by Linda Ford
“No.”
“Gus come.”
“No.” They’d had this discussion several times over the past three days.
Elin hugged the boy. “We’ll be okay, you and I. Right?”
Joey nodded, though his eyes said otherwise.
Elin went to the kitchen to stare out at the back yard. Harry would come by in the evening and ask her to go for a walk. He said he liked to show off his future wife. He got the girl next door to stay with Joey. Seems he wasn’t so keen on showing off his son.
Questions circled her brain. She’d promised to be Harry’s wife before she left Norway. Did that obligate her to marry him? She’d come in search of belonging. Of importance. Would she find that in a marriage to Harry?
She wouldn’t. She didn’t even want to try. She wanted to go home. And if Sam was afraid to love her, to marry her, she would continue as they were—she’d be a housekeeper to Sam and Gus.
Better a housekeeper with those she loved than a wife to a man she neither loved nor respected.
Her only concern was Joey.
The rest of the afternoon, she rehearsed what she would say. She ate early, put Joey to bed early, and informed the girl next door that she wasn’t needed tonight. Then she waited.
The minutes ticked by and she alternated between determination and nervousness. But she would say what she must say.
Finally she heard his steps. He entered without knocking. And why not? It was his house.
“We need to talk.” She waved at the chair across the table from her.
“Talk? Okay.” He turned the chair and swung his leg over. “What do you have to say?”
“Harry, I know I promised to marry you. That’s why I came from Norway. But I’ve changed my mind.”
He laughed. “Then what do you plan on doing? I’m not paying rent on a house for you.”
“I’m going back to the ranch.”
His amusement fled. “If you think Sam will marry you, you are in for sad disappointment.”
“I know. But I don’t mind keeping house. I only ask one thing of you.”
He snorted. “Girl, I think you are out of luck at asking for favors.”
She faltered but she had to continue. “I want to keep Joey.”
“What? Why would you?”
“I love him.” She would not say more. Would not add that Harry obviously didn’t and probably never would.
Harry gave a dismissive shrug. “You’re welcome to him. What am I going to do with a kid?”
“Thank you.”
He got to his feet. “I guess this is it. I’d wish you all the best but you just turned it down. Rent is paid to the end of the month.” He left without a backward look.
The air wheezed from her. It was over. Now she had to get back to the ranch and convince Gus and Sam they needed her.
She smiled, the first real smile she’d had since Harry had brought her to town. She’d convinced them once before. She could do it again.
There was only one explanation as to why Harry’s horseshoe tie holder was where Sam had found it.
“He was involved in the rustling?” Sam said. “Why would he do that? He is half owner of the cattle.”
“I think you better ask him.” Gus slapped the table. “And to think he’s with Elin, wanting to marry her. The scoundrel. But then I’ve said from the first that she deserves better than him.”
“I’m going there right now.”
“Boy, it’s long past dark.”
Sam sighed. “Okay I’ll wait until light.”
It was not quite light the next morning when he rode from the ranch. Half an hour later, he reached town and stopped at the livery stables to ask what house Harry had rented.
He didn’t need to ask. Harry was there saddling up his horse.
Sam eyed the full saddlebags and bedroll. “You leaving again?”
“Yup.”
“What about Elin?”
Harry’s casual shrug made Sam want to grab him and shake him. “You’re leaving them?”
“You seem to like taking care of them.”
He caught Harry’s arm and turned him to face him. Sam held the horseshoe shape in his palm. “Look what I found out by the cattle. While I was looking for rustlers.”
Harry’s hand went to the tie he wore. “I wondered what happened to it.” He reached for it. “Thanks for finding it.”
Sam closed his hand before Harry could take the bit of silver. “Gus assures me you were wearing it when you rode out. You called it your lucky tie. Your lucky horseshoe.”
Harry’s laugh was short and bitter. “Guess I was wrong about that. I’ve had nothing but bad luck.”
