Heartland Courtship

by Lyn Cote

  When Brennan returned, he found that a ready-made black suit had been presented to him by the town. After all, if he won the election, he’d need a good suit to wear to his swearing in.

  Brennan was inclined to refuse but when he looked at the Ashfords’ happy, expectant faces, he relented. The old anger that had simmered just under the surface had drained out of him. He was a happy man.

  Now he stood between Noah and Levi, his best man, at the front of the schoolhouse. He looked over all the smiling faces.

  Within a few months, he’d changed from an abandoned tramp, a reviled Reb, to a man with a son and a groom who was marrying the sweetest woman in town. If his chest expanded any farther, his buttons might go flying off around the room. Jacque sat in new clothing beside Sunny, beaming.

  The door at the rear opened. Posey, Rachel’s matron of honor, stepped inside, carrying a bouquet of fall flowers, rich in gold and deep red. Then he saw Rachel in the doorway. Sunshine glowed around her as if God’s light came from her. Well, it did. If others couldn’t see it, he could.

  Everyone rose for the bride as Posey led Rachel down the aisle to his side.

  Brennan found his mouth had gone dry. Rachel’s subtle beauty was radiant today in the rich blue that reminded him of a clear, untroubled sky.

  Noah began, “It is odd for me to ask, Who gives this woman to marry this man? because of course, as her cousin standing in for her father who couldn’t be here, I do. And I must say that I am very happy to see that Rachel has found a man who truly values her. I give Rachel to Brennan unreservedly.”

  Noah continued the wedding ceremony. Rachel handed her bouquet to Posey and took Brennan’s hand.

  She smiled at her groom, her lips trembling with tears of joy. She had come to Wisconsin to begin a new life and God had given her a rich one. The emptiness in her heart had been filled with love. She’d always had God’s love but now she’d been gifted with a good man’s love. It was a treasure more dear because she had thought it would never be.

  “Brennan, you may kiss your bride,” Noah said finally, beaming at them.

  Brennan bent and she rose up on her toes and their lips met—briefly but completely.

  Then they turned, hand in hand.

  Noah lifted their clasped hands. “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you our newest couple, Mr. and Mrs. Brennan Merriday.”

  The congregation rose and applauded.

  Brennan pulled Rachel under his arm. He’d been driven out of his hometown once and here he was applauded and welcomed. He had found home, family and love at last. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

  *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE MARSHAL’S READY-MADE FAMILY by Sherri Shackelford.

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you’ve enjoyed the three books in my Wilderness Brides miniseries as much as I have enjoyed writing them. Three very different couples allowed God to turn their sadness into joy.

  I know that many of you have never heard of the Peshtigo Fire that took place on October 8, 1871, the same day as the Great Chicago Fire. The Peshtigo fire is often overlooked—was overshadowed—even at the time.

  The Wisconsin governor’s wife, Mrs. Lucius Fairchild, heard of the Chicago fire first while her husband was away. She sent supplies to Chicago and then heard of the disaster in her own state. She quickly led an effort to send supplies to the devastated area in Wisconsin, as well.

  It’s hard for us in the information age to realize how spotty communication was in 1871. Telegraph lines connected only the largest cities, so though Madison could get news from Chicago, it couldn’t from unconnected Peshtigo. And at that time, Wisconsin—now mostly farmland—was a vast forest. If you’d like to read more about the Peshtigo Fire, check out the Wisconsin Historical Society website at www.wisconsinhistory.org/highlights/archives/2012/11/peshtigo_fire.asp.

  Questions for Discussion

  Why did Rachel refuse to marry for convenience sake? Why did Brennan think he was unworthy of love?

  Brennan was misjudged by people in Pepin. Why?

  What challenges did Rachel face as a businesswoman in 1871?

  In 1871, women had very little in the way of rights. In most states, a woman’s wages belonged to her husband. Why do you think that was?

  Have you ever visited a Civil War battlefield or monument? Which one and what did you learn?

  When Brennan was taken to a slave auction as a boy, his life was changed. Have you ever experienced something like that? If so, what, and how did it change your life?

