The Bride's Matchmaking Triplets

by Regina Scott

  “Attempted kidnapping,” Elizabeth added.

  “Kidnapping!” Mrs. Brown’s gaze went from one determined face to the other. “But it was just a mistake!”

  They were still protesting as Sheriff Fuller led them from the room. As soon as the door shut behind them, Brandon grabbed Elizabeth around the waist and swung her around. “We did it!”

  “We did it,” she agreed, grinning at him.

  Brandon lowered her to her feet. “But there’s more.”

  “More?” She looked at him quizzically.

  Last night had been a start, but he wanted to make sure she shared his dreams for their future. “We have our boys back. We can be a family. A real family.”

  She stilled in his arms. “You mean a mother, father and children?”

  “A husband, wife and children,” he clarified. He went down on one knee, gazing up into her dear face, hands holding hers as he longed to hold her close. “Elizabeth Stillwater, I love you with all my might. I’ve always loved you, and I always will. Will you be my wife? Will you let me be your husband?”

  * * *

  Elizabeth clasped his hands and gave them a tug to raise him to his feet. This moment, this feeling, was everything she wanted. She thought her answer must be shining from her eyes.

  “Yes, Brandon,” she said. “Nothing would make me happier than to be your wife and the mother to your sons.” She dropped her gaze. “And perhaps our daughters.”

  In answer, Brandon pulled her close. His kiss pledged his devotion, promised a wonderful future. This time, nothing and no one would keep them apart.

  At length, he drew back. Elizabeth gave him a smile she hoped mirrored the joy she felt. “I do have a request of you, husband.”

  His smile blossomed. “Anything, wife.”

  “You were prepared to adopt the boys. What do you think about adopting Jo and Gil as well?”

  He laughed. “I think Casper Magnuson will demand to know why I was so determined to open a children’s home if I intended to give the orphans a home in the parsonage.”

  Elizabeth chuckled. “You can convince Casper Magnuson. You have before.”

  He sobered. “But I don’t have to this time. Fannie and Frederick have already asked me if they could adopt Jo and Gil.”

  She knew Fannie would be a marvelous mother for the two. “Do you think Jo and Gil will mind living in the children’s home when they are no longer orphans?”

  “I think they’ll thrive there,” he said. “It seems they’ve already proven they have a heart for the lost.”

  Elizabeth had told him her suspicions that Jo and Gil were the Good Samaritans who had been looking out for the triplets. He had agreed that the way they slipped about town would have made it easy for them to go unnoticed for so long. Gil’s woodworking skills had allowed him to craft the blocks from wood leftover at the children’s home. The fact that the siblings were the Good Samaritans also explained why the gifts had appeared at the church when Elizabeth had been staying at the boardinghouse with the triplets. Jo and Gil would have had a hard time delivering gifts or doing good deeds without being seen there.

  A gurgling noise from the doorway told them they had company. Theo was up in Fannie’s arms, and Jasper and Eli clung to her skirts on either side.

  “I take it the Lone Star triplets will be staying in Little Horn,” she said with a fond smile.

  “In Little Horn and in our family,” Brandon assured her. He strode forward and picked up Jasper. Elizabeth went to lift Eli. To think, she’d get to see them grow tall and strong, in the eyes of the community and God. And she’d get to share that joy with Brandon. Tears blurred her vision as she gazed at her husband.

  “Easy there, Mrs. Stillwater,” he said, though it seemed to her his eyes were moist as well. “What will our sons think if they see their mother crying?”

  “They’ll know that sometimes joy comes out wet,” she said, taking a step toward him. Brandon met her halfway in a kiss.

  “Mama,” Eli said, patting Elizabeth on the shoulder.

  “Papa,” Jasper said, patting Brandon.

  “Fam-lee,” Theo said, reaching for them all.

  “Family,” Brandon agreed. “Forever.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  A week later, the Little Horn community gathered once more for a wedding. In fact, necks craned and folks stood on tiptoe to catch a glimpse of the bride. Dorothy Hill stood tall and proud, and Tug Coleman nearly burst with joy, as the two pledged their love.

  From the front pew, Annie sobbed on Jamie’s shoulder and later told everyone at the reception that her wedding, scheduled for a month’s time with their parents’ blessing, couldn’t be more beautiful. And more than one member of the community paused in the receiving line to admire the diamond ring on Annie’s finger, a gift that had united the family twice over.

  “You saved us quite a bit of money, Pastor,” Casper Magnuson said, clapping Brandon on the shoulder where he stood with Elizabeth and the boys overseeing the festivities. “The Hills and Colemans can help each other now with no incentive from us, and those swindlers won’t be bothering Little Horn again.”