“Stealing your own cows is not bad luck. It’s bad management. Harry, if you needed money you had every right to sell cows. Half yours, half mine.”
“I needed more than half the money I would get from selling those head. I needed it all. Figured I could leave you enough you wouldn’t suffer any.”
“Nice of you.” Sam couldn’t keep the sarcasm from his voice. “Someone could have been killed.” He touched the side of his head.
“No one was. Sam, the ranch is yours. I’m heading north. Maybe I can start over.” He swung into his saddle.
Sam caught the reins. “What about Elin and Joey?”
“They’re all yours.” He told Sam where to find them, then said good-bye and rode away.
Sam stared after him until he was out of sight. “I wish you all the best,” he murmured. After all, Morty had raised Sam. Harry had been like an older brother.
Then he rode toward the house where he’d find Elin and Joey. A wagon stood at the gate. Had she made other plans?
He would not let her go without confessing his feelings. He raced up the steps and barged through the open door. He looked around. Elin stared at him. A lad from the livery barn stared at him. Joey ran into his arms. “Sam come. Sam come.”
He hugged the boy. “What’s going on here?”
Elin turned to lad. “You can go. I’ll let you know when I need you.” The young fellow ducked out the door.
Elin folded her hands at her waist. “Harry and I are not getting married.”
“So he told me.”
“You saw him?”
“He was at the livery barn getting ready to ride north.”
“Oh.”
“Where are you going?”
Elin swallowed hard. “Home.”
It was his turn to say oh. “I hoped…”
“Sam, I am going back to the ranch. I will cook and clean for you and look after Joey.”
“He left Joey? Good. We’ll keep him.” He hugged the boy again. “Wait. You said home. I thought Norway. You’re coming back to the ranch?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Why?”
“Sam, if you don’t know, I’m not saying. I’ll let it be enough that I’m needed there.”
He contemplated her words for a moment. Was it possible she meant…? She had to know he wanted her. Not simply as a housekeeper. He would not let fear stop him from enjoying the beauty of what he felt.
He set Joey on the floor and closed the distance to Elin. He took her hands and drew them to his chest. “Elin, I don’t want you as a housekeeper.”
Hope and disappointment flashed through her eyes.
“I want you as my wife.”
Joy flooded her face but she waited.
“Elin, I love you. Please marry me.”
“Sam, you must know I love you. I will marry you and be the happiest woman on earth.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She hugged her arms around his shoulders and kissed him right back. The kiss might have lasted longer except Joey pushed between them.
Sam lifted him and together, he and Elin hugged the boy.
Epilogue
Joey was so excited about riding on the train that he couldn’t sit still. Sam walked him up and down the aisle and held him to see out the window.
Gus sat ba
ck, a smile of satisfaction on his face. “Glad you two came to your senses.” He’d said it numerous times in the last two weeks as they made plans to go to Grassy Plains to be married.
Elin had hugged Sam at the suggestion. “I would never have asked, but I can’t think of anything better than being married with my family there to share the day.”
Sam had grown serious. “I’m a little nervous at meeting them all. I have to say, Nels scared me a bit. What if the rest are like that?”
She laughed. “Nels and the rest will be pleased that I am marrying someone I love.”
She watched Sam and Joey. She couldn’t believe she had a family who not only needed her but loved her. Not that her family didn’t love her, but it wasn’t the same. She had found what her heart had longed for since she was a little girl.
Joey finally tired out and fell asleep in Sam’s arms and Sam sat next to her. “It was good of Harry to write us like that.”
“I think that’s the man I thought he was when I was in Norway. Kind, thoughtful, loyal. A family man.” He’d stopped on his journey to speak to a lawyer and sent documents allowing Elin and Sam to legally adopt Joey. “I hope he returns someday to see what a great boy Joey is. But one thing for sure, Joey will never wonder if he is loved.”
Sam squeezed her hand. “On that we are agreed.”
They reached Grassy Plains and were met by Nels and Freyda.
