“You don’t dance? You didn’t tell me that. I’m not much of a dancer myself, but I’d take you for a spin if you’d like.”
She looked at the floor, then met his eyes. “No, that’s all right. Watching is fine.”
Questions and skepticism in his eyes, Mathew moved beside her as he glanced at the dance floor, then back at her. “Every young girl I know loves to dance, Ellie.”
She couldn’t meet his gaze but gave a quick smile, willing him to just let this go so they could enjoy the rest of the evening.
Unexpectedly, Mathew took her chin between his fingers and lifted her face so she was forced to look him in the eyes. “What’s going on, Ellie?”
How could the man read her so well?
“Oh, fiddle, Mathew. I don’t know how to dance, if you must know.” There, she’d admitted it. His mouth fell open ever so slightly before he clamped it shut.
“Everyone knows how to dance,” he said after a heartbeat.
She shook her head as the music slid straight into a second song.
“Why don’t you know how to dance? Don’t tell me, dear old Aunt Millicent never took you to a dance.” Mathew’s face was incredulous.
It almost made Ellie smile. “I went to only a few dances. But honestly, Mathew, this isn’t important.”
“No, Ellie,” he said gently, holding down his anger. “It is important. Why don’t you know how to dance?”
Ellie huffed. “Well, if you must know, I was never asked to dance.” There, she’d admitted that too.
MATHEW COULD NOT BELIEVE HIS EARS. ELLIE A WALLFLOWER. Frustration at the injustice of it all engulfed him like a Texas grass fire. “Your part of Fort Worth was full of fools.” He stepped in front of Ellie, hating the sting of humiliation in her eyes. He’d come to know Ellie as the most vibrant and alive person he’d ever met. She played with Sophie with the abandon of a child herself and she looked at the work on the ranch as an adventure.
Tamping down his anger, he pulled Ellie into his arms. “May I have this dance, Mrs. McConnell?”
Her eyes flew wide in shock. “No.” She shook her head and pushed against his arms.
“What?” Baffled, Mathew held on. “Ellie. Dance with me.”
“Mathew, no. I . . . I can’t,” she hissed softly. “I’ve never danced before. I don’t know what to do.”
He smiled, glad that he was about to be the one to dance with her first. “Take my hand, Ellie. Trust me.” He held her worried eyes with his, willing her to trust him. She breathed in deeply, her lips grim as she looked from his offered hand to his eyes. He smiled. “You’re not scared, are you?”
Her blue eyes fired up and her jaw jutted out. There’s some spirit, he thought, knowing the barb would bring back that fire that he’d come to love. She jammed her fingers into his hand, hiked her chin, and held his gaze. He pulled her closer and his heart kicked like a bull.
Despite trying not to, had he fallen in love with Ellie? Somehow that thought wasn’t as troubling as it had been in the not-too-distant past.
“You lead,” she ground out. “I’ll follow.”
He grinned, touched his forehead to hers, processing his emotions. “I like the sound of that, Ellie.” Fighting the urge to kiss her, he warned instead, “Hang on, honey, and go with me.” And then he spun her out onto the dance floor, practically lifting her up as he went.
Tonight his wife was going to dance like nobody had ever danced before.
The stars were shining as they waved their good-byes. Ellie glanced into the bed of the wagon where Sophie was snuggled, fast asleep on the soft blankets Mathew had laid out for her. “Sophie had a wonderful evening,” Ellie said as Mathew turned the horses onto the road and headed toward home.
“How about you, Ellie? Did you have a good time?”
Mathew’s gentle question wrapped around her like a warm blanket, and Ellie could not help but long for his arms once more. “I had a glorious time.” Her gaze locked with his and a shiver raced through her.
“Good,” he said, grinning. “You are a fast learner.”
“I had a great teacher. I’m thinking you must have never missed a dance growing up.” The man had danced with her until she thought her feet would fall off and then they’d danced some more. She hadn’t wanted to stop. Stopping meant his arms wouldn’t be around her any longer. Oh, how she loved this man. How could she not?
