Anthony nodded. “I was working for him so I could buy you a train ticket since Pa didn’t have the money to send you back to Georgia.”
She pressed the boy’s head against her heart. Not just because he’d been worried about her, but the word Pa had rolled off his tongue so easily. “Silas gave me plenty of money to get home the day you disappeared.”
“He did?” Anthony’s chest deflated. “But I thought he said you’d got married?”
“We did.” She couldn’t help but smile over Anthony’s shoulder at the man she’d rather run to than from. “But he gave me money just the same.”
“Then you don’t need mine?” Anthony’s shoulders drooped.
She gathered his hands, noting the blisters and depositing a kiss in one of his reddened palms. “Well . . . I don’t have enough for ice cream. How about you take us out for a treat?”
Silas clomped forward. “Now, wait a minute, aren’t we spoiling the child with two ice creams in a year? Especially since he left without telling us where he was going.”
She frowned up at him, making her eyes as plaintive as she could. “But he missed the wedding, and we didn’t have cake.”
“Ned said you’d leave just like every other woman.” Anthony’s voice tripped with emotion. “But you’re really staying?”
Warmth flooded her chest at the look of adoration in Anthony’s eyes. “Yes.”
He threw himself at her, almost knocking her over with a fierce hug. “I love you, Miss Dawson.”
“I love you too, son.” She squeezed him tight, then broke away to stand and beckon to Silas. “But I’m not Miss Dawson anymore. In fact, we’re thinking of changing our name as a family. Though Silas wants to keep Jonesey as his middle name, he found out his real last name last week, and unless you want to play stump the teacher for the rest of your life, we thought we’d decide on a brand-new surname together—once we found you.”
Silas came over and wrapped his arms around both of them. “I’m thinking something easy, like Shelby or Presby, or maybe we could just spell my crazy last name like it sounds.”
Anthony shrugged and looked up at Kate. “I don’t care what it is, as long as you’re happy with it . . . Ma.”
“I’m more than happy.” She hugged him tighter and looked over his head at Silas. Her husband looked as content as she felt.
“So, after we change our name, then can we get ice cream?” Anthony stepped back, sporting a big, proud grin on his face. “I have plenty of money. I could buy you more than just ice cream. What else do you want?”
“Oh, well, how about some paint from the Five and Dime? I’ve run out of several colors and I’d love to start painting with you again.”
“Now, wait a minute.” Silas’s fingers rubbed a lazy circle at the nape of her neck. “Don’t you have him spend all his hard-earned cash when you got plenty for paint. I think he should save it.”
“But I don’t have any money left.”
Silas’s brow descended. “I know you paid for our tickets and our lodging, but that couldn’t have been all of it.”
“I convinced Mr. Thissen this morning to take what I had left as a deposit on the acreage you sold him. He’ll let us split the profit from the crops we grow on it until he’s paid off.” Good thing they weren’t selling the homestead now since their stubborn neighbor probably wouldn’t have appreciated her changing the deal yet again. “I don’t need anything but the two of you anyway.”
Silas tightened his hold around them both and pressed his face into her hair. “Oh, Lord, thank you for a wonderful family of my own . . . at last.”
Epilogue
EIGHT YEARS LATER
Rachel Stanton breezed by Kate Presby, stealing the platter of butter mints from her hands. “You sit. This is your day to enjoy.”
Kate shook her head. As if Rachel shouldn’t be enjoying the day just as much. Her daughter Becca was marrying Anthony—but the older woman wasn’t toting around a huge watermelon in her stomach either. Kate pushed against an elbow or a knee attempting to escape through her belly button. Twins again, she was sure of it. How could she endure another set of twins with five other children to manage—no, just four, since Anthony would be moving out to live with his bride. But a departing eighteen-year-old wouldn’t make twins any easier. That thought alone made her want to cry.
She awkwardly lowered herself into a chair beside her two youngest playing on a blanket. Two-year-old Glenn and four-year-old Heidi had roped Everett and Julia’s eight-year-old Naomi into playing tea party with wedding cake.
Kate looked up at the rows of pear trees heavy with blossoms under which the bride and groom had recited their vows half an hour ago. She took in a deep breath of crisp spring air. Thankfully no frost or wind had destroyed the blooms before the wedding, so now she’d hold her breath and hope the buds would survive until tiny green fruit clustered along the branches.
Joy filled her every time she had the chance to be in the orchard Silas babied and added to over the years for her. Though he always pined for more buildings or new equipment, he never failed to add new fruit trees—just for her—every year since they’d been married.
“A perfect day for a wedding.” Julia Cline walked over with her youngest boy, who held onto her hands, taking hesitant, jerky little steps.
