Phebe's Promise (The Alphabet Mail-Order Brides Book 16)

by Cathryn Chandler

  “Where’s Phebe?”

  She gave a small shriek and lifted her skirts high in the air as she flew out the door. He was climbing down off a horse, looking healthy and whole. Not seeing anything but her husband, Phebe didn’t notice when everyone else in the yard stepped back, each face wreathed in a huge smile. All she saw was her husband, standing near the barn, adjusting his glasses on his nose before holding his arms wide open.

  When she was within five feet of him, Phebe took a flying leap, trusting him to catch her in midair as she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life.

  “Henry.” It was all she could do to get his name out on a deep sob. “You’re safe. You’re really safe.”

  Her husband held her close, one arm wrapped securely around her, the other stroking the length of her hair. His lips were next to her ear as he kept repeating that he was fine, just fine. He finally leaned his head back far enough he could look into her face.

  “You’re all right? You weren’t hurt?”

  “No. I’m—” Phebe’s words were cut off as Henry’s mouth settled on hers for a long, passionate kiss.

  “Ew.” The disgust in Squealer’s voice had the whole company laughing. Keeping Phebe securely in his arms, Henry turned his head and smiled at them.

  “Thank you for taking good care of my wife while I was gone.”

  Martha slapped a hand against her upper thigh. “Gone? That what you call bein’ kidnapped?”

  “Did you shoot the bad men?”

  Phebe lifted her head from her husband’s shoulder and frowned at Jonah. “That’s enough for now. Mister Henry needs to rest.”

  He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “That’s all right, sweetheart. I’m sure everyone wants to know what happened.”

  Jake stepped forward and held out his hand. The foreman heartily shook the one Henry offered before giving him a hard slap on the back. “I’d like to hear it. We sent Charlie out lookin’ fer you.”

  Henry frowned. “Why Charlie?”

  “Your brother sent him along with us,” Phebe said softly. “Charlie’s a tracker. Like Ethan Mayes.”

  “Trust Adam to prepare for the worst.” Henry chuckled. “But I’m glad Charlie is following the trail those two men left. He’ll be able to see them safely to Reno and justice.” He glanced at Jake. “And I hope that will include Janson, who I assume is waiting there for his men to show up with me in tow.”

  “Which they ain’t goin’ to be doin’,” Martha pointed out. “Why is that?”

  “I would like to talk to my wife first.” Henry held up a hand at the round of protests. “Then we’ll both be back to tell you everything that happened.” Not waiting for any agreement, Henry kept an arm around Phebe’s waist and ushered her toward the old mill.

  Happy to feel his warmth next to her, Phebe walked along in an ecstatic fog. Whatever Henry had done to get away from those men, she didn’t care. Having him here with her was all that mattered.

  Once they were inside the classroom, Henry led her to one of the benches, and they both sat down. He immediately asked her how long she’d been tied up, and made a point of examining her wrists, frowning at the purple and red bruises blooming there. After she’d assured him for the fifth or sixth time that no permanent damage had been done, Phebe leaned in and cupped his face between her hands.

  “Enough, Henry. The worst of it was lying on the cold ground for a few hours with a piece of cloth in my mouth. I want to know what happened to you, and how you got away from those awful men.”

  He turned his face and placed a kiss in the palm of her hand before grinning at her. “They might have been awful, Phebe, but more importantly, they weren’t very smart.”

  Phebe shook her head at him. “They had guns, Henry.”

  “I had science, sweetheart, and a little luck. A combination far more powerful than any gun.”

  “What happened?”

  Henry launched into how he’d managed to untie his legs. Then all he’d had to do was wait. While the two men were busy with the horses, he’d simply walked over and dropped the crushed-up mushroom in his hand into the boiling pot of beans.

  “Mushroom?” Phebe frowned. “What mushroom?”

  “Do you remember the one I showed you during my class in the woods?” Henry asked.

  Searching her memory, Phebe came up with a name. “The jack o’ lantern? The one that glows in the dark?”

  Her husband laughed. “It will also make you sick. By the time morning came around, those two men were in so much pain, they couldn’t do a thing about me cutting myself loose and leaving on one of their horses.”

  Phebe’s eyes shone with admiration. “Henry! That was brilliant of you.”

  “Thank you,” he said with a touch of modesty before his gaze grew serious. “The whole time I was riding away, leaving you tied up and helpless, I could only think of one thing.”

