by Dora Hiers
With a quick flick of the reins, the carriage jerked forward, and the horses picked up speed. Violet grinned and slid from side to side on the bench, gazing out both sides of the cart.
He glanced down at Sierra, who smiled up at him. “Do you think she’s enjoying herself?”
“She’s having the time of her life. Same as me. And it’s all because of you.” Sierra’s smile slowly faded until all that lingered was the love shining from her eyes.
He couldn’t speak over the thundering of his heart. So he squeezed her shoulder and appreciated the scenery. Her and Violet, their smiles and the joy shimmering from their eyes. Would tonight mark a future filled with more enchanting evenings like this?
They rode on in comfortable silence, Violet pointing and gushing over the Christmas lights, until the coachman yelled “Whoa,” and the carriage pulled to a stop.
Violet hopped up from the bench, but Camdon blocked her exit. “Wait for me, please. That bar for a step is a little precarious.”
Maybe not that far down where she’d be hurt if she fell, but he would protect his girls for as long as the Lord allowed. Forever might be long enough.
****
Camdon hopped down from the carriage and held out a hand for Violet.
Sierra trembled but not from the cold. She loved this man, everything about him. His caring and gentle ways. His never-ending supply of patience. She didn’t know another man who would have stuck around waiting for her to come around, especially since she’d spouted her “no dating” policy so often.
His hands closed around her waist. Sparkling nutmeg flecks belied his serious expression. Her fingers curled around his shoulders, and solid muscles bunched under her hands. When she landed safely on the ground, her palms slid to his chest. His heart thundered under her touch, sparking a matching response from hers.
“Camdon, that was so much fun!” Violet tugged at Camdon’s arm, her eyes aglow with excitement.
His sweet, tender smile was for Sierra, though, until he finally disengaged to glance at her daughter. “It’s almost time for the fireworks. You gals wait here while I run and get the blanket from the car. Then we can find a good spot.”
“Okay.” Reluctantly, Sierra dropped her arms to her sides, and his long strides took him away. She stared at his back, at the casual suit jacket draped across his strong shoulders. The dark hair that just reached the top of the jacket, short and always groomed. She imagined it mussed, the way it might look first thing in the morning—
She sucked in a breath, not allowing her thoughts to drift any farther.
“He’ll only be a couple minutes, Mom. You can survive that long.” Violet’s amused voice crept into her musing.
“Of course.” Sierra matched Violet’s sarcasm. Even so, her gaze followed the man. When Camdon turned and headed back their way, a blanket tucked under his arm, her pulse chugged faster, picking up speed the closer he got.
“We’re ready now.” His deep voice was smooth, rich as the hot chocolate they’d just consumed.
Sierra slid an arm around him and chuckled at his surprised gasp. The realization slammed into her. That even if she wanted to, and she didn’t, she couldn’t keep her hands off of him.
He didn’t complain. Just smiled and tugged her tighter, his arm warm and firm around her back. They made their way down the sidewalk, trailing behind others into the park, the laughter and chatter of thousands of excited voices filling the night.
“Find us the perfect spot, Violet.” Would it be too much to hope that her daughter led them around the park a couple of times? Would that extend the evening with this wonderful man?
“How about this?” All too soon, Violet spun around, gesturing toward an opening on the grass. Her gaze dropped to their linked arms. Her dark eyebrows arched, and her jaw dangled. Delight spread across her face. “Far out!”
Camdon chuckled and flicked the blanket over the grass. “This looks perfect.”
Violet plunked down with the ease of a teenager. Sierra sank down next to her.
Camdon settled on the blanket and stretched out his long legs. He reached for her, pulling her shoulders against his chest, and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. He nuzzled her neck, his whiskered cheek tickling her skin, and kissed her there.
Her chest rose and fell with contentment. She held her arms over his, tightening his grip around her. Her eyelids fluttered open as if slowly coming out of a wonderful dream.