  Why was Brennan able to see that the slaves were people but the others ignored this? What blinded them?

  Rachel believed that when she lost her mother, in a way she lost her father, too. Do you think that was true or not? Why?

  Brennan and Jacque went through a life-threatening experience. Have you or anyone you know faced something similar? Did this change you or them? How?

  I misspelled Jacque’s name so my readers would pronounce it the way it should be. Jacque is not French for Jack and it’s correctly spelled with an s at the end. What is the English counterpart of Jacques? Hint: it’s a biblical name.

  Do you have a favorite family cake or sweet handed down through generations? Why is it your favorite? Fifteen Love Inspired Historical authors contributed some of these to a booklet titled “Old Family Recipes.” If you would like a copy, email me at l.cote@juno.com and I’ll email a pdf copy to you.

  Also I referred to old-fashioned sponge candy many times because it is one of my favorites. It’s also called seafoam candy. Here’s the link to one recipe for this delicious sweet treat! allrecipes.com/Recipe/Old-Fashioned-SeaFoam-Candy/Detail.aspx?prop24=RD_RelatedRecipes

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Historical title.

  You find illumination in days gone by. Love Inspired Historical stories lift the spirit as heroines tackle the challenges of life in another era with hope, faith and a focus on family.

  Enjoy four new stories from Love Inspired Historical every month!

  Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

  Other ways to keep in touch:

  Harlequin.com/newsletters

  Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

  Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

  HarlequinBlog.com

  Excerpt

  Cimarron Springs, Kansas

  1881

  JoBeth McCoy knew Marshal Garrett Cain’s life was about to change forever—and all she could do was sit with his young niece until he heard the tragic news about his sister.

  The towering double doors behind Jo and five-year-old Cora creaked open, and Reverend Miller cleared his throat. “You can send in the child now.” He held out his hand for Cora. “Marshal Cain has been informed of his sister’s passing.”

  Her heart heavy, Jo stood, then hesitated in the dappled sunlight. A soft breeze sent pear blossoms from the trees on either side of the shallow church steps fluttering over them like fragrant snow petals.

  Cora rose and snatched Jo’s hand. “Will you go with me?”

  A riot of flaxen curls tumbled merrily around the little girl’s face, but her Cupid’s-bow mouth was solemn beneath her enormous, cornflower-blue eyes. Cora clutched a paper funnel filled with lemon drops in her left hand. Her battered rag doll remained anchored to her right side.

  Jo met the reverend’s sympathetic gaze, grateful for his almost imperceptible nod of agreement. He was a squat, sturdy man in his middle fifties with thinning gray hair and a kind smile.

  The three of them stepped into the church vestibule, and Reverend Miller directed them toward his tiny, cluttered office. Jo paused as her eyes adjusted in the dim light.

  Marshal Cain sat on a sturdy wooden chair before the desk, his expression grim. Her heart skittered, but she swallowed back her nerves and forced he
r steps closer.

  His eyes were red, and the tail end of a hastily stowed handkerchief peeked out from his breast pocket. As though embarrassed by his tears, he didn’t meet her gaze. Instead, he focused his attention on the petite fingers clutching Jo’s waist. He didn’t stand or approach them, and for that Jo was grateful, especially since Cora cowered behind her.

  He caught sight of his niece’s frightened gaze and blinked rapidly. “Hello, Cora. I know we’ve never met, but your mother and I were brother and sister.”

  Jo had only seen the marshal a handful of times, but he was an imposing sight sitting down, let alone standing. Well over six feet tall, he wore his dark hair neatly trimmed. Though he didn’t sport a beard, a five-o’clock shadow perpetually darkened his jaw.

  His face was all hard lines and tough angles, with a deep cleft dividing his chin. An inch-long scar slashed at an angle from his forehead through one thick, dark eyebrow. Other women might prefer a gentler face, but Jo found his distinctive features fascinating. Not that she looked. A woman simply couldn’t help but notice things once in a while.

  Cora took a hesitant step from behind Jo. “Mama is dead.”

  “Yes.”

