“Jeb Gentry,” she began, her lower lip quivering ever so slightly as her crystal blue gaze filled with unshed tears. She tucked her hands under her chin. “I love you. I have always loved you. I don’t want to leave, but if you can’t find a place for me in your heart, just say the word and I will walk out of here and never bother you again.”
His heart stuttered to a halt. “You really feel this way?”
She gave a vigorous nod. “Yes. Oh, yes. I have forever.”
“Forever?”
“Well…since I was probably six-years-old.” The most endearing pink blush colored her fair cheeks.
He moved a step closer, his breath hitching at the vulnerable way she peered at him. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I did, Jeb.” She pressed a hand to her mouth, her misty gaze almost breaking his heart. “That day I ran out to the corral I said all that and more.”
His brow furrowed in disbelief. “You did?”
Lydia gave several adamant nods. “You mean you didn’t know?”
He recalled that scene, but could remember nothing of the sort. “I must’ve been so focused on calming the stallion that I didn’t even hear you.”
“So, you didn’t intentionally ignore me?” A single tear slid down her face.
“Never.” He reached for one of her hands and held it in his. “I saw you though, Lydia. And I’ll tell you this…I’d never seen a more beautiful sight than I did that day. You’d always been my young shadow.” Jeb trailed his fingertips down her cheek, cherishing this moment and the feel of her satiny skin against his. “And then all of a sudden, you were this beautiful—” his breath caught “—beautiful woman. I didn’t even know what to do with the thoughts stampeding through my mind.”
“But you told me to go away.” When another tear trailed down her cheek, Jeb wiped it away. “You said that I was a distraction.”
Jeb pulled up her hand up to his mouth and pressed the lightest kiss there. “You were a distraction all right…a beautiful distraction.”
“But what about last night?” Sweet as can be, she tugged her hand from his and set it featherlight against his face. Her gaze traveled over every cut and bruise and scar. “I distracted you and got you knocked out.”
“Awww…darlin’, don’t worry about that,” he said, grasping her hand and tugging her closer to him. So close that he could almost feel the heat of her body. “I’ll heal. And besides you were so much better to look at than that roughed-up fella I was fighting.”
When guilt darkened her beautiful gaze, he tugged her closer.
“Lydia, there’s been a lot that’s happened over the past years—things that’ll take some time to tell you about, but if you aren’t doing anything for the rest of your life,” he braved, searching her gaze for any kind of hesitation, “how would you feel about spending it with me? I don’t have a thing to offer you but my love. But I can guarantee you that I will love you completely.”
“You really feel this way?” she choked out, tears spilling down her cheeks now.
“With all my heart. I’ve felt this way from the moment I saw you as something other than my young shadow.”
“But I loved being your young shadow.”
When her brow furrowed, Jeb wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his embrace. She felt so right in his arms, as though their union was meant to be.
“Believe me when I say…I want you to be more—far more than just my shadow. I want you to be my bride,” he uttered, breathing in the faintest scent of lilies as she melted in his arms. “Lydia Townsend, will you marry me?”
She sniffed. “On one condition,” she said, peering up at him. “But you have to promise me you will accept it first.”
Jeb grinned, figuring that no matter what the future held, he’d be hard-pressed to deny her anything. “This sounds vaguely familiar.”
Lydia reached up and held his face between her hands. “If I marry you, then all that I have is yours.”
“That’s not a problem. I already love all of you, Lydia,” he said, smoothing her hair from her face and placing the softest kiss to her forehead.
“No, Jeb…I mean all that I have.” Ducking out of his arms, she crossed to the saddlebag by the door and pulled out a wooden box. When she opened the box and spilled out money—hundreds and hundreds of dollars on the floor—the breath whooshed from Jeb’s lungs.
She picked up a bound stack and held it out to him. “There’s a note on it for you. It should help explain.”
He blinked hard, staring at the large stack of money in her hand, shocked. Completely shocked.
