Nodding against his shoulder, she gave a tearful laugh. “I wasn’t leaving, Sloan. I couldn’t bear to, even knowing you could never love me. I had already decided to return home before you came. Evan had just offered to escort me when you hit him.”

“I went crazy when I saw you kiss him.”

“It was only gratitude.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely sure.”

He seemed to relax, but then he drew back to stare at her, his look intense. “Heather, Wolf gave me part of his gold mine—Doe’s share, he said. I swallowed my pride and took it, mainly for Janna’s sake. The money will let me rebuild the ranch, but if you’d rather live here in Denver, or even St. Louis…”

“But the Bar M is your home. You love it there.”

“I don’t want to live there without you to share it with me.”

She gave a tremulous smile. It warmed her to think Sloan would sacrifice his beloved ranch for her, but she didn’t want him to.

“Sloan, I love it there, too. The Bar M is my home now. I don’t want to leave it, as long as you’re there.”

His blue eyes filled with emotion so fierce it robbed her of breath and heartbeat.

“Sloan… I want to go home,” Heather murmured. “Please, take me home.”

He smiled at her, this tough, tender man who had captured her heart so completely—a smile so brilliant it shamed the sun.

“God, yes, let’s go home.”

She rode before him on his horse because Sloan couldn’t bear to let her out of his arms. They left Heather’s baggage for the hotel to see returned, and set out for home, lost in their own private lovers’ world … murmuring to each other, questioning thoughts, sharing feelings, exploring the tender, fragile dimensions of their love.

There were things that needed to be said, hurt that needed to be acknowledged and banished forever. Promises to be made and kept.

They spoke of the future: of the ranch’s deliverance from debt, as well as plans for their daughter and their hope for other children. They spoke of the past: Sloan’s pain at losing Doe, and of his release, like the lancing of a festered wound.

“I know how much you loved her,” Heather offered, hearing the wistful sadness in his voice.

“Yes, but it doesn’t hurt as much now,” he admitted. “I’ll always cherish her memory, always grieve a little for her, but the pain of losing her is gone. Because of you.” Tenderly, his lips brushed the nape of her neck beneath her bonnet. “You fill the emptiness inside me, Heather.”

Shutting her eyes, she leaned back against him, cherishing his admission and the feel of his arms around her. This was happiness, she thought.