More Than Gold

by Nerys Leigh

  With a deep sigh she turned and buried her face in his chest, sliding her arms around his waist. He immediately wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

  “Why do I feel this way?” she said into his shirt. “He was going to kill both of us and I know I did what I had to, and yet I still feel so guilty. Why?”

  His hand rubbed gentle circles on her back. “I had a lot of guilt like that after the war. I know I didn’t choose to fight, but it still ate at me. Maybe that’s what separates us from people like Fowler. Sometimes we’re forced to do things we don’t want to, but it affects us. If it didn’t, we’d be as bad as they are.”

  She considered his words. “You’re right.” Raising her head, she cupped his face in both hands and gazed into his beautiful brown eyes. “You’re a good man, Gabriel. I’m so blessed to be your wife.”

  Eyes misting over, he lowered his head to her shoulder and pressed his face into her neck. They stood that way for a while, holding each other tight, silently gaining strength just from being together.

  Until a large, furry head pushed between them.

  Grace laughed and placed her hand on Brutus’ head. “I’m proud of you too, Brutus. You saved both of us. How about some sausages for lunch?”

  As if knowing exactly what she was saying, he wagged his tail. It was probably the word sausages.

  She was about to step from Gabriel’s embrace when a look of sadness passed across his face.

  She touched one hand to his jaw. “What’s wrong?”

  His chest rose and fell in a sigh and he gazed across the valley. “When we get the money from the diamonds, will you want to leave here? I know you don’t like living so far from town and being so isolated.”

  She glanced around her. Gabriel’s house had seemed so small to her at the beginning. Now, though, she thought of it as her home, and she loved it. It was cozy and warm and filled with laughter and love. She’d found real happiness in that tiny one-roomed house and, even though she’d only been there a short time, she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

  “Do you want to leave?”

  He moved his gaze back to her. “No, but I will, for you.”

  He was telling the truth, she knew. All her adult life, all she’d wanted was a man who truly cared for her. Gabriel was the answer to all her prayers.

  “Then it’s a good thing I don’t want to leave either.”

  His eyes flicked between hers. “You really mean that?”

  “With all my heart.”

  A smile blossoming on his lips, he dipped his face to hers and murmured, “I love you.”

  The kiss lasted a good five seconds before Brutus pushed further between them with a whine.

  She should have known better than to mention sausages.

  Chapter 27

  Four years later.

  Grace gazed out over the valley, rocking gently back and forth on the swinging bench on the porch.

  A cool breeze ruffled her hair and she looked down at the baby in her lap, tucking the blanket more securely around her. Martha pressed her pink lips together and stretched her legs, but her eyes remained firmly closed.

  On the seat beside her, R.B. yawned, stretched his huge body to its full length, then curled up again, flicking one ear and closing his eyes. Brutus snored at her feet.

  She loved lazy afternoons relaxing on the bench Gabriel had built for her during her first pregnancy. She always had a book with her, but often she would simply sit and enjoy her view. Even though she knew it so well, she noticed new things almost every day.

  It had been the most important consideration when the new house was built, to have a porch from which she could see the valley. It was her favorite spot, just as the porch on the old house had been. They’d even had the new house built where it didn’t block the view from their old, one-roomed home, just so she could still sit there when she wanted to. Although when their children grew, they planned to turn it into a play house.

  She watched the buckboard approach, waving as Gabriel drove past the front lawn and around to the barns. She smiled as she listened to the voices as he unhitched the buckboard, followed by bleating and giggles as he put Fred and Jed into the pasture while avoiding letting Goat out.

  A minute later, he plodded around the corner of the house, legs apart, picking each foot up slowly as if it was unusually heavy. Of course, that could have been due to the fact that he had a small boy seated on each boot, wrapped around his calves.

  “Grace, I have some disturbing news.”

  She carefully didn’t smile. “You do?”

  He nodded gravely. “I do. I seem to have lost the boys.”

  “That certainly is disturbing news. Where have you looked?”

  “Everywhere.” He held one hand up to shield his eyes and peered across the yard. “I can’t think where they could be.”

  Charlie giggled. Joe shushed him.

  “Have you by any chance checked your feet?”

  He looked down and gasped in a comically shocked breath. “There you are!”

  The twins erupted into laughter and squeals as he leaned down to lift one in each arm, spun them around, and kissed each of them soundly on the forehead.

  When he put them down they ran to the porch as fast as their short legs would carry them and clambered up the steps. Gabriel followed more sedately.

  Grace reached out a free arm to hug Joe when he ran up to her. “Did you have fun in town?”

  Charlie looked up at her from where he had his arms wrapped around Brutus’ neck. “Pa bought us a licorice stick each.”

  “Did he? Well that was kind of him.” And not at all a surprise given his inability to refuse his sons anything. She looked up at him and he shrugged and smiled.

  “We saw Emily,” Joe said, taking Martha’s tiny hand when she stretched it out.

  Charlie moved on to R.B. who raised his head from the bench and patiently endured his gentle hug.

  “That’s nice,” Grace replied, kissing the top of Charlie’s head when he finally made it to her.

  Joe always wanted his mother, but for Charlie, Brutus and R.B. took precedence.

  Having completed his round of hugs, Charlie patted his leg. “Come on, Brutus. Come and play.”

  Brutus hauled himself to his feet and followed the two boys back down to the lawn, tongue hanging out and tail wagging.