“Okay. Enough of that. We came to watch the show in the sky, not the show on the ground.” Violet wrinkled her nose in disgust, but tenderness and longing colored her voice.
“Oh, really? You might appreciate the show in a few minutes more…” Camdon’s voice faded as fireworks popped and exploded. Fire truck reds and marshmallow whites started a dazzling display of colors that lit the sky.
Violet reclined all the way, her back against the blanket. Lights reflected from her eyes, and delight skipped across her face with every pop. She oohed and aahed along with the rest of the crowd.
Sierra hugged her waist, locking Camdon’s arms underneath her own. She shuttered her eyes, blocking out the colorful display going on in the sky, and closed her ears to listen to her heart.
His chin rested on her head and his breaths puffed against her neck, sending delicious shivers to race along her arms. She loved him! Violet was right. This thoughtful and gentle man would never hurt them. Why had it taken her so long to realize that, and to accept that Camdon was so much more than just a friend? She’d wasted so much precious time.
The explosions gained intensity, and she lifted her lashes just as the last of the fireworks blasted into the smoke-filled sky, the colors dancing and melding together to form a stunning masterpiece against the backdrop of twinkling stars.
Violet sat up and sighed in typical Violet-drama. “That was so beautiful. Why did it have to end?”
“It doesn’t.” Camdon’s voice and expression were serious. He moved her aside to rummage around in his pocket but kept her tucked against his chest.
“Did you hide some sparklers in your pocket, Camdon?” Amused, Sierra straightened, moving out of the comfort of his support. She agreed with Violet. She was sad to see the magical evening end. Especially when the few couples and families nearby rose and began collecting their stuff.
“Something like that.” Camdon glanced around the area. His hand lingered in his pocket as if he was waiting until their blanket buddies dispelled into the night.
Finally, the last group left, and the laughter and chatter faded into silence.
Camdon cleared his throat. “It doesn’t have to end. We can enjoy more wonderful evenings like this.” He pulled his hand out of his pocket and opened his palm, revealing two velvet boxes. “We can make more memories. Lasting memories that will far outweigh and outshine the bad ones.” His gaze flitted between them before landing back on her with an intensity she’d never seen. “Our time together goes by entirely too fast, and I’m more than ready to change that.”
Violet gasped and covered her mouth, speechless for once.
Sierra sucked in a breath. Her jaw dropped. Her pulse rocketed. Her fingers trembled.
Camdon slid to his knees. He turned toward Violet, flipping open the lid of the first box to reveal a dainty ring, a tiny diamond sparkling between two emeralds.
“Violet, you are the daughter of my heart. I will always treat you with respect and dignity and love. I promise to love you, unconditionally and always, and to provide a home for you as long as you need one.” He held out the ring. “I love you, Violet Danby, and I’m asking for your permission to marry your mother.”
Her breath snagged in her lungs. He wanted to marry her?
“Yes!” Violet squealed and threw herself at Camdon. When she pulled back, he slid the ring over her finger and pressed a kiss to her temple.
Tears tracked down Sierra’s cheeks and the hand that covered her mouth. A sob escaped her throat when he turned to her, a diamond solitaire
now glittering from his grasp.
“I have loved you since the first day you pranced into my office, holding onto that money bag as if your life depended on it.” His sweet, almost-shy smile caused her heart to stutter and stall. He smoothed her tears away with a thumb, his fingers warming her neck. “I love the way you light up any room with your smile and your laughter. I promise to love you with a forever love, a love that doesn’t quit or give up, a love that won’t hurt or cause pain, a love that heals and cherishes, for the rest of my life. I promise to love your daughter as if she were my own, just as I have every day since I first gazed into those beautiful green eyes so much like yours, I knew she’d stolen my heart even then. I promise that you’ll always have a home and that Violet and Wilma will always be welcome.”
Violet sniffled loudly, but Sierra couldn’t tear her gaze away from the intensity on Camdon’s face.
“Evenings like this can last a lifetime.” Camdon cupped her cheek. “Sierra, I love you with all of my being. Will you marry me?”
