by Renee Ryan
She grasped his face and stopped him with a kiss, feeling not the slightest shame that she’d instigated yet another kiss with this man. Right here on the streets of Esperanza where all of her neighbors could see them. Right here in front of Adam, soon to be one of her students.
Garrick pulled her close and returned the kiss with a depth of feeling that mirrored her own. Perhaps lengthy apologies weren’t necessary. In fact, nothing mattered right now except knowing that Garrick Wakefield loved her as much as she loved him. Whatever happened in the future regarding marriage and her school, they would face it together and figure out how to make everything work.
*
Garrick carried his eldest cousin in his arms while Uncle conducted a tour of the hotel as though he’d built the place himself. Aunt Westbourne and Rosamond, Colonel and Mrs. Northam, and Percy arm-in-arm with Beryl, all trooped along behind them.
“You see what can be accomplished, my boy?” Uncle spoke to little Lord Eddington as he pointed to various items of interest in one of the finer rooms. “Take note. You must always find clever people to do the work.” He continued on down the hall, unmindful of the cut Garrick felt to his heart.
From childhood, he’d been the receiver of Uncle’s tutelage as he prepared him to inherit the title. Now that instruction went to the viscount. Yet never once in the past six years had Garrick regretted the existence of this precious boy who’d greeted him so joyfully just an hour ago, proclaiming how he and his brothers missed their dear cousin Garrick. Nor could he regret any circumstances that had brought him to Rosamond. This wasn’t the life he’d expected or planned, but God’s plan was proving to be far better.
“Although I believe the Palladian facade our architects originally designed would be superior to the, ahem, more modest front my nephew chose.” Uncle glanced at Garrick as he addressed Colonel Northam.
A nervous sensation skittered through Garrick. He hadn’t been paying attention. Behind him, however, he heard Rosamond’s soft snicker and suppressed a laugh. The facade would be their private joke. Someday he’d confess to her that when he’d come here, he’d had his own facade as ornate and well-ordered as anything Andrea Palladio had designed. Yet, in this wild, untamed land, that false front had crumbled away to reveal a better, perhaps humbler man.
Uncle had laughed off Garrick’s clumsy explanation about his letter requesting permission to abandon the project and the second one saying he wanted to stay until it was finished. “I read the second letter first, so didn’t bother with the first.” Garrick couldn’t have asked for more.
Later in the dining room, as Chef Henri served a supper befitting a king and Roberts directed the serving staff, Uncle continued his commentary, albeit with no criticisms. Aunt Westbourne must have spoken to her husband. Although half his age, the countess was a positive influence on him.
“I say, nephew.” Uncle looked up from his soup. “Are you pleased about Helena’s engagement?”
Garrick started. “Engagement?” He stared at Uncle. “When? Who?” And why hadn’t he been consulted?
“Why, Lord Waverly, of course.” Uncle chuckled. “In your absence, I granted my permission. And a suitable dowry, of course.”
Garrick sputtered for a moment until he noticed Rosamond smiling across the table. Now they could marry without impediment. Another of God’s blessings.
“You have my thanks, Uncle.” More than thanks. If he were wearing his Stetson, he’d toss it into the air like a celebrating cowboy. “Waverly is a decent sort.” And titled. “I know they’ll be happy.”
“Perhaps you’ll be there in time for the wedding in October,” Aunt said. “We should so like to have you visit us.”
The dear lady couldn’t know how her words cut one last thread holding him to England. If he returned, he could only be a guest in his relatives’ homes. In America, he could make his own home. Again, he looked across the table at Rosamond while answering his aunt.
“Thank you, madam. However, I plan to stay in Esperanza, so please convey my best wishes to my dear sister. You see, I’ve discovered I’ve an aptitude for teaching and thought I’d apply at the new high school.”
The joy glowing on Rosamond’s beautiful face suggested he’d have no trouble obtaining the position.
Epilogue
Saturday, March 28, 1884
“Sir, if you would just hold still.” In the parsonage bedroom, Roberts fussed with Garrick’s cravat, finally securing it with a ruby tie pin. “There.” He took out his brush, whisked it over Garrick’s black suit and stood back to survey his handiwork. “Now, sir, I believe you are ready to meet your bride.”