  Gabriel walked up to the bench, leaned down to kiss Grace, and stroked a hand over R.B.’s head. “I’d like to sit next to my wife, please.”

  R.B. opened one eye, stared at him for a second, then closed it again.

  Gabriel heaved a sigh. “Fine.”

  Wrapping his hands around the cat’s middle, he hauled him up from the bench, sat, and put him down beside him. R.B. cast him a reproving look and jumped down to the porch where he sauntered to the edge of the steps and sat down to lick a paw.

  On the lawn, Brutus woofed and Charlie and Joe giggled as he bounded after them.

  “How were the boys in town?” Grace said.

  “Perfectly behaved, as always. Well, Joe was.” He pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to her, exchanging it for their daughter. “Adam gave me that for you. We met Jo and Emily in the general store. She invited us for lunch on Sunday after church.” He kissed Martha’s forehead and settled her on his lap, facing him. “How’s my little girl? Have you said your first word yet? Can you say ‘Pa’?”

  Grace tore open the top of the envelope and pulled out the letter inside. “Fairly sure three weeks is a little young to be talking.”

  “My little girl is smart, just like her mama.” He rubbed the tip of his nose across Martha’s and she opened her eyes and blinked up at him. He smiled. “And beautiful, just like her mama.”

  From the moment she was born, he’d been smitten with his daughter, just like he was with their twin boys. Grace couldn’t have wished for a better father for her children.

  “Is it from your father?” he said.

  “Mm hm
m.” She scanned the two page missive, bursting into laughter when she reached the first sentence on page two. “Listen to this. ‘I’ve had to put my foot down on Felicia’s plans for the nursery. She wanted to cover the cradle in gold leaf.’ Maybe he’s finally coming to his senses.” Her heart missed a beat as she continued to read. “He says he wants to come and visit once the baby is born and old enough to travel. He wants to meet you and his grandchildren, and he wants me to meet my new brother or sister.”

  She pressed her lips together, reading the lines again. She hadn’t seen her father in four years, since she’d left to marry Gabriel. They corresponded regularly, but neither had suggested a visit. Even though their letters were friendly, she hadn’t thought he wanted to see her again.

  A tear rolled down her cheek as she read the final sentences in her father’s hand.

  I do miss you very much, Grace. I know I haven’t been the best of fathers, but you’re my daughter and a day doesn’t go by when I don’t regret what happened to drive you away. Felicia falling pregnant has reminded me what a deep responsibility being a father is, and after your mother died I failed in that responsibility. I know I can’t make up for that, but if you are agreeable, I’d like to try to be a better father, and grandfather, from now on.

  Your mother would be so very happy that you’ve named your first daughter after her.

  You’ll always be my little girl.

  All my love,

  Daddy.

  Gabriel wrapped his arm around her and kissed her temple. “You okay?”

  “Yes.” She wiped at her eyes and rested her head against his shoulder. “You wouldn’t care if it took Martha a long time to find the right husband for her, would you?”

  “Course not. I’m not planning on letting any man court her until she’s thirty-five anyway.”

  She pressed her face against his chest, laughing. “You’re the world’s best father. And you’re going to be the world’s most nightmarish father-in-law.”

  He grinned. “You bet I am.”

  Out on the lawn, Brutus flopped down into the grass. Tired out from their trip into town, Charlie and Joe nestled in beside him, resting their heads on his flank. All three would be asleep in minutes, like always.

  Gabriel’s smile faded. “I know what your father did hurt you, but I can’t say I regret that he did it. If he hadn’t, I wouldn’t have gotten myself the most wonderful wife a man could wish for.”

  Even after four years of marriage, he could still make her heart flutter. She reached up to kiss him softly. “And I wouldn’t have gotten myself the most wonderful husband a woman could wish for. With not a hairy ear in sight.”

  He chuckled softly. “Will you leave me if I ever grow hair in my ears?”

  She kissed him again and settled back against his chest. “I will adore you until the day I die.”

  “Even my hairy ears?”

  Snuggling against him, she closed her eyes and smiled in perfect contentment.

  “Even your hairy ears.”

  THE END

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  Dear Reader

  Thank you for reading More Than Gold and I hope you’ve enjoyed Gabriel and Grace’s story! If you have a moment, I would love for you to leave a review on AMAZON. Reviews help other readers to find my books and I’m incredibly grateful for every single one!

  Oh, Gabriel! Who would have guessed, after his less than gentlemanly behavior in The Truth About Love, that he would turn out to be such a sweetheart? I think he always had it in him to be a good man, he just needed the right woman to motivate him! Stick with me because I have plenty more stories to tell about the townsfolk of Green Hill Creek and if you sign up for my newsletter HERE, you’ll be the first to know whose story is coming next! You’ll also received the prequel novella The Blacksmith’s Heart for free, plus get exclusive stuff and never miss a new release.

  My next book will be out in December and is part of the exciting new multi-author series The Pinkerton Matchmaker. In 1871 a group of prospective lady Pinkerton detectives are paired with agents for training, but there’s a catch - they have to marry temporarily for their first case. Excitement and romance ensue! My first book in the series is An Agent for Belle and the heroine, Isabelle Wood, is the younger sister of Louisa from An Unexpected Groom. I’m excited for you to read it. I know you’ll love Belle and her agent, Valentine!

  If you’d like to contact me about anything, please do get in touch via my FACEBOOK page or WEBSITE or at nerys@nerysleigh.com. I love to hear from readers!

  God bless you,

  Nerys

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