Love Inspired Historical November 2015

by Linda Ford

  Shane’s eyes widened. “Will do.”

  Tessa tugged on her ring. “I almost forgot. You’ll be wanting this back, Mrs. Stuart.”

  Shaking her head, Mrs. Stuart grinned. “Oh no. That’s all yours. Bought and paid for. Your husband has good taste, Mrs. McCoy.”

  “You’d best call me Tessa. There’s too many Mrs. McCoys around here.”

  “Ain’t that the truth?” She laughed. “Ain’t that the truth.”

  They arrived back at the hotel where Doc Johnsen had been roused. He inspected her bruise and prescribed a compress of raw meat, which Tessa politely declined.

  As he turned to leave, she called out, “I’ve got your stethoscope.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “I wondered why someone broke a window for that. Why do a bunch of outlaws need doctor’s equipment?”

  “To crack a safe.”

  “I had no idea.” The doc shrugged. “All’s well that ends well, I guess. Try and stay out of trouble, Mrs. McCoy. I don’t think your husband’s nerves can stand another incident.”

  Left alone with Shane, Tessa grew shy. “Thank you for looking out for me.”

  His expression was stern. “The doc is right. You’re gonna be the death of me. Promise you’ll never put yourself in danger like that again.” He heaved one of his great, gusty sighs, and this time she didn’t even mind.

  Shane grasped her hand. “Why did you marry me?”

  The marshal had urged honesty in the marriage, and it was high time she found her courage. “I noticed two things about you that day in Wichita. The second thing was how much your children loved you and how much you loved them. I knew right then I wanted to be a part of that love.”

  “What was the first thing you noticed?”

  “I noticed how handsome you were. Alyce had mussed your jacket, your trouser leg was caught on your boot and your hat was set at an odd angle. I’d never seen a finer-looking gentleman in all my life. So there you have it, Shane. I married you for your striking good looks. Now you know the truth.”

  “And because you felt sorry for me. I saw your book, Tessa.”

  Her stomach dipped. “Then you know everything?”

  “Yes.”

  She ducked her head. “I had this idea that if I made up for all the things I’d done, I’d be worthy of love from someone like you. But it doesn’t work that way, does it? Now the whole town knows I can pick a lock and open a safe.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. I love you. I love everything about you. Your past, your present and your future.”

  Her whole world burst into color. “Truly?”

  “Truly.” He squeezed her hands. “The hardest thing a person can do is change. You’re the bravest person I know, Tessa.”

  “I love you.” Her voice caught and she tugged her hands free. “I love you, but I was afraid to tell you. I was afraid if you knew who I was and what I’d done, you’d hate me.”

  He reached for her but she strained away. “I endangered your life and the life of the children.”

  “You walked right into a trap for us.” His eyes shimmered with emotion. “If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.”

  “I had to do something. As long as Emmett owed the Fultons, they’d never let us live in peace.”

  “You put your life in danger for us. For Emmett. Even though you knew you’d expose your secret?”

  “Yes.”

  “That sounds like a very honorable thing to do. I love you, Tessa, and I don’t love dishonorable people.”

  “But the children,” she implored. “Who wants a former outlaw for a mother?”

  “Outlaws make the best parents. You’ll always know what they’re up to. They’ll be the most popular kids at school.”

  “And your family? What about the McCoys?”

  “Did you see that restaurant this evening? Once word spread about what was happening, the whole town turned out.”

  “For you,” she said.

  “For us.”

  Someone knocked on the door frame and Jo peered around. “Now that the excitement is over, I thought you might want a little company. Edith has had her hands full with these two. They must have sensed something was wrong, because they wouldn’t go to sleep.”

  Alyce and Owen toddled into the room in their pajamas. Tessa knelt on the floor and gathered them close, kissing each one in turn. She glanced up and caught sight of Emmett.

  Tessa waved him forward. “Come and meet your grandchildren.”

  For the second time in her whole life, she caught the sheen of tears in Emmett’s eyes. “And who is this little princess.” He crooked his finger toward Alyce, who grinned in return. “Why, you’re as pretty as a new penny.”

  “Aw-ice,” she replied.

  “Alyce,” Shane corrected her.

  Owen toddled nearer Tessa, who knelt by his side and smoothed his hair. “This is Owen.”

  Emmett stared at the boy, his expression faltering. He stooped and tilted his head, then scratched behind his ear. “Hello there, little Owen. You are the spitting image of a fellow I knew some years back.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Tessa scoffed. “He’s a child.”

  Emmett tugged on his ear. “Oh, well. You’re probably right. It’s the coloring and the name. The other fellow’s name was Owen, too, and he had the same eyes. That blond hair really stands out. You’re nothing like that rascal, are you, little fellow? That other Owen was a real outlaw. Got himself hanged a couple years back.” Emmett caught himself and grew solemn, crossing one arm across his chest. “Sorry. That’s not fit talk around the children.”

