The Cowboy Tutor

by Linda Ford

  God, show me the answer in this.

  First, she must speak to Mother. She found her in the front room darning stockings. “Mother, Judd has asked me to marry him.”

  Mother smiled. “I know. He told me.”

  “You aren’t upset that I…” She struggled for a word that didn’t make her feel guilty, then gave up. “I stole him from Louisa?”

  “You can’t steal something that doesn’t belong to another person. He never saw her the same way he sees you.”

  “But Louisa—”

  Louisa burst into the room. “I saw how it was between you two. Yes, at first I thought he belonged to me.” She colored prettily. “At first he seemed ideal, but then he began to talk of adventure, ranching in the west and all sorts of things I wouldn’t have enjoyed. And his eyes blazed whenever Madge entered the room. It was making me miserable to try and keep his attention on me. So…” She ducked her head and spoke very quietly. “I decided to play matchmaker instead.”

  Madge laughed. “So that’s why you sent us to the play.”

  “You enjoyed it, didn’t you?”

  “I did.” She smiled, her heart full of sweet memories. “You’re sure you’re not angry?”

  “I’m happy for you.” She opened her arms, and the girls hugged.

  Madge turned back to Mother. “I haven’t said yes because I wasn’t sure you could manage without me.”

  Mother rolled away the yarn and stuck the large needle in the ball, then pulled Madge to her side. “Madge, you have been a real help. We couldn’t have managed without you. I’m proud of how hard you’ve worked, and your father would be, too.”

  Madge nodded and blinked back tears. She needed to hear those words.

  “Thanks to you, our home is now secure. And it’s time for you to move on with your own life. I had hoped Justin would be suitable as Louisa’s husband, but I’m nothing but happy he is suitable as yours. We will be fine without you.” She patted Madge’s hands. “And you and Judd will be close if we need help.”

  Peace flowed through Madge.

  “What are you waiting for?” Mother asked. “Go to him.”

  With a burst of happy laughter, Madge sprang to her feet. “I will. I am.” She hugged Louisa again, then rushed outside where Sally had returned to the laundry and skidded to halt. She should stay and help. But really, did she need to? “Sally, can you finish here? I want to see someone.”

  Sally turned, saw the look on Madge’s face and laughed. “I can do this with one hand tied behind my back. Now get out of here. Leave me alone.” She turned back to the task. “And give Judd a kiss for me.”

  Sally’s laughter followed Madge as she raced across the field. She was out of breath by the time she reached the Cotton place. “Judd?” she yelled.

  He bolted from the barn, took one look at her and dropped his hammer to sprint to her. He studied her face.

  “I’ve come to say yes.” She smiled welcomingly, then laughed as he swept her off her feet and twirled her around.

  Epilogue

  Three months later

  Madge looked at herself in the mirror in the side room of the church. The pale blue dress Sally had made her emphasized the sparkle in her eyes. Louisa had done her hair, pulling it into an upsweep, then allowing the unruly curls to fall around Madge’s face.

  Sally’s likeness appeared beside Madge’s. “You glow.” She hugged Madge. “I’m so happy for you.”

  Louisa’s face appeared over her other shoulder. “You deserve every bit of happiness. I pray for nothing but the best for you and Judd.”

  Madge shifted to meet Louisa’s eyes. “You don’t hold any resentment that I stole him from you?”

  Louisa giggled. “You can’t steal something I never owned. He never saw anyone but you. I’ll trust God to bring me a man who looks at me the way Judd looks at you.”

  Mother poked her head through the door. “Girls, it’s time.”

  The three of them peered into the mirror a moment longer, smiling.

  “Come on,” Louisa urged.

  “Yeah, you’ve kept him waiting long enough,” Sally said. “Insisting you had to work at Gratton’s.”

  “I had to pay off the car.”

  “We know,” the girls chorused.

  Sally went down the aisle first, then Louisa. Madge followed. She’d promised herself she’d concentrate on everything so the details would be forever branded in her memory, but as soon as she saw Judd, she forgot all else. He wore a black suit and white shirt, but despite them he had a rugged outdoor look. He loved working outside and had managed to locate enough feed for a few head of cows.

