“That’s for sure.”
“I just thought of something. Mariah and Sarah had been talking about planning a barn dance over in the modular outbuilding. Now would be the perfect time. Everyone in the community would be invited to welcome Nattie home.”
Jake frowned, ran his hand across his chin, and shook his head slowly.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know if she’s even staying. She seems to want to go back to the cabin.”
Nick thought about it for a minute. “We’ll have a barn dance. I’ll see if Mariah and Sarah can put all the plans together for next weekend. Tell Nattie it’ll be a welcome back party – or a back to life party, since everyone now knows she’s still alive. When she sees how happy everyone was once they heard the good news, she may decide to stay.”
“It’ll be worth a try. I’ll get out to the stable and let the men know which job to begin first. Then I’ll have to leave by noon.”
“Okay, but tell Nattie that the party is already on, and it’s going to be great fun. I’ll let Mariah know. She and Sarah will get right on it.”
“It just might work, Nick.”
“We’ll make it work. Now get movin’ and good luck at the courthouse.”
“Thanks.” He put his Stetson back on and hurried out the door.
Nick picked up the phone and dialed Mariah’s cell. It didn’t take her long to answer. “The party’s on, Mariah; give Sarah a call and get busy. It has to be set for next Saturday, and you have to contact everyone in the community, and also the wives of the ranch hands.”
“Why so soon?” she asked.
“Looks like the best way to convince Nattie to stay. Jake said she’s thinking about going back to the cabin. We have to show her that everyone wants her to stay here. I’m sure you and Sarah can do this. You have five days, so get started.”
“This is going to be exciting, Nick. Sarah and I will start on it right away.”
“I knew you would, darlin’, that’s just the way you are. Another thing I love about you. See you at dinner time.” Nick looked at the receiver and frowned. He didn’t know when, but Mariah had already hung up. He doubted she even heard what he said. He laughed and picked up his pen to start a new agenda for his own men to complete before the first snowstorm arrives.
Chapter Forty-four
The Monday following the party Mariah and Bess sat out on the deck, enjoying the wonderful temperature of seventy degrees. With Nicky at school and the twins down for their nap, they relaxed in the peace and quiet.
“Can you believe this remarkable weather?” Mariah murmured. She leaned her head back on the lawn chair, closed her eyes, and soaked up the sun. Birds were chirping happily, but any day now, winter would arrive, bringing the cold heavy winds along with the snow and icy precipitation.
“The barn dance was wonderful, don’t you agree?” she asked Bess.
“Mmm… I believe everyone had a grand ‘ole time. How did you ever get the country band on such late notice?”
Mariah smiled, and her eyes remained closed. “I offered them twice the amount they would have asked for, but when I explained who it was for, they played for free.”
“You are so good at coming up with ideas at the last minute, Mariah. You and Sarah are masters at those things. It was a lot of work on your part, only having a few days to put it all together, but it was well worth it. Did you see how happy Nattie was when she learned of the many people who truly cared about her?”
“Yes, and I’m so glad.” Her cell phone started to ring, and she reached over to the small redwood table where she’d placed it.
“Hello?” she answered, and immediately beamed.
“Mariah, this is Nattie. I wanted to call and thank you for the wonderful party. It was so much fun. When Jake and I returned to his place, we had a long talk about whether I’d live here, or go back to the cabin.”
Mariah sat up straight with an excited, yet concerned look on her face.
“What’s going on?” Bess mouthed quietly, with an anxious expression.
Mariah held up the palm of her hand to Bess and continued to listen to what Nattie had to say.
“It felt good to once again be with my two best friends. It brought back so many memories of our high school days and all the fun the three of us had.”
“And…?” Mariah asked softly, her fingers crossed.
“I’m going to stay here, Mariah. It was so wonderful to see you and Sarah after all these years. We’ll spend time up at the cabin whenever we can.”
“We? Who does the “we” refer to, may I ask?”
Natalie laughed and said, “Why Jake and I, of course. He’s a real sweetheart. I’d be out of my mind if I went back to the resort and left him behind.”
“Yes!” Mariah shouted. She jumped from her chair and raised her fist in the air, then nodded to Bess with a happy smile. “That’s the greatest news I’ve heard in quite some time Nattie! Wait until Sarah hears about this. We’ll all be together again.”
“I’m going to call Sarah now, Mariah. Let me have the fun of telling her myself. I just wanted to thank you for showing me how happy I can be right here in Pinewood Hills and Huntington. My life has turned around, thanks to my two best friends.”
“Does this mean you’re staying with Jake?”