Kate sighed. It had been perfect. “I was afraid yesterday’s cold would keep everyone home.”
“It’s pushing the other end of the thermometer today.” Julia plopped Paul down on the picnic blanket and fanned her neck. Though the older woman was sweating, she still looked prettier than most of the younger ladies milling about. “That’s April in Kansas for you.”
Everett walked up, placed a hand on his petite wife’s shoulders, and smiled over at Kate. “Silas says you think you’re having twins again.”
She nodded. She didn’t like discussing her condition with any man other than Silas, but there were two again. Silas had teased her for months saying she was just having a big baby until he felt the two different set of hiccups last night.
“Or maybe triplets?” Everett said. His smile grew bigger when Naomi and Heidi happily jabbered over the thought of three.
Oh, dear Lord, please no.
Julia playfully punched her husband’s side. “No need to worry her until it actually happens.”
Shy, lithe Naomi came over, her gaze stuck on Kate’s belly. “Do you know if they’re girls?”
“Sure don’t.”
“Will they look the same, like Lawrence and Lucas?”
Kate twisted around looking for her six-year-old boys who were rarely apart. Ah, there they were in the apple trees with a slew of other boys. “I don’t know that either, but it’ll be a fun surprise, won’t it?”
She nodded and then wandered back to the little tea party.
Nancy walked over from the bride and groom’s table, a bright smile on her face. “I saw the paintings you and Anthony did for Becca’s kitchen. They’re cheery.”
Kate’s lips couldn’t keep from curling up in a half smile. “I suppose that’s one way to put it.” She and Anthony had decided years ago that painting wasn’t their gift, but every now and then they’d work together on a canvas, filling it with splotches of colors and swirls while they talked.
“No, really, I like them. Micah thinks they’re a bit . . . silly, but I told him I want some for our kitchen. Could we buy three canvases in greens and blues?”
Kate sneaked a glance over to where the paintings she’d given to the new couple leaned against the front table. They were some of their better ones. “Really, you want to buy something like that?”
“Well, why not?” Eliza Stanton came over in her no-nonsense outfit—no cuffs, no piping, no ribbon. A plain navy day dress with just a little bit of white lace at the neckline. “I think they’d do well in my store on Maple.”
“Goodness, I never thought we’d be any good, and now we’ve got buyers!” She smiled. “I could probably do something for your kitchen, Nancy, but kno
wing you, Eliza, you’d want handfuls of them for better profits.”
“Yes, are you willing? I’d give you sixty percent.”
She laughed full out. “Oh, Eliza, I’m too swamped with children and the farm. But if I ever get in the mood to paint any more, I’ll let you know.”
A spoon clinked against glass. “If I can have your attention, I’m going to toast the bride and groom.” Silas held up a Mason jar of lemonade—he’d insisted they set out filled glasses so no one would spike a bowl of punch with illegal liquor. His gaze sought hers, and she shook her head. She’d rather sit than waddle in front of everybody and stand with a giant ache in her back. These babies were due in a few weeks, but her back and legs would thank her if it were only a few days.
The crowd swelled toward Silas, obscuring Anthony’s head full of dark hair tilting close to Becca’s pile of curls.
Fannie, hand in hand with Jedidiah, waved at her as they passed on their way to toast the couple.
Silas evidently climbed onto a stump and beckoned people closer. “Grab yourselves a drink. I want to tell you how proud I am of my son. I missed a lot of his growing-up years, but the time we’ve had together makes this a sad day for me. I love you more than you know, Anthony, and I’m so happy Becca is joining the family. You’ve chosen well. The Stantons have been a great influence in our lives, and you couldn’t have better grandparents for your children.”
“You’re talking as if we’re the only ones old enough to be grandparents,” Dex quipped. Being a head taller than most of the crowd, he was easily heard. “They’ll make you a grandpa as fast as they’ll make me one.”
Silas shot Kate a wide-eyed look as if he’d just realized the truth of it.
“Hey, I’m not nearly as old as you all. Don’t be looking at me!” Kate hollered.
The crowd laughed, and Dex looked over at his wife. “I think Kate’s calling you old, Rachel.”
Kate pressed her lips together to keep from teasing Dex back. He’d not let up—especially with an audience—until he’d twisted her words up so badly she’d blush. He’d found out early on how easily she did so.
“Despite the gray hair he’s given me and will soon give Becca . . .” Silas paused while their friends laughed. “I wish I didn’t have to part with my son so soon, but I’m happy to gain a wonderful, godly daughter-in-law. May you two have a marriage as happy as that of your parents.” He raised his glass. “And thanks to everyone here for influencing their lives for the better. Cheers.”
