by Amy Field
Then why now was she letting a jerk like Robert dictate her life?
Was she such a coward?
For a week, Wade had comforted her. She couldn’t even say anything to comfort him. She had seen the sadness in his eyes, at losing the chance to play. She knew if it had been the old Wade, he would have shaken it off and pretended that it didn’t matter. No, she wouldn’t let his hard work go to waste.
She couldn’t because she loved him, more than anything.
The stand was full, the murmurs of the audience were loud enough to cover the court. Everyone was setting up their cameras to record the game. That’s when she stood up and walked over to Robert.
“Let’s go,” she ordered.
“Go where,” he muttered.
She leaned in and glared at him. “This time you don’t get to ask why, if you want to keep your job, I suggest you follow me. Your stunt a few weeks ago in the parking lot will do a lot more damage to your career than my pregnancy.”
“You wouldn’t,” he glowered.
“You want to try me?”
Robert scowled and gathered his equipment, and they headed over to the players but she turned without calling forward any of the players.
“Hello, this is Tammy Forester reporting live. We are here for the latest match of the Florida Eagles. Right now, all of you are all wondering why star player Wade Conley has been benched. Coach Mathews has divulged nothing to us yet but I do have news for everyone.”
Robert looked uncomfortable and her face hardened. She would not let him off so easily.
“Here’s the thing, no one knew this but Wade Conley and I are dating.”
At her words, Wade got up from the bench and she could see him from the corner of her eyes.
“I am also pregnant. But my cameraman, Robert Kelvins, found out about everything and threatened to blackmail me for certain, favors.”
There was a hushed silence in the crowd if a pin dropped you would hear it.
Robert put down the camera, his face completely red but Tammy had an audience. The rest of the stations had turned their cameras towards her and she was glad she had their support so she kept on speaking.
“He came to my house but Wade had known something was wrong and before he could take advantage of my predicament, Conley stepped in. He didn’t care about giving up his position because he cared about me. I was suspended, and pending a disciplinary enquiry, I stand a chance to lose my job, but before I do, I want to set the record straight. Wade Conley is, in my eyes, a hero. And I’m in love with him.” Tammy’s eyes pricked with tears.
Wade strode over to where she stood with a big smile on his face and the crowd erupted in cheers when he took her mike and handed it to the referee who stood close by. He didn’t have to say a single thing, and when he cupped her face and kissed her in front of an entire crowd of spectators, her heart melted.
For the first time, she allowed herself to smile and knew everything would be all right from now on.
She had him with her.
Wade watched the players practice, but he didn’t try to join them. There was no use in it anyway because he would not play in the next game, anyway. He was still on the bench but he wasn’t bitter about it. He deserved it. He understood now how much slack the coach had been cutting him. He had always been tolerant, and he held no grudge against the coach for it.
The thing that made him so happy was that his relationship with Tammy was going as good as he expected it to go. She hadn’t been fired, and the network had generously told her she could keep on working until she had to take her maternity leave which wouldn’t be for a while now. Robert had disappeared, and he was glad he was finally gone. He was a sleaze ball and Wade promised if he ever saw him again, he would make sure that no one could recognize his face.
Meanwhile, he had adjusted to the notion of becoming a father. Tammy was the one who kept complaining about her cravings but he could tell that it made her happy. They were both happy about the baby and he didn’t care that it wasn’t his biologically, but he would give the child everything he had.
It was Coach Matthews that pulled him out of his train of thought where he sat on the bench.
“Why the hell are you sitting on the bench?” he asked.
“What are you talking about coach?” Wade asked surprised.
“I am telling you that you have to practice for the future games. Get your ass off the bench and practice. You had enough time being famous, it’s time to play for the team and I won’t take any more shenanigans.”
Wade couldn’t believe his words at first but grinned as it hit him. With no second warning from his coach, he got up and ran to the court, thinking about how happy Tammy would be when she heard everything.
It was a full house.
Tammy looked at everyone grinning. She was happy to see they were here to see Wade’s first game back on the court. She had never doubted that he wouldn’t be able to come back, but she didn’t think it would happen so soon. Her words had something to do with it, she supposed.
All the reporters that had nothing good to say about him now considered him to be the best person ever. They flooded columns talking about him and he was their sweetheart now. She was ecstatic that everyone felt the same way as she did but today wasn’t about her. Today was about Wade and she motioned at her new camera man to get everything.
Aaron was short and pudgy but she didn’t care about his appearance because he was a far better person Robert was. He was nice, and he was considerate of her condition. The station had been far more lenient that she could have hoped for but she was planning to work up until she was ready to pop. It was the least she could do for the network.
She interviewed all the players and then took her place among the crowd, ready to watch him play. Wade was passionate about his playing and he was finally showing it to the crowd. The crowd cheered for him as the game started. He spurred into action and he disappointed no one as he played. She watched him happily, this time able to cheer as much as she wanted.
