by Reina Torres
He managed to hear Mrs. Bowles’ sigh over the rush of blood through his ears.
“Well,” she shook her head in disappointment, “I’d hoped to make you see reason.” She barely looked away before she turned to let him know she was truly done with her visit. “Come, children. We need to go.”
Tillie sat quietly in the living room of the Hawkins house, her gaze steady on the bouquet of flowers in her hands. It had been quite the party that morning, which included most of the women in town. Mrs. McNeal, Mrs. Hawkins, Anna, and even Mademoiselle had ventured down to the river with Tillie and they’d gathered buckets of flowers between them before enjoying a quiet repast under the shade of the trees.
Once back at the house, Mrs. Hawkins had seen to her dress and lacing Tillie’s corset to fit, but also to give her room to breathe and dance later at the party. It had been a quick succession of gentle comments and fervent hopes for her happiness, masterfully keeping Tillie from dissolving in tears.
They’d nearly lost the battle when Mademoiselle had given her the bouquet to hold. At her touch, Tillie felt the soft cotton wrapped around the stems of the flowers. Turning the colorful arrangement to the side, she saw a delicate handkerchief, secured to the stems with a beautiful blue silk ribbon. An embroidered design on one of the visible points misted her eyes with happy tears. OB. Ottille Bowles.
Breathless laughter and gentle ribbing from Anna lifted her spirits. and the ladies kept her company for a bit before moving to the church to see to the decorations. That left Tillie sitting in between the screen doors, enjoying the cool air and waiting for word that the ceremony was about to start.
She had such joy in her heart that she felt she might burst at the first sight of Wyeth in his suit at the front of the church, but all of her joy was tempered by sorrow. Her father’s parting words had cut deep.
The front door opened and someone knocked before peering inside.
“Hello?” Tillie sat up on the edge of the settee and looked toward the door. “Hello?”
Someone cleared his throat. “It’s Levi Hawkins, Miss Weston. May I come in?”
She laughed into her bouquet and stood. “It is your house, Mr. Hawkins.”
He shrugged and stepped inside. “On a day like today,” he grinned, “it is the domain of the women. The men try to stay out of the way and keep ourselves out of trouble.”
“I’d like to thank you again for all of your help and your generosity to me during my time in Three Rivers.”
He nodded slowly, but pride didn’t show in his expression. “We consider all to be friends. We care for others as we care for ourselves, but sometimes,” he confessed, “we find those who become closer to our hearts than friends… and they become family.” He offered Tillie his arm. “Are you ready to become part of Wyeth’s?”
“Goodness, Yes!” Tillie stood, strong and sure. “I can’t wait.”
At the front door to the church, Levi reached up to straighten his collar and clear his throat. “It’s a wonder you know…”
Tillie turned to look at him. “What is?”
“How time passes,” he answered. “Someday soon, before I even realize that it might happen, I’ll likely be back here on these steps, waiting to walk Anna down the aisle.” Tears formed on his lashes. “And I’ll feel great joy at her happiness but also enough sadness for myself.”
“Sadness?” She gave his arm a squeeze to comfort him. “Why?”
“Because he’ll realize that life swept past him as if he had been standing still.”
Tillie turned on a gasp and blinked into the sun. “Father?”
George Weston nodded and turned to Levi. “Sir, if you wouldn’t mind allowing me a minute with my daughter.”
Levi looked at Tillie, but she was still staring into her father’s face. “I’ll be right inside when you’re ready.”
Tillie nodded slowly, and Levi stepped inside the church.
“I had a visit this morning,” George grinned at Tillie. “Your mother-in-law saw fit to give me what for.”
She smiled at him, unable to do anything else. “Jane is a force of nature,” she agreed.
“So very different from your mother in some ways,” he began, “but so very similar in others.” He took Tillie’s hand and turned the bouquet until he saw the handkerchief tied to it and the OB monogram embroidered on the point. “Your mother would be so disappointed in me, Tillie.”
She smiled at the use of her nickname and squeezed his hand. “But you’re here now,” she encouraged him to agree, “and you’ll stay, yes?”
He didn’t answer right away; instead he looked her over from head to toe. “So much wasted time.” George looked back into her eyes and fought off the onslaught of tears. “How can you ever forgive me?”
“You’re my father,” she told him. “Since I was born you have been there for me.”
He shook his head. “Not the right way. I’ve been so consumed with proving myself-”
“And you’re proving yourself to me now.” She smiled at him, hoping and failing to keep her tears from falling. “You’re here.”
He nodded and met Levi’s gaze over the top of her head. When he met her eyes again, his were hopeful and humble as well. “I was hoping that Mr. Hawkins might allow me the honor of escorting you down the aisle to your young man.” Reaching forward, he opened the door a crack and whispered his question directly to the Station Master.
Levi nodded. “Happy you came ‘round, Mr. Weston. I’ll open the door, and then when you’re through, I’ll go and sit with my wife. Tillie, you look lovely.”
“I agree,” George replied immediately, offering his arm to his daughter as Levi pulled open the door to the church.
Wyeth stood at the front of the church calm and smiling. Some people in town might say that his marriage to Tillie had been fast, but those people hadn’t met Ransom McCain or Clay Adams.
And to those who said it was a bit on the hasty side had never seen happier men than his friends, nor more beautiful and happy brides than Delia and Emma.
Still, when the doors opened at the front of the church and the morning sunlight poured in, he felt like the world was moving at a snail’s pace.
Seconds and minutes and hours seemed to pass as he waited for the faint silhouette in the rush of light to take solid form.
And then, there she was.
