Wooing the Widow (Cowboys and Angels Book 8)

by Sara Jolene

Shock ran through him. These were his future in-laws. They were family. Nora hadn’t ever mentioned her family. He was very happy to meet them, but something that Mr. Crowther had said stuck in his thought process. He turned to the man after properly introducing himself to Nora’s parents. “Mr. Crowther, did you say ‘we’ escorted the Joneses?”

  “Yes! Oh my!” Nora gasped and began rushing down the hall. “I forgot all about her and then I …” She trailed off and JT followed behind her, Mr. Crowther close on his heels.

  “Nora, what?”

  She stopped and pushed the door open to his office. She stepped inside and he followed her. They both looked around as Mr. Crowther stepped in behind them.

  “But where did she go?”

  “Where did who go? Nora, what is going on?” JT was becoming exasperated with the lack of communication. Why was she in such a tizzy? She couldn’t even get a sentence out.

  “Benita Crowther!” Her father shouted.

  All three of them—JT, Nora, and Mr. Crowther—gasped as Benita’s head slowly popped up from behind the desk, followed by the head of the Reverend Eugene Theodore.

  “What in the world!” Mr. Crowther lunged at the desk. “You’re a man of God! How could you!”

  JT was chastising himself but couldn’t help but laugh. “So much for him cleaning up the town,” he whispered to Nora.

  “But … I feel awful. I sent him down here. I forgot she’d asked to lie down. I knew she just wanted to be in your space, so I sent her in. It gave me time with my parents. But then the reverend showed up, and I didn’t think it would be appropriate to announce our engagement without you. With his insistence that we both leave town, I thought it would be best to get him out of the way as well, so I sent him down here. I’d completely forgotten.”

  JT and Nora watched as Mr. Crowther pulled Eugene from behind the desk by the back of his shirt. It was obvious the two of them hadn’t been doing anything uncouth, but they’d been alone—and obviously snooping, by the looks of the papers on JT’s desk and the bottle of whiskey the reverend was holding. Benita’s father was livid and ranting about how now he had to allow his only daughter to marry a man of the cloth and that he’d wanted better for her and for their family.

  JT turned to Nora. “This is in no way your fault. The reverend should have excused himself as soon as he found her there.”

  Nora sighed as Benita came out from around the desk and stood beside them. She began to argue with her father. “I won’t marry him, Pa. I’m gonna be the doctor’s wife.”

  Nora’s feeling sorry for the girl disappeared as fast as it had come. She didn’t even try to stop herself. “Benita dear, that would be impossible, even if you hadn’t been found with Eugene. You see, I accepted Dr. Thomas’s proposal last night. We’ll be married in a few days.”

  Benita stared daggers at Nora as her father continued to yell. “Benita Crowther leave this room at once.” He turned his attention to the reverend after Benita left. “You’ll make good on this … or else!” he told him, red-faced, before he turned to JT and Nora. “I’m terribly sorry for this. We’ll be on our way now.”

  Nathaniel was trying not to laugh. He knew what he’d done hadn’t been very angel-like, but watching the whole scene unfold had made him start to question that. Being an angel, or even just a good person, was about putting others before yourself, thinking of the good that could come from your actions and focusing on that. Admittedly, he hadn’t been thinking of good things when he’d purposefully knocked the heavy object off the doctor’s desk. But the more he thought about it, the more good he thought he’d done.

  By knocking whatever that hunk of metal had been onto the floor, he’d woken up Miss Benita Crowther and caused the reverend to panic a little. Once the two realized that they were in the doctor’s office together, unsupervised, they’d shared their plots with each other. Nathaniel had fully underestimated the slyness of both of them until that moment. The two of them proceeded to search the doctor’s office for anything that would make Nora have to leave. Her being gone worked in both their favors.

  Neither had thought about the fact that had they gotten caught, they’d be forced into a situation neither of them fancied—but from Nathaniel ’s standpoint, seemingly needed. They were two of a kind, those two. Both were scheming and undesirable. They’d turned most of the town against them without much effort.

