by Reina Torres
He held his hat in his hand, holding it down at his side as his other hand brushed backward from his forehead. She’d seen the gesture more than a dozen times before, enough to know that he was worried about something.
“Hello, Ransom.” She felt the air that she drew into her lungs warm with her love for him, her cheeks coloring with her unspoken emotions. “Olivia said you were with Levi.”
He spared a glance toward the General Store. “We were inside talking to Patty earlier. And we saw you walk past the church.” He looked at the stone to her side. “Is that your mother’s marker?”
Nodding, she reached out a hand and brushed the tips of her fingers over the stone. “My father had it ordered especially for her. He wanted a dove and a lily to mark her passing.” She smiled a little more, brushing the backs of her fingers over the smooth top. “I think she’d have preferred daisies, but papa never did know what flowers were called, just that she liked them.”
His shoulders shook slightly. “You both miss her.”
“We always will,” she agreed, “but it helps that I live close enough to visit every so often.” She drew in a shocked breath, lifting a hand she touched her fingertips to her lips. “I'm sorry, Ransom,” she began, “I forgot about your aunt.”
He shook his head, waving away her worry with his hand. “You didn't mean anything by it, Delia. But my aunt didn't put much store in markers,” he explained. “She told me that she wanted to be remembered in my heart. I thought it a strange request at the time, but I honored her request. While she’s buried beside my uncle, she lives on in my journal.” Pointing over his shoulder with his thumb he smiled. “When something happens in my life and I want to talk to her, I write her a letter and I feel like she’s sitting beside me, listening in while I work through things.”
Delia wiped at tears on her lashes. “I think she'd enjoy that idea. It must be a comfort.”
He gave her a soft smile. “It is. I was writing something to her last night and I think I know what she would have told me to do if she had been sitting there.
“I told her that I think I’ve finally found where I belong. That I've enjoyed working for the Hawkins family and the Express, but I think, I feel, that my home is somewhere else.”
She felt a pain in her chest, a heavy ache that stole her breath. Just when she had realized that her heart belonged to Ransom McCain, he was going to leave. Maybe it would be best to listen to her father and find another home for the two of them, especially if Ransom had made up his mind to move on. Her hand slowly lowered to her side, but the cool touch of stone under her palm gave her no comfort.
“I think it's time to leave the Express,” he continued on as he moved across the cemetery toward her, “and I think it's time to face my fears.”
Fear. Delia reached out to him and he took her hand as he stopped beside her. She set aside her own sadness to help him, squeezing his hand to give him her support. “I can help you,” she began and then shook her head as she blinked back tears, “I’ll be there for you. Whatever it is, I will stand beside you.” She wanted to pinch herself and remind her traitorous mouth that he hadn’t said he wanted her help.
“Will you?” He stopped before her, close enough to touch.
“Of course.” Her answer was immediate and heartfelt, but she felt her heart ache and pound painfully against her ribs. “If that’s what you want.”
He smiled and reached out a hand. His fingers touched her arm just above her elbow and traced slowly down to her wrist. “And I want to be there for you too, Delia.” She felt his fingers touch the sensitive skin of her palm. “If you’ll let me, I’d like to be beside you for the rest of our lives.”
Her heart couldn’t seem to make up its mind. It was either going to pound its way out of her chest or stop beating entirely. But she was sure of one thing, and that was how she felt about Ransom. Lifting her free hand, she cupped his hand between hers and brought it up to her cheek. When she felt the soft scrape of his callused fingers against her skin, she looked into his eyes. “That could be a long time,” she smiled, “are you sure?”
Ransom stepped closer, wrapping his free arm around her until his palm touched her lower back and his lips placed a kiss on her forehead. She was lost in his embrace, enjoying the warm scent of his skin, and strength of his arms. “Absolutely. When I think of what’s important to me, you’re the first thing that comes to my mind, and when I feel joy in my heart, it’s you in my thoughts.”
“And you in mine,” her words were soft, but she hoped that he could see the truth in her eyes. “I’m almost afraid that I’m dreaming.”
He leaned back and looked at her, a smile lightening his usual expression. “I know I am.” Tilting his head slightly, he moved closer, his eyes focused intently on her face. She felt something pulsing in her chest, felt her hands begin to shake, but when Ransom’s lips brushed hers, she forgot how to breathe. And when he finally leaned back again, she wavered on her feet for a moment before she felt his reassuring touch on her back. “But I’m hoping we can share this dream together.”
