Chastity (37 page)

    Chastity's disbelief at the miraculous turn of events the day they arrived at the Circle C was with her still. The last thing either Purity or she expected when the ranch house first came into view was to see Honesty step out onto the porch. Purity and she knew at a glance that it was Honesty. Their hearts had mutually declared in that split second that it could be no one else.

    She could not truly remember what happened then, except for her joyous realization, when the three of them were together again at last, that the world had
come
full circle and her life was complete.

    In retrospect, she supposed Honesty was destined to find them. Her new husband, Wes Howell, was a tall, dark, handsome Texas Ranger who always got his man.

    "It's about time you came down!" Honesty walked toward her, her radiant beauty glowing as she threw her arm around Chastity and looked up at Reed with a wink.

    "I'm going to borrow your wife for a while, Reed. There's a promise I've waited a long time to keep."

    
"A promise?"
Chastity looked at Purity, who stood a few feet away. There was no help there.

    Following Honesty outside, Chastity glanced at the huge horse that stood saddled and waiting at the rail. She did not expect the tears she saw in her sisters' eyes as Honesty said, "Do you remember that day a long time ago when I took Papa's sorrel mare without his permission, and Purity and I went for that wild ride? Papa
came
riding after us as we raced across the prairie. He brought Purity and me back and spanked us real proper, but you were the one who cried the loudest because you had been too young to go with us. I promised you that night after we were all tucked in bed that we'd all ride together,   someday all three of us." Honesty's smile beamed. "Today's the day."

    Mounted on the huge animal minutes later, Chastity looked back at the three men standing on the porch behind them. Wes shook his head with an indulgence that rarely lapsed in his dealings with his strong-minded wife. Cass's pale-eyed gaze followed them intently, and Reed's smile flashed bright and strong when Purity hooted and Honesty dug her heels into the horse's sides with a shout that startled their mount into a wild leap forward!

    The wind in her face… her sisters' screams of delight in her ears… the wild and crazy joy of it as they raced across the sunswept ground!

    Chastity's heart surged to bursting. In the midst of the laughter and the lighthearted cries, she suddenly smelled the scent of roses,
then
felt her father's smile, and she knew that her parents were finally content, now that their three dangerous virtues were together again.

    Breathless and windblown, the wonder of the moment was surpassed only when the ride was over and she slid down into Reed's arms.

    I love you, Chastity.

    The words didn't need to be repeated. They were in Reed's eyes, a solemn promise for the days to come, and they were forever in her heart.