A Love to Cherish

by Linda Ford

  Words were written below her last entry.

  We’ll miss you but hope you have a good life. Eve.

  I’ll be all alone in our big bed. Josie.

  I’d give up my horse to see you back. Flora.

  It don’t seem right that you are going. Stella.

  I will always think of you with love. You own a piece of my heart. Ma.

  May God be with you, my child. Pa

  I want to hear more about the French. Jimmy. Those words were crudely printed. Victoria guessed someone had helped him with the spelling. Who would teach the children now?

  I wish we could be part of who you are now. Lisa.

  You and Reese belong together. Sylvie.

  Victoria closed the book. She had trusted Reese. He didn’t deserve it.

  She sat on the floor, several journals spread out before her. She told herself she wouldn’t read the entries about Reese but she couldn’t resist, and pulled the latest journal to her lap.

  She read about her first walk with him, her longing to know who she was, her fear that she would find out and lose the world she knew. She read how he’d made her laugh. The days she’d gone by the livery barn to visit with him. How often she had watched him up on the ladder painting…something he didn’t know. She pored over the passages when she recorded Reese telling her that to know her past was better than to always worry about it. Mr. Bates had made her see she must let the past go.

  Over and over, she read the words, trying to sort out her life.

  If Reese had informed the Hayworths about her, was it for the reward money or because he wanted her to be free of her fear of her past?

  But was she free of it, or trapped by it?

  Was informing the Hayworths a self-serving act on Reese’s behalf or a loving one for her sake? Either way, could she forgive him for the disruption it had caused?

  Her legs began to tingle, and she realized she’d been sitting on the floor a long time. She rose, waited for the pins and needles to go away, then went downstairs.

  Her father had returned. “Join us for tea.” Mother Hayworth sat nearby.

  She waited until the tea was served by a maid then asked permission to speak.

  “Certainly,” her father said.

  “How much money did you give Reese Cartwright for letting you know where I was?” She didn’t know why it mattered. Perhaps so she could measure her worth against the amount.

  “It was a thousand dollars.”

  She gasped. “So much.” No wonder Reese wanted it.

  “But I didn’t give it to a Cartwright. The man’s name who claimed the reward was Smitty.”

  “Smitty.” She barely managed to set her cup and saucer down without dropping it.

  “I assume you know the man?”

  “Barely. He wasn’t the sort I would associate with.”

  “It’s a relief to hear that.”

  She jerked to her feet and paced the room. She’d misjudged Reese. She should have known he wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.

  She went from one window to another.

  “Constance, please sit down.”

  Victoria stared out at the rose garden. She was allowed to smell them but not pull out a weed or pluck a dead leaf, and if she wanted a bouquet, she must ask the gardener to cut one for her.

  “Constance, please.” Then, “Victoria.”

  Victoria startled at the sound of her name.

  “Please sit down. You’re making me dizzy.” Her mother kept her voice gentle, but Victoria thought she caught a nervous tone.

  She sat. Or rather, she perched on the edge of her chair. Lord, help me say what I need to say.

  “I know you are my parents, and I was your daughter for fourteen years. But I don’t remember it. This is all strange to me. I don’t fit in. I have dreams and goals that don’t belong here. I want to teach.” She wanted to marry and be a rancher’s wife. She couldn’t do both. It seemed her life was full of hard choices. “I’m asking you, begging you, to let me return to Glory.”

  Father’s face darkened. Mother’s blanched.

  “Please,” Victoria whispered.

  Father shook his head, but before he could speak, Mother did. “Please leave us alone to discuss this.”

  She gladly hurried from the room and upstairs. She gathered her journals together. Oh, Reese, forgive me for misjudging you.

  It was all she could do not to pack up her things.

  As she waited, she prayed that she might be able to return to the life she knew, that Reese would accept her and forgive her. Her heart thrilled at the idea of becoming a rancher’s wife.

  If he didn’t ask her, she could always go back to her original plan of teaching.

  A maid came to the door. “Your parents would like you to go to the parlor.”

  Her heart beating too rapidly, Victoria followed the maid downstairs, stepped into the room, and sat on the chair her father indicated. She grew dizzy as she looked from one to the other. They did not look pleased.

  Her mother broke the tension. “We had hoped bringing you home would enable you to remember. It’s been two weeks, and you remember nothing. The doctor says you won’t. We realize you are not happy here.”

  Victoria nodded agreement to all this.

  Her father held up a hand to signal he would speak. “I bow to your mother’s opinion that we should let you return to the life you know.”

  Victoria’s breath whooshed out.

  “We have a few conditions though.”

  Victoria would agree to most anything at this point.

  “We’d like to be involved in your life.”

  She waited, wondering what that meant.

  Mother noticed her tension. “We’d like to be able to visit you from time to time and ask that you visit us on occasion as well.”

  “Of course. When can I go home?”

  “We’ll make arrangements to take you back as soon as possible.”

  Father sighed. “We’ll plan to leave in two days.”

  “Thank you.” She hugged them both and raced upstairs. Two day plus travel time. She would be home soon.