“I love you, Camdon Lambright. Yes, I will marry you.” Love. Joy. Faith. All together they loosened the shackles of fear that had bound her for so long. Freedom surged to overflow from her heart.
Epilogue
“Sierra Danby Lambright.”
Sierra smoothed the silky material of the graduation gown over her rounded belly and waddled onto the stage. She accepted the diploma and shook hands with the university academia, stopping to pose for the camera flashes. Please, Lord, don’t let my water break on stage.
Camdon, Violet and Wilma, along with the rest of the Lambright family, were sitting in the upper stands off to the right, but she couldn’t see them now for all the lights.
As she made her way off the stage and to her seat, her belly hardened into a tight ball. She held her breath until the pain eased. She wasn’t due for another two weeks. She’d made it through Violet’s high school graduation last night. Surely this little guy could wait a few more hours, right?
The ceremony concluded, and she hugged her friends and headed to the prearranged meeting spot.
“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.” Camdon opened his arms, and she didn’t waste a second stepping into his embrace. Sometimes the baby poked him then, and she loved the awed look on her husband’s face and how he leaned down to stroke her belly and whisper to the little one. No pokes today. Little guy must be sleeping.
“My turn.” Violet gave Camdon a good-natured nudge and edged in beside him for a group hug. “Congratulations, Mom. You did it.”
“Yeah. You, too, kiddo.” She couldn’t be prouder of Violet’s accomplishments. Her sweet girl had maintained honor roll throughout all of high school.
Camdon joked that it was all because of his math help. Sierra suspected that it was all because of Camdon, regardless of the math help.
Somehow her husband managed to stretch his arms around both of them. His chin rested on Sierra’s head. “You ready to head home or do you need a few moments?”
“Home. I love the sound of that.” And it was just like him to be so thoughtful. “I’m ready. Where is everybody?”
“They got a head start.”
Translation. They were waiting at home for them to arrive. The combined “surprise” graduation party wasn’t really a surprise since she’d caught wind of it a couple days ago, but Violet still didn’t know about it, yet.
“Well, let’s go then.” Another cramp lit her belly on fire, but she ignored it. She couldn’t wait to see Violet’s expression when she realized the party was for her and that her “dad” had planned the whole event.
****
Camdon pushed open the front door to their house, memories sweeping in. The first time he’d seen this house had been on Sierra’s tablet. Back then, he’d never expected to be living here with Sierra or Violet, and even Wilma for a short stint. Until Monty finally convinced Wilma to give marriage another try.
When Carson had finished remodeling and staging the house, strategically redesigned for a growing family, Camdon and Sierra’s decision to buy it had been a no-brainer. Especially since Sierra had loved the original Craftsman-style house from the beginning.
A smile tugged at his lips as he gestured for Violet and Sierra to go in first, anticipation swelling in his gut. Violet was going to be so—
“Surprise!” A chorus erupted from all their family members, both young and old, squeezed inside the family room.
Violet gasped and jumped back, almost ramming into Sierra’s belly. But he snaked an arm around Sierra’s tummy to protect the little guy.
His wife beamed up at him, appreciation and love shining from her eyes. Dark smudges rimmed her smooth cheeks, and her breath came in short, labored puffs. Finals and the excitement of both graduations had taken a toll on her.
“Congratulations, you two.” Remi lined up first for hugs, baby Sydney in her arms. Mason had flown back from the track and stood next to her. Three-year-old Devon latched on to Mason’s hand as if someone might steal him away from his daddy.
Violet moved on down the line, getting hugs from Jillian and Carson and two-year-old Maria. Lessa and Ryan, and Wilma and Monty rounded out the rest of the family. Wyatt was still in the picture. Camdon made it a priority to share regular father-son chats over the last few years. Discussions on purity and respect, and Camdon felt sure that Wyatt and Violet would eventually end up marrying.
