to spill out of his eyes. Daniel went down on one knee before her. “Are we in agreement then? Will you marry me, Meredith MacCarthy? Will you become my equal partner through life?” He nearly tipped over as his love threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.
“I will,” she said. “I love you so much, Daniel, and you are my choice, and you always will be. Never doubt that.”
Daniel rose from the floor of the porch, bringing Meredith up with him. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her close, peppering her face with kisses. He exalted in the feel of her curves pressed against him, and her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. He kissed her, and the heat and softness of her lips against his stole his breath.
“Soon, aye?” he said between kisses. “Let’s get married as quickly as possible.” He drew back and peered into her lovely gray eyes. “What do you think?”
“I agree,” she said, smiling through her tears. “Shall we tell Charles our news?”
“Aye.” He cradled her face in his hands and wiped away the tears from her cheeks. “When I was a ghost, I used to imagine how your skin might feel,” he rasped, tucking an errant strand of her silky hair behind her ear. “Because of you, I’m alive. Because of you, every sunrise and sunset are cause for celebration. With you beside me, my heart and my life are full.”
“My poet.” Meredith kissed his cheek.
Perhaps he did have the soul of a poet, but it had taken Meredith to inspire the love that brought forth the sentimental words. Smiling so wide his cheeks ached, he followed Meredith into the cabin. “Good news, Charles,” he called as he knocked on the bedroom door. “Meredith and I are—”
“Engaged to be married.” Charles quipped as he opened his door and slowly made his way to the table. “If you’d wanted privacy, Danny, you should’ve taken a walk. I heard every word through my window.” He flashed them a sheepish look. “I apologize for not alerting you to that fact. Meredith, I consider Daniel my brother, so that means you’re to be my sister-in-law, and I couldn’t be more pleased. Welcome to the family, lass.”
“Thank you, Charles. I’m proud to call you kin.”
Daniel stirred the fire embers in the cook stove and added wood. Just as Charles lowered himself onto a chair, he heard the sound of a rider out front, followed by stomping feet on the porch and a knock on the door.
“What now?” Daniel said as he crossed the room and opened the door. “Bill, come in. What brings you out our way?” He stepped back to give the sheriff room to enter.
“I have news, and I thought I’d look in on Charles.” He stepped inside. “It’s good to see you up and about, Charles.”
“I’m healing well thanks to Meredith and Dan’s ministrations.”
“Good to hear. Smells good in here. I hope I’m not interrupting your supper.”
“Not at all.” Daniel gestured to the table. “Join us for tea?”
“I appreciate the offer, but I can’t stay.” Bill surveyed the room. “Where’s Oliver?”
“He’s on his way home,” Meredith said.
“Without you?” Bill’s brow rose a fraction.
“Meredith and I are to be married in a few weeks, and Oliver had obligations back home,” Daniel said, unable to keep the wide grin from his face. “He couldn’t stay.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised you two are getting hitched,” Bill said, taking a seat. “I’m happy for you both.”
“Thank you.” Daniel leaned against the kitchen counter. “So what’s the news?”
“Turns out there are bounties on all three of our outlaws. I had the barber take a picture of their corpses before burial, and I’m applying for the rewards. I’ve already talked to the rest of the men, and we’ve agreed to split the money equally among us. It’ll likely take months before we receive the funds though.”
“Meredith and I will likely be in Ireland by the time the money arrives. Charles, will you divide my share among the widows in town? I know for a fact Mrs. Jenkins and Mrs. Sanderson would love to return to their kin in the East if they had the means.”
“Aye, Danny, and I’ll add my share to the pot as well.”
“That’s generous of you,” the sheriff said. “I’ll see that the ladies have an escort to Hellgate. There they can catch a coach heading East.”
“Thank you for everything, Bill,” Meredith said. “I can’t begin to tell you how relieved