That afternoon Phoenix insisted that they go down to the stables to watch Caleb and Quinn work with the horses.

"I have never been on a working ranch, and I want to see those two at work."

It was a short walk, and when they got there, it was hard to see what was going on with all of the dust that was flying around. Bryce, Rainer, and Mason had joined the other two, and the five of them were filthy, sweaty, and rugged looking. If she was going to paint a picture of the American cowboy at work she could not have picked a better scene than the Stevens men working together to tame two fillies.

"It's like the genetic lottery. This family hit the jackpot."

Dana could only nod at Phoenix's comment as she watched the men, with their cowboy hats, pulled low and their muscles flexing as they were pushed to the max.

Bryce broke away from the others and approached the fence. "Did you get a chance to read that letter I gave you?"

Dana shook her head and looked up, her eyes meeting India's. She was watching her like a hawk.

"It seems you are not doing your job keeping me away from Bryce," Dana said absentmindedly.

Bryce and Phoenix looked over at India. When Bryce turned back to look at her, he was frowning. "Read the letter Dana," he said before he moved back into the action.

Dana reached into her back pocket and pulled out the envelope. She didn't recognize the writing. She was hesitant to open it if it came from Bryce because that meant that it came from New York, and she wanted nothing to do with anyone in New York.

She very slowly opened it and looked at the signature first. It was from Dr. Eves. Her hands started to shake as she read. He had wanted to tell her for a while but didn't know how. After discussing it with Bryce, he knew he had to do something. He had lied when he told her she couldn't have children. He had made up the need for her to be on birth control for health reasons. He knew what would happen if she ever had children with Marcus, and he had hoped that by lying Marcus would let her go. He was sorry that he hadn't been honest with her, but he knew she had to believe it or else he was afraid she would cave and tell Marcus the truth when he used it against her during his many verbal assaults. He went on to say that she was one of the bravest women he had ever known and that he had done everything he could to protect her.

Dana re-read the letter a second time, and her hands had gone beyond trembling to shaking. She looked up and met Quinn's gaze as he had taken a break and stepped away from the action.

"Quinn." She mouthed, sinking to her knees. One of the harshest truths she had had to face during her marriage besides being married to a monster was that she would never be able to have children.

But now she could have children, Quinn's children.

As soon as she dropped, Quinn was across the pen clearing the fence in a moment and at her side.

"Dana, what is it?"

She handed him the letter. "I can have children. You can keep me now." She wasn't even aware she had said it. Quinn shoved the letter into his shirt as he reached for her. All of the other Stevens brothers had stopped what they were doing and dispersed; a few had joined Quinn.

"Dana?" Quinn asked lifting her chin.

She was in a little bit of shock and reached up to run her fingers down his face. She had missed him so much. Suddenly, a truck pulled up, and Quinn lifted her up and put her in the back seat. Without a word said Lizzy and Cassie drove her back to the house and helped up to her room.

Dana lay their alone on the bed. Quinn's babies. The idea was beautiful and marvelous. She could give him what he wanted, and if he loved her like she thought he did, then he would have no reason not to keep her now.

Eventually, she fell asleep and had wonderful dreams of Quinn and little blond babies running around the house.

When she woke it was very dark, and she knew that she had missed dinner as she descended that stairs she heard the piano and laughter.

She stood on the edge of the group watching them as they were all laughing about something. There was such a feeling of love and acceptance that she felt her heart swell and she thanked God for the car wreck and the storm that had led her to them.

Lizzy looked up and saw her and waved her over putting her arm around her waist, and Dana glanced around the room, but Quinn wasn't there. He had better not have run again. She was bound and determined to have it out, and this time she was going to get what she wanted, him.

India was sitting at the piano with Bryce and Phoenix was having a serious discussion with Mason and Caleb.

"Are you feeling better?"

Dana looked at Lizzy. "I have not felt this good in a long time." Her eyes met Bryce's, and she gave him a huge smile. He gave her one of his heart rare smiles right back, and India turned to look at her, frowning.

Suddenly, Cassie, who had been talking to Elizabeth p, jumped up and moved to the piano. "A song I think."

She whispered to Bryce, and he began to play.

The song was about figuring out who you loved and going and getting her. It was a well-known song, and as usual, Dana was wholly focused on Cassie while she sang, her husky voice filled the room with the song, and she was lost. Dana had not yet learned that one of the many ways Cassie tried to get her points across to people was through song. It was old fashioned, but then Cassie was old fashioned, so it made sense.

When the song ended, there was silence in the room.

"Thank you, Cassie, I get the not too subtle hint. Dana, may I speak to you in private?" Quinn said from behind her.

