His mention of their first sight caught her by surprise. As if a portrait painted in her mind, she recalled the sorrow in his eyes and the unhappiness during their time together. Now, when she stared at him, she saw hope and love, the same as she felt. “I remember that day.” She caressed his cheek.
He kissed her hand, saying against her skin, “I want us to have so many days together, they blend into one long lifetime. You’re wrong about being my second choice wife. I’m a man twice blessed and don’t intend on letting the last love of my life go.”
“I’m a love of your lifetime, almost as much as Sally was?”
“Yes, almost.” Before she could reply, he added, “You and I aren’t even engaged and we’d need to be married just to make sure.”
“Need to be, hm?” She smiled at his flimsy argument. “I’m not so sure about marrying a man just to prove him right.”
Samuel startled them by asking, “Beth, Do I need to get Calhoon over here to marry you?”
“She is not ever marrying that man, Sam,” he replied with a smile. “I forbid it.”
He squatted down to his brother’s eye level and retorted, “He’s the only minister in a twenty mile range, and his feelings might be hurt if you refuse to let him.”
“Oh.”
Beth pulled away from Nicholas and stood, straightening out her skirt. Saying yes would be the easy thing for her to do. They’d not discussed a future together. Daggart’s very exsistance had forbidden them. She bit her lip, and saw him still sitting there, looking up at her like a lost puppy. She didn’t want to say no but didn’t feel comfortable accepting a proposal. “I’m not sure.”
He hopped to his feet. “What can I do to help you decide in my favor? Shall I draw up a list of my assets, my educational history, my family tree, or even have Sam speak for me?”
Samuel wore an evil grin. “You know I won’t be kind to him.”
Both men stared at her as if willing Beth to give them the answer Nicholas wanted. All this would be much more amusing if she weren’t so tired and hungry all of a sudden. “Gentlemen, let’s discuss this after dinner.”
“I don’t want to wait.” Nicholas crossed his arms. “I love you, can provide whatever you need, and have a solid family in Oregon. We could even move back to Missouri. I have a house there.”
Samuel laughed. “Make him take you to Oregon. He has more land there and can build you a bigger shack than the house he has in Missouri.”
“You’re not helping,” Nicholas growled.
“Neither are you. Let’s feed Miss…?”
“Roberts,” offered Beth.
“Roberts, and then pester her into accepting you. Tell her how much land our family has, how much our mother wanted a daughter, and don’t forget to mention that you won’t be home much. That’ll convince her.”
“Sam.”
She frowned. If she did marry him, she wanted him with her most days. “Why won’t you be home?”
The younger brother stepped between them, telling Beth, “He’s not been back since Sally died and won’t be used to taking orders from a woman.”
Behind him, Nicholas tapped his brother on the shoulder. “Don’t you have something else to do that’s anywhere but here?”
“I’m going, I’m going.” Samuel headed out toward the wagon party, hollering, “Be sure to tell her you’re kinder to everyone else than you are to me,” as he left.
Once certain his brother was gone, Nicholas’s cheek brushed hers as he leaned forward then back to take her hands. “Elizabeth, we’re only a third of the way home, and yes, our home is in Oregon. Before you can argue, you need to know that anything can happen between here and there. Most of it will be bad while some of it might be good. The only certainty I have about the trail ahead is that I want to travel it as your husband.” Keeping hold of her hands, he knelt on one knee. “I need you in my life and can promise you’ll always be first in my heart.”
Beth’s heart pleaded with her to believe him. Seeing how his eyes echoed her own feelings added to the argument. “I don’t know if you can say that. Daggart wanted—”
“He isn’t me, Elizabeth. I want you for yourself, not as some sad replacement for Sally. I can never be her husband again, but I can be yours and that’s all I want for the rest of my life. If we’re married, I’ll prove it to you every day.”
She wanted to take him in her arms and never let go. “Well, then. It looks like Mr. Calhoon is marrying me after all.” She helped up her groom. “Or rather, marrying us. Let’s go find him and make arrangements for the ceremony.”
On his feet, he asked, “To be clear, you’re saying yes to marrying me?”
She wrapped her arms around Nicholas, kissing his face. “I’m saying yes very much, so shall we go?”
“Of course, my future Mrs. Granville.” He laughed when she tickled him by nuzzling his neck. “Sam was right about everything except my being away from you. After suffering through one night of not knowing where you were, I’m never letting that happen again.”
She pulled away to squint at him. “Are you sure your mother won’t mind your marrying me and you have enough land for Erleen, maybe some chickens, and a garden?”
“Horses, more than one cow, crops, a pond, a good well, all of it.” He kissed her forehead before moving to the tip of her nose and lips. “And my mother is going to love you.”
A little premonition of a wonderful future with Nicholas went through her thoughts when she stared into his eyes. No other doubts clouded her mind and she smiled before taking a step back, pulling him with her. “Then let’s get married. I’ll need to make an honest man out of you, so we can start enjoying our nights together.”
Other books by Laura Stapleton
The Oregon Trail Series
Undeniable (The Oregon Trail Series) - Book 1
Undesirable (The Oregon Trail Series) - Book 2
Uncivilized (The Oregon Trail Series) - Book 3
The Oregon Trail Series Short Stories
The Very Manly Series
The Very Best Man (The Very Manly Series) - Book 1
The Very Worst Man (The Very Manly Series) - Book 2
The Very Rich Man (The Very Manly Series) - Book 3
The Nova Scotia Murder Mysteries
Imposter: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery
Holidays (A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery)
Betrayal: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery
Impatience: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery
Pleasures: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery
Surplus: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery (Future Release)
Appearances: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery (Future Release)
Rage: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery (Future Release)
Honeymoon: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery (Future Release)
Other books by Laura Stapleton
Love’s Travel
Love's Prisoner (Love's Travels: Australia)
About the Author
With an overactive imagination and a love for writing, Laura Stapleton decided to type out her daydreams and what -ifs in order to share her lovable characters and their worlds with readers. She currently lives in Kansas City with her husband, daughter, dog, and a few cats. When not at the computer, you'll find her in the park for a jog or at the yarn store's clearance section.
If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review. Find Laura online at https://twitter.com/LauraLStapleton, https://www.facebook.com/LLStapleton#, http://lauralstapleton.com and at Smashwords. Subscribe to Laura’s newsletter and keep up on the latest updates and new releases.
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