  Shane had stilled, his expression frozen.

  Emmett rubbed his chin. “Strangest outlaw I ever saw. He lost his trigger finger in an accident. Had to learn to shoot left-handed. He was never very good after that. Probably how he got himself caught.”

  Tessa gripped Shane’s arm. He’d gone ashen.

  There was little chance Emmett’s observations were a coincidence. “I’m so sorry.”

  *

  Shane sat back on his heels. Everything fell into place. Abby had always loved danger. She’d run off and disappeared. She’d never revealed the identity of the children’s father. The one photo he had of her, the one he’d saved for the children, she’d cut out the man standing beside her.

  The hand resting on the arm of the chair had been distinctive…

  Tessa touched his shoulder. “If Abby had wanted them to know, she’d have given you the information. She had every opportunity.”

  “I think in the end she was trying to protect me.”

  “We’ll never know for certain if he really was their father.”

  “No. Everyone who knew the truth is gone.”

  “It’s strange, isn’t it?” Tessa tilted her head. “How everything came together for us? What are the chances of us meeting on that platform?”

  “What are you saying?”

  “Maybe God was looking out for you all along.” Tessa cupped his cheeks. “For you, for the children. Even for me.”

  “I’d like to think that,” he replied.

  Of all the people in Wichita, Owen had approached Tessa. What were the chances?

  “Abby chose you,” Tessa said. “You’re their father in every way that counts.”

  “And you’re their mother.”

  “No.” She pressed a kiss against his cheek. “I’m their stepmother. Abby will always be their mother. She loved them. She did her best. I’ll do my best as well.”

  “She was more troubled than I knew.”

  “She’s at peace now. What about you, Shane? Are you at peace?”

  He captured her lips and kissed her until she was breathless and sagging in his arms. “I’m moving back to the main house.”

  “You better. You know I don’t like to be alone at night.”

  He nuzzled the sensitive skin at the nape of her neck. “Then I’ll have to make sure you always have company.”

  Owen pushed
his way between them and held up his arms. “Up. Up.”

  Tessa giggled. “I think someone is jealous.”

  Shane rolled his eyes. “I told myself I’d stay away from you until Christmas. I promised myself I’d give you the space to get used to me. To see if you liked me.”

  Tessa made a strangled sound in her throat. “I gave myself until Christmas to convince you that we suited. It’s a wonder we had such trouble. We were working at cross-purposes.”

  “No more.” He folded her in his embrace once again. “You’re my wife.”

  “And you’re my husband. You’re the only man for me.” Tessa drew the children in and they all hugged. “And we’re a family.”

  Unheeding of who heard, Shane let out a whoop. He was finally the right man.

  Epilogue

  The top of the fir tree appeared in the door first. With much muttering and shuffling of feet, the rest of the enormous tree emerged into the ranch house. Emmett held the front and Shane anchored his arms around the cut trunk.

  Tessa gasped. “I hadn’t expected anything quite this, um, large.”

  Shane grimaced beneath the heavy weight. “An ice jam upstream changed the course of the creek. The roots were already rotted. Figured I might as well take something that was going to die anyway.”

  “All right.” She waved him inside. “But I have no idea where you’re going to put that thing.”

  The two men wrested the tree into place and adjusted the base around a device Wheeler and Finch had designed.

  Tessa grinned at Emmett. “I was at the ladies’ salon yesterday and Mrs. Edwards was asking about you.”

  His cheeks pinkened. “Probably wondering about the sale of the hotel.”

  The reward money for capturing the outlaws had been spread all over town. Tessa and Shane had refused their portion. Emmett had approached Mrs. Edwards about buying the hotel with his cut. Since her husband’s passing, managing the restaurant and the hotel while keeping up with her knitting had proved too difficult.

  Tessa studied her father’s blush. “I heard her telling JoBeth that the new owner of the hotel was quite handsome.”

  Her father puffed up. “She did, did she?”

  Emmett was still Emmett. The disaster with the Fultons had changed him, but she didn’t know if the change was permanent. He was here now, and Tessa was going to enjoy his company and pray for the best.

  “She did.”

  Shane caught her around the waist. “It’s not a bad place to start. Tessa married me for my good looks.”

  “It’s true,” she replied. “That and some other stuff as well.”

  “Other stuff,” he repeated with a grin.

  While Tessa and Shane strung loops of berries and popcorn around the tree, Emmett sat on the floor and played with the children. He was even better with a coin than Tessa, and Alyce and Owen were delighted.

  Since she’d been feeling more exhausted than usual lately, Tessa joined them. Owen toddled over and grasped the locket around Tessa’s neck. She released the clasp and revealed the two tiny oval pictures.

  She pointed at each one in turn. “That’s my mama, and that’s my dada.”

  Owen reverently touched each of the pictures. He pointed to Shane and said, “Dada.” Without hesitating, he pointed to Tessa and said, “Mama.”

