Rachel clasped his face between her hands, a wide smile on her face as she sobbed loudly. Jake covered her mouth with his, savoring the feel of her in his arms, inhaling her soft scent. His hands ran along every contour of her body to convince his mind that she was real.
“I love you, Jake,” she breathed against his mouth. “Forgive me for not believing you.”
Jake pulled his head back, trying to catch his breath. “How?” It was the only word he could produce. How had she managed to convince the reverend to send her here? The old man had been adamant that it wasn’t possible to send Rachel to the future. In a way, he didn’t really care. She was here, and that was all that mattered. He kissed her mouth again, then her cheeks, and back to her mouth.
“I’m home where I belong, Jake. With you,” she said between gulps of air. She smiled up at him, and he eased his hold on her a mere fraction of an inch.
“I love you, Rachel. The reverend said it couldn’t be done.” He ran his hands along her cheeks and cradled the back of her head. All the pain, all the anguish in his heart flowed out of him. She was here, and she was real.
“I had a compelling enough reason for the reverend to send me here,” she said. “He said it was a one way trip. I can’t ever go back.”
“Good,” Jake said firmly. “What’s more compelling than the fact that we love each other? I hope to never meet that man again.” His jaw clenched, anger surging through him for all the pain the reverend has caused him. The anger vanished as quickly as it appeared. Without the reverend, he wouldn’t have met Rachel.
Rachel cleared her throat. “Jake.” She hesitated. He offered a wide smile, his hand caressing her cheek, and waited for her to continue. “Jake, you’re going to be a father. I’m in the family way.” Her eyes widened in an expectant look, and revealed a brief hint of panic.
Jake expelled a breath of air. “Rachel,” he whispered. His heart skipped a beat at what she’d said. He placed his hand over her flat abdomen. “I . . . I don’t know what to say, except . . . I love you.”
Instantly, her face brightened in a smile. “The boys are here, too,” she said. “I think the reverend was feeling guilty about what he did to us. When I told him I was expecting, he realized he had to send me here. He said you couldn’t return to the past.”
Jake didn’t care about what the reverend was feeling. His insides warmed, and a powerful sensation of love wrapped itself around his heart. A few minutes ago, his life held no meaning. In the blink of an eye, that had all changed again. Rachel was here. She was his forever. He was going to be a dad! He cradled her head between his palms, and stared into her blue eyes.
“I knew from the minute I first saw you that you were my destiny, no matter what the reverend seemed to think.” He gently kissed her lips. “I’m the happiest man in the world, and I promise you that not a day will go by Rachel, that you’ll ever regret your decision to come home to me.”
Epilogue
The old man stood on the hill overlooking the valley below. Spread out before him were several barns and corrals. On a slight rise to the north stood a large ranch-style home. A short distance away, several more log cabin style homes were nestled against the edges of a patch of pine trees. He clasped his hands behind his back, and let the wind blow though his hair and across his face.
Two small children, a boy and a girl, ran in circles in the yard in front of one of the smaller homes. The little girl appeared to be a few years older than the boy, who waddled like a duck after the girl. Three older boys rode their bicycles up and down the gravel path connecting the homes. Drawn to the scene, the old man headed down the hill, keeping to the shadows of a cluster of pine trees close to the house.
A woman emerged from inside the home. Her long dark hair was swept back in a ponytail, and her modest skirt that reached well below her knees fluttered in the breeze.
“David, don’t ride that bike so fast. You’re going to crash and break your arm again. Remember how much you hated having that cast on last time?” she called to one of the older boys. “Tommy and Billy, I thought you wanted to help your Uncle Tom fix the engine in his truck.”
All three boys skidded to a halt in front of the woman, and dismounted their bikes. The two older ones hurried off toward one of the barns in the distance, and David dashed into the house.
The woman knelt to the ground and opened her arms wide, a bright smile on her face. The little boy waddled toward her, but the girl got there first. The woman embraced them both.
A man emerged from the other side of the house, and walked up to the woman. He reached for the little girl, and held her high up over his head. She squealed with delight. The little boy reached up his hands, and began to cry.
“You’ll get your turn,” the man said. The woman stood to her feet, the love in her eyes unmistakable as she turned her gaze to the man.
He reached one arm around her waist, and pulled her to his side.
“I can’t believe it’ll be five years today that I came here,” the woman said, smiling up at the man.
He chuckled, and hugged her close. “Remember how astonished my folks were when I introduced you and the boys? I think they were afraid to say too much. They were just pleased as punch that I married such a nice and old-fashioned girl.”
“And Tom never divulged our secret,” she added.
“Who’d believe it, anyhow?” His face turned serious. “Do you have any regrets?”
The woman leaned up and kissed him gently, her palm touching his cheek. “None,” she whispered.
The man’s wide grin returned. “Ready to go watch that movie you’ve been dying to see?” he asked. She nodded, and kissed him again. She lifted the little boy to her hip, and the family disappeared inside the house.
