“What’s so funny?” There was a suspicious tone to Clara’s voice and Joy shook her head.
“I was just thinking about how the apple doesn’t fall far from, well, another apple. I have no idea what your tree is like.” The grimace that appeared on Clara’s face made Joy laugh harder and her friend rolled her eyes.
“It needs pruning. Come on before it gets colder. I swear it’s going to snow before the week is out.” Clara grabbed her arm and dragged her down the street to the center of town while Joy mused about what she had said.
I won’t have to worry about anything anymore? That sounds like a dream.
Chapter Sixteen
As the buggy he’d hired in Lamy brought Franklin back into Mayfly, he looked around with new eyes. It didn’t look tired and dilapidated anymore, it looked like it had the potential to be reborn. He’d seen the plans that the railroad had come up with in cooperation with Ames and they’d told him they’d not only need him to run the real estate office, they would also rely on him to hire some dependable men to help with work on the railroad. His mind had immediately gone to Jonathan, Billy, Seth, and Andrew, who would want steady work once they finished his office.
Franklin was glad he’d made it back before Christmas. He’d be able to bring the presents he’d brought to his sister, Joy, and Serenity on Christmas Eve and surprise them. The thought of the look on their faces when they opened them made him smile.
The buggy made its way through the streets up to Clara’s house and he could see the two women through the window, sitting on the couch talking. Serenity was on the floor playing with Cookie and Lady, who were wrestling joyously. It looked perfect and warm inside and he couldn’t wait to go in and be a part of it.
He climbed out of the buggy and the driver helped him unload the presents and bring them onto the porch. Franklin gave him fifty cents by way of thanks and the driver tipped his hat before getting back on the seat and heading back home. Before he knocked, Franklin took a deep breath to prepare himself. Then he reached out and started into the future. He didn’t have to wait long before Clara opened the door, then smiled at him.
“There you are,” she said. “Come on in and warm up.”
“Thank you. Just give me a moment.” As carefully as he could, Franklin picked up the small pile of presents from the porch and brought them in the house, where warmth enveloped him like a blanket set over his shoulders. As soon as she saw him, Serenity’s eyes lit up.
“Mr. York!” She jumped up from the floor and hugged him around the legs. “You came back!”
“Of course I did,” he said, shifting the presents in his arms. “And I brought you something too.” Clara came over to him and helped with the load. “There’s something for you in there too, and one for Joy. I’d pass them out but I seem to be trapped.”
“Serenity, let go of Mr. York so he can give you your present.” Shaking her head, Joy got up from the couch and joined them. As expected, Serenity detached herself from him and took the gift Clara held out to her.
“I’ve actually got two for you, Joy.” Franklin reached into his jacket and handed her an envelope. “That’s from the railroad. Mr. Ames felt sorry for you about the house and talked them into giving you a little extra.”
“That was kind of him.” Without looking at it, Joy tucked the envelope into her dress and took the box Clara handed her. “Thank you so much.”
“I hope you like it. Serenity, why don’t you open Cookie and Lady’s present too?” Franklin sat on the couch beside Joy as everyone started opened their gifts. His heart beat faster when he saw the tiny smile of anticipation on Joy’s lips and hoped that she would like everything he was giving her. She pulled aside the wrapping and opened the box, then beamed at him.
“A new coat! Oh, thank you, this is a wonderful present. I needed one badly.” Joy ran her hands over the material. “This is so nice, it must have cost a lot.”
“It’s a Christmas gift, it’s supposed to be nice.” Franklin looked down to see that Serenity had opened her present, consisting of a pair of shoes, stockings, and a new dress, and was tearing into the one he had gotten for the dogs. Clara was admiring the new boots he’d gotten for her, and his heart felt like it was going to jump out of his chest. “Joy, there’s something I’d like to speak to you about.”
“Oh?” She looked over at him, her blonde hair shining like a halo around her in the firelight. “Is something wrong?”
“I’ve told you already that I’ll be staying in Mayfly to run the real estate office, but even if I’d gotten fired by AT&SF I would have stayed here. I’d been planning for it, in fact.” He reached out and took Joy’s hands and she frowned at him.
“Why?”
“Because of you. I came here to buy your land, but you’ve come to mean so much more to me. The more I’ve gotten to know you the more it became clear to me. We haven’t known one another very long but I don’t need months and months to know how I feel.” Franklin met Joy’s eyes with his own. Hers were wide, as if she knew what he was going to say but couldn’t believe it. “Even when we first met, even when you were trying to shoot me, I knew that you were special.”
“Me? What are you talking about?” Joy frowned slightly and Franklin squeezed her hands. “I’m the same as anyone else in town.”
“Not many people would be able to try to keep a farm going while they raised a little girl with no help. Not many would even be willing to try.” He smiled at her. “You’re strong, Joy. That was what attracted me to you in the first place. Not just your beauty, but your heart and the strength of your will. You’re like no woman I’ve ever met and it would be impossible for me to even look at someone else now that I’ve met you.”
“You’re sweet,” Joy said, blushing. “I haven’t had anyone say that to me in years.”
