by Linda Ladd
"Congratulations, Stone," Tyler said, hugging him as he came near. "Your daughter is beautiful, and big and healthy."
Stone moved to Windsor's side, barely noticing as Tyler and the doctor left the room.
Windsor smiled up at him, and Stone sat down on the edge of the bed, taking her hand in his and pressing his lips against her cool skin.
"Are you all right?" he muttered, his words gruff with emotion.
"Yes, now I am."
"Thank God. You've been up here so long, I was beginning to get worried."
Windsor raised her other hand and laid it against his cheek. "Don't you want to see your daughter? She looks just like you."
Their eyes held for a long moment, all the unspoken fears they had harbored finally dwindling to dust. Stone fought to contain his pure relief, half reeling beneath a hot rush of joy that burned his eyes as Windsor tenderly unfolded the blanket and allowed him to gaze upon his firstborn child.
Stone stared down at the tiny red face framed by a wealth of thick black hair. His newborn daughter blinked sleepily back out of dark blue eyes so like his own that he had no doubt she was his, his and Windsor's. His throat swelled, thickened with indescribable pride and love.
"Now you're going to marry me, you hear?" he mumbled, his words muffled against Windsor's hand.
"Oh, yes, I am. Right now, holding her in my arms."
She smiled, and Stone threw back his head and laughed without restraint, suddenly so filled with happiness that he wanted to shout at the top of his lungs.
"You wait right here," he cried. "Don't even move."
It was Windsor's turn to laugh as he rushed to the door and flung it wide.
"Come on, everyone, it's time for a wedding!"
Then he was at her side again, pulling her up and holding her and their child gently as his family gathered around them. The priest came forth, smiling broadly, and Stone held Windsor's hand tightly in his, reaching out with his other to touch the soft dark hair of their child.
Gazing down at his wife and daughter, his eyes serious as Windsor reached up to lovingly caress his cheek, he hardly listened to the padre's words.
"Do you, Stone Kincaid, take this woman to be your wife?" the padre asked at length.
Stone brought her palm to his lips, his eyes full of love and commitment. "Oh, yes, I do. Forever."
"And do you, Windsor Richmond, take this man to be your husband?"
"I do," she murmured wearily. "At last."
Stone gathered her into his arms, content now that they were one. He whispered his love to her and tenderly stroked his daughter's soft cheek, while the others tiptoed out of the room, leaving them to share quiet murmurs of wonder and delight, to savor together their long-sought joy.
Epilogue
Two years later
December 1874 San Francisco, California
Amelia Richmond Cox had never been so happy. The great empty mansion in which she had lived alone for so many years was full of family and friends. Her daughter, lost to her for so long, led a happy and contented life with a fine husband and a beautiful daughter. Yes, all Amelia's prayers had been answered. Her life had taken on new meaning. Smiling, she glanced around her drawing room at the turmoil of laughing children and lovely young couples.
Across from her, Stone Kincaid was helping Windsor set a white, porcelain angel atop the Christmas tree. His two-year-old daughter, Nina, was perched in the crook of his arm, clapping with delight as he set the ornament in place. Amelia's only grandchild was a complete joy to everyone she met, and each day she looked more and more like her father, with raven hair that curled softly down her back in silken waves and eyes of silver-blue that exactly matched her father's. Thank you, God, for that gift, more than any other that you've bestowed upon us, Amelia thought with a grateful heart.
But there were many other gifts, so many that Amelia felt bountifully blessed after a lifetime of loneliness. The fact that Stone and Windsor had settled in San Francisco, in a magnificent new house near her own estate, was wonderful in itself. Stone had taken charge of the new offices of the Kincaid Railway Company in San Francisco, and since railroad lines had begun to spread all through California, he had already quadrupled the family interests in the state.
She heard laughter, and turned to look at Chase and Carlisle Lancaster, who had come out to visit for the holidays, along with Stone's older brother, Gray, and his wife, Tyler. Amelia joined their amusement as Chase grabbed up one of his sons, who had stolen a candy cane from his brother's stocking. The twins were two and a half, and rambunctious to say the least, especially Rico, who loved to run and shout, and pull his cousin, Nina's, long black curls. Nevertheless, Nina spent most of her time toddling around after the two boys like a little shadow, her mother's pet monkey in her arms.
Of all the visiting children, Gray and Tyler's adopted son was the most subdued. Older than the rest, he was a quiet child who often sat and watched the others or played with his new baby sister, Veronica. He is Emerson Clan's son, Amelia thought sadly, glad the family had elected never to tell him of his father's evil ways. Such a burden would be difficult for anyone to bear, much less a small child. While Amelia watched them, Tyler pulled Carlos onto her lap and kissed his flaxen hair, and the little boy lifted his arms around her and snuggled closer. Yes, Amelia thought, he would be all right, too. They all would.
"Me want to open presents," Enrico said loudly across the room. His protests soon brought Esteban up from his mother's lap with similar complaints. Carlos eagerly joined the circle of children around the Christmas tree, and Amelia took Nina from Stone's arms and carried her forward to join the excited little ones.
Oh, yes, Amelia thought, everything had turned out well for all the Kincaids, despite the many troubles they had faced. The three married couples before her were happy, all very much in love and ready to share their love and contentment with their children. And that's the way it should be, she thought, joining in the laughter as the children tore into their gaily wrapped packages. After all was said and done, what greater gift was there in this life than love given freely to others? And here, among the Kincaid family, love was everywhere.
Author Biography
Since she was a little girl, Linda Ladd has always been a romantic-loving nothing more than to lose herself completely in the far-away times and places of great novelists such as Jane Austen, Margaret Mitchell, and the Bronte sisters. Little did she dream that someday she would be transporting legions of her own fans into exciting love stories where darkly handsome heroes swept away beautiful, high-spirited heroines.
Her novels have been enjoyed by millions since her first historical romance, WILDSTAR, hit the shelves in 1984. Since then she has penned 14 best-selling historical novels, which have been acclaimed by readers and booksellers alike.
An award-winning author with a loyal following all over the world, Ms. Ladd resides in Missouri with her husband.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1992 by Linda Ladd
Cover design by Open Road Integrated Media
ISBN 978-1-4976-1606-6
This edition published in 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
345 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
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