“But…” Her mind whirled. “What about Mrs. Decker?”

Pushing his hat to the back of his head, he frowned. “What about her?”

“She’s the one you want.” It hurt her to say it, but it was true. “She’s the one you were meant to marry. The one you love.”

“The one I…” Chase shook his head. “She and I had an arrangement. That’s all. Just like you and Garvey.”

Emily gaped at him. “You…you don’t have to lie.” God knows, he owed her nothing, not even consideration of her feelings. “I saw the two of you in town. I saw her in your arms.”

He frowned as if trying to remember. “What you saw was me tryin’ to comfort her. Her son had run off, and cattle were about to storm the town.” He took two steps closer. “Emily, don’t you know? You’re the only one I love. The only one I’ve ever loved.”

She swallowed hard. Please don’t let my mind be playing tricks on me. “But…I heard you. That day in the stables. I heard you arrange to meet her in town. You said you’d make things right. Don’t deny it.”

“I don’t know what you heard, but the only time I arranged to meet Cassie in town was to give her a check for her weddin’ expenses. Didn’t seem fair that she had to pay for her hotel room or weddin’ dress.”

She stared up at him. “That’s it?”

He lifted his shoulders. “That’s it.”

“But what about all those trips to town every Friday?”

“That’s when I do the banking, order supplies, and take care of other business.” He angled his head. “You mean you thought I was with Cassie?”

“What else could I think?”

He lifted his eyebrows. “What else? What do I have to do to prove that you’re the only one for me?”

“Do…do you mean it?”

He shook his head. “After the night we spent together, how can you ask that of me?”

“How?” she asked in disbelief. “You told me to leave. You arranged for an annulment.”

He splayed his hands. “I thought that’s what you wanted.” He took a step closer. “After Fred and Mrs. Riley attacked you, I didn’t want you to go through anythin’ like that again.” He moved closer still. “I don’t know if I can protect you. Folks around here are pretty riled up.”

“I just want you to love me. As…as I love you. That’s all the protection I need.”

“Don’t you know?. Without you, the ranch means nothin’. Without you, life means nothin’. In the short time I’ve known you, you’ve become my world. My reason for livin’. My everythin’.”

She gazed deep into his eyes. At times, she had trouble understanding him, but not tonight. Tonight, his words burrowed deep inside, pulling all the pieces of her broken heart together into one and making her feel whole again. They stared at each other for a moment before they fell into each other’s arms. Secure in his warm embrace, she looked up at him, and the tenderness in his eyes made her feel more loved and wanted than she’d ever felt in her life.