"How long are you going to leave me sitting here with my eyes closed?"
Sorcha exchanged a quick grin with Nandita before putting the wrapped parcel on the plate in front of Brian. She signaled to Jenny.
"You can open your eyes now, Pa."
Brian opened his eyes as his family clapped. Sorcha's spine tingled at the loving look he sent in her direction. "Open your present, Brian. Happy birthday." She said softly as she took her seat. All eyes were on Brian. He picked up the package and carefully removed the paper wrapping. She watched his face closely. She hoped she had picked the right one. Katie had assured her but she'd still been nervous. She didn’t want her husband thinking she was trying to educate him.
Brian didn’t say anything but simply stared at the book an expression of awe on his face. Sorcha's stomach clenched. He didn’t like it. She stood up quickly, causing the dishes on the table to rattle. Everyone looked at her. "Sorry, I thought I would get the pie."
Brian put the book reverently on the table and moved toward Sorcha. He took her in his arms and kissed her soundly. "That's the best present I ever got for my birthday. Thank you."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Ma's crying. What you do that for?" Meggie’s accusatory tone made everyone laugh.
"Your Ma's happy."
"That's dumb, you don’t cry when you’re happy. You smile like this. See?" Meggie smiled, showing the wide gaps from her missing front teeth.
"Sit down, Meggie." Sorcha said, still smiling.
"Are you sure you like it? I don’t know anything about horses but maybe you know all that stuff already."
Brian picked up the book once more. The Complete Farrier by Walter B Slone. "It’s an amazing present but there's something missing. You forgot the kiss."
"Brian Petersen. Behave yourself."
"Come here, wife and obey your husband. You promised you would."
Sorcha gazed up into his eyes. "I did, didn't I?"
He leaned down and kissed her sweetly on the lips. "Yes, you did." He whispered into her ear. Wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her close to his side. He looked at the people gathered around his table. "Thank you all so much. You are the best family a man could ever ask for."
The next morning, Brian hummed as he entered the barn. Frank looked up with an amused expression on his face.
"You sure are happy today. I take it you had a nice birthday celebration.”
Brian grinned at his friend. He was happy. He had an amazing wife and his children were thriving. With Sorcha's help, he had put the ghosts of his past to bed. His Pa may have acted badly getting his Indian squaw pregnant and then deserting her to return to his white family. But he wasn't a murderer. To some people, he was a traitor for having deserted the army but in Brian's eyes, he was a hero. He had stood up against injustice and saved many lives in the process.
While not agreeing with his Pa's relationship with the Chief's sister, he was glad to have his sister Nandita in his life. She was an incredible woman and despite the hardships she was living through, she always had a smile on her face.
“I am going to check on Sorcha and the girls. I won’t be long.”
“You take all the time you need. Nice to see you all so happy.”
Brian clapped his friend on the back. “Your turn will come too, you’ll see.” He didn’t wait for an answer. He was impatient to find his wife.
Sorcha wiped the sweat from her forehead. It was hot and thirsty work but the vegetables had to be harvested. Her first winter in Colorado was looming and she didn’t want her family going hungry. Growing children needed the vital vitamins her crop would provide. Her husband’s arm snaked around her waist as he drew her close planting a kiss on the top of her bonnet. "You look very attractive with mud on your face, wife."
Turning into his embrace she reached up to draw him in for a proper kiss. She didn't care the children were playing a couple of feet away. Nandita had gone to see her people earlier in the morning and as yet hadn’t returned. She was going to make the most of her time alone with her family.
She leaned closer to him as he put his arm around her shoulders. "You shouldn't work so hard. Why not take a break while the sun is high? Your face is turning pink."
"That's not from the sun and well you know it, Brian Petersen."
"You mean, you are blushing. Because of this?" His kiss seared her lips, sending heat flashing though her entire body. One hand caressed the back of her neck while the other held her waist. She groaned as he deepened the kiss. After a couple of pleasurable seconds, she reluctantly pushed him away.
"Brian. The girls..."
"Hmm, they don't mind." His eyes, dark with desire, travelled over her body, causing her pulse to race.
She sent a quick look in the direction of the girls but they were totally consumed in their game. When Brian bent his head for another kiss, she gave into her desires, allowing him to hold her close.
"Sorcha Petersen, you have a bad influence on me. I should be working and you are distracting me from my chores."
She chortled as he waggled his eyebrows at her, his love for her radiating out of their depths.
