by Connie Mason
“You seem in good spirits this morning,” Ryan remarked. “Did you and Sarah make up?”
“You could say that. How was Abner’s night?”
“The boy is well enough to leave his bed,” Ryan said. “He’s asking for his mother. I came down to get his breakfast. He’s suddenly found his appetite.”
“Doc Adams will be here today. He’ll probably give Abner a clean bill of health and free rein to do as he pleases within reason. Sarah is anxious to see him and I can’t blame her.”
“When is the weddin’?” Cookie asked out of the blue.
“As soon as Abner is well enough to attend. I’d like Pierce and Zoey to be there too, if it’s at all possible.”
“You might have to wait till spring if you want Pierce to come,” Ryan said. “Winter’s not over by a long shot. There’s more to come.”
Chad frowned. “If the weather won’t cooperate, I reckon we’ll do it without Pierce. I don’t want to wait till spring.”
Ryan shook his head in mock disgust. “1 never thought you’d marry, Chad. Pierce’s marriage came as a surprise but yours is a shock, considering your aversion to the state of wedlock. No woman is going to hogtie me,” he vowed. “I can get all the loving I want from a woman without putting a ring on her finger.”
Chad tried to hide his amusement. Ryan had no idea what love did to a man. “When you fall, brother, you’re going to fall hard. Mark my words. I pity the woman who sets her sights on Rogue Ryan.”
“So do I,” Ryan smirked. “It’s not going to do her a damn bit of good. I’m not as gullible as you or Pierce, though 1’ll be the first to admit you’ve both found good women. Probably the only two left in the world.”
“Say, ain’t that Doc’s buggy comin’ down the lane?” Cookie said, glancing out the window.
“He’s makin’ his rounds early today.”
Doc Adams entered the house in a blast of frigid air. “It’s damn cold outside,” he said as he shed his coat. “How’s my patient today?”
“Hungry as a bear and eager to leave his bed,” Chad said. “And he wants to see his mother. I can’t hold Sarah off much longer.”
Doc chuckled. “Thought that might be the case. Well, let’s have a look at him.”
Sarah awoke to the sound of voices in the hallway. She cracked open her bedroom door and saw Doc Adams and Chad entering Abner’s room. She washed and dressed and left Chad’s room in a rush. Skidding to a halt at Abner’s door, she was somewhat reluctant to enter without an invitation. She was more than a little surprised to see the way opened to her.
Abner saw her standing in the doorway and his face lit up. He called out to her. The sound of his voice released her feet and she flew across the room, scooping him up into her arms and hugging him fiercely.
“Too tight, Mama,” Abner said when her hugs became too exuberant. “I’m not sick anymore. Doctor Adams said I’m not ‘tagious, either.”
Sarah searched Abner’s face. A few scabs remained where the pustules had been, and he appeared to have lost some weight, but otherwise he looked wonderful. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Doc Adams stepped forward, smiling at the poignant sight of mother and son reunited. “Abner is no longer contagious,” he said. “The lad can leave his bed, but I suggest he take it easy for awhile. Feed him whatever appeals to him.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Sarah said tearfully.
“Thank Chad, here, he’s the one who nursed the boy through the rough parts.”
Chad gave her a cheeky grin. “She already did thank me. I hope you won’t mind taking a look at Sarah before you leave, Doc. I want to make sure everything is all right with the baby.”
“I’d be happy to. Show me your room, Sarah, we’ll conduct the examination there.” He turned to Chad. “You will invite me to the wedding, won’t you?”
“You can count on it. I was just waiting for Abner to recover to fetch the preacher out here.”
“You’re gonna be my papa,” Abner said proudly.
“You bet, son. I meant it when I said we’d be a family.”
Sarah received a clean bill of health from the doctor. Assured of Chad’s love and with Abner well beyond his illness, she’d never been happier. She thought briefly of her parents. Had there been no estrangement, her joy would have been complete. Since she couldn’t make her parents love her, she contented herself with the knowledge that she had Chad’s love in abundance.
