Mirror Image Bride (Love Inspired)

by Barbara McMahon

  After lunch was over, the children and adults so inclined splashed in the water. Others spread blankets in the shade or had brought chairs. Groups expanded and contracted as people visited.

  “Having fun?” Ty asked at one point. She hadn’t had a chance to talk to him since they’d arrived early that morning.

  “I am,” she said with a happy sigh. “However, I’ll be glad when we leave. I’m getting smiler’s cramp.”

  “What?”

  “I’ve smiled so much today my cheeks ache.”

  “Want to take off?”

  “Can we do that? I mean, I was in charge of this so should I stay until the end?”

  “Don’t see why. Your clean-up committee will make sure the grounds are spotless before they leave. Some families have already left. If we can corral Darcy, we can head back.”

  “Oh, she’s having so much fun. We can wait.”

  “Or maybe Violet and Landon will bring her home,” he suggested.

  Maddie smiled again, then groaned and put both hands to her cheeks as the muscles protested. “Great idea.”

  Ty smiled into her eyes. “You go get in the truck, so no one catches you to hold us up. I’ll find Violet and ask.”

  In less than ten minutes, they pulled out of the parking area and headed for the ranch. Maddie felt comfortably tired. She’d pulled it off, but it was no great feat. She’d had the help of so many members of Grasslands Community Church. What a great family of Christians.

  “Tired?”

  “A bit.”

  “I’ll drop you at the main house when we arrive,” he said.

  “Okay.” She looked at him and felt her heart rate increase. He’d been in the thick of things today, helping with the barbecuing, watching out for one of the elderly men who found the uneven ground difficult to walk on. She hadn’t been able to eat with him and Darcy, but noticed he’d had others to spend the time with.

  “I think I have a job offer,” she said, watching for his initial reaction.

  “Where?” he asked.

  His hands tightened on the steering wheel and he kept his eyes on the road ahead. Interesting.

  “Here in Grasslands, actually. Paul Linden is expanding the newspaper slightly and wants a project manager. With my experience at the magazine, which he took the time to find out, he says I’ll be perfect. It doesn’t pay as much as my job in Fort Worth, but I don’t figure my expenses will be as high here, either.”

  Ty flicked her a glance. “So you’re staying.”

  She nodded.

  “I told him I could spend time evenings learning the job if he liked, but nothing during the day until school starts. He’s okay with that.” She smiled. “Actually, I’m excited. I think it’ll be a great opportunity. And Violet said I should plan to live here at least until I get back on my feet. I still have to pay rent in Fort Worth until the lease expires.”

  “Good,” Ty said.

  And that was all.

  Maddie was a little disappointed. She had hoped for a more enthusiastic response.

  “So I can still spend time with you and Darcy,” she reassured him.

  “She’ll like that.”

  Would he?

  Maddie waited, but he didn’t say anything more. He couldn’t be still hung up on her being from Fort Worth. How to convince him once and for all that she was nothing like Brittany? To get him to change his mind and open it up for whatever the Lord had in store for him.

  And for her.

  He stopped in front of the main house. “You did an awesome job with the picnic, especially coming in at the last minute like that,” Ty said as he half turned toward her.

  “I didn’t do much. Next year Sadie will be able to handle it. I think she could have this year, but she seemed so hesitant. I’m not sure why. In fact, today she even said something about possibly not being here next year. Maybe Grasslands isn’t for her. But it is for me!” There, how blatant could she make it?

  “Rest up, you deserve it. We’ll see you in the morning?”

  “Of course.”

  Maddie went straight inside. It wasn’t that hard a day, the most difficult part had been meeting so many new people and trying to remember names and faces. Now that she was back at the ranch, however, she relished the chance to do nothing.

  Rejuvenated a short time later, she gave in to an impulse and drove to Ranchland Manor to see Belle.

  The room was bright and airy, in contrast to the hospital-like setting with tubes and machines and all that surrounded Belle.