“Thank you, Roberts.” Garrick viewed himself in the wardrobe mirror. The jewelry was only one example of Uncle’s generosity before he had returned to England the previous autumn. He’d paid Garrick handsomely for his work on the hotel. Now Garrick could bring to his marriage more than just his small inheritance. Rosamond cared for none of it, of course, but for Garrick, it was a point of self-respect. He could abandon many of his aristocratic notions, but not this one: a husband must provide for his wife, even when they planned to live with her parents until their own home was built.
On the other hand, how many aristocrats asked their valets to stand up with them for their weddings? Roberts and Richards had both expressed shock, but accepted their employers’ invitations with pride. Nate and Rand had also agreed to groomsmen duties.
“I say, old man.” Percy stood still while Richards inspected his appearance. “Did I not predict we’d marry our lovely brides?”
“Not at all, cousin.” Garrick smirked. “You said by the end of summer, but here we’ve had to wait through the long cold winter.”
“Ah, well, then, I suppose I must concede the point.”
Nate, Rand, Reverend Thomas and the valets all chuckled, and Garrick eyed his cousin with affection. Another notion he’d abandoned was his objection to Percy’s marriage. Over these past months, Percy had become considerably more assertive, with Beryl’s help, and she was no longer the shy, fearful girl they’d seen on the train. Clearly, they were good for each other.
“Time to go, gentlemen.” Reverend Thomas closed his watch and tucked it into his waistcoat pocket. “Let’s not keep your brides waiting.”
Garrick noticed a hint of loneliness in the minister’s eyes. He’d no doubt conducted many weddings in the pretty little church next door. At some appropriate time, Garrick could suggest that he find a wife for himself. Or perhaps Garrick and Rosamond could play matchmaker for this godly man, just as Uncle and Colonel Northam had for them. Deny it though the older men did, the truth was evident this very day as Garrick left the parsonage and walked toward his future.
*
Rosamond and Beryl stood in the cloakroom at the back of the church wearing Marybeth’s and Susanna’s white wedding gowns respectively, and carrying white roses from Nolan Means’s hothouse. Father looked very fine in his new black suit, while George Eberly twitched uncomfortably in his brown tweed. Mrs. Foster began to play “Amazing Grace,” the wedding hymn the brides had agreed upon. Rosamond’s two sisters-in-law and Laurie and Georgia Eberly, walked down the aisle, followed by the brides and their fathers.
Family, friends and students from Esperanza High School filled the small church to overflowing. Rosamond’s brothers and the two valets stood at the front with the minister and the two grooms. But Rosamond had eyes only for Garrick. How could a man be so handsome? Her heart thrilled every time she looked at him. In just a few minutes, he’d be hers forever.
In the corner of her eye, she saw Rita, newly married to Roberts in her home church southeast of town. Today they were catering the reception at the hotel. An amusing little squabble between Roberts and Chef Henri had decided the matter, but Roberts would now be working at Four Stones Ranch, the extra help Mother needed these days now that Rosamond and Garrick would be living at the ranch and both of them would be teaching.
When they reached the front, Rosa
mond focused again on Garrick, barely hearing Reverend Thomas as he led the two couples through their vows. The most important words came through clearly, however, when the minister said, “I now pronounce you man and wife,” to Percy and Beryl, “and man and wife,” to Rosamond and Garrick. “You may kiss your brides.”
The reception was also a time of departure. Beryl and Percy would leave on Monday for England, where they’d have their country farm and, hopefully, a houseful of children. Rosamond and Garrick would follow in June at the end of the school term, but only for a summer honeymoon. On their way, they’d stop in Boston to visit Tolley. An exchange of letters with her brother gave Rosamond hope that he’d be amenable to reconciliation with Garrick. Father had been right, as always. Her younger brother needed to grow up. She prayed every day he would find his way, just as she, Nate and Rand had done.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Garrick slipped an arm around Rosamond’s waist.
She leaned into his shoulder. “No charge for this, Mr. Wakefield. You’ve made me the happiest woman in the world.”
“And you’ve made me the happiest man, my dearest.” The look in his warm brown eyes asked permission for another kiss, which she gladly granted—just one of many more to follow.
*
Dear Reader,
Thank you for choosing Cowgirl for Keeps, the third book in my Four Stones Ranch series. I hope you enjoyed the adventures of my heroine, Rosamond Northam, and my hero, Garrick Wakefield. For many years I have wanted to write a series of stories set in the beautiful San Luis Valley of Colorado, and now I’m doing just that.
