Clint nodded at Pepper. “She’s got a pretty mean arm, don’t you think? And he sure deserved it.”
“He certainly did,” Beau Archer added. “You girls made me proud. Did better than I could have done.”
“Oh, Papa, I don’t think so. You’ve probably done better. You know, back in the good old days,” Pepper said, wrapping her arm through her father’s and pulling him inside. “How about we all go in. Except for—you know—those two,” she said, nodding in the direction of Clint and Sage.
“Oh, yes, of course,” Beau said, holding his other arm out for Mrs. Allen and escorting them all inside. Mr. Jackson held his arm out for Tarra and soon, the porch was quiet but for the two of them.
Sage crossed over to the porch swing and sat down, patting the seat next to her.
Clint stood still for a moment.
“Are you sure?” he asked, uncertain how she felt after both spectacles—the one at the restaurant and the tomato scene at the bottom of the porch. But his heart lifted when she smiled, her blue eyes sparkling.
“I’m sure. Positive, actually.”
He sat beside her, comforted as she pushed away from the porch and the swing began to sway.
His heart truly lifted when she took his hand.
“Clint, there’s something I would like to say to you.”
He held his breath, hoping that she wasn’t still furious with him. Hoping that by bringing the doctor here to apologize—even though he hadn’t—that getting to throw a tomato at him might make her feel better. Hoping that she knew how much he thought of her and her abilities—much greater than his own. Hoping she knew how much he loved her.
He waited until she was ready to speak.
Sage cleared her throat as she squeezed his hand.
“I didn’t realize until recently that honor and respect were to be earned, not just given. When I started to work for Dr. Folsom a while back, I thought that the piece of paper on his wall made him a decent person, an honorable human being. Because how could someone vow to help people, do no harm, and not be a respectable person?”
Clint stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.
“It wasn’t until I met you that I learned the difference between a person who was supposed to be good and kind, and someone who truly was good and kind.”
His heart warmed at her words, and he squeezed her hand.
“Sage, I—”
“Wait, I’m not finished,” she said with a smile. “I don’t think I truly believed in myself until you did...and then I came to believe you were right. Thank you for believing in me when I didn’t—couldn’t.”
She reached up and brushed her fingers on his forehead, and peace and comfort overwhelmed him. He leaned forward, unable to stop himself from doing what he’d wanted to do for weeks.
He brushed his lips against hers, and his heart soared when she leaned forward, returning his kiss and wrapping her arms around his neck.
The open window behind the porch swing couldn’t shield from the sighs and gasps on the other side. Sage pulled back and turned to the window and his heart leapt into his throat, prepared for Mr. Archer to bound onto the porch and pummel him for his behavior. He could only hope that he’d be able to convince Sage’s father that he loved her, and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and that might spare his life.
“Stop it, all of you, and shut that window right now,” Sage said. There were some titters, followed by the thud of the window closing, and Clint thought there was only one thing that could make him happier, besides another kiss from the woman he loved.
Chapter 30
Once Sage was satisfied that the window was shut and the curtains were drawn, she leaned in for another kiss. Clint’s sweet lips met hers and she knew, more than ever, that she had found love.
Clint pulled back and took both of Sage’s hands in his. She looked up into his earnest eyes, curious what he was thinking. She didn’t have to wait long.
“Sage, I’ve been thinking. I’ve been thinking a lot. I’ve never met anyone quite like you. You have the heart of a physician, and it saddens me that you feel that you’re not as good as that horrible Dr. Folsom.”
Sage squeezed his hand. It was apparent that Clint believed in her in a way that Dr. Folsom never had, and she was embarrassed that she’d ever put such faith in Dr. Folsom in the first place. What Mrs. Allen had said was right...you can’t tell the heart of a man by his credentials. And Clint was the epitome of a real man, in all ways. His heart, his nature, his kindness...this was what she wanted.
“Clint, I—”
He put his warm finger to her lips to silence her.
“I’m not finished.”
She looked down at her lap, waiting for him to continue. Her heart soared when he took her hand once more.
“I thought I was happy, fine, alone in New York. After seeing what Tombstone has to offer—”
She couldn’t help but laugh.
“With all its brothels, hotels, interesting characters—”
“I think interesting is an understatement,” she said before he shushed her again.
“I can’t imagine going back to New York. Not without you.”
She stiffened and turned toward him.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Sage, I don’t want to leave without you. I want to finish my studies, become a doctor, but not without you by my side. And I want you to find your dream, too. You were born to be a blessing to people in need.”
“Clint, I live here, in Tombstone. And being a doctor is not available to me. A nurse, maybe, but not here. Not in Tombstone.”
Clint slid off the porch swing and got down on one knee.
