How did he put into words his feelings about Britta and Tina? He didn’t want to talk to Dag about it, but his brother was with him when his wife died. Dag knew the torture the death had put on him.
“Is this about Britta?”
All Leif could do it nod to confirm.
Dag took a deep breath. “After seeing what you went through with Britta dying in childbirth, I decided I would never marry.” Leif stared at his brother, not realizing Britta’s death had affected him that way.
“But a very petite woman who plans to have a dozen children just like her aunts and grandmother have successfully done, said she’d do it with, or without me.”
“Without you?” Leif had to snicker at his remark.
“Yep. There were two grooms standing at the altar with her when I came to my senses and finally walked up the church aisle. Cora’s the kind of woman that will make the best of whatever life throws her way. I knew right then I couldn’t live without her, no matter what the future would bring for us.”
Dag stopped a minute to set a little boy, maybe one of Brenner’s, who had fallen over nearby, back on his feet. “Tina has gone through more than her share of misery, but she seems determined to make the best of life…even with taking care of three kids, lingering back problems and being destitute. Even if you don’t marry her, she’ll get by, and eventually marry someone else, who will be a very lucky, happy man.”
Leif looked across the room as Tina laughed at something being said. She was rubbing sleepy Oliver’s tiny back, still taking care of her children, even while enjoying the company of new friends…who could become her family. Tina looked his way and he caught her eye. After a split second decision, he motioned to her to go into the nearby room.
“How about you bond with your little nephew, Oliver, Dag? I think it’s time Tina and I have a private talk.”
***
Tina sensed Leif’s eyes on her and finally turned his way. She’d be patiently waiting for him to make the first move, because she knew he had to come to grips with certain things before he’d be fully committed to her and the children.
She’d learned firsthand it took time for the mind and body to heal, and it couldn’t be rushed, no matter how fast a person wanted things to change.
When Leif motioned her to meet him in the other room, she knew he was finally ready, to at least talk, about their situation.
“How about Uncle Daggy take his little nephew for a stroll through the house? I know a quiet room or two where we can get to know each other better,” Dagmar took Oliver from Tina’s arms and settled the baby against his chest like he was an expert at taking care of infants.
“If you go down that hall, you’ll find the library, Leif and Tina. Nice place to sit and have a private visit. Slide the double doors shut and turn the lock to keep the wild children out of your way for a while.”
Tina let Leif take her hand and guide her to the room Dagmar had suggested. It was furnished with nice furniture, lit lamps, and gave them privacy which they’d been lacking with children and his parents always with them. Tina walked over to look at the landscape painting over the fireplace while Leif shut the doors, and turned the lock.
Tina didn’t turn or speak when Leif put his hands on her shoulders. She’d let him start the conversation first, praying he’d say he wanted a future with her in it.
“This is quite a full house tonight. The noise has been almost unnerving at times, after being away from family for so long.”
It wasn’t quite what Tina expected Leif to say, but at least he was talking.
“I’d say in this case, the noise means it’s a happy family,” Tina pointed out.
“I agree. My sisters were very lucky to have married into the Wilerson family.”
“And they’ve extended the family bond to include Dagmar and Cora, the Donovans, the Brenner’s, the Shepard’s…” and Tina felt they’d all support her and her children, too, even if Leif didn’t want to marry her.
Leif turned Tina to face him, holding her hands against his heart with his. He took a deep breath and looked directly in her eyes. “I never thought I’d get over losing Britta,” Leif hoarsely admitted, “but you and the children have finally brought me out of my sorrow.”
Tina inwardly sighed with relief. Leif had finally worked through his heart’s worries.
“Your heart has been loyal to Britta, but I’m sure there’s room in your big heart to love again.”
Tina hesitated to ask, but she had to know. “Do you love me, Leif?”
Leif pulled Tina against his chest and squeezed her hard. “Yes, I love you more than Britta, I have to admit. But I promised to love her in the wedding vows though.”
“The vows say ‘to love until death do us part’, Leif. You kept your vow to her, but now you’re free to love again.”
Tina felt Leif go still, then relax as he let out a breath. Did she finally get through to him what their marriage could mean to their future?
“We can’t bring Britta and Robert back, Leif. We’ll always remember and love our first spouses, but those marriages could give us a foundation to build our own now.”
Her heart sank as Leif dropped his arms and pulled away from her.
What? No way was he going to walk away from her. They were meant to be together and it was time to tell him so in plain language the stubborn Swede would understand.
“I swear if you leave us, Leif Hamner, I will track you down. I’ve traveled the trail north, so I can follow it back south if you run away. Our past is in Texas. Our future is in Kansas. We’re done with the trail and it’s time to settle into our own home.”
Leif looked shocked at her outburst, but then smiled while getting down on one knee in front of her.
“Tina, you’ve brought me out of my despair, and you and your children have taught me how to love, not just again, but to the fullest a heart can take without exploding.
“I’d be honored if you would choose me to be your husband, and father to your—no—our children. Will you marry me?”
“I love you Leif, and I’m more than ready to marry you. Bad circumstances happened, but it brought us together and we’ll make a solid marriage and family together.”
