by Jaclyn Hardy
“They’re not there?” The world dropped out from beneath David. “Where did they go?”
“The only thing I can think of is the stagecoach.”
David shook his head. “Samantha wouldn’t get back on the stagecoach. Not without Clover or any of her things.”
Papa opened his mouth and shut it again. When he finally spoke, his voice was low. “She wouldn’t, but my wife would. She was that desperate to get our daughter away from you.”
David took off at a sprint.
“Where are you going?” Papa shouted, turning the horse to catch up.
David didn’t stop running as he called back. “To save my wife.”
Samantha jolted awake and groaned. Something had shaken her. She groaned and opened her eyes. This wasn’t her room. And her husband had been replaced by a woman who smiled back at her.
“Mama, where are we?” She gasped as she realized they were in a stage coach. The landscape outside the window was unfamiliar. “Mama. What did you do?”
“I did nothing. I’m saving you from your mistake.” Mama smiled, but it was cold.
“How did I get here?” Samantha ran through the events of the night before. David had stormed out, leaving her with her parents. The anger and confusions she’d felt toward her husband had dissipated not long after he’d left, leaving emptiness, but that didn’t explain how she got here. “Mama.”
Mama shrugged. “It was David who gave me the idea when he mentioned your sleep walking the night before last. When Papa left to send the telegram, I simply woke you just enough to get you to follow me without waking up.”
Samantha sat up straight. Her voice shook with anger. “Stop the coach.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie. We won’t stop until nightfall. You might as well get comfortable.”
“You’re insane.” Samantha knocked on the windows and roof of the coach, but nothing stopped it. “Let me out.”
Mama shook her head. “You’re staying with me. We’ll figure out how to annul this marriage, since divorce is out of the question. Then you will marry one of the suitors we choose for you, and we can leave all this nonsense behind us.”
Samantha stared at Mama, shocked at how far she would go to get her way. “Mama, I’m not going back to the plantation. My home is behind us in a small town where my husband runs a butcher shop and does his best to give me everything. Now, turn this stagecoach around.”
“The coach will not stop until the next settlement. I’ve made sure of that.”
“How? You don’t even have any money with you?” Samantha rubbed her head, trying to rid herself of the throbbing.
Mama smirked. “You don’t think I would go anywhere without money, do you? Silly child. We have more than enough to get home.”
Samantha leaned back against her seat. She could jump out while they were going, but then she would be stuck in the middle of nowhere and have no idea how to get back. If she waited until the next settlement, she could possibly find her way back.
***
Samantha couldn’t decide if she wanted to cheer or scream when she saw the lights of the town ahead. The day had dragged on while Mama filled her in with what had been happening over the last few months. She had to be ready to step into her position when she returned home, after all.
How long had it taken for David to realize she was gone? He’d probably left for work assuming she was at the inn with her parents. Which meant that he wouldn’t catch up until they were back in South Carolina. If he even came after her. She’d been awful to him the night before. How her parents had turned her against him, was still baffling. She knew David. He would never put her in danger. He’d done everything he could to protect her the night of the ball, and she had no doubt he would do it again.
The stagecoach slowed as they entered the town. Samantha had her hand on the door ready to jump out the moment it stopped.
Mama’s voice made her jump. “Did you enjoy growing up on the plantation? Did we not provide you with everything you could ask for?”
Samantha paused before answering. “I did enjoy growing up there. It was wonderful. But then I grew up and knew I needed something more. That’s not where I belong now. Someday I hope you’ll understand that.”
The door opened, and Samantha almost fell out. The driver held out a hand as she stepped out, but she didn’t take it.
“Thank you. Where is the nearest inn?”
“Just up the road there. I leave at first light.”
Samantha nodded. “Thank you.”
One of the doors up ahead opened, shining a light in the growing darkness. Laughter poured out and stopped as the door shut again. That must be the inn. Samantha had to step carefully along the path to avoid the holes in the road.
Huffing came behind her as Mama did her best to catch up. Samantha sped up and didn’t see the hole just in front of her. A jarring pain erupted in her ankle as it twisted. She wouldn’t get far on this ankle, but she still had to try.
Just as she reached the inn, a figure stepped out of the darkness. Samantha’s heart jumped into her throat and she stopped, frozen with fear. The lights from the inn mocked her from just a few feet away.
“Excuse me.” She kept her head down and brushed past, but the man gripped her arm and pulled her around. She jerked back ready to punch him, when the man began to laugh. The sound made her go limp.
David caught her and held her up. “Samantha? Whoa, there. Are you all right?”
“How—where?” Samantha couldn’t think. Surely this had to be a dream. Maybe she was still back on the stagecoach somewhere. But if it was a dream, she never wanted to wake.
“Get your hands off my daughter.” Mama’s voice came in gasps, but the threat was still there.
Samantha sighed. “Mama, it’s okay—”
“I said let her go.”
