“W-w-what are you doing here, Everett?”
Everett kneeled by the sofa, his coat dripping on the wooden floor. “I had to go see Annamae. When I returned you were already gone.”
“I told you I was leaving.”
Everett looked down for a moment. “I know. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to stop you from leaving.”
Stop her from leaving? Polly sat up abruptly, the cool cloth falling from her forehead. “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be in Flat River, preparing for your wedding or something?”
Everett picked up the cloth and gently pressed it against Polly’s cheek. Then he moved it to the other side. “No. I should be here, preparing for my wedding.”
“Your wedding?”
“To the woman I love, if she will have me.”
“I thought you were marrying Annamae?” Hope kindled in her voice.
Everett shook his head. “Her father was trying to force a marriage. I honestly went along with it as I thought it might bring our families closer. Yet, the more I spent time with a spunky woman from the south, the more I realized I couldn’t go through with it, no matter how much her father threatened us. I went that morning to check on the family and tell her that I was going to ask you to stay. I couldn’t marry Annamae if I am in love with someone else.
Polly moved closer. “You love me?” Her voice squeaked in her ears.
Everett nodded. “I took the first train I could to get here. It took a week for the stage to come to Flat River. Then it was two days to find your house. Ellie isn’t particularly good with directions.”
“Was Annamae upset?”
“Honey, she didn’t want to marry me any more than I wanted to marry her. I think she has her eye on a certain cowboy.”
“Sawyer?” Everett nodded. Polly laughed and put her hands to her cheeks. “Oh goodness, I’m a mess.”
“You look beautiful, Polly. Just as beautiful as when I saw you climb out of that stage.”
“Tell me again,” she said, moving to grab his arms. Everett raised his eyebrow. “Please,” she begged, moving a little closer to him. Her fingers were getting wet as she clung to his coat sleeves.
“I love you, Polly Phillips.”
“I love you too, Everett. I love you so much.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Say you’ll marry me.”
Polly planted kisses on his cheeks. “Yes. Yes, my love. I will marry you.”
“Will you come back to Flat River with me?”
Polly paused. “Of course, I will.”
“We will need to be married immediately.”
“Immediately?”
“I have a ticket for two days from now. We need to get to Grand Platte so we can catch the train before the snow starts. Otherwise we’ll be stuck here until spring.”
Polly laughed, her chest finally releasing its grip. “I can be ready to go in two days.”
“I’m glad you showed up, young man,” Mrs. Phillips called from the doorway.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“When you are done kissing her, would you kindly hang up your coat, so it doesn’t ruin the carpets?”
Everett laughed, and soon Polly joined in. “Yes ma’am,” he said, leaning down to capture Polly’s lips with his own.
Epilogue
The snow was starting to fly. It was two days until Thanksgiving and Everett couldn’t wait to get home to celebrate with the family. There was so much to be thankful for this year. Old friends, new families, children, babies waiting to be born.
Everett had his own reasons for being thankful. He looked at his wife sitting next to him on the bench. Polly Chapman was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and now she was his. He lifted her hand, curling her fingers around his own and pressed a kiss against her fingers. Her blue eyes were twinkling, and he prayed he could keep the happy expression on her face.
She leaned over and gave him a kiss. Once Everett made his intentions known, Polly became very bold with her kisses, and that was simply fine by Everett.
They had a simple wedding. It was just the young couple, the Phillips, the Brooks and even Mrs. Bailey attended, bringing her famous Victorian sponge cake.
Ellie’s parents came to celebrate the event since they couldn’t travel west for their own daughter’s wedding. The Phillips family were accepting of their new son-in-law and they promised to visit in the spring, along with Ellie’s family.
Everett would have plenty of time to tell Marmee once they arrived back in Flat River. By the time spring arrived, almost everyone would be in their own homes so there would be plenty of room in the main house.
Polly looked back out the window of the stage. The wind whipping in the coach was cold, but she didn’t appear to care. Looking over her shoulder at Everett, she gave a little sigh. “It is the most beautiful sight,” she said. “We rarely get snow in Atlanta, and when it does snow, it doesn’t stay white for long. This is the most magical thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Just wait until January when you can’t get out of the house or barn. You won’t think it’s so magical then,” Everett laughed.
“Flat River, 15 minutes ahead,” the driver called.
“We are almost home,” Polly said breathlessly.
“Yes. Home.”
The stagecoach rattled by the ice-covered creek. The snow was starting to drift against the banks.
“How are we getting to the house?”
Everett reached his hand outside the coach and gave a knock on the roof. When he pulled his arm back in, he pointed towards Polly’s window. “Look,” he said, moving closer to her.
She leaned back into him slightly as they both looked towards the creek. By the bridge was a horse and wagon. Everett could see Sawyer and Owen standing in the snow. Hart was standing on the seat, waving his hat in the air.
Polly leaned out the window and waved back. Hart said something to Owen and they both laughed.
Shadow was tied to the back of the wagon and whinnied her welcome as they approached.
“No point in having to go all the way to town to collect the trunks,” he said as the coach rolled to a stop.
“Aunt Polly! Uncle Everett!” Hart called as they climbed from the stagecoach. “I got to drive the wagon here!”
“Great job, Hart,” Polly called. “I can’t wait to see you drive it home.”
“Welcome home, sister,” Owen said, walking over and wrapping Polly in a hug. “I’m glad he was able to bring you back. We had our doubts,” he laughed, releasing her, and slapping Everett on the back. “How does it feel to be married?”
Everett pulled Polly close in a side hug. “It’s more than I could have ever imagined.”
