Taken Bride (The Secret Bride 3)

“It’s beautiful,” I add. “It really feels like a home.”

Violet nods, walks up to Isaac, and takes his hand in hers. “Isaac helped us fix it up. We even have a well now with the freshest mountain water!”

Holly walks over to a pitcher of this water and pours us some glasses. “We couldn’t have done this without him.”

Isaac pulls his hand out of Violet’s but replaces it by arranging his arm over her shoulders in a possessive embrace. I notice how Violet’s cheeks pinken as he does so, and her smile beams even brighter. “I’m not taking any of the credit. These ladies know how to work hard. Once Violet’s leg healed, she was up and at ’em like a tornado. I couldn’t keep her down.”

My heart warms as I watch Violet press her body to Isaac’s. Holly doesn’t seem to notice or care, which tells me this act is part of their normal day. Something has happened—a connection and closeness between Isaac and Violet—and I can’t wait to get Violet alone so I can hear all about it.

We all settle in around the table and have small talk at first, but then it’s Holly who finally says what we have all been waiting to discuss. “I can’t believe they found both of them guilty. It almost seemed too easy.”

“This nightmare is over,” Christopher inserts. He reaches under the table, puts his hand on my thigh, and squeezes. “It hasn’t been easy and nearly broke us at times. But it’s finally over.”

“It almost doesn’t seem real sometimes,” Violet adds. “I still keep expecting Scarecrow to walk through that door at any moment, demanding his supper.”

I watch Isaac place his hand over hers and pat reassuringly. The brief moment of sadness that washed over her face vanishes the minute he touches her. All I see is pure happiness and bliss. I’ve never seen Violet look so alive.

“We can move on with our lives now,” I say, happy that the trial is finally over.

Though our bulldog of a lawyer managed to shield us from a lot of the media madness, it still was a lot to take. Our privacy, however, remained intact, and our home is still our secret. It’s pretty obvious that the townsfolk know who we are now if they didn’t already, but they don’t bother us about it. And with time, I’m sure they will move on to another’s gossip. But we’ve started to make friends and settle in. Roots are growing, and I actually use the term “home” and mean it when I say it.

“Violet,” I say, standing from the table. “Why don’t you and I go get some firewood.” I look to the full stack by the fireplace and smile. “For memory’s sake.”

Violet hops out of her chair and readily follows me. When we shut the door behind us and head to the barn, I get straight to the point.

“What’s going on between you and Isaac?”

Violet blushes and looks down at her feet. “I like him. I like him a lot.”

“It appears he feels the same way.”

Her eyes dart up at me. “Really? You think so?”

I nod and smile. “I do. It’s pretty obvious there is something there between you two.”

“He took such good care of me when my leg was broken. Holly and I couldn’t have survived without him. He’s such a good man.”

I gather an armful of wood and head back to the chapel. “He truly is. I owe him everything.”

Violet reaches for some of the wood in my arms to lessen the load. “I know I wouldn’t be here with my second chance at life if it weren’t for him.”

I pause before the door and turn to her. “Then take hold of what makes you happy. You deserve it. If Isaac is who you want, then grab on and never let go.”

“I will,” Violet promises. “I know what a gift I have now that I get to live life… and be happy. I won’t throw it away ever again.”

We both enter the chapel as if nothing of importance was discussed and easily join the group conversation as if we hadn’t even left.

“Are you all still happy living up here?” Christopher asks, although we both already know the answer to that question. We can see it in how they look and how much work has already been done to the chapel. “My offer is still on the table to move you wherever you want. Pinesville is a great mountain town that Ember and I love calling home. You could join us there.”

Violet’s eyes dart to Isaac and then to Holly. “We’ve never been happier.”

“Yes,” Holly says. “We appreciate your offer, but we’re really turning this place into our home.”

Isaac chimes in with a proud sparkle in his eyes. “I’ve managed to purchase the property the chapel sits on. It connects to my own land, and so it was easy to just expand.”