Wagon Train Wedding

by Rhonda Gibson

  She felt as if Flynn was the only one in the room. He nodded and then carried the baby to the table to join the sheriff and Elsie. Cora wished he would say something to her, anything.

  * * *

  Flynn gave Noah a quick hug and then set him back down on the floor. He took the offered chair and smiled when Mrs. Amor placed a plate of food in front of him. “Thank you.”

  Mr. Amor said a quick blessing and then the men dug into their food. Flynn could feel both women watching them, waiting for the details of the evening. The sheriff had told him not to volunteer any information; he enjoyed the game of his wife waiting and then demanding to know what had happened. The lawman said it was something they had done since they’d gotten married fifteen years earlier. Flynn didn’t really understand but played along.

  Cora picked up the baby and excused herself to go change his diaper.

  Flynn felt bad for not telling her what had happened. That Hank was in jail and that she was off the hook for murder. Her anxious face pulled at his heart. “Excuse me.” He pushed away from the table and followed Cora into the living area.

  He stood in the doorway and watched her finish dressing Noah. The little boy squirmed and wiggled as she kissed his little face and head. He squealed as he rolled over and tried to crawl away. Flynn hated that if Hank had had his way, he would have lost them both.

  Cora looked up and saw him standing there. The smile on her face faded. She let Flynn scoop the wiggly baby from the couch and place him on the floor. Noah took two steps before falling back on his diaper.

  Flynn sat down beside her on the couch. “Hank confessed to killing your sister.”

  “He did?”

  Flynn looked into her tear-filled eyes. “Yes. He claims it was an accident and that until he found her at your house, he didn’t know he’d killed her.”

  “That’s probably true. Hank would get drunk, hit Gracie, and then the next day, once he was sober, he’d be full of apologies and would assure her that it would never happen again. But it always did.” Sadness filled her voice.

  He scooted over and put his arm around her shoulders. “He’ll never hurt another woman again.” Flynn planned on making sure that the judge heard every word that Hank had confessed to him. Thankfully, the sheriff had heard his confession also. There was no way the judge would let Hank go free after Hank had admitted to killing a woman, by accident or not—and Sheriff Amor would be an excellent impartial witness.

  Cora laid her head on his shoulder. “Will he be hanged?”

  “That depends on the judge. He could be sentenced to a lifetime in prison.”

  Noah crawled back to Cora and pulled on her dress until he was standing. He stuck two fingers in his little mouth. She reached down and picked up the child. She cuddled him close. He was getting so big. He yawned and snuggled into her.

  Flynn wanted to protect them both forever, but they had agreed to go their separate ways once they got to Oregon. “Cora, I’m sorry you didn’t feel like you could trust me enough with your secrets.”

  Cora turned to look at him. “Oh, Flynn. It wasn’t that I felt I couldn’t trust you. There’s no one else I trust more. But, at first, I was mourning my sister. Then I was afraid if you found out I wasn’t Noah’s real ma, you wouldn’t want to bring me here, and I couldn’t go back to Independence. And I for sure couldn’t let you take Noah from me. I lived in a constant state of fear that Hank would find us. I was afraid of everything and everyone.”

  He didn’t know what to say or how to respond. She’d been afraid to tell him the truth. Every day they were together on the trail, while he had been falling in love with her, she had been afraid he would abandon her. How did they get past this?

  Flynn gently set her away from him. “Well, we are here now. You are safe from Hank. I found Miriam’s killer, so I suppose our arrangement is complete.” He looked at her intently and then strode to the door.

  She followed him. “Our arrangement is completed, yes—but that means that now we can start fresh.”

  He frowned down at her in confusion. “How do you plan on us starting fresh?”

  Cora laid her hand on his chest. “You have proved you can be more than trusted. That whatever you go for, you get. And I have learned that you are a man of your word. You don’t abandon the people you care about. So I would like to start our marriage again. And I will work hard at proving to you that I, too, can be trusted. I can be determined—and, Flynn, I don’t abandon the people I love, either.”

