Cookie held out his hand. “Reckon yer not bad for an O’Donnell.
“
“I am not an O’Donnell anymore.”
Cookie grinned. “Say we could have a truce, Mrs. Cowan Deane?”
Cara shook the older man’s hand gravely. “A truce, Cookie.”
She walked back to her husband who was smiling widely. “Did I tell you ye how much I love you, Mrs. Deane?”
“Yes, but you can tell me again, Mr. Deane.”
As Cara gave herself up to his kiss, she spotted a new Christmas ornaments on the tree. It was the figure of a tiny maid holding a milking pail, complete with miniature handles and a red ribbon tied around the mouth. She smiled, seeing it as a good omen for a happy future.
Epilogue
The next morning
Opening her eyes, Cara found Colin staring at her, a smile hovering on his lips.
“Morning, wife.”
She didn’t think she would ever get used to him calling her his wife. It sounded so wonderful. She nestled closer to him, feeling she should be embarrassed she was naked, yet finding she wasn’t.
“Good morning, husband.”
“Are you happy?”
Cara raised herself on the pillow, half leaning on her elbow. “Yes, aren’t you?” She nibbled at her lip as she was wont to do when nervous. Was he having second thoughts already? She knew he was a lot more experienced than she was—not that it would be hard. But it was expected, wasn’t it? Most men wanted their wives to be innocent, but then Colin wasn’t like most men.
“Cara, what on earth is going on in that brain of yours? You look like a chicken trying to lay an egg but finding it difficult.”
Cara laughed at the image before picking up her pillow and whacking him over the head, scattering feathers everywhere.
“That’s not a terribly romantic thing to say to your wife.”
“Well, you weren’t looking terribly romantic with your face all screwed up like this,” he answered, screwing his face up, making his eyes all squinty. She giggled again before raising the pillow to hit him once more. This time he was too quick for her, grabbing her arms and quickly pinning her under him.
“Doubt thou the stars are fire,
Doubt that the sun don’t move,
Doubt truth be a liar,
But never doubt I love.”
She opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t. Not only was he quoting Shakespeare, but her favorite play, Hamlet.
He was telling her, he loved her.
“Cara, tell me what you are thinking?” he said, softly his fingers gently caressing her bare arm.
“I wondered if you were…” oh this was so embarrassing.
“If I was…” he prompted.
“If you were happy with me, you know, as your woman?” she spoke quickly and buried her head in his shoulder. She waited for his laugh but it wasn’t forthcoming. She opened her eyes to peep at him. He was staring at her with such a look of love, she wanted to cry.
“You are everything I ever wanted and more. I want you to be happy.”
Any doubts she had about his feelings for her raced from her mind. Reaching her head up to kiss him, she replied, “Of course I am happy. Want to know how much?”
He laughed and then snuggled down beside her. “Yes, you little witch. Show me.”
Sometime later, Cara sat at the vanity table, brushing out her hair before twisting it up into a bun. Colin lay on the bed watching her.
“What are you thinking about?”
“How lucky I am to be here. With you,” he answered.
She smiled back at him through the mirror.
“Cara, what made you change your mind? About marrying me, I mean.”
She turned and came back to sit on the bed beside him. Taking his hand, she kissed his palm.
“Lord knows I should have married you that first day I arrived. I always loved you, Colin. Ever since I can remember.”
He kissed her gently before rubbing her hand. “But you were adamant you were going home. Why the change of heart?”
“Can’t you just accept I love you?” she asked gently.
“I guess so…” He kissed her slowly, causing her stomach to flutter once more, her legs to turning to jelly.
“Colin Deane, if you keep that up, I will end up back in bed.”
He arched an eyebrow. “And the problem with that is?”
She giggled before giving him a quick kiss and moving out of his reach.
“If you must know, I had a long chat with Pearl. She’s not only kind but very wise.”
“I must thank her the next time I see her.”
Cara smiled at him before saying, “Come on, old man, you need to get dressed, too. It’s not fair leaving Mick and Cookie with the O’Malley boys. We really should go and check on Ellen, Abe, Mary and the others. See how they’re faring.”
Colin pulled the covers back, pretending to be moody and disgruntled “Cookie already checked on Ellen yesterday before the wedding. Chase and his wife went with him. Abe and Cookie buried Fergus with the Reverend doing his bit while Felicity looked after Ellen and baby Cara. Reverend agrees with me, Ellen won’t be on her own for long. Not with the shortage of women around these parts.” He waggled his eyebrows at her. “Now can you please come back to bed? Most people wait until at least a year after the wedding before using the children as an excuse to have to get up.”
She picked up the pillow again. “Do I need to hit you again?” she said, giggling at his expression. He moved so quickly she was in his arms once more.
“Cara Deane, you are the woman I have waited for all my life. I want you to know that no matter what happens to me, you have made me the happiest man on Earth.”
Fear turned her blood to ice. She grabbed him, holding him close to her. “What do you mean? You sound like I’m going to lose you.”