  Jeb Fuller had discovered more than one warrant out for the Browns’ arrest, and the couple had been remanded into the care of a deputy from Mason County. It turned out they had even stolen their names from an elderly couple near Fredonia. The so-called Mrs. Brown had once been an actress, specializing in tragedies, and her husband had made a living as a cardsharp. Apparently the stories in the newspapers, which had included the boys’ names, had lured the couple into thinking they could pose as the triplets’ relatives to earn the reward money and more.

  But Jeb’s outreach to the other communities had also brought a sadder response. Betty Lane, the triplets’ mother, had returned to West Falls, Texas. The doctor there reported she had passed away a month ago, leaving no other family. Elizabeth had cried to think of the lady missing so much of her sons’ lives. But she would always be grateful for Betty’s sacrifice, because it had given Elizabeth her boys.

  Now she was determined to find homes for the other abandoned children in the area. Two more orphans had joined Jo and Gil in the children’s home, and the girl could be heard chattering away with them now as she showed them around the reception, explained the workings of the town and introduced them to everyone.

  “That’s Pastor and Mrs. Elizabeth,” she said, her voice sounding more sure each day. “They’re nice. And those are Jasper, Theo and Eli.”

  “They’ve had four mothers,” Gil told them.

  “And they were in the papers for miles around,” Jo added. “They’re famous.”

  The other two orphans, both boys, one a little older and one a little younger than Gil, looked impressed.

  Four mothers. Betty Lane. Louisa Stillwater. Caroline McKay. And now Elizabeth. She was so thankful she and Brandon could keep them, their adoption approved by the league. But Jo was right, Jasper, Theo and Eli had captured the hearts of the whole town.

  She glanced around, meeting smiles from Louisa and Bo, Caroline, David and Maggie. Even Mrs. Arundel and Mrs. Hickey were beaming at her.

  “What has you smiling, Mrs. Stillwater?” Brandon asked, leaning closer.

  “Our people, Mr. Stillwater,” she answered. “Our friends and our family. Like the boys, I am home.”

  * * * * *

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for joining me on Elizabeth and Brandon’s journey. Having written two stories set in Little Horn, the people and place are near and dear to my heart. In 2016, the first series included Stand-In Rancher Daddy by Renee Ryan, A Family for the Rancher by Louise M. Gouge and my own A Rancher of Convenience. If you haven’t read the first two books in the 2017 series, try The Rancher’s Surprise Triplets by Linda Ford and The Nanny’s Tempor
ary Triplets by Noelle Marchand.

  When I was pregnant with my first son, the doctor thought I might be carrying twins. My first thought was, how wonderful! My second was, how am I going to take care of two babies? It was probably a good thing it turned out to be one special little boy. My hat’s off to Elizabeth, Louisa and Caroline for so capably loving Jasper, Theo and Eli.

  I love to hear from readers. Visit me at reginascott.com, where you can also sign up for an alert to be notified when the next book is out.

  Blessings!

  Regina Scott

  Keep reading for an excerpt from A TAILOR-MADE HUSBAND by Winnie Griggs.

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  A Tailor-Made Husband

  by Winnie Griggs

  Chapter One

  Turnabout, Texas

  June 1899

  “I think he’s sleeping. We prob’ly shouldn’t bother him.”

  Sheriff Ward Gleason opened one eye and tilted his chin up enough to see from under the lowered brim of his hat. Sure enough, the child on the train seat in front of him had turned around and was kneeling up facing him. She had her doll propped up on the seat back facing him as well.

  “Is there something I can do for you, Half-pint?” He mentally winced as soon as the words left his mouth—it was the nickname he’d used for his younger sister. Bethany was on his mind quite a bit right now. And this child, with her curly blond pigtails and freckled button nose, had her look.

  The girl giggled. “My name’s not Half-pint, it’s Meg.” She held up her doll. “And this is Chessie.”

  That much he already knew. The youngster, who couldn’t have been more than four or five, had chattered almost nonstop since she and her companion, whose name was apparently Freddie, had boarded the train about an hour ago.

  Not that he minded. Sleep had eluded him on this long, mournful trip and he would prefer not to be left to his own thoughts.

  Ward straightened and tipped his hat back off his brow. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, ladies.”

  “Did you hear that, Chessie?” Meg half whispered to her doll. “He called us ladies.”

  Then she looked back his way and pointed to his companion. “Why do you have that puppy with you?”

  Ward glanced at the dog sleeping on the seat beside him. At four years old, give or take, Pugs wasn’t a puppy anymore, but he was lapdog-sized, so he understood her confusion.

  “He’s my sister’s dog. But I’m going to be taking care of him now.”

  The little girl frowned. “How come your sister didn’t want him anymore? Was he bad?”

  “Not at all. But I’m afraid she’s no longer able to take care of him.”

  “Oh.” The little girl studied him thoughtfully for a moment. “Is she sick?”