“I had my fair share of dances, it’s true,” he said. Clucking, he urged the team to pick up their pace a bit, then he looked back at her. “But no one has ever been more fun to dance with than you.”
Ellie’s breath caught and her heart stilled. Oh, Mathew, if you could only love me.
Not knowing what to say, Ellie simply smiled and then looked up at the stars. There were thousands of them tonight.
They traveled in silence. Her heart was overflowing with the beauty of what she and Mathew had shared tonight. She didn’t want to spoil any of it by asking . . . by pushing for more.
She wouldn’t be greedy. She must be content.
They’d turned off the road and were crossing their land now, the lane illuminated by the soft moonlight and the canopy of brilliant stars.
“Did Beth love to dance?” Ellie asked at long last. The question burst from her in the silence and it was between them before she could stop it. She was hopeless!
Mathew sat up straighter and she wasn’t sure he was going to answer. “Yes, she did,” he said at last. Then, meeting her gaze, he added, “Almost as much as you.”
Pressing her lips together, she held back the smile that yearned to bloom at his words. “Do you miss her terrible?” she asked softly, feeling for him.
He nodded. “I think I always will.”
He sounded so wistful, it was just as she’d thought. Heart clutching, she closed her eyes and let his words sink in. They had come to this companionable relationship, but that was all it would ever be.
Mathew slowed the buckboard until it came to a halt. “Ellie, look at me.”
Ellie thought her heart would burst. She couldn’t look at him. How, oh how could she be jealous of a dead woman?
Forcing herself to have some dignity, she looked at him and smiled. “She was a very lucky woman.”
He’d stopped the buckboard just before a bend in the road beside a stand of trees. “Ellie, listen to me.” He took her in his arms. “I am a lucky man. A blessed man,” he said. He was lowering his lips to hers when suddenly three cows rounded the bend in the road, flanked by two riders.
Mathew let go of Ellie, pushed her behind him protectively as he reached for his gun.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” said the man who approached on their right, the click of his rifle’s hammer sounding as he aimed it straight at Ellie. It gleamed ominously in the moonlight.
Mathew went stone still beside her. “Don’t move, Ellie. Don’t speak. Just go easy.”
To them he said, “Don’t do anything you’ll regret in the morning.” One man had a beard, its outline visible in the light, though his hat shadowed the rest of his face. The taller one with the gun wore a duster and she couldn’t see his facial features beneath his hat either.
“I’m thinkin’ we ain’t got much choice in the matter. Seein’ as how you know these are your cattle.”
Ellie couldn’t move. Stealing cattle was a hanging offense. So what would they have to lose if they hurt them in the process? Or worse?
“Why don’t you toss that six-shooter you’re holding this direction. Or I use the little lady for target practice.”
Ellie gasped. “Mathew—”
“Hush, Ellie. Just hold tight.” Mathew tossed his weapon to the ground.
They were now at the mercy of these varmints. Ellie glanced over her shoulder at Sophie. Sweet Sophie. She would do what she needed to save her baby.
The bearded rider walked his horse over and looked down at them. “Boss, they’ve got a baby over here.”
“That so.”
“Yeah, I don’t know about no baby.”
“Get out of the wagon, you two,” the boss guy demanded, ignoring his partner. “And bring that baby with you.”
Ellie could hardly breathe. She prayed that God would help them. Prayed that Mathew wouldn’t do anything careless. Maybe if they just did as they were told, they’d be spared.
She reached for Sophie. Mathew started to help her but the man with the beard leveled his rifle on him. “You stay still.”
Ellie pulled Sophie into her arms as gently as she could, but the child woke up and immediately began to wail.
“Get that cryin’ baby to shut up,” the boss ordered. “And get down off that wagon.”
Mathew nodded and Ellie eased out of the wagon, clutching Sophie to her. Once they were on the ground, she tried to soothe Sophie, but she could not be consoled. Maybe it was waking up in the dark in a strange place that had her disturbed. Or seeing these strange faces. Ellie clung to her and prayed for God to intervene.
“Now you get out of the wagon,” the bearded man commanded. Mathew took his time, never taking his eyes off the man. A dangerous look in Mathew’s eyes set alarms off inside Ellie. What was he thinking about doing?
