A Fearless Bride for a Wounded Rancher
Page 25
He heard his wife’s footsteps in the hallway and sat up a little straighter. Mae had the effect of always giving him a little jolt of energy. He simply loved being around her.
* * *
Sometimes he couldn’t believe that his life had taken the happy turn it had taken. After Annie had been killed, he had thought he’d never really be happy again.
* * *
He’d reached a point where he was somewhat content with his life. As long as he was alone, he’d felt he had control. Finally, he was given the choice to be alone or to open his heart. It had been one of the most difficult and frightening experiences. He had to take the chance. He’d decided that he’d rather conquer his fears than let Mae go. And he was happier in his life than he could ever remember being.
* * *
The screen door opened. Mae, smiling, came out onto the porch with a glass of sweet tea for herself and the whiskey bottle for Scott.
* * *
He raised his eyebrows. “Mrs. Henderson, are you trying to get me drunk?”
* * *
She grinned. “What better way to take advantage of you, my darling?” She took the seat next to where he sat.
* * *
“How do you feel, Mae, dear?”
* * *
“A little tired, but I’ll survive.” She leaned back in the chair and Scott placed his hand on the swell of her stomach.
* * *
“I’ve come up with some ideas for names.”
* * *
“And?”
* * *
“Well, if it’s a boy, I’d want to call him Scott, how do you feel about that?”
* * *
“I’ll have a junior. Why not? If that’s what you want, it’s what I want, Mae.”
* * *
She put her hand over his. “If it’s a girl, I’d like to name her Elisabeth.”
* * *
Scott’s eyebrows went up a little. “Not Patricia?”
* * *
“I want to ask Patricia to be Godmother. And Ephraim to be Godfather if you agree.”
* * *
“Of course.”
* * *
“Elisabeth was so good to me when I first came here, Scott.”
* * *
“You don’t have to convince me. She’s a kind and noble woman. I can think of no one finer to name our first daughter after, unless her mother’s name was in the running!” Scott smiled.
* * *
They each sat back and looked out over the front garden that sloped toward the road out of Fable Springs. Pink and white rock roses, yellow, trailing begonias, and red geraniums seemed to be everywhere.
* * *
The flower garden was colorful and fragrant. Mae had worked wonders with the fenced in patch of dirt and stone that had served as the garden before she’d come to the house.
* * *
“Oh look, Scott. It looks like Ephraim. Will you ask him if he’ll consider being the Godfather to our baby?”
* * *
“Of course, Mae. I’m sure he’ll be touched. Few know it, but Ephraim doesn’t realize how well thought of he is. Even though he’s my best friend and has been for years, it would never occur to him that we would want to honor him like that.”
* * *
“Well, we are. But you ask him when the two of you are alone.”
* * *
Ephraim was almost to the garden gate and raised his hand in greeting.
* * *
“Howdy Ephraim. I have dinner on. I hope you’re going to join us!” Mae smiled and looked sidelong at Scott.
* * *
He caught the look and wondered what his wife had in mind. Because she did have something in mind. If Scott had learned anything about his wife it was that she loved surprises. Giving them, getting them. They all affected her the same way. They made her very happy.
* * *
Ephraim walked through the gate. “The flowers look beautiful, Mae. You’ve transformed this front garden. It’s truly beautiful.”
* * *
“Thank you, Ephraim. Tea? Or whiskey? Scott’s being naughty this afternoon.”
* * *
“After everything we’ve been through this year, I’d say he deserves a whiskey! And me too.” Ephraim grinned.
* * *
“Sit down. I’ll be right out.” Mae stood and went into the house.
* * *
“How are you, Scott?”
* * *
“I’m doing just fine. A little nervous, I reckon. But I also reckon that’s just me.”
* * *
Ephraim chuckled. “I hope this isn’t the wrong time.”
* * *
“What’s that?”
* * *
Ephraim’s hand went into his vest pocket and withdrew a golden star which he placed on the little table between them.
* * *
Scott picked it up. “This is my old badge. Bentley didn’t use it?”
* * *
“No. He used a new one. He said he wanted to save yours for you. For when you came back.”
* * *
“I see.”
* * *
“Scott, it’s been three months. It’s unanimous across the county. Nothing against Bentley, but the townsfolk and most of the county want you back. The term ends on Friday. That’s this week. I want to thank you, as does Sheriff Bentley, for helping in our efforts to rid Fable Springs of the miner gang types. And I’ve come to offer you your badge back. The town has been safer, a lot safer, since you have been at the jailhouse helping out. But, the term is ending. Bentley wants out. He doesn’t want to be a deputy either. His father-in-law gave him and his new wife a small ranch just over the county line. He wants to ranch. As a result, you can start back a week from tomorrow.”
