“Yes. Not only that, but she’s going to talk to her father about putting some of the Winthrop money into the effort. With that kind of backing, we can do something truly wonderful. We’ll be able to buy a very large place, furnish it nicely, and even bring in some staff to help keep it up. Maybe we can offer programs to teach women various things that can help them to be more self-sufficient.”
Alex laughed as she wiped away her tears. “You have this all figured out, don’t you?”
Her mother smiled and nodded. “I’ve had a lot of time to think. Ever since your Father’s indiscretions became more frequent, I wished there might be something out there for me. Then when he died and I was left alone while the investigation went on, I began to pray in earnest for how I might make a difference. I knew Rufus couldn’t atone for his sins, but perhaps I could atone for mine, as well as serve other hurting women.”
“I think it’s a grand idea, Mother. If anyone can make such a thing happen, you’ll be the woman for the job.”
“I’m glad you approve.”
Alex saw the joy in her mother’s expression and it warmed her to the innermost part of her being. “How could I not? I only want happiness for you. You deserve it.”
“So do you. So are you going to go find that cowboy and tell him how you feel?”
Alex smiled. “I think he’s waited long enough for an answer—and for my complete trust.”
“I think you’re right.”
As Alex got to her feet, her mother did likewise. Embracing her daughter, Katherine Keegan said, “Trust God first and foremost. The world will always disappoint you, but God never will. His love is never ending. He will see you through, even when things seem grim and dark. Even when the morning seems as though it will never come, He is your light. Don’t put that job off onto Luke. He’ll never be able to live up to it, and you’ll be disappointed in him. Just remember, it’s not his duty. As you said, he’s only human.”
Alex hugged her mother tight. She could only pray that she might gain insight and maturity from her mother’s words.
A knock on the door interrupted their moment, but Alex knew she would carry their conversation in her heart for the rest of her life. Allowing her mother to answer the door, Alex finished wiping her eyes.
“Ah, here’s where my best gals are held up,” Luke announced as he came in. His loud voice woke the baby, causing Brock to whimper and fuss. Without a word to the ladies, Luke strode across the floor and picked the infant up and rocked him back and forth. “Guess I’m going to have to learn to be a little more quiet when I enter a room, eh, Mrs. Keegan?” He grinned at Alex’s mother.
“When you have a baby in the house there are all kinds of concessions to be made,” her mother answered.
Alex thought it rather amazing that Luke should feel so at ease with the child. Alex felt her cheeks grow hot when Luke looked up to catch her watching him. He winked and gave her a smile.
“We were just talking over our plans for the future,” Katherine told Luke.
Alex nodded and tried to steer the conversation away from anything too personal. She wanted to wait until she and Luke were alone in order to discuss their own plans. “Mother plans to open a home for women who’ve been hurt or abandoned. She might move to Denver, and Valerie Winthrop is going to help her.”
“Miss Winthrop? Really?” Luke seemed just as surprised as Alex had been.
“Yes,” Alex replied. “Last night Mother helped Miss Winthrop see her need for the Lord.”
“Well, I’ll be,” Luke said, nodding in approval. “Just goes to show those folks I would have given up on, God has a plan for. Good thing I’m not in charge.”
Katherine smiled, looking more youthful in her appearance than Alex could ever remember. “I think we would all fail miserably at His job.”
“Well, I know I don’t have a big house yet, Mrs. Keegan, but you’d be welcomed to come live on our ranch and bring your wounded women too.” He chuckled softly. “Hey, I might even put them all to work. After all, I’m going to need ranch hands.”
Katherine and Alex shared a smile before Katherine crossed the room to take the baby from Luke. “You watch out, Luke Toland. I just might take you up on the offer.” She rocked the sleeping child a moment before looking back up to Luke. “You know, you’re quite good with children. I hope you’ll give me lots of grandchildren. You’ll no doubt be a wonderful father. We’ll have to work on that Mrs. Keegan thing, however. I don’t think I’d want you calling me that if we’re to be family.”
This time Luke blushed a deep crimson. Alex watched the color climb from the collar of his shirt and fan out across his cheeks. Even his nose turned red. “Well . . . uh . . . you know, I haven’t had an answer from your daughter regarding that matter.”
Alex knew the time had come to talk to Luke about her feelings. Looking to his broken wrist, she questioned, “Luke, do you suppose you could handle a horse? I mean for a ride?”
Luke looked at her with a bemused expression, seeming to forget his embarrassment. “Handle a horse? Can I handle a horse?” He looked to her mother. “Did you hear what she asked me?”
Katherine laughed and Alex reached out and grasped Luke’s arm. Pulling him toward the door, Alex called back over her shoulder. “We’re going for a ride, Mother. We shouldn’t be gone long.”
She could still hear her mother’s gentle laughter in the hall as she led Luke toward the stairs.
“Can I handle a horse? What kind of question was that, Alex?”
“Better mind your manners, Mr. Toland, or you won’t get an answer to the question you’ve been pestering me with of late.”
Luke stopped short, and Alex couldn’t help but laugh at the serious expression on his face. “Yes, ma’am,” he said with the briefest nod. “I surely wouldn’t want to jeopardize that.”
