“I’ll have to tell you that story later.” He stood up and helped her to her feet, putting his arm around her for support. “Right now we’d better get back to the house.”
As they walked past the last row of corn stalks, Uncle Ned and the sheriff came riding up. Uncle Ned quickly dismounted and hurried forward.
“Dalton, Jillian, are you all right?”
“We’re fine, Uncle Ned, thank you,” Dalton replied wearily.
“When I heard the gunshot, I went ta fetch the sheriff. Luckily, he was already on his way, havin’ heard about the worrisome telegram from Miss Pruitt. Of course, she’ll never admit ta reading it.” Dalton half smiled at Uncle Ned and looked over at the sheriff, pointing to the cornfields behind him.
“There is a man out cold in the fields there with a broken arm and maybe even a broken nose. I imagine you’ll want to take him in for questioning.”
“Another one?” Uncle Ned said incredulously. “We already found a man wanderin’ down the road with his hands tied behind his back, wearin’ the most hideous lookin’ suit I ever saw.”
Jillian looked at Dalton and then back at the sheriff.
“Chuckles?” Jillian looked up at Dalton questioningly. He nodded.
“Who?” the sheriff asked.
Dalton shook his head and answered, “Sheriff, if it’s all right with you, we’d like to wait a day or two to give you our account of what happened. I’ll explain everything to you then.”
The sheriff nodded. “I’m happy to keep them at the jail until you feel up to it.”
Dalton turned to Uncle Ned. “Would you mind sending a telegram to Marcus, letting him know Jillian’s safe?”
“Sure will, Dalton. Oh, and Hank Collins came over when he heard the gunshot too and I asked him ta see ta your horses and wagon. Why don’t the both of you head back ta the house and make an early night of it? Looks to me like you both could use some rest.” he winked at Dalton. “We already got the children settled down over at our place, so I’ll drive ’em back sometime tomorrow mornin’.”
“Thank you,” Jillian said and gave him a weak smile. They started back toward to the house while the sheriff and Uncle Ned headed into the cornfield to fetch Nathan.
When they walked into the kitchen, Jillian looked around at the mess.
“I suppose I ought to clean this up.” She walked over and started picking the broken pieces of the bowl off the floor.
“I’ll help you,” Dalton offered. In no time, they had put everything to rights. When they were finished, Dalton took her hand in his, and they walked out onto the front porch to watch the sunset.
After awhile Dalton spoke. “We need to enjoy as many of these as we can before winter sets in.” He said it almost to himself, as if it were only a thought that wasn’t meant to be spoken out loud. “Jillian?”
“Yes, Dalton.”
“I was thinking about our wedding and how it wasn’t very special for you.” His handsome features looked saddened at the thought. “I’d like to say some things to you right now, if you don’t mind.” He brought her hands to his chest and held them there.
“I don’t mind,” she answered softly.
“I want to thank you for coming here, for being the wonderful woman you are. You have picked up the pieces of my broken family and put us back together. I want to thank you for the love and the laughter you have brought back to our home and for your love and concern for my . . . our children. I wish I could find all the words to express the way that makes me feel.” He gently caressed her hands beneath his.
“I’m sorry if I ever said or did anything to hurt you in any way. I’ll try to make it up to you.” He released her hands, put his arms around her waist, and took a deep breath. “Jillian, I promise to love you always and be there for you when you need me. You have opened my heart and taught me how to love again. I’ll be forever grateful for that.” By now Jillian was weeping softly as his tender words touched her soul. “I had lost all hope of happiness, and you have given that hope back to me. I will love you always. You are my life.” He gently placed both of his hands on either side of her face and kissed her lips sweetly.
“Dalton.” Jillian looked deeply into his eyes for a moment before continuing. “You thank me, but it is I who should thank you. Heaven smiled on me when I found you. You are the one who wrote those tender and endearing letters to me when I was still in Providence. Your words made me fall in love with you and your children before I ever stepped foot off the train. You brought me here and gave me so many reasons to find happiness in life again. You taught me that a wounded heart is no match for a heart that gives freely. You’ve given me peace and contentment and joy beyond words.” She put her arms around his waist.
“Dalton, I promise to always cherish you and to be your closest friend. I will do whatever is in my power to give you as much joy and happiness as you have given me. I will care for and raise your children as my own and love them even more than if I had brought them into the world myself. Thank you, Dalton, for the gift of love you have shared with me. I love you.”
He pulled her close, and she laid her head against his chest. She listened to his heart beat and felt his chest softly rise and fall with his breathing. She let her own breathing fall in rhythm with his. Truly, they were now one, and Jillian vowed to remember this moment forever.
