“Company’s coming, Ma,” Greg called from where he stood over the pig trough dumping food for the hogs.
She followed the direction of Greg’s gaze and her heart nearly stopped. Even at a distance, she’d recognize that posture. “Andy,” she whispered.
Apparently, the idea occurred to Greg, as well, for he took off at a run toward Andy. Hope had no idea what to expect. Her heart sank when the boy started yelling. “You can’t come back! We don’t need you.”
Andy dismounted and clapped his hand on Greg’s shoulder. “I know I did you wrong, son.”
“I ain’t your son. You didn’t want me to call you Pa, remember?” He threw off Andy’s hand and continued to glare.
Giving a solemn nod, Andy continued to regard the boy with patience. “I’ve spent all winter thinking about you. And about things I said and did. I came to ask your ma and you children to forgive me. If you’ll take me back, I promise I’ll never leave again.”
Hope could see the struggle in Greg’s face. She understood, for she felt the same struggle. The boy hesitated and she thought he might not forgive Andy. But in a splitsecond, he flung his arms about him.
“I’d be honored if you’d call me Pa,” Andy said still holding the boy.
Hope stepped forward as Gregory stepped out of Andy’s arms. Andy’s eyes grew wide as his gaze took in her figure. She felt the blush rise to her face. “Greg, will you please go inside and keep the twins occupied while your pa and I have
a talk?”
Apprehension covered Andy’s features at her words. When Greg was in the house with the door shut, Hope regarded Andy frankly. “What made you decide to come back?”
“A lot of things.” He motioned to her stomach. “Are we having a baby?”
“Yes. Why did you run away the day after?”
“Let’s get you off your feet and I’ll tell you everything, all right?” Warmth enveloped her arm as he took her elbow and led her to the porch.
She settled in, enjoying the experience of being taken care of.
For the next several minutes, Andy opened up about all the events that happened after he left the cabin that morning.
She gasped when he told of his accident. But she thanked God when he told of being rescued. When he got to his renewed relationship with the Lord, she wept.
“Your mother will be so blessed to know her prayers have finally been answered. And Andy, you needn’t have left. A man came around the day after and asked for you. Apparently, he’d coerced Mr. Harper into giving him your name and pointing him to your ma, who pointed him up here. He said he saw your work and wanted to hire you to make the furniture for a new hotel he’s building. He only wanted the best, but handmade furniture would be a good advertising tool for the hotel.”
“Ah well, it’s probably too late.”
“That’s the beauty of it, Andy. It’s not. He was traveling back to Boston and said he’d be back this spring sometime when they actually start building the hotel. He hoped you’d be available to discuss terms when he returned.”
A grin tipped Andy’s lips. “And will I be?”
She looked out over their fields, freshly planted by hired help. “Just look at that beautiful land.” She glanced at him and grinned. “And get used to looking at it, because you’re going to be here for a very, very long time, Andy Riley.”
His eyes filled with tears and he took her face in his hands. “I know I don’t deserve this second chance. But I’ll make sure you don’t regret it.”
Leaning in, he took her lips with his and for Hope it was as though she, herself, had come home again. Just as Andy deepened his kiss and moved closer to her, the baby kicked hard. He jumped back. “What was that?”
“What do you think?”
Awe covered his features. He started to reach toward her stomach, then drew his hand back and met her gaze. “May I?”
“Of course.”
The baby rewarded him with several kicks. Overcome with emotion, Andy gathered Hope in an embrace that nearly took her breath away.
He leaned back and held her at arm’s length. “It’s like I’ve been given a second chance with my entire life. God, you, the baby, the furniture business. I’m almost worried it won’t last.”
Hope laughed and pressed her palm to his perpetually scratchy cheek. “Don’t worry about anything, Andy. God has chosen to give you a second chance for a reason.”
Andy covered her hand with his and gazed at her with such an intensity of emotion, he almost stole Hope’s breath away. “I love you, Hope Riley. I missed you while I was gone, but I’m glad God sent me to the mountains so He could reach me.” He turned her palm over and kissed it. “I could never have been a good husband, no matter how much I loved you, until I gave my life fully to God and left the past behind.”
Tears sprang into Hope’s eyes. “Oh, Andy.”
He kissed her once more, and she yielded easily. She sent a hasty prayer of thanks heavenward. She looked to the future with anticipation and hope. When they broke the kiss, they were both breathless.
Andy smiled at her and kissed her nose. He turned to look across the field, and Hope saw the spark of pride in his eyes.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?”
“They are. Fresh and green and full of promise.”
“I don’t pretend to know what God has planned for our lives, but one thing I do know. . .our best days are still to come.”
Slipping his arm about her, Andy pulled Hope close to his side and looked down at her. “Our best days are still to come.”
He brought his face close to hers once more. And when he kissed her, Hope knew that for them both, the past was gone and the only thing that mattered was the future God had set before them.
When Andy let her go, she sighed and snuggled into his embrace. As they watched the beautiful sunset, Hope thanked God for the joy of today and the hope for tomorrow.
