Tears brimmed to Wilson’s eyes. “You love me, Jay? Honest?”
“Honest.” Leaning closer, he said. “Next to P, I love you more than anything in the world. We’re going to be a family, Wilson. You, me, and P.”
“And now you love God again?”
Jay nodded. “I never stopped loving him—he hurt my feelings, Wilson, like I hurt yours. But now I know he never stopped loving me.”
Throwing his arms around Jay’s neck, Wilson hugged him. “That day, when you didn’t come, I thought it was because you didn’t like me.”
“Never,” Jay assured him. He reached out and took Patience’s hand, drawing her into the circle. She smiled back, her love overflowing for this man. “And from now on I won’t be pushing over any more outhouses. But that’s another story entirely.” His eyes met hers. “When you need me, I’ll be there for you.”
“Always?” P and Wilson parroted.
Drawing the two of them to him, the sheriff whispered, “Always.”
Epilogue
Someone knocked on the front door, and Lily hurried to open it, feeling anyone else would be anticlimactic after Jay’s arrival. What a day this had been! She swung the door open and stopped with her heart in her throat. There facing her was the best-looking man she’d ever seen. Even more handsome than Jay Longer, to her notion.
“Afternoon, ma’am. The name’s Claxton. Cole Claxton.”
Lily stared up from her five feet two inches, thinking she hadn’t known God made men that tall. For a minute, she longed to be blonde and beautiful, instead of having plain brown eyes and hair the color of maple syrup, to say nothing of the smattering of freckles across her nose. Freckles weren’t beautiful.
“M-Mr. Claxton,” she stammered.
“I was told I could find my old friend Jay Longer here.”
“Oh yes.” Lily opened the door wider. “Come in. I’ll get him.”
She hurried to the kitchen, surprising Jay and Patience by bursting in on them. “Oh, Sheriff. There’s someone here to see you.”
Jay turned slowly. “To see me? Who?”
“He said his name was Cole Claxton.”
Jay took Patience’s hand and hurried through the kitchen and down the hallway to the front door. “Cole! Come in, man. How are you?”
The two shook hands, and Cole’s eyes slid past Jay to linger on Lily and her heart fluttered. “Just passing through. Thought I’d stop and say hello.”
“I’m glad you did.” Jay glanced toward the crowded living room and stepped out on the porch, motioning for the women to follow. They sat down in the rocking chairs Pastor Siddons kept there. A pale sun rose high in the winter sky. Lily pulled her woolen shawl closer, too excited to stay in the house.
Patience and Lily listened as the two men reminisced about past experiences. Lily caught her breath in wonder at the bravery of the lawmen and what they considered harmless escapes. To Lily, they seemed suicidal. Wilson crept out to join them, listening with shining eyes to the tales of adventure. Lily remembered her manners and brought cups of warm cider.
Finally Cole stood up. “Well, it’s been nice, but I’ve got to be on my way.” He shook Jay’s hand and nodded to Patience and Lily. “Maybe I’ll ride through this way again before too many years.” He caught Lily’s eyes and she felt light-headed. He put on his hat, and said, “Ma’am,” and left. She watched him walk down the path, mount his horse, and ride away.
Jay grinned, drawing Patience into his arms. “Lily, don’t get any ideas about Cole Claxton. He’s married.”
She turned to face him, frowning. “Why are all the good men taken?”
Jay threw back his head and laughed. “But he’s got a passel of friends who’ve yet to take the marital plunge—good-looking, ornery men.” He reached over and tugged a lock of her hair. “You’ve got good taste, lady. I’ve known Cole Claxton for a long time. He’s from Missouri. Got two brothers, Cass and Beau—both happily married. The Claxton men are lawmen—best in the country. Only a special woman can lasso men like the Claxtons.”
Lily gave him back look for look. “You were a man of the saddle once.”
Jay chuckled. “And I was lassoed.”
Mary and Harper joined them on the porch. Patience slipped her arms around the two newcomers, and her smile included Lily. “It’s so good to be back together again. All of my plans for us have come true. We’ll never have to worry again. A lot has happened since we left the orphanage, but our journey is over. We’ve finally found a home.”
She released the women and stepped into Jay’s waiting arms. “A real home with real love.”
Smiling, Lily let her eyes follow Cole Claxton—man of the saddle. He rode out of town, straight and tall. So … Mr. Claxton had a passel of unmarried friends …
Ornery lawmen.
“Patience, I wouldn’t hurt your feelings for the world,” she murmured, though nobody noticed. “But don’t count this girl out on finding her own true love. Miracles still happen—and I can lasso with the best of them.”
A Note from the Author
Dear Friends,
Words cannot express my gratitude for the loyal readers who have followed the Brides of the West. The series started with three books and grew to six. Now we come to the end of the brides’ journeys, and though I’m sad to part with this family, I’m satisfied that each woman has found true contentment, whether by marriage to that special man, or—like Mary, Harper, and Lily—through God and the knowledge that life is unique and not everyone finds happiness in the same way.
Now I look ahead to a new series titled Men of the Saddle. Much like the brides, these young men are rugged pioneers who paved the way for freedom, democracy, and yes, love in the Old West. And who knows? Lily might even bump into one of these handsome strangers… .
Meanwhile, I’m busy with another fun series for Tyndale House: Morning Shade Mysteries. The stories involve my usual quirky characters, a small (fictional) town in Arkansas, people who love the Lord, and the oddest mysteries. Of course, eighty-seven-year-old Stella Diamond can’t let a good mystery lie, so she and the self-appointed, bumbling town constable Hargus Conley bump heads when an occasional strange happening pops up—like the recent bizarre case of the furniture mover. Someone is breaking into homes, rearranging and redecorating!
God continues to pour out blessings on the Copeland family. My husband and I have purchased a small motor home, and we now camp with good friends as often as our busy schedules allow. We spend a good deal of time shamelessly spoiling our grandchildren (and kissing their faces off), having picnics and Bible studies with our church family, and each day thanking God for the wonderful life he has given us. Not without its problems, but most assuredly under his watchful care.
Until we meet again—
About the Author
Lori Copeland, Christian novelist, lives in the beautiful Ozarks with her husband and family. After writing in the secular romance market for fifteen years, Lori now spends her time penning books that edify readers and glorify God. She publishes titles with Tyndale House, WestBow, and Steeple Hill. In 2000, Lori was inducted into the Springfield, Missouri, Writers Hall of Fame.
Lori’s readers know her for Lifting Spirits with Laughter! She is the author of the popular, bestselling Brides of the West series, and she coauthored the Heavenly Daze series with Christy Award–winning author Angela Elwell Hunt. Stranded in Paradise marked Lori’s debut as a Women of Faith author.
Lori welcomes letters written to her in care of Tyndale House Author Relations, 351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188.
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