Free The Rancher And The Runaway Bride: Part 3 by Susan Mallery

later.”
    She nodded, but her gaze settled on Brady, not the other men.
    As the cowboys drifted off, he moved toward her. He took in the casual shirt she wore,
     the worn jeans and boots, her hair pulling loose from its braid. “You’re beautiful,”
     he said.
    She flushed. “Thanks. Ask me why I’m here.”
    “Why are you here?”
    “Because I have the answer to your question.”
    She waited expectantly. He frowned, trying to recall what questions they would have
     in common. Then he remembered. “I asked you if you would stay here when all your other
     problems were solved.”
    She nodded.
    He stared at her face, at the emotions flickering in her eyes. How could he ever have
     considered living a life without her at his side? “You didn’t have to come back to
     me,” he said. “I’m glad you did, but I would have come to you.”
    She touched his lower lip and winced. “I can see you had a little help making that
     decision.”
    “No. Ty helped me figure it out, but I already knew the truth.” He touched his chest.
     “In here. Where it counts.” He took her hand in his and brought it to his mouth, then
     kissed her tender skin. “I love you, Randi. I know you have a family and a life in
     Grand Springs, and I have no right to ask you to give that up, but I’m asking, anyway.
     All I have to offer you is this ranch, this crazy existence out here in the middle
     of nowhere. I want to marry you. I want us to have a bunch of kids and grow old together.”
    Her smile was radiant. “Are we going to drive to the tip of South America when we’re
     old and gray and explore the continent?”
    “Maybe.”
    “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She flung herself at him. “I love you, too,” she
     said, her voice muffled against his chest. “I have for a long time. Grand Springs
     isn’t home to me anymore. This is where I belong. With you and the land. With the
     cowboys and Princess and all the cats.”
    He pressed his lips to hers, ignoring the faint throb from his cut. The tender kiss
     ignited a contentment deep in his heart. He felt something blossom inside, a happiness
     so steady and so bright he knew it would last a lifetime…maybe beyond.
    She pulled back and frowned. “I have to warn you, Tex might not be coming back. He’s
     at my mother’s house right now. Doing Lord knows what. I know it sounds strange, but
     I think they might really be right for each other.”
    “Tex and your mother?” Brady tried to imagine the couple and couldn’t.
    “I’m not kidding. He brought Peter and my things.” She flashed him a smile. “Mom didn’t
     only take a shine to Tex, but also to the kitten, so although I brought my stuff back,
     I didn’t bring Peter.”
    “Good. We have too many cats now.”
    She laughed. “I swear one of these days I’m going to get you to admit you actually
     like the cats.”
    “Maybe.”
    He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her to the house. They had a lot of
     catching up to do. First, though, he was going to take her upstairs and make love
     to her. Then they would discuss the details of their wedding. Finally, they would
     get on with the business of being happy together.
    She paused at the base of the stairs and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Did you
     formally propose?”
    “Yes.”
    “Did I formally accept?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    She kissed him. “Brady Jones, I’m proud to marry you.” She started up the stairs and
     paused. “Maybe my mom and Tex will come and live here.”
    He groaned. “Don’t even think about it.”
    She laughed and he joined in. They linked hands and continued climbing the stairs,
     taking the first steps of a journey that promised a lifetime of laughter, joy and
     love.

The spring storm left a mark on everything in its path, destroying the landscape and
     ravaging peoples’ lives. Grand Springs, Colorado, would never be the same. The mayor’s
     murder continues to resonate. Who is Jo and was she