Samantha looked past David to find Mama standing there with her hands on her hips. “Mama, it’s all right. It’s David.”
Mama folded her arms. “I know. I will call the authorities if he doesn’t let go.”
“Cynthia, stop.” Papa’s voice came from the shadows. He stepped out and placed a hand on Samantha’s shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”
“Thank you, Papa.” Samantha tried to let go of David, but her ankle wouldn’t hold her up.
David scooped her up in his arms. “Let’s continue this inside.”
Papa shook his head. “You two go on ahead. I wish you the best, and hopefully you’ll allow us to visit again in the future.”
“Let me down, please.” Samantha slid from David’s arms and limped to her dad. She threw her arms around him. “I love you, Papa. Thank you.”
“Anything for my little girl.” Papa caressed her cheek, then turned back to his wife.
David picked Samantha back up again and carried her inside. “We’ll stay here tonight, and then if you’d like, we can ride back home in the morning.”
“There’s a stagecoach that goes that way tomorrow?” Samantha asked, surprised. They hadn’t passed any on her travels before.
“No, but I’m sure Clover would love to have you ride her home.” David stopped in front of the innkeeper. “We need a room. Preferably on the opposite side of the inn from the couple who will be coming in soon.”
The innkeeper raised his eyebrows and grabbed the keys. “Very well.”
David carried her up the stairs to a small room that barely fit a bed and a side table. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for that night. He set her down on the bed and carefully pulled off her shoes. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”
Samantha shook her head. “I stepped in a hole right outside the inn. I should have watched where I was going.”
David examined her ankle in the candle light. “Rest tonight, and then we can have a doctor look at it in the morning before we leave.”
“All right.” She climbed under the blankets, careful not to jostle her foot. She blew out the candles on her side of the bed, and David took ca
re of the others.
David climbed in next to her and rolled onto his side facing away. Samantha stared at him in the moonlight and longed to run her fingers through his curls. Instead, she stared up at the ceiling, listening to his breathing.
“David?” She bit her lip, hoping he hadn’t fallen asleep.
“Yes?” He turned slightly.
“I’m sorry for listening to my parents. I never should have sided with them. And I didn’t mean to run away. It was Mama. She took advantage of my sleepwalking. Which makes me wonder if she ever did the same thing when I was younger . . . but that’s beside the point. I realized after you left the inn last night that I don’t care what battles are happening right now. I don’t regret coming here. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. You’ve made me happier in these last couple of months than I could have ever thought possible.”
David finally rolled over. “Do you mean that? Honestly?”
Samantha placed a hand on his cheek, running her thumb across the stubble on his face. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I love you, and the thought of losing you just—”
Her words were muffled by his lips on hers as David pulled her into a hug and held her tightly to him. “The moment your dad stepped into the butcher shop to tell me you were gone, it was like I couldn’t breathe. I was scared you didn’t feel the same way, but I wasn’t going to let your mother take you away until I knew for sure.”
“Well, you can rest well now, because I love you and I’m never planning on going anywhere again.”
“Except for home, right? Because we’re kind of in the middle of nowhere right now.”
“Yes. Except for home.” Samantha laughed and pulled him in for a kiss.
ONE YEAR LATER
David hammered the last post into the ground and stepped back. He hoped it would be enough to keep the animals inside until he could build a few more pens. Trying to keep pigs, sheep, and a couple of cows all in one fence had proven to be difficult.
Samantha came around the corner, a smile spreading across her face. “They got out again?”
“Just a couple this time. Matthew and Nathaniel should be here later today to help with the last two fences.” He pulled her close, careful not to jostle her belly. “How are you feeling?”
“Big. I felt a few kicks this morning, so everything is still all right.” She breathed out slowly. “Maybe we should have waited to get all of the animals until we had a space for them.”
David grinned. “That’s what we said last year too, and it turned out all right.”
Samantha lifted an eyebrow. “All right? We had them running through the streets at least twice last summer.”
“It gave the neighbors something to do.” He kissed her forehead. “Let me help you inside. It’s too hot to be out here in your condition.”
“I just got out here. Besides, lying in bed is boring. I want to help you out here.” Samantha closed her eyes as a breeze blew through the yard. “Smell that?”
David frowned. “What? I just smell sagebrush.”
“Exactly. It’s my favorite smell. You don’t get that smell inside the house.”
“You win.” David laughed. “I haven’t fed the horses yet. I’m sure Clover would like to see you.”
Samantha brightened and waddled toward the barn before David could change his mind. He shook his head and turned back to the animals. One of the pigs charged its brother and hit the fence instead, causing the whole thing to shake. Maybe waiting for his brothers to get there wasn’t a good idea. He had the posts.
A shriek came from inside the barn. David dropped the wood and sledgehammer and took off running. It was dark inside and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust.
“Samantha? What happened?”
She gasped and bent over to rest her hands on her knees. “I think the baby is ready to come.”