I moved to the Valley as a teenager, graduated from Alamosa High School and attended Adams State College. Later my husband, David, and I settled in Monte Vista, where my parents owned and operated a photography business, Stanger Studios. Three of our children were born in Monte Vista, and one was born in Alamosa. Even though we moved to Florida in 1980, my heart remained attached to my former home in Colorado. Writing this series has been a sweet, nostalgic trip for me.
Those familiar with the history of this area of Colorado may recognize a little bit of Monte Vista in my fictional town, Esperanza. I could have used the real town, but then I would have shortchanged the true pioneers of Monte Vista, who deserve accolades for their courage and foresight in building such a fine community. In addition, I wanted the freedom of artistic license necessary to create an interesting story without offending the residents of my former home. Any resemblance between my characters and those who actually settled in this area is strictly coincidental.
If you enjoyed Rosamond and Garrick’s story, be on the lookout for more stories set in my fictional town of Esperanza.
I love to hear from my readers, so if you have a comment, please contact me through my website: blog.louisemgouge.com.
Blessings,
Louise M. Gouge
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.
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ISBN-13: 9781460384961
Cowgirl for Keeps
Copyright © 2015 by Louise M. Gouge
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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Lawman on a Mission
Former deputy Will Lawson is fighting to regain his reputation—and Mary Stone is his only lead to the bandit who framed him. Now that he’s tracked Mary to Leadville, Colorado, Will needs the proud beauty to reveal her past. Instead, his efforts spark a mighty inconvenient attraction…
Mary’s only real crime is that she once believed an outlaw’s lies. Still, she fears disclosing the truth to Will may land her in jail—and leave her young siblings without protection. Now she must choose between honesty and safeguarding her family. And if Will does clear his own name, can he convince the woman he loves to share it?
“Why do you care what a supposedly bad man is doing with me?”
Will shouldn’t care. It was none of his business if she married Ben or not. And yet, he couldn’t stand idly by.
“You lied to me about severing your connection with him.”
Mary flinched at his words. “I did not. Ben’s visit here tonight surprised me just as much as it did you.”
Actually, Will had noticed that. He’d also noticed how Mary bristled at Ben’s attention. But something wasn’t right with the situation. “Then why did you announce your engagement?”
“Ben announced our engagement.” Mary’s eyes flashed as she emphasized Ben’s name. Will had to admit, Mary had really pretty eyes. Green with flecks of gold, so deep a man could spend hours mining them and still— What was he doing mooning over her? Hadn’t he learned his lesson?
“Why did you go along with it? Why not tell everyone that you’d broken things off with him?”
“Didn’t you hear me try to explain that it was over?” Mary’s voice was littered with the angst of unshed tears. “But I—” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll figure something out.”
Will took a step closer. “I’ll help you,” he said softly. “Let me help you.”
Danica Favorite loves the adventure of living a creative life. She loves to explore the depths of human nature and follow people on the journey to happily-ever-after. Though the journey is often bumpy, those bumps refine imperfect characters as they live the life God created them for. Oops, that just spoiled the ending of Danica’s stories. Then again, getting there is all the fun. Find her at danicafavorite.com.
Books by Danica Favorite
Love Inspired Historical
Rocky Mountain Dreams
The Lawman’s Redemption
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles
The Lawman’s Redemption
By Danica Favorite
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.
—Proverbs 3:5–6
When I married my husband, I found great riches in his family. Without their support, I could not do half of the things I do, especially when it comes to writing my books. Fred, you are always there for us, and give to us so abundantly, I can’t even begin to express the depth of my gratitude, love and admiration for you. Pat, you didn’t get to see any of this, but thank you. Gloria, you have been such a welcome addition to our family, and you mean the world to us. Ricky, not only do yo
u help me blow stuff up, but you always make me smile. Debbie, thanks for all your support.
Bernard and Teri, you guys have invested so much in our family, and I’m so grateful for all you do. Most importantly, I’m thankful for the family traditions you’ve kept alive so my children will know about their Leadville relatives. And of course, I’m so grateful that you give us free access to the Leadville house whenever we want to go up. Without our time in Leadville, there would be no book.
To the Novaks—you bravely came to America and arrived in Leadville to create a future for your family at a time when life in Leadville couldn’t have been easy. I hope my books honor your spirit.
And to Randy, thank you for introducing me to all of them.
Contents
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
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Epilogue
Dear Reader