  “Hi,” Maddie said, pulling a chair close to the bed. She took Belle’s hand and squeezed it gently. “It’s Maddie. I came to tell you about the picnic. You were very much missed. So many people said to tell you hi. I’ll try to remember them all. And everyone at the church is praying for you. Please wake up soon.”

  There was no response.

  “So first Pastor Jeb opened the picnic with prayer. The kids had a ball in the lake and there were quite a few moms and dads in there as well.” She related as much as she could about the day, wishing Belle could have been there. Wishing she knew if Belle was processing any of her conversation.

  “I have a job offer—here in Grasslands. I’ll get to spend more time with Violet and Jack and be here when you wake up. We’re still trying to reach Dad, but no luck there.”

  She gazed out the window at the large trees for a few seconds.

  “Then there’s Ty Garland.” She waited a moment. But there was no reaction from Belle. “I think I’m in love with him. He’s a hard man to read. And nothing like Landon. Did you know I was engaged to him briefly? But that wasn’t a fit. I think with Ty it could be.” She poured out her feelings for Ty, for the hard breaks he’d had in life, and the resounding triumph of his getting custody of his daughter. She was learning patience throughout this summer and she hoped if it was meant to be that she’d be patient enough for Ty to find out what he wanted. She hoped it would be her.

  When she finished, she sat quietly beside the woman who had given her birth and then relinquished her. What had happened? Would they ever know for certain?

  When Maddie heard the dinner carts in the hall, she stood. “I’m going now. They are serving dinner to the other patients and will be in soon to check on you. Next year I hope you’re back in charge of the church picnic. Wake up, please. We want you back with us in the worst way.”

  She gave Belle a kiss on her cheek and left.

  It felt right to bring Belle up to date on her situation. She was her mother, of that there was no doubt. Maybe if she awoke, she and Maddie could build a relationship as strong as she had with Violet.

  Pulling out her cell, she gave Rachel a call and brought her up to date. As she’d told Darcy, a person could have more than one mother. She was lucky, she had three.

  * * *

  When Maddie returned to the ranch, Landon’s car still hadn’t returned. The picnic was going longer than she expected. She imagined the kids were most reluctant to stop playing in the lake.

  She went to Ty’s house, but a quick knock produced no response. She headed to the barn.

  He was in the tack room, working on some reins.

  “Working on Saturday?” she said, leaning against the doorjamb.

  He looked up, studying her for a moment. “Work never ends around a ranch.”

  “Ummm. Turns out I wasn’t as tired as I thought I was. I went to see Belle. To tell her I’m staying here.”

  “Still the same?”

  She nodded sadly. “It’s ironic, I found her but she doesn’t know that. I wonder if she’s missed me all these years.”

  “I’m certain she has,” Ty said, continuing to rub the saddle soap into the leather.

  “No one else is back from the picnic. I didn’t think it would go that long.”

  “It didn’t. Violet called and she and Landon took Darcy to town. They’re going to eat there and have ice cream, then come home.”

  “Oh. Want me to fix us dinner?”
r />   “No need. This is your day off.”

  “I have to eat. We might as well eat together. You know, I’ve been thinking. Once school starts, I could take Darcy in every day when I go in for work. I don’t think I’ll be getting off when she gets out of school, but if you find someone in town to watch her after school, I could bring her home when I return.”

  “Until you get a place in town,” he said.

  “Which could be months down the road.”

  His jaw stiffened. “You don’t have to do that,” he said.

  She grew exasperated. “I’m offering because I want to. I know I don’t have to. That way, I’d still see her every day.”

  “And that’s important?”

  She looked around the tack room, unsure of how to answer that. She wanted to be completely honest with him, but did he really want to hear the truth?

  “Maddie?” he said, looking concerned.

  She met his gaze.

  “It’s important to me. I love your daughter,” she blurted out.

  He stared at her for a long moment, then, deliberately holding her gaze, put down the reins and stood. In three steps he was right in front of her.