  Flynn looked deeply into her face. Gone was the frightened, unsure woman he’d met in Independence. In front of him stood the woman he’d grown to love. She was strong and loyal, and even though she’d been too scared to share her past with him, he knew she’d been as honest as she thought she could be. “You love me?” Lightly he fingered a loose tendril of hair on her cheek.

  Cora smiled. “I knew I loved you that time we lost Noah. You were the person I ran to, you were the one I trusted to find him, and you were strong for me even though you were just as scared.”

  It took all his control not to grab her up and hold her tight. Cora Adams, his wife, had just said she loved him. If she were being honest, they could spend the rest of their lives truly falling in love or deeper in love if her emotions were as real as his.

  Flynn turned and took one step toward the kitchen, his movements hurried and purposeful. Then he stopped as he realized that standing in the doorway, looking sheepish, were the Amors, who had listened to the whole thing. At the moment, Flynn didn’t care. He wanted to shout from the rooftops that Cora loved him. No matter what uncertainties waited for them ahead, he knew love would conquer all of it. He’d seen it happen too many times between his parents. And it was what the sheriff had insinuated earlier in the day.

  “Sir, and Mrs. Amor, would you mind if we leave now? The meal was lovely, and I thank you, but...” Flynn didn’t get to finish his sentence.

  “Go on. Get out of here.” Both the sheriff and his wife shooed them out the door.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Moments later, as dusk covered the valley, they were back in the room Flynn had rented. Cora wiped the milk from Noah’s face and laid him in the center of the bed. She pulled the covers over him and then sat on the edge of the bed. Flynn added wood to the fireplace, then pulled the only chair in the room, a small rocking chair that Noah had instantly loved, and placed it in front of the hearth. He wedged himself into the seat with a chuckle. “This is a mama-baby chair for sure.”

  Cora laughed. Flynn held out his hands, and as soon as her reaching fingers touched his, she felt safe. The warmth of personal contact after all the uncertainties of the day comforted her.

  “Cora, we need to get some things straight between us.” One look at her expression and he hurriedly explained, “No, no, don’t fret. I just need clarity on a few details. Cora, make no mistake. I love you. Nothing will change that till death. So, anytime we have discussions, it will never be to end things between us or to go our separate ways. If you will have me, I’m yours for life, but so often I’ve seen relationships fail for lack of communication and I don’t want that to happen between us. Do you understand what I’m saying?” At her nod, he continued.

  “So I’d like to ask if you’re certain you are committed to me. And are you still afraid to tell me things? Will you keep secrets from me?” He hesitated as if torn by conflicting emotions.

  Cora’s heart filled with all the passion she felt for this man. In his moment of uncertainty, her feelings intensified. Wanting to put all his worries to rest, she leaned forward and took his face in her hands. She kissed his lips gently. Cora had never been so forward in her life and she felt the flush start in her neck and move up into her cheeks. So far, this was the most important thing between them, and she intended to make him feel completely secure in her feelings for him. She put all the love she felt for Flynn into her kiss. Al
l the while praying he’d understand what her forwardness meant.

  When she pulled away, Cora rested her forehead on his and said, “I know my past actions have caused you to doubt me and for that I’m so sorry. But know this, Flynn Adams—I will spend the rest of my life earning your trust.”

  He pushed out of the tight chair and hugged her close. “Cora, I have some news to discuss with you.” He kissed the top of her head and then turned her so that he could sit her down in the rocking chair before moving a few feet away.

  Cora gently set the rocker in motion. Her heart pounded in her chest. What more could he tell her? “I’m listening.”

  “Sheriff Amor told me today that the next town over, Cascade Falls, is in need of a sheriff. The town’s not as large as Willamette, but it is an established town. He says it is beautiful there and they have several waterfalls that cascade down the mountains. There are plenty of grazing sites for cattle and the place is green and lush. There’s a house a couple of blocks out of the main section of town that goes with the job. Sheriff Amor has been covering that area himself, but with the way this town and Cascade Falls have grown, he thinks it’s time for another sheriff to take the reins. He’s offered the job to me.” He paused, as if he’d forgotten to breathe.

