“You’re so handsome, Thad. I’m a lucky woman because I know you’re as good inside as you look on the outside.”
“I know you hate your name, but it suits you so well. You’re a blessing to me, to your family, and to your friends. No wonder I fell in love with you.”
Epilogue
Six months later…
Perhaps Buster had been this excited about her birthday as a small child, but nothing in her memory compared to today’s eagerness. A soft breeze brought winter’s chill down from the mountains but the day was sunny and cloudless. Yesterday, a winter storm had shrouded the landscape in white.
She stood looking out the window and laughed at the two dogs cavorting in the snow. In spite of the fact she now wore split skirts instead of overalls, she and Thad had built a large snowman earlier. “Thad, look, Sport and Diablo think our snowman is a villain.”
He joined her at the window and put his arm around her shoulders. “That’s not reassuring. I’d go tell them everything’s okay, but I’m warm and snug in here.”
Zelma Hardy, the fortyish widow of a miner hired to help Marnie, bustled about the kitchen. Zelma mentioned daily she was happy to have a nice room of her own and a secure position. Her auburn hair braided and coiled atop her head like a crown gave her a regal appearance. That is, until she smiled and her blue eyes twinkled as if they knew a funny secret.
Sam and Lucy Jameson arrived in a wagon with sleigh skids, having driven over from the house on what had been Silas Hansen’s ranch. Now that it was a part of the Rafter O Ranch, the Jamesons lived there. They stamped snow from their feet on the porch before entering and removing their coats.
Thad and she went to greet them. The men gathered in the parlor to talk. Dub sat in the wingback armchair near the fireplace and Thad took the other one. Now that Lucy and Sam had arrived, everyone who worked on the ranch was here.
Buster asked Lucy, “Do you still enjoy living on your own?”
Marriage had helped Lucy battle her shyness. “I was afraid I’d be lonely, but I enjoy Sam and me having our own home. I know we don’t own it, but it seems like ours. Of course, now that the bunkhouse is repaired, Zeb, Dexter, and Scott live in that. Having them on the premises with us so we’re not isolated is nice.”
Buster was surprised Lucy had spoken several sentences at once. Marriage must be good for her. “I’m pleased you enjoy the place. You and Sam worked hard to clean and repair the damage caused by neglect. I’m relieved you still come here for celebrations.”
Lucy blushed, looking more like her old self. “You’re our family. I’d think I’d better help or ‘Mama’ Marnie will think I’m shirking my duty.” She joined Marnie and Zelma in dinner preparations.
Though Buster didn’t do much in the kitchen, she counted out the plates, tableware, cups, and glasses and set them at each place. With fourteen people today, they’d need most of the tableware they owned.
Marnie set a platter weighted down with thick slices of baked ham on the table. “Every time we get together, I’m reminded it’s a good thing Dub bought more chairs in town last year. Blessing, tell the men to get in here.”
Buster surveyed the mix of eighteen old and new chairs surrounding the table. “Next thing we need is a longer table.”
She went to the parlor. “Dinner is ready.”
Thad joined her with his hand at her waist and sat beside her. Dub and Marnie still sat at each end of the long table as if they really were the parents of this brood. Sam and Lucy also sat together. The remaining ranch hands filled in the other places. Getting Zelma to eat with them had taken convincing, but now she was used to being part of the family.
After Dub said grace, Sam stood.
“I know this is Buster’s birthday celebration, but Lucy and I have an announcement.” He smiled at her.
His wife looked at her lap and blushed.
Sam continued, “Lucy’s gonna have our baby in about five months.”
“Congratulations” bombarded the couple from around the table. Sam returned to his chair, looking as proud as if he and his wife were the only people in the world to accomplish the feat.
The atmosphere was indeed festive throughout dinner. Marnie had prepared Buster’s preferred foods. When the meal was ending, Zelma brought a large chocolate cake to the table and set it in front of Buster before she fetched a cake knife and dessert plates.
Buster clasped her hands over her chest. “My favorite. Thank you, Marnie.”
Marnie nodded toward Dub and he stood up.
“Having everyone here is always a treat. Since William passed, I feel as if I’m the father and Marnie the mother to each of you. Even so, I’m sure you know that Buster has a special place in our hearts.”
