Reluctantly he pulled back from the kiss and rested her head against his chest. “I will never, ever leave you or forsake you.” That was a promise he knew he could keep.
Finally, he led her to the sofa. They sat close together, holding hands.
“I can’t have you coming back to the hotel to stay.”
The question in her eyes as they gazed up at him let him know she didn’t know what to do about it.
“I have a couple suggestions.”
“What are they, Jeremiah?”
He needed to think clearly, so he stood and crossed the room to the front window. Then he turned back to face her. “You can’t live in the house Philip left you. Pearl doesn’t understand what happened, and we don’t want to upset her any more.”
“I know.” Maddy clasped her hands in her lap. “I’m at my wits’ end.”
“You and Pearl could move into my house. She won’t expect Philip to be there.”
The shock that covered Maddy’s face was almost comical. “Jeremiah!”
“I don’t mean with me. I could sleep in the bunkhouse. If you think people would still talk, I would sleep in Philip’s house or even the hotel.”
She stood. “I don’t like either of those ideas.” She straightened her back.
He liked her spunk. Living with Maddy would be interesting. They wouldn’t agree on everything, and he liked the idea of having lively discussions.
“Then here’s a better idea. We could get married right away. Tomorrow. The next day. Next week. Whatever suits you. I don’t want to wait. I want you with me. The sooner the better.” He hoped he didn’t sound like he was begging.
She didn’t say anything for a few moments.
“And then we could give Philip’s house to Frank and Sarah. That way they wouldn’t have to spend any of their inheritance on property.”
Maddy still didn’t say anything. He waited in agony for her answer.
“We could do that. Get married soon. Maybe day after tomorrow. I want a little time to get ready.”
She’d agreed with him! Though he wanted to whoop and holler, he restrained himself. But he did rush to her and clasp her hands. “Are you sure? I did promise to court you.”
“Courting is to get to know each other and discuss the future.” She smiled up at him.
He let out a big breath he’d been holding, afraid she’d change her mind.
“We’ve gotten to know each other over the time I’ve been here. And we know what our future will be. So the wedding will be day after tomorrow at sunset.”
He thrust his arms around Maddy and held her close, breathing in the light flowery scent that always surrounded her. He could hardly believe it. He would be married to the woman of his dreams in only two days.
When Maddy told Sarah and Caroline about their wedding plans, these two good friends went into a frenzy of activity. All the people who attended their church were invited. Many of them offered to help cook for the celebration. Martha Henderson and Harriet Stone took over that part. Caroline was baking a spicy wedding cake full of dried fruit, and Sarah took Maddy to Skinner’s, looking for a dress for Maddy to wear.
Mrs. Skinner had just gotten in a shipment of ready-made dresses. The only one that fit Maddy was a deep golden-colored dimity with lace, ruffles, and flounces. And when Carlos heard about the wedding, he brought a gift from Mexico for Maddy—a lovely lace mantilla to wear on her hair. It would be the closest thing to a bridal veil they would find in Golden.
Sarah insisted that Maddy try all of it on to make sure she liked it all together. Maddy chose to wear her mother’s string of pearls, because they looked wonderful with the dress.
After changing into her house dress, Maddy went down to the kitchen to see if she could get a sandwich or something light for lunch. Her stomach was too fluttery to eat much. Just before she reached the door from the lobby to the kitchen area, the stagecoach pulled up outside the hotel.
She moved to the doorway in time to see an older couple, dressed in clothing much too heavy for the weather here in New Mexico Territory, climb down from the coach. They would be right at home in Boston, but not here.
Before she could step away, the woman’s gaze slid over her, then back. “Is that you, Madeline Mercer?”
How does she know my name? Maddy didn’t even have time to answer.
“You look just like your mother.” The woman lifted her skirts and quickly ascended the steps to the boardwalk while the man accompanying her and the driver worked together to get their luggage off the boot of the coach.
“Did you know my mother?” That caught Maddy’s interest.
“Yes, we were friends at finishing school. I was sad when she died so young.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know who you are.” Maddy didn’t want to appear rude, but something didn’t feel quite right to her.
“Millicent Osgood, and that’s my husband, William.” She waved a gloved hand toward the man in the heavy suit. “We understand you knew our daughter, Loraine Henry.”
Loraine’s parents? What were they doing in Golden?
“May we speak with you for a few minutes? We’ve traveled a long way to see you.”
I’m sure you have. Now it was all falling into place. These people were here to try and take Pearl away from her. She prayed that Sarah would keep her daughter upstairs in her room. Maddy would try to get rid of these people as quickly as she could.
“Come into the parlor.” She turned and led the way, not even caring whether they both followed her or not.
After she was seated in one of the wing-backed chairs, the Osgoods entered and sat on the sofa.
“How did you know that I was a friend of Loraine’s?”
Mr. Osgood tugged at his collar and didn’t say a word.
His wife stared straight at Maddy. “It’s rather a long story.”
“I’m listening.” Maddy wasn’t going to make this easy for them. She held nothing but disdain for parents who would disown their daughter the way they did Loraine.
“Our neighbor’s daughter came to her parents’ house for her lying-in. Bonnie McGuire was her midwife. Sometime during her labor, Mrs. McGuire mentioned that she delivered Loraine’s baby and that Loraine had died. She was commending our neighbor for calling her early enough to keep something bad from happening.”
Maddy felt the color drain from her face. She hoped she wouldn’t faint.
Mrs. Osgood pulled a hanky from her sleeve and wiped the perspiration from her forehead. “Harriet knew I would want to hear the story. She sent for me and had Mrs. McGuire repeat all she had told them. I was shocked. I never even knew Loraine was having a baby or that her husband had passed away. My heart broke. I cried for days. Finally, William and I talked about what a terrible thing we had done to our own flesh and blood.”
