Big Sky Daddy

by Linda Ford

  “No. After all, Teddy is here.”

  He leaned closer. “I wouldn’t hurt you, either. Didn’t I promise you that?”

  She ducked her head. “I hope Pa will be okay.”

  He understood what she meant. She would be hurt if her pa was hurt.

  “Come in for supper,” she said again.

  “I’ll be there as soon as I put the tools away.”

  She didn’t move. “A person can’t always keep their promises.” With that, she hurried to the house.

  What good were promises if a man couldn’t keep them? What sort of man failed repeatedly to protect those he cared for? If he’d been paying attention, he would have known Ebner meant to do something, but he’d walked around with his head in the clouds, thinking he could forget his past.

  It was impossible to forget his failures.

  A little later he went to the house and joined the family for supper, but the meal was somber with Mr. Bell lying on the nearby cot.

  * * *

  Lilly had a troubled sleep, awaking in a sweat with the sound of angry cows in her ears. Twice she woke when Rose called out, and she knew her sister’s dreams were also troubled.

  Finally she gave up on sleep and stared into the dark.

  Her insides twisted and turned in turmoil.

  Caleb had enough money to leave. He’d given no indication he wished it could be otherwise.

  A blackness to rival that of the moonless night crept into her heart. He’d never given her any reason to think he would stay. Not even if Teddy used his leg again.

  She gasped and sat up in bed then lay down again, waiting to see if she’d disturbed Rose. Thankfully Rose continued to breathe quietly, because she didn’t want to discuss her latest thought with her sister.

  Teddy had taken at least two steps on his leg. Would Caleb stay if he knew?

  Or did he want a reason to leave?

  Would he stay if she asked? Why would she? She hugged her arms about herself as the answer grew clear.

  Because she cared for him and Teddy far more than she should have allowed herself to.

  Cared? This feeling she had went far beyond that weak word. She loved them. The admission sang through her heart.

  But love was so disruptive. It had taken Cora away.

  Love often proved fickle. Karl had taught her that, though she’d never felt for him anything remotely like this feeling she had for Caleb.

  But could love be trusted? Her birth father had given her that doubt.

  The next morning, she rushed from the room to see how Pa was doing. He was sitting at the table.

  “I’m fine,” he said. “Just sore. Thank God for His mercies.”

  She raced around to hug him, then paused, afraid to hurt him, and settled for squeezing his shoulder. “I’m so grateful.”

  “Me, too,” Rose echoed, patting Pa’s arm.

  “Grandpa is going to be okay, right?” Teddy said.

  Ma ruffled his hair. “I believe he is.”

  Where was Caleb? Certainly not in the house. Lilly glanced out the window. With a broom and water, Caleb was scrubbing the soil off the side of the barn.

  He came for breakfast when she called him, but he had little to say over the meal and returned to scrubbing the barn as soon as the meal ended.

  He finished at noon. After he’d eaten, he made an announcement. “I’ll be leaving this afternoon. I’ll get whatever supplies we need, sell the horse and wagon at the livery stable then get the train headed east.”

  Teddy’s face sagged. “We’re leaving?”

  Caleb planted his hand on his son’s head to silence him.

  “I’m most grateful for everything you’ve done.” He pushed from the table, signaled Teddy to follow and left the house.

  Lilly stared after him, every thought in her head frozen.

  Rose sighed. “Well, that’s the end of that.”

  “I’m sorry to see him go,” Pa said. “He’s a good man.”

  “I guess now that he’s not a Caldwell cowboy he’s okay,” Rose allowed.

  Lilly bolted to her feet and fled through the door. He couldn’t leave without saying goodbye. That was the very worst way to end things.

  As she approached the wagon she could hear Teddy asking, “But why do we have to go?”

  “I’m taking you to see the doctor your grandparents found. He’ll help your leg work again.”

  “No, Papa. We don’t need to go.”

  Lilly reached them. She wanted to rush to Caleb’s side and beg him to stay. But would her asking change his decision?

  Teddy saw her. “Tell him, Lilly. Tell him I can walk.”

  Caleb turned to her then, allowing her to meet his eyes. In them she saw despair and determination. “He used his leg when the cows were coming. Seemed to work just fine.”

  “I’ll show you.” Teddy climbed from the wagon and took five faltering steps right into Lilly’s arms. “See? It doesn’t hurt anymore. I was scared it would, but it doesn’t.”

  She hugged him tight, laughing and crying at the same time.

  Teddy wiped her tears away. “Don’t be sad.”

  “These are happy tears.”

  Teddy looked toward Caleb for an explanation.

  Caleb leaned back, a wide grin on his face. “Son, it’s something women do.”

  Teddy looked confused for a moment. “See, Papa? We don’t need a doctor. We can stay here. Can’t we? Please say we can.”

  Teddy left Lilly’s arms and walked to Caleb, who swept him into a bear hug. Tears glistened in Caleb’s eyes.

