by Lily Graison
Ada was watching them both when she turned her attention back to her. She looked wary. She’d probably not had much kindness in her life. Grace gave her a small, comforting smile. “As much as I’ve loved taking care of Josie, I was just as thrilled at finding you, Ada. Had she not been tucked underneath your cloak, I would have still wanted you to stay.” She glanced at Rafe. “We want you to stay. You and Josie.”
The worried look on Ada’s face gave way to a relieved smile. “You really don’t mind?”
“No. When I saw you and took you home, I secretly thought, this girl could be the daughter I never had.” She blushed but forced the embarrassment away. “I’ve wanted children for as long as I can remember, Ada, and knowing you needed somewhere to stay—well, I instantly thought I could give you what you needed and in return, I can get what I’ve always longed for.”
“Two daughters for the price of one?” She laughed, then abruptly stopped when Grace went still.
“Two?” Grace sucked in a quiet breath.
“Well, yeah. I left Josie with you because I can’t take care of her and knew she’d be in good hands with you.” She looked apprehensive gain. “Do you not want us both?”
Her breath caught. “More than you’ll ever know.”
Ada smiled and took a single step toward them. Then another. She glanced at Rafe before meeting her gaze again. “Then, if the offer still stands, I’d very much like to stay with you.”
Rafe didn’t think he’d ever seen that look on Grace’s face before. He’d seen her happy more times than he could count but now—it just looked different. Something about her face was—radiant.
The Valentine’s Day dance was in full swing and there wasn’t a person there that Grace hadn’t introduced to Ada and showed them Josie. Her face was lit with joy and if he had to guess, he'd say it was because every time Grace introduced Ada and Josie to anyone, Ada corrected her saying Josie was Grace’s daughter, instead. Grace had shed a few happy tears and hugged Ada to her so tight, the girl’s face had turned red. He wasn’t sure if that was from being squeezed or if she’d been embarrassed. Either way, she’d hugged Grace back, her eyes closing and for a brief second, she’d looked completely content with her lot in life as well.
His attention was pulled from the pair by Jesse who bumped his arm with his elbow. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen that look on Grace’s face before.”
“I was just thinking the same thing.” He drained the last of the punch from his cup. The look of delight on his brother’s face reflected everything he himself was feeling. His pleasure at Grace finally being happy was followed by relief. By the fact that he’d no longer have to see that look of despair in his wife’s eyes as she tried to act as if everything was okay.
“So they’re both staying, then?”
He nodded. “Seems so.”
Grace turned and flashed him a smile so bright, his heart skipped a beat. She was beautiful, his wife. She’d never wanted for anything but to have her arms wrapped around a baby of her own. Now she stood cradling one, while her arm was wrapped around the shoulder of another.
Life was finally as it should be.
Epilogue
Grace put Ada’s clean clothes away and straightened the blankets on her bed. Their permanent house guest had made it in such a rush, she’d not done a very good job at it.
The room no longer held any signs a baby lived in it. She’d moved all of Josie’s things into her and Rafe’s room, and when she cried now, Ada would get a bottle ready for her and hand it to Grace without a word. As far as Ada was concerned, Josie was no longer her daughter and come end of the month, Josephine would legally belong to them. Ada had signed papers giving them full parental rights to her. Once the judge came back around, Josephine Evelyn Samuels would officially be their child. So would Ada. The girl no one wanted had a home with them now and seemed so much happier than the scared girl she’d found living being the mercantile a few months back. She’d enrolled in school and was finally comfortable enough around Rafe to help him with the chores in the barn. She’d even seen them share a laugh or two. Whatever apprehension Ada had toward men was slowly fading away. She was adjusting, they all were and everything seemed right in the world.
Josie let out a small squeaking cry and Grace hurried across the hall to her room, picking her up from the cradle when she reached it. “Hello, my beauty.” Josephine smiled and Grace’s heart felt light. Rafe stepped into the room and smiled at her. After years of heartache, they’d not only been given one daughter, but two, and as he crossed the room to where she stood, placing a soft kiss to Josie’s head, then one on her lips, she realized her life turned out just as she’d always hoped it would. She was happy, had a man who loved her unconditionally and now, two girls she could call her daughters. Life was indeed good.
Authors Note
Dear Readers,
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Grace finally got her happy ending! If you’re new to this series, you can read their story in His Brother’s Wife. Its book 5 in the series and explains how Grace came to Willow Creek engaged to a 14 year old boy.
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For those of you waiting for the next book, we’ll be visiting Silver Falls sometime this summer before heading back to Willow Creek to catch up with Ben Atwater and a certain Indian girl he couldn’t stop staring at.
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Keep up to date with all my upcoming book releases, by Subscribing to my Newsletter.
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All the best,
Lily
Want More?
For information about upcoming books in the Willow Creek Series, the Silver Falls Series, or the brand new Sci-Fi Romance Prison Moon Series debuting in 2018, LIKE my Facebook page, join my private reader group, or subscriber to my Newsletter.
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For Lily around the web
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Website: http://lilygraison.com/
Blog: http://lilygraison.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LilyGraison
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/authorLilyGraison
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlilygraison/
Or Email Lily at: [email protected]
Reading List
Also by Lily Graison
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HISTORICAL WESTERN ROMANCE
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WILLOW CREEK SERIES
The Lawman (Willow Creek #1)
The Outlaw (Willow Creek #2)
The Gambler (Willow Creek #3)
The Rancher (Willow Creek #4)
His Brother's Wife (Willow Creek #5)
A Willow Creek Christmas (Willow Creek #6)
Wild Horses (Willow Creek #7)
Lullaby (A Willow Creek Short Story)
Nightingale (Willow Creek #8)
Heartstrings (A Willow Creek Short Story)
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SILVER FALLS SERIES
A Soft Kiss in Winter ( Silver Falls #1)
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SCIENCE FICTION ROMANCE
Dragon Fire (Prison Moon Series)
Warlord’s Mate (coming soon)
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CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Wicked: Leather and Lace (Wicked Series #2)
Wicked: Jade Butterfly (Wicked Series #3)
Wicked: Sweet Temptation (Wicked Series #4)
Wicked: The Complete Series (Books #1 - 4)
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PARANORMAL ROMANCE
The Calling (Night Breeds Duet #1)
The Gathering (Night Breeds Duet #2)
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MULTI-AUTHOR PROJECTS
Anna: Bride of Alabama
(American Mail-Order Brides Series Book 22)
Julia (Angel Creek Christmas Brides Book 2)
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STAND ALONE ROMANCE STORIES
Blame It On The Mistletoe (contemporary)
That First Christmas ( contemporary)
About The Author
Lily Graison is a USA TODAY b
estselling author of historical western romances who has been known to dabble in sci-fi, contemporary and paranormals when the mood strikes. The author of over twenty books, her stories all lean heavily toward the spicy side with strong female characters and heroes who tend to always get their way. She writes full time and lives in Hickory, NC with her husband and a house full of Yorkies
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Website: http://lilygraison.com/
Or Email Lily at: [email protected]
