The Cowboy Comes Home

by Linda Ford

  “You got a name?”

  Linc didn’t hesitate. “Lincoln McCoy.” He held out his hand. “Didn’t catch your name.”

  “Orville Jones. Say, aren’t you the young man who found Mrs. Ogilvy’s jewels?”

  “I am.” Linc would not hide from all that meant. “I was also accused of having a part in stealing them. But I didn’t do it. Is that going to be a problem?”

  Orville studied Linc long and hard. “Why would you return them if you weren’t innocent? Besides, didn’t the Mountie investigate and decide there was no evidence against you?”

  Linc nodded.

  “That’s good enough for me.”

  “Thank you. Now point me to the work.”

  He left later in the afternoon, knowing Orville was satisfied with his work. Now he was ready to speak to Sally.

  A trickle of worry trailed through his thoughts. As soon as he recognized it, he reminded himself he had made a choice to trust God.

  He hurried home. This was about the time of day Sally left the Finley place to head home. He paused long enough to tell Grandmama about the job and explain he was going for a ride.

  “I trust you are going to find Sally.”

  He chuckled. “Seems a man can’t have any secrets around here.”

  She tweaked his ear. “I’ll be praying.”

  His heart full of gratitude, he hugged her and trotted out to saddle Red.

  The dusty road ahead was empty. There was no sign of Sally. Was he too late? Or too early? He looked over his shoulder and saw only the dust raised by Red’s hooves.

  Drawing near Judd’s turnoff, he slowed. Perhaps Sally had stopped to visit her sister. But he didn’t turn in. Only one person he wanted to see, and he wanted to see her alone.

  He signaled Red to go forward at a walk, all the time scanning the road, the driveways, the landscape for Sally. Nothing. Not so much as a flicker of movement.

  He swallowed hard and sank low in the saddle. He’d practiced what he’d say. Tried to guess how she’d respond. It hadn’t crossed his mind he wouldn’t see her.

  Where is she, God? Sometimes it was hard to trust.

  He rode on two more miles, loath to return disappointed. But there seemed no point in going farther, and he finally reined around. “Let’s go home, horse.” His chin almost rested on his chest as he headed back to town.

  Big Red neighed, causing Linc to jerk his head upward.

  There she was. At the end of the laneway staring at him. He dropped to the ground and strode toward her. “Where were you?” As if she had to inform him of her whereabouts!

  “I went to visit Madge.”

  “I didn’t see you.” Did she hear the ache in his voice, or only the demanding note of his question?

  “I saw you. I thought—” Her voice cracked. “I wondered if you were leaving the country. Are you?”

  He heard in her voice more than her words said. A longing. A wish that he wasn’t leaving. And it gave him hope. “Guess you haven’t heard.”

  “What?”

  “I got a job at the hotel. Orville seems to think I’m worth taking a chance on.”

  “You aren’t leaving?”

  “Nope. I’m taking over Grandmama’s farm. She needs me. I need a home.” He needed more, but only Sally could give him what he truly needed. He feared to ask her to give him a chance. “How are Abe and the children?”

  “Good. I no longer work there.”

  He couldn’t think what she meant. He would not allow himself to hope and dream without reason. “Really?” When had his voice ever before sounded so strained? “Why is that?”

  “His wife’s cousin is taking my place.”

  He tried not to look confused, but guessed he failed miserably when she giggled.

  “Why? You— She—” He gave up and lifted his hands to beseech her to explain.

  “I told Abe I couldn’t marry him.”

  “You did?” Had he swallowed a whistle to make his voice so squeaky? “Why?”

  “I realize my security is not based on a house or marriage to a man who can take care of me.”

  He nodded, silently asking for more.

  Her smile was as sweet as the kiss of morning sunshine. “I’ve chosen to trust God to take care of me and my future.”

  He grabbed his hat and slapped it against his thigh, whooping so loudly that Red snorted and sidestepped away. “Me, too.”

  “You, too, what?”

  “I decided to trust God even when life doesn’t look like a bed of roses. When people are saying my name with twisted expressions on their faces, when the girl I love is saying she plans to marry someone else.”

  She looked serious, though it appeared to be a strain. “You love someone?”

  He tossed his hat to the saddle and faced her, close enough to see the green in her eyes shift through a variety of shades. “I love you, Sally Morgan. With my whole heart. What do you think about that?”

  She ducked her head. “It sounds very nice.”

  He caught her chin with his fingertip and lifted her face upward so he could study her. Her eyes were warm and welcoming, her lips curled softly with pleasure. “Will you marry me?”

  His confidence dipped. What if she didn’t say yes? He rushed on before she could answer. “I can’t promise you we won’t have struggles. I can’t say life won’t be hard. I don’t know what the future holds. I only know God holds our future, and He is the only One strong enough for the job. But I can promise you I will love you as long as I live. I will do my best to make you happy and keep you safe and secure.” He ran out of words and waited for her reply.