During the following days Chad gave no indication of allowing his demons back into his life, which eased Sarah’s mind considerably. Only one jarring note marred her joy. Chad hadn’t mentioned marriage again. She hoped he wasn’t having second thoughts about making her a permanent part of his life.
One gray morning about a month later, Chad went to town for supplies. He kissed Sarah goodbye, hitched the horses to the buckboard, and left immediately after breakfast. Doc Adams was due out that day to take the cast off Ryan’s leg and Sarah couldn’t imagine what was so important in town that couldn’t wait until tomorrow. Chad was acting so mysterious about his errand that she spent the rest of the morning wondering at his strange behavior.
Doc Adams arrived later that day. He removed Ryan’s cast and pronounced his leg strong enough to bear his weight For some strange reason he seemed in no hurry to leave as he chatted with Ryan over coffee. Delicious aromas were wafting from the kitchen and Sarah was surprised to find Cookie dexterously engaged in a frenzy of baking. Abner was sitting on a stool at the table, stirring frosting. Neither gave her a second glance when she looked in on them, so she retreated back to the parlor.
A short time later the entire Zigler family converged upon them for a visit. Things really got hectic when Pierce, Zoey, and Robbie arrived unexpectedly.
Sarah was beginning to suspect something was afoot when Chad blew into the house on a cold wind, accompanied by a man he introduced as Parson Higgens. Bewildered, Sarah glanced around the crowded room. Abner was jumping up and down with excitement and she suddenly realized she was the only one unaware that this was to be her wedding day. She sent Chad a fulminating look, but apparently it did little to dampen his high spirits.
Then Zoey grasped her hand and dragged her upstairs to her room. Sarah let out a gasp of dismay when she saw a lovely cream silk creation that was to be her wedding dress spread out on her bed.
“How…? When…?” Sarah’s eyes misted. She had never seen anything so lovely.
“I brought it,” Zoey said. “I never had a wedding dress myself and wanted you to have one. I purchased it for you as soon as Chad sent word about the wedding. I hope you like it.”
“It’s beautiful. You’re all wonderful. Why didn’t Chad tell me?”
“He wanted it to be a surprise. He wasn’t sure we’d make it, but the mild winter we’re having made it possible for us to be here. We owe you so much, Sarah. We all feared Chad was lost to us after that tragedy. It broke our hearts when he left. You and Abner gave him his life back. He had another surprise planned, but I guess it didn’t work out the way he hoped. Never mind,” Zoey said brightly. “We’re your family now, never forget it.”
Zoey and the Zigler girls helped her into her dress and fixed her hair. When they finished, they stood back to admire their handiwork.
“You’re beautiful,” Zoey said wistfully, recalling her own hasty wedding. “I would have been married in denims and plaid shirt if Pierce hadn’t insisted I wear a dress. I’ll go down and tell them you’re ready.”
Chad and Abner were waiting for her at the foot of the stairs. Chad’s eyes were warm with love as he watched her descend.
“Are you surprised, Mama?” Abner asked gleefully. “Chad told me not to say anything.”
“You keep a secret well, son,” Chad said, giving Abner’s narrow shoulder a squeeze. “Take your mother’s other arm, the parson is waiting for us.”
The parlor was packed with smiling faces. While she was upstairs dressing more people had arrived, including the family who
had purchased the Rocking D.
“Are you happy?” Chad whispered as they approached the parson.
“Ecstatic,” Sarah said, giving him a blinding smile. “If only…” A shadow darkened her eyes, then quickly vanished. “Forget it,” she said cheerily. “Your family is all I need.”
When they had reached the parson, Chad squeezed her hand. “Shall we begin. Parson?”
The parson opened his Holy Book, but before he could begin, a late wedding guest arrived. Ryan opened the door. The woman standing on the doorstep appeared ready to turn and run. Then she spied Sarah. With a muffled sob, she rushed forward.