"Go on with you. I've work to be doing and the vegetables aren't going to pick themselves."
He kissed her quickly. "Don't get too tired. Wouldn't want you to fall asleep too early."
"Brian Petersen, have you no shame? Go on now. Get."
Her lips tingled from his kisses as she watched him walking back toward the barn. Turning back to her work, she attacked the ground with a vengeance. The quicker she got the chores done, the sooner she would see him again. She sang as she worked. "What are you singing, Ma? It sounds good. Not sad like the songs you used to sing."
"It's an Irish gig. I'll teach you the dance to it later, if you help me for a bit."
"Come on, Meggie, let's help Ma pick these beets. If she gets done faster, she'll have time to bake a pie for dinner."
"Will you, Ma? I love your pies."
Sorcha bent to cuddle the two girls to her. "You bet I will, sunshine. Now, let's get back to work. Maybe we can finish with a splash in the creek later. Your Pa might even join us."
"I love having a Ma and being part of a real family." Meggie said, grabbing Sorcha around the legs.
"Me too," added Jenny.
Sorcha couldn't speak, her voice trapped by the lump in her throat. “Me three!” She whispered, when she finally got her emotions under control.
Epilogue
Sorcha smiled. She loved her life. Brian was a caring husband, although still overprotective at times. Her closest friends were all sitting around the table in Mary’s kitchen. Mrs. H had baked trays of cookies. The children had grabbed a few before running outside to play, leaving the adults to enjoy some time chatting as they worked on a new quilt.
“How is Frank today?”
“Frank? I do not know. I have not seen him.” Nandita kept her eyes on the ground, making Sorcha giggle. “You are a big tease, Sorcha Petersen.”
“What about Frank?” Mary’s eyes gleamed. Mary had decided some time back that every couple should be as happily married as she was. She couldn’t resist matchmaking to the amusement of her friends.
“Nandita and Frank are in love but both of them are too shy to admit it.” Katie said, before laughing at the expression on Nandita’s face.
“Sorcha told you? She promised not to.”
“I didn’t say a word. I didn’t have to. You show everyone how you feel when you look at him. He is just the same. Everyone in Clover Springs knows you are a couple in the making. Reverend Timmons is just itching for you to name a date.”
Nandita’s face fell. “It is not possible. We cannot marry.”
“It doesn’t have to be in church. I am not sure Frank is that much of a believer anyway, no matter what Reverend Timmons chooses to think.” Katie was quick to reassure Nandita.
“It is not your Reverend that causes the problems. Frank will not move with my people. He
does not want to leave Clover Springs.”
“That’s understandable, isn’t it? He has a good job. They can come and visit you.” Mary said, attacking her sewing with her needle. Her skills hadn’t improved much since coming to Clover Springs.
Surprised Mary had forgotten the Indians probably wouldn’t be able to come and go as they pleased, Sorcha went to put her arm around Nandita. Sorcha had never seen Nandita cry, although she had been through so much already. Sleeping Bear had refused to accept his wife’s petition for divorce, despite her best efforts. Brian had come close to giving the brave a taste of his own medicine but Chief Running Buffalo held him back. He kept telling them that the Wise One would deal with Sleeping Bear in his own time.
Nandita and her family came a lot to the farm. Brian surprised all of them with the depth of the feelings he developed for his sister and her children. He kept his word and supplied the Indians with food and other goods. In return, Nandita kept them stocked up with salve for Sorcha’s hands, teas for illnesses as well as moccasins and other Indian items to help Sorcha adjust to the Colorado climate.
Chief Running Buffalo had been right. The soldiers had caught up with the renegade braves, killing Sleeping Bear instantly. His death had won Nandita her freedom for now, but it wasn’t going to last long. Rumors persisted the last of the Indians would be forced to move to the reservation in Montana. Sorcha didn’t want to think of the future when Nandita and her family would no longer be in Clover Springs.
“Can Brian not persuade the authorities to let them stay?” Katie whispered, not wanting to hurt Nandita’s feelings, yet asking the obvious question.
“He has tried but they will not listen. There is no proof Nandita is his sister. I am not sure it would make any difference if there was.” Sorcha squeezed Nandita’s hand slightly. No matter where her friend ended up, she would always be a part of their family.
“I am sick of bad news. Why can’t the Indians just live here peacefully? Chief Running Buffalo and his tribe just want to be left alone. Not much to ask, is it?”