He raised his glass of apple cider. “Doesn’t seem possible you’re married and twenty-three years old. I don’t know how you aged so much when I haven’t.”
He paused for the laughter that rippled around the room.
“We wish you a wonderful year and many more after that. Marnie and I want you to know how proud we are of you and pleased with your choice of husband.”
Thad looked at her with love shining from his eyes. “Here, here.” He raised his glass. “I especially toast that you chose me as your husband, Blessing. I call you that because you live up to that name.”
Everyone at the table sang “For she’s a jolly good fellow”.
Buster scanned those around the table. “What a wonderful celebration this is. I feel like a queen—or at least a princess.”
Everyone laughed.
Much later that afternoon when everyone had gone, Buster once again stood at the parlor window.
Thad came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “Well, birthday girl, have you had a nice day?”
She laid her hands over his where they rested on her waist. “A wonderful day, the best birthday ever.”
He kissed her temple. “That’s what we intended. What do you think about Lucy and Sam’s announcement? Your friend Priscilla and her husband Brax are also expecting.”
She leaned against his strong frame. “Probably more are now. So much is changing in town with new businesses and new people moving here—in spite of Mortimer Crane’s shenanigans.”
Suppressing the giggles that threatened to bubble out, she moved his hands slightly lower on her abdomen. She wanted him to feel the latest change.
He jumped and gasped. “What the devil was that? Was—”
She could hardly keep from bouncing on her toes. “Yes, you felt our baby kick. This morning was the first time I experienced that movement and I feared something was wrong. Marnie told me it was called quickening, like in the Bible when Mary went to visit Elizabeth and John quickened. Anyway, it’s normal and a wonderful birthday present.”
He turned her toward him, his eyes wide with awe. “Imagine… that’s our baby who is already moving. That makes your expecting more real. Actually, it’s magical. ”
She rested her hands on his broad chest. “Maybe he or she will be born on Marnie’s birthday. That’d be another celebration—a double one.”
“Whenever our child arrives will be cause to have a party. Honey, you have to be careful now. Remember, Dr. Spense said you can’t ride until after the baby comes and you’ve recovered.”
Her euphoria deflated and she admitted her nagging fear. “Thad, I hope I can be a good mother. I haven’t been around children. What if I mess this up?”
He pulled her into his arms. “You’re a loving and generous person. You’ll make a wonderful mother. Our children will have an extended family, too. I give thanks every day that you’re my wife and we live here and have these people helping us.”
“You do? So do I, especially that I have you. I didn’t think I wanted to marry yet and wasn’t sure I would have children. At the same time, I longed for what we have.”
He brushed his lips over hers as gently as if she were made of glass.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. �
��I’m not going to break.”
“I want to be sure.” He pressed his lips firmly to hers. Tingles shot through her body all the way to her toes. She clung to him, matching his ardor.
When he broke the kiss, he cupped her face. “You’re my treasure, my beautiful and generous and gracious wife who’s also stubborn and bossy. I couldn’t love you more than I do.”
She couldn’t help pouting but she kept her arms around him. “I have to be stubborn and bossy to accomplish my job. I suppose you want me to stop being that way.”
He shook his head slowly with a smile on his face. “I don’t want you to change a thing. In my eyes you are perfect the way you are. I knew the day we met and you had your rifle pointed at me that you were exceptional. I’d already watched you move cattle through a gate.”
She admitted, “I should have had you talk to Dub that day but I was mesmerized. I determined to hire you in the hope you’d stay—and you did. I love you, Thad, love you far more than I ever knew possible.”
He brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. “I didn’t intend to stay but I couldn’t leave you. I’m lucky you married me. In fact, I’m the luckiest man alive because of you. I love you. What more can I say?”
“Say? Talk is cheap, cowboy. Show me.”