  “God will take care of us.”

  “Us?”

  “I can’t think of anyone I would sooner share the challenges of life with than a cowboy by the name of Linc McCoy.”

  “You’ll marry me?”

  “Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you. I choose you.”

  The words poured through him like molten honey. His heart filled with joy until he thought it would burst. He caught her mouth with his and kissed her soundly and thoroughly, in a way that didn’t begin to express the depths of his love for her. He leaned back and smiled at her. “I’ve come home.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist. “You need to come to my home.” She tilted her head toward the house up the lane.

  Reality hit with a thud. “Your mother won’t be pleased.”

  “Let’s give her a chance.” She withdrew her arms enough to take his hand. “Come on.”

  Sally clung to his side as they strode toward the house. The closer they got, the more tension she felt in his body. A tension that burned along her nerve endings. She’d made it clear to Mother she would only marry for love. No doubt Mother suspected it was Linc she loved, but she still trembled at facing her parent’s disapproval.

  All her life she had tried so hard to be good, to do what her parents wanted, to be compliant. But she was no longer a child, and she could not live a lie. “It will be okay,” she said, as much for herself as Linc. “Mother will understand.” Oh, Lord, make her see I must follow my heart. And that Linc is a good man.

  They hesitated at the door. She turned to look into Linc’s face, and love for him flooded her thoughts. Nothing else mattered. “Come on.”

  They stepped inside. Mother must have seen them coming, for she stood in the kitchen doorway waiting for them. A myriad of emotions crossed her expression—resistance and disapproval—but then she studied each of their faces and acceptance appeared.

  “Come in. I’ll make tea and you can tell me all about it.” She turned back into the kitchen.

  Sally grinned up at Linc. “She’s giving her approval.”

  Linc’s eyes blazed with joy, and he pulled her into the hallway and kissed her quickly, then tucked her arm through his. “That’s to remind you what’s in here.” He patted his chest to indicate his heart.

  She imitated his gesture. “And what’s in here.”

  Epilogue


  May 24, 1935

  Sally stood in the midst of the crowd, Linc at her side. It was the official opening of the Ogilvy Central Park. Mrs. Ogilvy had donated funds for a park in the heart of town. The town fathers had discussed what they wanted. But no one took action.

  Then Linc had stepped forward with a design.

  She leaned over to whisper in his ear. “I think it should have been called the McCoy Park. You did most of the work.” He’d drawn up plans and presented them to a town meeting. There were those who wanted to dismiss his ideas because he was a McCoy, but Mrs. Ogilvy had silenced all criticism by announcing to one and all she bore no ill will toward the McCoys, and certainly none toward Linc. “He’s an honorable man I consider myself privileged to know.” Sally had heard her say those words before, as had a handful of women, but now the whole town heard them and knew Linc had Mrs. Ogilvy’s approval.

  After that, the majority were happy enough to let Linc volunteer to do the work.

  He’d spent so many hours this spring leveling the ground, planting flower beds, putting in trees that Sally had started taking meals to him. Together they had sat in the half-developed park and talked about the future.

  “You don’t mind Grandmama living with us?” His words brought her back to the present.

  “Of course not. Where else would she go?” She and Linc had discussed it extensively before their marriage, but as Sally said, it was her home. They were the intruders. “Besides, she’s teaching me to do counted stitch pictures.” One was a secret between Sally and Linc’s grandmother. They’d used a photograph of Linc’s parents taken shortly after their wedding, and Sally was turning it into a picture to give to Linc on their first anniversary.

  Linc pulled her to his side, and from the look in his eyes she knew he would have kissed her if they weren’t in such a public place. They’d married in late October and had enjoyed a blissful winter of learning more and more about each other.

  “This couldn’t have happened without the efforts of Linc McCoy,” Mr. Reimer, spokesman for the town council, said, drawing both Linc and Sally’s attention back to the ceremony. “Thank you, Linc. We consider you an asset to our community.” A roar of agreement went up from the crowd.

  Sally wrapped an arm about Linc and held tight. She dare not look at him, knowing this acceptance and approval meant more to him than anyone but herself would ever know. “You deserve it,” she whispered, then stood at his side as people filed by, shaking his hand and thanking him.

  When the line of well wishers had passed, Linc draped an arm about her shoulders and smiled at her. “Are you happy, my sweet?”

  “I’m happy and so proud I could almost burst.”

  Sally’s mother stopped by. “You did us proud, Linc.”

  He dropped a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you, Mother Morgan. Your approval means a lot.”

  She lifted her face, a regretful expression pulling at her lips. “I’m sorry I ever misjudged you. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”

  Linc grinned. “I’ve long since forgotten it. You should, too.”

  “Thank you.” She patted his cheek. “Don’t forget we’re all getting together at my house for supper.”

  “We’ll be there.”

  Sally’s mother went to speak to Linc’s grandmother.