  “Papa, are those happy tears?”

  “The happiest in the world.”

  “Can I go show Grandma and Grandpa?”

  “Yes. But take your crutch just in case.”

  Teddy hopped away with a combination of leg and crutch movements.

  Caleb wet his lips. “It isn’t just about his leg.”

  Lilly waited for him to explain.

  “I can’t promise I can prevent disasters.”

  “Isn’t that why we trust God to take care of us?”

  “But a husband’s job, a man’s responsibility, is to protect and guard his loved ones. I have failed so many times.”

  “You can’t hold yourself responsible for what happened to Amanda.”

  “Or what happened to you and your family?”

  “I don’t blame you.”

  He scrubbed at the back of his neck. “Life is full of so many risks.”

  “That’s why we must leave the future to God.”

  He moved closer. “Do you really believe that?”

  She nodded, somewhat confused by the question and by his nearness. They stood so close she could touch him with a mere flick of her hand and yet they were separated by so many doubts.

  “Do you believe strongly enough to trust love?”

  “I—” Had she not asked herself almost the same question? And now she saw the answer as plainly as if God had written it in visible letters across the sky. She gave a joyful little laugh. “Of course. Our future includes our responsibility and our relationships. How foolish I’ve been to think I had to guard my heart so tightly, when all along it was safe in God’s keeping. Like it says in the Psalms, ‘What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.’”

  “Are you afraid of me?”

  She shook her head.

  “Even if I can’t prevent the Caldwells from further mischief?”

  She smiled up at him, her heart so ready to love that she could hardly contain the urge to hug him. “It wouldn’t be fair to blame you for what others do.” She touched his cheek. “It’s not fair for you to blame yourself for what others do, either.”

  “I’m
beginning to understand that.” The air between them shimmered with unspoken promise and possibility.

  “Lilly, I know you’ve been hurt before, but do you think you can learn to trust love?”

  “I believe I already do.”

  “You do?” He swallowed audibly. “Dare I hope?”

  Her smile came from a heart and soul overflowing with joy. “I believe you dare.”

  It took him about two seconds to understand her meaning, and then he laughed, a sound of joy she knew she would cherish forever.

  He wrapped his arms about her. “Lilly Bell, sweetest thing I’ve ever found, I love you. I love you to the heights and depths of this world. I love you with every breath. I will love you as long as my life shall last and I pray God will give us both a long time to enjoy love.” His smile faltered. “Am I getting ahead of myself?”

  She chuckled softly. “No. I’d say you’re right on target, because—” She cupped her hands to the back of his head. “Caleb Craig, I love you with everything I have and am. I trust your love.” It was wholly true. Once she stopped holding on to her doubts, they had dissipated like early morning dew. “Nothing I have ever known compares to the love I feel for you.”

  “Are you going to marry him?” Teddy called from the corner of the wagon.

  “Would that be okay with you?” she asked, amused that he had come back to spy on them.

  “It would be just right.”

  “Son, go back to the house and let me ask her on my own.”

  Teddy studied his father for a moment and then nodded. “I guess you can do it without any help.”

  Lilly and Caleb held their laughter until Teddy reached the house.

  Then Caleb sobered. “Lilly, will you marry me?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  “So did Teddy,” he murmured before he claimed her lips.

  Lilly sighed beneath his kiss. This was the love she had ached for since she was three years old. A love of her own. A love given by a man who would cherish her and care for her so long as their lives should last.

  Epilogue

  A month later, Lilly stood in the anteroom of the church.

  Cora wiped a tear from her eye. “You look lovely in our dress.” When Cora had married, the girls had agreed they would all wear the same wedding gown.

  Rose adjusted the veil Lilly was wearing. “You are a beautiful bride.”

  Lilly hugged each of her sisters in turn. “You both look lovely, too.” She sighed. “My only regret is how things are changing.”

  “It’s time to grow up and move on,” Cora said. “That’s how life was meant to be.” She turned to Rose. “I wonder who you’ll find to marry.”

  Rose snorted. “Who says I plan to?”

  Cora and Lilly both laughed.

  Rose shrugged. “Look at me. Red hair like my head is on fire.” She shrugged again.

  Lilly could not stand to think of her twin sister being sad on her wedding day. “Rose, someday a man will come along who thinks your hair is the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. And he’ll fall so madly in love with you he won’t be able to think straight.”

  Rose laughed at Lilly’s impassioned description of love.

  Pa stepped into the room. He’d recovered his strength and showed no ill effects from the cattle stampede. “Are you girls ready?”

  Together they said, “Yes, Pa.”

  He pulled them close and touched his forehead to each of theirs. “I’ve always known this day would come when one by one my girls would leave me. I’ve prayed you’d find good men and I’ve prayed I’d be strong and brave when I walked you down the aisle.” He paused as his voice grew shaky. “I’m doing my best to live up to my plan.”

  They hugged their pa and then the organ music changed.

