by Linda Ford
When the man walked away on his own, he prayed some more and waited. He tried to busy himself so Lucky wouldn’t offer any comments, but there was little he could do without fear of missing Mr. Archibald’s return to the yard.
“Little lady got your ropes in a knot?” Lucky said.
“Nope.” He rearranged the reins and harnesses hanging near the door and kept his head down while glancing in the direction Jenny’s pa had gone.
“Won’t be getting unknotted until you admit what’s right in front of your nose.”
“Maybe I already have.”
“Huh. How’s that?” The man abandoned all pretense of work and came to hover at Burke’s side.
“I’m waiting for her pa to come back so I can talk to him.”
Lucky grabbed his hat and slapped it against his thigh. “Yahoo!” His yell sent the pigeons in the loft into a flurry. “Boss, the boys and I figured you were going to let a good thing go just because of what happened to Flora.” He clapped Burke on the back. “Nice to see you come to your senses.”
Burke rolled his eyes. “Nice of you and the boys to be so concerned about my affairs.”
Lucky chortled. “We prefer to work for a happy man.” And still chortling, he sauntered away.
“There’s been nothing decided yet. I have to talk to her pa.”
Lucky turned to face him. “The man looks to be reasonable. And what’s more, he cares about his daughter’s happiness.” He waved and headed for the bunkhouse.
Nice to realize he had the support of the men.
Mr. Archibald appeared on the trail. Now to face the man who had a say in Jenny’s future. Lord God, help me find the right words.
He waited a few more minutes then strode out to meet Jenny’s father. “Sir, I would like to talk to you.”
“Go ahead.”
“I know you have plans for your daughter.”
“I only want her to be happy.”
Exactly the opening he needed. “Will she be, back East? Her heart seeks adventure.”
Mr. Archibald stopped and faced him squarely, his eyes boring into Burke, demanding nothing but honesty. “Will she be happy here?”
Burke faltered, remembering Flora. He swallowed hard. “I would do my best to make her so, but I have to be honest and tell you I failed in the past.”
Mr. Archibald’s eyes narrowed. “Perhaps you should tell me about it before I render a decision.”
“I’m sure Jenny has told you I sent for Flora Larson intending to marry her. I knew her before I came west and we corresponded for several years. However—” He went on to confess he’d expected too much of her. “I blame myself for her current condition.” His voice revealed the degree of his pain. “As do her parents.”
Jenny’s pa squeezed Burke’s shoulder. “Son, I expect your guilt is misplaced. From what I’ve heard at the store, I understand that even before Flora came out here she had spent some time convalescing.”
Burke knew he meant because of her mental condition.
Mr. Archibald seemed to consider his next words. “I don’t normally like to repeat things I overhear, but in this case I think I should. I believe her parents hoped the change of scenery would help her. Unfortunately, it didn’t. But they have no right to blame you. Her aunt and grandmother are in asylums as well.”
It wasn’t his fault. Flora had been weak in her mind before she came west. Seems there was a weakness in the family. A great burden of guilt slipped from his shoulders. “Thank you for telling me. I’ve blamed myself, wondered if any woman could live this life.”
Jenny’s pa laughed. “I expect you’ve had cause to change your mind on that score.”
Burke grinned widely, his insides bubbling with pleasure at the memories crowding his mind. “Jenny has challenged my opinion more than once.”
The man studied him long and hard. “Are you asking for her hand in marriage?”
“With your permission, sir. I understand I don’t live up to your expectations of what you want for Jenny’s future, but I love her and we seem…” He struggled to explain how he felt as if she pulled up beside him and cheered him on the way, bent her shoulder to the challenges. “She would be a great encouragement to me. And I would do my best to see her life is full of joy.” He glanced past the man to the rolling grassland. “I haven’t mentioned this to her yet. I wanted your permission first.”
“Son, you have my permission and blessing.” Mr. Archibald held out his hand and Burke shook it firmly.
Jenny watched the men talking, saw them shake hands. “Oh Lord, let Pa agree to let me stay.” She waited for Pa to return to the house.
“Jenny, my dear, I wanted only to protect you, assure your happiness but I see you are ready to determine what that requires on your own.”
She realized she’d forgotten to breathe and sucked in air. “You aren’t holding me to my promise to return home and marry Ted?”
“Doesn’t seem to me it would be quite fair to Ted.” He chuckled. “Now go see your young man and talk to him.”
She stretched up and kissed Pa on the cheek. “Thank you, Pa. I love you.”
Pa hugged her quickly. “I love you, too, Pepper.” He released her.
She spun from his arms and rushed toward Burke, who waited on the path. It took all her rigid self-control not to fling herself into his arms. Was he going to ask her to stay as a nanny or—she faltered a step—share his life completely and wholly?
His eyes invited her. Suddenly she felt wooden. Her steps slowed as he took off his hat and pushed a hand through his hair.
His lovely shiny black hair. She’d admired it from the beginning. It had grown some since then, which only made him more handsome. She drank in every detail. His lean strength, the way he stood as if he owned the land and dared anyone to challenge him about it. The way his muscles strained at his shirt-sleeves as he crossed his arms. She would never get tired of looking at him. She scrubbed her lips together, surprised at how numb they were. Without words she prayed for God’s blessing on her love for Burke.