“How about someone telling you they love you?” From the look on her face, Franklin could tell she hadn’t been expecting him to say anything like this. “Because I do love you. I don’t care if you don’t feel the same way, but I know you feel something for me. I’m fine with that for now, and I’ll keep trying to prove myself until you tell me to leave.”
“Why would I tell you to leave?” Joy smiled tenderly at him. “I do have to confess something to you. I’ve been trying to decide how I feel about you for some time, and was trying to decide if I was in love with you. Now that I’ve seen you again after you were gone, I know that I do love you. It’s been so long since I even thought of a man in that way that I couldn’t let myself admit it, but it would be silly for me to try and deny it now that I’ve seen your face.”
“That’s a relief,” Franklin said. He looked over at his sister, who was watching them eagerly, then at Serenity who was busy playing with the dogs and seemed to have no time for whatever adults talked about. “Because I have one more present for you.” He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket where he had been keeping the check from the railroad and produced a small box.
“What is that?” Joy’s eyes were huge and in reply, Franklin got off the couch and sank to one knee. “Franklin!”
“Will you be my wife, Joy?” His heart had never raced like it was at that moment, and he hoped they didn’t see his hand shaking. Even Serenity had stopped playing with the dogs and was watching them. Joy had been struck speechless by his words and he opened the box he was holding. The diamond ring it held was modest, but he had a feeling there weren’t many of them in Mayfly. Her eyes met his and for a moment he thought she was going to tell him no. Then she leaned forward, put her hands on either side of his face, and kissed him.
It was nothing like the hesitant kiss they’d shared before. It was passionate, breathless, and told him everything he needed to know. Franklin put his arms around her and kissed her back, stopping only when he heard a little girl giggling. Both he and Joy looked up to see Serenity covering her mouth.
“What do you say, Serenity? Would you like for Franklin to be your Daddy from now on?”
; “Yeah!” Serenity jumped up from the floor, threw her arms around Franklin, then stepped back and looked at Joy. “I mean, yes ma’am.”
“I think ‘yeah’ is appropriate here,” Clara said. “Why don’t we leave these two alone for a little while? We can take the dogs out to the backyard.”
“No, it’s all right,” Joy said. “That roast smells wonderful and I’d rather all of us have dinner as a family.” She stood up and Franklin got onto his feet. He handed her the box and she looked into it, amazed. “I didn’t even have a diamond ring from George.”
“I’m glad you like it. And I’m glad I was able to make it home in time for Christmas.” Franklin took the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger. Miraculously, it was almost the perfect size. He watched as Joy admired it, then looked at him.
“Home. I’m so glad you think of Mayfly as your home now.” She kissed him on the cheek. “This is going to be the best Christmas I’ve had in a long time.”
“Me too,” Franklin said, taking her hand and leading her to the dinner table.
As he looked at Joy, Serenity, and Clara he thought about what Joy had said. A family. Acceptance and love were all he’d ever really wanted and he felt tears prickling at his eyes as he watched them bringing plates in from the kitchen, the diamond sparkling on Joy’s finger. Blinking his tears away, he hurried into the kitchen to get the roast for them.
Home, he thought. For the first time, I really feel like I’m at home.
Author Note
On the Wings of a Winter Heart isn’t just the 5th Miracle Express book, it also kicks off my Mayfly, NM series. Set in a tiny town in New Mexico in the late 1880s, the books will make their way through town from Everett Ames’s cattle ranch to Clara Wallace’s own love story. It won’t be the last we see of the York family, either! They’ll show up at least once or twice as background characters and you’ll get to see how they fare in the future.
Once again I would like to thank Dawn Brower for inviting me to work on the Miracle Express series. Her patience and organizational skills are an inspiration to me, and she is now and has always been one of my writing heroines. She’s also a wonderful advice giver and has helped me grow both creatively and business-wise.
Last of all, I’d like to thank HM Shander. Her books are amazing, and she’s a wonderful friend and cheerleader. She lives in Canada so I hope I get to meet her soon. Go check her work out, you won’t be disappointed!
About the Author
Rebecca Lovell was born and raised in Texas, and has loved learning about the history of Fort Worth since her first visit to the Stockyards. Historical fiction is her first love, and she enjoys researching and studying new eras as well as writing contemporary romance. She’s always coming up with new ideas and occasionally manages to settle down and write one. When she’s not writing, Rebecca enjoys watching horror movies, crocheting, and playing video games.
Though she has traveled the country extensively and lived in all sorts of weather, Rebecca currently lives in Fort Worth with her high school sweetheart and a number of vocal and pushy cats. She misses Chicago and hopes to live there again when she’s rich and famous.
rebeccalovell.com
www.twitter.com/becca_el
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Also by Rebecca Lovell
Chicago Underground
At Any Cost
Christmas Wishes
A Christmas Reunion
Enduring Legacy
The Search For Sam
Miracle Express
On the Wings of a Winter Heart (Coming Soon)
The Witch's Christmas Wish (Coming Soon)
Standalone
Magic in the Family (An Enduring Legacy Story)
Also by Miracle Express
Miracle Express
On the Wings of a Winter Heart (Coming Soon)
The Witch's Christmas Wish (Coming Soon)
On the Wings of a Winter Heart (Miracle Express, #5) Page 15