  “It’s time,” he said.

  Cora left the room to walk down the aisle and then Rose followed.

  Pa held his arm out for Lilly to take. “You’ve found a good man.”

  “He found me,” Lilly said.

  “You found each other with God’s help.”

  They stepped into the sanctuary. Lilly smiled at Teddy and Wyatt at Caleb’s side and then she met Caleb’s gaze and nothing else mattered.

  She walked down the aisle and joined hands with him. Their hearts were already joined in joyful love. And now their lives would be joined as they began married life together.

  They had decided to take a house in Bar Crossing for the winter so Teddy could start school without having to walk far. In the spring they’d find a bit of land and start a ranch, God willing.

  One thing she’d learned was life was easier and happier if she entrusted her future to God.

  She repeated her vows, as did Caleb.

  “You may kiss the bride,” the pastor said.

  Caleb kissed her gently. She understood what he didn’t need to say. He, too, had learned to forget the past, leave the future in God’s hands and enjoy what the present had to offer.

  “God has brought us to this day,” he whispered.

  “Blessed be His name.” She would be forever grateful.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from A SEASON OF THE HEART by Dorothy Clark.

  Dear Reader,

  It’s hard to trust God when things are going badly. At least I find it so. I tell myself I trust Him. But then I ask myself, Where is He? Why is all this happening? I recently went through a spell like that. My client was very ill. He needed extra care. At the same time I had a trip planned to visit my daughter, but I had to cancel it. I had a book deadline. Others in my family needed to be taken to appointments. Oh, and a crowd was coming for Thanksgiving. I’d wake in the middle of the night reviewing my to-do list. I felt like I was drowning in details. I’d like to say I calmly rolled over in bed, knowing God was in control and I could trust Him to take care of my needs. But I didn’t. Like those in this book, I struggled to figure out how to trust.

  I hope Lilly and Caleb’s story encourages you, the reader, to trust God even when things aren’t going smoothly.

  I love to hear from my readers. You can contact me at www.lindaford.org, where you’ll find my email address and where you can find out more about me and my books.

  Blessings,

  Questions for Discussion

  What about the Bell family attracts Caleb? Do his feelings toward them change over the story?

  Caleb has been the victim of a terrible crime. Do you think it is a strong enough basis for his vow to never again care for someone? What other factors cause him to be so cautious?

  Lilly was abandoned at three years of age. Do you think that is too young for it to have a bearing on the way she acts nowadays? Should she have simply gotten over it? Is it that easy? Why or why not?

  Rose believes she understands why Lilly chooses people like Karl. What does Rose think? Do you think there is truth in her belief? Were there times in your own life when you acted in a similar fashion?

  Teddy doesn’t use his leg even though there is no sign of a continuing injury. Why is that? How does he explain it? What do you believe is, or could be, the real reason?

  The Caldwells are determined to drive the Bells out. What is their reason? Is it justified? Do you think Mr. Caldwell knows what his foreman does? Why do you think this?

  Lilly challenges Caleb’s faith. What does she suggest he is trusting in? Do you find yourself doing this at times? How and why?

  How is Lilly’s faith challenged? By whom? Do her own words condemn her? Can you recall instances?

  Teddy reminds Caleb of what they used to have. Does Caleb have good memories?

  What leap of faith do both Lilly and Caleb have to take in order to accept the love they have? Is this lesson final, or will they stru
ggle with it in the future? What things do you think might challenge their faith? Do you face similar issues? Can you learn something from Caleb and Lilly’s story?

  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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  Chapter One

  December, 1841

  Pinewood Village, New York

  “Daniel Braynard, what brings you to town in this snowstorm?”

  Daniel looped the reins over the hitching post, squinted up through the thick fall of snow and smiled. “Your husband’s skills, Mrs. Dibble.” He stepped forward and offered his hand to the older woman descending the steps from the wood walkway that ran in front of the block of stores. “He’s doing some repair work on one of the stoves from camp. How have you been keeping?”

  “I’m well. And busy helping Willa with Christmas preparations. Though I tend to hold the baby more than work. She’s such a sweet little mite.”

  “She’s little, all right. Not much bigger than my hand.” He gave the proud grandmother a sheepish grin. “Truth is...she’s sort of scary to hold.”

  “She won’t break, Daniel.”

  “That’s what Willa said when she handed her to me.” His grin widened. “Trouble was, my big, clumsy hands didn’t believe it.”

  Helen Dibble laughed, gripped the hood of her green wool cape against a sudden gust of wind and stepped toward the road. “That tiny baby takes a lot of time and care, and with all Willa has taken upon herself as the pastor’s wife—Christmas decorations for the church and all—I’m afraid it will be too much for her strength. And Matthew is too busy making calls on his sick parishioners to give her a hand. The grippe is bad this year.” She pinned him with a glance. “Mayhap Willa could put your strong back and those big, clumsy hands of yours to good use.”