Redemption In Red Desert: A Clean Western Historical Romance Novel
Page 31
* * *
“And you’ll be a great father,” Bonny said. “I know you will.”
* * *
“Wait here,” Kristian said. “I was going to give this to you later today, but given this news, I want to give it to you now.”
* * *
“Kristian, you didn’t get me a gift, did you?” Bonny asked.
* * *
He shot her a grin, but didn’t answer. They had kind of agreed that they wouldn’t get each other gifts, but he had to give her this no matter what.
* * *
Ducking into their bedroom, he went to the bureau he had built recently. From the drawer, he pulled a little box.
* * *
Opening it, he looked once again at the gift he had gotten Bonny. This was something that would mean the world to her.
* * *
From the other room, he could hear her starting to clear away the breakfast dishes. Kristian paused.
* * *
He wanted to make sure that he presented this in just the right way. Something with so much meaning couldn’t just be given any old way.
* * *
Later today, he would take her to town and let her pick out anything she wanted at the general store. Then, they would go see the house.
* * *
Both things were going to be part of their lives. This, though, was going to be special.
* * *
Taking a deep breath, Kristian stepped back out into the living room. “Hey, Bonny, I did get you something for our anniversary.
* * *
“I know we agreed not to get each other anything, but this was something that I just had to get you.”
* * *
Bonny set the plate she was washing back into the sink, wiped her hands on her apron, and approached him. “But, Kristian, I didn’t get you anything.”
* * *
“Well, you’ve already given me the best gift that I could imagine, so I think mine will pale in comparison,” he said.
* * *
Pulling out his box, he held it out to her. When she didn’t take it immediately, he asked, “Do you want to open it?”
* * *
Bonny held up her hands and said, “They’re still kind of soapy. Would you open it for me?”
* * *
She smiled sweetly at him. The way she smiled always made him melt inside. He loved her more than he had ever thought possible.
* * *
Carefully, he opened the lid off the box. Watching Bonny’s face, Kristian knew he had done the right thing by getting her the gift.
* * *
Lying on a soft bed of cotton was her grandmother’s ring.
* * *
Kristian watched a whole host of emotions cross Bonny’s face as she registered what she was seeing in the box. She pressed her hand to her mouth as she gasped.
* * *
“Is that… is that what I think it is?”
* * *
Nodding, Kristian said, “Your grandmother’s ring.”
* * *
Bonny flew into Kristian’s arms, hugging him hard. When she stepped back, tears were streaming down her cheeks.
* * *
Kristian was confused and he worried that he had upset her somehow. “Why are you sad?” he asked.
* * *
Shaking her head, Bonny swiped at her cheeks. “I’m not sad,” she said. “I’m so happy. I love that you got me the ring back. I’m just shocked, I guess. How did you get it?”
* * *
Kristian shrugged. “I just asked Graves where he pawned it and I bought it back. To be honest, I’ve had it for a little while.
* * *
“I wanted to give it to you for something special. This seemed like the most special kind of day.”
* * *
Bonny slipped into his arms again. “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier,” she said.
* * *
Kristian hugged her back. “I don’t think I have, either.”
Epilogue
Two years later
* * *
The sun was rising and had colored the sky a rosy pink. Kristian and Bonny sat on their horses as they looked toward the sunrise.
* * *
The red rays streamed through the trees and gave a gladness to the morning. Occasionally, the two would ride out to this spot at sunrise and just watch the sun come up.
* * *
“It never gets old,” Krisitian said, looking at the sunrise.
* * *
“No, it doesn’t,” Bonny agreed. “There are lines in the scripture about the beauty of creation revealing the grace of God.
* * *
“Wish I could remember it exactly. But this spot has revealed the grace and the favor of God. We are so blessed.”
* * *
“So we are. And there was a time when I thought I and the ranch and everything I dreamed about would go down the drain.” He shrugged.
* * *
“I guess it almost did. And would have, I think, if I hadn’t picked the right wife from the east.”
* * *
She smiled. “You know, I remember what I said when I came out, but I’m so happy now I won’t even mind if you take a drink now and then,” she laughed.
* * *
“And thanks for not objecting to a few members of my family coming out to visit. There was a time when, so help me, I didn’t think if I cared if I ever saw any of them again.
* * *
“But I discovered I would. They’re my brothers and sisters, I would like to say hello to them again.
* * *
“And say hello to Betty, I’m so glad she is happy too. She looked so good when she visited. And so happy.”
* * *
“Yes, well, you need to see your relatives. Families are important.” He chuckled.
* * *
“Although I know sometimes it’s easier to love your family at a distance than being in the same house with them. But I’m sure it was good to see a few members of your family again.”
* * *
“And a few of them really liked Colorado. They are talking about moving out when they are of age. And I must admit that this part of the country is beautiful.
* * *
“It’s a lot more scenic than the city. We never saw sunrises like this in Philadelphia. I know some people call this God’s Country, and I think it is.”
* * *
“We are going to have more of it soon. We are close to buying those sixty acres on the western part of our ranch.
* * *
“Matt Devlin has decided that he wants to sell after all, and we agreed upon a good price. We need the land, too. We need to expand.” He looked at Bonny.
* * *
“Also, we need to decide if we are going to run cattle and horses on our ranch or just one. Do you still feel we should go with horses?”
* * *
Bonny nodded. “Yes. There are other people in the region who are raising cattle so we would have some competition there. There’s fewer raising horses.
* * *
“Besides, I have a fondness for horses. I want to make the ranch famous for good horses. Make it famous across the West.”
* * *
Kristian nodded. “We can do that.”
* * *
“We might be needed to head back. Sally will be awake soon and be yelling for her folks.”
* * *
“Won’t be long until we can bring Sally out here with us. Even at a year old, she has an affinity for horses.
* * *
“We could bring us out with us one of these days. If she doesn’t sleep late, which she has been doing more and more.”
* * *
She leaned on the saddlehorn. “We have so much to be thankful for. The ranch is expanding and prospering. Sally is healthy and such a wonderful child.”
* * *
“And looks just like you.”
* * *
“Not just like.”
* * *
“Well, looks remarkably like you. And things could have turned out very differently. I never should have started drinking and borrowing money from O’hara.”
* * *
“Forget about that now. He was a very intelligent man and a very conniving man. He had planned his thievery for years.
* * *
“You can add patient to his list of traits, not that many people would be that patient in planning a crime. But I must admit, I didn’t mind hearing he was killed down in Laredo six months ago.
* * *
“He tried a different scheme but it didn’t work. We don’t need people like him in the West. There are plenty of honest and good people out here, too, and many of them live in Red Desert. “
* * *
“That’s true. I love the people here. And I’m glad we have Reverend Smallwood for our minister. He said one or two things that stuck with me during that trying period and helped get me turned around.
* * *
“We have been through so much, but I do wake up every day and thank the Lord we are where we are.”
* * *
“Oh, and I should tell you. I wasn’t sure until last night. But I’m pregnant again. We’re going to have another baby.”
* * *
“Wonderful! Our family is expanding.”
* * *
“I just feel like it will be a boy this time. And… I think we should call him John.”