Of their own accord her feet moved forward until she had only to lift her hand to touch him.
Love made her ache to do so.
Uncertainty stifled her reaction. She didn’t know what his plans were.
He took her hand and pulled it through his arm, patting her fingers to the warm strength of his forearm and keeping his palm on top of her hand. “Shall we walk?”
She nodded, unable to speak past the expectant lump in her throat.
He turned them toward the corrals. They passed Ebony’s pen. He whinnied at Jenny then snorted and reared at her escort.
She chuckled. “It’s only pretend.”
“He figures he belongs to you and he’s not willing to share.”
The regretful note in his voice sent her nerves into eager anticipation.
They skirted the barn and returned to the spot they had shared a few hours earlier. Once they were out of sight of the house and bunkhouse, he stopped and turned toward her, his hands gentle on her upper arms.
Slowly, her heart crowding her ribs so she had trouble breathing, she lifted her face to him.
A smile lifted his mouth and creased his eyes. He studied her slowly as if memorizing every detail of her features.
Her skin warmed as his gaze checked her eyebrows, admired her cheeks, lingered on her lips until she ached for him to end this misery of waiting, and kiss her.
Then slowly, almost reluctantly, he brought his gaze to her eyes. She floated in his look.
“Your Pa has given me his blessing to ask you to stay.”
Stay? That’s all. “As a nanny?”
He blinked, surprised, then chuckled softly, a sound that played harp strings along her nerves. “I hope much more than that. Jenny—” He caught her chin in his fingers, his touch making music in every corner of her heart. “I knew you were different the first time I laid eyes on you.”
Remembering his dire warning that day and his insistenc
e for days after her arrival that she didn’t belong here, she found the ability to quirk her brows. “Sure could have fooled me.”
He lifted one shoulder and looked sheepish, making her want to stroke his cheek and assure him she understood.
“I tried to convince us both, but I’m so grateful you didn’t pay me any heed because I can’t imagine life without you.” He swallowed hard and she perceived his nervousness, his uncertainty.
She touched his shoulder. The twitch of his muscles as he reacted to her touch thrilled her. He was a man who would stand strong through the fiercest storm. Her touch seemed to drive away his hesitation.
“Jenny, I love you. I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you.”
Her heart exploded inside her chest with such force she couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move.
“Jenny, will you marry me?”
Blood flowed again, warm and vibrant, just as her life would be. “Burke Edwards, I love you heart and soul and mind. Of course I will marry you.”
His face filled with such joy she almost couldn’t look at him. To know and share such love the rest of her life…. It was more than she could believe possible.
“Jenny,” he whispered, his words round with awe. “I am the happiest man alive.”
And then he finally kissed her, his lips warm and promising. She wrapped her arms about him and gave herself freely to the kiss, silently vowing to honor and cherish him the rest of her life.
Finally, he pulled back. “I love you so much.”
She stroked his cheek then.
He turned his face and pressed his lips to her palm.
“I have loved you since I saw you on the train, even though I feared it was wrong.” Her words sang from her lips.
“Nothing about our love has ever been wrong or ever will be. Not with God as our partner.”
He drew her to the spot where they’d sat before, and they sat side by side. He draped his arm over her shoulder and pulled her close. She snuggled against his chest, feeling the rise and fall of each breath and hearing the beat of his heart beneath her ear.
She had found a safe place.
They talked of their hopes and plans and dreams. She loved him before, but as they opened their hearts to one another something eternal and precious grew between them, making them one in spirit.
They talked until the sun came round and blasted them in the face.
“Can you believe we’ve been here all afternoon?” Burke said.
“We’ll enjoy many more times like this, sharing our joys…and no doubt some sorrows.” Her heart rejoiced to know that whatever came, they would find strength through being together.
He kissed her nose and cheeks then claimed her mouth for several seconds before he pulled her to her feet. Hand in hand they wandered back to the house.
Ebony repeated his performance of acting spooky. He stopped as soon as they passed and hurried to the fence, whinnying for Jenny to stop and pet him. She laughed. “He’s determined to be friends with no one but me.”
“He’s yours.”
She drew to a halt. “You’re giving him to me?”
“Might as well.” He tweaked her chin. “He thinks he belongs to you already.”
“Can I ride him?”
Burke grinned. “Do you know how to ride?”
“No, but I can learn.”
His eyes flashed with amusement. “Maybe you could start on something more gentle and if you prove yourself a capable horsewoman—”
She didn’t let him finish. “Not if—when—I prove my ability.”
“You will always face a challenge with the idea of conquering whatever obstacle lies in your way, won’t you?” He pulled her to his side as they resumed their journey to the house.
She didn’t respond right away as she sorted her thoughts. “God made me this way and I am learning to be grateful for the strengths He gave me.”
He hugged her and paused to kiss her upturned mouth. “I will spend the rest of my life being grateful.”
