by Danni Roan
George chuckled at his wife’s mildly irritated tone, but he could tell by the twinkle in her eye that she knew he was teasing.
“When’s that girl comin’?” he asked, changing the subject.
“You mean the one we’re getting’ to look after the boarding house while we’re gone?”
“I don’t know who else I’d be talkin’ about.”
Polly smiled a devilish gleam in her bright blue eyes. “She’ll be here in two weeks. Then we’ll head off to see the grandkids.”
“You sure it’ll be alright, her being here with that teacher fella?” George mused. “Some folks might not think that’s proper like.”
“Oh, that’s all taken care of.” Polly said, rocking in sync with his chair. “Rafe and Sara are going to stay in the rose room while where gone.”
George shook his head. “You think of everything, don’t you?”
“I try,” Polly agreed, making them both laugh.
A young boy came running down the street, sliding to a stop at the front step of the boarding house.
“Is Mr. Gatlin home?” he asked breathlessly.
“Billy Stanley why are you looking for Mr. Gatlin?” Polly asked, eying the four-year-old suspiciously.
“He said he’d show us how to make ice-cream,” the boy offered. “It’s for the weddin’,” he added with an innocent looking grin.
“Did I hear my name?” a strapping man with dark eyes and blue-black hair asked, stepping onto the porch.
“We got all the things you asked for, Mr. Gatlin,” Billy said, smiling up at the big man. “Can ya come now?”
“Ms. Polly, Mr. George,” the young man nodded politely, “I’ll see you at the wedding.” He sloped off down the stairs and Billy reached up to take his hand, tugging him in the direction of the church.
“That’s a fine young man,” George commented.
“Yes, a fine man, and a good teacher,” Polly agreed.
“Seems a shame he ain’t hitched yet.”
“George, don’t you go meddling,” Polly warned.
“You know I never meddle,” George chortled, not meeting her eyes.
“I’m sure that’s true,” Polly said, her voice droll.
“Good heavens,” George postulated, changing the subject, “Look at that.” He pointed off across the street to where a large, heavily decorated cake was being carried through the door of the Grist Mill.
“I’d say that little baker man has been very busy,” Polly said, shaking her head.
“Well you wouldn’t expect anything else from Jasper, would you?” George laughed, watching the thin man with the dark blonde hair directing the men with the cake. “That Rupert is amazingly talented with any form of baked good.”
“It’s nice to have some fresh blood in Biders Clump,” Polly offered, “even if he does talk funny.”
“I wonder how he stays so thin?” George puzzled, running a hand over his thick midsection.
“If I had to guess, I’d say he doesn’t eat up all of his own baked goods,” Polly cracked with a giggle, even as she reached across the space between their chairs to take his hand.
“I guess we’d better get ready to go,” George said, lifting her veined and wrinkled hand to his lips. “Oh, there goes Harlan,” he added, standing and pulling her to her feet.
“Was Maud with him?” Polly asked, a soft smile on her face.
“I didn’t see her, but I’m sure she’ll be along. Now let’s get changed Ma, and head to the church.”
“I think it was hard for Maud to let Sara move to the Circle D when she married Rafe,” Polly said still holding his hand as they walked to the door. “She’s happy though, now that she and Harlan aren’t fightin’ anymore.”
“She’ll be even happier when the grandbabies start comin’,” George chuckled, opening the door for his wife and following her inside.
***
Rafe Dixon tossed Chester’s reins over the hitching rail and turned to where Sara perched on Spice, her flashy chestnut gelding, and lifted his arms to help her down.
With a bright grin, the girl slid off the horse and into his arms, letting him halt her downward slide with his body.
“You ready for a wedding?” he asked, kissing her on the nose and wrapping an arm around her.
“Yes, and my what a wedding it’s going to be,” Sara gushed.
“Why, what do you know, Sara Dixon?” Rafe squinted at her suspiciously.
“Nothing!” Sara replied, opening her eyes in mock innocence. With a laugh, she added, “Janine has the most amazing dress. Her father ordered it all the way from New York, the skirt stands all the way out here,” she added stretching her arms wide.
“You don’t regret not having a big wedding, do you?” Rafe asked, a hint of worry entering his voice as they headed to the church.
“No,” Sara replied, snuggling under his arm and wrapping her arm around his waist. “I got exactly what I wanted for Valentine’s Day.”
Rafe nestled her into his side. He never knew he could be so happy. Not only was he married to the most wonderful girl in the world, who loved him completely, he’d gained a big family.
They’d decided to build a place of their own between the two properties and he couldn’t wait for it to be finished. This way, Sara could walk to her family home easily, or they could join his father for dinner on a moment’s notice.
“We got the last of the fence down between our place and your Ma’s this week,” he said, strutting a little at the accomplishment.
Sara giggled. “Am I supposed to be proud of you or something?” she teased.
“I think you should be. That fence was up there a long time you know, it resisted removal.”
“And what do you think you deserve for all that hard work?”
Rafe tapped his chin with his finger and looked at the bright blue sky. “Hm? I’m pretty sure a kiss is in order,” he mused.
Sara looked around her to see if anyone was near, then tipped up on her toes and kissed him on the lips.