  She laid a gentle hand along the side of his face. “What’s that, Henry?”

  “How I can’t live in a world without you. I love you, Phebe Frommer. And I will love you every day for the rest of our lives. I should have told you that when you agreed to marry me after we left Kate’s Tea Shop.”

  Those tears that she’d thought she’d run out of suddenly welled up again in Phebe’s eyes. “I love you too, Henry.”

  He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on the lips before touching his forehead to hers. “You’re the right woman, Phebe. The right one for me.”

  She smiled when he stood up, bringing her with him. No matter what the future held, they would face it together. Happy beyond any words she could possibly say, Phebe walked out of the mill, her hand securely in her husband’s. As soon as they appeared, a happy cheer rose from all the men, Martha, and the children.

  Smiling her gratitude, Phebe said a silent thanks to Madam Wigg. Because of her mentor and stand-in mother’s wisdom, she was not only truly home at last, but had found her forever family.

  Epilogue

  “How are you feeling?” Henry carefully sat down at the desk next to the one his wife was occupying.

  Phebe smiled at him as she put a protective hand on top of her slightly rounded belly. According to the many books her husband had sent away for on the subject, their first child would be born sometime the following August. For the sake of Henry’s nerves, Phebe sincerely hoped the baby would not be late.

  “I’m fine. I wanted to clean up a bit before helping Martha with supper.”

  She looked around the very large, well-stocked classroom. Sometimes it seemed more children arrived almost daily. It wouldn’t be long before they’d need more classrooms, and teachers. But that was something she’d worry about later.

  With the school and the sleeping quarters for their orphaned residents complete, the men were busy working on a new house for Phebe and Henry, as well as building his laboratory at last. Which she’d had to gently insist on moving again so it would be farther away from their home.

  Henry pointed at the letter lying on top of the desk. “Did you have time to read that?”

  “I did.” Phebe picked it up and quickly scanned the page that was covered with Madam Wigg’s distinctive handwriting. “She says everything is going well, and more of the teachers have left to make a life of their own.” Phebe turned the letter over. “She also sent the postal directions for a few of my closer friends from the orphanage.”

  Her husband studied her face for a long moment. “Are you planning on paying Madam Wigg a visit? Because I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get away.”

  Phebe shook her head. A soft strand of hair came loose and floated against her neck. “Right now, all I’m planning on doing is telling my husband that I love him, and to finish straightening up this classroom.”

  Leaning over, Henry gave her a quick kiss. “I love you too, Mrs. Frommer. Don’t be long.”

  “I won’t,” she promised, smiling at him when he stood up.

  “I’ll be at the site of the laboratory, mak
ing sure it’s being built properly. Have someone fetch me if you need anything.”

  She laughed and blew him a kiss. “I will.”

  Once Henry had left, Phebe looked around at the already perfectly tidy space before setting Madam Wigg’s letter aside and placing a blank piece of paper in front of her. Picking up her pen, she smiled as she began to write.

  Dear Quinlan,

  I hope you are well and you’ve found happiness in your new life, and that you love your new home as much as I love mine. I have so much to tell you . . .

  The Adventure Continues . . .

  Phebe found her true love and is anxious to know how her good friend, Quinlan, was faring!

  The blond-haired, green-eyed beauty had gone to Texas, and a life very different from the one they’d all led in the orphanage. Phebe will have to wait to hear from her friend, but you can find out all about Quinlan’s adventures right now!

  Penned by best-selling author Sylvia McDaniel, Quinlan’s Quest is now available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. Grab your copy today and continue reading all about the adventures (and misadventures) of the Alphabet Mail-Order Brides!

  Click Here For Quinlan's Quest

  Author’s Note

  To My Readers ~

  I hope you enjoyed Phebe and Henry’s story. If you’d like to read all about how Caroline and Adam fell in love, be sure to read the first book in the Silver Dollar Series, Adam’s Wish. Although we did meet Adam, Henry, and Christa in Loving Amelia. Being part of the Alphabet Mail-Order Bride’s group was a lot of fun—and I hope you’ll have a chance to read all twenty-six stories of these amazing brides.

  I want to take this opportunity to thank you, the reader. Time is precious, and I so appreciate you spending some of yours to read my books. I enjoy writing, and am very lucky to be able to do just that. And even luckier to have someone read my stories.

  Thank you, and happy reading!

  Cathryn Chandler

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