  “Papa, too.”

  The marshal’s knuckles whitened on the arms of his chair. “I know,” he replied, his voice gruff.

  Jo glanced between the two, her chest aching for their shared grief. From what little information she’d gathered, the girl’s parents had died in a fire three weeks ago. As Cora’s closest living relative, Marshal Cain had been assigned guardianship. Reverend Miller had just broken the news, and the poor man was obviously devastated by the loss.

  Realizing the reverend had deserted them, Jo craned her neck and searched the empty vestibule. Everyone in town knew she had all the sensitivity of a goat at a tea party, and this situation definitely required a delicate touch.

  She caught sight of Cora’s dismayed expression and decided she’d best keep the two talking until the reverend returned. “Why don’t you show Mr. Cain what you bought at the store this morning.”

  The marshal’s gaze flicked up at Jo, then quickly returned to Cora as she dutifully extended her arm, revealing her precious stash of candy.

  “Want one?”

  “Uh, well, sure.” He stretched out one hand and plucked a lemon drop from atop the mound. “Your mother liked peppermints,” he added.

  Cora nodded eagerly. “Me, too!”

  Relieved by the girl’s easy acceptance of Marshal Cain, Jo spurred the conversation. “Cora rode a train all the way from St. Louis, didn’t you?”

  “Mrs. Smith wouldn’t let me sit by the window.” Cora fingered a dangling edge of pink ribbon circling the frilly waistband of her dress. “She was grumpy.”

  A shadow crossed the marshal’s eyes. “Sorry ’bout that. I didn’t know you were coming. I’d have fetched you myself.”

  “Would you let me sit by the window?”

  “I guess. If you wanted.”

  The tension in Jo’s shoulders eased a bit. They’d been frantically searching for the marshal since the day nearly two weeks past when Jo had transcribed the telegram announcing his niece’s imminent arrival. He’d been escorting a prisoner to Wichita and had run into trouble along the way.

  By the time they’d discovered his location and informed him that he was needed back in town posthaste, the poor little girl had already arrived with her grim-faced escort. Mrs. Smith had been terrified of Indians, and certain she’d never make it back to St. Louis with her scalp intact.

  Since the skittish escort was obviously frightening Cora with her hysterics, Jo had cheerfully assumed responsibility for the little girl and hustled Mrs. Smith onto an eastbound train. Three days had gone by since then.

  “When are we going back home?” Cora asked.

  Jo’s heart wrenched at the innocent question.

  “Well, that’s the thing.” Marshal Cain cleared his throat. “I thought you could stay out here and live with me.” The raw vulnerability in his expression touched Jo’s soul. “We’re the only family either of us has left.”

  Cora’s solemn blue eyes blinked with understanding. “Don’t you have a mama and papa, either?”

  “Nope. Your mom and I lost our parents when I was fifteen and your mother was eighteen.”

  Though his expression remained neutral, Jo sensed a wagonload of sorrow behind the simple words.

  Cora clasped her hands at her waist. “Did they die in a fire like my mama and papa?”

  Stark anguish exploded in the marshal’s gaze, and Jo took an involuntary step backward. His reaction felt too bleak, too powerful for an event that must be almost twenty years past.

  Covering his revealing lapse, he absently rubbed his cheek. “Smallpox.”

  “What’s that?” Cora asked.

  “It’s a sickness.” The marshal angled his face toward the light. “It leaves scars.”

  Jo and Cora leaned closer, both squinting. Sure enough, the rough stubble on his chin covered a scattering of shallow pockmarks. Jo had never been this close to the marshal before and she caught the barest hint of his scent—masculine and clean. Her stomach fluttered. Once again she couldn’t help but wonder how all his imperfection added up to downright handsome.

  Cora shrugged. “Your face doesn’t look bad.”

  Jo glanced down at her own rough, homespun skirts and serviceable shirtwaist. Men’s flaws made them look tough. But a woman who dressed and acted like a tomboy, well, that was another story. A woman without corkscrew curls and lace collars wasn’t worth the time of day. She’d learned that lesson well enough when Tom Walby, the only boy she’d ever had a crush on, had mocked her for being a hoyden before the entire eighth-grade class.

