The Officer and the Traveler
Page 25
“Well, I’ll let you decide how wonderful it is to be here after you meet the other guests.”
Michaela and Gray exchanged a look. He knew something she didn’t. She was certain of it! He quickly averted his gaze and fell in step between her and Wes.
A peal of laughter sliced the air: Ella!
Heedless to Gray and Wes’ chuckles behind her, Michaela scampered down the hall toward the room where that contagious sound was emanating. She walked inside and came to a sudden stop: Jack and Ella, Allison, Aunt Lucille and Uncle George, two elderly people she didn’t recognize and Pa!
Gray’s hand found the small of her back. “Go on,” he said, adding a hint of pressure.
“I just can’t believe it. Everyone came.”
“Well, except for Mrs. Ridgely. But I couldn’t track her down,” Wes teased, making his way to take a seat by his wife.
A little touch of bittersweet sadness came over Michaela. She and Sarah had exchanged a handful of letters that told good news of a full recovery and a divorce granted; and the sad news of being unable to locate her son. Then of course there was the final letter full of both hope and despair: her son had been found, but he was living with family in England. Michaela still waited for another missive, but had yet to receive one.
Then there was Mr. Ridgely who nobody spoke of any longer. Just as Pa had said, a man who didn’t want to be found could stay hidden for an eternity. Rumors of possible sightings had sparked over the years, leading men out to search for him, but a search had never been successful. Nobody minded, except perhaps Pa. He seemed agitated more than anything that the man had been able to escape him, and Michaela had little doubt that Pa would make sure the man was found and brought to justice if it’s the last thing he did. And if that’s what made him happy, it made Michaela happy, too.
“Well, quit standing there and bring me my namesake,” Pa said, a sparkle in his green eyes.
“Yes, sir,” Michaela said, bringing her six-month-old son, Grayson Samuel, over to her father to see for the first time.
Pa took him from her and held him while she made her rounds.
First came Ella, who hugged her so tightly she thought she might burst then scream with excitement when Ella whispered in her ear that she, too, would be a mother before the end of the year.
Aunt Lucille was next to squeeze her until she was sure to have a bruise. Not that she cared in the least. She was happy to see them all again.
Allison waited none-too-patiently for her turn and gave perhaps the tightest hug of them all. “I’m so glad to see you again.”
“I am, too,” Michaela said through her joyous tears. “And I cannot wait to see your precious daughter.”
“She isn’t so precious when I wake her from a nap,” Allison said apologetically.
“No, I can imagine she’s not.” She grinned. “Good thing they’re both so young they won’t remember the other’s poor behavior,” she said glancing over to where Pa was still rocking her son. When Allison had first sent a letter saying she was expecting, the two had already decided they’re children would be great friends if Allison had a boy and a wonderful couple if Allison had a girl.
Neither Gray nor Wes, but mostly Wes, liked that particular prospect and gossip had it that he’d already started collecting guns for his arsenal should little Grayson Samuel ever form an interest in his sweet Katherine.
Allison looped her arm through Michaela’s. “I wanted to introduce you to the couple who were gracious enough to let us use their home for the weekend.”
“Of course. How remiss of me not to greet them earlier.”
Allison waved her hand through the air. “They don’t mind. A sweeter couple I’ve never met.” A wistful expression came over her face. “I hope Wes and I are just as much in love with each other as these two are when we’re octogenarians.”
Michaela glanced at the couple as she and Allison approached. She had the same hope for her and Gray.
“Michaela, I’d like you to meet Wes’ grandparents, Gabriel and Marjorie Ellis.”
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More Books by Rose Gordon
Fort Gibson Officers Series
American-set historical romance series that takes place in Indian Territory in the mid-1840s.
The Officer and the Bostoner—While on her way to meet her intended, Allison Pearson was abandoned by her traveling party at a desolate Army fort in the middle of Indian Territory. It’s a good thing there is a handsome, smooth talking officer named Captain Wes Tucker will to temporarily marry her until her intended can reclaim her.
The Officer and the Southerner—Lieutenant Jack Walker sent off for a mail-order bride. Ella Davis answered the ad. Jack forgot to mention a few living details, and Ella’s about to let him know it!
The Officer and the Traveler—Captain Grayson Montgomery’s mouth has landed him in trouble again! And this time it’s not something a cleverly worded sentence and a handsome smile can fix. Having been informed he’ll either have to marry or be demoted and sentenced to hard labor for the remainder of his tour, he proposes, only to discover those years of hard labor may have been the easier choice for his heart.
