So Many Roads to Choose

by Kathleen Ball

  Smitty took her into his arms, did a few dance steps, and held her close. “How about we get out of here and go back to the house?”

  Her jaw dropped. “It’s the middle of the morning,” she whispered.

  “I know.” He danced a few more steps with her and then kissed her. “I can’t believe you’re finally mine.”

  “What excuse could we possibly come up with?” Being so close to Smitty made her long for more.

  Smitty stopped and stood very still for a moment. The he linked arms with her and walked over to Jed. “We left something on the stove we need to check on.”

  Jed started to laugh. “Sure thing, I’ll take care of things here.”

  “Pa, I can go check for you,” Greg offered.

  Lynn’s lips twitched when she saw the shock on Smitty’s face.

  Eli slapped Greg on the back of his shoulder. “They just want to be alone for a bit now that they’re married. You understand, right Greg?”

  Greg turned red but he nodded looking older than his nearly sixteen years. It was hard to believe he’d wanted to get married to Sonia just that past fall. They were all growing so quickly and eventually they’d each leave to go their own way. They each had their own destinies.

  Smitty took her hand and snuck her to the front door grabbing her cape on the way. He swept her up into his arms as soon as they stood outside. She had worn pretty, impractical shoes for the wedding.

  “It’s like a dream isn’t it?” she asked as he carried her from one door to another. He opened the door to their house and carried her across the threshold. He kept her in his arms until they got to the bedroom where he finally put her down.

  “I’m nervous,” she confessed. “I want to be pleasing to you.”

  “You already please me.”

  She wrung her hands. “I know this isn’t my first time but John and I always waited until dark and I never felt a need for him that I feel for you. I can’t explain it. I feel inadequate and naive.”

  Smitty put his arms around her and kissed her almost senseless and she hadn’t felt him unbutton the back of her dress until the kiss was over.

  “It’s an expression of our love for each other. I think we’ll get on just fine. Don’t doubt yourself.” He took her dress off and kissed her neck.

  She shivered and got into bed. She’d seen Smitty with his shirt off before, but somehow it was different this time. She looked her fill and welcomed when he joined her under the covers.

  “I love you, Lynn.”

  “Oh, Smitty, I love you too.” The butterflies in her stomach finally calmed when he took her into his arms and kissed her again taking her to heights she’d never known existed.

  Smitty watched her sleep. How did he get to be so lucky as to have Lynn as his wife? She’d been so responsive to his touch. He’d never before felt the way he had with her. She was perfect in every way. He also liked that she was able to love and laugh with him.

  He looked forward to many, many years with the generous woman beside him. To think he’d walked away from her at one time. He’d been crazy. He could tell by the sun it was late afternoon and they needed to get back for Christmas dinner. He had one stop to make before they got to Mike’s.

  Her sleepy eyes and swollen lips beckoned to him but made himself get out of bed. “They’ll be expecting us.”

  “Smitty?”

  He stopped getting dressed and stared at her.

  “Is it supposed to feel so good? I mean I never knew.”

  “I never knew either. I think when love is involved it makes a big difference. I know you loved John, but what we have is magical.”

  She nodded and then got dressed. He smiled when she put on more practical shoes.

  She spotted the wedding gift leaning against the sofa. It was a beautifully carved, ornate headboard for their bed. It had interlocking hearts flanked by doves. “Oh Smitty, I’ve never seen anything so grand in all my life.” She ran her hand over the smooth wood. “Thank you.”

  “I’ll make a bed it will fit, a bigger bed.”

  He took her hand and they left. He led her to the graveyard.

  Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out two carved toy soldiers. “I thought Freddie and Aaron would like these.” He set them down on their graves. “Thank you for the knife. I’ll treasure it forever. You might be gone but you’ll always be in our hearts.”

  A few tears trailed down Lynn’s face. “Merry Christmas, my loves. You are so missed, but we will see each other again one day.” She crouched, kissed her left palm, and placed her hand on each of their graves. She finally stood, and Smitty kissed her tears away.

  They walked to Mike’s and were immediately questioned by their children as to where they’d gone. Luckily, Susan announced it was time for supper.

  Smitty looked around at the happy faces at the table and stood. “I’d like to first say Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas,” most answered back.

  “It’s been such an amazing day. I wanted to take a moment to have a moment of silence to remember those who aren’t here at our table this year. I do believe they are in a better place and God has a plan for us all. I also want to say thank you to my family. It’s been a bit of a trying time with me this year and you all put up with me. I’m blessed to have such wonderful children. It has been a miracle that Lynn and I are finally married. Lynn, I promise to love you always. May God bless us all in the year to come. Cheers!”

  “Cheers!”

  “I’m starved!” Jed exclaimed.

  “Smitty can be a bit long winded,” added Eli.

  “This year he has reason to,” said Mike.

  There was a frantic knock on the door and Mike got up to answer the door. Mike immediately turned. “Smitty and Lynn I think this is for you.”

  Smitty glanced at Lynn and they both stood and walked to the door.

  A stranger was standing there holding a newborn baby and a young boy.

