by Stacy Henrie
Katie rose to her feet. “Is it from Jake?”
Caleb nodded.
She wiped her hands on her apron then reached for it. “Would you…” She looked from Caleb to Eliza. “Would you mind if I read it in the bedroom?”
“Of course not,” Eliza said. “We’re almost finished here anyway.”
Katie gave her an appreciative smile and hurried out of the room. Caleb hung his hat on the peg by the door and reached for the coffee pot. He poured himself a mug of the hot brew, and glanced back at the closed bedroom door. How long did it take to read a letter? Was she going to stay in there all day?
Placing the mug of untouched coffee back on the table, he clenched and unclenched his fists. He walked to the stove, cut over to the corner of the table, then went back to the front door. After another quick look at the bedroom door, he paced the same triangle again.
“Caleb?”
With a start, Caleb remembered his mother. She was standing at the table, watching him, her brow furrowed.
“Is there something you need to tell me?” she asked.
Caleb ran his fingers through his hair. No matter what happened after this, he decided, his mother deserved to know his feelings.
“I’ve fallen in love with Katie,” he said, the words coming out in a rush.
“Oh my.” His mother dropped to her seat. “Does Katie know this?”
“Yes,” he said.
“And, does she feel the same way about you?” she asked.
“Perhaps,” he said helplessly. “I’m not sure.”
The bedroom door creaked open, and they turned to see Katie, standing in the doorway. In one hand, she held two sheets of paper; in the other, some bank notes.
Katie took a deep breath, willing her trembling to subside. She’d read Jake’s letter twice, but she was still no closer to understanding what it meant for her future.
“Jake isn’t coming back anytime soon,” she said. “The silver mine’s been more successful than he ever imagined. And, with new miners arriving all the time, he says he has to stay to protect his claim. He’s sending money so that you can take on a hired hand to help at the ranch while he’s gone.”
She looked at Caleb, trying to gauge his reaction to this news. He was gripping the back of one of the wooden chairs, his eyes on her.
“What’s his plan for you?” he said.
“He says the mining town’s no place for a woman and that he doesn’t want me waiting here alone since he could be gone upwards of a year,” she said. “He’s sending me back to Saratoga Springs.”
Eliza gasped, and Katie fought back her tears.
“He’s sent me money for the train with enough left over to find a place to live,” she said, showing them the bank notes.
“What about your marriage agreement?” Caleb pressed.
Katie dropped her gaze. “He’s released me from my obligation. He said that if another, better offer comes along, I should feel free to take it. And, if not, he’ll send for me again when he gets back to the ranch.”
At the sound of the kitchen chair being pushed aside, Katie looked up again. In three short steps, Caleb closed the distance between them. He reached for her hand, and her heart started to pound.
“All those sleepless nights, telling myself I had no right to feel the way I did about you,” Caleb said. “All those long days in the south pasture, telling myself you could never be part of my future. And now, just when I thought I’d lost you forever, Jake’s given me a chance.”
He tightened his grip, his eyes never leaving hers. “There’s only one thing I can offer you that Jake can’t— and that’s my heart,” he said. “I think I started falling in love with you on the wagon ride back from the train depot, and those feelings have only grown stronger since then. Marry me, Katie. Say you’ll stay at Walker Ranch as my wife.”
There was nothing Katie could do now to stem her tears.
“Yes,” she said. “There’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be than here, married to you.”
He pulled her closer, the joy in his eyes taking her breath away. With his free hand, he gently wiped the tears from her face. “I love you, Katie Spencer,” he said.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
The sound of another chair being pushed back from the table reminded Katie that they weren’t alone.
“Well, Caleb,” Eliza said, humor lacing her voice. “It seems like you might need to take back what you said about Jake making the most senseless decision of his life in sending for a mail order bride.”
“You’re right,” he said. “I’ve changed my mind. Sending for a mail order bride was the second most foolish thing Jake’s ever done.”
Katie pulled back in his arms. “You still believe that?” she asked.
“Yep,” he said. “But I’ve learned my lesson. I’ve always come down on Jake for following his heart and not his head. Now, he’s finally tried to do the practical thing, and look where it’s gotten him.” His brown eyes twinkled. “I’m starting to think that being sensible isn’t what it’s cracked up to be,” he added. “When it comes to being foolish, nothing will ever top Jake’s decision to let his bride go.”
Caleb lowered his head until his lips were inches from hers. “And I’ll forever be thankful that Jake made both choices.”
Katie heard Eliza’s laughter just before the cabin door closed behind her, and then there was nothing but Caleb’s kiss.
Click on the covers to visit Siân Ann’s Amazon author page:
Siân Ann Bessey was born in Cambridge, England, but grew up on the island of Anglesey off the coast of North Wales. She left her homeland to attend Brigham Young University in Utah, where she earned a bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in English. She began her writing career as a student, publishing several magazine articles while still in college. Since then she has published historical romance and romantic suspense novels, along with a variety of children's books.
Although Siân doesn't have the opportunity to speak Welsh very often anymore, she can still wrap her tongue around, "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch." She loves to travel and experience other cultures, but when she's home, her favorite activities are spending time with her family, cooking, and reading.
Find Siân Ann on Facebook: Sian Ann Bessey—Author
Dear Timeless Romance Anthology Reader,
Thank you for reading Mail Order Bride. We hoped you loved the sweet romance novellas! Heather B. Moore, Annette Lyon, and Sarah M. Eden have been indie publishing this series since 2012 through the Mirror Press imprint. For each anthology, we carefully select three guest authors. Our goal is to offer a way for our readers to discover new, favorite authors by reading these romance novellas written exclusively for our anthologies… all for one great price.
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