Coming Soon by Rose Gordon
Gentlemen of Honor Series
Regency set series that is coming in 2014!
Secrets of a Viscount—One summer night, Sebastian Gentry, Lord Belgrave hauled the wrong young lady to Gretna Green. When her identity is exposed, the only obvious solution is to get an annulment. Only, just like his elopement plans, things didn’t go as planned and while she has reason to believe they are no longer married, he knows better. Wanting to make things right for her, he offers to help her find a husband—what neither counts on is it just might be the one she’s still secretly married to.
Desires of a Baron—Giles Goddard, Lord Norcourt is odd. Odder still, he has suddenly taken a fancy to his brother’s love interest, the fallen Lucy Whitaker. Lucy was once thrown over by a lord and she has little desire to let it happen again, but she’s about to learn that his desires just might be enough for the both of them.
Passions of a Gentleman—Having been thrown over twice already, Simon Appleton has given up his pursuit for a wife—especially if his only choice is the elusive Miss Henrietta Hughes. But when he discovers a secret about her, he’s not above helping to protect her…
If you’d like to stay current on Rose’s releases, then sign up for her new release newsletter!
And the series that started it all…
Scandalous Sisters Series
Three American sisters have arrived in England for a brief visit, but they’re about to all find something they never bargained for: love.
Intentions of the Earl—Faced with never-ending poverty, a gentleman is offered a handsome sum if he’ll ruin a certain young lady’s future—only she has other plans, and it might entail her ruining his.
Liberty for Paul—There’s only one thing Liberty Banks hates worse than impropriety: one Mr. Paul Grimes, and unfortunately for her, it’s her own impropriety that just got her married to him!
To Win His Wayward Wife—Not to be outdone by her sisters’ scandalous marriages, Madison Banks is about to have her own marriage-producing scandal to a man who, unbeknownst to her has loved her all along.
Groom Series
Four decided bachelors are about to have their freedom ripped right from their clutches with nothing to show for it but love.
Her Sudden Groom—When informed he must marry within the month or be forced to marry the worst harpy ever
to set foot on English shores, the overly scientific, always logical Alex Banks decides to conduct his courtship like a science experiment!
Her Reluctant Groom—Emma Green has loved Marcus, Lord Sinclair for as long as she can remember, so when he slips up and says he loves her, too, it should all be so simple. But it’s never that simple when the man in question was once been engaged to and jilted by Emma’s older sister.
Her Secondhand Groom—What Patrick Ramsey, Lord Drakely AKA Lord Presumptuous wanted was an ordinary village girl to be a “motherness” to his daughters and stay out of his bedroom; what he’s about to get is something so much more.
Her Imperfect Groom— Sir Wallace Benedict is a thrice-jilted baronet who is about to finally have his happily-ever-after, if only the family of his one-true-love, would stop being so darn meddlesome!
Banks Brothers’ Brides
The first two are prequels to the previous series and the second two are follow ups.
His Contract Bride—Since just a lad, Edward Banks, Lord Watson knew Regina Harris would one day be his bride, he’d seen the paper to prove it many times; only someone forgot to inform Regina…
His Yankee Bride—John Banks wants nothing to do with the scandalous, sweet talking, ever-present, American beauty named Carolina, or so that’s what he keeps saying…
His Jilted Bride—Amelia Brice has a secret…and so does Elijah Banks. Hers is big…but his is bigger!
His Brother’s Bride—Presented with a marriage contract his twin brother has signed but cannot fulfill, Henry Banks has to form a plan to save the Banks name, even if it means pretending he’s his brother, or worse yet, marrying a lady who holds a grudge against his family.
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling and Award Winning Author Rose Gordon writes unusually unusual historical romances that have been known to include scarred heroes, feisty heroines, marriage-producing scandals, far too much scheming, naughty literature and always a sweet happily-ever-after. When not escaping to another world via reading or writing a book, she spends her time chasing two young boys around the house, being hunted by wild animals, or sitting on the swing in the backyard where she has to use her arms as shields to deflect projectiles AKA: balls, water balloons, sticks, pinecones, and anything else one of her boys picks up to hurl at his brother who just happens to be hiding behind her.
She can be found somewhere in cyberspace at:
http://www.rosegordon.net
or blogging about something inappropriate at:
http://rosesromanceramblings.wordpress.com
Rose would love to hear from her readers and you can e-mail her at rose.gordon@hotmail.com
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Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Epilogue
About the Author