Twenty-two
All aboard who’s coming aboard!” Jillian heard Dalton call from outside the house. Jenny, who was holding Brenn, and Lisa, who stood at their side, hurried out the front door as Jillian dried her hands on her apron and hung it on the hook by the basin. She walked to the window and looked out. Dalton was helping the children into the wagon. It was Thanksgiving Day, and they were headed over to Uncle Ned and Aunt Betty’s. Despite the setback from the fire, the harvest went well, and they got a good price for the remainder of the corn crop. Along with a small portion of the money Jillian’s mother had given her, there would be plenty to get them by until the next harvest. They would celebrate together with gratitude this day.
“I have so much to be thankful for,” she said softly to herself and placed her hand over the middle of her stomach. She smiled at the secret she would share with her family after their meal. She had told Dalton earlier that morning as they lay in bed. He had held her as they talked and made plans for the new baby, speculated on what it would be and what would they name it. Her parents and Marcus would be elated. She planned on posting a letter as soon as she could. She thought of the letter she had received from Marcus two days previously.
Dearest Jillian,
I pray all is well with you, Dalton, and the children. Mother and Father wish me to send their love. This will be our first Thanksgiving apart, which saddens me, but I know you are truly happy at last. That knowledge alone brings me great joy.
I have glad news to share with you that I know you will be jubilant to receive.
Jillian reflected on the telegram she had received from Bethany a week prior to receiving Marcus’s letter and smiled.
I have made a proposal of marriage to one Miss Bethany Anne Johansen and to my great delight, she has accepted. We are to be married in the spring. I have other news for you as well, which I hope you will find pleasing. I have purchased a parcel of land not far from your home. Bethany and I plan to relocate there a month after the wedding. I am desirous to try my hand at cattle ranching and make a living for myself!
Father was hesitant at first, but I have been able to sway his opinion in my direction. Mother was a bit harder to convince, but since she realized you and I would be so close, she has been more agreeable. She is currently working on Father, trying to persuade him to visit in the spring after we move out west. She has her work cut out for her, since you know as well as I do how he hates to travel by train.
As for myself, I plan on trying to make a visit or two much sooner to begin work on a home for Bethany and me. Dalton has already agreed to help, Uncle Ned as well. Yes, I spoke to him about my plans when
we were visiting in August, and he agreed to keep my secret. I did not want to get your hopes up unnecessarily if things did not go as planned. Please forgive me my little deception.
Finally, Little Sis, I want to tell you that I love you. You have always been more than just a sister—you’re a dear and worthy friend as well. I am overjoyed to realize that we have both found companions that are both worthy and auspicious to share our lives. I look forward to raising our children side by side and the friendships I know they will enjoy.
Your Loving Brother,
Marcus
Bethany hadn’t mentioned them moving here. Jillian had immediately run to find Dalton and share with him the good news.
Now, Jillian looked down at the pies she had made for Thanksgiving dinner, including the one from the recipe that had won the first prize ribbon at the Independence Day picnic. She feared she had forever made an enemy out of Mrs. Mavis Bingham, the poor woman. She almost felt sorry for her. After being the town gossip and busybody for so many years, she was now the subject on the tips of everyone’s tongues. They were all wagging about her daughter and the infamous Nathan Shaw.
In a rare moment, Jillian allowed her mind to drift to thoughts of Nathan. He had spent almost two months in the Willow Springs jailhouse after the night he had tried to kidnap her. Unbeknownst to nearly everyone in town, Miss Sarah Bingham had been visiting him daily, nursing his wounds and bringing him pies and other homemade goods. She had obviously had a change of heart and decided he was worth her time after all. Jillian shook her head. She alone knew how deceptively captivating he could be.
On the day after he was released, both he and Miss Sarah disappeared. A distraught Mr. and Mrs. Bingham received a letter some three weeks later from their daughter saying she and Nathan had married and joined a wagon train heading west. Nathan wanted to try his hand in the goldfields of California.
Jillian had forgiven Nathan long ago and truly wished he would find happiness. Maybe one day they would meet again and all that happened between them would be resolved. Dalton stuck his head around the door, interrupting her thoughts.
“Hello, beautiful.” He winked at her. “Are you coming?”
“Yes. We just need to get these pies out to the wagon.” Jillian smiled at him, and he came fully through the doors and put his arms around her. “Maybe we should leave a pie or two at home. We surely won’t eat all those today,” he teased.
“Dalton, you have such a sweet tooth!” She slipped her arm though his. “Well, you can rest easy. I’ve already baked you your very own pie. It’s on the sideboard cooling off.”
“I am the luckiest man in the world, Mrs. Jillian McCullough,” Dalton said as he pulled her in a little closer and leaned in for a kiss.
