Raising my hand, I stroke the horse’s neck.
“She’s two years old. I bought her from a friend who owns a ranch. She’s trained to ride as well.”
I wrap my arms around the horse and smile at Joel. “Thank you.”
He puts his hands in his pockets chuckling. “When I imagined this moment, you were hugging me, not the horse.”
I smile, moving to wrap my arms around his neck. “Jealous?”
“Maybe.”
I see Julie out of the corner of my eye shove Joel out of the way.
He casts a glare at her, but she doesn’t give him a second glance before pulling me into a hug. “I’m glad this is finally sorted. And I just have to show you this necklace I found in the river this morning.”
She pulls back and lifts the chain from around her neck. It’s a silver chain, with a bit of rust. No doubt from being in the river. On the chain is a small stud of a red jewel.
“Wow. Julie that’s beautiful.”
“You can borrow it any time you like and I have plenty more at home. You should come see them sometime.” She squeals.
Joel sighs loudly.
“What?” She walks past him, gently slapping him on the arm. “You would never understand.” Julie goes over to show Hazel and Lydia.
Pa walks over to Joel and holds out his hand. “I believe I was wrong about you.”
Joel takes it and smiles.
“Now show me where that wheel broke.” Pa follows Joel to the side of the wagon and he explains how it was broken and what he did to fix it.
“Thank you for fixing it, Mr. Adams. Why don’t you and your family stay for lunch?”
“Oh, I’m sure they would be more than happy to. Especially Julie. She’s been complaining about how she can’t stand being trapped in a house of boys anymore.”
Pa laughs. “I know what it feels like. I was in a house of girls for a long time before I met Freida.”
* * *
We’ve finished eating now and us girls are washing up while the men are still sitting at the table carrying on their conversation.
“And did you hear about Polly?” Julie asks, handing me a plate.
“No. What?”
She smiles. “She told Janice, and Janice told Susan, and Susan told…”
I laugh. “I don’t care who she told. What is it?”
“Fine. Well she’s pregnant.”
I gasp. “Seriously? That’s wonderful. I’m going to have to go in for coffee some day and congratulate her.”
“Well let me know the date and time, and I will be there. Away from them.” She looks to her brothers.
“All right I will.” I chuckle to myself. Julie is one of my closest friends, and she’s definitely a strong character.
She casts me a sideways glance. “Why are you laughing?”
“I’m not.”
Julie smiles. “Oh, but you were.”
“I was just thinking about how grateful I am that we can all be around each other again.”
“Me too.”
* * *
After washing up, I tell Joel I want to give him a tour of our farm and he instantly agrees. As we walk toward the barn, I smile up at him. “My pa, August and Robert built this, but they had to take a break because pa fell off the roof and got hurt. After a few weeks, though, they got to work again. And sometimes I climb up on the roof to watch the sunrise.”
He shields his eyes to look at the barn. “It’s lovely.”
“Oh I know.” I smile, reaching for his hand, dragging him after me.
“Genevieve… Why are you leading me into a—” He’s cut off as he walks straight into a branch. I keep pulling him forward.
“You’re supposed to duck when there’s a branch, you know?”
He smirks. “Yeah. I am aware. I was going to say why are you dragging me into a bush?”
“Because.”
Eventually we reach the opening I’ve been coming to on my own. We can hear the creek softly bubbling past.
“Whoa,” he says, letting out a long breath.
We’re standing in the middle of the circle of trees now. The wildflowers and grasses are up to my waist.
“I found it a little while ago. It’s my spot where I come and think sometimes. Once I even fell asleep out here and woke up the next morning.”
He laughs. “Bet that was comfortable.”
“It was. Best sleep I’ve ever had.”
I walk over to the water and sit on the ledge, dipping my feet into the cool, clear water. Joel sits down beside me and does the same.
“I didn’t think your pa would forgive me so quickly. He didn’t even yell.”
I shove his arm softly. “Because I did all the hard work. I talked to him this morning and after a long chat, he said he would give you another chance.”
He sighs. “And here I thought I was the one who fixed everything.”
“No. It was me.”
He laughs, taking my hand. “I was thinking you could name the horse Joel.”
I glance at him, my eyebrows raised. “No way. Besides, it’s a girl.”