  When Nora, JT, and Benita’s father had burst into the office both Benita and Eugene had panicked. They’d both ducked in an attempt to hide, but what they’d actually done was seal their fates. Nathaniel smiled as he thought about them being married. The two deserved each other, and he found himself hoping that someday, maybe they would make one another better.

  Chapter Eleven

  Nora and JT spent the rest of the afternoon visiting with her parents before the doctor returned them to town where they’d stay in the hotel for the night. Nora had explained that though she was thrilled to have them back in her life and she wanted to visit with them as much as possible. Her and the children wouldn’t be returning home with them. JT then had announced that he had never been happier than the moment that Nora had finally agreed to be his wife.

  Nora’s parents were thrilled. She knew it was because she would have the life they’d always wanted for her. Her future husband was a doctor. She and the children would be well cared for. Nora understood their happiness, especially after the way the last twelve years of her life had gone. Her first marriage hadn’t been one to exclaim about, and though Nora had fallen into a deep pit because of it, she had to admit that she wouldn’t have changed a thing if she’d been given a chance.

  Nathaniel was a large part of her life, and she wouldn’t have her children without him. She also had learned so much about herself that she wouldn’t have if he hadn’t passed away.

  Nora was sitting in the chair she was starting to think of as hers, while the children slept. She was sewing again, working on a new skirt made of green fabric the color of springtime grass. It was easy to forget the colors of spring when the winters were so cold and harsh. Nora had decided she’d do all she could to have more color in her life.

  Sitting there sewing, each stitch perfectly spaced and expertly pulled through, Nora’s mind started to drift. She found herself wishing she could tell Nathaniel that he wasn’t as bad a husband and father as he’d thought of himself. She wanted him to know that she’d loved him, and that he’d be a part of her, always. She wasn’t sure how to find out if he was still around, but decided to act instead of wonder.

  “Nathaniel , are you here?” she spoke out into the quiet room. “I’m not sure that you are, or if you just can’t show yourself to me. I’m not sure how all of that works, being an angel and all.” She shook her head. She sounded so silly, sitting there sewing and talking to a room full of sleeping children, but she kept going. “If you can hear me, I want to thank you. I want to thank you for our children, for coming to Dr. Thomas and saving our Tommy. I’d also like to thank you for helping to make me who I am today. I’m not sure I’d have been strong enough to push away the darkness if it hadn’t been for you and our life. You saved us all, and I’ll love you forever for it.”

  Nathaniel was shocked when Nora started speaking to him. He started to show himself, but then thought better of it. She was doing what she needed to do to move on. It didn’t matter really if she knew he’d heard it—she’d said it. That was what counted. Her words wrapped around him, warming him and making his throat itch. He was a ghost about to cry.

  He’d never cried when he was alive, yet here he was in a room where no one could see him with tears about to fall down his face. He took a breath as a bright light overtook his vision and Nora disappeared from view. He felt a strong pulse all over his body, followed by a vibration. Next thing he knew, his feet were lifting on their own, off the floor. He was hovering, moving up and down, a strong pulse in his ears as the vibrations and pulses ebbed. His body hummed with the resonance of the event as his v
ision returned and Nora came back into view.

  He watched as she gasped and stood. He realized too late that she could see him when she started to move to him. “I see you’ve received your wings,” she said softly as she closed the distance between them.

  Nathaniel was shocked. He turned his head, and sure enough there were two large wings flapping, slowly attaching to his back. “That explains my feet lifting off the ground,” he told her with a smile as he turned back to her.

  “Thank you,” Nora told him as he reached out and wiped her tear-stained face with the pad of him thumb. Nathaniel felt himself drifting, like something was pulling him away from his wife. He knew it was time. He’d gotten his wings. He’d accomplished his mission. He’d found his redemption in the happiness of others. He was truly an angel now. He left Nora with the simplest words he could find as he started to fade. “Embrace your happiness, Nora Thomas.”