  “I’m sorry to bother you but their ma was a widow and she’d died in childbirth. I heard in town that someone out this way took in orphans.”

  Lynn and Smitty looked at each other and smiled. “Come in,” Smitty said.

  Epilogue

  Autumn, the next year

  Lynn wiped her forehead as Smitty helped her to sit under a shade tree. It didn’t help, no matter what she did, she couldn’t get comfortable and she was terribly hot.

  Smitty put a pillow between her back and the tree trunk. “There you go, my sweet. Did you want me to stay or is this one of those times you’d rather not see anyone on earth?”

  She laughed. “If not for your sense of humor… Sit with me please. I still can’t believe we’ve been blessed, and I’m carrying our child. I feel guilty when I get cross, but my feelings keep changing from moment to moment it seems.”

  Smitty’s left brow lifted. “Oh? I hadn’t noticed.”

  She laughed again. “You know I believe that changes are wholesome but our family is about to go through too many changes. We have to find a way to keep the children from growing up. I know Greg is so very mature for his age but to want to go off on his own to mine for gold is crazy. I want you to tell him no.”

  “Darling, I wish I could lock him in his room, but he’s a man. He wants to spread his wings. They all will someday. Besides, I heard there are a few more orphans on their way to us, so we’ll need to make room. The Oregon Trail is so very hard.”

  “Oh no! Run and get Lily for me please!”

  He gave Lynn a blank stare and then his mouth formed a big “O”. He helped her up and yelled for Carlos to run for Lily.

  She was swung up into his strong arms and taken to their bedroom.

  “Smitty don’t look so worried. You’ve brought many babies into the world.”

  “I know, I just don’t want anything to go wrong. Oh, I should be allying your fears not adding to them.” He kissed her forehead.

  The pain was too much to bear. “Oh my! Is it supposed to hurt s
o much?”

  “Yes,” said Lily as she moved to the end of the bed and helped Lynn get ready.

  It took forever and ever, but Lynn finally had a healthy girl. She couldn’t stop staring at the beautiful little one with a bit of brown hair and blue eyes. “I think we have a female Smitty on our hands.”

  Smitty smiled. “She does look like me, doesn’t she?”

  “She looks like a prune!” Will said after he snuck into the room. He quickly left to spread the news.

  “What’s her name?” Lily asked.

  “Her name is Christy. It was Lynn’s mother’s name.”

  “That’s lovely. I’ll leave you three alone. Congratulations.”

  Lynn reached up and stroked Smitty’s face. “I love you so much. I think I understand what you were trying to tell me out by the tree.”

  “What is that, my love?” Smitty took her hand and kissed her palm.

  “Change is inevitable. We now have one new child and a few more orphans coming to us. I want Greg to stay but for each of us there are so many roads to choose.”

  Christy started to cry and Smitty grinned. “You agree don’t you?”

  The End

  I'm so pleased you chose to read So Many Roads to Choose, and it's my sincere hope that you enjoyed the story. I would appreciate if you'd consider posting a review. This can help an author tremendously in obtaining a readership. My many thanks. ~ Kathleen

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  We’ve Only Just Begun

  Susan jounced in the saddle as the horse careened through the streets of Independence, Missouri. Being jarred sideways, she grabbed for the pommel but her sweat-slicked fingers began slipping off. Another good jolt and she would find herself beneath Sunshine’s hooves. Frantically grasping the pommel with a solid hold, Susan closed her eyes and said a quick prayer. Her life couldn’t end this way, it just couldn’t. It had been a struggle to make her way to Independence. It was supposed to be a brand new start.

  “Umphh.” Strong arms wrapped around her ribs and hauled her out of harm’s way. His firm grip hurt but it was much better than being run over by a horse. She found herself practically sitting on the stranger’s lap while he held her tight against him. His hard chest and the warmth of his body made her forget her pain. She’d barely been able to catch her breath until he slowed his horse. She gasped when she found herself moving through the air again as he handed her to another man on the ground.

  Once free of the other man, she turned to thank her savior and was dumbstruck. She opened her mouth to thank him but words escaped her. She’d never seen a man so tall before. He towered over her by a few feet. Slowly she worked her gaze up from his dusty boots, along his legs that seemed to go on forever, to his trim waist and then to shoulders as broad as a barn. She gulped. She had to crane her neck to take in the strong, angular chin, the firm lips. Holding her breath, she met his blue eyes, and her heart stuttered at the fury they contained.

  “You could have been killed! You shouldn’t be on a horse if you can’t control it. Where are your parents? Surely they don’t allow you to ride that horse all over town.” His voice boomed, and the crowd that had already gathered grew larger.

  Flames of embarrassment licked at her cheeks. He’d chastised her as though she was a child. A child she certainly was not. “I thank you for coming to my rescue. You risked your life to save mine, and there is no way to repay your bravery.” She hoped she sounded like one of those rich Southern ladies. People never messed with a Southern lady.

