Leaving Liberty, a Western Romance (Book 5) (Texas Hearts) Read online

  She finished tying off the bandage on his arm. “It can’t be for me.”

  “Why not? You don’t think you’re worthy of having a man love you?”

  “No, nothing like that. Just not you.”

  “Why not me? If anything, I keep trying to figure out how a woman like you could ever love a man like me after what I’ve put you through.”

  “What?”

  “You’re strong. You’re determined. You’re beautiful and you’re loving. I keep wondering why you should love me when I’ve given you every reason not to even like me.”

  “You think too much,” she said with a chuckle. “And how can I be beautiful when I walk around half the day with manure stained jeans and windblown hair.”

  He smiled and she melted even more. He did that to her. Turned her into mush and she both loved him and hated him for it.

  “Now you see, that’s where you’re missing things. I saw you from across the yard with the wind whipping your hair around your face and you took my breath away. You’re as beautiful and natural as this land here.”

  She shrugged. “I’m simple. I’m not like other girls.”

  “You’re simply beautiful.”

  “And you talk too much, too.”

  “You want me to stop?”

  “No.” She laughed again.

  “I meant what I said to you the other night on the porch. You drive me crazy. I want nothing more than to love you. I don’t want you to ever be afraid of that.”

  Before she could say another word, the sound of something scraping against the door above them pulled their attention away.

  “Libby? Are you in there?”

  “It’s Cole,” she said, relieved that he was okay.

  Jackson rushed up the stairs and unlatched the door, and then pushed the door open. Cole took a step back to allow both Jackson and Libby to step outside. Libby ran to Cole. “I’m so relieved you’re okay.”

  “We were worried you were caught out in the tornado,” Jackson said.

  “I nearly was. I saw the twister cut right through the pasture. There are a bunch of felled trees, but none of the cattle were hurt as far as I could see.”

  “Did you see Skittish?” Libby asked.

  “He was running hard on the far side of the ranch. Spirit, too. As soon as the twister moved on, I jumped into my truck and headed back to the house to find you. I’m glad you both made it to the storm shelter.”

  Jackson looked around. There was debris scattered about in the yard, but the house and barn were standing.

  “It’s a good thing my brothers are coming down to Liberty.”

  Libby gave him a confused glanced. “What?”

  Jackson hesitated a minute. “I talked to my brother, Cody, last night. I told him the ranch needed some work and Cole couldn’t do it all alone. He offered to come down and help out for a few days. Beau, too. Just to get the big jobs done. Then you can decide if you need more help down the line.”

  “Wow,” Cole said. “I thought you came here to throw me in jail again.”

  “You have a hearing with the INS in a few weeks, isn’t that right?”

  “Yes. I was supposed to be in jail until the hearing. But for some reason they allowed me out as long as I stayed at the ranch and worked.” Realization suddenly dawned on Cole. “Should I be thanking you for that?”

  “Don’t get carried away. I only made a few phone calls. It seems that private investigator Buck hired had information about a doctor who treated you when you were a baby. You broke your arm?”

  “Yeah. My mother told me I had X-rays taken but I found out the doctor had died about ten years ago.”

  “It seems those old timers were good about keeping records that go way back. His daughter took over his practice. If you can managed to get a copy of your medical records, you can use that in court. It should be enough for the INS to allow you to stay in the US until your documentation is completed. They won’t deport you.”

  “Thank you for doing this, Jackson,” Libby said.

  “Like I said. All I did was make a few calls. Cole still needs to get that paperwork.”

  “Just when I was really enjoying not liking you,” Cole said.

  Jackson laughed. “Likewise.”

  “Why would your brothers come down here to help me?” Libby asked. “They don’t even know me.”

  Jackson hesitated a second. “Because that’s what kin does. And if you’re going to be part of my family, that means you get the whole lot of us. The only problem is, they’re going to need a place to stay.”

