Authors: Jill Lynn

Her Texas Family (19 page)

His brow furrowed. “I'm sorry if you were wallowing because of me. I'm sorry I didn't talk to the Wellings earlier, that I didn't fight for you. For us. Although, I'm not sure that conversation would have gone so well without an extreme amount of prayer. I'm still in shock that it did. Isn't it funny how we ask God for something and then we're surprised when He answers us?”

Recognition of that truth settled in her soul. “I do that all the time.” This. This was why she needed to ask God to handle things instead of trying to do everything on her own. She'd wanted this, but God had made this happen. Not her. She'd always thought she had to do everything on her own. But when that got stripped away from her, she'd found the God she'd been missing. The one who didn't need her to be in charge. The one who, turned out, already had everything under control.

Graham continued to mess with all of the stuff connected to her. Removed her IV.

“Don't I need that?”

“Nope. You're not even getting medicine through it anymore.”

“Then why am I here?”

“You won't be for long.”

Suddenly she was being lifted from the bed. Graham was cradling her, carrying her out of the ER.

“Tight security around here. I'm being abducted and no one even blinks.”

“I don't think anyone would be upset to find out your future husbandâwho's a doctorâis taking you. Plus...” His grin turned sheepish. “I checked with the doctor before I came in to see you and got all of your paperwork. You're fine. And I already got you an EpiPen.”

Of course he had.

Did he just say
future husband
?

Giddiness threaded through her. “Who says I'm marrying you?”

“I do.”

Her arms were wrapped around his neck, and Lucy had to admit, she was enjoying the ride. “You'd better check your sources. Last I heard, a man usually asks a woman to marry him. He doesn't demand it caveman style. What makes you think I'm going to marry you, anyway?”

“This.” He slid her down until her feet touched the ground, one hand holding her against him, one wrapped into her hair. He kissed her until she could hardly stand before pulling back. “And the fact that I love you and you love me, and when you're done being snarky, you're going to admit it.”

“Oh.” Her voice was as wobbly as her legs. She slipped her hands behind his neck, pulling him down for another kiss. “I do love you. You're easy to love.”

Too soon, he inched back again, sliding his hands to her shoulders. His evergreen eyes were filled with so much love she considered heading back to her hospital bed for a hit of oxygen.

“Lucy, will you marry me and Mattie? We have this big hole that only you can fill. We need you.”

Her stupid eyes were leaking. “I knew you were for me. I just didn't know if I was going to get to keep you.”

“Keep me. Please. I'm a mess without you.”

“Yes.” She touched his face, wondering over the fact that she was being proposed to in a hospital hallway and she couldn't envision a more romantic scenario. “I'd wanted to fix this. To make sure the Wellings' relationship was back on track with Mattie. But you and God fixed it instead of me.”

“God gets all the credit. There's no other explanation for how that conversation went so well.” His hands slid down her arms, warmth seeping through her long-sleeved T-shirt. “And I thought I had to save everyone, that everything rested on my shoulders. But then you came along and saved me and Mattie when we didn't even know we needed it.”

“My heart is beating all wild again.”

He scooped her back into his arms. “It's because you love me. But just to be safe, I'd better carry you out of here.”

Lucy looked up at the man she wanted for forever and let go of a contented sigh.

Being rescued wasn't such a bad thing after all.

Epilogue

T
hree weeks later, Lucy met Graham and Mattie at the bottom of her apartment steps. Since little eyes were watching, Lucy's first instinctâjumping into Graham's armsâwas a no go. Instead, she settled for a nice long hug from each of them.

“So, Mattie Grace, where are we going?”

Mattie shook her head, eyes sparkling behind her red glasses. “Dad says we can't tell.”

Graham held out his hand. “I need your car keys.”

“What? Why?”

“Because my car is washed, and yours isn't.”

“I think I'm offended, but I'll forgive you if you tell me where we're going.”

His mouth curved. “Duchess, I already told youâyou're on a need-to-know basis.”

“But I need to know!”

He put his hands on her shoulders and directed her to the passenger seat of her car. “Get in. We have to do something.” He started backing out of her door, then popped back in to place a kiss on her cheek. “Close your eyes.” His whisper made her skin tingle.

“Fine.” She complied, unable to keep the smile from her face. Graham had told her casualâthat was all she knewâso she'd paired black skinny jeans with a flowy white shirt and pink Chucks. She heard the trunk open and a bunch of scrambling, some finagling of what she assumed was a car seat going into the back. After a minute, the car door shut.

“Okay, you can open them now.” Graham grinned at Mattie in the rearview mirror and started the car. The two of them were dressed casually, like herâMattie in a yellow sundress and boots, and Graham in jeans and a button-up shirt. Lucy's curiosity hovered near boiling. Where could they be headed?

He drove out of town, and she somehow resisted asking questions. Finally, they reached a turnoff. Gorgeous bluebonnets stretched before them, and white and yellow flowers also speckled the roadside and fields. Lucy agreed with Mattie's excitement coming from the backseat. It was unlike anything she'd ever seen before.

