Belongs
LAND OF THE LONE STAR
Chasing the Sun • Touching the Sky • Taming the Wind
BRIDAL VEIL ISLAND*
To Have and To Hold • To Love and Cherish • To Honor and Trust
SONG OF ALASKA
Dawn’s Prelude • Morning’s Refrain • Twilight’s Serenade
STRIKING A MATCH
Embers of Love • Hearts Aglow • Hope Rekindled
ALASKAN QUEST
Summer of the Midnight Sun
Under the Northern Lights • Whispers of Winter
Alaskan Quest (3 in 1)
BRIDES OF GALLATIN COUNTY
A Promise to Believe In • A Love to Last Forever
A Dream to Call My Own
THE BROADMOOR LEGACY *
A Daughter’s Inheritance • An Unexpected Love
A Surrendered Heart
BELLS OF LOWELL*
Daughter of the Loom • A Fragile Design • These Tangled Threads
LIGHTS OF LOWELL*
A Tapestry of Hope • A Love Woven True • The Pattern of Her Heart
DESERT ROSES
Shadows of the Canyon • Across the Years • Beneath a Harvest Sky
HEIRS OF MONTANA
Land of My Heart • The Coming Storm
To Dream Anew • The Hope Within
LADIES OF LIBERTY
A Lady of High Regard • A Lady of Hidden Intent
A Lady of Secret Devotion
RIBBONS OF STEEL**
Distant Dreams • A Hope Beyond • A Promise for Tomorrow
RIBBONS WEST**
Westward the Dream • Separate Roads • Ties that Bind
WESTWARD CHRONICLES
A Shelter of Hope • Hidden in a Whisper • A Veiled Reflection
YUKON QUEST
Treasures of the North • Ashes and Ice • Rivers of Gold
* with Judith Miller ** with Judith Pella