“You know they have descriptions of you,” he said, moving to stand at the head of the wagon. “I talked with the sheriff this evening and he said he got the Wanted posters today. Your days in this area are numbered.”
“What we gonna do with these three? Leave ’em, they can’t do nothin’ to us,” the bearded outlaw said. “We need to get out of Texas. Fast.”
“Take them into the woods and get rid of them. Now git,” the boss man spat out. “And quit your bellyaching.”
Mathew had placed himself between the two riders, and Ellie was pretty certain he’d done it for a reason. Part of that reason was to distance them from her and Sophie, who were standing on the other side of the wagon. Sophie was still carrying on. Ellie was so distraught she was sure the baby could sense it.
An owl hooted from the woods and Ellie shivered. Would this be the end of them?
“Why don’t you two think this through,” Mathew said calmly. “If you start now, you’ll be well on your way out of this county by morning. We’ll keep our mouths shut and give you time to make it out. Just let my wife and baby go. Killing a woman and child is going to bring a rain of fire down on you. You’ll be hunted down—”
The boss galloped his horse over to Mathew and poked his pistol at Mathew’s chest. “Keep your mouth shut,” he snapped.
“But, boss, he’s got a point. If’n we kill ’em, we’ll never have any peace.”
To Ellie’s dismay, the boss leveled his gun on his partner. “Climb down off that horse and do as I’ve told you or I’ll shoot you myself. Do you hear?”
Muttering, the man did as he was told. Grumbling, he poked Mathew in the back and shoved him with his gun. “You heard the man. Git!”
Mathew’s jaw tightened but he said nothing as he met Ellie’s gaze over the wagon. Ellie was rocking Sophie, trying desperately to quiet her cries, and she realized Mathew was not going to go down without a fight. He was not going to just let these men walk them into the woods and shoot them. He would die trying to save them.
Oh, Lord. “Please listen to him,” Ellie blurted over Sophie’s wails. “You’ve just stolen some cattle. You don’t want to do this.”
“Ellie, quiet now,” Mathew demanded. “Stay right where you are.”
“Hey,” the boss growled. “I’m giving the orders here, and I’m telling the little lady to make nice and get over here with you.”
Mathew had a rifle jammed in his back. He was only about three steps from the rustler on the horse, that man’s gun now pointed straight at Ellie. Tension was so high, electricity vibrated in the air. Ellie didn’t move, couldn’t move—it was as if God had put a hand on her shoulder and was holding her in place just as a low, thunderous rumble sounded through the trees.
Thunder? Sophie’s tears had soaked her shirt, and Ellie clutched the dear child closer to her heart and bent her lips to her sweaty hair. “Please, please calm down, little darlin’,” she whispered, but Sophie wailed louder and the thunder drew closer—Ellie recognized the sound just as Prudence burst from the trees, charging straight forward.
Chaos erupted!
The two horses hitched to the wagon bolted and broke for home, startling the outlaws. Mathew grabbed the rifle from the man on the ground and wrenched it from his hands just as Prudence hit the man full force and plowed right over him. The boss man was trying to control his horse as Mathew dove for him, grabbed him, and yanked him from the rearing horse. The outlaw hit the ground with a thud. A gun went off, and Ellie realized she was standing in the open with Sophie in her arms!
“Dear Lord, keep Mathew safe,” she yelled and ran for the trees. Shots rang out behind her. She planted her back to the first oak she came to. Sophie had stopped crying and in the shadowed darkness Ellie could see the whites of her eyes; they were as round as saucers. Feeling the little girl’s limbs and torso, Ellie satisfied herself that none of the gun-shots had hit her. Breathing heavily, Ellie prayed hard, then turned, keeping Sophie as close to the trunk as she dared to peek around the edge.
To her relief, Mathew had the gun and it was aimed at the outlaw whose arms were in the air. The second outlaw wasn’t doing as well; he was flat on his stomach with Prudence sitting on top of him.
It was over.
“Ellie,” Mathew yelled. “Are you and Sophie all right?”