The crowd echoed him back, most gathering around the front to give the bride and groom their congratulations before they left.
Will broke away from the well-wishers and came toward her. “You’re to the point of miserable, aren’t you?”
“I think I passed that weeks ago.” She smiled big despite the twinge in her side. The discomfort was always worth it in the end.
“Anything concerning about how you’re feeling?”
“No, just tired and ready.”
“Dr. Stanton!”
Lawrence and Lucas, along with Will’s only child, David, jumped on him from behind.
He growled and pulled Lucas up over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. “Now, hold on a moment—I’m asking your mother how she’s feeling.”
David shook his head. “You said you’d play with us. If you start asking people doctor questions, you ain’t never going to come.”
“Go on, Will.” Silas sat beside her, his hand sliding across her neck and squeezing her right shoulder, his thumb pressing in a circular motion against her tight muscles. “My wife won’t pop right here and now . . . hopefully.”
“All right, then. Come on.” Will gestured for the boys to follow. “Seems I’ll have to race you, since your ma uses her condition as an excuse for losing.”
He sprinted off with the boys but took a quick side trip to Eliza to kiss her on the cheek. She shooed him away from what was likely some business conversation she was having with the bank owner.
Kate smiled when Will kissed Eliza again anyway, and then ran to catch the boys. “That man needs more children.”
Silas quit his massaging motions, slid his hand to her nonexistent waist, and pulled her closer. “I don’t think it’s for lack of trying.”
She pushed on some tiny limb diligently working to separate her ribs. “So that’s what we’re doing too much of.”
“Oh no, we’re succeeding.”
She smiled at her husband, but he was looking toward Anthony and Becca, who were finally coming to see them.
“How are you doing, Ma?” Anthony sat down and gave her a peck on the cheek.
“Just fine.” She patted Anthony’s hand resting on her shoulder. “No need to worry about me; you focus on your wife.” How odd to say that to her son. Wife.
Becca leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “You looked lovely today, Mrs. Presby. . . . I mean, Mother.”
Anthony pulled Kate up as if she weighed nothing. His height always surprised her when she looked up at him. “Thank you for paying for our trip to Boston. Becca’s excited to see her grandparents for the first time.”
He squeezed her awkwardly around her inflated middle, then kissed her on the cheek again. “Love you, Ma.” He turned to Silas and clamped him into an embrace. “You too, Pa. Thanks. We’ll gather up all the news from Aunt Jewel to share when we get back.”
Silas made some strangled reply, which she wouldn’t ask him to repeat since her own throat wasn’t cooperating.
After the crowd swallowed up the newlyweds, Kate wiped away her tears. “I can’t believe he’s old enough to leave us already.”
Silas laced his fingers into hers as they walked toward the buggy Anthony had bought for his bride. “This is the day I feared you’d leave me, remember? The day Anthony left.”
She tipped her head toward the children playing in the orchard. “I think you’ve provided me with enough children to anchor me for a while longer.”
“You’ve certainly done your part in giving me the family I’ve always wanted—above and beyond, I’d say.”
“I hope you realize I plan on sticking around.”
He rubbed her side but then moved his hand to massage the little baby limb trying to pop out of her belly. “Just for the wee ones, I’m sure.”
“Well then, we’ll have to work at having more so I’ll never have reason to leave you.”
His silly grin changed into a sly smile, and his eyebrows went up. “What a temptress you are. We’ve got guests crawling around every inch of our property and our eldest to send off into the world and you’re teasing me with more baby-making.” He pulled her against him and kissed her behind her ear, making her shiver.
A swift kick inside her belly hit her so hard, Silas’s eyes flew open wide. He stared down at where he must have felt the kick against his own side and laughed. “Thank you for making me a daddy—five times over . . . or maybe six.”
“Thank you for loving me so much I’ve never felt like running anywhere but into your arms.”
“My pleasure.” He pulled her close again, inhaled the scent of her hair, and placed a kiss to her temple. “So very much my pleasure.”
Much to her introverted self’s delight, Melissa Jagears hardly needs to leave her home to be a homeschool teacher, day-care provider, church financial secretary, and novelist. She doesn’t have to leave her house to be a housekeeper either, but she’s doubtful she meets the minimum qualifications to claim to be one in her official bio. Her passion is to help Christian believers mature in their faith and judge rightly. Find her online at www.melissajagears.com, Facebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads, or write her at PO Box 191, Dearing, KS 67340.
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Books by Melissa Jagears
A Brid
e for Keeps
A Bride in Store
A Bride at Last
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