“I didn’t think so,” Alex said with a smile.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Alex finished with her horse, slipping three fingers between the cinch strap and the horse’s belly to make certain it was tight enough. Satisfied with her job, she couldn’t help but smile at the memory of Luke first teaching her to saddle a horse. She was just about as green as a girl could be when it came to dealing with livestock. She’d lived a sheltered city life, and the idea of having to deal with a horse was not only foreign to her, but scared her as well.
“What’s that smile all about?” Luke questioned. “I was just remembering when you first taught me to do this.”
“You haven’t done it all that much even in the four years since you’ve been here. I’d better inspect your work.” He took his horse’s reins in hand and wrapped them around the fence post. He went to Alex, looked over her work, and nodded. “You always were a quick learner.”
“I had a good teacher,” she threw back.
Alex raised the split skirt just enough to bring her booted foot to the stirrup. This accomplished, she grabbed for the horn and gave a couple of bounces to hoist herself into the saddle. Luke helped by giving her a push. He adjusted her stirrups to the proper length, making certain she was comfortable.
Handing her the reins, Luke let his hand linger on hers. “See, I told you I could handle a horse.”
She grinned. “We haven’t even started the ride yet. I wouldn’t be boasting until after we return.”
He laughed, gathered up his own reins, and vaulted into the saddle. Alex thought he made it look so easy. She always felt as though she were raising her leg straight up in the air just to put her foot in the stirrup.
They moved away from the stable at a leisurely pace. Alex eyed Luke’s cast and thought again of his injury. “So how is the arm? Is it hurting much these days?”
“Nah, it’s mostly just an inconvenience now. I can’t believe I have to wear this cast for another few weeks. Seems like bones ought to knit faster than that.”
“Too bad your patience suffers just as long in coming,” she teased.
“I have more patience than you
know of. I’ve been mooning over you all spring and you didn’t even notice me.”
Alex felt her stomach do a flip. “I noticed you, but I didn’t notice you like that. I thought you were just—”
“A good friend,” Luke interrupted. “I know. I came to hate those words.”
She laughed and took the lead on the trail as it narrowed. They rode for some distance, neither one talking. Alex knew Luke was waiting for her to speak up and tell him what he wanted to hear, but frankly she was nervous. Her hands were shaking even as she gripped the reins. Her horse whinnied softly, sensing her state of mind. It was probably not a good idea to suggest the ride, Alex thought. She knew horses were very sensitive to their rider’s dispositions.
The trail widened again when they reached the place where it headed into the canyon, but the widening was brief. The path quickly narrowed as it dipped at an incline. The canyon spread out below like a rich tapestry of browns and golds, greens and reds. It was God’s handiwork and God’s alone.
Instead of going into the canyon as Alex had suggested earlier, she reined back on the horse. Luke came even with her and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” “I think I’d like to talk to you here. My hands are shaking so hard I can hardly hold on to the reins.”
Luke grinned. “Shaky hands make it sound like things just might be going in my favor.”
She cast a gaze toward the skies above. “Doesn’t everything go in your favor?”
“I sure hope so—especially in this case.”
He dismounted and Alex did the same without waiting for his help. Kicking free of her stirrups, she slid over the side of the horse and landed with a thud on the rocky path. She was going to have to get a whole lot better at this kind of thing if she was to become a rancher’s wife.
She pulled the horse along and went to stand not far from the path. “So what’s wrong with being friends?”
The question took Luke off guard. In a flash she saw his expression change from humored to very serious. “There’s nothing wrong with being friends, unless you want more.” He came to stand beside her. “And I want more.”
His horse whinnied and bobbed his head up and down against Luke’s hold. They couldn’t help but laugh at his antics.
“See,” Luke said. “He agrees.” “So do I,” Alex said softly. “About that and so much more.” Luke reached out and pushed back an errant strand of brown hair. “I love it when you wear your hair down. Did you know that?”
“No, I don’t guess I did,” Alex replied, feeling her heart pick up its beat. Her breath caught in her throat.
Luke gently stroked her cheek. “So what more do you want?”
“Hmm?” she asked, feeling a million miles away, mesmerized by his touch.
“You said you wanted so much more.”
She nodded and looked back to the canyon. This piece of ground, this phenomenon of nature had played such an intricate role in her life. Even now, it was the scale on which she measured her next words.
“I want to receive enough love to fill up this canyon. I want to give that much love in return.” She turned to see Luke’s thoughtful expression. This time she was the one who reached out. She touched Luke’s cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her fingers. She rubbed her thumb along his jawline, the stubble scratching against her touch. Luke said nothing, although she could feel him tremble.
“I want to wake up every morning with my best friend at my side. I want your smile to be the first thing I see every day.”
“I’m kind of a bear in the morning,” he admitted. “You might not get a full smile out of me.”
Alex laughed. “Well, if Daniel can brave the lion’s den, then I suppose I can brave a bear in my bed.” She raised a brow as if considering something important, then added, “And if it becomes too difficult, I’ll simply have one of our children wake you up.”
Luke reached for her and pulled her close. The reins of his horse slapped gently against her arm. “I like the sound of ‘our children.’ I like even better the idea of waking up next to you every morning.”