“Sage, come with me. Come to New York. Be my wife, my partner. We’ll find a way for you to study to be a nurse, or a doctor, or whatever you want. I know it can happen. I know that several women have graduated medical school in the past few years, so you wouldn’t be the first. But you’d be the best. I know we can find a way.”
Sage’s eyes welled with tears. Not only was this charming, handsome and kind man professing his love for her, but offering to help make her dream come true. She was overcome with emotion, the difference between Clint’s love for her and the way the doctor treated her never more vivid in her mind—and in her heart.
She let her tears flow, and pulled him up from his knees to sit beside her. She rested her head on his shoulder, and soon lifted her lips to meet his. The warmth, the trust, the love—she could feel it in her bones. For the first time in her life.
“I’d be honored to become Mrs. Jackson, if you’ll have me.”
They both laughed at the applause coming from the closed window—and the hoots and hollers from her sisters.
“I would be overjoyed, Sage. Please be mine,” Clint said, before he rested his lips on hers once more.
Epilogue
Sage looked past Clint, who was standing at the window, and gazed at the New York skyline. She couldn’t believe how much had changed in her life—and here she was, married and living in New York, in an apartment overlooking the bustling city.
George, Clint’s houseman, held out a silver tray carrying an envelope to Sage.
“For you, Madam. From Tombstone.” He smiled as she lifted the contents of the tray and accepted the letter opener he extended. She slit open the envelope and handed the letter opener back to Clint’s faithful employee with a smile.
She opened the folded paper, smoothing it on her lap as she sipped her tea in the wing-backed chair.
“Oh!” she cried, and Clint looked up from his books toward her.
“What is it? Is Father all right? The girls? The ranch?”
She shook her head, sorry that she’d worried him. It was good news, after all, and she should have prefaced it that way.
“Yes, everything is fine. More than fine, actually.” She stood and crossed the large parlor of the apartment. Clint was in his final term at medical school and she was in her first—o
ne of the very few women in the program. It had been a dream come true when she’d been accepted, against all odds, and she aimed to be the first woman doctor in Tombstone. She studied hard, and with Clint’s help, she was moving ahead quickly in her studies. Even though it seemed far away, George was already helping with plans for them to move back to Tombstone.
Since their wedding, and even before, they’d shared their hopes and dreams—to help people who needed them, in rural communities such as Tombstone that had access to only mediocre medical care. After their experience with Dr. Folsom, they’d made a pact to go back, to serve Tombstone as it grew, and they were almost there.
She handed the letter she’d received to Clint, her eyes misting.
He took it from her, concern in his eyes, and then he read it out loud.
My dearest Sage and Clint~
I hope this letter finds you well and happy. Your wedding was quite an event—we’ve seldom seen Archer Ranch quite so alive.
Will and I wanted to extend our gratitude to you for the gift of your healing tonics. The new doctor in town has confirmed that we are expecting, with a baby to be arriving around Christmas. We do hope that you will be here to greet him or her, as you, Sage, made this happen for us. We are eternally grateful that you believed in the impossible, and helped us make it happen.
With unending gratitude,
Carol and Will
Sage’s eyes filled with tears. Clint stood, taking her in his arms as the letter flittered to the ground.
“Sage, you truly are a miracle-worker,” he said as he leaned in to steal a kiss from his wife.
“No, I’m not. It’s my mother who learned to do this. I just carried on her legacy.”
Clint laughed and drew her even closer.
“You can say that, but I believe the magic lies in you, too. We’re going to be quite a team, Mrs. Jackson.”
“I do believe you’re right, Mr. Jackson,” Sage said as she rested her head on his shoulder.
“So, did you save some of Carol’s tonic for yourself? Maybe you should take some of your own magic, my love. I wouldn’t mind at all if you took some.”
Sage playfully swiped at his shoulder.
“I think that would be wonderful, too. As soon as the time is right. We’re not quite out of school yet, but then the world is our oyster.”
“I don’t exactly like oysters, but I like your plan,” Clint said as he pulled her into his arms. “Everything will be right on time.”
Sage’s sister Tarragon finds love in the next book in the Brides of Archer Ranch series. It will be available in Kindle Unlimited, but for now, it’s available for pre-order here:
Tarragon: Bride of Archer Ranch
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Saffron: Bride of Archer Ranch
Carol: Bride of Archer Ranch
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Christmas at Archer Ranch
Tarragon: Bride of Archer Ranch
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If you like sweet contemporary romance, I write with a group of very dear friends about River’s End Ranch, a destination resort in Idaho. We alternate releases, and there’s a new book every two weeks!
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This is a work of fiction. Characters and events in this novel are the product of the author’s imagination. Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
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