Saving the Rifleman (12 page)

He took a seat in a chair opposite her.

She looked as if he’d stabbed her in the gut with a knife. Tears hovered in her eyes and she sat silently, waiting for him to say something, he guessed.

How was he going to convince her that he would never give up?

Finally she asked, “What explanation can you give for publicly humiliating me?”

Chapter Thirteen

John braced his elbows on his knees. “I didn’t intend to make you feel uncomfortable.” He gave her the same small, intimate smile he’d given her over and over on their dash for the border. “I told my family about you, about all of our adventures, and they insisted on meeting you.”

“But why did you ask me to marry you in front of them?”

“Because I thought it was less likely you’d say no if there were witnesses.”

“You know I can’t accept.”

“We could be married in a matter of days if you say yes.”

Oh, John.

She sighed and shook her head. “It’s customary to
ask
a woman for her hand in marriage and receive a yes from her before you plan the ceremony.”

“You’re right.” He nodded, stood and paced away two steps. “We’ve been doing everything backward since the moment we met.”

“Yes.”

He spun around. “But I would do it all again.
All.”
His eyes filled with pale green fire. “Would you?”

She had to remind herself to breathe. “Yes.” Then she shook her head. “But, that’s no excuse for your rather large assumption—”

“You said you loved me,” he interrupted. “Do you?”

She struggled to fill her lungs, to admit her feelings. “Yes, but—”

“I’m a fool. I wanted to do this before, but had no time.” He released a deep breath. “I should have made time.” He got down on one knee and took her left hand in his. “Maria Hunt, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”

She squeezed her eyes shut.
Please, not this.

She said nothing, she couldn’t. Grief and longing blocked her throat.

His grin slowly disappeared. “What’s wrong?”

“Honour, that’s what this is about,” she said, the words tearing a hole in her soul. “But I can’t marry you for honour alone.”

“What?” He blinked several times. “Is that what you think? That I’m asking because I’m a gentleman?” He didn’t wait for her answer. “Yes, of course you do. Or you wouldn’t be looking like some damned martyr.”

“I’m being practical, sensible and fair,” she shouted. Why wouldn’t he listen? “There’s no reason for you to shackle yourself to—”

“
Shackle?
”

“—a woman whose station is so far beneath yours.”

He looked her up and down, his eyes burning. “Beneath me is exactly where I want you.”

She sucked in a shocked breath.

He jumped into the pause without hesitation. “I’ll wager you’d throw yourself on a sword if I had one handy.”

She turned away, her voice shaking with sadness and shame. “There’s no reason for this marriage. No
real
reason.”

He stepped around her into her line of vision. “There are
three
reasons for this marriage. One, you could be with child.”

She stared at the floor. “I’m not.”

“Two, you love me. And three, I love you.”

“That was said in the heat of passion. I won’t hold you to it.”

“But I hold myself to it.” He took a firm grip on her shoulders. “Listen here. I love you and no amount of arguing or passage of time is ever going to change that. If you don’t want to marry me now, well, then I’ll wait until you’re ready.”

He was willing to wait? But that wasn’t the only problem.

“I’m still not the right sort of woman to be your wife.”

“Bah, are you talking about what my cousin said?”

“Yes, and she’s not the only one who’ll feel that way.”

“I don’t care what other people think.”

“What about your parents? Your father?”

“You impressed him just now.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“There aren’t many people who will stand up to him. You did. And my mother will be ecstatic about the prospect of having someone in the family who actually
likes
to speak French.”

She opened her mouth, but he spoke first.

“You can’t get rid of me, Maria. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove I want you, not once in a dark corner, but every day for the rest of our lives.”

He looked so sincere and stubborn she couldn’t deny what was in her heart. “Oh, John, I want that, so much it hurts. But I have to be sure. I have to know you’re not offering marriage to satisfy your honour. I need your love. Without reservation. Can you give me that?”

“You have it. I want a home, children and a life with you. I love you. Please say yes.”

“Only if you make me a promise first.”

He leaned close and said against her lips, “Done.”

“You don’t know what it is yet.”

“It doesn’t matter, I’ll do whatever you ask of me. Capture Jason’s Golden Fleece, battle Hades in the belly of hell, beg God for one more day with you. Whatever task you set, I will do.”

Breathing was no longer important, only him. She’d thought a relationship between them would be impossible, but it seemed she’d been wrong.

She couldn’t lose him. Couldn’t stand the thought of the long, lonely years ahead without him. “No matter what happens, no matter where they send you. Come home to me. Come home to me alive.”

