Roman's Vow (Riley's Pride #4) - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,101

in. They even have western boots and work boots and all. And that’s the department store and there’s the police station. Oh, and that’s Moe’s. He makes the best vanilla frappes. Maia buys them by the gallon jug — literally.”

As they continued through town, Roman pointed out the side street that led to the school. “And down that street right there is Darcie’s school. Unless you want to see it right now, you can see it on Monday.”

“I’ll wait until Monday,” Talie said.

They continued on until it was obvious they were leaving town. “See this fork in the road here?” Roman asked. “If you turn back on the fork on that side, instead of going straight, it’ll take you to Travis’s tree farm. Him and Libby and Scotty live out there.”

“Tree farm?” Talie asked.

“Yeah. They got a Christmas tree farm and for the holidays they have a whole thing families can go to when they go cut down their own tree. Arts and crafts, and face painting, and hot chocolate and all. And they’re planting pumpkins for this year to do the same for Halloween,” Roman explained.

“Oh, fun!” Talie said.

“It is! I volunteered there this past Christmas. Darcie hung out there with me after she got here. It’s lots of fun.”

They drove on past the fork and headed out of town. About ten minutes later Talie could see mobile homes on one side of the two lane highway they were on, and a convenience store and diner on the other side, and as they got closer she realized there was a large old, but very well kept home before you reached the diner back off the road.

“There’s the diner. The convenience store is attached to it and they share the front door. Right before that is Riley’s house, and across the street is the trailer park. Our house is there.”

“Which trailer is yours?” Talie asked, looking at the trailer park as they got closer.

“Ours, Talie. See the one in the back by itself?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered.

“That one is Lucas’s. Ours is just in front of it to the right, with the green shutters and the porch that goes all the way down the front with the swing on it.”

“Oh, I love it,” she said. “And it’s so pretty over there with all the flowers and the fences painted white.”

“Maia wanted to be sure it looked like families lived there. That’s why the trailers are farther apart than they’d usually be, she wanted little yards for each one. You can’t see from here, but Darcie has a swing set in our little backyard. It’s a bit tight, but she doesn't seem to mind,” Roman said.

“I’m sure she doesn’t. She’s got her own room in her own home and she’s safe and secure each night when she goes to bed,” Talie said with tears in her eyes, her voice getting raspy as she tried not to cry.

“She always will be safe and secure, and loved, too. Just like you will be, Talie. No reason to cry,” he said, holding her hand tightly.

“There is, too. You just don’t realize what a gift you’ve given us,” she said, dabbing at her eyes with a paper napkin left from their breakfast.

“It’s nothing compared to the gift you’ve given me. I’ve always been alone, Talie. I mean, eventually I found the Pride, but I had no one. Then all of a sudden I’m a daddy, and she loves me and looks up to me, and now I’m a husband and a mate. And I adore you. I’m so grateful to you for accepting me, loving me, giving me the family and life I’ve always wanted but believed I’d never have,” Roman said as he pulled into the drive in front of a big security gate.

Talie unfastened her seatbelt and leaned into Roman, kissing him and telling him how much she loved him.

“I love you so much, Talie. I just never knew this kind of feeling existed.”

“I didn’t either. But I’m not going to question it. I’m just going take it and hold on to it and watch it grow,” Talie said with a bright smile as she swiped at her tears.

“Me, too,” he said.

Talie took a deep breath and sat back in her seat as she examined the house beyond the security gate.

“Ready to go see Darcie?” he asked.

“Past ready,” Talie answered.

Roman rolled down the window and pressed in the code. “In case you ever need to open the gate, the code is OU812.” He