  “She loves you, too. But what if you leave? Won’t that be almost as hurtful for her as her mother’s death?”

  “You’re the only one who keeps thinking I’m leaving. I don’t know how to change your mind. You’ll just have to accept it on faith. I just found half my family. I love living here in Grasslands. I’m getting a new job. Why would I leave?”

  There was another—stronger—reason, but she couldn’t tell him.

  He stared at her for a long moment. Maddie could almost see the battle going on in his mind.

  He smiled at her, and her heart flip-flopped.

  “I don’t want you to leave. You know sometimes when you want something so badly it hurts, you’re afraid to go after it in case it vanishes?”

  She frowned. “I think I know what you’re talking about.”

  “That’s how I feel about you.”

  She knew the surprise she felt showed on her face. “What?”

  “I want you to stay so badly I can almost taste it. Once before I was happy, and it was snatched away. I’m afraid to reach out for it again. The disappointment is hard to take. It’s easier to just go with the flow and not yearn for anything.”

  She nodded to encourage him to keep talking. She wasn’t sure—was he really talking about her?

  “You know I didn’t exactly welcome you with open arms when you arrived on the ranch. Even when Violet suggested you watch Darcy, I wasn’t sure how things would work out. You are special, Maddie, in ways I never expected. I like to watch the delight in your eyes when something catches your fancy. I love your laughter—it’s contagious and makes everyone around you feel happier. I’m in awe of how you relate to Darcy. I especially like it when you smile at me as if we are the only two people on the earth.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” Which was true. The way her heart was pounding, she wasn’t sure she could talk. Hope blossomed deep inside. Her eyes never left his.

  He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as if he couldn’t not make some kind of connection between them.

  “I have a lot of baggage coming with me, and an eight-year-old girl. But if I ask you a question, will you answer honestly?” he said.

  “I’m always honest,” she said.

  “How do you feel about me?”

  That was throwing a curveball at her. Her heart rate increased, her palms grew damp. Dare she confess that she loved him and wanted nothing more than to get to know him better, to spend the days ahead with him and Darcy? Or was he merely asking if she liked working for him?

  “It shouldn’t be that hard,” he said.

  She could see the barriers building. Trusting in her heart, she smiled.

  “I love you, Ty. More than I ever thought possible.”

  “Yeehaw!” he yelled, picking her up and spinning them both around and around.

  He set her on her feet and cupped her face in his hands, kissing her soundly on the lips.

  “I love you, Maddie Wallace. I fought against it, tried to put you in the same box Brittany came from. Even if you were like that, I would still want to tie my life with yours.” He released a ragged breath. “If you can’t stay in Grasslands, we’ll find a place to suit us both. But no matter what, I want you to marry me. If we live here on the ranch all the better and you can be near your sister and brother. Be a mother to my daughter, and a wife to me. What do you say?”

  Happiness broke like a wave through her. “I say yes!” She flung her arms around his neck and he caught her close, hugging her against him. “I love you, so much. Despite your incorrigible attitude, which drives me crazy sometimes. I would love to be your wife. To learn more about ranching, watch Darcy grow up. This place is perfect for us. Yes, yes, yes!”

  He swept her into his arms and kissed her. She kissed him back with all the love in her heart.

  She couldn’t believe he’d asked her. She’d hoped he was growing fond of her, but this was beyond anything she expected after knowing him for only a few weeks.

  He ended the kiss, resting his forehead against hers. “I’ve been praying about this for a week or longer, and praying for nerve to ask. If you wanted to return to Fort Worth, I’d see if I could get a job there. There are ranches in the area, stockyards that need cowhands.”

  “Our life here is perfect. There’s nothing in Fort Worth to hold me there. I have it all here—with you. You and Darcy.”

  “Then how soon will you marry me? I can’t wait to have you with me, sharing meals, planning for the future. Learning how to be a rancher’s wife.”