The old man’s gaze lingered for a few more minutes, then he turned and walked slowly back up the hill.
He’d been wrong, no question about it. Perhaps there was such a thing as destiny. In all his years of granting second chances, he’d never considered the power of the human capacity for love to guide a person onto the right path. Jake and Rachel were proof of that power.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he pondered this phenomenon. He would have to rethink his objective from now on. Perhaps a lack of finding one’s true mate was the reason many people strayed from their true path. Apart from finding one’s way again, a second chance could also be granted to finding one’s true love. If centuries separated two people who were meant to be together, he could do something to bring them together.
The old man’s chest heaved in a sigh. He would have to ponder this some more. Right now, it was time to meet his next assignment.
* * *
To be the first to hear about new book releases, special announcements, and deals, please join my newsletter
Each month, all active newsletter subscribers are entered in a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card!
Reverend Johnson is granting another Second Chance in Book 2, Ain’t No Angel (scroll down for a peak at the first chapter)
If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a short review on Amazon.
If you enjoy time travel romance, you might also like my other time travel series, the Yellowstone Romance Series. You can find all my book at my Author Page
THE END
Also by Peggy L Henderson
Author Page
Yellowstone Romance Series: (in recommended reading order)
Yellowstone Heart Song
A Yellowstone Christmas (novella)
Yellowstone Homecoming
Yellowstone Redemption
Yellowstone Awakening
Yellowstone Dawn
Yellowstone Deception
A Yellowstone Promise (novella)
A Yellowstone Season of Giving (short story)
Second Chances Time Travel Romance Series
Come Home to Me
Ain’t No Angel
Diamond in the Dust
Teton Romance Trilogy
Teton Sunrise
Teton Splendor
Teton Sunset
Blemished Brides Series (western historical romance)
In His Eyes
In His Touch
In His Arms
Dear Reader
The first mass of emigrants to brave the Oregon Trail left Independence, Missouri in 1843. After that, a steady stream of settlers left various “jumping off” points along the Missouri River to travel overland to reach Oregon and California. My story takes us from Kannesville, Iowa (today known as Council Bluffs, Iowa) along the Mormon Trail, which traveled on the north side of the Platte River, while those settlers leaving from Independence, Missouri, traveled along the south banks of the river until they met up at Fort Laramie. The height of travel was during the years of 1847-1852.
The Oregon Trail is about 2000 miles in length, and took an average of 4 1/2 to 5 months to travel.
Accidental deaths were common, mostly due to drowning at river crossings or from accidental gunshot wounds. The most terrifying disease encountered was cholera. It was especially prevalent in 1849 and 1850 along the Platte River to Fort Laramie. Cholera can have a sudden onset, a rapid course of decline for the infected person, and a very high mortality rate due to dehydration.
Before the 1860’s, the Indians along the Platte to Sweetwater River routes did not pose a major threat to the emigrants, and were usually friendly.
Throughout the story, I have taken some liberties with a few actual dates and events. The route Jake Owens insists on traveling after leaving Fort Laramie, today known as Childs Cutoff after the man who discovered it, was not used until 1850. Previously, emigrants had to rely on ferry operators to get them across the Platte River, which was not only dangerous, but also expensive. After 1850, many emigrants preferred to travel along the Council Bluffs route along the North Platte to avoid this crossing.
Fort Laramie did not become an army fort until 1849. Prior to that, it was a remnant of the fur trade, and mainly a trading post for trappers, traders, and the ever-increasing number of emigrants who made their way west.
Jake Owens’ rifle was a Sharps rifle, known for its high accuracy and long range. It was the preferred rifle used by buffalo hunters on the plains, but was not widely available until 1850.
Find out more about me and my stories here:
http://peggylhenderson.blogspot.com
Join me on Facebook. I love interacting with my readers, and you can stay current on my book projects and happenings.
For even more behind-the scenes news, interaction and discussions with other readers about my books, and just general fun, consider joining my closed Facebook Group.
I’m always happy to hear from my readers. Tell me what you liked, or didn’t like in the story. I can be reached via email here: [email protected]
Acknowledgment
Carol Spradling, my critique partner. Thank you for holding my hand throughout the writing of this book. After sticking with me through my last series, your support and advice with this new venture has been invaluable.
Suzie Grant, for critiquing some of my earlier chapters, and your helpful suggestions.
My Editor, Barbara Ouradnik, and my awesome team of beta readers: Shirl Deems, Becky Fetzer, Hazel Lewis, and Ramona Lockwood. Each and every one of you brings a fresh view to the story, and your honest opinions and insights have been absolutely invaluable.
My cover designer, Ramona Lockwood, for creating the wonderful cover for this book.
Ain’t No Angel (Sneak Peak)
Delaney Goodman stood in front of the bathroom mirror, dressed to kill. She stared at her reflection and laughed a short, disgusted laugh. Committing murder - preferably her own murder – might be easier than what she’d resigned herself to do. How could she possibly bring herself to go through with this? The idea hadn’t seemed so daunting a week ago.
