Page 23 of Mystery at Rescue Ridge (Rescue Ridge #5)

For a half-second, Owen expected Beau to be next. It almost seemed natural for him to show up with the others at this point. Owen’s disappointment meant he was beginning to accept Beau as part of the family and not see their half-sibling as an outsider.

Chloe shook her finger at him before throwing her arms around him in a hug. “You should have told us what was going on. I shouldn’t have to hear details about my brother from my husband.”

“You’re right,” he said as she released him and then the others took turns embracing him in a bear hug.

“Don’t let it happen again,” Kade said.

When it was Archer’s turn, Owen had to cough to cover his emotions.

“Man, you know I wouldn’t survive a day without my twin.” Archer turned his face away and coughed, no doubt trying to hide his reaction.

“I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.” Owen bear hugged his twin a second time. “You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”

Archer chuckled, breaking up some of the tension.

“You’re still not off the hook,” Chloe said. “But right now I’m just happy that you’re okay.”

Owen nodded. He appreciated the love and support more than his family would ever know. There were two things that could make this moment perfect. Having his half-sibling present, for one. The second had to do with Evie.

“How is she?” Archer asked, studying Owen.

He shrugged. “Still waiting for the doc’s word.”

The door opened, causing everyone’s attention to shift to the man in the white coat as he exited.

“Ms. Ashworth is going to be fine,” Dr. Warren said after introducing himself. “She’s resting now but you’re welcome to go into the room to wait for her to wake up. One at a time for right now.”

“Thank you,” Owen said before shifting his attention to his siblings.

“Go,” Archer said without hesitation. “We just stopped by to tell you how much we love you.”

After a quick nod, Owen gave each a final hug before stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.

Evie came to in the hospital. She scanned the room as fear gripped her. The last thing she remembered was Lawrence grabbing her hair from above and then an exchange that ended with her losing consciousness. She’d been in the woods.

“Hey,” Owen said as her gaze landed on him. He was on his side on a foldout bed underneath the window. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and then moved beside her.

The second he took her hand, warmth replaced panic.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Lawrence was arrested in the woods in back of Ms. Bart’s property.” His thumb moved in small circles in her palm.

“The barn.” Memories came back, flooding her, causing her brain to cramp. “Ms. Bart.” She brought her free hand up to cover a gasp. “The children.”

“Everyone is fine.” His reassurance meant the world to her.

“Thank heaven.” She studied him. “No, thank you.”

“You would do the same for me.”

Because I love you.

Those words couldn’t feel more natural to her. A niggling voice in the back of her mind pushed her to tell him how she felt. Lay her cards on the line. What did she have to lose?

Him. Forever this time?

She’d lost him once, and she would lose him again to someone else if she didn’t at least take the chance.

“I have something to confess,” she said to him.

“First, do you remember anything else from last night?” The way he looked at her caught her off guard. A mix of insecurity and uncertainty flashed behind his eyes.

“No.”

He frowned.

“Not a thing?” he asked.

“I’m sorry, Owen. What is it that I’m supposed to remember?” Panic struck. “Lawrence was caught, right?”

“Yes. He confessed to everything in front of Travis.” Owen’s eyebrows knitted together in concern. “There’s nothing else aside from his arrest?”

She searched her memory but came up empty. “What can I say? I took a hard blow to the head and barely remember seeing you last night.”

“Then, I’ll have to tell you again.”

“Tell me what, Owen?” More of that panic took hold. Was he about to leave town? Was this a final goodbye?

He stroked her hand a few times. The way he looked at her made her realize he had something big to tell her.

“I was too young and na?ve to realize it years ago, but I’ve been in love with you since we were kids.

” He took in a breath as shock took hold of her.

“These last few days have helped me realize how much losing you again would crush me. And I don’t mean hurt-my-feelings-until-I-meet-someone-else, crush me.

I’m talking about the kind of soul-crushing hit you take when you lose your soulmate.

” He stopped long enough to check for a reaction.

“Go on,” was all she could manage to say.

“The reason I haven’t dated in longer than I care to admit is because no one else can compare to you.

I let you walk out of my life a long time ago, Evie.

That has been my biggest regret. I now realize that I didn’t want to have kids because it meant not having kids with you.

And it’s taken me too long to face my feelings, let alone admit them, because somewhere in the back of my mind, I was afraid I would lose you anyway—and then I did.

These past years without you have been empty in ways I couldn’t fathom or explain.

And, honestly, I don’t think I’d survive losing you a second time.

So, my heart belongs to you and no one else, Evie.

It will never belong to anyone else, because you’re my person, my love, my soulmate.

And I’m head over heels in love with you. ”

Evie opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

So, she tugged his hand to move him closer to her.

He brought her into an embrace. Tilting her mouth next to his ear, she said, “It’s always been you, Owen.

I will love you ’til the day I die. And, one day, when it’s right, I’m going to ask you to marry me. ”

“What’s stopping you from asking now?” he asked with a lightness in his voice that made the timbre even sexier.

“Nothing.”

Evie brought her hands to his shoulders to anchor herself. She locked onto his gaze and saw more love and acceptance there than she’d ever experienced. They were more than two peas in a pod. They were each other’s forever person. She’d never been more certain of anything in her life.

“Owen Sturgess, will do me the great honor of marrying me?”

A slow smile spread across straight, white teeth. Her stomach free-fell. If she were standing, she’d be walking on Jell-O legs.

“I thought you’d never ask,” he said before planting a kiss on her lips so tender that it robbed her of breath. “Yes.” He feathered a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Yes.” He brushed his full lips against the base of her neck. “A thousand times, yes.”

In his arms, she’d finally found the one place she would always belong, no matter where in the world they lived. She’d found home.