  Libby’s smile was brighter than he’d ever seen. “We have enough bunks in the bunk house to house them for as long as they stay. We have plenty of room in the main house too for that matter.”

  Cole propped his hat on his head. “Guess I’d better get the bunk house fit for company just in case.”

  When Cole was gone, Libby said, “I can’t believe you called your brothers to come down here to help me.”

  Jackson shrugged. “They offered and I wasn’t going to say no. It’s just how they are. Besides, they want to meet the girl I want to marry.”

  “You…you told them you want to marry me?”

  “Yeah.”

  “But you haven’t even asked me yet.”

  “First I had to get you to stop telling me to leave.”

  She covered her mouth with her hand and laughed. “I’m so glad you didn’t.”

  “I love you Libby Calvert. I’m incredibly and helplessly in love with you. There was no way I was leaving Liberty until you knew that.”

  * * *

  Libby couldn’t believe her eyes. How could a day have started so wrong and ended up so right. Her ranch was a mess. But the man she loved more than anything in the world had just said he wanted to marry her.

  She took a step closer and Jackson opened his arms, wrapping them around her and enveloping her in the warmth and comfort she’d craved.

  “I love you too, Jackson. I’m just afraid.”

  “There’s no need to be afraid. You’re not alone. You’ll never be alone.”

  “I don’t mean that. You say you love me. I believe that you do. But that’s not enough. You know as well as I do that people can love each other deeply and still be torn apart by…circumstance.”

  “Children?”

  “Not having children.”

  “We can have children, Libby. It’s just going to be a little harder than it is for most. Modern medicine has advanced some over the years. Now women in their late forties and fifties are even having kids.”

  “It won’t be the same. Not for me.”

  “No, but we can do what we can do.”

  “What if I can’t have children? What then?”

  “We cross that bridge when we get to it. There are so many kids in this world who need a home. We can give them that. Hell, we might do that anyway just to fill up this house.”

  She shook her head. “You say that now.”

  “I’m afraid too. I’m afraid that if you don’t kiss me now you’ll slip through my arms and I’ll lose you to your fears.”

  He kissed her then and it amazed her how good and how right it felt to be in Jackson’s arms.

  “You think too much, too,” he said. “I have a feeling we’ll find a way to fill this house with a whole brood of Gentry kids. A new generation right here in Liberty.”

  “This ranch is nothing like your family ranch up in Steerage Rock.”

  “Well, that ranch doesn’t have something this ranch has.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You. You make it more than worth it for me to stay, Libby. I know how much this ranch means to you. Together we can make it something special again. That is if you’ll have me.”

  She lifted an eyebrow. “Have you?”

  “Marry me, Libby. I’ll never leave Liberty again. Not unless you’re coming with me.”

  “Of course, I’ll marry you, Jackson.”

  She was back in his ar
ms in an instance. There had never been a time since her childhood innocence was shattered that she’d felt this loved or this much at peace. Jackson loved her. All of her. Their life together was an empty page waiting to be written their way. She couldn’t wait.

  The End

  Dear Reader:

  Thank you so much for reading LEAVING LIBERTY. I’ve loved writing the Texas Hearts series and loved the response from readers. If you haven’t read all five books, make sure you check out, HER HEART FOR THE ASKING, HIS HEART FOR THE TRUSTING, THE MORE I SEE, and GYPSY HEARTS. Look for more Texas Hearts Romances in the future.

  In the meantime, check out my new Dakota Hearts series and all my other books at http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com. Make sure you sign up for my newsletter to get up to date information on book releases.