Epilogue
Pa’s one stipulation had been they go back to Center City to marry, allowing Ma to meet Jenny’s future husband, so they boarded the train heading east, Miss Morgan accompanying them as she also returned home.
Paquette had miraculously recovered all her faculties and would cook for the men while Burke and Jenny were away. Paquette had shuffled up to Jenny one evening before their departure. “I leave after you back, me?”
Jenny heard the doubt and fear in the older woman’s voice. She hugged the tiny woman. “I hope you won’t. I want you to stay. I need you to teach me everything I need to know about living on the prairie. Besides, don’t you think we work well as a team?”
Paquette beamed with joy. “We good, us. I stay.”
Pa had wired Ma warning her of their arrival, suggesting she prepare for a wedding as quickly as possible.
Ma met them at the station. Jenny flew into her arms. “Ma, it’s good to see you.”
Ma hugged her hard. “Am I to lose you to a wild man from the west?”
“’Fraid so, Ma. But I think you’ll like him.” She signaled Burke forward. “Ma, here he is. The man from the west.”
Burke took Ma’s hand in both his. “Mrs. Archibald, I want to thank you for raising such a beautiful, sweet woman.”
Ma beamed and darted a look at Jenny that said she approved.
A week later she stood at Burke’s side in the manse and faced the preacher. Her sister, Mary, and her husband stood up with them. The week had been packed with visiting family and showing Burke the store. Jenny smiled as she recalled their first visit. Ted stood behind the counter, his head high, his nose tilted slightly upward. Jenny hated to face him. She’d never spoken a word of promise to him, but she knew Pa had discussed the future and Ted had reason to think she might be at his side.
Burke, sensing her hesitation, strode forward. “You’re the efficient young man I’ve heard so much about.”
Ted’s nose lowered and he smiled. He liked to be recognized as efficient and forward thinking. After that, the meeting went easily and Ted hid any disappointment at her upcoming marriage. Jenny hoped he’d find someone who touched his heart as much as Burke did hers.
She smiled up at Burke, knowing her heart filled her eyes and revealed the depths of her love. She still found it difficult to contain. She could hardly wait to get back to the ranch where she could run into the prairie and shout her joy without causing people to turn and stare.
Burke met her smile with dark, calm steadiness. Her eyes watered at the look he gave her, full of promise and tenderness.
Then the preacher spoke words that bound them together until death. “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Burke did so, his hunger and love matched by her own.
“From this day forth,” he murmured against her ear as they ended the kiss, aware of their audience.
Her eyes overflowed with joy. “Our great adventure is about to begin.”
He laughed. “I thought it already had. You’ve led me on a merry chase already.”
“No more than you’ve led me.” She hugged his arm and pressed close to him. She would never stop being grateful for his quiet acceptance of what she’d always thought was the worst moment of her life. It no longer controlled her thoughts and actions. She felt free and fulfilled. A feeling that would no doubt multiply over and over as she shared her life with Burke.
Ma had insisted on preparing tea for them. Only family and a few friends attended as Burke was insistent they leave on the next train.
Sadness mingled with her joy as she kissed her family good-bye. Burke held Meggie in his arms and waited, patient and understanding of her tears.
Pa took them to the station. Here was her last and hardest good-bye. He held her tight. “Be happy, Pepper.”
He shook Burke’s hand. “I expect she’ll make your life interesting.”
Burke chuckled. “I’m c
ounting on it.”
Pa reached under the seat, pulled out a long package and handed it to Jenny. “A good-bye gift. Open it on the train.”
Jenny’s throat grew so tight she could hardly speak. “Thank you for everything, Pa.”
“All aboard!”
They hurried into the car and found seats where they could see Pa and wave to him until he was out of sight.
Burke caught her hand.
“You’ll be back often for visits. I promise.”
She faced her husband. “Thank you, but I expect I’ll hate to be away from the ranch very much. I might miss out on something.” Meggie, exhausted, fell asleep in Burke’s arms.
“Aren’t you going to open the parcel?” Burke nodded toward the package Pa had given her.
She undid the string and folded back the paper. At first she didn’t know what it was—red silk and sticks. Then she laughed. “It’s a kite.” A note lay on top and she opened it. “Go and fly like you were meant to.”
“I once told Pa the prairie wind made me want to be a kite and fly free.” Her voice thickened with emotion.
His eyes grew troubled. “I hope you won’t find marriage clips your wings.”
She laughed. “Sharing my life with you will be the biggest adventure ever. I feel like I am flying every time you kiss me.”
“Me, too. And it’s a wonderful sensation.” He pulled her close and kissed her briefly. “I’ll do it well and thoroughly when we get home.”
Home. The nicest word in the world, Jenny decided.
Burke tucked her head against his shoulder. “Did I tell you how I thank God every day for bringing you to me? You taught me He cares about every detail of my life.”
He had told her but she would never get tired of hearing it. “You have given me so much. Besides your love, the greatest gift you’ve given me is the assurance that I can be who I am without fear of criticism.”
He kissed her again, briefly, gently. “I wouldn’t want you to be anything else.”
Dear Reader,