Her Winding Path_Seeing Ranch series

by Florence Linnington

  “Are you going to tell Elizabeth?”

  Tom thought about that. “She’s been through a lot.”

  “It could bring her some solace to know that he’s been brought to justice.”

  Tom considered that point. “That’s true. But, also, bringing it up could just upset her more.”

  “How about we don’t say anything, and then if she ever mentions it, we tell her the truth?”

  Tom nodded, noting that she had said “we.”

  “Does that mean you’re staying?”

  Her face was a mixed bag of emotions. There was surprise there. Joy. Pain. Confusion.

  “We’re not cousins, Ida Rose,” he firmly said.

  Tears swiftly filled her eyes. “We are not, are we?”

  “No.” Cupping her chin in his palm, he ran his thumb down her cheek. His chest swelled with emotion and he felt close to breaking into tears himself.

  “I want you to stay.” With his free hand, he worked the button on his shirt pocket loose and pulled out the engagement ring. The sight of it made Ida Rose cry even more. Tears cascaded down her chin and her eyes turned red.

  “What do you say? I know I was rough when I found out—when I thought we were related. The truth is, I didn’t know how to act. I was losing the best thing that had ever happened to me. I didn’t understand how life could be that cruel.”

  Ida Rose nodded. “I know,” she whispered. “I felt the same way. And I thought something was wrong with me. I still cared for you so much… It simply did not make sense.”

  “But now, it does.” He pressed his hand against the back of her neck and looked deep into her eyes. “We were meant to be together. Look at everything that’s happened. It can’t be denied.”

  “No.” She smiled through her tears. “It cannot, can it?”

  “Are those tears of happiness?”

  “Yes,” she giggled. “They are.”

  Tom laughed as well. “What do you say? I love you, Ida Rose. Be my wife. Never leave my side again.”

  “I would like that very much.”

  Joy bloomed in Tom, so strongly that he lost all sense of everything else. There was only Ida Rose, the strong, determined, beautiful woman who would soon be his wife. He couldn’t take his eyes off her—would never want to take his eyes off of her.

  “Tom?” she whispered.

  “Yes, Ida Rose?”

  “I believe you are forgetting something.”

  Her gaze fell to his hand, and he followed it there.

  “Oh!” Taking her left hand in his, he slipped the diamond ring back where it belonged.

  “Perfect,” she breathed.

  “There’s one more thing.”

  “What?” She looked up at him in confusion.

  “This.” Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her tight to his chest and lowered his lips to hers. Her soft warmth enveloped him, filled him up, set him free from all his worries and pain. Nothing that had happened seemed to matter anymore. They were together, finally right where they needed to be.

  Pulling away, he gazed down at her. “You were so brave out there.”

  Ida Rose let out a shuddering exhale and rested her head on his shoulder. “I did not feel that brave. I was only doing what I needed to. I knew showing any weakness would be a bad idea.”

  “You did more than just act strong,” he said into her hair. “You were strong. You saved my life, Ida Rose.”

  She lifted her face and looked up at him, a smile twisting one corner of her mouth. “You have done the same to me, Tom. My heart broke when I climbed on that stagecoach. Now, to be back here with you...” She shook her head. “It is better than you could ever imagine.”

  Tom pressed his hands against her back, his smile stretching ear-to-ear. “Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea of it.”

  29

  29. Ida Rose

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Standing on the corner of Main Street, Gemma clung to Ida Rose’s hand with all her might.

  “Relax, Gemma. I am not going anywhere.”

  Gemma frowned. “That is easy for you to say. I already lost you once this week. I am not letting it happen again.”

  Ida Rose laughed and squeezed Gemma’s hand, enjoying her friend’s passion and honesty. Though it was not as easy for her to put her feelings into words, Ida Rose was giddy. Less than twelve hours before, she had worried for her life. And before that, she had mourned leaving behind the people she loved.

  But now, she had everything once more. The bandits had been captured. The diamond was back on her finger. She was returning home that afternoon. And not to just any home. Her and Tom’s home. The place they and Elizabeth would continue to live in for many years to come. The place they would raise a family.

  “Here they come,” Gemma announced, stepping forward to peek around the small crowd that had gathered.

  The front door of the sheriff’s office opened and Mr. McGraw came out, rifle in hand. The bandits filed behind him, strung together in chains. Another guard brought up the rear, bringing the morose parade to an end.

  Halfway down the line, Rocky looked up, his gaze traveling across the gawking spectators. Ida Rose quickly stepped back, hiding herself behind the other bodies. Just the idea of the man’s eyes on her made her skin crawl.

  It wasn’t until she heard the door on the jail cart close that she looked back up. The prisoners were being taken out of town, starting their journey to Cheyenne, where they would be put on trial and then locked up in the jail there.