“Sara!” Rafe said looking about, in mock horror at her forwardness.
“No one saw,” Sara laughed, “now hurry up or we’ll miss the good seats.”
“I see you two made it on time.” Polly said, walking up behind the young couple and making them jump.
“Yes, ma’am,” Rafe offered, tipping his hat. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“I’m sure it will be the event of the year,” George said. “No offense to your wedding,” he added with a cheeky grin.
“I think we had the best wedding ever,” Sara said, still walking arm in arm with her handsome husband.
“We’re mighty happy for Bruno and Janine though,” Rafe added.
“It only took eight years for that boy to finally shepherd that girl into the fold of his heart,” Polly said poetically.
“How’s Mr. Williams taking it?” Sara asked.
“Now he’s adjusted, he seems happy.”
“I reminded him about grandbabies,” George said, making everyone laugh.
“Did your Ma make it in alright?” Polly asked, looking at Sara as they drifted toward the bright red doors of the little church.
“Yes, she came in with Cam, Quil and Prissy,” Sara replied. “Prissy was bringing some new dish in for that Mr. Rupert to try as well, I think.”
Polly nodded sagely, understanding Priscilla Adams’ culinary gifts.
“You two all set to look after the boarding house for us?” George queried.
“We are, George.” This time it was Rafe who offered the answer. “We won’t be around much during the day, though.”
“That’s alright,” Polly said, stopping at the bottom of the steps. “I have a young woman coming in to take care of the place; we just need respectable married chaperones for any guests who might arrive,” she added with a twinkle.
Sara blushed prettily, but didn’t speak as George opened the door and they stepped into the beautifully decorated sanctuary.
Epilogue
Twilight was falling as Bruno jumped out of the buggy and raced around to the other side, where he raised his hands to lift down his new bride.
Janine giggled, wrapping the heavy ripples of her confection like dress around her legs and eased down into Bruno’s waiting arms.
“You’re the most beautiful bride that ever was,” the young man said, carrying her up the stairs of his little house.
Janine snuggled her head against his shoulder, letting him carry her over the threshold.
“You say the nicest things, Bruno,” she grinned. “I think I might like you.”
“You do.” Bruno’s voice held mock surprise. After all the years of dreaming, he finally had the girl he’d wanted from that first day on the playground.
“I think you can put me down now,” she offered as they stood in the open room.
“Maybe I don’t want to,” he teased.
“I’m not sure you could hold me forever.”
“I could try.” His midnight eyes were bright with joy.
“I’ll trade you,” Janine offered. “I’ll give you a kiss and you put me down.” She kissed him sweetly and he set her on her feet.
“So, this is our house?” she asked turning, her skirts furling around her like a fan.
“I know it’s not much,” Bruno began.
“It’s lovely,” Janine said, looking back at him. “It’s lovely because it’s ours,” she added with a smile. “You know I’m not much good at housework?” she asked with a grin.
“I believe someone might have mentioned that.”
For a minute, Janine’s dancing eyes grew serious. “I will try, Bruno, you know that, right?”
“Your pa really wanted us to live in town with him,” Bruno mentioned, looking at her carefully. “It might have been easier for you.”
“I know, but if I live in my childhood home I don’t think I’ll ever learn to fend for myself. I want to be a woman in my own right. To have my own home. To make it a place or our own.”
Bronwyn Sparak opened his arms, inviting the most beautiful woman in the world into them. “I didn’t marry you for you to clean my house,” he offered, his whole body warming as he pressed her to him. “I married you because I love you.”
Janine pulled back, looking deep into his eyes. “I feel like I can do anything with you, Bruno,” she spoke, her voice soft and breathy. “I love you for being you.”
Bruno cupped her face in his hands, looking at her with all the love that had built in his heart over the years. “That’s because you can, darlin’, you always could. You just didn’t know it.”
A wicked light entered her dark amber eyes. “Then I think the first thing I’d like to do is kiss you.” And she did.
The End
If you enjoyed this book, check out more books by Danni Roan at Amazon.
Or follow me on Facebook and Twitter
If you’d like to get updates on my work, see special sneak peeks and be entered in special contests, sign up for my newsletter on my webpage or my Amazon author page
For more amazing Western Historical Romance, join my friends and me at Pioneer Hearts, a Facebook group for readers like you.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for choosing to read my book. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. If you enjoyed the story, please feel free to leave a review wherever you purchased the book. Leaving a review will help me and prospective readers know what you liked about this book. It is an opportunity for your voice to be heard and for you to tell others why the story is worth a read.
Danni
About the Author
Danni Roan, a native of western Pennsylvania, spent her childhood roaming the lush green mountains on horseback. She has always loved westerns, and specifically western romance, and is thrilled to be part of this exciting genre. She has lived and worked overseas with her husband and tries to incorporate the unique quality of the people she has met through the years into her books. Although Danni is a relatively new author on the scene, she has been a storyteller her entire life, even causing her mother to remark that as a child “If she told a story, she had to tell the whole story.” Danni is truly excited about this new adventure in writing and hopes that you will enjoy reading her stories as much as she enjoys writing them.