  Since he hadn’t asked any questions, Cora waited for him to continue. She prayed that he was trying to lead up to the fact that he wanted to take the job and provide a home for her and Noah.

  “What do you think? Do you want to stay here in Oregon? With me?”

  Cora’s heart sang. “I do want to stay here with you. But what about you? You don’t want to go back to Texas?”

  “I will have to return to Texas sometime in the future—but not to stay. When we arrived earlier, the sheriff gave me a telegraph that was waiting for me from the town I used to serve. It stated my job had been given to a more stable lawman. Still, I have to go back and see my parents and sister.” Excitement filled his eyes and Cora was sure it wasn’t there because he’d be returning to Texas to see his parents and sister.

  Cora smiled. “How soon could we see the place?”

  “Sheriff Amor said he would take us there tomorrow if we were interested.”

  She sat up and reached over to smooth Noah’s hair. It curled at his nape. He would soon need his first haircut. Her baby had begun walking, and much like Flynn had said early on, Noah ran everywhere. Cora had teased Joe, telling him he had taught the baby the bad habit of running when he should be walking. A smile touched her lips. Noah would have stability, go to school and maybe be joined by a brother or sister. She looked at Flynn, her courage and determination like a rock inside her. “This has an indefinable feeling of rightness about it, doesn’t it? Do you feel it, too?”

  He answered in an odd, gentle tone. “Yes, I feel it, too.”

  The next day, Cora could barely contain her excitement. The house was small but had a white picket fence and green shutters. It had a cookstove with an oven in the kitchen. She could bake Flynn blackberry cobblers every night with such a fine stove. In the living room, there were shiny hardwood floors, a rock fireplace and glass windows that looked out onto the street. And wonder of wonders, it sat on two acres. She could have a milk cow, chickens and a garden; Noah could have a dog, even a cat if he wanted.

  There were some repairs needed and certainly a whitewash job, but with a little cleaning, they could move in now.

  “Sweetheart, Stephen and I are riding over to the sheriff’s office. Do you want to go?”

  Cora turned to Sheriff Amor. “Is there a general store in town?” She wanted to see the whole town, but the main reason for asking was that she needed cleaning supplies.

  He rocked on his boots. “Sure is. Two doors down from the office.”

  She caught Noah as he tried to run past her. The baby still wobbled when he ran or walked. “Then I’d like to go buy some Murphy soap, a pail, a broom and a mop.”

  Sheriff Amor threw back his head and laughed loudly. He slapped Flynn on the back. “Looks to me like the decision’s been made. Might as well just swear you in, give you a badge and the keys to the jail.”

  And that was just what happened. By nightfall, Cora had the house clean and warm and smelling of cinnamon apples and beef stew. And she almost cheered when Flynn arrived in a wagon filled with odds and ends of furniture, donated by the townspeople eager to welcome law and order to their town.

  Cora’s heart sang with delight. Joy bubbled in her laugh and shone in her eyes and was reflected in the ones staring down at her. She laid her head against Flynn’s chest and listened to his heartbeat. She was home.

  Epilogue

  One year later

  Cora took a deep breath and then released it. Her baby was on his way and she was feeling the birthing pains. She resisted the urge to push because the midwife said it was too soon. Another pain shot through her tired body and she groaned.

  “You are doing great, Cora.” Annie stood at her head, holding her hand and cheering her on.

  Cora tried to smile through the pain. She puffed out the words, “That’s easy for you to say. You aren’t having this baby.”

  Annie laughed. “No, I already had mine.”

  “How is Flynn doing?” Cora decided to focus on her sweet man instead of the pain of giving birth to his child.

  “Oh, you know. He’s pacing the floor and telling Noah his ma is going to be fine.” Annie winced, reminding Cora not to squeeze her friend’s hand too hard.

