He slid his arm around her shoulders. “How about if instead of you following me, we go together like a team, a partnership, equals?”
She slid her arm around his waist. “Perfect.”
And they walked together into their future.
Epilogue
Tarnation, Texas October 1873
Angeline scanned the sanctuary. “My goodness, I believe the whole town has turned out to attend today.”
Beside her, her mother-in-law Antoinette McIntyre held the newest McIntyre. Grady’s elegant mother had hazel eyes like his, but her hair was dark brown, with a few gray hairs. This was the baby’s first outing since her birth a week ago and Angeline had dressed her all in pink.
Antoinette watched her son on the pew in front of her. “I’m so glad we came. You’ve done so much since we were here when Matthew was born.”
On the other side of Matthew, Andrew McIntyre glanced over the boy’s head. Except for Andrew’s brown eyes, Angeline visualized Grady looking like his father twenty or thirty years from now.
Andrew said, “Sure enjoyed the new guest room. I don’t know if I would have invested building two rooms on to a house that wasn’t mine. You’re a generous woman.”
Angeline cuddled Matthew to her. “If we have to move, we will. We love this community, though, and hope to stay here all our lives.”
From the pew in front of them, Grady stood and walked to the lectern. “Thank you all for coming to the first service with our new stained-glass window. Our thanks to Vadim Kozlov and Colin Gallagher for cutting away the wall and framing in the window perfectly.”
He grinned at the two men, both seated a few rows back. “Special thanks that they didn’t break the window.”
Chuckles rippled across the sanctuary.
Grady continued, “This was a major job but I believe it adds a great deal to our church. My wife and I love this community. Angeline donated the window because she wanted to repay all the people who’ve welcomed her to Tarnation.”
The window was fifteen feet high at the arch. The artisan who’d traveled from Fort Worth depicted the scene Angeline had sketched. The result was even nicer than she’d hoped.
A blue background depicted the sky and rays of sunlight from a corner burst of yellow radiated toward earth. Midway, a dove with wings spread in flight carried an olive branch. An empty cross in the lower center was surrounded by a whirl of colors across the spectrum from clear to deep purple. The effect was awe inspiring.
Antoinette whispered, “It’s a beautiful window. You were so generous to donate this. You’ve added a great deal to the reverence of the building.”
Angeline smiled at her mother-in-law. In just over a week she had come to love Grady’s parents. They’d arrived the day before their baby was born. Antoinette had helped Riley deliver the baby girl then Antoinette had taken over cooking and cleaning.
Grady said, “You met my parents last week, and now I’d like to introduce the newest member of the congregation, our daughter Antoinette Lydia McIntyre. I imagine there will be a number of little girls in this town named after Lydia Harrison, so we chose to use that as our daughter’s middle name. The first name, Antoinette, is after my mother. Matthew has dubbed his sister Netta, so we decided that’s what we’ll call her.”
Midway of the pews, Harlie Jackson stood. “I’d like to say something, preacher.”
She saw Grady’s body tense, but he nodded at Harlie.
“I want to apologize to Mrs. McIntyre—the young one who’s your wife—and to you for criticizing and causing trouble. This isn’t easy to say, but I was wrong. The new window and the additions to the church parsonage are good. Thank you for visiting my wife when she was sick. That’s all I have to say.” He clamped his mouth and sat on the pew.
Dead silence fell on the congregation.
Angeline couldn’t believe her ears. She thought the day Harlie apologized would never come. He was too set in his ways and disapproved of everything she and Grady did. At least, that’s what she had thought.
Grady’s body appeared to relax. “Thank you, Harlie. A public apology takes a strong man. Now, let us open our worship service with a prayer.”
Light from the window cast an aura-like radiance around Grady. Angeline thought about how fitting that was. He’d saved her from shame and loneliness. Even more, he loved her and her baby.
After the prayer, he met her gaze with love overflowing from his eyes. How had she won the love of this wonderful man? Her heart was home. A real home with a man she loved and who returned that emotion.
She pondered all of this in her heart. All her dreams had come true. When she’d told that to Grady early this morning, he’d kissed her and said, “My Angel, the best is yet to come.”
Dear Reader,
Thank you for choosing to read my book out of the millions available. If you’d like to know about my new releases, contests, giveaways, and other events, please sign up for my reader group here. New subscribers receive a FREE historical western titled Happy Is The Bride.
If you enjoyed this story, please leave a review wherever you purchased the book. You’ll be helping me and prospective readers and I’ll appreciate your effort.
