Page 101 of Property of Legend

The ride to Paradise Falls is short, but every hoofbeat is thick with memory.

We pull up to the main house, and my dad’s sitting in a rocker on the front porch.Bikers are cleaning up the aftermath of the fight.A new nurse, Emma is standing behind him, young, serious, clipboard in hand.But he waves her off when he sees me.

I slide off the saddle, boots hitting the porch with a thud, and wrap my arms around him before I can stop myself.

“You’re okay,” I whisper, tears soaking his shirt.“You’re really okay.”

He squeezes me back.“Thanks to this one.And you’re okay, too.”

He nods at Legend, who dismounts and tips his chin like a man who just did what needed doing, not one who saved the damn day.

“Thank you, son,” Dad says.

James steps out behind him, hands in his pockets, looking sheepish.“Yeah.Thanks.”

I blink.“James?”

He shrugs.“Takes a real asshole to admit when he’s wrong, right?”

Legend just smirks and wraps an arm around my shoulders.“Come on.You need to get checked out, darlin’.Your ribs look like they lost a bar fight.”

“I’ve had worse,” I lie, but I follow him inside anyway.

While I’m getting looked over by the nurse, I see Dad and Legend step into his office.The door clicks shut behind them.I wonder, but I try not to eavesdrop and focus on Emma’s instructions.

When Legend returns, something's shifted in his eyes.Not soft.Not angry.

Just steady.

And then, he drops to one knee.

Right there in the living room.

“What are you doing?”I gasp, my heart slamming against my ribs.

He holds up a small velvet box and inside is a diamond set in antique gold.My mother’s ring.

“Your dad gave me his blessing.Said she’d want you to have this.So, I’m askin’.”He licks his lips.“No.I’m beggin’.Marry me, Sophie Montgomery.Be my ol’ lady.My wife.My Horse Princess.”

Shaking my head, I blink back tears.“Isn’t it too soon?”

“I ain’t waitin’ around for some other bastard to steal you or another war to blow up around us.You’re mine.Always were.”

“How’s this gonna work?”I wonder aloud, more than anything.

Legend grins, lopsided and wild.“I ain’t got a fuckin’ clue.But we’ll figure it out.Now, you ready to go to Hell with me?”

My throat’s tight.My heart’s gone full stampede.But I nod.

“Yes,” I whisper.

He slips the ring onto my finger.It’s a perfect fit.

“See?”he says, pulling me to my feet and into his arms.“Meant to be.”

We kiss, slow and deep, the kind that promises forever with just a taste.And when we break apart, I laugh through the tears.

“I’m marrying an outlaw.”

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