“Do you want me to read it to you?” she asked when he couldn’t seem to do much more than stare at the stack of bills.
He nodded, the lump in his throat making it nearly impossible to talk.
Lydia’s face shone as bright as the sun as she pulled the note from where it’d been bound with the money. “Dear Jeb,” she began, glancing up at him, her eyes glistening.
“You’re a fine young man with a natural bent toward this land—it’s in you and I know you’ll make it better than I ever could. Believe me when I say, I wish I could’ve done more to help situations with your father.
“You have a good and honest heart, Jeb. This money is what you would’ve earned from all of those cattle drives your father never paid you for. I want you to have it.
“One more thing. Take good care of my little girl.
“Fondly,
“Hank.”
When she held the money out to him, he swallowed hard, barely able to breathe as the extent of things hit him square in the chest. His father had never paid him a cent. He’d made big promises at the front end of cattle drives, but would always end up gambling away Jeb’s earnings.
“I can’t take this,” he said, his throat all raw. But even as the words crossed his lips he felt unease in his heart, as though he was stubbornly refusing something that might very well be the lifeline he’d been praying for.
“He said you earned it.” She turned over his hand and placed the stack in his palm. “He wanted you to have it.”
“But—”
“And I want you to have this,” she said, bending down and gathering together the pile of money she’d dumped out and stuffed it back into the box.
He shook his head, adamant. “Lydia, I can’t—”
“Well, this treasure and me,” she said, standing and folding her arms at her chest, “we come together. You agreed that if you marry me, all that I have is yours.”
“I just didn’t know that—”
“Jeb Gentry, I love you. And yes, I would love to be your bride.”
* * *
“I do,” Jeb said, his deep rich voice echoing in Lydia’s soul like some ancient call to oneness.
From the trees came a bird’s happy spring melody…as beautiful as the brilliant green leaves budding on the branches. The sun shone bright and warm and the air smelled of new life.
Lydia stood at the steps of the cabin, where Jeb had added new floorboards to the porch and a brand new window with glass panes as clear as the finest crystal. But as beautiful as everything was, she couldn’t take her eyes off Jeb.
Despite the bruising still marring his face from his last and final fight two weeks ago, he looked utterly handsome in his simple dark brown britches, cream-colored shirt and his matching vest that hugged his thick chest. The wholly intense and warmly loving look in his eyes sent her stomach to fluttering uncontrollably.
This day…the day she’d dreamed of for most of her life, was far better than she’d ever imagined. Far better than the pictures she’d drawn or the letters she’d written.
“And do you, Lydia Townsend,” the kindly preacher said, gently drawing her atte
ntion, “take Jebediah Gentry to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do.” Glancing up at the preacher who stood on the porch steps, she leaned toward him and whispered, “Do you mind if I give Jeb something?”
“A kiss?” he said, grinning while the small gathering of folks chuckled.
A warm blush colored Lydia’s cheeks as she peered at Jeb and saw the sweet passion darkening his gaze. “Well, that, too. But I have something…” Shifting her small posy of spring flowers to one hand, she reached into the side pocket Sass had sewn in her beautiful off-white wedding dress and tugged out a stack of letters, bound by a blue ribbon, the color of the sky. “These are for you, Jeb. They’re letters I’ve written to you from the time I was a young girl,” she confessed, her throat clogged with emotion. “They’re silly, really, but I want you to have them.”
Jeb’s earnest expression lent her confidence. “I’m sure they’re not silly, Lydia.” Taking the letters from her, he peered down at them as though he’d just been given the most priceless gift.
“This one, in particular, you have to read,” she said tapping the very top one.
“Right now?”
She nodded, swallowing nervously.
He slid the letter out of the stack, gently opened it and read.
Watching his expression, she pictured every single word and read right along with him.
My Dearest Jeb,
I have waited for you all my life, but I have to be patient and wait for the perfect time to marry you. I may be young, but Daddy always says that, “when you know something’s true, you just know.” I have known we were meant to be together from that first time you picked a wild daisy over by the corral and gave it to me. I was almost seven then and now I’m ten.