Since Leif was down to her height, being on his knee, she wrapped her arms around his neck and met his anxious lips for a long promising kiss.
It was a long, hard trail to love for both of them, but the end destination was a happy one.
Epilogue
Summer 1874
“What do you think?” Tina asked, her hands resting above her increasing middle.
Tina and Leif stood a ways from the house, looking it over before their company arrived. They were hosting a Midsummer’s Day evening picnic for family and neighbors, and had just finished setting tables, chairs and blankets out on the porch which wrapped around their house.
“Some people will be shocked at the bright color, but I know a growing Swedish family who will love the color I chose to paint our house,” Tina pointed out.
Yes, the Hamner family was increasing in numbers. Rania and Jacob’s sweet, adorable baby girl was a spitting imagine of Rania with her matching flaxen blonde hair and features.
Cora wasn’t the least bit overwhelmed when she had two matching brown-haired sons. Luckily she had her in-laws to help with the twins, and their excited, overwhelmed father, Dagmar.
Hilda’s baby—or babies—wouldn’t make their appearance until late summer, but Annalina was already predicting twins for her daughter because of Hilda’s size. Annalina was almost gleeful Hilda might be raising one, or maybe two children, as challenging as Hilda was growing up.
And Tina would be having her fourth child this fall, combining hers and Leif’s love for each other. So, they needed to expand their small homestead house to accommodate their growing family.
After their marriage last fall, Leif, and anyone with spare time, added on to their small home. Besides a dining room and utility room downstairs, they added thr
ee bedrooms upstairs, plus the big porch. Leif had also fenced a portion of the front yard to keep the children from straying away from her sight.
“You picked the color for our house, but I think you knew it was my secret wish to have it that color,” Leif teased her as he pulled Tina back against his chest and wrapped his arms around her.
“Well, your family loves anything painted red to remind you of your homeland.”
Their expanded home was painted red with white trim, just like the Hamners had reminisced how homes were painted in Sweden.
“I love the color because the flash of a red dress behind my wagon, led me to you,” Leif leaned down and kissed the top of Tina’s head.
Tina sighed, content with how life had turned out for her and her children. They’d found a loving man and wonderful supportive group of family and friends on the Kansas prairie. Their trail to this happy ending had come with loss and challenges, but it had all been overcome—because of their love and support for each other.
The End
I hope you enjoyed reading Tina Tracks a Trail Boss. Please help other readers discover my books by recommending them to family and friends, either by word of mouth or writing a review. I’d really appreciate it.
If you see any errors or typos, please email [email protected] about them. Even though this book has been read and professionally edited by several people, things can slip through which I want to correct for the next reader.
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Many thanks from the Kansas prairie!
Linda K. Hubalek
Dear Readers:
Tina Tracks a Trail Boss is the eighth book in the historical romance series Brides with Grit featuring the Wilerson and Hamner families.
The series setting is based on the famous old cowtown of Ellsworth, Kansas during its cattle drive days. The town of Clear Creek though, is fictional, based on the many little towns that sprang up as the railroad was built across Kansas.
This particular area is now the current Kanopolis State Park in central Kansas. Being local to where I live, I've hiked the park’s hiking trails where it’s easy to visualize what the area looked like in 1873—because it remains the same now—as then.
For more information on this series please visit www.LindaHubalek.com or ask your favorite retailer or library order them for you. You don’t have to, but I recommend reading the books in order to get full benefit of the story line.
Brides with Grit Series in order:
Rania Ropes a Rancher (Rania and Jacob)
Millie Marries a Marshal (Millie and Adam)
Hilda Hogties a Horseman (Hilda and Noah)
Cora Captures a Cowboy (Cora and Dagmar)
Sarah Snares a Soldier (Sarah and Marcus)
Cate Corrals a Cattleman (Cate and Isaac)
Darcie Desires a Drover (Darcie and Reuben)
Tina Tracks a Trail Boss (Tina and Leif)
Also read Lilly: Bride of Illinois, a spin-off book in the American Mail-Order Brides Series.
Historical Fiction Books by Linda K. Hubalek
Trail of Thread Series
Trail of Thread
Thimble of Soil
Stitch of Courage
Butter in the Well Series
Butter in the Well
Prairie Bloomin’
Egg Gravy
Looking Back
Planting Dreams Series
Planting Dreams
Cultivating Hope
Harvesting Faith
Kansas Quilter Series
Tying the Knot
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Linda Hubalek grew up on the Kansas prairie, always wanting to be a farmer like her parents and ancestors. After earning a college degree in Agriculture, marriage took Linda away from Kansas as her husband worked in engineering jobs in several states.
Meanwhile, Linda wrote historical fiction books about pioneer women who homesteaded in Kansas between 1854 to the early 1900s, especially her Swedish immigrant ancestors.
Linda Hubalek and her husband eventually moved back home to Kansas, where they raised American buffalo (bison) for a dozen years.
Linda is currently writing clean, sweet historical western romances set in the 1800s.
Tina Tracks a Trail Boss: A Historical Western Romance (Brides with Grit Book 8) Page 13