Silence descended on their little sewing circle. Mrs. H. came in. “The children are fine. What’s wrong in here?” Mrs. H stood there, her hands on her hips. “What’s with all the long faces? Did I put salt in the cookies instead of sugar?”
The ladies laughed. Mary stood to pull up a seat for Mrs. Higgins. “Sit down and have one of your cookies. You know they are delicious, as usual.”
Katie looked at Sorcha. “Sorcha, are you going to tell us what was in your letter?”
“Katie Sullivan. Letters are supposed to be private.” Mary turned to wink at Sorcha. “Was it from Boston? Anything exciting?”
Sorcha nodded, her stomach churning. She wasn’t sure this was good news, although it would definitely count as exciting.
“The letter was from Father Molloy.”
“Oh good, what’s Nellie been up to? Has he heard from her?” Katie asked.
“My sister has been looking for me. Father Molloy told her I was living in Clover Springs.”
“Sister? I didn’t know you had any relatives.” Katie said as the rest of the women stared at Sorcha.
“Neither did I, until now. Mother Superior said something that last day at the orphanage but I put it down to the ramblings of a cruel woman. But Father Molloy must believe this girl. Emer. He says he thinks she will travel here to find me.”
“When?” Mary asked quietly. She didn’t take her eyes from Sorcha.
“I don’t know. He doesn’t say. He said she came, they chatted and she left. He hasn’t heard from her since.”
“Well, she’s hardly going to just show up, is she? Most people would write a letter first. Especially if they know their very existence may come as a shock.”
“I wonder, if she’s coming, will she bring Patricia?” Sorcha voiced the thought that had consumed her since she first read the letter.
“Who’s Patricia? Another sister?” Katie asked as Mary stared at Sorcha, her face white with shock. Only she knew who Patricia was.
“My mother.”
I hope you enjoyed Sorcha’s story. Emer’s story is available on Amazon now. To find out about my new releases, special discounts and more, please sign up to my email list. Please Sign Up Here
Also by Rachel Wesson
Clover Springs Mail Order Brides
Katie (Book 1)
Mary (Book 2)
Sorcha (Book 3)
Emer (Book 4)
Writing as Ellie Keaton
Women & War (World War II fiction)
Gracie
Penny
Molly
Acknowledgments
This book wouldn’t have been possible without the help of so many people. In particular I would like to thank authors Cindy Caldwell, Ashley Merrick and Leighann Dobbs for encouraging a girl from Dublin to fulfill her dream of writing about the old West.
Thanks to Erin Dameron-Hill for my fantastic covers. Erin is a gifted artist who makes my characters come to life. My incredible editor, Cissie Patterson, without whom this book wouldn’t shine.
The ladies from Pioneer Hearts who volunteered to proofread my book. Special thanks go to Nancy Cowan, Marlene Larsen, Shirl Deems, Cindy Nipper, Meisje Arcuri and Denise Cervantes who all spotted errors (mine) that had slipped through.
Kirsten Osborne, Cassie Hayes and the incredible group of people who make up Pioneer Hearts, a Facebook group for authors and readers of Historical Western Romance. Come join us for games, prizes, exclusive content, and first looks at the latest releases of your favorite historical western authors. https://www.facebook.com/groups/pioneerhearts/
Last, but by no means least, huge thanks and love to my three children. My kids know when Mom is in the middle of a book dinner may be late, burnt or, as is often the case, both. Clothes may be hard to find and the house may look like it was burgled.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Rachel. I’m Irish, living in Dublin with my three children, two boys and a girl.
I love to read. As I tell my kids, it is the easiest way to escape into a whole different world. You can go to absolutely any country, century or world you wish without leaving home. My mom used to tell me that she would regularly have to take away a flashlight when I was younger so that I would go to sleep on a school night.
My mom also used to say that if we were going on holidays, the first thing in my suitcase were my books. That was a long time before e-book readers!
I read a lot of books and absolutely love anything set in the old West. When I was a child, I loved to watch Little House on the Prairie. Nellie Oleson was my favorite character. I also admit to watching Dr Quinn- Medicine Woman lol.
I love when readers make contact with me either via Facebook or through my website. I am flattered when they make suggestions on topics I should cover in future books. Without my readers, I wouldn’t be living my dream. Thank you.
For more information
authorrachelwesson
www.rachelwesson.com
[email protected]
Sorcha: Clover Springs Mail Order Brides Page 15