“As to that, I’ve already been reassigned.”

Dread dimmed her joy. “You’re returning to the front?”

“No, I’m with the Expeditionary Force in a different capacity now. Intelligence. My new post will be near the border of Belgium and the Netherlands under Captain Lawrence.”

So far away. “When do you leave?”

“In a few weeks, after my partner has been properly trained.”

It wasn’t long enough. “I see.” She would not be one of those blubbering women who cried and clung. She’d make sure not a moment was wasted. “We can spend some of the time at my parents’ home, if you like,” she offered with a tentative smile.

John shook his head, sending her heart tumbling. “That won’t be possible. I’ve requested immediate permission to assist in the training of my new partner.
She
will need
close
supervision.”

Maria frowned. “She?”

He smiled. “You.”

“But—”

His arms wrapped around her, his kiss making it impossible to think, only feel.

She clutched him to her, wanting nothing more than to touch him.

“God, you taste good,” he whispered as he nibbled his way down her neck. He sighed and looked at her, one hand cradling her face. “You’re not angry?”

Dazed, she tried to focus on what he said. “Angry?”

“I told my superiors about you, about Rose. I only wanted everyone to know how proud I was of what you’ve done, what you did to get me to safety. They saw it as an opportunity.”

He wasn’t making any sense. “An opportunity to do what?”

“Help Rose, our men and gain information about German army movements in Belgium.”

“There’s a way to help Rose?”

John nodded. “We can do a great deal. Meet those she sends to the border, get supplies back to her and certainly exchange information. Perhaps even more than that.” He kissed her again, his lips lingering, teasing.

“We?” she asked, refusing to be distracted yet again.

“Everyone is impressed with your courage and ingenuity. Major Davenport and Captain Lawrence believe, as I do, that your presence and your skills would be an advantage.”

“I don’t understand.”

“It turns out that there has been a steady stream of wounded soldiers and civilians flowing into Belgium. We’re to set up a medical aid station where you and a few other nurses can treat them. Captain Lawrence and I are going to collect information and interview escaping British or allied soldiers.” He kissed her. “You and I won’t have to be apart.”

She bit her bottom lip. Was it truly possible? “You’re sure? They don’t object?”

“Actually, it’s to our advantage. To outside eyes we’ll look like a married couple simply helping their neighbours and anyone else that happens by, complete with cows, goats and chickens.”

He released her to pat his pockets. “Speaking of which… Ah, here it is.” He pulled out a small box, got down on one knee and revealed a sapphire-and-diamond ring. He took her left hand in his and gazed at her as he slid the ring on her finger. “Maria, my love, I pledge myself to you forever.”

Laughter bubbled out of her. “John, my darling, I accept your pledge and make the same to you.”

He took her in his arms again, where she wanted to be. And as she lifted her face to kiss him, he whispered, “Now our adventure begins.”

* * * * *

If you loved
Saving the Rifleman,
don’t miss these moving stories
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also by Julie Rowe.
Available now.

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Since her divorce, Willa Hayes has thrown herself into her work as a nurse in the remote town of Stony Creek, Alaska. Her heart is almost healed—until her newfound peace is shaken by the arrival of sexy flyboy Liam Reynolds. Liam has his own reasons for fleeing to the isolation of the north, and a relationship is the last thing he wants. He wasn’t counting
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Icebound

Driven to finish her late husband’s research, Dr. Emilie Saunderson travels to Antarctica, where she hopes to find a measure of peace. Damaged by his dark past, Tom Wolinski works at the bottom of the world and he’s vowed never to get close to anyone. But as Emilie and Tom work together to survive in the harshest of climates, they turn to one another for comfort. Is the heat between them enough to melt the ice around their hearts?

“In ICEBOUND, Julie Rowe blends the perfect cocktail of action and romance. Get ready for a rip-roarin’ read!”

—Brenda Novak,
New York Times
bestselling author

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About the Author

Julie Rowe’s first career as a medical lab technologist in Canada took her to the Northwest Territories and northern Alberta, where she still resides. She loves to include medical details in her romance novels, but admits she’ll never be able to write about all her medical experiences because, “No one would believe them!”

A double Golden Heart Award finalist in 2006, Julie’s writing has also appeared in several magazines such as
Today’s Parent, Reader’s Digest
(Canada) and
Canadian Living.
She currently facilitates communications workshops for her local city college. You can reach her at
www.julieroweauthor.com
or on Twitter
@julieroweauthor
.

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