Rendered speechless, Sarah’s shock was such that she could do little more than stare at the woman. Chad gave her a hug of encouragement and her ability to speak returned.
“Mama!”
“I didn’t know if she’d come,” Chad said. “I wanted to give you a day you’d remember forever. I hope you’re pleased.”
“I love you, Chad Delaney.”
Sarah and her mother shared a brief hug and the promise for a longer visit, then the parson began the ceremony. A short time later she was Chad’s wife, and so happy she couldn’t stop smiling. The rest of the day passed in a blur. Through it all, Chad remained her rock. He was with her when Hazel Temple explained how Chad had sent one of the hands to fetch her for her daughter’s wedding, along with a letter from Chad explaining things she’d never known before.
“Your father wouldn’t come,” Hazel said with a sad little shrug. “He’s too inflexible in his beliefs and too proud to admit he misjudged you. I pray hell come around one day,” Hazel said hopefully. “Can you forgive me, daughter? Your father put you through hell and I was afraid to speak up in your defense. It wasn’t until you left town that I realized what I had lost.”
“I forgive you, Mama. I hope you can stay awhile to get to know your grandson.”
“I’ll start right now,” Hazel said brightly. “Where is the little scamp?”
When Hazel went off in search of Abner, Chad grasped Sarah’s hand and pulled her away from the crowd. “Let’s get away from here,” he said, giving her a smile filled with wicked promise. “I told Ryan to leave our meals outside our door for the next week.”
Sweeping her into his arms, he took the stairs two at a time. He carried her into their room and slammed the door shut behind him with a resounding bang.
“I love you,” he whispered seconds before his mouth covered hers. “Let the honeymoon begin.”
Epilogue
Summer 1883
Sarah pulled the row of diapers off the clothesline and stuffed them into the basket. Before she carried them into the house, she cast about for a glimpse of Abner and saw him playing with the puppy Chad had bought him a few days after their daughter Amanda was born. Chad hadn’t wanted Abner to feel left out by the attention given to the new baby and had surprised the boy with the playful pet.
With the passage of time Sarah was learning more and more about the caring man she had married. He could deny his compassionate nature all he wanted but nothing would change the fact that he was kind and thoughtful, a man who put the happiness of others before his own.
Sarah hummed to herself as she carried the basket into the house and began folding Amanda’s diapers. Life was wonderful. With the addition of her tiny daughter, their family was perfect. Of course she wouldn’t mind having another child or two sometime in the future.
“What are you thinking about?” Chad asked as he walked into the room and gave her a quick hug. “You look like a kitten that just swallowed a bowl of cream.”
“I’m happy,” Sarah said. “I keep pinching myself to see if I’m dreaming.”
Chad grinned at her. “I’m living a dream every time I wake up with you in my arms.”
Sarah gave a wistful sigh. “I wish Ryan could find the kind of happiness we have. There are times when he looks so lonely my heart goes out to him.”
Chad snorted in derision. “Rogue Ryan lonely? Every eligible and not so eligible woman in town has her cap set for him. He has his pick of any female he wants.”
“It’s not the same,” Sarah contended. “Everyone needs a ‘special someone’ in their life. By the way, where is Ryan?”
“Gone to town for the mail. He should be back soon. I just came to tell you I’ll be mending fences in the north pasture the rest of the day. Tell Ryan he can join me when he returns.”
“You can tell me yourself,” Ryan said, ambling into the room.
“You’re home. Good,” Chad said. “We can pick up something from the kitchen for lunch and leave right away. Any mail?”
“There’s a letter from Sarah’s mother.” He handed Sarah the missive and she sat down to read it. “And this one is addressed to Pa. It’s from Bert Lowry, remember him?”
Chad’s brows puckered, trying to recall the name. Apparently Bert Lowry didn’t know their father had died several years ago. “He’s that old army buddy of Pa’s, isn’t he?”
“The very same,” Ryan returned. “I reckon no one told him about Pa. He owns a ranch near Tucson. Here, read the letter yourself.”