  Seeing the cart bump out of town brought a long exhale from Ida Rose. With the bandits finally gone, she could breathe easy. She could move on.

  She prayed that the same would be true for Elizabeth and Tom, though she suspected it wouldn’t. They had suffered real pain at Rocky’s hands. For Tom, the long journey of grieving and coming to understanding was only just beginning.

  At least Ida Rose would be at his side through it all. She would not be able to completely take away his pain, but she would do everything she could to lessen it. It was a promise she had already made to herself and God, and soon, she would make it to Tom on their wedding day.

  “Thank goodness that is over.” Gemma wrapped her arms around herself. “Shall we go and pack? Mitchell will be here to pick me up soon.”

  Ida Rose laughed. “Gemma! You have not packed yet?”

  Gemma pouted. “It takes a long time. Do not make fun of me!”

  “I am simply admiring your unique personality.” She playfully poked Gemma in the side.

  “Unique personality, huh?” She rolled her eyes. “Now you sound like my husband.”

  “You go and pack. I will be there shortly. There is something I need to do first.”

  Gemma took a slow step backward. “Do not leave town without saying goodbye.”

  “I won’t. I promise.”

  With waves exchanged, they headed in opposite directions.

  The church was empty, just the way Ida Rose liked it. Disregarding the pews, she went right to the front and knelt in front of the cross there. The words flew out of her mouth, gratitude spilling from her heart. She had so much to be thankful for, so much to cherish.

  With her head still bowed, she wrapped the prayer up, asking God to help both Elizabeth and Tom through whatever was to come next. For Tom especially, adapting to the truth would be difficult.

  Leaving the church, she passed families here and there. With the bandits gone, it was safe for the women and children to return to their homes. Husbands walked along, their arms hung over their wives’ shoulders while children giggled and skipped alongside them. Peace had come to Shallow Springs once more. Now that she had experienced the best the town had to offer, Ida Rose could see it for the jewel that it was.

  It was odd walking into a hotel that was near-quiet, save for the chatter of several people in the dining room. Upstairs, she found Elizabeth sitting on the edge of the bed, the family bible in her lap and her bags next to her.

&nbs
p; Ida Rose idled in the doorway, feeling she was intruding upon a personal moment.

  “Come in, dear.” Elizabeth smiled. “Where did you get to?”

  Ida Rose perched on the bed next to her. “I was… out for a walk with Gemma.”

  Did she remember the bandits? Rocky?

  “I see you are packed,” she commented.

  “Yes,” Elizabeth cooed. “Where are we going?”

  In the past, Ida Rose’s heart might have sunk. But after facing leaving Elizabeth behind forever, a woman she had come to truly love, Ida Rose was merely grateful for her presence. It did not matter that she was forgetful. She belonged with Tom—and now, Ida Rose.

  She squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “We are going home. Won’t it be nice to have your own room again?”

  Elizabeth chortled. “It will be nice to have my own clothesline again!”

  Ida Rose laughed. “Everything about being back on the farm will be nice.”

  “And Tom...” She trailed off, her gaze drifting to the window. “He knows the truth now. That is good… He did well out there, from what the sheriff told me. As did you. Henry would be proud of you both.”

  Ida Rose fixed her stare on Elizabeth’s profile. So, she did recall some of what had happened.

  For how long, it did not matter. It could not matter. Elizabeth was present in that very moment, one Ida Rose was blessed to share with her. The time would come, most likely later that day, when she would forget again. Perhaps, at that hour, she would not even recall who she was. But Ida Rose would still be there for her. She would be there for her through each and every moment.

  That was what family did. They were together through the hard and the good times.

  “Are my gals ready to go?” a deep voice asked.

  Tom leaned against the door frame, his arms folded across his chest. He looked tired, but there was a smile on his face and a light shining in his eyes. Something about it reminded Ida Rose of the first moment she’d seen him. He’d been her savior then.

  He still was, just in a different way.

  “We are ready,” Ida Rose announced, grabbing Elizabeth’s bags. “I just need to say goodbye to Gemma.”

  The wagon ride back to the farm was a quiet one, but perfect as well. Acorn and Chestnut trotted alongside each other, reunited at last. As the farm came into view, butterflies took flight in Ida Rose’s chest. Home. Her home.

  “I’ll put the horses away,” Tom said as they pulled into the yard. “You can get Mother settled.”

  “All right.”

  They caught eyes and heat filled Ida Rose’s face. Tom smiled and ducked his head. They’d been exchanging silent looks the whole drive, each one sweeter than the last.

