Page 31 of Cowboy Stalker
“You did it. You made us safe,” I breathe out the words. After months of thinking that the rest of my life would be spent on the run, I’m safe. I don’t have to look over my shoulder anymore.
He wraps an arm around me and presses a soft kiss to the top of my head then one to Daisy. “My two beautiful girls. This is the start of all the good things that are coming for you.”
I take a shaky breath, inhaling his scent and feeling it wash over me. “Maybe the three of us could go on that walk together.”
His laughter ruffles my hair. “Yeah, let’s go for a walk as a family. I have something I’ve been wanting to show you.”
“Do you know where you’re standing?” Griffin asks me. I bounce Daisy in my arms and look around, surveying the cleared plot of land. I’m pretty sure there were a lot of trees here two or three days ago, but I can’t be sure.
We’re about three miles behind Aunt Dorothy’s house. Griffin wanted us to ride over on the utility vehicle before he brought me to this empty field.
“Is it a new pasture?” I ask.
He holds out his hands, indicating the area.
“No, we’re standing in the backyard where Daisy will spend her days playing.” He points to a spot a couple feet away. “That’s where she’s going to have the world’s biggest playhouse. And over there is where her swing set will be.”
“Daisy’s backyard,” I repeat, the idea exciting me.
He nods, and there’s no mistaking the pride in his expression. “This is where I want to build our home. A home for our family.”
My heart flutters at the idea. Is he saying what I think he’s saying? Before I can ask him, he gets down on one knee and holds out a ring.
“Missy, I’ve been crazy about you since I laid eyes on you. I caught you at Ernie’s Diner that day, but I’m the one who really fell. I fell hard for a kind, sweet, and spunky woman who makes my heart beat fast. I’m obsessed with you, and I don’t care who knows it. If you let me, I’ll spend every moment of forever taking care of you. I love you, and I want you and Daisy to have my last name. Will you marry me and make us a family?”
I blink back tears, everything blurring in the morning sun. “I’m so glad we found each other. I would love to marry you and spend our days raising Daisy together and building a home. I love you, and I want forever.”
He slides the ring on my finger, and I stare down at the solitaire diamond on the gold band. It’s like the one I picked from the catalog. I didn’t even realize that’s what Aunt Dorothy was doing when she and I got to talking about jewelry.
“It’s beautiful,” I tell him.
“It’s only the start of all the ways I plan to spoil you,” he says. He kisses me until Daisy grunts, indicating she wants to be in on the action. We laugh and both press a kiss to her chubby little cheeks.
We spend the rest of the day on our plot of land where Griffin shows me the plans that his friend drew for our house. We go over them together. I point out areas where we’ll need extra closets and maybe a bathroom for guests. He adds them right where I tell him to, grinning the entire time.
“I can’t wait to fill our house with more babies,” I tell him.
He gives me a soft smile. “I’ll give you as many babies as you want.”
“You look so pretty,” I tell Daisy as she tries to claw off the flower headband I put her in as part of her wedding clothes. “Just one more photo.”
“Take it quickly,” Aunt Dorothy says, managing to capture Daisy’s hands so she can’t destroy the offending headband.
It’s been two weeks since Griffin proposed to me. He wanted to wait and give me a big, opulent wedding. I didn’t want anything like that. What I wanted was to make our little family official. We’ve already started the paperwork so he can legally adopt Daisy.
Today, we’re getting married in the town church. Despite the fact that I’m new here, every seat is filled on both sides of the room. It seems everyone wants to celebrate this union with me and Griffin.
Audrey snaps the photo on her phone and passes it to Aunt Dorothy for a quick inspection. She beams at me. “She is precious.”
I trace the outline of Daisy’s face on the smartphone and have to swallow a lump in my throat. It’s three generations of women together. Aunt Dorothy, me, and Daisy.
There’s a knock on the door, and Russell is coming in. “Are we ready to get this show on the road?”
I pluck the headband from Daisy’s head, and she lets out a squeal that I’m pretty sure is one of triumph.
“Yes, please,” I tell him. He scoops her up in his arms and gives her a big grin. “Let’s go take our seat, so we can watch your mama and daddy have their special day.”
I give Daisy one last kiss before he takes her from the room. He’ll be holding her during the ceremony.