“Are you sure?” David helped her stand. She should have had another two weeks at least.
She nodded. “Help me in, please. And get the doctor here.”
David wrapped an arm around her waist and walked her inside to their bed and helped her with her shoes. “What else can I do?”
“Doctor.” She held her stomach and groaned in pain. “Go.”
It was torture to leave her there alone, but he had no other choice. Mother was going to move closer to be there for the baby, but hadn’t found a place yet. And Matthew was out working with Nathaniel, so he wasn’t available either. David ran out onto the porch and searched for anyone who might be out on the street.
A few neighbors were out on the streets, so he ran to the closest couple. “Hey, I need a doctor. My wife is having a baby.”
Eleanor turned and gasped. “Right now?”
“Yes. Please. Can you get the doctor? I don’t want to leave her alone.”
She only had a chance to nod before he took off running back to his house. He tried to remember what had been done when Madeline had her baby. Water. They needed water. And blankets. David gathered up whatever he could find and ran for the bedroom.
Samantha raised her eyebrows at the pile of items in his arms, but couldn’t speak as another contraction hit. David dropped everything on the bed and rushed to her side.
“Eleanor is getting the doctor. What else can I do?” He took her hand in his.
“Stay with me.” Samantha smiled and squeezed his hand as another one hit.
There was a knock at the front door, and before David could stand to answer it, the doctor and a few ladies came bursting in. While David knelt next to his wife, everyone else prepared the room for a baby.
“Sir? David. I need you to leave. It’s time for her to deliver.”
David looked up at the doctor. “What?”
“You need to go out. There are too many people in here.”
“Then send them out. I need to be here with her.” David held tightly to her hand.
Samantha reached over with her other hand and set it on his. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine.”
David left the room and paced the living room, running his hands through his hair. Every scream, every groan sent a jolt of fear and panic through him. When someone knocked on the door, David welcomed the distraction and answered it.
Mother pushed her way into the room. “It’s a good thing we were already on our way. I would have missed everything.”
“They won’t let me in.” David’s voice shook.
“Oh, sweetheart. She’s doing just fine I’m sure. Why don’t you help me set up a crib for the baby? That will help you calm down.”
David rubbed his face and nodded. “All right. I suppose he needs a place to sleep.”
“Yes, he does. Now, you work on that, and I’ll go check on them.” Mother went into the bedroom before David could say anything else.
But at least he had a job to do. He’d been meaning to get it put together, but between the butcher shop and making sure the animals didn’t get out, he didn’t have a lot of time.
The instructions seemed easy enough. He tugged and pried the different parts until it resembled a crib. David stepped back to make sure he’d done it right. He pushed the crib into the second room and made sure there were blankets inside it.
When he went back into the living room, the silence was deafening. David went to the door to peek in just as it opened.
Mother stood there holding a baby wrapped up in a blanket. “Meet your daughter.”
David took the baby in his arms and stared down at the perfect features. She squirmed as she tried to get her fingers in her mouth, and he knew instantly that this little girl had stolen his heart. Her nose and lips were just like her mother’s, but the thick dark curls were his.
Someone cleared their throat and David looked up to find Eleanor standing there with another baby. “And meet your son.”
“What?” David’s gaze slid past Eleanor until he found Samantha. “There are two?”
Samantha nodded. “I’m as surprised as you are.”
David walked into the room and handed their daughter to Samantha so he could take his son. He definitely looked more like David.
The doctor checked Samantha’s heart, then stood and turned to David. “We’ll leave you alone. Let us know if you need anything.”
Soon it was just Samantha, David, and his mother in the room. Mother took their daughter so Samantha could rest. David pulled a chair close to Samantha, and leaned in.
“I guess we need to come up with two names then.”
She laughed. “I suppose so. I was thinking Olivia. If that’s all right.”
“It fits her well. What about Adam?”
“Adam? Where did that come from?” Samantha laughed.
David shook his head. “Honestly? I don’t know. He just looks like an Adam to me.”
“Adam and Olivia sound lovely together. We can go with those.” Samantha yawned. “As much as I complained about sleeping before, I could really use some now. Do you mind?”
“Anything for you.” He kissed her softly on the lips, and then forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Samantha smiled and closed her eyes. Her breathing slowed, and she was asleep before David and Mother left the room. He glanced back at Samantha, and even after all this time, he couldn’t believe he’d been so lucky to find her.
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Jaclyn is an Idaho farm girl who grew up loving to read. She developed a love for writing at a young age and published her first book in 2013. She met her husband, Steve, at BYU, and they have six happy, crazy children who encourage her to keep writing. After owning a bookstore and running away to have adventures in Australia, they settled back down in their home in Utah. Jaclyn now spends her days herding her kids to various activities and trying to remember what she was supposed to do next. Her books include the Silver Script Series and the upcoming Roping His Heart and Never Say Necklace. When she's not writing romance, she's chasing kids, playing games, and dreaming of running away to Ireland.
