Clint hesitated.
“I like the gal. I wouldn’t give her anything that would harm her.”
It was true, he wouldn’t. Both men liked Angel and she got on well with them.
“I can give you beans and eggs for supper if you want. The roast will have to wait until tomorrow if Angel’s up to it.”
The baby was sitting on Hughie’s knee looking around. His bright blue eyes were just like Tim’s. His tiny rosebud mouth was slightly pursed.
“You’re doing well with the baby,” Clint said. “If you can mind him for a while longer, I’ll take the water into Angel.”
“I’ll cook us supper,” Bert said. “Pancakes okay?”
“Thanks, boys, I appreciate your help and I know Angel will, too.”
Clint carried a saucepan of water into the bedroom where Angel was slumped against the pillow. “I’ve brought water to bathe your wounds.” He tipped it into the bowl on the dresser, picked up a neatly folded wash rag and bathed the wounds.
“Do I look really awful?”
“Yes, I’m afraid you do.”
After he bathed her face and washed her arms and hands she said, “There’s a clean nightgown in the top drawer can you get it for me, please?”
“Sure, will you need any help getting into it?”
“If you can help me get out of bed, I can do it.”
“Okay.”
He swung her legs off the bed and gently pulled her up. She swayed a little and he wrapped his arms around her.
“It was awful, Clint.” She rested her head against his shoulder.
“I know, darlin’, just be a good girl and get changed and hop back into bed and don’t worry.”
“You won’t leave me?”
“No. Never.” He gave her the nightgown and stayed in the room with his back turned. It wasn’t easy when he wanted to look at her naked body. He felt ashamed of his carnal thoughts, not that he could stop them.
“I’m decent.”
He swung around and she stood little and frail looking with her beaten up face, yet she was still beautiful. He stepped up closer to her and stared into her eyes. “It’s probably not the right time to say it, but I love you.”
“You do?”
“Yes, very much. And when you’re well enough I want us to have a real marriage.”
“I love you Clint. I’ll always have a fondness for Timothy. What I feel for you is much stronger than what I ever felt for him.”
The words were music to his ears. “I’ll bring you in a cup of tea.”
He helped her back into bed.
“You’ll stay the night with me?” She patted the other side of the bed. Would he stay the night with her? A team of wild horses couldn’t keep him away. “Yes, darlin’, I will.”
He walked back into the kitchen. I’m probably grinning like a weasel in a hen house.
“Everything okay,” Hughie asked, giving Bert a wink.
“Yes, very okay.”
“It will be better after I ride into town tomorrow and see the sheriff. One way or the other, boss, you’ll be free of that crazy woman for good.”
The men returned to the bunkhouse after the meal of pancakes and beans. Clint stripped off his clothes and had a wash. He put on a clean pair of drawers and walked into the bedroom. The lamp was turned down low and both Robbie and Angel slept peacefully. Before sliding into bed, he snuffed out the light.
At long last he was sharing a bed with his wife, the woman he loved. Hopefully, given time they would have a baby or two of their own. Robbie would always hold a special place in his heart, though.
It’s all turned out well, Tim. Rest assured I’ll always love and care for them.
Epilogue
Two years later
Hughie and Bert crowded around the cradle gazing at two-month old Jessica Angelique McKenzie. Angel sat in one armchair while Clint sat on the other one nursing two-year old Robbie. Mrs. Taylor, who came for a visit had stayed because she and Hughie had become close.
Clint told Angel in confidence the two of them planned to marry as soon as Preacher Tom and his wife could afford the time to come down. The bunkhouse would be turned into a house for them and Bert was building himself a room in the loft in the barn. Everyone was happy.
A few months after Celia had attacked her, the woman had been tracked down by the sheriff and his deputy, and after a gunfight she had been killed. Angel didn’t wish death on anyone, yet she was glad this evil witch of a woman would never be able to harm them again.
The ranch was starting to prosper again. They had decided not to rebuild the ranch house. She much preferred their cozy cabin where they had discovered their love for each other. Clint had promised to build an extra room on the back to cater for their expanding family and that would be enough.
With a loving husband, two beautiful children and two kindly old men and Mrs. Taylor living on the ranch with them, Angel couldn’t be happier.
The End.
Author Links
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About the Author
Margaret Tanner is an award winning, bestselling Australian author, who mainly writes Historical Romance and Historical Western Romance. She loves delving into the pages of history as she carries out research for her novels. No internet site is too boring, no book is too old or tattered for her to trawl through, no museum too dusty.
Her love of Westerns came about because of the movies and TV shows of her childhood. Some of her favorites were Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Wagon Train and Little House on The Prairie.
Many of her novels have been inspired by true events, with one being written around the hardships and triumphs of her pioneering ancestors. She once spent a couple of hours in an old prison cell so she could feel the chilling cold and fear.
Apart from her family and friends, writing is her passion.
Margaret is married with three grown up sons and two gorgeous little granddaughters.
Other Books by Author
TO FIND OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES – YOURS TRULY: THE LOVELORN
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=yours+truly%3A+the+lovelorn&i=digital-text&ref=nb_sb_noss
Western Historical Romance
Jennifer – Widows, Brides and Secret Babies (Book 2)
Logan – Bachelors and Babies – Series - (Book 2)
A Husband For Christmas – Spinster Mail-Order Brides – (Book 3)
A Niece for Christmas – Spinster Mail-Order Brides – (Book 10)
Flynn’s Debt – Belles of Wyoming series
Lily – Guilford Crossing Brides – Book 1
Freddie – Guilford Crossing Brides – Book 2
Alfie – Guilford Crossing Brides – Book 3
Alex – Guilford Crossing Brides – Book 4
Edwina, Bride of Connecticut (American Mail-Order Brides Series)
Cowboy Christmas
The Sheriff’s Outcast Bride
The Cowboy and The Quaker
Deceived Mail-Order Bride
Savage Possession
His Brother’s Wife
Possession
Fiery Possession
Gunslinger’s daughter
Claire, Tess, Flame, Jessica, Scarlett, Sophie (Women Betrayed Series)
Historical Romance
Pearl Harbor and More Anthology
A Rose
in No Man’s Land
Reluctant Father
We Never Said I Love You
Daring Masquerade
Allison’s War
Rich Man’s Folly (Sequel to Allison’s War)
Lauren’s Dilemma
Falsely Accused
Contemporary Romance
Baby Maker
Haunted Hearts
The Billionaire’s Revenge
Christmas Santa Mystery
Mail Order Angelique Page 8