* * *
Scott picked up the golden star and gazed at it. Mae came out onto the porch.
* * *
“Scott! You’ve gotten your badge back. How nice. Have you decided to run again?”
* * *
Scott didn’t answer, staring at the gold star.
* * *
“We haven’t had the election, Mae. Not yet. I’m trying to convince him to run. It’ll be Scott by a landslide. That’s for sure. The town wants him as their sheriff. What do you say, Scott?”
* * *
Scott glanced up at Mae. They’d already discussed it a number of times. He was concerned, of course, that he might be putting her or their future children in some kind of danger. Mae had assured him that the town was safer, so much safer, than when she’d come to it.
* * *
And Scott had been only helping in the Sheriff’s Office. Once he was ensconced there, Mae had told him she was sure that the town would remain safe for the folks already living there and the new ones coming in.
* * *
“It’s up to you. I’ll support whatever you decide. You already know what I think.”
* * *
She nodded at him and he turned to Ephraim. “Ok, Mayor Charloux. I’ll run.”
* * *
“Well, that’s as good as saying we’ve got ourselves a new sheriff,” Ephraim said.
* * *
Ephraim lifted the glass Mae had given him and the three made a toast to the happy future of Fable Springs, as well as the new Henderson family addition.
* * *
“You will be Godfather, won’t you, Ephraim?” Mae asked.
* * *
“I would be honored, Mae.” Ephraim grinned and Scott breathed a sigh of relief that Ephraim wasn’t too shy to accept. He knew that, in time and with Mae’s persistent hounding his friend would have agreed. It just made things so much easier that he’d responded in the affirmative at the start.
* * *
“Oh look, here comes my friend, Patricia, from Havenshire. You will stay to dinner, Mayor, won’t you? We’re celebrating after all,” Mae smiled.
* * *
All o
f a sudden it was clear to Scott that Mae had been planning this little meeting since Patricia had arrived in Fable Springs three weeks earlier. Mae had often questioned Scott as to why Ephraim had no lady friend. Why would he have taken all the trouble to find a wife for Scott when he, himself, was an unmarried man.
* * *
Two months earlier, Mae had told Scott that she thought Ephraim and Patricia would have made a wonderful couple. If only Patricia wasn’t still in Havenshire, growing older, with no husband and no prospects.
* * *
Mae had written to her friend, urging her to come to Fable Springs. And, three weeks earlier Patricia had arrived. She’d rented the same room Mae had previously lived in at the boarding house and had obtained work as an assistant in the post office. She spent her days sorting letters, delivery orders, and packages for the residents of Fable Springs and the surrounding communities of ranches and farms.
* * *
Patricia went into the house with Mae to help in the kitchen while Ephraim had another whiskey on the porch with Scott.
* * *
“Did Mae plan this?”
* * *
Scott tried to play dumb but he knew Ephraim to be exceedingly perceptive.
* * *
“What do you mean, Ephraim?”
* * *
“Scott.”
* * *
“She wants you to have someone. We both do. And Patricia really is a lovely lady. I actually think you’ll get on with her like a house on fire.”
* * *
“Hm. Okay. Good.”
* * *
“I’m sorry, Ephraim...did you just agree with me?”
* * *
He grinned. “No, but I agree with Mae. She’s an intuitive woman. And I trust her judgement. And I happen to find her friend, Patricia, to be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”
* * *
“You don’t say?” Scott was beside himself with glad feelings. May came back out on the porch. “Oh, Scott, dear will you help us? Neither one of us can reach the top shelf in the pantry.”
* * *
“Allow me, if you will, Mae.” Ephraim stood and walked to the door.
* * *
Mae smiled. “Of course, Ephraim.”
* * *
He went into the house and Scott scooped Mae into his arms.
* * *
“He went with your idea, Mae. He said he thinks Patricia is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen.”
* * *
“He did? Because she couldn’t stop asking me about him. She thinks him quite dashing. How wonderful!”
* * *
“Yes. It just keeps getting better each day. I love you, Mae. I’m so thankful for the blessing of your presence in my life and your love.”
* * *
“I love you, too, Scott.”
* * *
She rested her head against his chest and they looked out over their flower garden and down the hill into town.
* * *
Scott had never felt such happiness. He kissed the top of Mae’s head and the two stood together, talking about the memories they were going to make until they went inside.
A Thank You To My Reader
Dear Reader,
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First of all, I would like to thank you for taking some of your precious time to read my book.
* * *
It is such an honor to be able to share my stories with you.
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So Thank You My Reader for making this possible for me!
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With Gratitude,
* * *
Ember.