She was sure she should argue that it was she who was the lucky one, but just then she was content to let him kiss her.
Epilogue
Jillian drove up to Marcus and Beth’s home. She was glad Dalton had taught her how to drive the team so she could ride over to visit her brother and sister-in-law occasionally without having to take Dalton away from his work. After they were married, Marcus and Bethany moved out to Wisconsin to a parcel of land about three miles south of Dalton’s farm. They now had a beautiful home.
Her parents had finally ridden out on the train, much to her father’s chagrin, for an extended visit. It hadn’t taken him long to decide it had been worth it, though. He simply adored his grandchildren, especially little Lisa, who he was sure could talk an ear off a cornstalk. The children loved spending time with their grandparents. It had been good for Jillian to have her mother close again too. Her mother was an excellent seamstress and was finally able made good use of the fabric Jillian brought from Providence. The children had loved the new clothes she fashioned for them. Lisa was particularly darling in her blue print dress with the tiny pink roses. Her parents got along famously with Uncle Ned and Aunt Betty and promised another visit in the near future. It had also given Jillian great pleasure to have them all celebrate her birthday together.
Jillian set the brake on the wagon, climbed down, and retrieved the soup and fresh-baked bread she’d brought with her. Bethany had been feeling ill lately, and Jillian had been concerned. After enjoying their meal, Bethany told her she probably wouldn’t be feeling quite herself for another seven or eight months. Jillian smiled, thinking about the good news. Marcus would be so thrilled when he found out.
Dalton didn’t have much work to do in the fields that morning, so he had offered to stay home and watch the children. He was repairing the barn door when she drove up. The children were sitting together nearby, playing with Whiskers’ new batch of kittens. It was her third litter, and she supposed in about four weeks they would all have to head into Willow Springs to see if they could find homes for each of the furry creatures. She wished she could find the tomcat responsible for Whiskers’ frequent offspring and find it a good home, far away from their farm.
Jillian set the brake, hopped off the wagon, and ran over to Dalton. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Dalton stopped what he was doing and put his arms around her, pulling her close. That is, as close as her rounded belly would allow.
“What did I do to deserve such a reception?” he teased, and she gave him another kiss.
“I have good news. Bethany is expecting. I am so excited. They’ve been so worried she’d not be able to have a child. I’ve been praying for them, and now I’m finally going to be an aunt.” He grinned at her news and she added, “And you’ll be an uncle!”
“When’s the baby due?” Dalton asked.
“In January,” she replied. “I was thinking on the way back over here, wouldn’t it be something if she had twins?” She wiggled out of his arms and took a few steps forward to look at the children playing. Dalton came up behind her, putting his arms around her again and placing a hand on each side of her rounded belly. He leaned his chin on her shoulder.
“Yes, that would be something,” he said, looking over at the two strawberry blond, curly headed, twelve-month-old boys nestled next to Jenny and Lisa. Just then, Caleb grabbed a kitten by the tail and suspended it in the air. Calvin quickly did the same.
“Caleb, Calvin,” Lisa scolded gently, freeing the kittens’ tails from their chubby little fists. “You must be nice to the kittens or you’ll hurt them.”
“Be nice to kitty, brothers,” Brenn added firmly.
Jillian smiled and sighed deeply as her heart swelled with gratitude. Who would have thought that her life would have taken her here, to this beautiful piece of land? How could she have ever fathomed the love she would feel in the arms of the man who held her at this moment? She had been given so much more than she could ever have dreamed of: a husband she loved and adored, as well as these beautiful children who brought such joy and happiness in their wake. She sighed again, as a now-familiar feeling of peace and contentment enveloped her. There was another person she felt grateful to as well.
Thank you, Laurellyn, she thought, for your part in this. Just then, a soft breeze blew past, and Jillian thought she could smell the fragrance of lavender and roses.
About the Author
Prudence Bice has loved writing her entire life. Born in Orange County, California as one of eleven children, she always felt drawn to stories that spoke to and kindled her romantic heart. Having overcome tragedy in her own life, the inspiration for her first novel was sparked by her desire to ignite true romantics everywhere with a wholesome, feel-good story about the power of love in rising above the pain and suffering from loss.
Prudence resides in St. George, Utah, with her husband, Ray, and their four daughters and one son. Her hobbies include drawing, photography, music, writing, and, of course, reading anything she can get her hands on! Currently she is majoring in English at Dixie State College and loving it. The future is bright, she says. Every day she wakes up with a prayer in her heart and a story in her head. She never thought life could be so good!
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Prudence, Bice, The Widower's Wife
The Widower's Wife Page 23