“Then you will marry me?” Hope filled his eyes.
“What about Steven and Rosalyn? Will they come between us?” She didn’t back down even when she saw pain chase the hope away. She had to know.
He blinked. “The last few weeks since Beth’s baby was born, when you thought I was out with some woman, I was going through some heavy-duty prayer and counseling sessions with Tom. The healing started before that, though. When you showed up in my kitchen, if you want to pinpoint it. You and Jamie turned my life around, Kim. I’ll always be thankful God led you back to me. I’m not like what you had before. I want only you. You’re all I ever wanted, and that hasn’t changed. I never stopped loving you.”
He set the rings beside her and lifted her hands again, putting them between his. “Steven is my son, same as Jamie is. I won’t forget him. I’ll always carry love for him, but it won’t overshadow the love I have for Jamie. As for Rosalyn, I cared for her. Mostly, I felt sorry for her and guilty for what I’d done to her. I married her to prove I’d gotten over you.”
He shrugged. “Only I hadn’t. My love for you is like one of those birthday candles you can’t blow out. No matter how much I denied my love and stomped it down, it kept flaring to life even though I didn’t want it to.”
Kimberly smiled. “I love you, Travis.”
“What about your rich tycoon? Should I be worried about him coming between us?” He turned her words back on her.
She shook her head. “No, Colin killed what little love I had for him just before he died. We were pawns, used by his father and my grandfather, but we both tried to make the marriage work. The problem is, you can’t give life to a nonliving thing. We became friends after a while and then deteriorated to civil enemies before he died.”
She placed her hand over her heart. “Way down here where it matters, I knew you weren’t like him, but everything became jumbled in my mind. I won’t make the mistake of believing you might act like him again.”
Travis chuckled. “Good. Now that’s settled, will you marry me?”
Kimberly laughed with sheer happiness as she nodded. “Yes, Travis, I’ll marry you.”
Travis let out a whoop of joy. He lifted the engagement ring from the box and placed it on her finger with trembling hands.
Kimberly’s heart took up a rapid beat as Travis pulled her forward for a kiss. His lips had scarcely touched hers when Jamie’s voice cut in.
“Let go of my momma.”
“Oh, no.” Kimberly groaned. She’d forgotten Jamie. He still thought Travis was running around kissing strange women.
Travis chuckled before letting her go. He spoke low so only she could hear. “Here we go again.”
Kimberly patted the sofa beside her. “Jamie, come sit down. We have something very important to tell you.”
He glared at Travis so long, she thought he would disobey. “Jamie, please.”
He flounced past Travis and sat close to his mother.
“First, I want you to know that the woman we saw Travis kissing was his cousin.”
No reaction from Jamie. Obviously, little boys didn’t think cousins should be kissed, either. Kimberly sighed and tried again. “You remember Brent back in Omaha, don’t you?”
Jamie nodded.
“Brent has a sister right here in Bow Creek. Her name is Shelia, and Travis is Brent and Shelia’s cousin. Travis and Sheila hadn’t seen each other in a long time so when they ran across each other that day we saw them, they were glad, and as families do, they hugged and kissed on the cheek. Do you understand, Jamie?”
He nodded. “How come he bought her a ring then? Daniel said that’s what people do when they’re getting married.”
“Daniel is exactly right.” Kimberly held out her left hand for Jamie to see the ring.
Travis sat back on his heels with a twinkle in his eyes and a half smile on his face. Maybe she should let Travis tell Jamie about his paternity.
“Shelia was helping Travis buy a ring for me. What do you think about that?”
Jamie stared at the ring then up at her. When he didn’t speak, she asked, “Jamie, is it all right with you if I marry Travis?”
He frowned so long, she thought he’d say no. “Can we stay here then?”
She nodded. “Yes. Would you like that?”
“With Trixie? And Sweet Thing? And Snowball?” He named his favorite animals.
Kimberly and Travis shared a laugh. “Yes, Jamie. You’ll get to live right here with all of them. Gran will probably move back to town, but you’ll still see her often.”
