“So you told me you had married just to hurt me?”
“I... well, I wanted to show you I didn’t care. But I guess I did want to hurt you—to make you suffer as I was suffering—because I thought you didn’t love me.” He tilted her chin and searched her eyes. “Why were you leaving Texas, Angel?”
“Because I couldn’t bear to live with your hate anymore.”
He took her face in his hands. “I love you, Angela.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “Please don’t say that, Bradford. Not unless you mean it.”
He smiled. “I can’t blame you for doubting me. I convinced myself that I hated you, and I guess I convinced you too. But it was only because I loved you so much. I just couldn’t stand it, loving you as much as I do, and not having you love me any longer.”
“I never stopped loving you, Bradford.”
Very gently, he brought her close to him. “It’s not easy for a stubborn fool like me to beg forgiveness. I know I’ve treated you badly. So many things I said and did were calculated to hurt you, to show you that you meant nothing to me. I’ve cursed myself a thousand times for my cruelty. My damnable jealousy has made us both suffer. Can you ever forgive me, Angel? I know I have no right even to ask.”
“I already have,” she answered softly. Her eyes were sparkling.
Bradford picked her up then and kissed her hungrily. “I’ll never mistrust you again, Angela,” he whispered huskily. “I swear it! I know my faults. I know that whenever I see another man looking at you my temper will flare. I can’t help that. But I won’t let it come between us ever again. Oh, Angel, it’s only because I love you so damn much!”
His eyes were a golden brown as he carried her to the bed. He was thinking with pride, this woman’s mine!
The storm continued all through the night, but neither Angela nor Bradford heard it.
Epilogue
ON a glorious winter morning not long after, Angela and Bradford were married in a small Dallas church. Angela’s thoughts were with Jacob. His fondest dream was her own, and their dreams had come true. I have not lost him, Jacob. I have him now and forever. And it was true.
* * *
Version History
1.0—19July2004—Scanned, spell-checked and formatted from paperback edition.