Epilogue.

Logan watched White Bird come toward him, moving slowly, silently, between the rows of chairs. He gave her an encouraging smile, dropping to a crouch and motioning her forward. Her big, dark eyes monitored the a.s.sembly of white adults as if expecting them to transform at any moment into flesh-eating monsters. Every few steps, she stood still and sprinkled rose petals over the gra.s.s, checking the adults before stepping forward again. When she reached Logan's side, he gave her a big hug and told her in Sioux how proud he was of her before sending her to stand next to Rachel.

The women had transformed the side yard of the main house. Half of the s.p.a.ce was arranged with several long tables, one for family and friends, one for the gaggle of children who had come with the adults, and the last for the ranch hands, all of whom were longtime workers at the Circle Bar or Sager's spread, the Crippled Horse. The other half of the area was given over to rows of chairs that led up to where Logan stood with Sager and the Reverend Adamson.

When Logan looked up after getting White Bird settled, Sarah was there, starting down the aisle on Sid's arm. She wore a beautiful gown of white brocade that hung in simple lines from her slim hips down. It hugged her ribs and curved enticingly up over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. At the edge of the deep neckline, he could just make out part of her tattoo. He was glad she hadn't hidden it. He knew she'd done that for him.

Her hair was coiled and tucked in tiny braids over the crown of her head. A veil was draped over her hair and reached down to her shoulders, leaving her face uncovered. Her warm, brown eyes were shining with happiness. It was hard to reconcile the woman coming toward him with the woman he'd first met just a few months earlier.

Logan looked at his dad, who was bursting with pride as if she were his own daughter. In the month since their return, in addition to caring for Logan, sewing a new wardrobe, and dealing with frantic wedding preparations, she'd made time to oversee the arrangement of a suite of rooms for Sid on the ground floor of the house, ensuring he had his own drawing room off his bedroom. She'd ordered new furniture for him, making his s.p.a.ce masculine and comfortablea"something Logan's mother had never allowed and Sid hadn't sought for himself after her death. Sarah had given him a place where he could retreat should he want a little solitude.

She had also rearranged their quarters upstairs, switching out furniture from some of the other rooms, giving the s.p.a.ce her own personal touch. She had revived a house that had long been dormant, waiting to be made a home.

Logan smiled at Sarah as Sid kissed her cheek and handed her over. She gave Rachel, her matron of honor, her bouquet to hold. This time, when the reverend asked her to place her hands in Logan's, she did not hesitate. The shade from the cottonwood trees overhead shifted. Light and shadows danced over her. She smiled up at him, her eyes filled with love. Heedless of the ceremony, Logan touched her cheek, stroking her skin with his thumb. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, then forced himself to listen to the reverend as he and Sarah were married for the third time.

Logan was unsure how he made it through the ceremony and the feast that followed. He couldn't take his eyes from his wife. She laughed with his friends, danced with his brother and father, and charmed everyone who had gathered.

"Hard to believe Sarah's transformation, Logan," Leah said as she brought him a cup of punch. "She was so broken when she first came to Defiance. Just look at her now. I think you may have saved her life."

Logan smiled. "Maybe. But I know for sure she saved mine."

Jace came over and clapped him on the shoulder. "I think you should get married at least once a year, Logan. I'm enjoying these celebrations."

"Or we could just have a shindig at one of our ranches each year, once Audrey and Julian come in for the summer," Leah suggested.

Jace smiled down at his wife, his warm gaze sweeping the new dress the ladies had made for Leah, a pale, lavender chiffon that complemented her dark coloring and violet eyes. "Would you do me the honor of giving me this dance, Mrs. Gage?"

"Yes, I believe I will, Mr. Gage." Leah took his arm and let him lead her into the dance. Seeing them join the waltz, Audrey waved her fingers. Her husband, Julian, nodded to Jace before sweeping her away.

"Look at all of you. Grown and beautiful and settled," Maddie sighed as she paused by Logan's side. "Your father says you'll be staying here. I'm happy about that." They watched Sarah take a turn on the temporary dance platform with the sheriff. "Now there's a man who needs a wife," Maddie said, tapping her chin pensively.

Logan laughed and shook his head. "Good luck with that!"

When the dance ended, Declan escorted Sarah back to Logan. He lifted his hat to thank her for the dance, then offered Maddie his arm and led her back toward the dance floor.

"Watch out for that one, Cal. She's making plans for you," Logan warned.

The sheriff laughed. "Hold on there, Maddie. I got my life arranged just the way I like it."

Maddie sent Logan and Sarah a wink. "Do you, now ... ?" Her voice faded as she and the sheriff walked away.

Logan drew Sarah into a hug. "I love you," he said as he looked into her eyes.

"I love you." She smiled and tightened her arms around his neck. "This has been a wonderful day. A big memory that's filling all the empty s.p.a.ces inside me. Thank you."

"Honey, I'm going to spend the rest of my life giving you big memories, so you better keep making room for more."

Did you miss the other t.i.tles in the

Men of Defiance series?

Start from the beginning!

RACHEL AND THE HIRED GUN.

When Rachel Douglas left her aunt's house in Virginia for the wilds of the Dakota Territory, she knew the journey would be long and arduous. But she didn't realize that she has been summoned west to be used as a p.a.w.n in a ranch war with her father's neighbora"or that her fierce, sudden attraction to Sager, her father's hired gun, would put her heart and her life in jeopardy. Seducing Rachel and feeding a bitter feud between the two ranches was Sager's plan of vengeance against those who slaughtered his foster Shoshone family. Instead, Rachel's guileless mix of courage and vulnerability touches the conscience he thought he'd buried long ago, and draws them both into a pa.s.sion without rules, without limitsa"one that will change their destinies forever ...

AUDREY AND THE MAVERICK.

In Elaine Levine's stunning novel of the American West, a proud rancher and a determined young woman are drawn together in the lawless town of Defiance.

Virginia financier Julian McCaid has put his troubled past behind him. His plans for the future don't include Audrey Sheridan, the extraordinary frontier woman he met just once. But it's because of her that he's come to the Dakota Territory to investigate problems at his ranch. And it's all the more surprising when he discovers she isn't the innocent he believed. Now nothing but her complete surrender will purge her from his soul.

If it weren't for the children she cares for in her makeshift orphanage, Audrey would have left Defiance long ago. Now the sheriff is blackmailing her to distract the man who might derail his corrupt schemesa"a man who can offer Audrey not just protection, but a pa.s.sion bold enough to make them claim their place in this harsh and beautiful land ...

LEAH AND THE BOUNTY HUNTER.

They are brash, they are brave, and when they see a chance to be a hero, they take it. They are the Men of Defiance, and they are not easily tamed ...

To Leah Morgan's mind, the last thing her hometown of Defiance needs is another gunman stalking its dusty streetsa"especially one as sweet-talking and fine-looking as Jace Gage. Despite her warnings, the infuriating man seems determined to meddle in her life and risk his own, all for a town that can't be saved and a heart she locked away long ago.

Professional bounty hunter Jace Gage has cleaned up plenty of corrupt towns in his lifetime, and he knows he can handle whatever Defiance's thugs have to offer. But the town's most lawful citizen is another story. Beautiful, willful and exasperating at every turn, Leah is the one person capable of bringing the ruthless gunslinger to his kneesa"and capturing his desire with a single kiss ...

ISBN: 978-1-4201-2784-3.

Also Available by Elaine Levine.

RACHEL AND THE HIRED GUN.

AUDREY AND THE MAVERICK.

LEAH AND THE BOUNTY HUNTER.