“Okay.” He didn’t act as happy as she’d have liked, but at least the sullen look was gone.
Travis reached for Kimberly’s hand. “Jamie, there’s one more thing you need to know.” He looked at Kimberly as if he’d be glad for her to take over.
She smiled. “Jamie, Travis and I have something else very important to tell you. Do you remember when Colin told us he wasn’t your father?”
“Uh-huh.” Jamie looked down at the floor. “I don’t have no father. He said so.”
“Whoa, wait a minute.” Travis frowned. “That isn’t true. You have a father who loves you very, very much. Sometimes grownups make mistakes, and they don’t mean to hurt their kids, but that’s pretty much what happens anyway. You see, Jamie, before we even knew God was making you for us, your momma and I married other people. She married Colin and I married Rosalyn.”
When Travis stopped for a breath, Jamie leaned against Kimberly. “Are you my . . .” He looked down at the floor, then up at his mom. Finally, he looked back at Travis. “My real daddy?”
Travis nodded. “Yes, son. I am.”
Jamie’s face broke into a wide grin seconds before he launched himself into Travis’s waiting arms.
Kimberly heard a strangled sound at the door. Tears blurred her eyes, but she saw Gran standing in the open doorway, her hand to her mouth. Tears ran down her cheeks, and she brushed them away as if she couldn’t be bothered. Then a man appeared behind her. As they stepped farther into the room, Kimberly gasped and stood.
“Grandfather.” She reached and found Travis’s hand as he stood with Jamie. She wouldn’t have to stand up to her grandfather alone this time.
“Don’t look at me like that, Kimberly.” Grandfather scowled at her. “I’m not here to cause trouble.”
Kimberly felt Travis’s support as he gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. He held Jamie as if he’d never let him go. Jamie seemed content in the circle of his father’s arm, as he watched his great-grandfather.
“Then why are you here, and how did you find me?” Kimberly’s gaze shifted to Gran. She’d left her at the auction with the assurance someone from the church would bring her to the ranch. How had she gotten with Grandfather? “Gran, what’s going on?”
“Now, hear him out, Kimberly.” Gran didn’t quite meet her eyes. “Your grandfather and I’ve talked on the phone a few times, and he understands things now that he didn’t before. He’s come all this way to talk to you. The least you can do is listen.”
How could she listen to him? He’d believed a womanizing squanderer over her? He could see her mistakes, but he couldn’t see Colin’s? Kimberly wanted to tell him exactly what she thought, but she couldn’t. Not in front of Jamie. As she hesitated, words from The Lord’s Prayer came to her mind. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Jesus told Peter to forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven. Remorse for her unforgiving spirit filled her heart.
She nodded. “All right. I’m listening.”
Grandfather lifted one shoulder and gave her a twisted grin. “I’m sorry. I was wrong. I love you, Kimberly, and I hurt you. There’s no excuse for that. I wouldn’t listen to you because I wanted what I thought was best for you and for the company. I thought Colin was it. I was so wrong. I wouldn’t ask you to forgive me, except forgiveness is healing to those who forgive. If you can find it in your heart to forgive the grandfather who loves you more tha
n his own life, I’d sure appreciate it.”
Kimberly didn’t realize tears were streaming down her face until Jamie frowned at his great-grandfather and said, “You made my momma cry.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for that, too.” Grandfather smiled at Jamie. “I couldn’t help overhearing when we came in. I’m glad you found your real daddy, Jamie. Looks like you’ve got a great home here.”
“My daddy and Momma are getting married real soon. We’re gonna stay living right here forever.” Jamie grinned from Travis to Kimberly.
“I’m glad to hear that.” Grandfather winked at Gran. “My great-grandson’s going to become a cowboy. One never knows.”
A tinge of pink touched Gran’s cheeks and she smiled. “Stick around, city man, and we’ll have you up on a horse before you know it. Jamie and Kimberly could teach you a thing or two in that area. They both took to riding as if they were born to it.”