  JT had ridden over to Bachelor to speak with Reverend Bing about marrying him and Nora the following day. They wanted something simple, no frills … just their closest friends, the children, and now Nora’s parents there to witness their big day.

  When he arrived at the church, he recognized Reverend Eugene Theodore’s horse hitched to the post out front. The doors were closed. Millie came out of the house.

  “He’ll not be long. Seems our fellow reverend needed to get married quickly. Callum was happy to perform the ceremony.”

  James chuckled to himself. So he’d happened upon the wedding of Eugene Theodore and Benita Crowther; it truly had been an excellent few days. “Think they’ll mind if I let myself in?”

  Millie smiled. “Not all.”

  JT let himself into the church through the front door. He walked in just as Benita was repeating the words that Eugene had no doubt said just before her, but she didn’t look happy about it. Her father and mother were sitting, watching alongside Hugh and Julianne Fontaine. If JT remembered correctly, Reverend Theodore had come to Creede to claim Julianne as his bride, thinking that her father had promised her to him. It really was interesting how everything worked out.

  JT slid into a seat behind the Crowthers and listened as Reverend Bing blessed the union between Benita and Eugene. He wondered if the two of them would be happy together. They were an awful lot alike, and though he hadn’t thought of it at first, it might work out for them having their personalities be so close. Maybe they’d find their faults in each other and change. When Callum asked that they all join him in blessing their union, JT did and with truth. He really did hope that the two of them were happy together. Just as happy as he was with his Nora.

  Then Callum said that Eugene could kiss the bride. James was shocked to see that the two of them came together in a way that boasted mutual affection, even if they were scowling at each other when they pulled apart.

  After the ceremony, the bride and groom walked down the aisle hand in hand. Benita had a sour look on her face and Eugene looked as if someone was pinching him, especially once they both spotted JT. He stood and smiled, and as they passed, he wished them well. The couple left directly after—their destination, JT had no idea. He spoke briefly with Hugh and Julianne before congratulating the Crowthers on their new son-in-law. Both were gracious and thanked James for being kind to them and Benita, even after her indiscretions and forward behavior. He assured them there were no lingering issues or resentments, that he truly wished the new couple health and happiness.

  Once everyone had gone, he was able to speak with Reverend Bing alone.

  “Those two will be something, won’t they? Entertainment for the whole town, I’d be willing to bet.”

  JT nodded and smiled. “I’m guessing we’ll all be hearing a lot from them.”

  Callum smiled and they started to walk out of the church together. “So, am I correct in thinking you’re here because you, too, have found a lady you want to spend your life with?”

  JT nodded. “I have. Mrs. Nora Meeks, sir.”

  James watched the reverend’s face. Neither he nor Nora had been sure if Callum was going to be comfortable marrying them since she’d been married before. They assumed that since her husband had perished, that the church would sanction their union, but one couldn’t be too careful. He was pleased to see the man smile hugely.

  “I’d be honored. That is wonderful news.”

  JT had made a lot of friends in Creede. Most everyone had needed to be seen by him for one reason or another, and it had allowed him to get to know people pretty well. Which was how he knew that the Crowthers were great people—and he also knew that Mrs. Crowther had a very special talent.

  He’d forgotten all about it until he’d seen her at the church when Benita and Eugene had married. It had given him an idea. So before the Crowthers left Bachelor to head home to Creede, JT had stopped her and asked if she’d help him with a very special request.

  They’d made their way outside of the church, now that the Crowthers and the Fontaines were both on their way to their respective homes and Millie had returned to the house.

  “When would you like to have the ceremony, Doctor?”

  “Tomorrow? After regular service, if that would be alright.”

  Nora had ridden into town with the children to see her parents at the hotel. They would all have dinner there that evening. JT had gone to Bachelor earlier in the day to see Callum and ask him if he’d marry them. Nora was nervous that he’d be against their union. She was trying to stifle the doubts and had beaten most of them back, but Reverend Bing was outside of her control. She couldn’t force the man to perform the ceremony.

