Oregon Trail Boxed Set
Page 48
As he laid her in bed, he considered another baby. But this baby would be half Angel. His Angel who came through the mail. He smiled at the thought.
He poured himself a small drink of brandy and had just sat down when a knock sounded. He opened the door to find the sheriff standing there, holding his hat.
“Come on in, Sheriff.” Nate stepped back so he could enter.
“Thanks, Nate. I’m afraid I have bad news.”
“Angel?” Nate said, the blood draining from his face.
“No, it’s about Lucy.” The sheriff took the brandy Nate had poured for him, and sat down with a sigh.
“After she left here, she took off toward Willamette County. Apparently, either because she was drunk or distraught—probably both—she took a curve too fast and crashed her buggy. She flew out of the carriage and broke her neck.”
“Oh, my God.” Nate closed his eyes.
“Do you know how to get in touch with Eli?” The sheriff sipped his drink.
“Yes, I think Sylvia told Angel where they were staying in San Francisco. I can look for the information so you can get word to them.”
Shaking his head, the sheriff said, “It’s a heck of a way to end a honeymoon.”
* * *
Angel had never been so fussed over in her life. Earlier, Nate had carried her into the bedroom, even though she insisted she could walk. Since then, she had a string of children in and out, bringing her books, food, tea, blankets and her sewing. She wiped her sweat-beaded forehead.
The boys had to retell their story over and over about how brave they had been, and how scared at the same time. They examined Angel’s injury and patted her for comfort. Julia-Rose sat alongside her in the bed, holding tightly to her rag doll, her fingers in her mouth. Every once in a while, she would reach out and rub Angel’s arm and say, “Mama boo-boo now.”
“Okay, everybody out.” Nate entered the room, rolling his sleeves down. “Mama needs to rest, and I want some time alone with her.”
The boys all crawled off the bed where they’d been keeping Angel company. Nate picked Julia-Rose up. “I’ll be right back. Time for her nap.”
* * *
About ten minutes later, Nate returned. Angel’s eyes were closed, her dark lashes resting on her pale cheeks. Perhaps she’d fallen asleep. He studied her, and chuckled at the memory of when she departed the stagecoach, just about a year ago. She’d sure looked a mess.
He sat alongside her, and the bed dipped slightly. Her first attempts at taking care of the family ran through his mind. She had certainly come a long way, this angel of his.
Angel’s eyes slowly opened. She held her hand out, and Nate kicked his boots off and joined her on the bed.
“How do you feel?” He ran his knuckles across her cheek.
“I feel like I should be up taking care of my family.”
“No, sweetheart, it’s our turn to take care of you. You have to stay in bed for a few days.”
“Will you stay here with me?” Her eyes twinkled.
“Honey, that would kill me. Staying next to you and not touching.”
She smirked. “Well, I don’t hurt everywhere, you know.”
“How about here?” He kissed the soft skin on her neck.
“Nope.” A slight catch in her voice.
Going a little lower. “Here?”
“Nope. Not there, either.” Breathless response.
Going further. “Here?”
“Um, no, don’t think so.” She pulled his mouth to hers.
Matt pushed open the bedroom door. “Papa, Luke just threw up.”
Epilogue
One year later
Angel knelt in front of Julia-Rose and tied the pink ribbon in her hair. “Now, don’t you look pretty?”
The little girl smiled and threw her arms around her mama. “Thank you.” She picked up her rag doll and said, “Laura-Ann have a ribbon, too?”
“Honey, I’m afraid Laura-Ann is too little to wear a ribbon, and she doesn’t have any hair to tie a ribbon to, anyway.”
“Oh.” Satisfied with her answer, Julia-rose turned and left the room.
Angel stood and walked to the crib where Laura-Ann lay. Her sweet four month old daughter waved her little arms in the air and smiled. Angel scooped her up and headed to the kitchen where the sounds of her noisy family drew her.
Nate sat at the kitchen table, their four sons busy with homework. She smiled at the sight of Mark patiently helping Luke with his lessons. He’d come a long way since his trouble with reading.
Angel glanced at the kitchen clock. “I think we better put the homework aside for now. We have to be at the church for the christening in less than forty-five minutes.”
“All right, let’s go boys.” Nate stood and reached for Laura-Ann. “How’s my princess today?”
“Papa, I’m your princess,” Julia-Rose said, tugging on his pants.
He bent down on one knee, juggling the baby in his arms. “No, you are the queen and Laura-Ann is the princess.”
“And me?” Angel smirked as Nate stood. “What am I?”
He leaned over and whispered in her ear. She gasped and felt the heat rise to her face. “Nathan Hale, we’re on our way to church!”
He winked at her and placed his hand on her lower back. “Just setting the record straight, sweetheart.”
Once the family arrived at the small church it took some doing to get six children and their parents settled. Sylva and Eli turned from where they sat in the front row, each of them holding a baby wrapped in identical pink blankets. Sylvia beamed at her and Angel smiled back.
Pastor Dunn entered the sanctuary and opened his prayer book. “We will now begin.” He closed his eyes briefly, then began to read:
Brothers and sisters in Christ:
Through the sacrament of Baptism
We are initiated into Christ’s holy church . . .