  Cora looked to her midwife. “Can I stand up?”

  The older woman returned her look. “It’s better for the baby if you don’t, but if you want to stand, I won’t stop you.”

  Annie grinned. “Then stand she shall.” She helped Cora move her legs off the bed and rise to her feet.

  Even though the midwife didn’t think standing would help, Cora felt better. The pressure in her lower belly eased. “This helps.” Cora smiled at Annie. She’d been pleased to learn that Annie and Harold had settled in her small town.

  “I’m glad, dear. While you’re up, I’ll change out these wet sheets.” The midwife began stripping the sheets off the bed.

  Cora sighed. She’d sweated so much in the last three hours she doubted there was any more moisture left in her. A pain hit her hard. Cora bent over and groaned. She felt the baby’s head between her legs and gasped. “Help. He’s coming out.”

  The midwife dropped the sheets and hurried to help her. “Push slightly,” she ordered.

  It took all Cora’s willpower not to push fast and hard. She didn’t want to harm her baby, but her body was doing its own thing. Cora groaned as the infant slid into the midwife’s waiting hands.

  Helpless, and shaking like a leaf, Cora let the midwife work as she stood beside the bed with Annie holding her up. “Is it a boy?” She sighed.

  “No, she’s a girl.” The midwife slapped the baby’s behind. “Give me just a moment and I’ll get her cleaned up for you,” she said over the baby’s cry.

  Cora nodded. She had been so sure the baby would be a boy. Flynn would be impossible to live with. He’d known all along that it would be a girl.

  “Do you have a name yet for her?” Annie asked.

  “Flynn suggested that if he was right and the baby was a girl, we should name her Gracie, after my sister.” Cora bit her lip as another wave of pain shot through her body.

  “That’s a lovely name.” Annie frowned. “Are you all right?”

  The midwife wrapped the baby in a blanket and carried her over to Cora. “Here, hold your daughter, and I’ll finish making the bed.”

  Cora nodded. “Should I still be having labor pains?”

  The midwife tucked the last corner of the sheet under the mattress. “That’s probably the afterbirth.” She put another sheet on the bed. “It should be coming out any moment.”

  “I don’t know. This f
eels...” Cora groaned as her knees began to buckle.

  The midwife grabbed the baby and laid her on the bed. “Hold her up, Annie.” She began feeling about on Cora’s stomach. A grin split her face. “Looks like we have another baby waiting to join us.”

  Cora gasped. “Another baby?” No one had said there were two babies in there. She couldn’t be having twins. Could she?

  “Don’t fight the contractions, Cora. Relax like you did before.”

  She wouldn’t call the way Gracie had been born “relaxing,” but Cora tried to do as she was told. A pain tore through her already sore body. She gasped for air and pushed. The midwife was ready.

  A second baby entered the world. There was no need to slap her bottom because she entered the world screaming her unhappiness at being last.

  “It’s another girl,” the midwife announced. She held the wiggling baby close. “Annie, help Cora into bed and let her hold the first baby while I get this one cleaned up.”

  Cora allowed Annie to help her into bed. She smiled as her friend handed her baby Gracie. Her new daughter was beautiful. She had dark hair, like her father. While Cora counted the baby’s fingers and toes, Annie cleaned the floor beside the bed and straightened up the room.

  “Can Flynn come in now?” Cora felt tired and wanted to show him his daughters before she fell asleep.

  The midwife brought the second baby to her. “Yes. I’ll go get him.”

  Cora smiled, a baby in each arm. “Thank you so much for helping me.”

  She was rewarded with a pat on the shoulder. “It was my pleasure, but you did most of the work. All I had to do was catch and clean them up.”

  Within moments of the midwife leaving, Flynn arrived. He held Noah in his arms and wore a look of shock on his face. “Twins?”

  Cora nodded. “Didn’t the midwife tell you?”

  He shook his head. “No. I guess she wanted them to be a surprise.”

  Noah squirmed in his arms. “Down.”