The Fire of Home (A Powell Springs Novel) (31 page)

“My luck changed when I changed,” she said simply.

“My luck changed when I found you.” He reached up and pushed a blonde strand away from her eyes.

They looked into each other’s eyes and his mouth took hers sweetly at first, then hungrily. She looped one arm around his neck and put her other hand on the back of his head.

“I think you two had better go home.” Bax and Amy both jumped and saw Cole standing in the doorway. Amy ducked her head, and Bax laughed, feeling his face get hot. “It’s okay. You got dragged out of your hotel room early this morning, probably dog-tired from no sleep, and had to go assemble a posse to catch some bad guys. You weren’t supposed to spend your day like that.”

Bax pulled himself out of the soft cushions and dragged Amy up with him. “As a point of fact, we were not. We were supposed to be enjoying each other’s company privately,” he said with great specificity. “And that’s what we’re going to do now.”

Cole laughed and gave him a playful punch in the shoulder.

Bax stopped to see Whit where he lay on one of the two beds in the back of the clinic. They were hidden behind hospital screens and served as recovery beds for Jess’s occasional surgical cases. He just wanted to make sure for himself that the man would be all right. Em sat beside him, her handkerchief balled up in her hand.

“Oh, hell, I’m a tough old cuss. I’ll be fine. Doc Jess gave me a little shot of something for the pain and will send some pills home with me so I can sleep.”

Bax could tell. His words were a little slurred, and Bax had had enough painkillers in military hospitals to know the feeling.

Whit’s arms were wrapped here and there with white bandages, and a sheet covered the rest of him, so Bax couldn’t tell how much damage had been done. But his face sported a few blisters that looked angry and painful. Maybe worst of all for Whit, Doc Jess had shaved off part of his luxurious silver mustache. “Did Cole tell you who we caught?”

He nodded. “Every time I think I’ve seen it all, I get surprised.”

“Well, you take it easy. I’ve got Tilly watching the suspects in their cells, and I’ll be back there tomorrow. You know, he’s sort of useless for anything except selling beer.”

“Huh, that’s not news. I’ve known him all my life and I don’t think he’s going to improve now.”

Bax gripped Whit’s uninjured hand and patted Em’s shoulder. Amy patted Whit’s shoulder and gave Em a big hug. “You be sure to let us know if you need anything.” Em nodded and gave them a wobbly smile.

After bidding good-bye to Jess and Cole, they walked out into the summer sun toward home, holding hands. “Do you remember the first day I saw you?” Amy asked.

“Yes. You hated my guts on sight.”

“No, I didn’t. I was terrified of you. You were driving a county sheriff’s car and I was worried that Adam had every local jurisdiction looking for me to drag me back to Portland. I wanted that ride you offered in the worst way.
I’d
been walking for miles in the rain and mud, and I was soaked right through.”

“Jacobsen didn’t have that kind of authority or power to send police after you,” Bax scoffed. Then he said, “I suppose you didn’t know that at the time.”

“No, I didn’t.” She looked around at the bright day and gestured at the sky. “But look how time changes things.”

“And look how love has changed us.” He stopped and kissed her again, right there on the street, in front of God and Powell Springs, and anything else watching.

“Oh, my.” She giggled and they picked up their pace, heading for home.

EPILOGUE

Bax stood in front of Whit’s desk and considered a photograph of Em that sat on his bookcase. “Do you two have plans for Christmas?” he asked.

“I don’t think so. This year the boys are going out to the Grenfells’ farm for Christmas vacation.”

“Come to our place. Cole and Jess will be there with Margaux and whatever little passenger she’s carrying in her this time. Tanner and Susannah will be there anyway with the kids, so you can spend Christmas with them. Mae will probably stop by, and I’ve got Nate Cameron scheduled to watch the office.”

Whit smiled. “That sounds great. I know Em gets a little blue when they’re gone, but Tanner raised those boys for five years while Em was working. They all got a little attached.”

“That’s okay, it’s like having extra family, aunts and uncles and so on.”

“It is.” He glanced out his office window. “You know, it looks like it might snow out there pretty soon. Have those cars been delivered yet?”

“No, but I got a call from the dealer. They’ll be here first thing in the morning.”

“Okay, good.”

In November, and at the urging of many, Whit Gannon ran unopposed for the office of mayor of Powell Springs. Deputy Bax Duncan was now Sheriff Bax Duncan, and between the two of them, the
y’d
been able to make quite a few improvements in the month that h
e’d
had the job. After Whit recovered, he and Bax sat down to discuss what they thought the department needed and which of those needs stood the best chance of being answered first. They were able to get three new cars and hire another two full-time deputies. Bax bought the old Model T for Amy and had it repainted so she wouldn’t have to drive around with the county’s emblem on the doors.

Horace retired to his farm and after many years was able to devote all of his time to his dairy cows. There was even a reliable rumor going around that h
e’d
started courting Birdeen Lyons. After all those years of working together, it wasn’t really surprising.

Amy replaced the rug in the living room, the one that had been stained the day that Adam Jacobsen walked into the kitchen. Both he and Milo Breninger had been tried and convicted for some crimes, although others were still under investigation. While those were pending, they sat in prison at the Oregon State Penitentiary, awaiting the court’s pleasure.

As for Bax and Amy, he was headed home right now to a glass of whiskey and a great dinner. He didn’t know what she would be cooking, but she hadn’t missed yet. He could see that she was right about her mother’s training—she loved working around the house, just as much as Jess hated it.

“Okay, Whit, I’m off for home. I’ll bet Em is waiting for you too.”

“Yeah, she is. She likes my new hours a whole lot better than the old ones. I’m there every night unless there’s a council meeting.”

Bax shrugged back into his Woolrich coat—the east wind was howling down the Columbia River Gorge again—and walked out, waving at Birdeen on his way to the door.

When he pulled up to the house, he saw Amy in a heavy shawl, standing on the porch waiting for him, as she always did when she knew what time h
e’d
be there. He came up the steps and his face was icy from the stiff wind.

“Oh, come inside and sit by the stove! It’s going to be frigid tonight.” He looked at her, rosy from the cold, her hair pulled up into a loose knot, and he thought sh
e’d
never been more beautiful.

He took her into his arms and she slipped hers around his waist inside his coat. She gave him an arch look. “I guess that means I’ll have to put the down quilt on the bed. Or wear that old flannel granny gown.”

He laughed and kissed her. “I’ll help you look for the quilt.”

“I thought you might want to do that.” She disentangled her arms.

“What’s for dinner?” he asked, following her back to the kitchen.

“Something good. Do you really care? You eat anything I put in front of you.”

He shook his head. “I don’t care. I know it will be great. I have you. And I’m home.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo © 2011 Elena Rose Photography

Alexis Harrington is the award-winning author of over a dozen novels, including the international bestseller
The Irish Bride
. She spent twelve years working as an administrative manager in civil engineering offices before she became a full-time novelist. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys jewelry making, needlework, embroidery, cooking, and entertaining friends. She lives in her native Pacific Northwest, near the Columbia River, with a variety of pets who do their best to distract her while she is working.