by Prairie Wife
"You'll see," Amy promised.
Leda Bently's family joined them and the doting hands gathered around, as well. Miranda had been the darling of Shelby Station since her arrival.
Finally the back door opened and Miranda darted across the porch, down the steps and out into the yard. The golden ringlets Amy had so carefully arranged were stuffed beneath her favorite wide-brimmed hat, the yellow bow nowhere to be seen.
She wore a pair of dungarees that had seen better days on one of her older brothers. The shirt was new. Amy had seen to it that the boys' shirts were given away and that Miranda had shirtwaists in more feminine colors. Her hand-me-down boots were scuffed, and the holster with the wooden gun covered her from hip to knee.
She smiled from ear to ear and surveyed the crowd of family and friends who'd come to celebrate her day.
Jack and Rachel's Catherine, not even a year older than Miranda and dressed in a frilly blue pinafore, was the first to break the silence. She stepped forward and linked her arms through her friend's. "Happy biwthday, Miwanda."
Sam followed Catherine's lead, an indulgent smile on his face. He picked up his granddaughter, and she hugged him around the neck.
Jesse turned his amused gaze on his wife. She read pride and love in his blue eyes.
Cay and Toby exchanged a look that said they didn't much care what their kid sister wore. She was the apple of their eyes no matter what she did.
Conversation broke out then and food was shared. After the cakes had been cut and everyone had eaten their fill, Miranda opened her gifts.
Sitting on the lawn in a mountain of paper, a doll on its back staring at the sky, and a new red handkerchief around her neck, Miranda looked up with a puzzled frown.
Jesse stood nearby with Thomas on his shoulder. "What's the matter, pumpkin?"
"There's no present from Grandpa."
Elthea and Sam gave each other a knowing grin and Sam removed his hat to scratch his head. "I knew I was forgettin' somethin'. Where did we put that present?"
"I do believe you hid it in the barn," his wife replied.
"That's right. Fetch it for me, will you, Cay?"
Cay lit off toward the barn.
Toby knelt and spoke to Miranda, distracting her for several minutes.
Voices murmured and heads turned. Miranda stood up and craned to see around the milling guests and the brother who blocked her view.
Guests parted and Toby moved aside. Cay led a dun colt forward on a rope lead.
Miranda ran toward the horse. "Whose baby horse is this?"
"He's yours," Sam told her. "He's your present."
Wide blue eyes examined the animal, then surveyed each member of her family with awe. "But I'm only four. Am I big enough?"
"You need help learning to ride and taking care of him," Jesse told her. "You always have to have one of us with you until you're bigger."
"Okay, I promise," she agreed solemnly.
Promises were serious business at Shelby Station. Cay had promised never to run away again and he'd held his promise to this day, though Amy had never seen any indication that he had any call to leave.
Jesse had promised to love her all their days, and she rested in that confidence. She, too, had made a promise. She'd vowed that past mistakes would never again overshadow the present or the future. She and Jesse had grieved for their first son, missed him every day. He still held a place in their hearts and memories. But Tim was no longer a stumbling block to their marriage or their love.
That night after company was gone and their children were all in bed, Jesse and Amy held hands and walked to the hillside where the graves of their mothers and their son were still carefully tended.
Moonlight illuminated the small crosses.
"Are you disappointed?" Jesse asked. "About Miranda not wantin' to wear the dress and all? I know you put a lot of work into it."
"I think it was one of those fanciful hopes," she said with a wry smile. "I had visions of her in ruffles and ribbons, but I pretty much knew all along that she'd hate it. She wants to be wherever you and the boys are. And that's okay."
Jesse nodded. "Did you see Cay and Toby around Leda's girl today?"
"I did. She's a pretty young thing. Sweet, too, and she can cook."
"Don't be marryin' 'em off already," he teased.
"No, I'm keeping them here as long as I can," Amy replied. "I don't even want to think about Cay going away to university."
"It's his dream."
"And we know about dreams, don't we? Shelby Station was one of yours."
"That... and you," he said, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I dreamed of you from the first day I met you."
"I remember that day," she said. "And the manure caked to your boots. You really made an impression."
He laughed. "Must not have scared you off. Nothing has, it seems."
"I guess you're stuck with me." Amy raised her face to kiss him. "Love me?"
"Always, Amy. Always.
CHERYL ST. JOHN
A peacemaker, a romantic, an idealist and a discouraged perfectionist are the words that Cheryl uses to describe herself. The author of both historical and contemporary novels says she's been told that she is painfully honest.
Cheryl admits to being an avid collector who collects everything from dolls to Depression glass, brass candlesticks, old photographs and—most especially—books. She and her husband love to browse antiques and collectibles shops.
She says that knowing her stories bring hope and pleasure to readers is one of the best parts of being a writer. The other wonderful part is being able to set her own schedule and have time to work around her growing family.
Cheryl loves to hear from readers. You can write her at P.O. Box #24732, Omaha, NE 68124.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