Dana spun around. She had been unaware that he had entered the room. Was that really why Cassie had chosen that song? She met his eyes which gave nothing away; his tone even seemed a little angry. Dana nodded. This was her chance. She followed him out of the room and towards his office, aware that all eyes were on them, and before they were even out of earshot they had all started talking at once in urgent whispers.

She entered the office ahead of him and stood in the middle of the room while he closed the door behind him and leaned against it.

"Would you please repeat what you said earlier?"

She turned to look at him. She couldn't help but note how handsome he was. "I can have children so you can keep me now," she whispered.

He pulled the letter out of his shirt pocket and handed it to her. "I wasn't aware you couldn't have children Dana. But even if I had known that it wouldn't have mattered."

"But when Mason made that comment in New York about children you seemed uncomfortable."

"I was uncomfortable; our relationship is none of my family's business."

"What relationship Quinn? We just had sex a few times."

"Was that all it was?"

"Not for me, but you know that. I thought that maybe the reason you didn't want me was that you saw my records, you knew I couldn't have children."

"What about me makes you think that I would choose a woman based on her ability to have children?"

"Your family is counting-,"

"My mother has five other sons and a daughter I am sure that she will get more than enough grandchildren to carry on the family name from one of them."

Dana took a deep breath and nodded. "I get it." And she finally did.

"No, you don't Dana. I love you."

She felt her heart stop.

"I love you." He repeated.

"Then why...?"

He pushed off the door running his hands through his hair.

"I -,"

There was a knock at the door.

"Go away!" It was the second time they had been interrupted, and his response had been the same then

"It's Davis. There's been an accident." Lizzy's tearful voice came through the door.

Quinn cursed under his breath then wrenched open the door.

Quinn walked out of the office, and Dana was hot on his heels. Bryce was on his phone and Cassie was sitting with Elizabeth and Doug on the couch, so Dana joined them.

Phoenix and India were both in the corner watching the scene unfold.

Lizzy was talking softly to Quinn, catching him up on what she knew. Mason, Rainer, and Caleb were absent.

A few minutes later trucks were in front of the house, and everyone headed that way.

"Dana?" Elizabeth reached for her.

"I'll stay here with India and Phoenix. You may need something done on this end." Her eyes meet Quinn's. "Just let me know what I need to do." He nodded, and everyone loaded up in the trucks and were gone.

The silence in the room afterward was tense.

"I'll go wash the dinner dishes." Dana walked towards the kitchen.

"You're lucky Dana. These people, they're your family."

"Yes, I know." She turned and looked at Phoenix. "They are my family, and they know all of my secrets and fears and love me despite them."

"Quinn most of all." He smiled.

"Quinn most of all." Her heart soared as she said it. He loved her; he had said the words. Everything else would work itself out.

After Dana finished the dishes she found Lizzy's plans for the party and reviewed them all just in case she was needed. She was glad she did because the next day everyone was so exhausted that they slept late. Dana worked closely with the caterers and the event rental company to get everything set up for the party.

It turned out that Davis had been in a car accident. He had a broken leg, a few broken ribs, and a slight concussion.

When Dana saw him the following day, hobbling about on crutches, looking all pathetic and woebegone, she couldn't help but laugh. She did not doubt that he was playing the role of patient to the hilt.

"Wimp, I've had worse." She teased as he winced when he sat down a little too hard.

"Who knows my pictures from tonight's party may be some of my best. This concussion might make me see things more clearly."

Eventually, she made it to her room, and waiting on her bed was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. It was white satin and fell to her ankles with a skirt made with yards of fabric. The bodice had long sleeves and a deep v for a neck. It was stunning.

It looked like a wedding dress.

"I thought the girls might forget," Elizabeth said from the doorway. "Plus I was closer to your size than they are."

"It's beautiful."

"It's a shame it no longer fits me." She walked up next to Dana and ran her hand over the fabric. I wore this dress the night Doug proposed. It brought me luck, so I know it will bring you luck. If that stubborn son of mine ever gets his head on straight."

"I love him so much."

Elizabeth nodded and hugged her close. "First Cassie and then you. I'm so lucky that my sons are choosing such strong and beautiful women. I've not been without worry over the years for the mates they all would choose, but at least I know that two of them are well taken care of."

"What about Lizzy?"

"She chose her mate a long time ago, and I approved and tried to make it happen, but Bryce had other ideas." Elizabeth frowned.

"That's what Bryce meant yesterday when he said he had only interfered once and he wished to God he hadn't." Dana looked back down at the dress. Remembering all that Lizzy had said months earlier in the airport.

"He said that?" Elizabeth looked at her.

"Yes, I've wondered what kind of woman will win Bryce's heart, especially since it turns out he has such a big one."

