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“Then you were here and you were so much more than I ever expected you to be. I thought you were the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen and I kept thinkin’ that there was no way you would end up stayin’. But you did and little by little, I started letting Sarah go and saw that it was okay for me to be happy again. To be happy with you.
“You finally got me through my grief over Sarah. She’ll always be a part of me and I’ll always love her, but I’m not in love with her anymore. I love you, Tessa, only you,” Dean said.
His tender words melted away all of Tessa’s doubts and fears. “I love you, too, and I’m so happy to have my own place in your heart, Dean. It means more to me than I’ll ever be able to tell you. Thank you for telling me your feelings even though I know you’re not comfortable with talking about them.”
Dean said, “We’re married now and we should be able to tell each other anything. I won’t promise to be perfect at it, but I promise to do my best. Does that sound fair?”
Tessa took his hand and squeezed it. “Very fair. You know, for someone who says he’s not very smart, you certainly sound intelligent.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Samuels. I appreciate that,” Dean said with a smile.
Tessa said, “You’re very welcome, Mr. Samuels.”
Dean leaned closer and said, “So how do you feel about doin’ some of that other kind of talkin’?”
“What other kind?” Tessa asked with mock innocence.
Dean’s kiss slowly went from being tender to sensual and demanding. Tessa became warm all over and she responded to him eagerly. When it ended, Dean smiled down at her.
“That kind.”
“Oh. Yes. That kind. I think I could be persuaded,” Tessa said.
“Then up the ladder you go,” Dean said as he pointed to the hayloft.
Tessa’s eyes widened. “What? Up there?”
“Uh huh. Unless you’re chicken,” Dean said with a grin.
“I am no such thing,” Tessa said defiantly as she gathered the bottom of her nightgown and started climbing.
Dean followed closely, enjoying the view as they went. When they reached the loft, he grabbed Tessa and pulled her down onto the loose hay with him. Tessa laughed as Dean nuzzled her neck and asked, “So are you serious about wanting more children?”
“You know I am,” Tessa said. “Why do you ask?”
He answered by embracing her and kissing her fiercely. “Talkin’ time is over. I’ll show you,” he said when he ended the kiss.
Like the winds of fate that had brought her to Dawson, Tessa let herself be swept away by her love for Dean. She responded to the love and desire in his eyes and in his touch. Soon, they were lost in one another as the moon shone down on the barn.
The next afternoon, Geoffrey and Tessa walked through the barn, trying to work out their differences since they hadn’t done so yet. She had been too preoccupied with the tense situation between her and Dean. Geoffrey knew this and had not pressed until now. However, he was due to return to Pittsburgh soon and wanted some answers from his daughter.
“Papa, don’t you see? I’m not much different than you. As I said before, you struck out on your own, so why shouldn’t I have been allowed to?” Tessa asked.
“It was different for me, Tessa. I didn’t want to get caught up in all of the fighting. Things were dangerous there. It wasn’t what I wanted for myself. I wanted to be my own man and make my own future,” he told her.
Tessa arched a brow at her father. “Did you hear what you just said?”
Geoffrey went back over it and saw her point. He gave her a considering look. “You tricked me,” he said.
“No, you tricked yourself, Papa,” Tessa said with a mischievous smile. “I had nothing to do with it.”
“I hate it when I’m outsmarted by a woman,” he teased.
Tessa laughed.
Geoffrey sobered. “But your life wasn’t in any danger.”
“No, not any physical danger, but I was in danger of becoming resentful of the people I love because I couldn’t pursue my own dreams and wishes. If I had stayed in that life, I would have withered away inside. Would you want that for me?”
“Of course not.”
“And if I had told you what I wanted to do, would you have let me?”
Geoffrey’s silence and uncomfortable expression told her the answer to her question.
“Right. So you see that I had no choice and none of this is Dean’s fault. He had no idea I’d run away like that, so please don’t blame him,” Tessa said.
“I understand where you’re coming from,” Geoffrey said. “And I don’t blame him. I could see that he had no knowledge of your subterfuge. I don’t necessarily agree with your methods, but I can now accept why you did it. I now know that we should have listened to you better. I’m sorry that I didn’t.”
Tessa hugged her father. “Thank you for saying so, Papa. I appreciate it very much. I have a good life here. You don’t have to worry about me anymore. We’re not the richest people, but Dean is a hard worker and he loves me and the children. That means more to me than any amount of money.”
“I know he’s a good man, Tessa and the children are a delight. Jack is quite amusing,” Geoffrey said with a smile as he thought about how Jack had started calling him “Grandpa” right away.
“You don’t know the half of it, Papa. You never know what he’s going to say or do,” Tessa said. “And he’s so hard to stay cross with.”
“Hmm. I know someone else like that,” Geoffrey said with a twinkle in his dark eyes.
“Papa!” Tessa’s objected.
Geoffrey said, “You know that it’s true, Tessa. You may be incorrigible and strong-willed, but you’re also beguiling and charming. It’s a very lethal combination.”
Tessa smiled. “I will take that as a compliment.”
Geoffrey embraced his daughter and laid his cheek atop her head. “As far as worrying about you goes, I’m your father and I will always worry about you. That’s what parents do. I’m sure you’re learning that already.”
Tessa said, “Yes, I am. It astounds me that I fell in love with Sadie and Jack as well as their father, Papa. But we are going to have more children, so be prepared to be a grandpa several times over.”
“I look forward to it.” He tightened his hold on her and said, “I love you, Tessa.”
“I love you, too, Papa,” Tessa said.
Geoffrey released her and smiled at her as Jack came running into the barn. “Grandpa! C’mon, we’re goin’ fishin’ and Uncle Seth says you wanted to learn.”
Laughing, Geoffrey said, “So I did. Lead the way, young Jack!”
By the time two weeks had passed, Geoffrey was indeed convinced his daughter had made a good match and that he would be leaving her in good hands. He’d enjoyed meeting the rest of Dean’s family and had gotten to know them all a little better. Geoffrey found himself impressed by Marcus’ self-taught knowledge. Seth entertained him with stories of his exploits on cattle drives and Geoffrey told them some of his own adventures in Ireland.
Too soon, it came time for her father to head back, which made Tessa realize how much she missed her family. Geoffrey promised that he would try to bring the whole family to meet them the following spring.
Dean and Tessa drove Geoffrey to Wolfe Point to meet the stage coach. They waved him goodbye and Tessa couldn’t help crying. Dean held her and whispered comforting words to her. Tessa finally dried her eyes and smiled.
“I’m all right now. We’ll write all the time to keep in touch and next year will be here before you know it, right?” she said.
“Of course it will. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you busy,” Dean said suggestively.
She smacked his arm.
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