by Ciara Knight
“We don't have a place yet, but I'm hoping it's somewhere close to you.”
Adelaide whirled around to face a young woman accompanied by a man with wiry hair.
"Sorry, we didn't want to interrupt. Thought it best you spoke to your family first."
Adelaide embraced her friend. “You are family. You’re the sister I never had. Is it true? Will you both be moving out here?”
The man beside her friend nodded and the two women squealed like schoolgirls, filling John’s heart with the warmest feeling he ever thought possible.
The young woman stepped forward and offered her hand. “It’s nice to meet you in person. I feel like I already know you from Adelaide’s letters. I'm Mary Curley and this is my husband, Samuel.”
John kissed Mary’s hand then shook her husband’s. “It’s a pleasure.”
The clock chimed and John tensed. “I’m afraid we need to be on our way. We have a long drive ahead of us to Miles City for a gallery show, but my men will take you all to the homestead. My housekeeper, Stella, will tend to your needs until we return home.”
“That's generous of you, but we're going to Miles City as well.” Adelaide's mother lifted her chin high. “There's a painting I've been wanting to purchase by a talented young woman who has been all the talk in Maryland.”
Adelaide gaped at her mother. “You don’t think it’s a waste of my time?”
“No, child,” her mother replied. “I was wrong.”
Her stepfather took her mother’s hand in his. “Considering the money you’ve made, we were wrong, about everything.”
Her ma laughed. “I think we shall declare this day a holiday. Your stepfather will never admit he was wrong again.”
They all laughed and headed outside to the waiting buggy. As they climbed in, John stole one last moment with his bride. “I’m so proud of you. I don’t deserve you, but I’ll cherish you forever. I’m the luckiest man to ever walk the earth." He held her tight, kissing her neck. "Thank you for saying yes.”
Adelaide tucked her head under his chin and wrapped her arms around his back as far as her belly would allow. “I’m the lucky one. Thank you. Thank you for bringing my family together. Thank you for encouraging me to continue painting, and thank you for making me happy. Truly happy. I love you, John Rivers.”
The End
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Other works by Ciara Knight:
In reading order:
Winter in Sweetwater County
Spring in Sweetwater County
Summer in Sweetwater County
Fall in Sweetwater County
Christmas in Sweetwater County
Valentines in Sweetwater County
Fourth of July in Sweetwater County
Thanksgiving in Sweetwater County
Battle for Souls Series
Rise From Darkness
Fall From Grace
Ascension of Evil
The Neumarian Chronicles
Weighted
Escapement
Pendulum
Balance
The Shrouded Kingdoms
The Curse of Gremdon
The Secrets of Dargon (Coming January 2016)
The Runes of Bramon (Coming 2016)
A Prospectors Novel
Fools Rush
Riverbend
Coming in 2016:
In All My Wishes
In All My Years
In All My Life
In All My Dreams