  Linc leaned close to whisper in Sally’s ear. “We wouldn’t miss it.”

  Their secret warm between them, Sally adored him with her eyes, knowing she could inform him with words and kisses how much she loved him when they were alone.

  Later that day they gathered around the table at the Morgan home—Louisa, Emmet and the girls, who had come for a visit, Emmet’s aunt, Madge and Judd and Mother and Linc’s grandmother—now as much a part of the family as anyone.

  Mother looked around at her family. “I am so blessed. I have prayed for my girls to each find a good man, and God has honored me beyond my expectations.”

  Emmet cleared his throat. “We would like to make an announcement.” He and Louisa looked at each other with such devotion, Sally’s eyes stung with unshed tears to watch them. “We are going to adopt a baby. A young woman came to us and asked if we would take her child. The baby is due in September.” The two little girls beamed so bright, Sally knew they were thrilled about the news.

  Sally and Linc grinned at each other, then joined in congratulating the pair and asking questions.

  A minute later, Judd signaled for quiet. “Madge and I have an announcement, too. We are having a baby in October. There’ll be two cousins close in age.”

  Linc laughed. “Make it three. We’re having a baby in October, too.”

  Mother lifted her hands in the air in a gesture of worship. “Three grandbabies at the same time. I am so blessed.”

  The three sisters echoed her sentiments, and the three cowboys-turned-husbands nodded agreement.

  Later, after the dishes were done, the three sisters wandered outside.

  “Babies together.” Sally laughed, her heart full. Louisa and Madge laughed, too.

  Sally studied her eldest sister. “If only you lived closer so the babies could grow up together. Like we did.”

  “Do you ever miss this place, Louisa?” Madge asked.

  Louisa’s expression was so serene that Sally knew her answer before she spoke. “I miss Mother and you two, but I wouldn’t sacrifice a minute with Emmet. Besides, we’ll come often to visit, and you must bring your babies to visit me.”

  Sally and Madge nodded agreement.

  Madge turned to stare at the barn. “Do you think Father would be pleased if he could see us?”

  Sally reached out and drew her sisters into a three-cornered hug. “He taught us well. Now it’s up to us to live what he taught us and teach it to our children.”

  Louisa kissed Sally’s cheek and grinned across at Madge. “When did our little sister become so wise?”

  Madge chuckled. “When she learned to listen to her heart and welcome a cowboy home.”

  Sally nodded agreement, and then, arms entwined, the girls returned to the house and their loved ones. Sally’s heart felt ready to burst with joy, and she guessed from the expressions on her sisters’ faces that they shared her happiness.

  She could ask for nothing better.

  * * * * *

  Dear Reader,

  I love writing happy, healthy families, and the Morgan family is one of those. Not that they don’t have their problems. After all, no family is perfect. In fact, I wish I could tell everyone that people simply do the best they can with the information they have…at least in healthy families. Furthermore, healthy adults have healthy relationships with their family. Of course, in a dysfunctional family, being healthy might mean something entirely different. I’m fully aware of that, as well.

  I hope this story shows how to function in a family—each member with faults and failings. My prayer is we might all be encouraged to be responsible for doing what we can to make family life better. In the words of a prayer by St. Francis of Assisi,

  Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

  Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

  Where there is injury, pardon.

  Where there is doubt, faith.

  Where there is despair, hope.

  Where there is darkness, light.

  Where there is sadness, joy.

  O Divine Master,

  Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

  To be understood, as to understand;

  To be loved, as to love.

  For it is in giving that we receive.

  It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.

  And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

  Amen.

  I love to hear from readers. Contact me through email, linda@lindaford.org. Feel free to check on updates and bits about my research at my website, www.lindaford.org.

  God bless,

  Linda Ford

  Questions for Discussion


  Sally is the youngest daughter in the family. Has that position influenced how she views life? How?

  What other events have influenced her view?

  Can you see how your position in your family and events in your life have influenced you?

  How is Sally seeking to deal with uncertainties in her life? How do you?

  Linc believes he and his family are innocent and should prove it to the community. What changed his mind? Or did he change his mind?

  What things did Linc do that made you think he was a good, honorable man?

  Life can throw some unhappy surprises at us. Have you had such? How did you deal with them? Can you learn anything from the way Sally and Linc handled life’s unpleasant things?

  What important lesson about trusting God did they learn?

  Sally perhaps came across as the weakest sister of the three. Do you think she was weak? Why or why not?

  We know the Depression ended. The rains came, ending the drought. Do you think Sally and Linc prospered when this happened? Do you think the improved circumstances would make them forget the lessons they learned? Do improved conditions tend to make us forget our lessons?

  Are you concerned about Abe’s children? Do you think Sally and Linc will continue to be involved with them?

  Is there one specific thing in this story or series that you can apply to your life to make it better or more satisfying?

  ISBN: 9781459223752

  Copyright © 2012 by Linda Ford