Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
I cupped her face in my hands and said calmly, “Everyone is okay. Nothing is ever going to happen to you or to me, Chad, Krista, no one. Jonathon is going to rot in jail for all the crimes he committed.”
She slowly shook her head. “I can’t believe the FBI had a tip that it was Jonathon and they were closing in on him like that.”
“Me either.”
She laced her fingers with mine. “I’m so sorry about Emily.”
Lifting her hand, I kissed her wrist. “I am too. I hate that I wasn’t able to save her, and I don’t even want to think about what he did to her. I can only hope she didn’t suffer for long. And I thank God that you managed to get away from him and He brought you to me.”
She smiled for the first time in what felt like days. “I am too.”
Tears started to well up in her eyes again, and I could tell she was fighting to keep them at bay.
“It’s over. You and I get to start a whole new life together.”
Mallory smiled through her tears. “I love the sound of that.”
“How about we go shower and get some sleep.”
Her eyes closed and she nodded. “That sounds heavenly.”
I barely had the energy to take a shower, but I needed to wash away—or attempt to, anyway—everything that happened today. It wasn’t over, even though I had told Mallory it was. And I know she knew that as well. There would be a trial, Mallory would have to testify, and most likely, so would Chad. I hated that for him and Krista.
No. It was far from over, but Mallory was safe, my family was safe, and that was the only thing that mattered to me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Mallory
A cool, late-summer breeze blew my hair softly as I sat on the back porch, petting Piper. Life on a ranch was busy, and so much had happened in the short couple of months since Jonathon and David were arrested, I took any rare opportunity I could to be lazy. Much of my time was spent working as Liam’s assistant, and learning everything there was to know about cattle ranching and horse breeding. I wasn’t sure which side I liked better. Liam just laughed and insisted I didn’t have to have a favorite, and that he just appreciated the workload that I’d taken off of him by agreeing to work for him.
I’d learned to ride a horse and was pretty darn good, if I said so myself. In early August, I helped with breeding season—and learned more about horse breeding than I’d ever wanted to. My days were also filled with helping around the ranch, quilting classes with MaryAnne—where I’d met so many new friends—and learning how to do things like canning food and prepping a garden for fall planting. Plus, there was spending time with Krista and the baby, whom they ended up naming LeeAnne. It was a mix of my middle name and MaryAnne’s name. It had been such an honor, and I wasn’t sure why she had decided against Chad and Liam’s mom’s name. All that mattered was she and Chad were happy, and Chad had even quit his job and started his own company so that he could be home with Krista and LeeAnne.
I’d honestly went from one extreme to the other. From having no friends or family, to having a wonderful man who loved me so much, and friends who became my family. It was all born from tragedy, which made their importance in my life even greater.
On the days Liam took off, we often packed ourselves a picnic and took Piper with us to sit for hours by one of the creeks on the ranch, relaxing and talking. It was always glorious. Nights were always filled with Liam. We spent our time watching movies, sitting by the fire when it was chilly enough, and talking about our days. Then we’d head to our bedroom and get lost in one another.
It was hard to imagine my life anywhere but here on the ranch. I was so happy, a part of me was waiting for the floor to fall away. But I was working with a therapist to get past those feelings and to talk through those few days I was held captive. I hadn’t realized how much it had impacted me until I was having nightmares nearly every night.
Liam walked out and handed me a cup of hot tea. “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”
I smiled. “It is.”
“Enjoy it, because winter will be here before you know it.”
Blowing on the tea, I took a sip. “I’m not afraid of winter. I grew up in Illinois, remember?”
A smirk appeared on his handsome face. “I’m pretty sure we get a heck of a lot more snow here. Have you ever been skiing?”