Dear Reader,
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Read Caroline’s western historical titles:
Mistletoe Mistake, sweet Christmas story set in Montana
Blessing, Widows of Wildcat Ridge, set in Utah, sweet
Garnet, Widows of Wildcat Ridge, coming January 2019
Loving A Rancher Series (sweet)
Amanda’s Rancher, No. 1
The Rancher and the Shepherdess, No. 2
Murdoch’s Bride, No. 3
Bride’s Adventure, No. 4
Snare His Heart, No. 5
Capture Her Heart, No. 6
Loving A Rancher, No. 7
Patience, Bride of Washington, American Mail-Order Brides Series #42, sweet
Bride Brigade Series: sweet, set in Texas
Josephine, Bride Brigade book 1
Angeline, Bride Brigade book 2
Cassandra, Bride Brigade book 3
Ophelia, Bride Brigade book 4
Rachel, Bride Brigade book 5
Lorraine, Bride Brigade book 6
Prudence, Bride Brigade book 7
The Surprise Brides: Jamie, sensual, released simultaneously with three other of The Surprise Brides books which are: Gideon by Cynthia Woolf, Caleb by Callie Hutton, and Ethan by Sylvia McDaniel, each book is about one of the Fraser brothers of Angel Springs, Colorado
The Kincaid Series: Sensual, set in Texas
The Most Unsuitable Wife, Kincaids book one
The Most Unsuitable Husband, Kincaids book two
The Most Unsuitable Courtship, Kincaids book three
Gabe Kincaid, Kincaids book four
Stone Mountain (Texas) Series:
Brazos Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book one, Free, sensual
Buy the Audiobook here
High Stakes Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book two, sensual
Buy the Audiobook here
Bluebonnet Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book three, sensual
Tabitha’s Journey, a Stone Mountain Texas mail-order bride novella, sweet
Stone Mountain Reunion, a Stone Mountain Texas short story, sweet
Stone Mountain Christmas, a Stone Mountain Texas Christmas novella, sweet
Winter Bride, a Stone Mountain Texas romance, sweet
McClintocks: set in Texas
The Texan’s Irish Bride, McClintocks book one, Free, sensual
O’Neill’s Texas Bride, McClintocks book two, sweet
McClintock’s Reluctant Bride, McClintocks book three
Daniel McClintock, McClintocks book four, sweet
Save Your Heart For Me, a mildly sensual romance adventure novella set in Texas
Long Way Home, a sweet-ish Civil War adventure romance set in Georgia
Caroline’s Texas Time Travels
Out Of The Blue, 1845 Irish lass comes forward to today Texas, sensual
Texas Lightning, sweet, 1896 woman rancher comes forward to today
Texas Rainbow, sweet, 1920s flapper comes forward to today
Texas Storm, sweet, WWII WASP comes forward to today
Contemporary Western Hearts Facebook Group
If you prefer contemporary western romance, you’ll enjoy interacting with kindred souls and authors by becoming a member of Contemporary Western Hearts Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=contemporary%20western%20hearts
Caroline’s Contemporary Titles
Angel For Christmas, sweet Christmas tale of second chances, sweet
Texas Caprock Tales:
Be My Guest, mildly sensual with mystery, sensual
Grant Me The Moon, sweet with mystery,
Snowfires, sensual, set in Texas
Home Sweet Texas Home, Texas Home book one, sweet
Caroline’s Mysteries: (Texas)
Almost Home, a Link Dixon mystery
Death In The Garden, a Heather Cameron cozy mystery
Take Advantage of Bargain Boxed Sets:
Mail-Order Tangle: Linked books: Mail-Order Promise by Caroline Clemmons and Mail-Order Ruckus by Jacquie Rogers, set in Texas and Idaho
Under A Mulberry Moon, nine-author anthology, July 2018, available for a limited time, novellas by Zina Abbott, Patricia Pacjac Carroll, Caroline Clemmons, Carra Copelin, Keta Diablo, P. A. Estelle, Cissie Patterson, Charlene Raddon, and Jacquie Rogers.
The Kincaids, Books 1-4 in one set, sensual, Texas
Cinderella Treasure Trove, excerpts, blurbs, author bios, and recipes from authors who write books with a new take on a fairy tale. Free
Musings and Medleys, blurbs, excerpts, recipes, and author bios from the authors in Under A Mulberry Moon. Free
About Caroline Clemmons
Through a crazy twist of fate, Caroline Clemmons was not born on a Texas ranch. To make up for this tragic error, she writes about handsome cowboys, feisty ranch women, and scheming villains in a small office her family calls her pink cave. She and her Hero live in North Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their rescued cats and dogs. The books she creates there have made her an Amazon bestselling author and won several awards. Find her on her blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google+, and Pinterest.
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Blessing (Widows Of Wildcat Ridge Book 2) Page 16