“You better believe it. I’d be crazy not to.”
“Oh Nattie, I’m so happy! When you talk to Sarah, set up a day we can get together. We’ll take you shopping for a new wardrobe to replace everything you lost at the house.”
“Don’t worry about that. Jake already bought everything I’ll need for the next twenty years.”
“Yes, Jake is a good guy, Nattie. You won’t be sorry. Now call Sarah, and set up a day for the three of us to get together.”
Mariah hung up the phone, and smiled at Bess. When they walked into the house, they heard the sound of the twins gurgling to each other in their cribs.
* * *
Jake stepped into the office at the same moment Nick completed a business call. He nodded at Jake, hung up the phone, and motioned him into the room.
“That was a terrific party, boss,” Jake said.
“You and Nattie looked like you were having the time of your lives.” Jake smiled and sat back in his chair, hands clasped behind his head.
“Well, it worked.”
“What worked?”
“Your plan to convince Nattie to stay; she’s one heck of a woman, Nick. We have a lot of fun together. She’s going to live with me, and we’ll head to the cabin every chance we get.”
“That’s great, I’m happy for you. I had a feeling the two of you would make a terrific couple. It’s a good thing she decided to stick around, too. Don’t know what I would have done without you if she wanted to live up north. I need you here. You’re one of the best employees I have.” They both stood, shook hands, and Nick patted him on the shoulder as they left the office together. “Let’s call it a day,” Nick said, and they walked out of the stable with a grin on their faces.
Epilogue
The following year Jake and Natalie’s wedding took place – at the fishing pond. Nick was Jake’s Best Man, and Nattie considered herself blessed to have both Mariah and Sarah as her Matrons of Honor. Sam had the privilege of being the Ring Bearer and stood next to Jake, holding the wedding bands in a black velvet box attached to his collar.
* * *
Two years later…
“Jake, you have to sit down and help me. I can’t decide this on my own. I want to do this together.”
Jake walked over and sat at the kitchen table. He grabbed the sandwich Nattie made for him, took a big bite and smiled at her.
“What do you think of Kaitlin?”
Jake only stared at her with a grin on his face. To get his complete attention she added, “Or maybe Petunia?” She watched him carefully. He began to have trouble swallowing, and then burst into laughter.
Natalie snickered. “Well that sure made
you take notice.”
“Petunia? You can’t be serious. You aren’t, are you?” he asked with a straight face.
She laughed lightly and poked him in the ribs. “I thought we might name the baby after your mother. How do you like the name Kaitlin? I think Kate would love it.”
“Yes, that’s a beautiful name, honey. I’m sure she’d appreciate it. I only hope little Kaitlin looks like you, not me.” He slowly ran his fingers through her light-brown curls then kissed her gently on her lips.
* * *
Three months later, Kaitlin arrived. He chuckled to himself as he gazed at his beautiful wife, and held this bundle of joy in his arms. He’d never forget the day they met, the day they married, nor the day Kaitlin Marie Morrison came into this world. All three occurred on the date of September twenty-third, the most important date in his life.
He held his precious daughter, who looked just like the lovely woman he discovered living deep in the woods while searching for that well-known fishing hole. He stood and admired Nattie as she dozed off in her hospital bed. With little Kaitlin in his arms, he slowly turned to gaze out the window and smiled as he watched the sky lighten and the darkness melt away with love on the horizon.
About the Author
Charliann Roberts was born and raised in Minnesota. She has lived in Santa Monica, California and currently resides in Arizona with her long-time sweetheart. They have a Sheltie and a Corgi, the two smallest herding dogs (although Chase and Kristi do believe they’re actually their children).
Charliann enjoys writing romantic suspense and is currently working on her third novel.
Visit her website at http://www.charliann-roberts.com
Also written by Charliann Roberts
THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN
A Northern Woods Novel
He was her rock, her soul. He was her everything. When he told her they should go their separate ways, it hurt so much. Cassandra knew as she watched Sean walk away from her, that she’d never love anyone with the depth and emotion that she loved him. Heartbroken and forlorn she surrendered to deep compulsive sobs.
She tucked those feelings away when she thought she had finally found the “perfect” husband. However, soon after the birth of their twins, she began to see another side of Jeff that he’d kept hidden from her.
Surviving a turbulent marriage that almost kills her, Cassandra is finally convinced to file for divorce. She takes the twins and heads up north deep into the woods to a cabin where no one will find them.
Soon she discovers they’re being followed…
Love on the Horizon (A Northern Woods Novel) Page 21