  Reese rode Thunder at a pace that caused the horse to break into a sweat. It had been more than two weeks since Victoria had left for Chicago. Two weeks of agony as he tried to think what to do. He could write a letter and explain he wasn’t the one to tell the Hayworths. Though it didn’t really make a difference.

  He had known but not told her. He was no better than Betty, and the knowledge burned at his insides. Truth and trust were two things he valued, but he had not given them to Victoria. Even if he wrote her or, better yet, traveled to Chicago and spoke to her in person, how could he ever expect her to trust him?

  Day after day, he rode hard. He worked hard also, sweating equally as hard as poor Thunder did. On Sunday, he went to church but refused an invitation to join the Kinsleys for a meal.

  Each of them had assured him that they forgave him for not telling them the truth and didn’t blame him for what happened.

  If only he could forgive himself.

  He reined in on a knoll and walked Thunder to cool him. Then he sat on the grass and looked at the land before him.

  Land that he had once thought the prettiest he’d ever seen now seemed colorless and flat.

  As he sat there, he made up his mind. He would go to Chicago and beg her forgiveness. He would get a job in the foundry again so he could be close to her whether she welcomed his friendship or not.

  Having made up his mind, he swung into the saddle and returned home. He started to pack then realized he’d have to make arrangements for the land and cattle before he left. He’d simply go to the neighbor to the north and turn it all over to him. Sell at a loss. It didn’t matter. He just wanted to get to Chicago.

  He rode to the neighbors that afternoon. There was no one home. The cattle would be all right for a few days. At some point, he would have to make arrangements for them but not today.

  He could not return t
o his mockingly empty house. No, he’d go to town, let the Kinsleys know of his plans, and arrange a train ticket.

  Having already given Thunder a hard workout, he kept to a steady canter as he rode to town.

  Ma and Pa welcomed Victoria and the Hayworths with open arms. Victoria wept in her Ma’s embrace. “I’ve come home,” she whispered.

  Ma and Pa waited for an explanation.

  “She’s pining for the home she knows,” Mother Hayworth said. “I couldn’t stand by and watch her suffer.” She explained their conditions, and everyone eagerly agreed.

  “You’ve taken good care of our child,” Father Hayworth said. “Is there anything I can do to repay you?”

  “Bringing her back is the best thing you could do.”

  “Wait,” Victoria said. “There is something you can do.”

  The four parents looked surprised.

  “Father, you know that detective you hired? Well, he’s going to need another job. Why don’t you ask him to look for the Kinsley’s son, Josh?”

  “Done.”

  Pa and Father shook hands.

  The Hayworths did not want to linger, but agreed to stay in town a few days, taking a room at the hotel.

  As soon as they left, Victoria hugged her sisters and parents. She couldn’t stop laughing and crying.

  “Victoria,” Pa said. “There is something you should know. It wasn’t Reese who wanted the reward.”

  “I know. It was Smitty. I should have never doubted Reese. He may never forgive me.”

  Josie and Eve looked at each other and chuckled.

  “What?” Victoria demanded.

  “Reese has been acting like a bear with a thorn in his paw.”

  She narrowed her eyes at her sisters. “Is that supposed to be good news?”

  “It’s because you’re not here.”

  “How do you know that? He tell you?”

  Josie shrugged. “I’ve got eyes.” She and Eve laughed again.

  Victoria ignored them. She wouldn’t rest until she’d seen Reese and apologized. “I know I just got home but I’d like a ride out to see Reese. Pa, would you take me?”

  “Child, right now, if you asked me to take you to the ocean, I would agree.”

  Josie and Eve whispered together, “Ask him, ask him. We’d like to see the ocean.”

  She pretended to swat them away.

  “I’ll go get a wagon.” Pa left. He returned so quickly she knew he didn’t have time to get to the livery barn and back.

  “Did you change your mind?”

  “Yup.” He guided Victoria to the window and pointed toward the river.

  Reese stood on the path.

  “He’s waiting for you.”

  Victoria was out the door before Pa finished. She hurried across the yard and stopped in front of Reese.

  “You’re back,” he said

  “You’re here,” she said.

  “I have things to say to you.”

  “I have things to say to you,” she echoed.

  “Let’s get away from all those people peering out the window.”

  She laughed. “It’s good to be home.”

  They walked side by side toward the river, through the trees and to the grassy slope.

  “Shall we sit?” he asked.

  She sat, relieved when he sat close enough to brush her arm with his.

  “I hope you can forgive me,” he said at exactly the same moment as she said the same words. They both laughed.

  “Ladies first.”

  “Reese, I doubted you. I judged you. I thought you’d contacted the Hayworths for the reward money.” She held up her hand when he tried to interrupt. “Let me finish. To my credit, I had already wondered if I was wrong before Father Hayworth told me it was Smitty. I’m asking for your forgiveness.”

  “I readily forgive you, but you might change your mind when you hear what I have to say. You see, I thought you were Constance Hayworth the minute I saw you. To be certain, I wrote my mother and she said you were still missing. I planned to tell you, but I wanted your ma and pa to be there when I did. When your pa had to be away, I delayed. But I could have told you anytime. I’m sorry I didn’t. I kept the truth from you, and that was wrong.”

