Long Journey Home (Longing for Home Book 5)
Page 37
She set her head on his shoulder. “Are you glad, then, that we came and disrupted all your plans?”
“More than I have words to say.”
They pulled off the road and up the drive. Ryan brought the wagon to a stop but didn’t hop down immediately. His eyes were on the house. He didn’t say anything, but his smile had turned . . . not sad, but something like nostalgic or wistful.
“What is it?”
“I was only thinking of all the times these past months that I stood at the barn, looking up at this house, and racking my brain, trying to decide what to do about you.”
“About me?”
He smiled at her. “You’d a claim on the house I couldn’t deny. I couldn’t bear the thought of trying to toss you out, yet—” He shook his head, as if unsure what words came next.
“Yet you loved this house and land, and couldn’t simply give up your claim, either.”
He nodded. “The answer to our difficulties then seems so obvious now.”
“We had to find our way there, though,” she said. “We had to make that journey.”
“’Twas a long journey home, wasn’t it?”
“Long and lovely and worth every twist and turn in the road.”
“And now we get to journey together.” He spoke with real pleasure and happiness.
He stepped down from the wagon and crossed to her side. She took the hand he offered and stepped down herself. He tucked the quilt around her shoulders, making certain it was secure.
She kept nearby as he unhitched the horse. Though the air was cold, she wanted to be with him. He looked over at her a few times, his smile soft, his gaze warm.
“You could’ve gone inside,” he said as he led the horse to its stall. “You’d not be out here freezing.”
“I’d also not be out here with you. I’d not like that one bit.”
He closed the stall door, then held out his hand to her. She took it, grateful for the reassurance she always found in his touch and the strength she felt in his company. They walked together out of the barn and to the front porch.
They paused at the door. He turned and faced her, locking his arms behind her back. “I love you, Maura.”
She leaned into his embrace and stretched on her toes. She kissed him quickly, gently. “I love you,” she said against his lips.
His lips pressed to hers fervently even as his arms pulled her flush with him. He rained kisses along her jaw to the sensitive spot beneath her ear. “My darling, darling Maura.”
“My wonderful Ryan.”
He kept her in his arms on the front porch, his forehead pressed to hers. “Welcome home, sweetheart. Our home.”
“Our home,” she repeated. “Our lives. Our future.”
Acknowledgments
The Bradford Industrial Museum, for valuable information regarding the textile mills of the 19th Century
Dr Solis Cohen’s 1872 book on the diseases of the throat and lungs
Pam Victorio, for encouraging me to continue this series that I love so deeply & celebrating with me its continuation
Heather Moore, for making this book possible
Annette Lyon, for making this book worlds better than I could ever have made it on my own
Nancy Peterson, for lending her voice, her talent, and her expertise to the beautiful audio version of this tale
My family, for supporting me and encouraging me
About the Author
SARAH M. EDEN is the USA Today bestselling author of multiple historical romances, including the “IndieFab Book of the Year” and Whitney Award winning Hope Springs series. Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt stories set against rich historical backdrops. Sarah is represented by Pam Victorio at D4EO Literary Agency.
Visit Sarah at SarahMEden.com
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