One Week Later...

          The nighttime air was cool against her face as she read by the freshly lit fire. Life was back to normal, Mary thought. The explosion damage did little to the front of her home, but it took out half of her kitchen and most of her back office. All things would need to be replaced like printed paper, books, and notebooks. Luckily, none of the old newspaper clippings her late husband collected were harmed. Construction on her home would start next week once the rain let up, and things would definitely be back to normal.

          Especially her relationship with Chris. After the accident with the Mackey brothers, and her near death experience, he had kept his distance and Mary had no idea why. He saved her life. She felt she had to own him something in return, but he had not been around to let her.

          Granted, she was still feeling ill from the experience and she had not been herself since it happened. She almost died, who wouldn't be feeling sick afterward?

          But Chris saved her life. She would never be able to thank him.

          Mary flipped the newspaper over she received from Buck as a get well present from another town. Since Mary had not been able to continue on her paper for the time being, Buck took the pleasure in still letting Mary do what she loves, and that was terrorize other people's work and their newspapers. But now she was more thankful for something to read since half her books were destroyed in the explosion.

          When she turned the paper over to the front page, she read the big article on the Mackey Brothers. She shivered when she looked at Trevor Mackey's prison photo. The man had tried to kill her more than once. Not succeeded and his life ending instead made Mary believe she was damn lucky to have Chris in her life.

          Nicholas Mackey confessed to the killings of fifteen farmers along the west coast, and he stated in the article he was proud of finally putting it to an end, and pay for what he's done. He also said he apologizes to the woman and her son for his brother's bad temper. It was never meant to aim toward them. It was all meant for Chris Larabee. Never her.

          Now cold again, and her headache back, Mary wrapped the blanket tightly around her body. She leaned her head back against the rocker and slowly rocked herself back and forth, enjoying the quiet.

          There was a knock at her door.

          Mary moaned softly, then asked who it was.

          "Chris."

          Her heart skipped and her eyes shot wide open and she suddenly wide awake.

          "Come in," she said, and started to stand up. When Chris opened the door, then stepped inside and closed the chill from outside out of the room, he saw Mary strain to stand. Only then did he shuffle across the room so quickly, Mary didn't have time to look at him, just his hands that held her shoulders.

          "No, sit back down, Mary. You're still too weak." He said gently.

          Mary looked into his green eyes, "So are you."

          "Not as weak as you are. Nathan said you might have a few cracked ribs, remember? So, don't do anything stupid."

          "Stupid, Chris? When I didn't listen to you about the explosions, I was real stupid then, huh?"

          "You really want me to answer that?" he joked.

          "Not really," pause. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd be on patrol now."

          "Not tonight," Chris said then kneeled in front of her. "Tonight, I wanted to come see you. See how you've been doing."

          "Now you want to see how I am?" Mary scoffed. "When you saved my life, you dragged me into Nathan's and left me there without any other word. What happened?"

          Chris rubbed his hands together, trying to find the right words. "I can't explain this very well."

          "What?"
         

          "Feelings I have for you now. Before-they were all mixed up. After what happened at the cliff. Your life slipping through my fingers and then letting you go. I thought I lost you. I thought it was over." He looked at her, searched her concerned eyes. "But then," he set free a smile. "When I found you, I prayed to God. I've never prayed to God before. Ever. I hated him after my family was killed. I never spoke of him, or prayed until last week. And it worked. You're here, now, alive and breathing."

          "Oh, Chris...." Mary choked and took Chris's nervous hands and held them to her. "It's not over." She searched his eyes. "It's you I meant to live for. I want to live for you if you'll let me."
         

           Chris swallowed down the fear in his throat of knowing what she said had to be true. He needed to live again. He needed to feel alive. He needed her.

          When he finally discovered that burning truth, he tightened his hands in hers and stood up, taking her with him.

          "Mrs. Travis, I do believe I owe you something."

          Mary looked at him with puzzled eyebrows. "You don't owe me anything."

          "Yes, I do." He brought their connected hands to his lips and kissed each of her knuckles. He looked her while he did it with those dark, seductive green eyes. "Something I have wanted to do for a long time now. Something you want from me. Are you up for the challenge?"

          Mary's heart fluttered and that throbbing need between her legs came back. "Yes," she said on a shaky whisper.

          "Then come to bed with me," Chris said as he grabbed her face and kissed her.

THE END