  Turned out men fell in love with their eyes first and their hearts second. Which was too bad, really. Nettles were far more useful in life than roses.

  “Did you ride a train after your parents died?” Cora asked.

  “I don’t remember,” the marshal replied. “That was a long time ago for me.”

  Cora nodded her agreement, her flaxen curls bobbing. “You’re old, so that musta been a really, really long time ago.”

  Ducking her head, Jo muffled a laugh. Marshal Cain blinked as though her presence had only now fully registered through the haze of his grief. He hastily stood, knocking his hat to the floor. They both reached for it at the same time, nearly butting heads. Jo touched the brim first. As he accepted his hat, the marshal’s rough, callused fingers brushed over hers, sending a scattering of gooseflesh dancing up her arm.

  Jo met his dark eyes, astonished by the intensity of his gaze.

  “My apologies for not greeting you,” he said, sounding more formal than she’d ever heard him. “We met in church once, didn’t we?”

  “Don’t be sorry, Mr. Cain.” For some reason, she seemed to have a difficult time catching her breath when he was near. “You’ve been busier than a termite in a sawmill. I’m JoBeth McCoy.”

  The admission earned her a dry chuckle. “Seems like you can’t turn a corner in this town without running into a McCoy.”

  Jo grinned. She had five younger brothers, and they never expected her to be anyone but herself. In fact, they’d probably clobber her if she started acting like a regular girl. “They’re a handful, yes, sir.”

  “Reverend Miller says you and Cora have been inseparable.”

  Jo had taken a proprietary interest in Cora’s plight from the beginning. The messages concerning her care had been clipped and chillingly professional. A child thrust into such turmoil needed more than a hired guardian like Mrs. Smith. She needed love and understanding.

  Jo squeezed Cora’s hand. “I work in the telegraph office. Part of my job is keeping track of unclaimed packages after the trains depart.” She winked at Cora. “’Course this was a special case. Everyone needs a friend sometimes, right, Cora?”

  The little girl returned the comforting pressure. “JoBeth sent twenty-six different messages t
rying to find you. I counted. JoBeth has five brothers. I counted them, too. I don’t have any brothers. Do you have any brothers?”

  “Nope.”

  The marshal and the little girl sized each other up like a couple of nervous spring foals. They were wary, yet curious, too. Suddenly, Jo realized how terribly unnecessary her presence had become. Cora didn’t need her anymore—she had Marshal Cain.

  Though he’d only been in town a few months, Jo sensed his unwavering resolve. He’d spent his time quietly and methodically cleaning up Cimarron Springs, a Herculean task. Their previous sheriff had been lazy and corrupt, and every outlaw west of the Mississippi had exploited his lax law enforcement. The marshal still had loads of work ahead of him, but he didn’t show any signs of slowing.

  And now that he and little Cora had each other, they didn’t need her.

  A band of emotion tightened around Jo’s chest. Though she and Cora had known each other a short time, she felt a kinship.

  A small hand tugged on her skirts. “How come you don’t know Marshal Cain? You said you know everyone in town.”

  Jo glanced at the marshal and found him studying Reverend Miller’s book collection as though it was the most fascinating thing on earth. She wondered if he was thinking about the deluge of invitations he’d received during his first few months in Cimarron Springs. Introducing a new man in town was like tossing raw meat into a pack of wolves. A pack of female wolves.

  Warmth crept up Jo’s neck. Of course, no one had considered her as a possible love interest. Not even her own parents had invited the marshal for dinner. Not that she cared, since she never planned on marrying. She’d pinched her cheeks and fluttered her eyelashes for Tom Walby and look what that had gotten her. He’d told her he’d rather court his grandfather’s mule.

  She wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice.

  Covering her unease, she fanned the tip of her thick, dark braid. “Marshal Cain has only been in town a few months. I guess he’s never had call to arrest me. If I was a cattle rustler, we’d be on a first-name basis by now, I’m sure.”