  The confusion was natural. She started to protest but Shane interrupted her reply. “Yes, Owen. Mama and Dada.”

  Touching Shane’s cheek, Tessa smiled tenderly. “Abby is always with us.”

  Shane covered her hand with his. “Yes. Always.”

  Owen held out his chubby hand. “Ball.”

  Tessa glanced upward. “Thank You.”

  She didn’t know why they’d been brought together all those months ago, but she was eternally grateful.

  She stood and strung another length of popcorn around the tree. “This is the first tree I’ve ever decorated. I’m glad it’s such a fine one.”

  Shane knelt at her feet.

  Tessa laughed. “What are you doing?”

  He took her hand, his gaze solemn. “Tessa Spencer McCoy, I have officially asked your father for your hand in marriage.”

  Emmett glanced up and winked. “He did.”

  Shane beamed. “Emmett Spencer has enthusiastically agreed to my suit.”

  Her father grunted. “I don’t know if enthusiastic is the word I’d use.”

  “With Emmett’s enthusiastic permission,” Shane continued, “I officially ask for your hand in marriage. To love and to honor, to laugh with, to cry with, to hold and to cherish. I promise that I will always build forts with you and help you hide from our children.”

  Her eyes misted. “We’re already married.”

  His expression grew serious. “Someone once asked me what made me happy. I didn’t have an answer. Now I know. You make me happy. I love your sharp wit, your ability to cook potatoes in the German style and your eccentric family.”

  Emmett grunted again.

  Shane’s throat worked. “I love that you brought joy into our house and peace into my soul.”

  Tessa knelt before him and cupped his face. “Merry Christmas, my darling. I love you more than Owen loves his ball.”

  “Merry Christmas.”

  She indicated the snow falling gently beyond the window. “If this weather keeps up, we may be snowed in after Emmett leaves.”

  Shane dropped a kiss on her forehead. “The weather has always been good to me where you’re concerned.”

  In deference to the falling snow, Emmett left an hour later. The twins were exhausted from all the attention and collapsed into slumber soon after.

  Shane took a chair before the Christmas tree. Tessa perched on his knee and gazed out the window.

  He rested a hand on her hip. “Are you hungry? Thirsty? There’s some spiced cider left.”

  Tessa wrinkled her nose. “No, thank you.”

  His grip tightened on her waist. “Are you feeling all right?” His voice vibrated with concern. “You didn’t eat much dinner.”

  “My stomach has been bothering me lately.”

  Shane grew still. “Should we call Doc Johnsen?”

  Tessa shook her head. “No. I feel fine otherwise. Just a little tired. And my stomach usually only bothers me in the morning.”

  Their gazes locked.

  Shane’s expression filled with wonder. “Do you think?”

  “It’s too soon.” Tessa touched her stomach. “Far too soon.”

  Shane smiled. “I guess we’ll know in the fall.”

  Filled with wonder and hope for the future, she leaned back and tucked her head into the crook of his neck. “Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

  “Yes.” Shane pressed his lips against her temple. “You know what would be even better?”

  Tessa frowned. “No.”

  “Another set of twins.”

  She groaned. “Be careful what you hope for, Shane McCoy.”

  He kissed her then, long and sweet. “I hope we’re snowed in for a week.”

  “Merry Christmas, my love,” Tessa whispered.

  “Merry Christmas, my love,” he replied quietly.

  Outside the window, moonlight sparked off the snow, and one star twinkled brighter than all the rest.

  *

  Dear Reader,

  The book Tessa uses, Bartleby’s Book of Household Management, was inspired by an actual book. In 1861, Mrs. Isabella Beeton published Beeton’s Book of Household Management. The volume was a compilation of twenty-four installments in the Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine. By 1868, almost two million copies had been sold. I think it’s fair to assume a few of those copies had made it across the pond by the late 1880s.

  While the book consists mostly of recipes, many of them copied from other sources, Mrs. Beeton also included tips on household management. Though readers assumed Mrs. Beeton was an elderly woman with gray hair and a starched apron, she was only twenty-one when she started writing the book.


  Beeton’s Book of Household Management has been lauded as a glimpse into the history of Victorian England. I had fun comparing the rules and formalities of Victorian England to the rough-and-ready conditions of the Old West.

  I hope you enjoyed Shane and Tessa’s story. I love to hear from readers! If you’re interested in learning more about the Prairie Courtship series, visit my website at sherrishackelford.com, or reach me at sherrishackelford@gmail.com, facebook.com/sherrishackelfordauthor, Twitter, @smshackelford, or regular old snail mail: PO Box 116, Elkhorn, NE 68022.

  Thanks for reading!

  Sherri Shackelford

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Historical title.

  You find illumination in days gone by. Love Inspired Historical stories lift the spirit as heroines tackle the challenges of life in another era with hope, faith and a focus on family.

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  ISBN-13: 9781460388983

  The Rancher’s Christmas Proposal

  Copyright © 2015 by Sherri Shackelford

  All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.