I love you, Jeb. I will always love you.
You are my ideal husband.
Love,
Lydia
Tears pooled in Jeb’s dark brown eyes as he set his gaze on her. She gently tugged the letter from him and handed the stack to the preacher.
“Oh, Jeb…I mean every word of that and more,” she whispered, sure she’d died and gone to heaven for the absolute bliss she felt.
Jeb raised his hands, quivering and warm, to her face. He peered down at her with the most intense and loving gaze Lydia could imagine.
“I love you, Lydia,” he said, his voice barely audible as he cupped the back of her head and slowly lowered his head to hers.
The moment his lips touched hers in a sweetly passionate kiss, her sheer bliss spun to even greater heights. A thousand tiny quivers shot from her head to her toes and back again. She could barely breathe. Could barely hear the wedding-goers clapping, over the beating of her heart for Jeb.
She leaned away enough to meet his dark and distinctly masculine gaze. She was satisfied. Healed. And confident in his love.
“You are my ideal husband.”
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for reading Jeb and Lydia’s story. It is my hope that you saw a little of yourself in the characters. Certainly, the desire for love is inherent in us all.
When my daughter was young, I delighted in watching her dream about her happily-ever-after. I’ve kept her endearing letters and adorable drawings, loving the innocence penned with washable markers. Just recently the two of us were looking through those keepsakes, thoroughly enjoying the sweet way she had portrayed what was in her heart, and reflecting on the years in between.
When life’s trials come, we might believe we were foolish to hope. Was it wrong to dream? Not at all. It is essential to our growth and sense of purpose. Dream, but know that the road from innocent drawings to the altar (or wherever the destination may be) can be strewn with hurdles, walls and deep pits. But it is in journeying that we often find grace, forgiveness and God’s abiding love that will carry us through hardship.
So, dream, hope and live life knowing that you are God’s favorite! And that nothing can separate you from His love.
With sincere affection,
Pamela Nissen
Questions for Discussion
When Lydia sees Jeb for the first time after five years, the same feelings of shame and humiliation come flooding back. Have you experienced a similar situation? If so, how did you handle it?
In the face of financial hardship, Jeb resorts to desperate measures to make ends meet. Have you faced a similar situation? If so, what kind of feedback did you get from those around you?
Lydia’s father provided hope and faith and guidance in Jeb’s life. Do you have someone like that in your life?
Jeb’s father’s legacy weighs heavy, and yet Jeb refuses to let others help carry the burden. Have you ever carried a burden alone? How did you feel?
Lydia begins to wonder if she has judged Jeb wrongly. Have you ever judged someone only to find you were wrong? How did you handle the situation?
Faced with insurmountable odds, Jeb begins to believe the words his father spoke over him for so many years…that he is a failure. Have you ever found yourself agreeing with that kind of lifeless lie? If so, what was your eye-opening moment?
Disillusioned by life’s tragic circumstances, Lydia nails all of her hurt on Jeb. Do you remember a time when you reacted in the same way? How did you find healing?
Jeb’s pride nearly stands in the way of the answer he has prayed for. Have you experienced a similar situation? If so, how did you respond?
Just as soon as Lydia finds a measure of peace, that peace is threatened. Have you ever felt like you were tested right after having a change of heart? How did you handle the situation?
Jeb realizes that he’s in a fight for his life every bit as much as for the ranch. Do you remember a time when the situation around you mirrored what was happening in your heart? Explain.
ISBN: 9781459226579
BRIDES OF THE WEST
Copyright © 2012 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
JOSIE’S WEDDING DRESS
Copyright © 2012 by Vicki Scheibel
LAST MINUTE BRIDE
Copyright © 2012 by Janet Dean
HER IDEAL HUSBAND
Copyright © 2012 by Pamela Nissen
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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