“Well, what’re you going to name it?”
Smiling, I squeeze his hand. “I don’t know yet. I have to get to know her first. Maybe I should name her Julie.”
He laughs. “Oh…please no. She will never stop talking about it.”
“I’m only teasing, besides she doesn’t look like a Julie.”
It’s quiet for a few minutes. I can hear the frogs croaking in the distance and the many birds singing high in the trees.
“I love you, Genevieve.”
“I love you too, Joel.”
I feel like maybe my world is going to be a little brighter. And I’m not letting anyone walk out of my life for a long time. Because being this happy, with no bad relationships with stepmothers, stepbrothers, fathers, and loved ones, is really nice.
And I realize I’ve been missing out on a happy life full of amazing people. I also realize that sometimes people are going to walk out of my life on purpose, and other times they will leave unintentionally. At the end of the day, though, it’s about being strong and loving the people in your life, because one day, they too could be gone.
And sometimes, people leave to make room for someone else to come in.
Epilogue
It’s been nearly a month since the day my Pa decided to give Joel another chance. We’ve spent nearly every day together since. Sometimes we all drive up to Riverbend for a visit and sometimes I go alone.
Other times, Joel comes to my house, sometimes accompanied by his siblings. It has been the happiest few weeks I’ve had in a long time. Joel and I have had many long walks where we talk for hours, picnics, and many horse rides. I’m trying to help him get over his fear of them.
I haven’t had anymore overwhelming thoughts attacking my brain. I’m guessing I truly was just overwrought and tired. We will never know for sure, I suppose.
Douglas, Bradley, and I are getting along fairly well. We sometimes get arguing, but apparently that’s what siblings are for. Ever since they learned my true feelings about them moving in, and they learned mine, things have been better. And I learned they’ll defend me too, like the day everyone came to my rescue over Joel against Pa.
Freida and I do a lot together. She helped me finish sewing my dress with the fabric Joel got me, and I love the way it turned out. We also have days where we bake cookies and bread together, just us girls.
Lydia, Hazel, and I are still as close as ever. Same with Darlene and Adeline, even though I don’t see them as much.
And Pa and me—we’re good. He and Joel get along very well. They talk about crops and other things I’ve got no clue about.
Julie’s apparently found her dream man who moved to Riverbend. She’s never talked to him, though, but she told me to trust her that he’s the one.
Today, the birds are singing and the grass is a vibrant green. Lately I’ve realized that those few weeks where my life w
as a mess, I’d stopped noticing the beautiful colors. Everything seemed so dreary to me at that time. My hand is in Joel’s as we make our way to my spot. When we arrive, I stop in my tracks.
Why is Daisy here?
I ended up calling the horse Joel gave me Daisy. I believe the daisy across the river that day was my ma saying she approved of Joel. And so my beautiful, white mare is now called Daisy.
I turn to Joel. “Why is…”
“Get on her.”
I let go of his hand, hesitantly swinging myself up onto her strong back. “Joel?”
He doesn’t answer, just wades into the water. “Follow me.”
“Okay?”
I push Daisy to go forward and she carefully steps into the water. It’s not too deep and it’s easy for her to cross. We reach the shore and Joel climbs onto his horse.
What is going on? Why is his horse out here too? I follow close behind, through a path that looks to have been cut. There are tree stumps and the leaves missing from the surrounding bushes that perfectly line the path. I’m not sure how long we ride, maybe an hour. I keep asking him where we’re going, but he only replies, “Trust me.”
And I do trust him, so we venture farther and farther away from my house. Soon, Joel stops, and I stop Daisy.
He walks toward me and reaches to take my hand. “Here. Jump down.”
I do and land on the soft, moss covered ground. He takes a piece of fabric out of his pocket and motions for me to turn around, which I do. He ties it over my eyes and I can’t see a thing.
“Is that too tight?” he asks, his voice coming from behind me.
“No. It’s perfect but…”
He takes my hand, stopping me. “Trust me”
We walk for what seems like forever.
“Watch out,” he says, pulling me backward.
“What?”
He laughs, lifting me up off the ground, before setting me back down again. I smile. “What was that for?”
“There was a fallen tree, and I didn’t think you wanted to fall over it.”
“You’re right.”