“Not today, but we both know that someday someone might come looking for me.”
“They can look all they like. You are not and never could be a murderer. I don’t care what it takes but together we’ll clear your name,” she said, anger and determination making her tone harsh.
“We could just stay here and hide.” He waggled his eyebrows and glanced at the bed but she wasn’t in the mood for joking. Not now.
Cara pulled him over to the window and stared out at the view outside. They heard Jude shouting at Mick to come play with him and Cookie muttering about not having signed up to feed children.
“Someday our children will live here and I want them to live in peace. Not with a shadow hanging over their lives. So when the railway comes and the snows are gone, I want us to go back to Boston.”
“There’s still a chance the railway won’t come. There have to be twelve weddings by January sixth and you got to admit things aren't looking too good for some of the couples.”
“Well, then, if the railway doesn’t come, we will go to it. We are going to Boston, dear husband, and I won’t take no for an answer. Not forever but for a while. Mick and Cookie will have to come with us.”
“I didn’t know you were this bossy,” he said, pulling her closer. “Why?”
“You know why. We need to confront Thomas and put his lies behind us, once and for all. Papa said I would have a small dowry if I ever got married. Once we get to Boston, we can ask him for the money and put it with the money from the sale of your father’s house to pay for lawyers. I don’t care if it takes every penny we have.”
“You know what will happen to Thomas. Your mother will be furious, too. She won’t care about who is right or wrong but only about the scandal. Are you really prepared to do that for me?”
“I’m not doing it just for you but for us. And for our future children. You’re my world now. I want everyone to know what I know.”
“And what’s that?” he said, pulling her away from the window and turning her to face him.
“That Colin Cowan Deane is the bravest, most honest man in the world. A passionate doc
tor committed to helping his patients.”
He stared at her, what looked suspiciously like tears forming in his eyes. She reached up to kiss one eye and then the other before kissing him on the mouth.
“I love you, Colin. Once we clear your name, we can return here, to Noelle. To our piece of Heaven right here on this Earth.”
His arms surrounded her as he kissed her deeply. This time, she didn’t argue when he pulled her back to their bed.
The Ninth Day
ON THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS...
“I thought you were my partner - not my owner!” Josefina spun on her heel, determined to refuse Hank’s order and storm away. However, a strong grip on her arm kept her from doing so.
“You thought wrong, sweetheart. The game’s changed. My men want more than a pretty face and fancy feet… if you get my drift.”
Josefina yanked her arm away, but knew the only reason she was free from Hank’s firm hold was because he had allowed her to pull back. A lean six feet with a long, shaggy mane and jagged scar running across his left cheek, the saloon owner looked as ferocious as a lion - and behaved like one, too. When he said the game had changed, he really meant it. What had started out as a job as a dancing girl quickly turned into demands that Josefina had sworn she would never give into.
High ideals until you’ve got to put food in your stomach and clothes on your back.
She gave into him, agreeing to do as he wished for the right price. However, now she had enough money and a loyal customer to help her plan an escape. It was her turn to make the rules. To play another game. All it required was a little class and the right recipe.
And the willingness to marry a complete stranger.
CLICK THE LINK TO CONTINUE READING!
The Dancing Lady
Note from the author
Hi there, I hope you really enjoyed reading this book and the entire 12 days of Christmas series. Please leave a review and let other people know your thoughts.
If you would like to meet up again with Mick and Cookie, you can find out more of their story in Clover Springs - Erin.
Abe joins Mick and Cookie in Clover Springs - Cathy.
I hope each and everyone of you have a fabulous Christmas and a Wonderful New Year.
Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh!
Also by Rachel Wesson
Clover Springs Mail Order Brides
Katie (Book 1)
Mary (Book 2)
Sorcha (Book 3)
Emer (Book 4)
Laura (Book 5)
Ellen (Book 6)
Thanksgiving in Clover Springs (book 7)
Christmas in Clover Springs (book8)
Erin (Book 9)
Eleanor (book 10)
Cathy (book 11 )
Clover Springs East
New York Bound (book 1)
New York Storm (book 2)
New York Hope (coming soon)
Trail of Hearts - Oregon Trail Series
Oregon Bound (book 1)
Oregon Dreams (book 2)
Oregon Destiny (book 3)
Oregon Discovery (Oregon Orphans)
Writing as Ellie Keaton
Women & War (World War II fiction)
Gracie
Penny
Molly
Acknowledgments
My wonderful husband and three fantastic children who make my life complete. My father, who instilled my love of reading and remains one of my biggest supporters.
To the other Eleven writers who wrote in this special series and who included me in their plans. I am forever grateful.
To our amazing continuity readers who made these stories shine and to Sara, who took care of all the marketing and facebook party. You rock!
To my friends, especially those online whom I have met as part of my writing journey, I thank you for everything.
And last but definitely not least, thank you to all those members of the Pioneer Hearts facebook group. You guys are fantabulous! (My daughter’s word for fantastic and fabulous.)
The Maid_The Eighth Day Page 13