  “The drought will end, and when it does I’m going to be ready with a herd while others are scrambling to find replacement cows,” he’d told her one night as they discussed their future.

  Together they had cleaned and polished the house and collected odds and ends of furniture to add to the things left behind by the Cottons.

  At the front pew, Mother held out her hand and Madge paused to squeeze it. She turned to take Judd’s mother’s hand and smiled past the woman, at George.

  Mrs. Kirk had come to help with preparations and meet Judd’s intended. She’d seen George downtown and broken into tears.

  Judd had grown angry. “That man should have left town.”

  “I’m very glad he didn’t,” Mrs. Kirk had said, then had dried her eyes and crossed the street to speak to him.

  “Seems your mother is ready to forgive him,” Madge had murmured.

  “She’s just asking for more trouble.”

  But Mrs. Kirk had told Judd she’d had nothing to forgive. “He made a mistake and he feels bad about it. I don’t intend to let it form a barrier. Life is too short for pettiness.”

  Judd had sputtered and protested, but his mother did not relent. Eventually Judd had admitted his mother seemed happy.

  “Shouldn’t that be what matters?” Madge had asked.

  Judd had swept her into his arms and kissed her soundly. “How can I protest when I’m so content with life? I can only hope she is as happy.”

  Now Madge turned from those in the pews to face Judd, and her heart swelled against her ribs in supreme joy.

  “I love you,” she mouthed.

  “I love you,” he mouthed back.

  People chuckled. Apparently anyone watching could also read his lips.

  She didn’t care. She didn’t care if the whole world knew of their love.

  Judd reached for her, drew her to his side and kept her there until the preacher announced they were man and wife. Then he turned and kissed her before God and these witnesses.

  “God is good,” she murmured against his lips.

  “And we’ll prove it over and over in the years to come.”

  They turned to receive congratulations and good wishes from their friends and neighbors.

  Life, Madge knew, would be sweet and precious shared with this wonderful man.

  * * * * *

  Dear Reader,

  My grandparents lived through the Great Depression—and so much more. My grandmother, especially, never got over the fear of being without basic necessities. She was determined to never again be caught without things we take for granted. This led her to keep stuff others could see no use for, like bits of string rolled into a large ball, every newspaper and magazine that came into the house and pencil stubs so short it was impossible to hold them (she put them in a pen cap to give them a little added length). I think a person would have to endure what she did in order to understand her reasons for holding on to simple, ordinary things.

  In my story, Madge is equally determined to save her family from so many things. I found it interesting to wonder how my faith would stand up to the challenges my characters faced.

  I hope I was able to portray their struggles in a realistic way, yet one that portrays hope and trust in God’s unfailing care.

  God bless,

  Linda Ford

  Questions for Discussio
n

  The Depression is upon the Morgan family. Is this the only factor influencing Madge’s view of life? Are there other factors? Are they past, present or future? Is she aware of them?

  How have these factors impacted Madge’s way of dealing with things?

  Is she right or wrong in her beliefs? What would you say to her regarding her life if you met her?

  Judd is driven by a specific event. What is it? Is there more to it than what he says?

  Is he seeking justice, revenge or something else entirely?

  Madge and Judd’s first meeting is quite different from their second. How would the romance have differed if the second meeting had been their first? Or would it have been different?

  Do you think Judd was justified in hiding his true identity? Why or why not? What alternative action would you suggest for him?

  Madge believes God will see her through every crisis in her life. Are there times you see this at work? Times you wanted to remind her of her faith?

  Mrs. Morgan is determined to find a husband for Louisa. How do you think she felt when Judd and Madge fell in love? What do you think Mrs. Morgan will do next?

  These characters lived during the Great Depression. Times were tough. What challenges did they face that were specific to their era? Do we face similar challenges today?

  What did Judd have to learn in order to be ready for love?

  What did Madge have to learn in order to be ready?

  What challenges do you foresee for them in the future? How do you think they will handle them?

  ISBN: 9781459219946

  Copyright © 2012 by Linda Ford

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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