“It was certainly a surprise when he showed up,” Polly said.
“That’s what we said when he was born,” Owen teased. “Let’s get these trunks down. What else do you have?”
“My bag in the coach, along with a box. I’ll get those.”
Polly pulled out her bag and handed it to Sawyer. “I’ll carry the box,” she said. “It’s my wedding dress.”
Sawyer tilted his head. “I thought you were already married.”
“We are. I’m saving it for when we have a child. It will become a christening gown.”
Sawyer nodded and placed her carpet bag under the seat on the wagon, and then went to help Everett and Owen with the two trunks.
“Beadle’s published four new novels this month. I read them on the train out here. I think you and Ellie will enjoy them,” Polly said trudging through the snow to the wagon. It was only ankle high, but still made walking rather difficult. She stowed her gown under the seat and covered it with a blanket to keep it dry.
“Thanks, Polly,” Owen said. “I know Ellie will appreciate that. She’s missed you while you’ve been gone.”
“I’ve missed her. In fact, I’ve missed everyone.”
Once Everett pushed the last trunk into the wagon, he slid the backboard in place and went to untie Shad
ow. He stroked the horse, who nudged Everett with her muzzle. “Alright,” he said, pulling a peppermint from his pocket. The horse gave her approval as she made quick work of the sugary treat.
Everett ran his hands along her flank and checked the cinches around her girth. When he was satisfied everything was in place, he untied the horse and climbed into the saddle. He gave a little whistle and Shadow started walking slowly around the wagon.
“So, Mrs. Chapman,” he said with a wink. “You can either ride behind me, or over my knee back to the house.” He lowered his hand to her.
Polly slid her gloved hand into his leather one. “Neither, Mr. Chapman. I plan on riding in front.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” he said. With a quick tug, she was sitting on his lap with his arms around her.
Polly put her head against Everett’s chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. The wagon rolled slowly around them, carrying their luggage back towards the barn. Hart gave another little wave as he slapped the horse’s reins.
Polly laughed and it went right to Everett’s heart. Yes, he was very blessed indeed. He captured Polly’s lips in a kiss that he knew would warm her to her toes. When he was done, he looked down at his wife. Her eyes had turned soft and she looked at him with the same look Marmee would give to Pa.
“I love you,” she whispered.
Everett pressed a kiss against her wet forehead. “I love you more.”
He dug his heels into Shadow and the horse took off through the snow, carrying the young couple towards their future.
The End
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Turn the page to preview the rest of the Chapman Series.
Now Available!
Owen (The Chapmans Book 1)
Owen Chapman has dreams as big as the Nebraska sky. What happens when a body turns up on the Chapman ranch and the dead man’s bride comes calling demanding answers?
Available now on Amazon
Oliver (The Chapmans Book 2)
Oliver Chapman is living his best life; he has everything he needs, with no intention of getting married. That is, until a mysterious woman shows up on his ranch. Can a marriage of convenience lead to Oliver losing his heart?
Available now on Amazon.
Caleb (The Chapmans Book 3)
Caleb Chapman has one goal: Drive three thousand longhorns from Texas to Nebraska. What happens when he meets a woman who has no memory of why she’s on the run or protecting a seven-year-old boy. Is the truth closer than Caleb could ever imagine? Available now on Amazon.
Alice (The Chapmans Book 5)
Tired of four older brothers scaring off every suitor, Alice decides to take matters into her own hands. What she didn’t expect was the family’s childhood friend to notice how grownup she was, and vow to protect her; even if it is from her own family.
Available for pre-order on Amazon.
Read all of Christine’s Books
The Chapmans Series:
1. Owen
2. Oliver
3. Caleb
4. Everett
5. Alice
The Silverpines Series:
1. Wanted: Medicine Man
2. Wanted: Gravedigger
3. Wanted: Redemption
The Silverpines Companion Tales:
1. The Coffin Maker
2. Snowbound
3. Changing Seasons
North and South Series:
1. His Civil War Bride
2. New York Bride
The Proxy Bride Romances:
1. A Bride for Jeremiah
2. A Bride for Elijah
3. A Bride for Benjamin
The Pinkerton Matchmaker Romances:
1. The Pinkerton Matchmaker
2. An Agent for Claudette
3. An Agent for Penelope
4. An Agent for Marianne
5. An Agent for Pearl
The Cowboys and Angels Romances:
1. Bride in Blue
2. Beauty and the Baker
3. Tempting the Tailor
4. Married by Midnight
The Belles of Wyoming Romances:
1. Wynter's Bride
2. The Homecoming
3. A Matter of Marriage
4. The Barn Raising
The Black Hills Brides Books:
1. Her Secret Past
2. Her Secret Baby
3. Her Secret Shame
4. Her Secret Love
The Christmas Books:
1. A Cozy Mitten Christmas
2. A Cowboy for Christmas
3. A Mother for Christmas
Read Christine’s Other Books:
1. Gwyneth (Widows of Wildcat Ridge)
2. Moving from Maryland (Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge)
3. Dancing to the Altar (Holliday Islands Resort #2)
www.christinesterling.com
About Christine
Christine Sterling independently published her first book in 2017. She writes sweet and wholesome historical western novels, as well as sweet contemporary romance novels. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, a spoiled Shih Tzu, two German Shepherds and an energetic Border Collie, that keep her on her toes.
She spends her time writing, thinking about writing, and dreaming about writing. Her favorite things are a good cup of tea, puppy snuggles, a movie that will make you cry and hearing from her readers.
If you like this book, please take a few minutes to leave a review now! Christine appreciates it and you may help a reader find their next favorite book!
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