Charlene Sands (21 page)

“I was wrong, Kate, about the saloon,” he began with a somber tone. “I fell in love with that devilish imp of a girl who wanted to beat me at everything, all the time. You’re strong and capable, Kate. I don’t want you to change a thing. I need you for my wife and I love you the way you are. You can own ten saloons for all I care. That’s what I’d planned to tell you the night of the shooting. I wanted to ask you to marry me.”

“Oh, Cole,” Kate said, elation stealing into her heart.

“So, will you, Kate? Will you marry me?”

“Yes, yes.” Kate eagerly accepted his proposal. “I’ll be your wife. And we’ll see about the saloon, Cole. I have some ideas on the matter. Perhaps taking on a partner, someone who’d run the place for me would work. Big Josh has expressed an interest. Besides, even one saloon might prove to be too much when we…”

“Have babies?” he asked, a hopeful look in his expression.

Kate nodded, unable to speak. She didn’t know for sure, but wondered if she might already be with child. Sweet warmth coursed through her body at the thought of carrying Cole’s child.

“I want babies with you,” he admitted softly.

“Heaps of them?” A smile emerged as Kate remembered Cole’s wish from years earlier.

Cole nodded. “Heaps, but for now, you, me and Meggie…we’ll be a real family.”

He took her hand, entwining it with his. The thin, faded line of the mutual wounds on their palms beating together to the tender pulse of love. “Friends forever,” he said, gazing softly into her eyes. “And love,” he added.

“And love,” she said on a blissful sigh. The sheriff and Kate were finally where they belonged.

Together.

ISBN: 978-1-4603-0934-6

THE LAW AND KATE MALONE

Copyright © 2003 by Charlene Swink

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