“Together,” she agreed and melted into his embrace, always.”
Epilogue
April 3, 1865
My Dear Aunt Kate,
Forgive my writing, it is dark and my eyes are half closed, but I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to tell you that I sit on the edge of my bed, my wife’s head leaning against my shoulder, her lips parted in a sigh. She is tired, and with good reason. Today, she made me a father.
Just a few minutes ago, a soft sigh of sound from the cradle beside our bed turned my head for a moment. I held my breath tightly in my lungs waiting to see if our son would wake and demand his mother’s gentle attentions.
When he settled, I admit to being relieved. I fear that I am unable to give him the love that he deserves and I know I can’t give him the nourishment that he seeks no matter how much I love him. And so I let Delia rest and picked up my journal to write to you.
There were times, in the years before I met her, when I worried that my life would just be one endless string of worries and disappointments, but I am glad that I struggled through those years, for they led me to her.
And now, when I lay down to sleep at night, feel her breath on my cheek and her hand on my arm, I know that every struggle in the past and in the future are worth it, because I have her. And our growing family.
Whatever lies ahead of us, we will face it together.
I end this here, for I know that sleep will be in short supply in the coming months, and I am eager to hold my wife in my arms until our son demands his due.
I remain your devoted and loving nephew.
Always, Ransom
About the Author
Love - Romance - Books
Aren't they all the same thing?
Oh, I sure hope so!
I've been reading romance books for what seems like forever. When I was a teen, the days that I wasn't in dance class after school I'd go to the mall to wait for my mom to finish work for the day and my haunt of choice... the book store.
Whether it was Scottish Lairds, Medieval Knights, Regency Gents, Rough and Tumble Cowboys, or handsome modern Heroes, I loved them all! There was always another hero and heroine to follow through page after page of breathless love!
I really hope that my readers will enjoy some of the same thrills as discover characters to love between the pages of my books.
For More Information about Reina
www.reinatorres.net
[email protected]
Coming Up in the Series -
What will happen in the Summer, Fall, & Winter at the Three Rivers Station?
Cordell has proven to be a thorn in the side of the other riders, but who else is working against the Express and to what depths are they willing to sink?
What romance and adventure await our next rider, Clay?
Visit our group for more information!
Three Rivers Express Series
; Always, Clay - Book 2 - Summer 1860
The Express took men and rode them hard across the West. That adventuring spirit belonged to the men, full of life, ready for whatever met them on the trail, everything, except for love.
Clay Adams longs for a place to fit in. He finds one with the Hawkins family and the express, but a chance meeting in the general store changes his goals. A soft smile, a single hello has him wanting to see the daughter of a rancher and wondering if it’s possible to fall in love at first sight?
Emma Rawlings, the only daughter of the Rawlings family, wants to begin the big adventure of carving out a ranch with her soul mate. She meets one of the express riders at the general store. His soft spoken tone and nod of his head sends her heart to flutter. Could he be the one?
Life in the Wild West is never simple. Someone is bent on causing trouble for the Express and Clay is caught in the crosshairs. Ambushed, shot, and left for dead, Clay must find his way back to Emma, but has he the right to bring Emma into such a dangerous union or is family something that he’ll just never have?
CLICK HERE TO GO TO AMAZON for “Always, Clay”
Books by Reina Torres
Reina writes a variety of romance books from Sweet to Heat and back again…
Sweet Western Historical Romance –
Stay With Me –
In a world trying to bend their wills, these two lonely souls will find their strength together.
Her Gentle Heart –
A man who never asked for help, a woman who gave him what he needed, Her Gentle Heart.
Small Town Contemporary Romance with Heat –
Finding Home –
She wants to leave her past behind her. He wants to know everything about her. The truth won’t stay hidden forever.
Playing With Fire –
She swore off “true love.” He wants “Happily Ever After.” How could this end badly?
Healing Hearts –
Frenemies with benefits wasn’t enough for him. She couldn’t let herself lean on him. He was going to stand by her no matter what.
Taking a Chance –
She’s thrown herself in to her work for years. He’s buried himself in his. What happens when they both decide to take a big breath of life together?
