“I won’t say it was love at first sight for me, either, but I liked it when you smiled and showed your dimple. I prayed you were my husband at that moment, and was disappointed when I found out you weren’t. Time we’ve spent together has been precious to me.”
“And I can’t imagine living life without you now. So…” Lyle slid off the ottoman so one knee was on the carpet, then he reached into his vest pocket and pulled out the diamond solitaire ring to hold in front of her. He may have tried to propose to Ruby with this ring, but he’d picked it out with Lorna in mind, wishing it could be on her ring finger forever. Now he was about to get his wish.
“Will you marry me, Lorna Adams? I’d love to change your name, legally and permanently, to Mrs. Lyle Elison.”
“And my baby?”
“Will be the start of our family, loved by us and the rest of my family. I think the community is already looking forward to him or her being a part of Clear Creek. You know our child will be spoiled by the church ladies…”
“And ride horses with the large Hamner brood your sister plans to have…”
“And as a family we could enjoy trips back to Boston to see where we spent our childhoods, or wherever we want to travel.”
“When would we marry…if I say yes?”
“Whenever you want, but I’d like sooner rather than later.”
“Because your birthday is coming up soon?”
“Partly. I’d prefer to use Grandfather’s gift to help others, instead of being blown on a horse race bet.”
“And the other reasons?”
“Because I love you, and can’t wait for us to start our lives together”.
Lorna smiled happily, and Lyle knew what her answer was going to be. “You know…Cora and her sisters-in-law are known for planning a wedding in a very short timeframe...”
“Think you and your future sister-in-law can have it organized by Sunday?”
“I’m sure of it. Why?” Lorna saucily grinned at Lyle.
“My parents are traveling this way right now on the train.”
“Really? They’re coming to Kansas for your birthday? Will they be bringing a bride for you, too?”
“My parents will be here for my birthday, but I told them I already had my bride picked out. Somehow or another I was going to marry the Boston Brahmin I loved. I bet they’ll stay through the holidays to meet their first grandson or granddaughter, too.”
“Ask me again!” Lorna let go of his hands so she could extend her left hand out in front of him.
“Lorna Adams, will you please become my wife, and as soon as possible?” He held out the ring, ready to slide it on her finger.
“Yes!” She slid her finger into the ring before he had a chance to react, flung her arms around his neck and gave him a tight hug.
Then Lorna pulled back to look lovingly into Lyle’s eyes. “And you can seal this deal with a kiss right now.”
Lyle happily complied because he knew Lorna loved him, a small-town lawyer.
Case closed! Love won!
The End
Dear Reader:
I hope you enjoyed reading Lorna Loves a Lawyer, the ninth book in Brides with Grit series. Please help other readers discover my books by recommending them to family and friends, either by word of mouth or writing a review. I’d really appreciate it.
The historical romance series setting is based on the famous old cowtown of Ellsworth, Kansas during its cattle drive days. The town of Clear Creek though, is fictional, based on the many little towns which sprang up as the railroad was built across Kansas.
This particular area is now the current Kanopolis State Park in central Kansas. Being local to where I live, I've hiked the park’s hiking trails where it’s easy to visualize what the area looked like in 1873—because it remains the same now—as then.
For more information on this series please visit www.LindaHubalek.com or ask your favorite retailer or library to order them for you. You don’t have to, but I recommend reading the books in order to get full benefit of the story line.
If you see any errors or typos, please email [email protected] about them. Even though this book has been read and professionally edited by several people, things can slip through which I want to correct for the next reader.
Please sign up for my newsletter at www.LindaHubalek.com to receive a free short story, and to hear about the release of future books, contests and more. And I love to connect with my readers, so please contact me through one of these social media sites.
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Many thanks from the Kansas prairie!
Linda K. Hubalek
Brides with Grit Series in order:
Rania Ropes a Rancher (Rania and Jacob)
Millie Marries a Marshal (Millie and Adam)
Hilda Hogties a Horseman (Hilda and Noah)
Cora Captures a Cowboy (Cora and Dagmar)
Sarah Snares a Soldier (Sarah and Marcus)
Cate Corrals a Cattleman (Cate and Isaac)
Darcie Desires a Drover (Darcie and Reuben)
Tina Tracks a Trail Boss (Tina and Leif)
Lorna Loves a Lawyer (Lorna and Lyle)
Also read Lilly: Bride of Illinois, a spin-off book in the American Mail-Order Brides Series.
Historical Fiction Books
by Linda K. Hubalek
Trail of Thread Series
Trail of Thread
Thimble of Soil
Stitch of Courage
Strong Women: The Complete Trail of Thread Series
Butter in the Well Series
Butter in the Well
Prairie Bloomin’
Egg Gravy
Looking Back
Planting Dreams Series
Planting Dreams
Cultivating Hope
Harvesting Faith
Kansas Dreams: The Complete Planting Dreams Series
Kansas Quilter Series
Tying the Knot
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Linda Hubalek grew up on the Kansas prairie, always wanting to be a farmer like her parents and ancestors. After earning a college degree in Agriculture, marriage took Linda away from Kansas as her husband worked in engineering jobs in several states.
Meanwhile, Linda wrote historical fiction books about pioneer women who homesteaded in Kansas between 1854 to the early 1900s, especially her Swedish immigrant ancestors.
Linda Hubalek and her husband eventually moved back home to Kansas, where they raised American buffalo (bison) for a dozen years.
Linda is currently writing clean, sweet historical western romances set in the 1800s.
Lorna Loves a Lawyer: A Historical Western Romance (Brides with Grit Book 9) Page 11