The rain was letting up and people were heading back to their homes. Millie and Clay thanked them all for helping.
“You’ll need to come in tomorrow and make a statement. With them being caught in the act, it’ll be a pretty open and shut case. They’ll go to prison for a long time. Arson is a felony,” Sewell said. He grabbed Terhall’s arm and Autry took the other man’s. They headed toward the jail.
Clay pulled Millie closer to him and kissed her. “You go get the children. Ryder and I will check the store. I don’t want any embers to flare up.”
They were finishing pulling boards down inside when everyone came in. Four little girls ran to him, crying out their fears. He knelt and hugged them to him.
“It’s okay. Just some boards need to be replaced. We caught the bad men who did this.”
“The man who tricked me into starting that fire?” Grace asked.
“Yes, sweetie, that man.”
“Good. He’s a bad man.” She jabbed her hands onto her hips and frowned. “He needs to be sorry for what he did and ask God to forgive him.”
“He certainly does,” Millie said. “Let’s go upstairs and have some cocoa. I think it will help us all get to sleep.”
Clay watched Millie herd the nine children he loved so much through to the back room thanking the Lord for the Calling that saved them from disaster.
The children were nestled in their beds, calm now. It had taken a while for the fears to settle. Abe fell asleep in his highchair. Ida’s head drooped onto the table. Millie and Clay took turns getting into dry clothing, not wanting to leave the children alone. Ben and Reuben wanted a blow by blow of the events. Clay had described it all, playing down the fire and emphasizing Ryder’s role.
Millie settled under the covers, lying on her side waiting for Clay to climb in bed. There was a lantern turned low illuminating the room in a soft glow. He sat on the edge and rubbed his face.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yes, just trying to relax. I’m still keyed up from everything.” Clay lay down and faced her. “I’ve never had such a threat to my family before. All my Callings have been less dangerous.” He chuckled. “Not at all like Nugget Nate’s or The Preacher’s. I’ll have to write Nathan and tell him about this. And that Ryder is having Callings.”
“He did tonight, didn’t he? That’s why he knew before we woke him.” Millie scooted closer. Clay pulled her to him and she laid her head on his shoulder.
“Yes.”
Millie could tell Clay wanted to say something but was hesitating. She wanted to say something to him too. That she loved him and had been scared to death he’d be hurt or killed. She waited, letting him gather his thoughts.
Clay turned on his side and stroked her cheek. “Millie, this may be too soon. You may not want to hear this, but I have to say it. I need to tell you. Millie, I love you. I have for some time. I thank God every day for the Calling that brought us here to Silverpines.”
Millie blinked the sudden flooding of her eyes away.
“Don’t cry, sweetheart. You don’t have to say anything. You don’t have to love me. I just hope you like me a little.” He kissed each eye.
Millie snuggled closer and touched the stubble on his cheek. “I don’t like you a little. I love you a lot. I have for a while but wasn’t sure how you felt about me.
“When I placed that ad in the Grooms Gazette I only wanted a shopkeeper to help with the responsibilities of running the store and raising my children. I received much more than that.” She chuckled. “Five more children to love, but the best thing is you. You’re so much more than just the shopkeeper I wanted. You’re the man I’ve come to love with all my heart.”
Clay didn’t say anything else. He simply brought his lips to hers, kissing her with all the love he had in his heart.
EPILOGUE
Millie tucked the last of the oranges in the nine stockings hanging from hooks on the wall next to the parlor stove. There was a pair of mittens or gloves she’d knitted in each one. Under the Christmas tree was a gift for each child chosen carefully by Clay and her. There was a wool vest she’d sewn for Clay. She had no clue what he’d gotten for her. He wouldn’t let her shake the box, making Reuben put it clear in the back under the branches. The children had laughed at her antics of pouting at Clay.
This year had seen devastating losses which gave way to blessings the likes of which she’d never have imagined. The earthquakes and their ramifications had nearly destroyed her. Then Clay came with the surprise of his family. Now they were hers too. She couldn’t imagine not having those five children to love.
The nine youngsters had blended into a true family. There were some days Millie felt as if all she did was stop teasing and bickering. Having the mercantile with its continual chores was effective in providing consequences for poor behavior. Even Ida could be set wiping down the lowest shelves.
Millie took her night lantern and went into the bathing room. Clay had completed the remodeling of the apartment in the fall and Millie loved it. Being able to do laundry in the sinks he’d installed and having a real bathtub made things so much easier. She ran a brush through her hair and straightened her dressing gown.
When she finished, Millie checked Abe. He was asleep, his thumb in his mouth. Next she looked into the girls’ room. She smiled. Kitty was sleeping between Grace and Opal. Fern was in bed with Ida snuggled up to her.
Fern loved her room, enjoying the privacy it gave her. Tonight though, Christmas Eve, she had chosen to stay with the little girls.
Two sets of bunkbeds sat on opposite walls of the boys’ room. When Abe moved in there was room for another bed. Or maybe they would add another bedroom. She’d need to discuss it with Clay.
Turning from the sleeping boys, Millie opened the linen closet across the hall and took out a small package. It was for Clay. She hoped he understood what the gift meant. Hoped he liked it. She’d made them especially to give him. This gift she’d give him privately in their room. He’d gone to bed before she filled the stockings. The store had been busy today and there had been worship service this evening.
Going into their room, Millie saw that Clay was in bed waiting for her. She smiled. He smiled back. She didn’t know if it was part of his Calling, but it seemed they could communicate with just a look.
Millie set the lantern on his bedside table then moved around the bed to her side. He’d drawn the covers back so she climbed in, lying on her side facing him. “I have a gift for you. I wanted to give it to you privately.” She held the small gift out to him.
Clay turned on his side. “You didn’t have to give me another gift. Whatever the present is under the tree is plenty.” He took it from her hand.
“Open it.” Millie bit her lip wondering if he’d like it.
Pulling the ribbon he untied the bow. The paper loosened revealing what was inside.
Clay looked at her, his eyes bright yet questioning. “Are you sure? Happy?”
Millie smiled. “Yes. I’m very happy about it.”
Clay picked up the tiny white crocheted booties. “When?”
“June, I think.”
Clay kissed her and Millie could feel all the love he had for her. She hoped he could tell how much she loved him as she responded to his kiss.
When they parted, Clay said, “Okay, I’ll finally agree to hire someone to help with the laundry. I think with ten children you deserve to have a mother’s helper.”
Millie laughed and hugged him. “I’m going to hold you to that. Other than laundry, I don’t think there will be much difference between nine children and ten.”
Clay kissed her again. “I’m so thankful you wanted a shopkeeper, and I’m so glad you chose me.”
What’s Next in Silverpines
Want to find out what happens next in Silverpines?
Follow the link below for a Sneak Peek of Wanted: Preacher.
Book four in the Silverpines’s series by Renae Westlyn.
Sneak Pee
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georgemcvey.weebly.com/silverpines-preview.html
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Sophie Dawson is an award-winning author of Christian fiction romance both historical and contemporary. An eclectic conglomeration of interests and accomplishments, she has made up stories in her head all her life. Now she types them out. Her critically acclaimed series include Cottonwood, Stones Creek, and Love’s Infestation. She’s also been part of several Multi-Author projects.
Wanted: Shopkeeper (Silverpines Book 4) Page 11