  For a complete list of all my books, please visit my Amazon Author Central Page: http://amzn.to/1rwepit

  All my best,

  Lisa

  Ebooks by Lisa Mondello

  Texas Hearts Series (Contemporary Western Romance)

  Her Heart for the Asking - book 1

  His Heart for the Trusting - book 2

  The More I See - book 3

  Gypsy Hearts - book 4

  Leaving Liberty – book 5 (To be released in 2014)

  Texas Hearts Box Set (Books 1-3)

  Fate with a Helping Hand Series (Contemporary Romance)

  All I Want for Christmas is You - book 1

  The Marriage Contract – book 2

  The Knight and Maggie’s Baby – book 3

  Dakota Hearts (Western Romance)

  Her Dakota Man

  Badland Bride

  Dakota Heat

  Wild Dakota Heart

  His Dakota Bride

  Material Witness - book 1 (**Named one of Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2012)

  Nothing But Trouble (Contemporary Western Romance)

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  HER DAKOTA MAN (book 1 of Dakota Hearts) by Lisa Mondello

  She needed to risk the truth to get a second chance…

  Poppy Ericksen had spent the year wondering how all their lives might have been different after hearing the deathbed confession of her childhood friend. She’d left South Dakota years ago because she couldn’t bear to watch the man she loved loving another woman. But now she knows the truth. She’ll keep the promise she made to a friend, but will Logan understand when he learns the truth? More important, can they again recapture the passion that had been between them all those years ago?

  He needed to face the past… to get the love of a woman he thought he’d lost.

  Everyone knows that the Dakotas didn’t get the name Badlands for nothing. Harsh weather and rough living are a way of life. But single dad, Logan McKinnon, had seen more than his share of bad times after the death of his wife a year ago. The last thing he needs is Poppy Ericksen, an old flame and his late wife’s best friend, showing up unannounced to help after devastating floods nearly washed away their hometown. With no place to stay in town, he has no choice but to offer her a bed at his house. But can he live under the same roof with a woman he’d once loved passionately without feeling he’s betraying his late wife?

  Chapter One

  One look on Logan McKinnon’s face told Poppy that his foul mood had very little to do with the devastating destruction all around the Badlands of South Dakota…and everything to do with her showing up in town after nearly ten years.

  She didn’t have to be standing next to him to feel his anger simmering just below the surface of his composure. Sitting in her rental sedan was close enough. What the hell was she thinking coming back home? Why had she made that ridiculous promise to Kelly?

  She parked the car next to his truck and took a deep breath, mumbling under her breath as she pulled the door handle, “This may just turn out to be the stupidest thing you have ever done, girl.”

  Truth was, even as pissed off as Logan looked, he was still an amazing sight to see. Part of her had hoped that she was wrong. That she’d gotten over him a long time ago. That she’d take one look at him, make sure he and Keith were okay, and be able to get back in her car and drive right to the airport in Rapids City.

  He turned to her, standing tall and proud. His thick dark hair blew in the March wind, fluttering around his face and making him all the more strikingly handsome.

  Yep. Stupid.

  He was taller than she’d remembered, and he’d long since lost that too-lean teenage body that had driven her crazy in her youth. He worked hard on his ranch and it showed in how much his arms and chest had filled with muscles.

  Despite the cold, he’d taken off his jacket while he worked in the yard and Poppy had a clear view of just how much his male body had filled out in places she’d dreamed of touching.

  Lord, help her. She was in trouble. And she hadn’t even stepped out of the car yet. She pushed the door open and stepped outside to get it over with. It was either going to be the shortest visit on record…or the life changing experience she’d been dreaming of ever since she was a teenager.

  “Hi, Logan.”

  Logan starred at her for a long, agonizing moment. She read the emotional tug of war playing on his face as the sudden chill from the South Dakota winds bit into her exposed skin like a whipping.

  Then his expression turned hard. “What are you doing here?”

  He must have heard the car drive up. But Logan’s four-year-old son, Keith, remained so focused on the mud puddle he was poking a stick into to even notice anyone was around. That was good. The next few minutes would go easier for both of them if Keith weren’t aware of the tension.

  Logan stared at her as if he’d been startled. Or maybe too focused on making sure his son was safely playing nearby to notice her car had driven up.