  She turned to the other man and blinked, struck by the resemblance to the man who had rescued her. “Thank you kind sir.” She raised a hand to make sure her hair was still up and suppressed a groan. Some of the strands still remained secure but most had haphazardly come loose and her tresses had all fallen every which way. So much for being a fine, Southern lady.

  She gave them both a curt nod and then spun on her heel in the direction she assumed Sunshine went. The crowd was bigger than she’d thought as she made her way through it only to find her Sunshine eating hay out of cart. She marched up to her horse and grabbed the reins. “All this for some hay? Oh, Sunshine how could you? You had plenty of grass to eat, and we’ve only been away from home a little over a day.” Her shoulders slumped as she sighed. She needed a place to repair herself before joining a wagon train and she needed to find one leaving soon.

  “Ya’ll have to pay for that there hay your horse ate. It’s not free you know.” A burly man with greasy blond hair approached, and as he came closer she could smell his filth. He had a gleam in his eye she’d seen before and she had no intention of being a victim.

  “How much?”

  The man smirked as he looked her up and down causing her to shiver. “I’m sure we can work something out.”

  “How much do you charge for hay? Do you charge by the pitchfork full or cart full?”

  His bushy brows came together. “I um, well—”

  “It’s not your hay, is it?” She put her hands on her hips. If he hadn’t had smelled so fowl she would have taken a step forward. “How dare you try to steal money from me! I suggest you leave.” She hoped he left before the real owner of the hay came by.

  “I’m sure we’ll run into each other again soon.” He smirked at her again before he turned and walked away. Her stomach clenched at the possibilities of what could have happened with such a lecherous man.

  “He gave up easily.”

  Startled, Susan’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly glanced over her shoulder and nodded to the man who’d rescued her. “I never did get your name.”

  He waited for her to turn in his direction and then he smiled. “I’m Mike Todd. The man you just tangled with is a mean one. You’ll want to watch to be sure you’re never alone with him.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Todd, for your advice.” She smiled back.

  “No thanks needed, ma’am, and it’s Mike.”

  “I’m Susan Farr. It’s nice to make your acquaintance. You’ll have to excuse my appearance I’m afraid.”

  He stared into her eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with your appearance, Miss Farr.”

  “Please, call me Susan.” She tilted her head a bit. She’d often observed how rich woman acted and it was paying off.

  “Fine, Susan. Now where are your parents? Do they know how much trouble you’re making in town?” His voice grew deeper.

  “My parents passed recently. It’s just me and Sunshine. I was hoping to join one of those wagon trains to the west. I’ve always enjoyed traveling.” She batted her eyelashes at him and felt affronted when he laughed.

  “Listen lady, this is no vacation. You must be able to work and work hard in order for any wagon master to take you on. Since no one takes women traveling alone, you’ll have to rethink your plans.”

  Dang, I overdid the fine southern lady act. “Mike, I’m quite adept at working hard.”

  “Doing what? Needlepoint? I’m sorry but I’ve taken chances with women like you before, and it never ended in a good way. I can’t take the time to look after a helpless female and I refuse to break up fights among the men who will try to catch your eye. No. Like I said you need a new plan.”

  “When are you leaving?”

  “You’re not listening to a word I have to say.” He frowned.

  “Oh, I’m listening. When are you leaving?” She tapped her foot.

  “In the morning. I wish you luck, Miss Farr. Good bye.”

  She watched him until he was swallowed up in the distance. She needed a strategy to get on that wagon train and she needed one now.

  The next morning, Mike and his brothers Jed and Eli were all busy helping the members of their party get ready to leave. There were stubborn oxen that needed to be yok
ed and hitched. Despite earlier instructions, meals were not all done being cooked and it was past time to pack up. A few of the women looked as though they wanted to cry. Children ran all over the place and most didn’t heed their parents’ calls.

  Then there were those who’d been ready right on time griping about the delay. Mike had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. It was always like this the first few days. He rode Arrow up and down the line of wagons giving advice until he came to a wagon closer to the end. His eyes narrowed when he spotted Susan Farr. Dang it all!

  He guided Arrow to the wagon she was packing. “Miss Farr, I’m surprised to see you here.” He hoped his voice conveyed his annoyance.

  “Oh hello, Mike. Beautiful day isn’t it?” She gave him a quick uncertain smile and went back to loading the wagon.

  “I already told you not to come. Why are you here?”

  Her shoulders tensed as she turned toward him. “I got married yesterday. I’m not a single woman anymore, and my husband was already part of your party. There’s no reason I can’t go now is there?”

  “Where is your husband?” Her news shocked him.

  “Grabbing a few more minutes of sleep.”

  Mike swung down off his horse and stalked over to the wagon. He took one look inside and shook his head. She’d paired up with a real winner. Clancy Willis was a bit of a drinker. He was hungover, no doubt. “Hey, Clancy!” he yelled into the wagon. “Time to go if you don’t want to be left behind.” When he received no reply he took a cup filled it with water and threw it at Clancy’s head.

  Clancy sputtered. “Why’d you have to go and do that?”

  “Get up and help your wife! We’re ready to leave.”