Chad pulled the letter from the envelope and perused it slowly. “Well I’ll be damned. Bert is searching for his long-lost daughter and wants to know if Pa can spare one of his sons to help find her.”
“Bert says he’s dying and wants to see the girl before he leaves this world,” Ryan added. “There’s a lot Bert left out, but I reckon I’ll find out when I see him in person.”
“You’re going to Tucson?” Chad said, surprise coloring his words. “Why not just write and tell him Pa is dead and none of us can be spared?”
“I want to go, Chad. You and your family can use some time alone, and the women in Dry Gulch are starting to bore me.” He gave Chad a cheeky grin. “Thought I’d find out for myself if Arizona women are any different from Montana women.”
“What about the ranch?”
“What about it? I ran it alone for the two years you were gone, now it’s your turn. We’ve got a good crew of experienced hands; the ranch can almost run itself. I’ll find Bert’s little girl, try out the women between here and Arizona, and return when I’ve had enough. Maybe I’ll appreciate the ranch better after a vacation.”
Chad was aware that Ryan had been restless of late, but until now hadn’t realized just how restless. Ryan wasn’t consumed with ranching like Chad and Pierce, and Chad couldn’t fault Ryan for wanting to experience more of life than what the ranch had to offer.
“You’re no detective, Ryan. Bert said he’d al ready hired a detective, and the man learned little beyond what Bert already knew.”
Ryan shrugged. “I’d like to give it a shot. What can I lose?”
Sarah had finished reading her mother’s letter in time to get the crux of the conversation. She was saddened by Ryan’s intention to leave, but not surprised. She, too, had sensed a restlessness in Ryan, that’s why she’d been eager for him to find a special woman to love.
“We’ll miss you, Ryan,” she said with feeling. “It won’t be the same here without you.”
“I doubt you’ll miss me too much,” Ryan said with a twinkle. “You two have eyes for no one but each other. It’s downright sickening.”
“When are you leaving?” Chad asked.
“In a day or two. I’ll need to make arrangements with the bank to have funds available to me during my absence. I’m thinking of riding down to Cheyenne and taking the train to Tucson.”
“Be careful,” Sarah said.
“It’s a rough world out there, Ryan,” Chad warned. ‘Take my word for it. The two years I spent drifting from town to town, chasing outlaws and collecting rewards for their capture, were enlightening in the extreme. Ranching is tame compared to what you’re likely to find.”
“Don’t worry about me, Chad,” Ryan said jauntily. “I can take care of myself.”
His words hung in the air like a heavy layer of smoke as he strode from the room.
/> “I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Chad mused, frowning.
“Ryan’s only a year younger than you, Chad, he’ll be fine. It’s the women between here and Arizona I pity,” Sarah teased.
“I reckon a man’s got to spread his wings,” Chad allowed. “I did, and look what I found. A woman who cared enough about me to overlook all my faults. You captured my heart so thoroughly I thank God every day for bringing us together and giving me a son and daughter dearer to me than my own life.”
“I love you, Chad Delaney. I wish there was some way I could show you how much I appreciate you.”
Chad’s smile held a wealth of promise. “You can, sweetheart Instead of mending fences, let’s you and I go upstairs.”
“Abner…”
“I saw him go off to the stables with Murray.”
“Amanda…”
“Is sleeping. Any other excuses?”
“I never did have any willpower where you’re concerned.” She lifted to her tiptoes and kissed him full on the mouth.
It was all the permission Chad needed. Scooping her into his arms, he raced up the stairs.
About the Author
Connie is the bestselling author of 60 books and novellas and counting. Her tales of passion and adventure are set in exotic as well as in American locales. Connie has won awards from Romantic Times and has been listed in Who’s Who of American Women for several years. Connie makes her home in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
Connie is a world traveler. She has visited every country in Western and Eastern Europe, Greece, Asia and Northern Africa. Also, countless islands in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas. Connie enjoys spending time with her three children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Visit her Website and www.conniemason.com.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