When she said that, Maddy knew what was coming next. She jumped up. “Loraine made me promise to raise her child as my own. She never wanted you to raise her.”
Tears glistened on Mrs. Osgood’s cheeks. “We know. And we understand she was right. But I can’t rest easy until I know that the child is well cared for and loved.”
“Oh, she is loved all right. By a number of people. She has a mother, soon will have a father, and grandparents. She’s very much loved and cared for.” Maddy’s chest heaved. She would never give Pearl up. To these people or anyone else.
“My dear—” Mrs. Osgood stood and stepped closer. “We’re not trying to take her from you. But we have repented and asked God’s forgiveness for how we treated our daughter and her husband. We wish we could have asked Loraine’s…” She dabbed at the moisture on her cheeks. “What we want to know…is there any way we could be a part of her life too?” The woman stood with expectancy and fearful-ness warring in her expression.
Maddy could understand the anguish these parents had suffered. If they truly had changed, could she deny them access to their own grandchild?
Before she could answer, Jeremiah appeared in the doo
rway. “Is something wrong, Maddy?” He came to stand beside her, slipping his arm around her waist.
“This is Mr. and Mrs. Osgood from Boston. They’ve come to check on their grandchild, my daughter.”
He glanced at the man, then the woman. “You’re Loraine’s parents?”
Mr. Osgood moved to stand beside his wife. “Yes, we are.”
Jeremiah studied them as if he were looking for something. A few moments later, he relaxed. “After the wedding this evening, I’ll be Pearl’s father. She’ll be well taken care of.”
“Pearl? You named her Pearl?” More tears streamed down the woman’s face. “My middle name is Pearl. How did you know?”
Maddy stared at her. “I didn’t know, but Loraine did. She named her daughter.”
The four of them spent several minutes discussing Pearl.
Finally, Maddy said, “Jeremiah and I would welcome you to have contact with your granddaughter, but she will be living here in Golden. You may come visit when you want to. It’ll be good for Pearl to have two sets of grandparents.”
Jeremiah tightened his arm around her. “And Maddy and I will visit Boston from time to time.”
Maddy marveled at the wisdom of her husband. He’d helped her work this out to be in the best interest of all the people concerned. “We’re getting married at sunset. Mr. and Mrs. Osgood, you’re welcome to attend the ceremony and celebration afterward.”
She hoped they would actually come.
As the waning sun cast an array of colors across the sky, Maddy and Jeremiah stood in front of Sam Oldman, their pastor and friend. When she’d first received that newspaper ad back in Boston from the man in Golden, New Mexico Territory, she’d had no idea what a treasure would come into her life. And she didn’t mean the money.
The man who stood beside her had come to know the Lord. Then he had offered her the treasure of his love and a future filled with all kinds of possibilities. Her happiness was complete as she watched the golden rays of the setting sun play across his handsome features and heard his husky voice pledge his life to hers. Thank You, God.
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The novels in the series—uniquely titled after American towns with unusual but intriguing names—inspire romance and fun. Each fictional story draws on the compelling history or the unique character of a real place. Stories center on romances kindled in small towns, old loves lost and found again on the high plains, and new loves discovered at exciting vacation getaways. Summerside Press plans to publish at least one novel set in each of the 50 states. Be sure to catch them all!
NOW AVAILABLE IN STORES
Love Finds You in Miracle, Kentucky by Andrea Boeshaar
ISBN: 978-1-934770-37-5
Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas by Sandra D. Bricker
ISBN: 978-1-934770-45-0
Love Finds You in Romeo, Colorado by Gwen Ford Faulkenberry
ISBN: 978-1-934770-46-7
Love Finds You in Valentine, Nebraska by Irene Brand
ISBN: 978-1-934770-38-2
Love Finds You in Humble, Texas by Anita Higman
ISBN: 978-1-934770-61-0
Love Finds You in Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell
ISBN: 978-1-934770-39-9
Love Finds You in Maiden, North Carolina by Tamela Hancock Murray
ISBN: 978-1-934770-65-8
Love Finds You in Paradise, Pennsylvania by Loree Lough
ISBN: 978-1-934770-66-5
Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida by Debby Mayne
ISBN: 978-1-934770-80-1
Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana by Melanie Dobson
ISBN: 978-1-934770-74-0
Love Finds You in Revenge, Ohio by Lisa Harris
ISBN: 978-1-934770-81-8
Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas by Janice Hanna
ISBN: 978-1-935416-16-6
Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon by Melody Carlson
ISBN: 978-1-935416-18-0
Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio by Annalisa Daughety
ISBN: 978-1-935416-17-3
Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire by Lauralee Bliss
ISBN: 978-1-935416-20-3
Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska by Loree Lough
ISBN: 978-1-935416-19-7
Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida by Sandra D. Bricker
ISBN: 978-1-935416-25-8
Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss
ISBN: 978-1-935416-29-6
Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania by Cerella D. Sechrist
ISBN: 978-1-935416-64-7
Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon by Miralee Ferrell
ISBN: 978-1-935416-63-0
Love Finds You in Pendleton, Oregon by Melody Carlson
ISBN: 978-1-935416-84-5
Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa by Melanie Dobson
ISBN 978-1-935416-66-1
COMING SOON
Love Finds You in Lahaina, Hawaii by Bodie Thoene
ISBN: 978-1-935416-78-4
Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss
ISBN: 978-1-60936-000-9
Love Finds You in Calico, California by Elizabeth Ludwig
ISBN: 978-1-60936-001-6
Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio by Serena Miller
ISBN: 978-1-60936-002-3
Love Finds You in Deadwood, South Dakota by Tracey Cross
ISBN: 978-1-60936-003-0
Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico Page 28