“This is a good surprise.” She shared a smile with Graham.

“It's going to getâ”

“Hey!” Graham cut off Mattie's next words, and she giggled from the backseat.

After a few minutes driving slowly along with other cars looking at the wildflowers, Graham signaled and turned onto a small dirt road, driving the car around a patch of trees and then parking.

“This doesn't look like a well-worn path. Are we trespassing or something?” So not something Graham would do, but none of the other cars had turned.

Graham laughed. “We're good. I have my sources. And patients.”

“And your patients let you tromp around on their land?”

“Yep. Come on.” He hopped out, and Lucy followed him and a bouncing Mattie to the trunk. They opened it, revealing a picnic spread. A brown basket brimming with fruit, cheese, meat and crackers. A cooler filled with drinks. Graham grabbed a plaid blanket and spread it out, the amazing flowers a backdrop all around them.

In the past three weeks, Graham and Lucy had gone on a few dates by themselves, and although those dates had been niceâokay, they'd been wonderful and Olivia had been teasing Lucy about walking around wearing a silly grinâthis one was equally great in a whole different way. This felt like a glimpse of what was to come. In between bites of food, Mattie ran around in the field, looking like a wild flower child. She'd blossomed so much in a short amount of time. It was as if she finally knew she was safeâthat all of her people were getting along.

Lucy had also made progress with the Wellings over the past few weeks. Their interactions weren't perfect, but they were all making an effort. And Lucy knew the chance to be with Graham and Mattie was worth the extra work she would continue to put forth with the couple.

After they ate, Graham stood and held out his hand to her. “Should we take a walk?”

“Sure.” They took the dirt pathâonly two tire tracks cutting through the field popping with color.

“I have something to show you.” Graham twined his fingers with hers, touching the gorgeous engagement ring he'd given her a few days after proposing at the hospital. She'd always known the man had good taste.

They rounded the bend and a beautiful dark wood barn came into view. What was going on?

Mattie ran up ahead, then came flying back to them, excitement evident.

Graham squeezed Lucy's hand. “So, what do you think?”

She scanned the landscape. A gorgeous barn in the middle of a field of wildflowers. She didn't quite know how to answer his question.

“It's beautiful.”

“It's being remodeled into a place to hold weddings.”

Oh.
Now she liked it even better.

“I've seen the plans for the inside, and it's going to be amazing. I'll show them to you and then you can decide.”

“I'd like to see them, but I already know I love it.”

“Are you sure? I know wedding stuff is a big deal.”

“I pretty much just want to have a huge party and invite everyone I know.”

“Why am I not surprised?” A grin claimed his mouth. “We could be the first wedding here.”

“Patient-doctor privilege?”

He nodded.

“Where do we sign up?”

Mattie clapped and spun in circles. “We're going to get married here, and I'm going to have a white dress. Then you'll be ours, Lucy. Daddy told me that's how a wedding works.”

She scooped Mattie into a hug, meeting Graham's gaze over the top of her head. “I'm already yours.” The smile that met hers warmed her from the inside out. “Cover your eyes, Mattie Grace.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to kiss your dad.”

“Eww!” Mattie shoved her hands over her eyes, and Lucy leaned into Graham.

“It's a good thing you asked me to marry you.”

Humor tugged on his lips. “Oh, yeah? Why's that?”

“Because I kind of have a thing for you two.” She kissed him, though not for as long as she would have liked. There would be plenty of time for those kisses in the days, weeks and years to come. She peppered Mattie's cheeks with smooches, and Graham joined in. The girl screamed and tried to squirm away from them, giggling with a belly laugh that made Lucy's heart go gooey.

The Mattie effect was still in full force.

When Lucy let go, Mattie dropped to the ground and ran ahead, still yelling and laughing as if she was being chased.

Graham tugged Lucy against his chest, and she slid her arms around his waist. When Mattie disappeared around the bend in front of them, his lips found the sensitive spot just under her ear. Turned out that whole patience thing wasn't really her gig. “I think finding the perfect place to have our wedding deserves a real kiss. Am I right?”

Strong arms tightened around her, his curved mouth hovering over hers. “Always.”

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from
AN AMISH MATCH
by Jo Ann Brown.

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Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed Graham and Lucy's story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Many years ago I moved to live with my sister in Colorado. I didn't think of that as the catalyst for this book, but now I wonder if that's where the idea sprouted from. I only knew once Lucy appeared in
Falling for Texas
she simply
had
to have her own book. I love the difference between Graham's and Lucy's personalities and how they end up complementing each other. In my opinion, they were the perfect mismatch. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to write about them!

Like Lucy, I often fail at asking for help. I fall into the trap of attempting to fix everything on my own before realizing, once again, that God's solution is so much better than mine. I've seen beautiful things come from relationships where people are strong enough to ask for help. I'm a work in progress in this area, thankful for a heavenly Father who loves each of us just as we are.

I love to connect with readers. Find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and at Jill-Lynn.com. And if you enjoyed
Her Texas Family
and would consider writing a quick review, I'd be very grateful.

Blessings,

Jill Lynn