  “Oh. Oh, I don’t know.” Uncertainty clouded her features. “I need to find my dad. I need to tell my brothers—all three of them. And, would you mind if we wait until we know if Belle’s going to wake up? I’m not quite ready to give up on the dream of having both my parents at my wedding.”

  “Whatever you want. I want you to be happy, Maddie.”

  “I shall be, every day I spend with you and Darcy. And maybe with some kids of our own? You do know twins run in my family.”

  He smiled down at her. “So we get a bigger house, maybe even a spread of our own one day. I never thought I’d marry again. But I didn’t plan to fall in love again, either. But I did.” He kissed her softly. “Now I can’t wait until you’re my wife.”

  “Me, too. In the meantime, I’ll still be fixing breakfast and dinner for the three of us—except for the days we eat with Violet and Jack. Oh, won’t they be surprised. Both of us engaged in less than three months of meeting each other.” Her eyes sparkled with joy. “I can’t wait to tell her. And Darcy. You think she’ll be happy with the news?”

  “She’ll be thrilled. I think she already thinks of you as her second mom. Whatever the future holds, we’ll face it together—in love and faith.”

  “Yes, in faith and love.”

  He kissed her again, sealing the vow, the promise for the future.

  * * *

  When Landon and Violet returned home with Darcy, Ty and Maddie hurried to the main house to share their news. Jack was there, heading out back to the house he was renovating. He’d skipped the picnic, staying close to the house during the day in case someone was needed with the others at the church event.

  “Hi, Jack,” Maddie greeted him. “Don’t leave just yet—we have news,” she said as he almost passed them in the doorway.

  “You’ve heard from Brian?” he asked, looking between Ty and Maddie.

  “No.”

  “What’s up?” Violet asked, as she and Landon joined them in the entryway. “You heard from your dad?”

  Maddie shook her head, then burst out, “Ty and I are engaged!”

  Violet squealed and rushed to hug Maddie.

  Landon smiled and shook hands with Ty. “You’re getting a gem.”

  “I know.”

  �
��Good grief, is everyone going crazy?” Jack growled. “If this love stuff is in the water, I’m drinking milk from now on.” He rammed his hat onto his head and strode out.

  “I’m so happy for you both,” Violet said, hugging Maddie and smiling at Ty. “Don’t mind Mr. Grouch. He’s got a lot on his plate with Mom, and meeting you and learning about Grayson. Plus,” she lowered her voice and said, “he lost the woman he loved last year. I think it’s all getting to be too much for him.”

  “What’s engaged?” Darcy asked, coming into the entry.

  “It means when Belle’s awake and able to attend, Maddie’s marrying me,” Ty said.

  “She’s going to be my new mom?” Darcy asked, her eyes lighting up.

  “Yes, and my wife,” Ty said, his gaze seeking Maddie’s.

  “Forever,” she said, reaching out for his hand, love shining from her eyes.

  He drew her in with one arm and reached down to scoop Darcy up in his other arm. Hugging them both, he nodded. “Forever.”

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt of The Promise of Home by Kathryn Springer!

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to Grasslands, Texas. Join Maddie Wallace as she continues to learn more about her newly discovered twin, Violet Colby, while visiting the Colby Ranch. Unanswered questions abound as Maddie tries to learn as much as she can about what happened when they were babies and why neither had known the other existed until a month ago.

  Had it been the Lord’s will she was laid off just when she discovered her twin so she was able to visit for an extended period of time? Maddie believes so. When a job opens as nanny for the ranch foreman, she knows the Lord is leading her to stay. Yet frustrations occur daily as they seek answers to the riddle of their past.

  I love Texas, the wide-open spaces and the endless blue skies. Trying to imagine how a city girl like Maddie would adjust to life on a ranch was such fun, and I hope you’ll enjoy finding out how Maddie makes a special place for herself at the ranch, and in the heart of a cowboy who had been burned badly by love in the past. The Lord’s hand is evident in all they do, and in the love they find.