She started crying again, but more softly this time. “I’m the one who’s bad…You saved my life…and I never even thanked you…for rescuing me.”
“Well…” Lance gave her an awkward smile. “Consider it done. And we’ll forget what happened after. All’s forgiven.”
“No…no, it’s not.” She sent a sad look toward her sister. “Summer won’t forgive me. She won’t speak to me any longer.”
“Melly…” Summer began uncomfortably, but Amelia shook her head.
“No, you were right. What I did to Lance…to you, was terrible. You risked your life to come after me…and all I did to repay you was nearly get your husband killed. I’m sorry, Summer…truly. I wasn’t in my right mind.”
Summer couldn’t refuse such a humble, heartfelt apology. Not if Lance was willing to let Amelia off so easily. Her own eyes filling with tears, she went to her sister and put her arms around her. “I know. I’m sorry, too…Melly. I’m sorry for striking you. I had no right.”
“What’s that?” Reed asked.
“Summer hit me…when she found out that I had helped…lure Lance into a trap. But I deserved it,” Amelia added quickly, as if her admission might be construed as an attempt to shift blame.
“No, Melly, you didn’t,” Summer interrupted. “I shouldn’t have hurt you. I would never have, either, if I hadn’t been out of my mind with fear.”
Her sister pulled away, looking at her intently. “I know. But, Summer? You were wrong…about the baby. I wouldn’t cast out an innocent child. I want to be a good aunt to him, Summer. I promise, I’ll be the best aunt a child could ever have.”
“Summer told you?” Lance demanded softly. “About the baby?”
Amelia looked worriedly from one to the other, and stammered, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything, I didn’t know it was a secret—”
“It’s all right, Melly,” Summer soothed. “I told Lance already. Besides”—she forced a small laugh—“we all have too much to be sorry for. I think we should do as he says and consider the past forgotten.”
Amelia sniffed and nodded. After using her handkerchief to mop her swollen eyes, she turned once more to Lance. “I was wrong…to force you out of the house. You can live there…with us…if you want.”
Lance’s mouth curved in a forced smile. “Thank you, Miss Amelia. That’s a mighty fine offer. But I don’t guess I can take you up on it. I won’t be living here, you see.”
The sharp ache that sliced through Summer’s heart could not have hurt worse if Lance had physically struck her. She was certain it showed in her expression. She wanted to cry out, to protest, to issue a desperate denial, a plea for him to give her another chance. But all she could do was stand there dumbly. Her face felt numb, and the dull roaring in her ears nearly drowned out his next words. And even then, it took her a moment to comprehend.
“You see, I won’t be needing a place to live. I plan to build your sister a fine house of her own about a mile from here. Reed’s been working on the plans. This cabin will do fine till then. That is…if Summer’s agreeable.”
With a soft exclamation, she took a faltering step toward him and stopped, afraid to believe what he was saying. His black eyes were watching her, intense yet wary, as if he was still uncertain about lowering his defenses to her. Her knees suddenly felt weak; her heart had leaped into an erratic rhythm.
She was hardly aware when her sister and brother took their leave. She didn’t know what she actually said in farewell; she only knew that she was left alone with Lance, was only aware of the quiet tension in the small bedchamber.
“Did you mean it?” she breathed, her voice a hoarse whisper.
“Mean what?”
“About building our house? Living here with me?”
In answer, he tossed the blanket aside and struggled to swing his legs over the edge of the bed.
“Lance, you shouldn’t get up! You’re hurt!” In an instant Summer had crossed to his side, but she couldn’t m
anage to prevent him from standing up. On the contrary, he grasped her arm and used her to lever himself to his feet, holding on to her tightly to maintain his balance.
“Hush, princess,” he warned as he hauled her close. “You always did baby me too much. A real Comanche warrior would be ashamed to be lying on his back for as long as I’ve been out of commission.”
He kissed her then. His mouth came down on hers with a strength that captured her breath and filled her with hope. She tasted desperate loneliness. And need. And want. All the powerful yearnings that clamored for expression inside her, as well as a determination that settled all the terrible doubts that had tormented her for days.
When, a score of heartbeats later, he raised his head, Summer clung to him weakly for support.
“Say it,” he whispered, his voice as hoarse as hers had been, his ebony eyes kindled with a fierce flame.
She couldn’t possibly misunderstand what he needed to hear. “I love you, Lance. I always will.”