“Anker and Lena are at home preparing the celebration.”
Elin handed her carpetbag to Nels.
Freyda hugged her. “You will get the wedding you hoped for.”
Elin smiled. “Much better than what I hoped for. I am marrying a man I love and honor and he loves me.”
They rode in wagons to Anker’s house.
Elin led Sam forward to meet Anker and his wife, Lena. Little Charlie was close to Joey’s age and they eyed each other curiously, then Charlie handed Joey a carved cow. “We play.”
So the little boys played while Freyda and Lena took Elin to the bedroom to prepare her for her wedding. They helped her out of her dress and into a white blouse. Next came a dark blue wool skirt and then a matching vest. She stroked the embroidered design on the vest and the hem of the skirt and thought of all the women who had worn this outfit—her grandmother, her mother, several aunts and cousins.
“I was surprised Mor insisted I bring this.” Her throat clogged with missing and with the realization that she was special to her parents and other family members in ways she might have overlooked. Loving Sam had made her see that.
Freyda brushed Elin’s hair free and put on the silver tiara with silver bells hanging from each star point.
Elin brushed tears from her eyes.
“No crying,” Freyda scolded.
“Only happy tears.” Elin smiled.
Lena peeked out of the room and signaled someone and a fiddler began to play. Elin stepped from the room and saw Sam in a white shirt and black jacket that she knew some of her Norwegian friends must have provided for him. My, but he was handsome. She glanced about, recognizing many of the neighbors from her previous visit. And then she saw no one but Sam.
They spoke their vows in English though in her head, Elin said them in Norwegian.
“You are now husband and wife,” intoned the local preacher with the unfortunate name of Reverend Sorrow.
She lifted her face to receive Sam’s kiss.
After that, they were swept up in congratulations and well wishes. They clapped and sang with the others as Anker danced a traditional dance.
Later, they drove away to a little cabin that one of the Norwegian neighbors had lent them, leaving Joey to enjoy the pleasure of his playmate, Charlie.
They stood inside the small room, their arms about each other.
“No more fears about loving?” she asked, even though she knew the answer. They had discussed it many times.
“I will gladly risk being hurt for the joy of loving you.” He kissed her then drew back. “You know you are more important to me than anything in this world?”
“I know. And I also know my parents and family loved me. You made me see that.”
“How did I do that?”
“By teaching me how to love and be loved.”
He kissed her again. “Just think, you had to come all the way from Norway to learn that.”
“No,” she said. “I had to come all the way across the ocean and across America to find you.”
They kissed again, reveling in the joy of their love.
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Sneak peek of Second-Chance Bride
Freyda has come to America to take over the homestead of her deceased husband. She had wanted to accompany him when he left Norway but he thought the challenges would be too great. It’s a perception she has struggled to overcome all her life and is determined to prove she can manage on her own. Two stubborn horses force her to strike a bargain with her near neighbor. If he will help out in her crop, she will take care of his two little boys.
Ward has known nothing but pain and disappointment in his relationships with women. He would manage his sons on his own but at four and six, they need more supervision than he can provide while planting his crop. Reluctantly, guardedly, he accepts Freyda’s offer.
Freyda begins to think running a farm on her own is not why she came to America while Ward allows himself to wonder if it’s possible to trust a woman.
Their circumstances force them to work together but will the growing fondness between them enable them to overcome their fears?
Coming soon!
Also by Linda Ford
Contemporary Romance
Montana Skies series
Cry of My Heart
Forever in My Heart
Everlasting Love
Inheritance of Love
Historical Romance
Dakota Brides series
Temporary Bride
Abandoned Bride
Second-Chance Bride
Reluctant Bride
War Brides series
Lizzie
Maryelle
Irene
Grace
Wild Rose Country
Crane’s Bride
Hannah’s Dream
Chastity’s Angel
Cowboy Bodyguard
Copyright © 2017 by Linda Ford
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