  Or perhaps he’d been too pre-occupied with assessing the damage the recent angry South Dakota weather had done to his property. Poppy had seen just how Mother Nature had shown no mercy to her childhood town as she drove from the airport to the ranch. She couldn’t exactly blame Logan for being in a foul mood because of that.

  Seeing her was just the icing on the cake.

  “What the hell are you doing here, Poppy?” he repeated.

  She took in a deep breath, smelled the muddy earth and decay all around her, and said, “I came to help.”

  He took one long look at her, from her high-heeled boots, up the length of her legs, pausing at her hips. She could almost feel his eyes as if he were staring at the flesh beneath her fresh pair of blue jeans. When his gaze finally reached her face again, she slid her sunglasses to the tip of her nose and stared right back at him in challenge. A slow smile played on her lips. She could never last as long at this as Logan before caving into laughter. But she knew Logan was in no laughing mood.

  “Poppy Ericksen. Rudolph was practically washed off the map from all that rain we had. After all this time, what makes you think I need anything from you?”

  Even though his voice was even, she could tell he was still pissed. But he’d never show it. Keith was still poking at the mud and puddles on the driveway just a little ways away, completely unaware of present company.

  “What’s the matter, Logan? You don’t look happy to see me,” Poppy said, pulling her sunglasses off her face with a wary smile.

  A big splash had them both quickly looking over at Keith, who’d apparently gotten sick of the noise the stick in water was making and had graduated to a rock in favor of something more dramatic. Even though Logan had outfitted his boy in a heavy jacket and rubber boots, Keith still managed to find every puddle in the yard. What was left of it. Yeah, this kid was a McKinnon through and through.

  Turning back to Logan, she caught a fleeting smile aimed at his son before he brought his attention back to her.

  As if just noticing a car had driven into the driveway, Keith paused just before testing another puddle and called over to his father, “Who's that, Daddy?”


  Poppy's face brightened with Keith’s attention. “Hey, little big man! Remember me? Auntie Poppy?”

  Keith gave a quick glance to Logan and then ran over to him, offering up his dirt-covered arms. Logan picked up his son without hesitation.

  Logan's jaw tightened as he glared at Poppy. “What did you expect? He doesn't even know you.”

  Poppy's smile faltered. “Well, of course he doesn’t know me to see me. But we talk on the phone all the time.”

  Logan’s brow knit tight. “You talk… When?”

  “Just about every day when he's at your Mom's house. Don’t we, Keith? I’m mommy’s friend from New York.”

  Keith smiled with sudden recognition. “Auntie Poppy,” he said sweetly.

  “That’s right.”

  Irritation replaced the angry look. Apparently Kate McKinnon never told her son that Keith had a phone friend. Why, she didn’t know. But Kate McKinnon always had a reason for what she did.

  “Mom didn’t say anything about it.”

  Poppy shrugged. “It wasn’t a secret. I’m sure it just slipped her mind.”

  “Every week?”

  Their gazes locked for a brief moment, but the connection was cut short as Keith wiggled in Logan’s arms, a signal he wanted to get down.

  “Hey, little man,” Logan said, gently putting Keith back on the ground. “I need a big job done. Can you help me out?”

  “I can give you big help,” Keith said, jumping up and down.

  “I know you can. You're the best.” Logan pointed to a small pile of twigs a few yards down the driveway. “We're going to do some burning a little later and I'm going to need those little twigs put in that wheelbarrow over there. Can you do that big job for me?”

  “I can pick up the big sticks.” Keith stretched his little arms wide and lifted on his toes for added emphasis.

  Logan laughed. “I know you can. But I don't need the big ones. Just the little twigs. Can you do that big job for me while I talk for a bit?”

  “Okay, Daddy.” Keith ran off and quickly moved into task as Logan turned his attention back to Poppy.

  “He's doing good,” Poppy said quietly. “Getting big.”

  “We're managing. You didn't answer my question.”