She inhaled a deep breath and released it slowly in an effort to calm her frazzled nerves. What the hell was she doing here, in this fancy hotel room? When had life turned from horrible to downright unbearable?
There is no other way, Laney. You’ve sunk about as low as you can go.
Doubt and second-guessing nagged at her. It was too late now to turn back. Jason had already paid her a good chunk of money up front. Money she desperately needed. Without it, she would have been out on the street already. The sum would cover her expenses for another two weeks for the little motel room that she called home. She couldn’t afford rent on an actual apartment.
Jason had paid for the skimpy black tube dress and high heels she now wore, the make-up, and a haircut with some highlights. Earlier in the day, he’d brought her to this high-priced hotel to get ready for this evening. If she didn’t do this, she’d owe him money she couldn’t possibly pay back. He assured her that she’d be rolling in more dough than she’d ever dreamed possible after a few “social dates”, as he called them.
Laney shrugged as if it didn’t matter. This was just one more unpleasant event in her life that she had to endure. She’d pull out of this, just like she did everything else. It was the story of her miserable existence.
What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.
She laughed again. Yeah, right. She should be Super Woman by now.
Rummaging through her makeup pouch, she finally found the crimson shade of lipstick she’d been looking for. She slid the creamy stick across her lips, then rubbed them together to distribute the color more evenly. She puckered her mouth and glanced in the mirror she stood before. Tilting her head from side to side, she ran her hands through her blonde strands, and tousled it. Shaking her head, she applied a light mist of hairspray.
She turned to the side and glanced over her shoulder at the reflection of her backside. The spandex tube dress didn’t want to cooperate. It hiked up her thighs at one end, barely long enough to cover her rear, and slid down her chest at the other.
Yeah, you look like a hooker.
Wiggling her hips, she tugged the material downward, then pulled it more firmly up over her breasts. No matter what she did, it revealed way too much at either end. Good thing she wore black pantyhose.
She paused to take another look in the wide mirror. Her pulse suddenly quickened and throbbed at her temples. With a shaky hand, she reached for her cellphone to check the time. Seven-thirty. Her throat went dry. She tried to swallow back the sudden apprehension that washed over her.
You can do this. You need the money. Without this job, you’ll be out on the street.
“The first time is the hardest, but trust me, you get used to being wined and dined real fast. If they like you, your money worries will be over,” her former co-worker, Stephanie, had assured her. She had introduced Laney to Jason, a good-looking and well-dressed guy who’d taken an immediate interest in her.
He was different from other guys in her life. Unlike every other loser she’d ever dated, he hadn’t asked to get into her pants at the first opportunity. He’d taken her out, bought her some nice clothes, even helped pay her rent when she was behind. Jason had treated her better than any other boyfriend. When she was laid off for no reason from her latest dead-end job a couple of weeks ago, he’d approached her with a business proposition she’d never considered before.
“With your looks, Laney, you can make a killing as an escort.”
“An escort?” Her forehead wrinkled. What the hell was an escort?
“There are a lot of rich men in this city who pay good money to have a beautiful girl hanging from their arm in public. It’s sort of like a status symbol.”
“You mean, like a high-priced hooker?” Laney swallowed. Was he serious? Instead of dumping her outright, he just wanted to sell her off to other men?
What other options do you have at this point, Laney?
Was this where her life was headed? Her dream of ever working with horses faded into oblivion. She wanted to live out in the country somewhere. Instead, she was stuck in stuffy L.A. with no light at the e
nd of the tunnel.
Jason laughed, and ran his hand across his face. “That’s a rather harsh way to put it.” He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into an embrace. “You only have to put out as much as you want, baby,” he whispered in her ear. “It all depends on how much money you want to make.”
His lips came down on hers. Laney automatically wrapped her arms around his neck. She wanted to feel something, anything but the emptiness inside her. Nothing happened. No warm fuzzy feelings, no tingles. His hands slid up and down her body, and his tongue probed her mouth. Laney simply went through the motions and followed his lead. Why shouldn’t she make some money for the things she’d freely given in the past? Guys had always been full of empty promises, crushing her hopes for love and a sense of belonging. Men had used her most of her life. Maybe it was time for some payback, in the literal sense.
Her dream, her fairytale that there was a Prince Charming out there somewhere had died several dead-end relationships ago.
You have to look out for yourself, Laney. It’s always been that way.
Life revolved around making enough money for rent and food. Maybe if she agreed to a few of Jason’s arranged “dates,” she’d earn enough to cover her expenses for a few months. Enough time to find a steady job, maybe even pay for those college courses she needed. The guy she’d gone to see about a job at the racetrack had told her he’d think about offering her a position in his barn. She didn’t have the required credentials to work as an equine massage therapist, but he’d been impressed enough with her skills when she demonstrated her massage technique on a horse he allowed her to work on, that he might just call her back.
Come Home to Me (Second Chances Time Travel Romance Book 1) Page 26