On Lone Star Trail (36 page)

As her words registered, TJ's expression began to change, the pain seeming to drain from him, replaced by something that looked like hope. And that glimmer of hope ignited a flame inside Gillian.

“Mike knew that,” she told TJ. “I think he realized it before I did.”

“What do you mean?”

Gillian paused. In the movies, the man was the one who declared his love, pursuing, then persuading the heroine to marry him. When she agreed, he swept her into his arms as the credits rolled.

This was not a movie. It was real life, and in real life sometimes a woman had to be the first to speak.

“I love you, TJ.” Though it was the first time she'd said them, the words came out easily. When he opened his lips to speak, she shook her head. She wanted TJ to hear everything she had to say before he responded. She took a quick breath, then continued. “I know you're not ready to think about marriage, but I want you to know that I'd never try to take Deb's place.”

“You can't.”

Two words. Two simple words, but combined with the finality Gillian heard in TJ's voice, they doused the flame of hope, leaving her feeling as if she'd been bludgeoned. Though she had tried to tell herself this was possible, her heart had refused to believe it. Now she was faced with the reality that her dream of love and marriage would never come true.

“I—”

TJ raised his index finger to his lips in the universal signal for silence. “You need to let me finish my sentence. What I started to say was that you can't take Deb's place. She'll always be my first love. But you're my last love. You have your own place in my heart.”

Though the smile he gave her made Gillian's heart begin to pound, it was his words that brought tears of joy to her eyes. TJ loved her. Dreams really did come true.

“I'm surprised you didn't give up on me. I was blind and I was stubborn,” TJ said, his smile turning rueful. “I didn't want to admit what was clear to others. I was so caught up in my own misery that it took me far too long to realize God had given me something I never expected—a second chance at love and a woman who's more wonderful than I dreamt possible. He opened the window, but I wasn't brave enough to climb through it.”

There was a second of silence when all Gillian heard was the pounding of her heart. Though she wanted to speak, to tell TJ how deeply she loved him, she could not force the words
past the lump in her throat. Then TJ stretched out his hands, reaching for hers.

“I don't have much to offer you. I can't promise you a life of luxury. I can't even promise we'll be able to put down roots in one place. You know there are no guarantees like that with the ministry.” TJ paused. “The truth is, I don't know what the future will bring, but I do know that I want you to be part of that future, and if you agree to share it with me, I'll do everything I can to make you happy.”

TJ tightened his grip on her hands as he stepped through the doorway, closing the distance between them. When he was only inches away, he smiled again. “Gillian, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You challenge me to be better than I thought I could be. You fill my thoughts and dreams. I didn't think it was possible, but you've filled all the empty spaces in my heart. Now it's overflowing with love.”

Gillian felt as if her own heart were about to explode from the sheer joy TJ's words brought. A moment ago, she had believed they had no chance at happiness together, but now the man she loved was saying everything she'd longed to hear. The words were wonderful, his expression even more so, for there was no question that what she saw shining from his eyes was love. Love for her.

“I love you, Gillian,” TJ said, the firmness of his voice underscoring his sincerity. “Will you marry me?”

“Oh yes!”

As TJ opened his arms, Gillian moved into them and raised her lips for his kiss. It began as softly as a single note but swelled into a concert of love that filled each and every corner of her being. Against all odds, she had found her heart mate, the man God had brought into her life.

Gillian sighed with pleasure as TJ stroked her hair, then wrapped his arms around her again, drawing her closer. She'd traveled thousands of miles. She'd taken detours along the way, but at last she'd found what she sought: the road to her future.

Dear Reader,

Each time I start to write a book, I picture you. I don't know what you look like, whether you're reading a paper or an ebook. I don't know whether you prefer to read in the solitude of a corner of your home or in a busy coffee shop. What I do know is that if you picked up one of my books, you're looking for a few hours' respite from the real world, and that while you want to escape reality, you also want a story of real people facing real challenges and overcoming them, even though it may not be easy. My prayer as I begin each book is that the story will touch your heart and deepen your faith. Did I succeed? I hope so.

On Lone Star Trail is the final book in the Texas Crossroads series, and as always happens when I reach that milestone, my thoughts are bittersweet. There's satisfaction in finishing the book, but that's mingled with regret that I won't be spending my days at Rainbow's End. I hope you're like me and enjoyed seeing the changes in not only the resort but, more importantly, the people who called it home.

If this is your first Texas Crossroads book, I encourage you to pick up a copy of the first two. The story of Rainbow's End begins with At Bluebonnet Lake, where Kate and Greg meet and fall in love. You know how their story ends, but I assure you, it wasn't an easy path. Marisa meets her future husband in In Firefly Valley, and once again, the road to happiness has more twists than she expected.

If you've read the other books, you know that I enjoy sharing Carmen's healthy recipes. Here's another of my favorites. Not only do these bar cookies travel well for bird-watching or anything else that's on your agenda, but they also freeze well . . . if there are any left.

One of the things I enjoy even more than sharing recipes is hearing from you. I hope you'll visit my website (www.amandacabot.com) to sign up for my online newsletter and, if you're so inclined, to send me a note. As I've said before, you're the reason I write.

Blessings,
Amanda Cabot

Dreams have always been an important part of
Amanda Cabot
's life. For almost as long as she can remember, she dreamt of being an author. Fortunately for the world, her grade-school attempts as a playwright were not successful, and she turned her attention to novels. Her dream of selling a book before her thirtieth birthday came true, and she's been spinning tales ever since. She now has more than thirty novels to her credit under a variety of pen names.

Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Award as well as the Booksellers' Best and have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists.

A popular speaker, Amanda is a member of ACFW and a charter member of Romance Writers of America. She married her high school sweetheart, who shares her love of travel and who's driven thousands of miles to help her research her books. After years as Easterners, they fulfilled a longtime dream and now live in the American West.

Historical Romance

T
EXAS
D
REAMS
S
ERIES

Paper Roses

Scattered Petals

Tomorrow's Garden

W
ESTWARD
W
INDS
S
ERIES

Summer of Promise

Waiting for Spring

With Autumn's Return

Christmas Roses

One Little Word: A Sincerely Yours Novella

Contemporary Romance

T
EXAS
C
ROSSROADS
S
ERIES

At Bluebonnet Lake

In Firefly Valley

On Lone Star Trail

AmandaCabot.com

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