After one last glance at the mirror, Micah closed the bag with his few belongings in it. No need to unpack until he learned what kind of reception he’d receive at the ranch. He locked the door to his room and pocketed the key. May as well get the trip over with now.
Downstairs, Charlie greeted him again. “Hey, there, Micah, you clean up nice. Bet your sister will be happy to see you. Maggie, I mean Miss Margaret, is always talking about you when she comes into town.”
“I’ll be glad to see her too.” So Margaret no longer wanted to be called Maggie. A smile creased his face. Just like his little sister to decide to use the longer version of her name. Maggie would be twenty now and been a young lady from the day of her birth, always helping Ma around the house.
His younger brother Levi loved the ranch and all that went with it. At twenty-two, Levi had more knowledge of the ranch than Micah would ever have. Levi should be the one inheriting everything, even though Micah was the oldest. Of course, Pa could have changed his will and given everything to Levi anyway. Micah shook his head. Here he was thinking on something that may not even be a problem anymore. Best concentrate on getting to see his family and nothing else.
He crossed the street to the livery, curious as to whom Willy had hired as blacksmith. He must be new in town because Micah didn’t remember any boys with the strength of a smithy. Of course they could have grown up by now.
Willy greeted him with a huge grin splitting his face. “Why, if it ain’t Micah Gordon. Didn’t know you was coming home. Come on in, boy. You wantin’ a horse? Where’s Red Dawn?”
“Had to sell her, Willy, so now I need one to get out to the ranch.” A clanging noise rang out from the back. “I see you’ve hired a smithy.”
“Sure ’nuff have. Come on and meet him.”
When Willy introduced the new smithy to Micah, his eyes opened wide, not at the size and strength of the man, but the color of his skin, dark as midnight. Micah stuck out his hand. “Good to meet you, Burt. This town sure needed a good blacksmith.”
The man grinned, his white teeth in sharp contrast to the black surrounding them. “Good to meet you, Micah Gordon.”
Willy led a horse to Micah. “Let me get this one saddled and you can ride out of here.”
Burt grinned again. “He picked you out a good one. I put those shoes on him myself.”
Micah grabbed the saddle and helped Willy finish up with getting the horse ready to ride. “Thanks, Willy. I’ll have him back tomorrow if not tonight.” Micah swung up into the saddle, tipped his hat, and turned his horse to the northwest and the road out of town.
The bank door across the street opened, and an older man and beautiful young woman stepped out. He recognized the man as Horace Swenson, the owner, but who was the young woman with him?
She turned toward him, and her smile froze on her lips. Her eyes opened wide and her hand grasped her throat.
Camilla Swenson. If not for that golden blonde hair and beautiful face, he’d never have recognized her, but she had recognized him right away. Camilla had grown up into a shapely young woman. Suddenly, returning to Stoney Creek became the best idea he’d ever had.
Love Stays True Page 25