Tammy could see some of the cameras turning to her and she knew she was in the spotlight as well for her new status as his girlfriend. The station had been happy about the dating news because they thought it was great for them and it had turned out like that. They got better ratings and everyone was happy about their love story. Tammy could only shake her head and sigh at everything.
Wade was doing well on the court. He was smooth, and he had put in a lot of practice for his first game off the bench. He didn’t shun his players, he played for the team and they moved with him. He had finally learned the value of teamwork.
The ball was a flurry of activity, she could barely see it but she knew it was in his hands. Half time came, and they were leading. Tammy took another interview of the coach and had enough time to lock hands with Wade before he went into the locker room. They came back out, and it was time to finish the game.
Tammy had known they would win. Her cheer was one of the loudest as the game ended. Wade was surrounded by his teammates but his eyes were on her and he broke away from them. She was ready to hug him but he wasn’t doing that. Instead, he reached into his pocket and jogged over to her. She blinked, and he was suddenly on his knee in front of her. He opened the small box to show her a solitaire diamond ring. She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
“Tammy Forrester, you are the only person I want to spend my life with. You are everything to me and I want to give you and that baby my name. Will you marry me?”
Tammy couldn’t speak over the tears flowing down her cheeks but she nodded. He picked her up and spun her in a circle as the other stations reported the live news. She was the new gossip, but she didn’t care.
She looked down at Wade, at his glowing face and pressed a kiss to his lips.
She had her happy ever after with him.
The End
Historic Western Romances
Book I
Charity
Book One in the Bernstein Sisters
Series
Chapter One: Seth
Seth Bernstein was a quiet man, and never more so than around women.
Many would say he loved his horses more than his own life. He came out west twenty years ago when at the time he was a twenty-three-year-old ex-confederate captain. Finding nothing left in his own state, his eyes looked west and dreamed of what was lost long ago. He worked at various jobs as he traveled but he always enjoyed working with horses. Seems he had a natural way with them. It was by chance he heard of a small ranch for sale in Wyoming, just outside of Cheyenne. It was here with a dream, and much sweat and plain hard work that Seth made the Bar S one of the biggest and finest horse ranches in the territory. Over the years, he purchased other parcels of land around him. Folks say that you can stand in the middle of Seth’s land, and as far as the eye can see it were all his land.
One could always find him at the end of the day watching the sun dip behind the hills in the distance, just waiting for it to sink beyond the horizon. He’d mostly be sitting on a horse, silhouetted against the orange skyline, a lone rider. Many would say Seth was the luckiest man around, having what he had. Seth would just smile a little smile, look away and change the subject.
With all that he had, Seth was still a lonely man.
All these years while he was creating his empire he was so busy he never thought of having someone to share all of it with. When he was younger, much younger, there was a pretty lady, a teacher, who found her way into his heart. Some say they were ready to be engaged. But she was the daughter of rich folks from Boston, and her parents saw her future where she came from, not on a farm in frontier country.
It took Seth a long, long time to get over that. Those close to him say he never quite trusted women again, nor would he ever. But through the years he remained a gentleman, even though he kept his distance and let few in on his deepest thoughts.
Oh, there were plenty of beautiful ladies he would see at services every Sunday, but none of them seemed to catch his eye. It wasn’t that every fine woman in town wasn’t trying their best to find a wife for Seth. While there were only so many Sundays in a month that he could be invited to Sunday suppers, there wasn’t a woman in town that didn’t have an unmarried sister, daughter, friend and all seemed to feel Seth was perfect for them. There wasn’t a day that a freshly baked pie or cake wouldn't show up at the front door for Seth.
Jonesy, Seth’s cook, was always happy to add the desert to the supper table. Jonesy had been with Seth since his first year at the ranch. He signed on as a ranch hand, but there wasn’t anyone who could cook as well as he, so he became the cook for the ranch, a job he seemed to enjoy.
As the years rolled by it seemed the number of girls was growing shorter, many of them had gone off and married, and there were others who just left town. At forty-three years old Seth still looked younger than his age, his light brown hair still had touches of blond where the sun had bleached it in the summer, his eyes were such a clear gray it was as though there was nothing there but a pupil no iris at all. He was still broad shouldered and well built. He still caused a few female heads to turn when he passed by. There wasn’t a woman in town that didn’t turn into a teenage schoolgirl when he smiled and tipped his hat. There was just something about Seth the women were attracted to.
As he pulled up to the front of Jacobs store he jumped off the wagon and greeted Sam Jacobs, who was as always at the front door.
“Morning, Sam.”
Sam smiled at Seth as he greeted him back.
Seth smiled at Rose Jacobs inside the store as he waited for Sam to walk in. Though it was early in the morning, a body just knew it was gonna be a hot day. Slowly both men walk in, and Seth tips his hat at Mrs. Jacobs.
“Morning Mz. Rose.”
“Morning, Seth. How are you this fine morning?”