  His throat constricted but he nodded. “She was. And now she’s gone.” Bethany’s casket was aboard the train two cars back—he was escorting her remains back to Turnabout to lay her to rest beside their parents. He was finally bringing his sister home. Just not in the way he’d wanted.

  Did the little girl understand the concept of death?

  But Meg nodded solemnly. “My momma and poppa are gone too. It’s just me and Chessie and Freddie now.” She gave her doll a tight squeeze. Then she looked at the dog. “What’s his name?”

  “Pugs.”

  She smiled. “That’s a good name for a doggie.” The child’s smile turned hopeful. “Can I pet him?”

  Ward shrugged. “Sure.”

  The child turned at once to her companion. “Freddie, can I pet the puppy? Please?”

  Freddie, who appeared to be about sixteen, turned to stare at Ward, obviously reluctant. Ward didn’t take offense. In fact, he approved of the young man’s caution.

  Then the youth glanced back at Meg. “You shouldn’t be bothering folks. Turn around and play with Chessie.”

  Ward frowned. The youth didn’t sound so much protective as irritated. He’d gathered from earlier chatter that the two were siblings, and he would have expected a more caring attitude. Then again, he knew from personal experience what it was like to be thrust into the role of parent at that age. Twelve years ago, he and Bethany had become orphans as well. He’d been sixteen at the time and Bethany almost thirteen. And though he’d tried to be a parent to his little sister, he’d failed her, with tragic results.

  Which was why he itched to give Meg’s brother a lecture about just how precious a little sister was and how he should cherish her while he had her. Maybe he would say something to him at some point if he could do so without Meg overhearing.

  But now was not that time.

  A moment later he realized the train was slowing. They must be approaching Kittering. After this stop, there were only two more before the train would pull into the Turnabout station. It would be good to get home.

  Would Hazel be waiting for him at the depot?

  Hazel Andrews, Turnabout’s seamstress, had been Bethany’s best friend when they were children and the only other person who had visited her from time to time these past twelve years. She’d been a true friend to his sister.

  And to him.

  Hazel had been the only person he’d been comfortable discussing his sister with since Bethany had been installed in that private asylum—his worries and concerns over Bethany’s mental state and care, his memories of happier times.

  The only things he didn’t discuss with Hazel were his feelings of guilt.

  Ward pulled his thoughts back to the present as Meg’s brother leaned forward to speak to the passenger in the seat in front of him, a matron who was trying to watch over two fussy children. One of the children chose that moment to let out a loud, petulant whine. Whatever Freddie had been saying to the child’s mother was met with a firm no as the harried woman tried to quiet her little one.

  Freddie plopped back against his seat as if in defeat.

  “Please, can I pet the puppy?” Meg asked again.

  Freddie glanced back at Ward, an assessing gleam in his eye. “Are you sure it’s okay with you, Mister?”

  Ward shrugged. “Pugs would probably be glad to get some attention and I certainly don’t mind.”

  Freddie stood. “The thing is, I need to get off to send a telegram. Would you mind watching Meg till I get back?”

  Ward hesitated, not sure he wanted that resp
onsibility. Then again, it was just for a few minutes and they were in a confined space—it wasn’t as if the child could run off or get into trouble. “I suppose I can do that.”

  With a relieved smile, Freddie turned to Meg. “You behave yourself and do what this man says, you hear?”

  The little girl nodded, obviously more interested in the dog than her brother’s departure.

  Without another word, Freddie quickly headed for the exit.

  Ward gave the girl a smile. “Meg, why don’t you sit here with me and Pugs until Freddie comes back.”

  The child eagerly scrambled from her seat to join him.

  Meg and Pugs took to one another immediately. Before long the little girl was the giggling recipient of canine kisses and face licks.

  Ten minutes later, the flow of passengers exiting and boarding had finally trickled to nothing and still there was no sign of Freddie. He thought about going in search of the youth, but thoughts of having to drag Meg and Pugs along gave him pause.

  For the first time Ward wondered if he should have taken Hazel up on her offer to make this trip with him.

  But if they’d taken this trip together, she might have read more into it than he intended. Hazel had been making it obvious for a while now that she had more than a casual interest in him, though he’d done nothing to encourage her. He didn’t have any interest in forming that kind of relationship with any woman, not so long as he was sheriff. A man couldn’t be responsible for the welfare of an entire town and also give a wife the attention she deserved.

  Though, to be honest, on the rare occasions when he allowed himself to think about it, if he ever did want to find himself a wife, Hazel would likely be his first choice. Not that he’d ever let her know that.

  So instead of inviting her along, he’d asked her to take care of the things that needed to be done in preparation for the funeral. And she’d graciously agreed. As she always did when he asked a favor of her.