A Ransomed Heart (24 page)

Staring down at the front
of the envelope, she saw her name there black against the white parchment. When she regained feeling in her hands, she fumbled with the seal and then pulled out a single piece of paper. It was Mr. Sevier’s will.  The date was the same day she had been scheduled to arrive, the day she met Logan, the day her life had changed. Then in a beautiful scrawling hand she read:

I, Robert
Mark Sevier, hereby will all my life savings, my home, my ranch, my business to Annabelle Casey. Upon my death she will be the sole inheritor of all that belongs to me.

Signed
,

Robert Mark
Sevier

Without letting it settle into her brain
, she handed it to Logan. He merely stared at the page and the two lines of text. He was confused for a moment and then he laughed. Mr. Sevier had been so confident in his plan that he knew for a certainty Annabelle Casey would be his. Even as he left his home this morning he thought he would be victorious. Handing it over to the waiting hands of her brother, he watched as the gravity of the document settled upon both of them. In the end they had all accomplished what they had set out to do.

Annabelle threw
her arms around her brother, hugging him tightly to her. They were saved; their family would want for nothing now, all the struggling and pain and loss they had felt was redeemed, and she had done it, she had saved them. Jace squeezed her back, knowing all of that also. She pulled back and then turned to Logan. Tears had clouded her eyes and she felt him wrap his arms around her waist. He kissed her gently on the mouth and then looked at her lovingly.

“Well
, my Bella, it seems to me you are truly a lucky charm.” He gathered her tighter in his arms. There was time now. The sun was finding its way to the waiting mountains stretched out in front of them. Within a few days they would be home, and the little town of Hope would be full of joyful celebration. Annabelle rested her head on Logan’s chest and took a deep breath. He rested his chin on her head and she could feel his breath as it ruffled her curls, and she knew then that sometimes dreams really do come true.

Hope had grown
, the little houses reaching far above the ridge line. Main Street was dotted with stores and a new school was being built just north of the Bailey’s big red barn.  Annabelle sat on the porch with Singing Bird, her two children, and Annabelle’s mother who was rocking the baby.  These two sweet women were frequent visitors now, along with her father and brothers who had settled nearby. Summer was nearly upon them and Annabelle couldn’t help but breathe in the sweet fresh air. On the crest of a ridge there rose a commotion. Little Bear, and her brothers, Jace and Peter, could be seen bringing in a herd of cattle. She strained to see the familiar black hat her husband wore. The boys managed to get the animals through the gate and Jace jumped down, locking the latch behind the men. Mama Kittlinger came out of the house with a large platter laden with sweet tea and mutton sandwiches.

With the sun settling in the west, Logan
finally rode over the ridge and into view. Annabelle’s heart fluttered in her breast. Even after five years she still loved watching him ride into town. His faded blue bandana was tied around his neck, and slung across the front of his saddle was a little calf. From behind her Annabelle heard the patter of little feet. Kara, a blond-haired, blue-eyed little girl with ringlets hanging down her back, dashed off the porch and across the lawn.

“Daddy
, Daddy!” she squealed, her three-year old legs carrying her as fast as they could.

Logan placed the calf in the pasture with its mother
, and then scooped his daughter up into his arms.  She patted his face with her little hands.

“Daddy
, you pokey!” She giggled as he rubbed his stubble against her face. “Mommy! Help, Mommy, he getting me.”

Logan took two big steps onto the porch and wrapped his free arm around Annabelle. He smelled like sagebrush and peppermint and Annabelle
was filled with love. She had missed him terribly, but he was home now. Kara wiggled down, finding her way to her uncles. Logan wrapped Annabelle up in both arms. His face was streaked with dust but his blue eyes glittered in the sun.

“I missed you
, Bella.” He breathed as he kissed her gently on the lips.

Annabelle gave him a knowing smile. “I missed you too
babe.”

The other men gathered
nearby eating the meal Mama had provided and Annabelle felt her heart soar. She loved having all her family by her in their little town of Hope, well almost all her family. For a moment she felt sad that Kit had left them to become a US Marshal, but she knew he was happy doing something he loved. Plus he had promised to visit soon, something that Kara was very much looking forward too. She smiled up at her husband. “I think I’m going to need to find a way to keep you here with me for a while.” He had been so busy it hardly seemed like she saw him anymore. It wasn’t a bad thing because they were building their dream together, but she did like having him around more.

He smiled at her. “What did you have in mind
, Mrs. Bailey?”

“I don’t know, maybe I could handcuff you. Maybe to the rocking
chair or the table…”

“Or the headboard?”
he offered.

She gasped in mock surprise then wrapped her arms around h
is neck. “You’re a beast!” Then she batted her eyelashes at him. “Make no mistake, Logan, when a woman is desperate she will do just about anything to get what she wants.”

He growled and then
covered her lips with his, giving her a taste of just how much he planned on loving her.

The End

Watch for the release of
the second book in

The Heart Collection: 
A Runaway Heart

I would love for you to leave me a review
on Amazon with your opinion of this book.

A Runaway Heart
– Coming Soon

The next
book in the ‘Heart Collection’ by Alex Taylor Wolfe.

Macey Waters ran away, but never expected to find herself in so much trouble. Ex-US Marshal Kit finds himself falling in love with a girl he can never
have. The funny thing about hearts though, they have a way of knowing just what they want. 

Sweetwater Springs

In the spring of 1900, Katie O'Hare returns to Sweetwater Springs ten years after being orphaned by a murderous act that left her with nothing but an old pocket watch and scattered memories. Reluctantly she begins to fall for Tyler Reynolds, a rugged young cowboy with a troubled past. As their romance deepens, they find themselves tragically connected to a secret that puts their love and their lives in danger.

When a teaching job brings Katie back to Sweetwater, she is forced to confront the difficult memories of her past. Determined to succeed, she is more than grateful when Tyler offers his comfort and strength allowing her to find happiness again. As her trust in him grows she begins to reveal her painful memories.

Tyler harbors a shameful secret and when an opportunity to protect the beautiful young school teacher presents itself, he jumps at the chance for redemption. With a seemingly unforgivable past and little to offer her, he tries to avoid a serious relationship, but there is something about her he can't resist.

When a birthday gift and an old pocket watch spark a startling confession, the difficult truths of their past and the realization of how closely their lives are intertwined will force them to work together to now survive the one enemy they will face tonight.

Find
Sweetwater Springs on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KYIZ76

Author’s Note

I want to thank my family for being supportive and understanding as I write and work on the stories in my head.

I also have to thank my wonderful husband who pushes me to be more than I think I can be. He has helped me in so many ways and supported me when I needed it the most.

I want to give a good deal of thanks to both Melchelle Designs who designed my beautiful cover, and also Raighne Kotrla for all the hard work in helping me groom my book for publication. I appreciate all their hard work in helping me make A Ransomed Heart available to all of you. 

Lastly I want to thank all of you who have downloaded A Ransomed Heart. Thank you so much for your love and support.

Text copyright © 2013

Alex Taylor Wolfe

All Rights Reserved

Cover design by
MELCHELLE Designs