"She will be a lucky woman," Elizabeth said.

Dana nodded in agreement. "Thank you for the dress."

"No matter what happens, I love you daughter."

Dana felt tears fill her eyes, and not for the first time she realized she was home.

By the time Dana got dressed, and down the stairs, the party was well underway. She walked out onto the terrace and saw the trestle tables loaded with people and food. The band was playing, and the dance floor was full. The sun was just about to set, and the cicadas were trying to beat out the band for who could play the loudest.

"Now I am going to talk to you." Dana felt her arm grabbed and she was spun around.

Quinn's eyes ran the length of her. "You're so beautiful," he said as his hand brushed her face before he took her led her away from the party towards his vet office. They entered, and he locked the door behind them, and they were both silent as they looked their fill.

"Do you remember when you asked me in this very room to teach you about love?"

Dana nodded. At the time it had embarrassed her, but after all that, they had been through nothing could ever embarrass her where Quinn was concerned.

"To say no to you was the hardest thing I had ever done."

Dana's heart stopped.

"At first I was worried about you and Bryce, he tends to be the one that the girls go for most of the time."

Dana opened her mouth to speak, but he held up his hand.

"Let me finish." He ran his hand through his hair and leaned up against the counter.

"Staying away from you was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Bryce and I decided that the best bet was to send me away to England until things were settled on this end. That was the worst three weeks of my life. Then when I knocked on your door, and you answered, it was like I had come home, but as that weekend wore on I realized that you would be going right from one marriage to another. How had you put it? One prison to another."

"No not a prison, a home, the first one I've ever really had." Dana's voice was harsh.

"Still, you hadn't lived, you hadn't had the chance to make mistakes and figure things out on your own, and I didn't want you to regret, years from now, that you hadn't had the chances that all young people get."

"I found you, Quinn. This love I feel for you is more than most people get in a lifetime. I'm sure of that. When I'm not with you, I'm not living. It actually hurts to breath."

Quinn nodded. "I know. When I saw you again that night after the party, and you were so beautiful, it was like someone had gut-punched me. The jealousy I felt when I saw you with Matt that night was unreal, and then along came Phoenix...when you asked him to zip up your dress I wanted to punch him."

He rested his head against hers "I love you, Dana, can you ever forgive me for being such a fool?"

Dana nodded silently, and he wrapped his arms around her and let her cry.

"Does this mean I can come here and live with you now?"

"Only if you marry me."

"Are you sure you want me that much? I come with a lot of baggage."

"That's O.K. I'm strong I'll help you carry it."

Dana laughed at the hokey line. "Kiss me."

He complied, kissing her hard. "I have just one question that has been bothering me."

Quinn pulled her head back, so she was forced to look up at him. "How many men have you slept with?"

"Why are you jealous?"

"Yes, damn it!"

"Now Quinn, a lady never kisses and tells." She threw his own words back at him.

"Woman." He pulled her hard against him "I'm about to make you forget every one of them."

She looked up at him as he undid his bowtie. "We'll see."

He growled again as he unzipped her dress.

"You watch me."

"With pleasure." She giggled. She knew that she had won her man.

Much later there was a knock at the door that made them jump.

"Go away!" Quinn yelled.

Dana giggled. "Is that how you plan to respond to every knock that lands on our door?"

"Yes." He grinned.

"And when we have children?" Her heart soared at the thought.

"That would be a definite yes then."

"No, I will not go away, you've both been in there long enough. You can play kissy face later. We want to know what's happening and this door is to thick to eavesdrop though." Mason banged again.

"With our luck, they'll all take after their Uncle Mason."

He grew thoughtful for a moment. "Are you sure you want to take this family on as your own?" Quinn asked as he tied his bowtie.

"I'm more than sure." Dana reached over for a tissue and wiped first Quinn's and then her mouth. "We don't have to be obvious." She grinned.

"Subtle is not in my family's dictionary."

They opened the door, and Mason practically fell through. Lizzy and Caleb were right behind him.

"Well?" Lizzy asked hopefully.

"I hope you will help me plan my wedding," Dana said, unable to control her smile while Lizzy squealed in delight.

"I have the best ideas."

"Not now, let's go tell the others." Mason insisted, grabbing Lizzy.

As she and Quinn walked back towards the party, they heard the bridal march, and Cassie was at the microphone grinning. "I would like to take this time to announce that my brother Quinn Stevens is engaged to marry Dana Rowlands.

There was an outbreak of applause as they were passed around the dance floor for hugs and kisses.

"And now I have the perfect song for the engaged couple to dance to."

Cassie nodded to the band, and they began the song, 'For Once in My Life."

It was perfect. Quinn took her in his arms, and she knew that she would never be alone or frightened again.