He glanced around the family room, his gaze landing briefly on each loved one until it finally settled again on his beautiful wife. Sierra radiated happiness even though he knew she was exhausted. They’d been married five years, and he still woke up every morning thanking God for gifting him with the privilege of loving Sierra and Violet.
“This is so wonderful. Thank you, all.” Sierra made her way down the line, laughing and hugging, until the fragrance of roasted pork drew them around the table for lunch. Afterwards they squeezed onto sofas and grouped into clusters, the women all gathered around Sierra.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Carson asked.
“What’s amazing?” With arms crossed, Camdon rested his hip against the kitchen counter. His gaze kept straying to his wife, worried about her occasional grimaces and the hand that curled around her waist every few seconds.
She wasn’t going to make it through the party. He lifted the cup to his lips and drained the last of the sweet tea.
“How far we’ve come. How good God is.” Carson’s voice came out firm with conviction.
Camdon glanced at his sister. Who’d have guessed that a racecar driver who thrived in the media spotlight could heal Remi’s fears of going out in public?
His gaze swung to his twin, who stood in similar fashion, denim-covered hip hitched against the counter and arms crossed over a dressy button-down shirt. Except for the suit jacket and solid tee Camdon wore, they looked identical, but unique and different in so many ways. Only God could entice Carson, the wanderer, back home and grant him lasting peace and happiness with his high school sweetheart, Jillian.
All Camdon ever wanted was right here. And when he’d finally surrendered control of his family to God, right where it should have been all along, God had given him the desires of his heart.
Sierra. Violet, and soon, little Ryan. God willing, more little ones.
Camdon nodded, gratefulness rolling through him in waves. “Yeah.”
An incredibly loud moan lifted over the chatter and laughter, stealing his attention. Sierra’s chest lifted in short, quick pants. Jillian and Lessa each gripped a hand, helping her off the couch.
“Looks like it’s time to go.” His twin squeezed his shoulder. “You guys head on to the hospital. We’ll clean up and be right behind you.”
“Congrats, man. I’ll come by and meet the new little one on Monday.” Mason shook his hand.
“Thanks!” Adrenaline surged as Camdon made his way to his wife, love expanding and overflowing from his heart.
Family. They’d worked through the pain and sorro
w of their father’s suicide, coming alongside each other, lifting one another up during their weaknesses and celebrating their successes together. Each one was an integral part of his life, of their joined lives. Each, a strand, all woven to form a tapestry of love and support, of encouragement and blessing, a sharing of faith and home.
His legacy. The Lambright Legacy. Now he was passing it on to Violet, and soon, to his son.
Thank You, God. For healing. For peace. For surrender.
Thank you for reading A Time to Embrace! I’m so honored that you chose to read one of my stories. If you enjoyed it—and I hope you did!—please consider sharing your thoughts on Amazon. Positive reviews, even just a couple of sentences, help other readers discover new-to-them authors. Happy reading!
Enjoy this preview of A Time to Heal, the first book in the Love’s Time series. A cantankerous llama, a mistaken identity and a heart to heal.
“You gotta move if you want to eat, Jumbo.”
Remi Lambright nudged the curious four-hundred-pound llama out of the way with her shoulder and tossed the bale of hay into the pasture at Forever Family Animal Sanctuary.
Jumbo munched on the hay, staring at her with huge chestnut colored eyes and lashes that most females would envy. At least his long ears pointed up, and he wasn’t sounding his shrill alarm. Always a good sign with this cantankerous male.
“Sorry. That’s it for chow, big guy.” She patted his rump then made her way to the water bucket, sliding her gloves off and tucking them into the back pocket of her jeans.
She lifted the hose and turned the spigot, waiting until fresh water flowed over her hand before directing it into the trough. She shut off the water and straightened.
Five male llamas huddled together, their satisfied chomping noises breaking the early morning stillness, a cool breeze ruffling their fiber.
“Time to visit the little ladies. See you later, guys.” She cranked the four-wheeler, drove into the female territory, and unloaded another bale.