  “I realize you did it because you wanted to protect me.”

  “Does that mean you forgive me?”

  “It does.”

  “And now you’re back to teach.”

  She tried to think how to inform him she was open to other alternatives without appearing too bold. But she couldn’t think of a way. Besides, she was tired of secrets and mistakes. She would make sure he understood clearly what she meant.

  “I will teach if I have no other option, but my dream for my future has changed.”

  “It has?” He sounded like he’d swallowed a frog. “What do you want now?”

  She shifted so she looked into his dark eyes. Oh, how she’d missed those, and that bronze face now wearing those little worry lines by his lips. She touched those lines. “I want it all. I want a little ranch house with three bedrooms, a garden spot, perhaps a cat and a dog.” She paused, letting him digest that.

  “I want to look out the door and see a dark-haired cowboy on a black horse, riding home. I want to look out the kitchen window and see a favorite picnic spot.” She nodded. “I want it all.”

  He caught her hands and brought them to his chest. “I want the same things. Well, not the cowboy, but someone waiting for me at home. Someone I trust wholly and who trusts me completely because the truth has set us free.” He leaned closer. “Victoria, I want that person to be you.”

  She leaned closer for his kiss.

  He pulled back. “I’m not a rich man.”

  “If that mattered to me, I would have stayed in Chicago.”

  “I was in the process of making plans to go there. I thought I’d get a job at the foundry.”

  “Why would you do that? You don’t like the city and hated working in the foundry.”

  “It was the only way I could think that would let me see you.”

  “You would do that for me? Why?”

  “Because I love you.”

  She laughed. “Good, because I love you.”

  “Will you marry me?”

  “Yes, a thousand times yes.”

  He caught her lips in a tender, sweet, lingering kiss that promised a future full of everything she could ever wish for.

  Chapter 13

  Josie and Eve squealed when they heard the news.

  Ma and Pa were hesitant until Victoria explained, “I have spent too much of my life afraid of the future. But now I’m not.”

  “We only want you to be happy.” Ma hugged her.

  “The Hayworths are still in town,” Pa said. “You need to speak to them.”

  “Of course.” She and Reese stepped out of the house.

  Reese held back. “I worked for your father. He was pretty hard to take.” He told her how her father had practically accused all the men at the foundry of having something to do with his daughter’s disappearance.

  “He probably doesn’t even remember it.”

  “I suppose not.” They met the Hayworths in the hotel lobby.

  “This is the man I am going to marry,” Victoria said after introductions had been made. As she’d said, her father didn’t even remember Reese.

  “But we know nothing about him,” her mother protested.

  “You are both invited out to my ranch tomorrow. I’ll show you the place where we will live.”

  Father agreed.

  They planned to leave right after breakfast. Reese had arranged for Sylvie to prepare a proper meal. He retrieved it from her before he picked up the Hayworths at the hotel.

  Sylvie had already discovered the visitors and knew who they were. “Glad they brought Victoria home.”

  “We’re going to get married,” Reese said, and had the satisfaction of giving her news she didn’t already have.

  “Well, that don’t
surprise me none. But I’m warning you, you treat that girl like gold, or you’ll answer to me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He saluted and chuckled to think how Victoria would laugh when he told her about Sylvie.

  He picked up the Hayworths and Victoria and they traveled to the ranch. Knowing Mr. Hayworth’s reputation as a savvy businessman, Reese carefully pointed out the richness of the grass, the promise of the burgeoning cattle industry, and how Montana was growing.

  He gave them a tour of the house then took Mr. Hayworth to see his cows, leaving Victoria to entertain her mother. They arrived back at the house in time for the dinner Sylvie had prepared, and then they returned to town.

  It wasn’t until they were almost back that Mr. Hayworth gave his opinion. He spoke to Victoria. “Your young man seems to know his business. I expect he will do well.” It was high praise from the man.

  The Hayworths agreed that a wedding before they returned to Chicago was rushed, but they wanted to be there, so it would have to be so.

  Mother Hayworth wanted to send to Chicago for a proper wedding gown.

  Ma wanted to make one for Victoria.

  Victoria reminded them both that there wasn’t time. “A simple gown will have to do.”

  Miss Sylvie trundled over to the parsonage and said Victoria must go back to the diner with her. Wondering what the woman wanted, Victoria did so.

  Sylvie led her into her bedroom and opened a trunk. She lifted out a frothy wedding dress. “You will wear this.”

  Victoria fingered the skirt. “It beautiful, but where did you get it?” And why? It seemed so out of character for the big, brash woman.

  “I was once married. Many years ago. He died, and here I am.” She giggled. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. I might be getting married again.”

  “How exciting. Who is the lucky man?”

  “Don’t pretend you don’t know. It’s Earl Douglas.”

  “Don’t you want to save this dress for that occasion?”

  Sylvie laughed so hard tears streamed down her face. When she sobered, she held the dress up to her wide body. “How do you think I’d squeeze myself into this?”

  “Umm. It might be difficult.”