Ellie almost cried at the fear and concern she heard in his voice. “Yes,” she called, feeling weaker than she ever had. He was safe.
They were safe.
God had seen them through.
And Prudy did own this ranch now and could sleep inside by the fire this winter if she wanted to. Anything. Anything at all that mule wanted that mule could have!
AT DAWN’S LIGHT, ELLIE HAD STRONG COFFEE BREWING. She stood by the window, waiting. Mathew had tied the two outlaws together and lashed them to a tree. Then he pulled a saddle from one of the outlaw’s horses and placed it on Prudence. Once that was done, he held Sophie while Ellie climbed into the saddle. He put Sophie in front of Ellie and let Prudence take them home.
He went for the sheriff.
Ellie had rocked her sleeping Sophie for the next four hours and waited. Finally she’d placed her baby into her bed, closed the door, and made coffee. Then she’d made biscuits. And she waited some more. Before long she’d make something else just to keep her hands busy.
Where is he?
So much had happened since the first time she’d scanned Honey Springs and asked that same question.
Her life was so much richer than it had been then. Things weren’t as she’d dreamed, but she could live with that. If only he’d come home and she could see his face.
He’d said he missed Beth. She’d heard the love and regret in his voice. Closing her eyes, she accepted the blessings that she had gained and she tried not to long for what lay behind the doors God had closed.
Hoofbeats. She looked out the front door and saw him coming.
So strong and powerful in the saddle. Hurrying outside, still in her dress from the party, she didn’t care if she fell down. She raced across the yard, skirts flapping and tangling as she ran. At the edge of the corral she stopped, put her hand to her forehead, and watched him gallop her way. The man was born to ride.
Jumping from the saddle, he didn’t stop until he had her in his arms.
Ellie buried her face in his chest, her hands gripping his shirt. She breathed in the very essence of him. Thank You, Lord, for bringing him home. “You’re safe,” she sobbed.
“It’s all right, Ellie. It’s over.” He ran his hands down her back and over her arms and then he hugged her tight and his lips brushed the skin of her neck. Ellie went still in his arms, letting herself savor the moment.
“I thought I was going to lose you, Ellie,” he said, his voice breaking.
> Had he said what she thought he’d said?
He lifted his head and took her face in his hands. “Ellie, I love you. I’ve been trying to deny it. But I was a fool.”
Warmth and light exploded inside Ellie at his words. Her heart was bursting and she couldn’t contain the smile that took over her face. But did she dare believe— “Oh, Mathew. I thought when you told me you would always miss Beth that there was never any hope for me.”
He sobered. “I will always miss Beth. She is part of me, and always will be. But you are too, Ellie. You are my blessing from God. I have been too blind to realize it. I feel so humbled that God would send me you—” He stopped speaking and his brows dipped into that scowl that she’d come to love. “Wait, you haven’t said—”
“I love you, Mathew,” Ellie said with emotion, then she pressed her lips to his. “I’ve loved you from the first moment I read the ad—”
Before she could say anything more, Mathew covered her mouth with his, kissing her with all the love and longing she’d dreamed of. Skin-tingling, toe-curling, heart-pounding love poured into her and left her breathless. There was the promise of a future and a family in that kiss, and Ellie’s knees would have given out beneath her if Mathew hadn’t been crushing her so tightly in his arms.
Suddenly he pulled back to look at her. “Wait, I didn’t write the lovely words you fell for.”
She laughed as joy filled her soul. “The promise of you and Sophie was in those words. They gave me courage to change my life and a hope that I could have a future with you. And I loved the idea of you. And knowing you, being with you each day, has only made my love stronger.”
“I love you, Ellie McConnell. And I want to spend the rest of my days showing you just how much.”
“Now that is what I love about you, Mathew. You are a man of your word.” Ellie smiled and took his hand. “I think it’s time you moved into the house.”
Mathew threw back his head and laughed, a deep, rumbling laugh that filled Ellie with happiness. What a life they would have. “Lead on, Ellie. Let’s get started.”
Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy, Debra Clopton Page 14