Walking on the steady arm of her father, Tillie was a vision. Her gown was a soft dove grey, done up with trim and little bits of things that sparkled, not that he knew what they were called, but it was so perfectly becoming on her that he had a mind to ask her to wear it several times a week just so he could remember this exact moment.
The smile on her lovely face had suddenly stolen his breath. The wide, open warmth of her eyes told him that she was happy. Told him that she was ready to marry him, and thank goodness, because he’d been ready months ago, in the Hawkins’ living room, taking his very first breath as a man in love.
She was suddenly before him, as if time had rushed on ahead to put him out of his misery.
Her father put her hand in his and he had to force himself to stand very still. If he were to let go, there was no telling where they’d end up, like on the back of Sassafras, running toward the future. So there he stood, choosing to content himself with lifting her hand to his mouth to brush the gentlest of kisses on her palm.
She felt beautiful. Utterly, unendingly beautiful because of how he looked at her, how he touched her as if she was glass. And when he spoke his vows, his eyes never left hers, his hand never left hers, and she felt warm all over, even with the slight chill of the room.
And even as they stood at the front of the church before friends and family, pledging themselves to each other, her voice clear in both her heart and in her intentions, she felt an overwhelming sense of joy.
A few spoken words, a few moments of pleasant silence and a kiss, and she was now Ottille Bowles, wife of Wyeth and someday, if she were as blessed as Ransom and Delia,
and Levi and Olivia, a mother to his children.
They clung to each other, their kiss lasting a bit longer than proper, ending with a soft clamor of laughter in the church.
Wyeth offered her his arm and she took it gladly. “Missus Bowles,” he murmured to her, “my darling wife…”
“Yes, Mister Bowles,” she sighed and felt as if she were surrounded by happiness meant to last forever and ever, “my loving husband?”
“Let’s go to our wedding breakfast.”
She laughed at his statement. “Hungry again?”
“Hungry always,” came his retort, “and then I look forward to our honeymoon trip, for I hunger for some time, just the two of us.”
She flushed and felt the warmth of the light through the stained glass window play over her skin. “Then let us go. I find myself wanting exactly the same.”
Instead of taking a step, Wyeth leaned closer for another kiss, ignoring the good-natured cheers of his friends and the stern look in her father’s eyes before he took her hand, and they faced the world, together.
Epilogue
February 2nd, 1861 - Saturday
Elizabeth, my dearest older sister,
I long to see you and your growing family. Any photographer that you might wrangle into a photo would only capture the fleeting moment that would not be enough to satisfy my curiosity.
If I had a final dream, I would like for you and Tyler to find your way to Three Rivers, not only for a visit but for good. I say this, in the fervent hope that you will be closer to us before June or July of this year.
Besides the joy of having you further away from the conflicts and confusions of the eastern coast, I believe that you would give our mother much joy and perhaps be here to offer your advice on the best ways to care for a child. Mother is beside herself with the opportunity to school Tillie and myself, but the Bowles family has always believed in ‘the more, the merrier.’
Much of Tillie’s concern comes from the worry that nags at her heart since her mother did not survive her confinement, but even my dear wife’s father has reassured her that her mother’s health before she carried had always been frail. I am convinced that my sweetest love will be as hale and hearty as the rest of the Bowles women and perhaps even gift me with a daughter as lovely and good-hearted as she is, but I hope that you will come and live closer and be a comfort to us.
The McCains and I have built several houses, all on the same block, and we would be able to have one ready for your family in two months if you and Tyler decide to join us here in Three Rivers.
You have my love, sister dear.
Always,
Wyeth
Always, Ransom - Book 1
Ransom McCain was the last man hired to ride for the Three Rivers station, but he was chosen to take the first ride west because he could think on his feet. Tensions are high because there are people determined to make the express fail, and little does Ransom know that he would fall for a woman caught in the crossfire.
Delia Burroughs is a young woman with plenty of heart and the strength of spirit to help her family survive in the West. But one by one they’ve left until it’s just Delia and her father. His grief and struggles may make it impossible for her to leave and make a family of her own. When she met Ransom, she knew she’d found a man she could love, but forces are determined to take her new home from her and perhaps her chance at real love.
Ransom and Delia will have to decide if what’s happening between them is something they want to fight for, or will they let themselves be pulled apart by the danger they’re both facing.
Always, Clay - Book 2
Available on Amazon - htt://a.co/e3mPvM6
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?
Coming Up in the Series
What will happen in the Winter of 1860 at the Three Rivers Station?
What romance and adventure await our other riders - Stone, Ellis, & Brett?
Visit our group for more information!
Three Rivers Express Series
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]
Also by Reina Torres
Sweet Historical Western Romance -
Bower, CO series -
Home to Roost - Amazon - http://a.co/alhRvKY
- He was a hermit happy to live alone, until he met a woman who turned his life upside down.
Wandering Hearts series -
Stay With Me - Amazon - http://a.co/3MpnWKZ
- In a world trying to bend their wills. These two lonely souls will find their strength together.
Her Gentle Heart - Amazon - http://a.co/gQn6EQV
- A man who never asked for help. A woman who gave him what he needed, Her Gentle Heart.
Small Town Contemporary Romance -
*Like some heat? You’ve got it in these stories set in a small Northern California town*
Finding Home - Amazon - http://a.co/10ZXByY
- 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 - Amazon - http://a.co/6ZqngVH
- She swore off True Love. He wants “Happily Ever After.” How could this end badly?
Healing Hearts - Amazon - http://a.co/dqv5VLe
- 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 - Amazon - http://a.co/0enrSUG
- She’s thrown herself into her work for years. He’s buried himself in his. What happens when they both decide to take a big breath of life together?
… And you’ll find MORE on my Amazon Author Page!!