Angel’s mind wandered as the pastor droned on. The past year had been full of sadness, happiness, and surprises. It had taken more than a week for Sylvia and Eli to receive word of Lucy’s death and return to Oregon City. There had been a great deal of grief at the waste of the young girl’s life. Thank God Eli had Sylvia to lean on during the funeral and mourning period afterward.
It had taken a few weeks of nightmares before the boys and Julia-Rose were able to put behind them the horrible afternoon when they had witnessed Lucy holding them hostage and then shooting their mama.
Angel’s pregnancy had proceeded uneventfully, for which she’d been very grateful. The biggest surprise had been Sylvia and Eli’s announcement shortly after they returned from San Francisco that Sylvia was in a family way. Angel realized it should not have been such a shock since Sylvia was only in her late thirties.
Eli spent his wife’s entire pregnancy racing back and forth to Dr. Penrose’s home, certain this or that was wrong, and he should come out to the house to examine Sylvia. He seemed unconcerned that he had become the subject of many jokes among the townsfolks as he followed Sylvia around the restaurant, lest she fall and hurt herself.
She had insisted he keep his word and let her continue to work, until her bulk grew to where she found it too difficult to maneuver between the tables.
The best story to circulate, however, was how the strong, sharp businessman had fainted when his wife had given birth to twin girls. Angel still smiled when she remembered Eli’s excitement in passing out cigars, even to women and children.
She smiled as she looked around the church. At her six children, her stepmother and stepfather, their two babies, and all the people who had come to celebrate the baptism of Jane and Jennifer Benson.
But most of all she looked at the man who thought he was getting a woman who could cook, clean, and take care of children.
Instead he got her.
Thank God.
The End
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I hope you enjoyed reading Emma’s and Angel’s stories. If you’d like to enjoy more western historical romance, check out Prisoners of Love: Adelaide.
Dodge City, Kansas, 1877. Adelaide Markham is one of four female prisoners sitting in Dodge City Jail. The marshal offers them a choice. Either sit in jail until the circuit judge sobers up enough to hear their cases, or get on the wagon train traveling to Santa Fe as mail order brides.
A recent widow who just lost her child, Adelaide prefers marriage to jail, but wants no part of motherhood. The pain is too great.
Miles Ryan has been threatened by the wagon train master that he and his two recalcitrant daughters will be left behind at Fort Dodge if he doesn’t find a wife to control the girls.
Miles takes one look at Adelaide and decides she’s for him. Unfortunately, it’s not until the deed is done that she learns she is a mother once again.
If you’ve already read Prisoners of Love: Adelaide, you can find a list of all my books on my website: http://calliehutton.com/
For the special treat I promised you, click here to receive a free copy of A Little Bit of Romance, three short stories of lovers reunited.
Enjoy!
About the Author
Callie Hutton, the USA Today bestselling author of The Elusive Wife, writes both Western Historical and Regency romance, with “historic elements and sensory details” (The Romance Reviews). She also pens an occasional contemporary or two. Callie lives in Oklahoma with several rescue dogs and her top cheerleader husband of many years. Her family also includes her daughter, son, daughter-in-law and twin grandsons affectionately known as “The Twinadoes.”
Callie loves to hear from readers. Contact her directly at calliehutton11@gmail.com or find her online at www.calliehutton.com. Sign up for her newsletter to receive information on new releases, appearances, contests and exclusive subscriber content. Visit her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.
Callie Hutton has written more than thirty books. For a complete listing, go to www.calliehutton.com/books
Praise for books by Callie Hutton
A Wife by Christmas
“A Wife by Christmas is the reason why we read romance...the perfect story for any season.” --The Romance Reviews Top Pick
The Elusive Wife
“I loved this book and you will too. Jason is a hottie & Oliva is the kind of woman we'd all want as a friend. Read it!” --Cocktails and Books
“In my experience I’ve had a few hits but more misses with historical romance so I was really pleasantly surprised to be hooked from the start by obviously good writing.” --Book Chick City
“The historic elements and sensory details of each scene make the story come to life, and certainly helps immerse the reader in the world that Olivia and Jason share.” --The Romance Reviews
"You will not want to miss The Elusive Wife.” --My Book Addiction
"…it was a well written plot and the characters were likeable." --Night Owl Reviews
A Run for Love
“An exciting, heart-warming Western love story!" --NY Times bestselling author Georgina Gentry
“I loved this book!!! I read the BEST historical romance last night...It's called A Run For Love.” --NY Times bestselling author Sharon Sala
“This is my first Callie Hutton story, but it certainly won't be my last.” --The Romance Reviews
A Prescription for Love
"There was love, romance, angst, some darkness, laughter, hope and despair." --RomCon
“I laughed out loud at some of the dialogue and situations. I think you will enjoy this story by Callie Hutton.” --Night Owl Reviews
An Angel in the Mail
“…a warm fuzzy sensuous read. I didn’t put it down until I was done.” --Sizzling Hot Reviews
Visit www.calliehutton.com for more information.