Epilogue
Weddings always made her cry. Hope sniffled, tears stinging her eyes as she watched Gregory smile tenderly at the bride. Her heart nearly burst with love and motherly pride. He’d come such a long way from the troubled boy he’d once been. Only God could have brought about such a magnificent change.
He had even finally cut his hair. Another sign of maturity as he didn’t wish to offend anyone. Especially the members of his new little flock.
No one had thought it would ever happen, but after twenty years of secretly loving each other, Rosemary and Hank were finally tying the knot. And Gregory was performing his first act as pastor of the church in Hobbs—officiating the nuptials. Andy sniffled beside her. She gave her husband a tender smile and pressed her handkerchief into his hand.
“Sawdust from these new benches,” he said gruffly, denying his tears.
Hope nodded and squeezed his hand. She understood her husband’s emotion, his pride in the son he’d raised. Gregory stood so handsome and tall, a man of God, wholly committed to the calling he felt so strongly.
Fifteenyearold Eva squirmed on Hope’s other side. “When’s it going to be over, Ma?”
Hope silenced the girl with a stern frown. Eva was her father’s child through and through. She’d inherited his reddishbrown hair and brown eyes. Lashes that brushed her cheeks when she closed her eyes. And a dimple next to her lip that crinkled every time she laughed. Oh, the girl was a charmer.
Hope worried over her free spirit, though. She moved with the same recklessness that had once controlled Andy. Hope only prayed that God would get hold of the girl before she grew to be a woman. She prayed that Eva be spared the heartaches her pa had been forced to endure because of his unwillingness to allow God to temper his wild spirit.
For now, Hope kept her close. She had a few more years to try to temper her. Beyond that, she knew she could trust God to do what was best for Eva. One thing Hope had learned for certain over the past fifteen years was that God loved her children more than she ever could. She had to have faith in His unfailing love. Trust Him to do w
hat was best.
She caught her breath at the look of utter joy shining in Rosemary’s face as she lifted her chin and accepted her new husband’s kiss.
Hank had turned over the church to Gregory, and he and Rosemary were starting an orphanage in Oregon City. So many children reached the end of the Oregon Trail motherless and fatherless. Too often, the children ended up on the streets to fend for themselves. Hank and Rosemary were determined to make a difference.
Hope’s gaze shifted to Miss Hannah, who occupied the seat in front of Andy. She could understand her motherinlaw’s pride in Hank. There was something special about a child whom God had called to preach the gospel.
Next to her, Aimee made a lovely figure in a gown of rosecolored silk. The sweetspirited, twentysixyearold young woman would have made the perfect preacher’s wife. And from the look of adoration on her face when she looked at Gregory, Hope knew Aimee agreed.
Hope’s heart went out to the girl. To Gregory, she was a beloved childhood playmate, a cousin by marriage, someone to protect, tease, love as much as one could love a family member, but he would never, ever fall in love with Aimee.
Hope knew some day Aimee would understand that. She only hoped the girl didn’t allow true love to slip through her fingers while she dreamed of the impossible. Next to her, Betsy cradled her newborn son whom she’d named after her pa, Andy. James, her proud husband, slipped his arm about her shoulders and smiled down at his sleeping son.
Hope breathed a contented sigh. She cast a quick glance toward the door. With a gold star pinned to his leather vest, Billy sat, ever watching to make sure law was preserved. He wouldn’t have missed the wedding for anything but had made it clear he’d have to sit close to the door in case he was needed. He considered his love of the law to be every bit the calling Gregory’s preaching was, and Hope didn’t doubt it for a moment. Everyone agreed he was a fine sheriff. And she couldn’t have been more proud.
“Can I go outside now, Ma?” Eva’s tug at her sleeve brought Hope to her senses. She realized the wedding was over and the bride and groom were being presented as Mr. and Mrs. Hank Riley.
Hope stood with the rest of the congregation. She glanced around, and her heart filled with a sense of contentment. These people represented everything God had brought into her life at a time when she thought life held nothing but heartache for her. He’d brought her the love of a godly man, children who knew and served the Lord. She didn’t know what the coming years would bring for her loved ones, but she believed with all of her heart that God had good things planned for the Rileys. Her heart nearly burst with thankfulness.
As if sensing her mood, Andy turned away from the bride and groom and looked at her. She gave him a weepy smile. He took her hand and pressed it close to his heart. Hope rested her head on his shoulder.
The past fifteen years had brought her more happiness than she’d ever dreamed possible. But as she stood in the midst of her family, hope, stronger than ever, sprang in her heart, and she knew the best years of her life were yet to come.
About the Author
Tracey V. Bateman lives with her husband and four children in southwest Missouri. She believes in a strong church family relationship and sings on the worship team. Serving as vice president of American Christian Romance Writers gives Tracey the opportunity to help new writers work toward their writing goals. She believes she is living proof that all things are possible for anyone who believes and she happily encourages anyone who will listen to dream big. Email Tracey at: [email protected] and visit her website at www.traceybateman.com
Dedication
For my brother, Rod.
Your best days are yet to come.
Only believe. . .
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Tracey V. Bateman
Author Relations
PO Box 719
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
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