End of the Trail
Page 22
“Glory be. Good things just keep happening.”
EPILOGUE
Brooks paced from one tree to another outside the Shoofly Christian Church. They’d opted to marry in town because the church was bigger than their small church. Jarrod, Melissa, and the children, as well as the other Morgan family members were staying at the only hotel in town, as had the rest of them last night.
He gazed around at the mingling people. The townsfolk stood in small clusters chatting with one another. His pa, Phillip, and Nate were talking to a man and examining a Morgan horse Pa had sold him. Looking at the large crowd, Brooks wished they had decided to have a smaller wedding at the ranch with just family and a few close friends. Too late for that.
He pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at the time. The women were inside, prettying themselves up for the wedding, which should start any minute. Soon he’d be a married man. He had a ranch and enough money in the bank to hold them over through hard times and to build a small house for Nate and Grace.
Fast approaching hoofbeats pulled his attention from his thoughts. The marshal dismounted and looped the horse’s reins over a wagon wheel. He took off his hat and slapped it against his leg, sending dust flying. He walked toward Brooks, clapped him on the shoulder, and started up the church steps. Then he paused and came back down. “It’s not exactly a good time to be talkin’ business, but I thought you’d want to know, those two yahoos in my jail’ve been chirpin’ like hens at a church picnic. Dengler ordered Will’s death, and one of his men—who died at Dengler’s hand—was responsible for the deed.”
Brooks blew out a breath. He’d wait to tell Keri, but it was a relief to finally learn what had happened. “Thanks for letting me know.”
The marshal pinned him with a solemn stare. “Will saw something in you, son. He entrusted all he cared about into your hands. Take good care of her.”
Brooks nodded and watched the marshal lumber up the steps.
His pa strode toward him, his gaze flicking between Brooks and the marshal as he entered the church. “You all right, son?”
“Yes, I am. Fine and dandy.” He wrapped his arm around his pa’s shoulders and hugged him. Things couldn’t get much better—except if Josh could have attended the wedding, but with his wife so close to giving birth, they sent their apologies. Brooks gazed up at the sky and considered his blessings: The water situation with the ranch was good now that Dengler’s dam had been blown up. Brooks had reconciled with his family, as had Keri, and he was marrying the only woman he’d ever loved. He gazed heavenward. Thank You, Lord, for Your many blessings.
The church doors opened, and Ma stepped out, shading her eyes with her hand. She looked pretty in her new lavender dress and with her hair done up in a fancy style. She waved. “All y’all can come in now. We’re ready.”
Brooks chuckled and shook his head and started for the door. Someone grabbed his arm and hauled him back. He reached for his pistol but remembered he’d left it in his room.
“Not you, son.” His pa chuckled. “The groom is the last to go in—at least the last one before the bride and her bridesmaid.”
“How do you know?”
“I’ve attended a few weddings in my day.” He straightened his jacket, then reached out and adjusted Brooks’s bowtie.
Brooks swallowed, not liking the tightness. “These things too closely resemble a noose.”
Pa chuckled. “There’s probably more truth in that than you realize.”
“Do you hate wearing them as much as I do?”
His pa grinned and winked. “You know I do, but we do it to make our women happy. And if that’s the worst thing you do to satisfy Keri, consider yourself a lucky man.”
Phillip followed the last of the guests as they filed into the church. Brooks and his pa walked around to the side of the church and entered there, while Nate waited at the back to escort Keri. At the minister’s nod, Brooks walked in the side door and to the front. His hands shook, but he smiled at his family and friends—Marshal Lane, Doc Brown, Earl, and many others. He’d ridden into this small town, just looking for a shelter from a storm, but he’d found salvation, reconciliation, and romance. He smiled at his father, proud to have him stand up beside him as his best man.
The organist began playing the processional, and he and everyone else looked back to the door, where Keri would enter. Excitement galloped through him, but something nagged at him. Was it possible that God had sent that hailstorm all those weeks ago? Had God been guiding him, even before he’d repented and turned his life around? Had God sent him here—to doctor Will, to take over ownership of Raven Creek, and to become Keri’s protector and husband?
It was almost too much to fathom.
A shadow darkened the door, just before Grace entered. She started down the aisle, a big smile on her face, and she took her place at the front. Once Brooks and Keri were married, Nate would join Grace and finally unite their lives.
Brooks’s heart thundered as he waited for his beloved to appear. Then Keri glided in on Nate’s arm, resembling a fairy princess from a children’s storybook. She looked gorgeous in her cream-colored dress with short, poufy sleeves. Her narrow waist looked even smaller with the belt encircling it. Bows were mounted on her shoulders, and the ends hung down a good foot.
Brooks gazed at the lovely smile on Keri’s beautiful face and doubted he’d ever be this happy again. And then she stopped in front of him. He trembled and smiled, once again marveling how God had orchestrated events to bring them together. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered.
“So are you.” She smiled, her blue eyes dancing.
The minister cleared his throat. Keri ducked her head, cheeks red. Brooks turned and wrapped her arm around his, and they faced the minister together, ready to become husband and wife.
His journey had been a long, hard one, but he’d finally reached the end of the trail.
The End
A MORGAN FAMILY
SERIES
CAPTIVE TRAIL
Taabe Waipu has stolen a horse meant for a dowry and is fleeing her Comanche village in Texas. While fleeing on horseback she has an accident and must complete her flight on foot. Injured and exhausted, Taabe staggers onto a road near Fort Chadbourne and collapses.
On one of his first runs through Texas, Butterfield Overland Mail Company driver Ned Bright is escorting two nuns to their mission station. They come across Taabe who is nearly dead from exposure to the sun and exhaustion. Ned carries her back with them and begins to investigate Taabe Waipu’s identity.
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A MORGAN FAMILY
SERIES
THE LONG TRAIL HOME
Riley Morgan returns home after fighting in the War Between the States and there is nothing he wants more than to see his parents and fiancée again. He soon learns that his parents are dead and the woman he loved is married. To get by, Riley takes a job at the Wilcox School for the blind.
At the school Riley meets a pretty blind woman named Annie, who threatens to steal his heart even as he fights to keep it hidden away. When a greedy man attempts to close the school, Riley and Annie band together to stop him and start falling in love. But Annie has kept a secret from Riley. When he learns the unwelcome truth, Riley packs his belongings and prepares to leave the school that has become his home.
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A MORGAN FAMILY
SERIES
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