by Jenna Kernan
Bowie offered his arm to his bride and led Merritt Cahill out to sign the marriage license. Chance offered his arm to Leanna and walked her back down the aisle. She wiped her streaming eyes as she went. Cabe waved with Cleve’s help and she paused to scoop the baby up. Chance continued along with her until they reached the street.
He figured he’d never know for sure whose baby that was or why Leanna chose not to tell any of them. And he realized it didn’t matter much anymore. He was Leanna’s. She’d claimed him and that was good enough.
“You’re thinking about Boodle, aren’t you?”
Leanna was like that. Always knowing what he was thinking. He nodded.
“Do you remember Arden Honeybee?”
That was one of Leanna’s girls, but now that he thought of it, Arden had not come with her to Cahill Crossing.
“Yup.”
“Her real name was Arden Holden. She gave Cabe to me. I promised to protect him from his father.”
“Who’s name is…?” She’d just said Arden Holden, which was Cleve’s last name. He glanced back toward the church, more confused than before. “Is it Cleve?”
Leanna shook her head. “No. Cleve is Arden’s brother and is Cabe’s uncle.” Her face grew deadly serious. “Preston Van Slyck was the father, Chance. He ruined Arden and he ruined others. It was some kind of a twisted game to him.”
Chance set his jaw as he recalled Preston pursuing Leanna all the way to Deadwood. But it seemed, with Leanna, Preston had finally met his match.
“I couldn’t tell you in Deadwood because I had given my word. Preston figured it out when he saw Boodle’s eye color. They’re very unusual—his grandfather had them, as well. After Preston died I was afraid that Willem Van Slyck might also notice and try to claim him.” She kissed Cabe’s little fist. Then she looked back at Chance.
“Is that why Preston took him?”
She nodded. “Yes. And he wanted us to stop poking around in his father’s business and taking girls from across the tracks. I fear he thought that bringing Cabe to Willem would lift him in his father’s eyes.” Leanna grinned at Cabe, speaking in a tone meant for a little one, while her words were for Chance. “We love him like our own. Don’t we?”
“He’s a lucky boy. I appreciate you telling me. Will you tell Bowie and Quin?”
“Bowie knows and I’ll tell Quin by and by. It’s safe now.”
Cleve appeared through the crowd and took charge of Leanna.
“We’ll see you at the reception,” she said, and off she went.
Both Quin and Leanna had offered their places for the reception and Merritt had chosen Leanna’s Place, Chance thought, to add the weight of their confidence that Leanna’s Place was most definitely on the correct side of the tracks. The new window had arrived, but Leanna wouldn’t let anyone see it yet. It was installed, but still wrapped in brown paper. Having paid for it, Chance had been allowed a peek. Unlike the last one, this window did not depict the past. Instead, Leanna had chosen a rendering of a locomotive, rolling into a booming town set between the river and the cattle ranches beyond. Leanna’s window now pointed toward the bright future of Cahill Crossing. And as for the shards from the old window, she had shipped them east where they had been transformed into stained-glass lamps that hung over the dining room tables.
Ellie appeared and Chance took her up in his arms and kissed her. She pulled back after a moment, flushed pink and smiling brightly, her ridiculous hat now askew. He grinned down at her, feeling happier than he could ever remember.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
He nodded, setting them in motion. He was ready—ready to begin living again, ready to rejoin his family and ready to marry the bravest, smartest woman in Cahill Crossing. She’d given him a reason to cast off his guilt and grasp what she offered with both hands. With her, he knew they would build a home and put down roots so deep they would nourish generations.
* * * * *
ISBN: 9781459220836
Copyright © 2012 by Jeannette H. Monaco
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