  James met Nora and the children at the hotel with a huge smile on his face. The moment Nora saw him, she knew that they’d be husband and wife the next day. She was filled with the brightest light. She was happier than she’d ever thought possible. The fact that she was about to walk into the hotel and tell her parents that the wedding was tomorrow and ask them to please be there only excited her more.

  The dining room wasn’t full, but there were many folks having dinner that evening. Nora, JT, and the children sat and waited for the Joneses to arrive. The looks on the children’s faces when they arrived were wonderful. It was obvious to anyone that they enjoyed one another. Nora had been practically bouncing out of her seat to let them know about the wedding.

  A girl not more than eighteen, her belly round with child, waddled up to their table and offered them glasses of water and mead after introducing herself as Becky. Nora couldn’t help but think of herself at that age. She’d just arrived in a new place with only her husband for company. She’d abandoned everything she’d known from her former life and done it all for love. When that love had faded and transformed into something else, she’d been an overburdened mother of three children. She asked the girl about her husband but dropped it when the poor darling shook her head. Nora was overwhelmed with a sudden surge of gratitude for Nathaniel in that moment. He hadn’t been the best husband but he’d been there. She hadn’t been alone.

  The image of her former husband, surrounded in bright white light with large golden wings flapping on his back, made her smile. She was glad that Nathaniel had found his happiness. She hoped the girl that had just brought them all plates of roasted chicken had found hers as well. She reached across her lap for JT’s hand under the table. She knew it wasn’t proper, but she’d given up on that for the moment. She wanted him to know how happy she was. That becoming his wife meant the world to her, and she was going to do everything she knew how to be the best wife she could be.

  Nora turned her attention to her parents across the table. JT’s hand, heavy and strong connected with hers. “Ma, Pa, James and I are planning to marry tomorrow after service, and I’d really like for both of you to be there.”

  Nora had butterflies in her stomach. She hadn’t eaten a bite, but felt sick as she waited for some sort of response from her parents. She knew it was fast and that they wouldn’t have time to plan a real service, but she hoped it being in a church
would be enough for them. She started to relax as she noticed her mother’s posture change and smile form on her face.

  “Of course, dear.” Her father nodded along. He, too, was smiling.

  “I’m so sorry for all the pain I caused, running off as I did last time. I’m very happy you’ll be here now.”

  Epilogue

  Nora hadn’t thought she’d be able to be happier than she had been on her wedding day, but she’d been proven wrong day after day.

  It had been two weeks since she’d walked down the aisle of the small church in Bachelor toward her groom, and he kept surprising her. Each time she mentioned one of his gestures and called it a surprise, he’d smile and kiss her firmly and thoroughly on the mouth until she felt light-headed and dizzy—or one of the children started to groan and pick fun at them.

  JT had just arrived home from meeting with Wheeler. They’d been discussing the situation about needing a new sheriff. No one had come along yet, but they both seemed optimistic. In the meantime, Marshal Wheeler had decided to come into Creede when Hannah did to check on things.

  JT had also been looking for a space to use as a clinic. They’d talked to Mrs. Sanderson, and she’d agreed to let them buy the cabin. But they’d realized quickly that there wasn’t enough room for them to live and to have the clinic there.

  Nora went outside to meet her new husband. He’d been followed by a long wagon pulled by three horses. It had a bunch of lumber on it. “What’s all this?” she asked from the porch.

  “Well, it’s two new bedrooms and an exam room. Can’t ya’ tell?”

  Nora laughed. “No, really. What is it?”

  The doctor jumped down from his mount and met his wife. After wrapping his arms tightly around her and bringing her in for a mind-melting kiss that set her world ablaze, he released her and said, “Well, I’ve been thinking. With the children going to school in Bachelor but Creede being bigger, it makes the most sense to stay right where we are. Bachelor doesn’t have a doctor. Hannah and I have been working within both towns. This cabin is just about halfway between the two. So instead of finding another place to work, I figured we’d add on to this place.”