“Doing good Mz Rose. I must say you’re looking fine. Sam, do you know you have about the prettiest lady in Cheyenne?”
Sam smiles and shakes his head, and Seth looks back at Rose.
“I’m telling you Mz. Rose, you surely are looking pretty today.”
Rose smiles, she knows why all the woman in the town like him, one just wonders how one hasn’t gotten him yet. Seth hands Sam list of supplies that he would like in the wagon when he gets back for running a few errands.
“I’m gonna be needing these supplies, it may take you some time to get it filled, there’s no hurry. I’ll be back when I’m done.”
Sam looks at the list.
“I’ll have it ready for ya when you get back, Seth.”
“Appreciate it Sam.”
He smiles at Sam and tips his hat to Rose as he walks out the door. Rose looks at her husband.
“He’s such a fine gentleman. I wish we could find him a fine lady.”
Sam looks at her.
“You know we go through this conversation every time Seth comes into town. You and every other lady in town have tried to find the perfect wife for Seth. This has been going on for ten years now, maybe it’s time Seth finds his bride. Trust me, Rose, when he finds the right lady, he will know, and he will be married before the year ends.”
“Has he found...”
“There ya go again. I said 'when he finds the right lady'.”
Chapter Two – The Letter
Seth made his way down to the post office. He tips his hat as some ladies are leaving the post office. They greeted him with a smile. As he returns the smile and then hears his name being caked out.
“Hi, Seth!”
The familiar voice of Clem Baker greeted him as he made his way to the window.
“Hiya Clem, I just thought I’d stop in for the mail if there is any.”
“Well, seems you have a letter here from Richmond. Seems like it’s a school of some sort.”
Seth looks on the envelope.
“A school?”
There was on the envelope:“MissLillian Steadford School for Girls.”
“Well, I really couldn’t tell ya anything about it, Clem. Heck, I haven’t seen Richmond in over twenty-five years.”
“Well, it’s addressed to you Seth, so somebody knows you.
“Well it does look that way doesn’t it?”
It was then that Seth noticed the line growing behind him and he puts the letter in his jacket pocket and moves off the line.
“I’ll let you know, Clem.”
He makes his way toward the door and across the street toward the bank. Still he was wondering about the letter in his pocket, from Richmond and a girl’s school no less. Cora and Nora, the Franklin sisters, watched Seth as he walked across the street and into the bank. Though both sisters were eighty–eight years old they were not immune to the charm of Seth Bernstein. Just a smile from him set these two sisters giddy as schoolgirls. Cora looks at her sister.
“Nora, you know if I were fifty years younger I would consider being courted by him.”
Nora looks at her twin sister.
“Why, sister, the thought had passed my head more than once.”
They both giggle as they head down the street to Jacobs’ store.
It was some time before Seth was back at the store. He was surprised that Sam had loaded the wagon without him.
“Seems you started without me, Sam.”
“Well, Seth, it was either load the wagon or stand in there with Rose and the Franklin sisters going over their newly made list of potential wives for you.”
Seth smiled and shook his head.
“Bless their hearts, they’re still making mischief.”
“Oh yeah, I even heard Mz Cora say she wished she was fifty years younger just to have you court her.”
Seth laughed heartily at that one.
“You know Sam, bet she would have to fight with her sister for that.”
“Oh, you know it, Seth. I did hear they were fine looking ladies in their day and being as they are twins it was at times hard to tell them apart even though they are not identical.”
&nbs
p; The sisters made their way out of the store and passed by Seth. He smiles and tips his hat to them.
“Morning ladies. “
They both smile and blush as they continued on their way. Sam looks at Seth and shakes his head. Seth walks up to the counter where Rose is placing the last of his order in a box. Sam hands Seth his bill.
“Here ya go Seth; I didn’t charge you for the ten penny nails since we still haven’t had them come in yet.”
Seth looks over his bill and takes his wallet out of his back pocket. He counts out the bills, then looks over to the jar of candy and pulls out two peppermint sticks.
“How much for these Rose?”
“ I didn’t know you had a sweet tooth, Seth.”
“I don’t, they’re for Jonesy. He had asked for them before I left this morning.”
Rose smiles.
“Well since it’s for Jonesy, they’re free.”
Seth smiles and takes his groceries and heads for the wagon outside. He gives a wave to both Rose and Sam and heads out of town. As they go back in the store, Rose looks over at Sam.
“ He’s such a nice man I just wish we could find him a girl he’s interested in, you know, one who would make him a fine wife. Every man deserves a woman, don’t you...?”
She sees Sam looking at her.
“Rose, I thought we decided we were going to stay out of this. I thought you learned your lesson from last time.”
“ But Sam...”
“ No buts, Rose.”
Chapter Three – Memories
Seth drove up to the ranch, and sees Jonesy on the porch. Ashe brings the wagon to a stop he smiles as Jonesy looks at him.