I hear him climb over the tree and I feel his hand take mine again. And we’re off once more. I feel my skirts being brushed by something in the grass.
He stops, and I crash into his back. I laugh, but he doesn’t say anything.
“Genevieve,” he eventually says. “Take off your blindfold.”
I untie the knot on the back of my head, my fingers trembling. I squint at the brightness my eyes are suddenly being exposed too. As my eyes adjust I look around.
I am standing in the biggest wild patch of daisies I’ve ever seen. All over the vast open field are beautiful daisies, mixed with some other wild flowers. But most of the ground is a spread of white and yellow. I turn around to face Joel and gasp. He’s on one knee with his hands held out to me.
Quickly, I touch the pendant and begin to cry. He stands back up, taking both of my hands in his.
“Genevieve. Will you be my wife?”
“Yes, Joel. Yes. Oh, of course.” I wrap my arms around his neck, still crying. Never in my life had I thought a man would propose to me in a field of daisies. He holds me tightly. And eventually I pull away, looking up into his deep brown eyes. “Thank you. This…it’s perfect.”
“Well, it took me a long time to find. And then me, your Pa, Robert, August, Stephen, and Albert would come and cut the bushes to make a path here. And Julie would distract you.”
I smile. “You could’ve proposed in a hole of mud and I would’ve said yes.”
“Yes, but what’s special about that?” He laughs leaning down, his lips meeting mine.
* * *
Joel and I have been married for a week now, and I’m fully settled in his house. I’m quite far from my family, but closer to Adeline. Joel promises his siblings will move out soon, but he still is their guardian and I honestly don’t mind. Julie talks non-stop, and Stephen and Albert just tease me.
But Joel and I spend a lot of time together, exploring our land. He had a lot of help from Pa, Robert, August, Bradley, Douglas, Albert, and Stephen to build a nice new stable for Daisy. And there’s also a spot for Old Red, who I brought with me, and ride just as much. I could never forget about him.
Now, I’m 100 percent settled and 100 percent happy.
Or maybe about 98 percent happy, because no one can be perfectly happy, I’ve learned. Not when you’ve lost so many, and sometimes you look at something and it reminds you of them.
But for the part of me that can be happy, I am. And though, I still mourn for Ma and Suzanna. And wonder what I did wrong to my other friends who left, I still find joy in knowing that I have so many other people who are in my life who love me. And it all started with a single daisy.
A single daisy that pointed me in the right direction.
A shriek pulls me out of my happy thoughts. I look up from my seat at the table and Julie is looking at Albert, a disgusted look on her face.
“Did you just fart?”
He smiles. “It sounded like one…so yes.”
She shrieks again, standing up from her spot at the table, looking down at Albert. “What are you? A pig?”
“You fed me cauliflower. What do you expect?”
She sighs. “For you to act like a gentleman.”
“It’s my house.”
Julie grabs a wooden spoon from the jar on the counter and whacks him on the arm. “It’s my house too.”
“Ow.” Albert laughs, clutching his arm.
“Promise you will never do that again.”
He smiles. “Do what?”
Julie moans. “You boys are driving me insane!” She looks to Joel and Stephen on the opposite side of the table.
Joel raises his arms in the air. “What did I do?”
“And you.” Julie points the spoon at me. “You are the only one I can stand being around for more than ten minutes in this house. Perhaps you three should take a lesson from Ms. Genevieve here. You do not pass gas so casually at the dinner table!”
“It was Albert.” Joel reminds her.
She sighs, making her way to the door. “But you were all in on it. I know it.”
Stephen grins at her. “It’s a natural process of the human body.”
“Pigs.” She states one last time before slamming the door.
I look at Joel, Stephen, and Albert before we begin laughing hysterically. Yes, so peaceful around here and very entertaining.
“I hope she finds someone to marry soon. She clearly needs a break from us.” Albert chuckles.
“She’s so hotheaded.”
I laugh. “She’s Julie.”
About the Author
Morgan Dawson is a fourteen-year old author of historical western romance.
She has always loved to read, saying some day she would write a book of her own. She wrote her first book, The Wagon, when she was just thirteen years old.
To find out more about Morgan and the books she has written, you can find her at
https://www.kaypdawson.com/morgandawson
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