“Oh, Luke, I love you more than I thought possible. The idea of giving my heart to someone has frightened me for so long that I couldn’t imagine ever getting beyond that hurdle. I truly figured to be alone for the rest of my life—or at best to be living with my mother.”
“Ah, darlin’, I could never have let that happen. My life isn’t worth a plug nickel without you. Spending most every day seeing you here at the canyon proved that to me. Every time you went away, I felt like a big chunk of my heart went too. I love you, Alex. I’ll never love another woman. I told your mother that, and now I’m pledging it to you.”
“What about Brock?”
Luke’s brows drew together. “What about him?” “What about us keeping him and raising him? It won’t allow us to go into marriage on our own. We’ll have a readymade family.”
“I don’t mind one bit so long as you’re a part of the arrangement. That baby doesn’t appear to have anyone else standing in line to make him a home.”
“But can you love him?” “Can you?”
Alex nodded. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t already have it in my heart to love him.”
“Then give me credit for feeling the same way.” “You truly are a treasure of a man,” she said, wrapping her arms around him. Lifting her face to him, Alex remembered the thrill of his kiss and hoped he’d seal the deal with another just like the first.
“So are you saying yes to me?” he asked, his mouth just an inch or so above hers.
“Yes,” she breathed. “I’ll marry you.” “When?”
She laughed. “Are you going to kiss me or not?”
He grinned at her playfully. “First answer my question. When are we getting married?”
“Probably sometime after my father’s funeral. Knowing my mother, she’s already planning the wedding. Will next week be soon enough?”
“I suppose if I have to wait until then, it’ll have to do.” Alex tightened her hold on him. “Now kiss me.” “Yes, ma’am.” Luke pulled her tight and lowered his mouth to hers. As his lips claimed her, Alex thought she might burst from the sheer joy of the moment. The emotion from their kiss warmed her from head to toe. Life with Luke Toland was going to be quite the adventure, she decided.
“Is this part of the park’s new attractions?” a familiar voice called out.
Luke and Alex separated and pulled back to find Clancy leading a small group of mules and riders. He motioned to the group. “We’re going to have to charge extra if this is going to be a regular show.”
Luke kept his hold on Alex and nodded. “This is going to be a regular thing, but not here at the canyon. We’re getting married and moving to Wyoming, just as soon as I get the details sorted out on the ranch I’m buying.”
“That’s why it’s particularly fortunate that we’ve run across you here,” another man called out. Bradley Jastrow dismounted from his mule and came to where Alex and Luke stood. “I was hoping to speak to you before I left the canyon tomorrow, and here you are.”
“I didn’t know you were still here, Mr. Jastrow,” Alex commented. “I’d heard your party had pulled out.”
“Most of them have,” the handsome man admitted. “I dismissed my staff as soon as I gave the press the word that I was pulling out of the race for president. But I stayed on because I wanted to arrange something special. I haven’t gotten all the details worked out, but I want you to have this.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. “Consider it thanks for saving my life.”
Luke took the envelope, but shook his head. “No thanks are needed. Like I told you before, Alex is the one who had most of this figured out. I just kind of followed her lead.”
“I’m grateful to you both. And in speaking with Miss Keegan’s mother, I understand there might be reason to celebrate soon.”
“That’s right,” Luke said, loud enough for Clancy to hear. “She just accepted my
proposal of marriage.”
“Well, pardon my sayin’ so, Miss Keegan, but it’s about time. I figured him a goner if you didn’t give in soon.”
Alex laughed, watching the grin broaden on Luke’s face. “I might say the same about you and a certain red-headed Harvey Girl,” Alex teased Clancy. “I’ve seen the way you two look at each other, so don’t think you’re fooling me.”
Clancy turned scarlet and looked away, muttering, “A fella has to think these things through.”
Alex and Luke laughed, knowing that Bernice just might have her work cut out for her with Clancy Franklin.
“You both have my congratulations,” Jastrow said, bringing their attention back to him. “Please consider this a wedding gift if you figure my thanks to be otherwise unnecessary.”
Luke opened the envelope and studied the paper for a moment. “I can’t accept this.”
“Mr. Toland, please understand, I’m a wealthy man and this is one way I can show my appreciation. I know that there is no amount of money that could equal my life, but rest assured when I say this is but a pittance, and I truly want you to have it.”
Alex couldn’t wait any longer. “What is it, Luke?”
Luke handed her the paper. “Mr. Jastrow is arranging for us to take ownership of a nine-hundred-acre ranch, complete with herd and house.”
“What!” Alex couldn’t believe it. “Mr. Jastrow, that’s much too generous. We could never accept this.”
“Please. You saved my life, and I have it in my means to help you with your new start in life. I know you didn’t save me because of what you could get out of me. That makes it all the more important that you let me do this. You helped me out of the goodness of your heart—out of a belief that life is sacred and that people should stop injustice where they find it. You were a blessing to me, now let me bless you in return. This entire matter has given me a new outlook on life. It’s really changed everything for the better.”
Alex looked to Luke and shrugged. “We’ve had worse thrust on us.”
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