Chapter 174

"If you're about to tell me that we can't be together because somethin' bad might happen to me, then you best think again." Hope finished, praying she'd finally convinced Judah that they were meant to be together.

His eyes widened, and he leaned back slightly to take her in, though his hands never left where they'd come to rest on her waist. "Exactly what are you sayin' Hope Tucker?"

"I'm sayin' we're meant to be together, and you need to stop runnin' from it." The courage was flowing through her blood vessels now, and she continued to speak as if he was the one she'd come there to convince a travesty had been committed and not the judge or the sheriff. "You can't kiss me one moment and then tell me you're leavin' the next, Judah Lawless. I won't stand for it."

He stared at her for a long moment before a crooked grin spread across his face. "I'm not sure exactly what happened when you hit yer head, Hope, but this is different. I think I like it."