“Grandfather.” Kimberly had waited to get her emotions under control while the others talked. Now she met her grandfather’s gaze and saw the kindness there. “Will you give me away at my wedding? We haven’t discussed the details, but I’d like to be married in the church in a small ceremony. Is that all right, Travis?”
He winked. “Just don’t forget to say ‘I do.’”
“I won’t if you won’t.” They all laughed, but she waited for her grandfather’s answer. Would he understand that her request meant she’d forgiven him? “Will you, Grandfather?”
He smiled at her. “Of course. I’ll be honored to.”
“I love you, Grandfather. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you where I was.”
“There’s nothing to forgive, Kimberly. I can’t blame you for what you did.”
Kimberly stayed beside Travis, absorbing his strength, while in her mind she ran into her grandfather’s arms. Maybe one day soon she’d be able to do that.
~*~
The late August sunshine slanted from the west to brighten the gazebo as Travis took his bride of one week into his arms for a slow dance around the floor. Waltz music floated through the air from Gran’s old phonograph as they kept step. Gran and Jamie were in Omaha, visiting Grandfather and would be home tomorrow. Love for Kim overflowed Travis’s heart. With her help, God had healed the broken pieces of his life. He’d removed the wrongful accusations and led him to find forgiveness. He had so much more now than he’d ever had before. Tom was his best friend again, Jack was getting the help he needed, Jamie was the best son he could imagine, and Kim was everything and more than he’d dreamed she would be.
Their steps paused as the song ended, and Kim tilted her face for his kiss. He didn’t mind giving her what she wanted. He chuckled just before his lips touched hers.
When their kiss ended, she looked into his eyes. “What was so amusing?”
He grinned. “Just thinking about how much I like kissing you.” He frowned. “You know we missed seven good years of kissing.”
“That just means we’ll have to double the kissing for the next seven years.” Her eyes drifted shut, as he obliged.
Her lips lifted at the corners. “Or quadruple it for the next three and a half.”
He got a couple of kisses that time.
“Or—”
He shut her up with another kiss. Afterward, he led her from the gazebo. “Let’s go ride off into the sunset. Later, we’ll see if we can make up for all that kissing we’ve missed.”
Kim laughed. “Whatever you say, cowboy.”
~*~*~*~
About the Author
Mildred Colvin, wife and mother of three children and three grandchildren, is an award-winning author of more than twenty romance novels in both historical and contemporary themes, three compilations, and one audio book. Mildred is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and is active in two critique groups. You can find her online at Infinite Characters http://infinitecharacters.com
Other books by Mildred Colvin
Learning to Lean
Love Returned
Better Than Gold
Lesson of the Poinsettia
Cora’s Deception (Brides of Cedar Creek - Book 1)
Eliza’s Mistake (Brides of Cedar Creek - Book 2)
Rebekah’s Scorn (Brides of Cedar Creek - Book 3)
Deborah’s Secret (Brides of Cedar Creek - Book 4)
This Child Is Mine (Kansas City Romance - Book 1)
Making Things Right (Kansas City Romance - Book 2)
Three Broken Hearts (Kansas City Romance - Book 3)
Connie and the Cowboy (Outlaw Gold - Book 1)
Mama’s Bible (Oregon Trail - Book 1)
Home’s Promise (Oregon Trail - Book 2)
The Preacher’s Outlaw Bride (Orphan Train Brides - Book 1)
The Banker’s Counterfeit Bride (Orphan Train Brides - Book 2) In Progress!
By Regina Tittel
Abandoned Hearts
Stranded by flood waters in the heart of the Ozarks, Ann McHaven is forced to stay with a rugged farmer, Jacob Durham. Her annoyance with him soon turns to attraction. The magnetic pull between them puts her faith to the test as temptations tease her thoughts.
Independent and stubborn, Jacob’s eyes and heart are opened to all he has to lose when a fearless mountain lion turns him into the hunted. Will his life be spared long enough to restore his trust in God, and admit his love for Ann?
~*~*~*~
Table of Contents
Contemporary Christian Romance
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
About the Author
A New Life Page 19