“I won’t let you down, Marie,” he whispered in her ear, sending chills down her spine. “I promise I will never let you down again.”
EPILOGUE
EPILOGUE
A year later, Marie stood on the porch of her house talking to Alice. The two couples had planned a picnic lunch in the park with all the children. Adam and Jake were in town, picking up some last minute supplies for their stable business. Since Adam was a saddle maker and Jake was buying the stable property, they went into business together and so far, it was booming. People from all over Utah came to use their services, whether it was buying saddles and other supplies or taking riding lessons from Jake. They offered other services, too, and had expanded so much that they had found themselves on the receiving end of a lot of funds.
Jake insisted some of their funds go to the town council for repairs and help for those who were desolate. Of course, the other three agreed.
Jake and Marie married a month after they discovered their love for each other was real. Although they still got in their spats, as married couples always do, they found that their love never left, that every morning they woke up thinking about the other one and those thoughts would last all day. They thought about each other when they were in different rooms and when they were miles apart.
“I’m so glad things have worked out so well for you and Jake, Marie. You deserve it. You deserve to be happy.”
Marie smiled at her friend. “Thank you. I am more content than I’ve ever felt in my life.”
“You have been so good for Jake.”
“And him for me,” Marie added. “He rescued me from a life of loneliness I didn’t even know I was living. Do you know what we were talking about the other night?”
Alice smiled at her. “I don’t know how I could. Tell me.”
“I told him that – that he had rescued me from a life of loneliness I didn’t know I was living – and he said that’s probably why I kept taking in drifters and helping the needy. Because I was lonely and didn’t realize it. I was trying to help other lonely people know they weren’t alone.”
“Jake said that?” Alice sounded surprised.
Marie nodded. “He did.”
“That’s impressive. He can be very intuitive at times, for a man.”
Both women laughed. “Yes, for a man. He has a sensitive side. He just doesn’t show it very often. I think it shames him when he does.”
“Men are like that. They don’t want to show any emotions because they think it will make us not think of them as men.”
“Well, Jake is very much a man. In the good ways and the bad ways.”
Alice nodded. “I know exactly what you mean, dear.”
“You and Adam have been married for a long time, haven’t you? Some years now.”
“We’ve been married for six years. I’ve known him for much longer. He was my sister’s husband first. She died and then I married him.”
Marie grinned. “I know. It sounds scandalous, doesn’t it?”
Alice blushed and nodded. “It does.”
“You two were lucky to be in Wickenburg when that happened. Everyone here already knew you and no one thought it was scandalous. Well, almost no one.” Marie wished she hadn’t broached the subject. She knew of Alice and Holly’s brother, Nathan, who had given Adam a hard time after Holly, Adam’s first wife, died. “Let’s talk about something else,” she said quickly.
Alice laughed. “It’s all right, Marie. Those were hard times, but they are long gone and everyone is all right now.”
“Well, we were talking about how men are. I just wanted to know what you think. Of marriage, I mean. I am happy being married to Jake and we love each other very much. How is it after a few years have passed?”
“You get used to the other person in a way you could never imagine. As long as the love is there on both sides, nothing can break through it. It’s really like becoming one person, when it’s right. I’ve seen a lot of marriages I didn’t think should have happened. But when it’s right, like with me and Adam, there isn’t anything better.”
“I hope it never goes away. I hope his love for me never leaves.”
“I don’t see how anyone can fall out of love with you once they are there,” Alice laughed. “You are one of the sweetest women I know.”
“Well, thank you, Alice,” Marie laughed. “I do love getting compliments.”
Alice laughed with her and they stood there for a moment in silence, looking out over the path.
“Do you think they’ll be here soon? I’m getting hungry. By the time we get to our picnic spot, I’ll be ready to eat the whole picnic basket.” Marie looked at Alice. “With everything in it, too.”
Alice laughed. “I think I see them. Is that them?” She turned after verifying the men were coming down the porch and opened the storm door to call inside to the children. “They’re here, let’s go!”
Riley and Max came out of the house, Carrie toddling along behind them. Riley came directly over to Marie and held up the tiny baby in her arms. “Here’s your baby, Miss Marie. Thank you for letting me hold him.”
Marie gently took the baby from Riley’s arms and held him close. She looked down at his tiny face and thought about how much he resembled his father. “Hello there, Nicholas,” she whispered. “Daddy is almost here and we’re going on a picnic. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”
She was delighted when the baby instinctively smiled at her. She felt a bubble of love burst inside her and fill up her whole body.
She looked up as the men approached.
Jake and Adam rode down the path at a quick pace, anxious to get back to their families. They had done their business and were ready to relax.
As they got closer, Jake tapped Adam on the arm and pointed toward the front porch.
“Do you remember a year ago when I told you I had that vision of seeing Marie on the front porch of the house, holding a baby?” he asked.
Adam looked up at the porch and then at Jake with wide eyes. “I do.” he said, amazed.
Jake nodded. “I guess visions do come true sometimes.”
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This book is copyright © 2016 & 2017 by ELLIEE ATKINSON & GREEN HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.
This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real or dead people, places, or events are not intentional and are the result of coincidence. The characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. All rights reserved.
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