  Guiding Elizabeth into the house, Ida Rose helped her unpack her bags in her bedroom, then went into the kitchen to make some tea. Getting the cook stove going so she could boil the water took a great deal of time, but finally, she had Elizabeth at the table with a mug of steaming tea in front of her.

  And still, Tom had not come inside.

  Wiping her hands on her apron, Ida Rose went to the window and surveyed the yard. There was no sign of Tom.

  “I will be right back,” she murmured, going outside. “Wait here, Elizabeth.”

  On the other side of the stable, Red lay in the shadow of the building, finishing eating something from his dog bowl. Ida Rose bent down and patted his head. “Good boy. Where did Tom go? Tom?”

  A search through the stable proved equally fruitless. Ida Rose’s heart began to beat faster and her palms to sweat. Where could he have gotten off to?

  Nibbling on her lower lip, she ran along the edge of the first potato field, checking out the horizon as she went. Could it be…

  No. The bandits had all been captured. None of them had been left behind.

  But suddenly, Ida Rose wasn’t so sure. Tom would not have just vanished. What if Rocky had foiled his guards? Escaped from the jail cart and come to exact revenge on the man who had brought him down?

  “Ida Rose.”

  She came to a halt, suddenly aware that she had run the length of the farm without realizing it. Tom was stepping out from under the Weeping Willow his father’s grave was under, his forehead wrinkled with concern. “What is the matter?”

  Ida Rose sighed, a heavy weight releasing from her shoulders. “I could not find you. I was so worried, I...” Her words became thicker and she tightly closed her mouth.

  “I’m fine. I was right here.”

  Coming to her, he pulled her in close. With her face against his broad chest, she breathed in deep.

  “I didn’t mean to worry.”

  “It is all right,” she assured him, blinking fast to clear the tears. When she was certain she looked close to normal, she stepped back and looked up at him.

  “Everything is fine now.” Tom took both of her hands in his. “The bandits are gone. You’re going to see the real Shallow Springs now. It’s safe, warm… Nothing and no one will get you here.”

  Ida Rose smiled at him. She knew he would do everything to keep such a promise. Though he was just a man and could move no mountains, Ida Rose knew he would do everything in his power to keep her safe and make her happy, and that was enough.

  “Elizabeth told me your father would have been proud of you,” she quietly shared. “Of how you came and saved us.”

  Tom thoughtfully nodded. “I miss him.”

  “Oh, Tom.” She rubbed his shoulder.

  “But you must miss your father even more. It’s been less time for you.”

  She let out a long breath. “Time does not really make much of a difference, does it?”

  “In a way, it does. The pain becomes less, but it’s still there. You miss them in new ways.”

  “Yes,” she agreed. She was already discovering this, thinking about how she would be married soon and her father would not be there to give her away.

  “But I’ve realized something else, too,” Tom said, his face softening. “When you grieve, it opens you up. Do you know what I mean? It lets the light in. The light of God that couldn’t get to you otherwise. When you’re sad, you can feel like you’re nothing… but that’s when you give yourself over and God makes something new out of you.”

  “Something better,” Ida Rose whispered.

  “Yes.” His gaze connected with hers. “Something better.”

  New tears filled Ida Rose’s eyes, but these, she did not wish to hide. They were honorable tears, ones that showed she cared, ones that showed she was alive and that she loved.

  “It doesn’t matter that he was not my flesh-and-blood father,” Tom firmly said. “It’s not that that matters. We make our own families.”

  “We do,” she wholeheartedly agreed.

  “Thank you, Ida Rose.” Pulling her to him once more, he planted the lightest kiss on her lips. “For being here.”

  “The same to you,” she whispered against his hot skin.

  Taking her hand in his, he began walking for the house. Ida Rose pressed close to his side, the joy and love in her heart growing with each step.

  They had done it. They had faced multiple adversities and they had triumphed. Surely, there would be more hardship on the road ahead, but it almost did not matter. Ida Rose had Tom and he had her. Add Elizabeth and their friends and the family they had grown went on and on.

  With all of them together, they could – and would – face anything and everything.

  30

  30. Tom

  Chapter Thirty

  Mitchell leaned in close to Tom. “Stop fidgeting,” he whispered.

  “I can’t help it,” Tom murmured back. “I’m just...”

  “It’s all right to be nervous.”

  “Hm,” was all he could get out.

  All the people, just sitting there, looking at him and waiting…

  Mitchell’s hand landed on Tom’s shoulder with a firm clap. “Just take it moment by moment. It’s gonna be all right. We’ve all been there.”
>
  Tom gave him a grateful smile. They’d been planning this day for weeks, with Ida Rose saying she only wanted a simple ceremony. He’d put effort into going the extra mile for everything, though, ordering blue ribbons from Cheyenne to string along the pews and having a three-tier wedding cake baked. He’d thought he was ready.