Caroline
Read Caroline’s western historical titles:
Amanda’s Rancher, Montana Sky Series Kindle World
Patience, Bride of Washington, American Mail-Order Brides Series #42
Josephine, Bride Brigade book 1
The Surprise Brides: Jamie, released simultaneously with three other The Surprise Bride books which are Gideon by Cynthia Woolf, Caleb by Callie Hutton, and Ethan by Sylvia McDaniel, each book about one of the Fraser brothers of Angel Springs, Colorado
The Most Unsuitable Wife, Kincaids book one
The Most Unsuitable Husband, Kincaids book two
The Most Unsuitable Courtship, Kincaids book three
Gabe Kincaid, Kincaids book four
Brazos Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book one, Free
Buy the Audiobook here
High Stakes Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book two
Buy the Audiobook here
Bluebonnet Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book three
Tabitha’s Journey, a Stone Mountain Texas mail-order bride novella
Stone Mountain Reunion, a Stone Mountain Texas short story
Stone Mountain Christmas, a Stone Mountain Texas novella
Winter Bride, a Stone Mountain romance
The Texan’s Irish Bride, McClintocks book one, Free
O’Neill’s Texas Bride, McClintocks book two
McClintock’s Reluctant Bride, McClintock’s book three
Save Your Heart For Me, a western romance adventure novella
Long Way Home, a sweet Civil War adventure romance novella. Kindle only
Caroline’s Time Travel
Out Of The Blue, 1845 Irish lass comes forward to today
Caroline’s Contemporary Titles
Be My Guest, mildly sensual
Snowfires, sensual
Home Sweet Texas Home, Texas Home book one (sweet)
Caroline’s Mysteries:
Almost Home, a Link Dixon mystery
Death In The Garden, a Heather Cameron cozy mystery, Kindle only
Take Advantage of Bargain Boxed Sets:
The Kincaids, Books 1-4 in one set
Wild Western Women Ride Again, Kirsten Osbourne, Callie Hutton, Caroline Clemmons, Sylvia McDaniel, and Merry Farmer, available only at Amazon, Kindle only
Wild Western Women: Kirsten Osbourne, Callie Hutton, Caroline Clemmons, Sylvia McDaniel, and Merry Farmer. Kindle only
Mail-Order Tangle: Linked books Mail-Order Promise by Caroline Clemmons and Mail-Order Ruckus by Jacquie Rogers, Kindle Only
10 Timeless Heroes, time travels include Out Of The Blue and novels by
Sky Purington, Skhye Moncreif, Donna Michaels, Beth Trissel, P. L. Parker,
L. L. Muir, Linda LaRoque, and Nancy Lee Badg
er. Kindle only
Silver Belles and Stetsons, Christmas novellas from ten authors, Kindle only
Men of Stone Mountain, contains the first three of the Stone Mountain Texas books: Brazos Bride, High Stakes Bride, and Bluebonnet Bride. Kindle Only
Rawhide ’n Roses, fifteen 2,000 word short stories by various western historical authors, nominated for the Rhone Award, all proceeds go to Black Hills Wild Horse Rescue
About the Author
Caroline Clemmons is an Amazon bestselling and award winning author of historical and contemporary western romances. A frequent speaker at conferences and seminars, she has taught workshops on characterization, point of view, and layering a novel.
Caroline and her husband live in the heart of Texas cowboy country with their menagerie of rescued pets. When she’s not indulging her passion for writing, Caroline enjoys family time, reading, travel, antiquing, genealogy, and getting together with friends. Find her on her blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google+, WattPad, Shelfari, and Pinterest. Subscribe to her reader group here to receive a Free novella of Happy Is Bride.
A peek at the next Bride Brigade:
Cassandra, Bride Brigade Three
Chapter One
Cassandra Bradford smiled to herself as she stared out the stage window. She was on her way to a life of ease and wealth even if she’d had to travel to the middle of nowhere to achieve that better life. Certainly, she was grateful to Lydia Harrison for choosing her as one of the first four young women to accompany her to Tarnation, Texas. Since then, another three had joined them.
She shifted uncomfortably on the stage’s center seat but remained erect as any lady should. Lydia had assured them the men of this backwater town were eager for wives. Better, some of these men were well-to-do. Cassandra knew which type she wanted.
Wearing one of her elegant hand-me-down dresses from her last employer, she was clothed as well as anyone except their hostess. No one need know she’d been a servant. Cassandra was able to pass as a lady and that’s what she intended to become.
She would employ maids to wait on her every wish. Of course, she’d treat them much better than she’d often been treated. Even the lovely gowns she’d brought with her were given with disdain.
Lydia peered out the window. “We’re here, ladies. I’m so relieved to be home.” She leaned out and waved. “Oh, my, we have a welcoming committee.”
Everyone chattered at once, grumpy and tired. That is, except for her and the girl named Ophelia. Something bad had happened to that girl because she had something wrong with her back and preferred to sit in the uncomfortable center bench.
Cassandra was the last to exit the coach. The first man she saw was a cowboy. Drat the luck, he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. His brown-eyed gaze met hers and her chest contracted as if the air had been squeezed from her. No cowboy for her. She intended to attract a wealthy man. Refusing to acknowledge him, she picked up two valises.
“Why don’t I carry those for you, Miss?” Standing at several inches over six feet, he tipped his broad western hat and revealed thick, brown hair. “Samuel Drummond’s the name. Welcome to Tarnation.”
“I’m Miss Cassandra Bradford.” She had no intention of encouraging him but she’d be polite. “I didn’t expect such a large welcoming committee.” There must be a couple of dozen people who been waiting for the stage and not one of them was a woman.
“We’ve all been looking forward to Lydia and you ladies arriving. I was lucky enough to be in town after selling some cattle. Sure glad I picked today to be here.”
Ugh. Cows. No matter how much this man made her heart go pity-pat, he was not the man for her.
Angeline (Bride Brigade Book 2) Page 13