Family of Convenience

by Victoria W. Austin

  Adam’s answering laugh was so joyful that several people turned to look and Millie thought they were probably wondering what could possibly be that wonderful on this particular day.

  * * *

  “So, everything will be gone, Daddy? Burned up?”

  He and Millie had decided to prepare the children before taking them back home, but Caty’s questions were ripping Adam’s heart out of his chest. “I don’t know, honey. We won’t know until we get there and see.”

  Genie was sitting on Millie’s lap on the bench of the buggy. He had a block in each hand, but wasn’t banging them together in his normal fashion. In fact, he was being incredibly quiet. He might not understand what was going on, but he knew that something bad had happened.

  They had spent four days in town, waiting for the fire to completely smolder out. Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair had graciously given them, and other people waiting to go home, rooms at the boardinghouse. It had been a tight fit with the four of them in one room, but Adam had been nothing but grateful.

  They’d spent the days resting. The fire had taken a huge emotional and physical toll on all of them, Adam included. The town had also met for daily worship services. The current situation seemed much less scary when gathered with friends and praising the Lord.

  Finally, the fire had died out. The ground had cooled. And now, it was time to go. They needed to see what they were dealing with. Then, he and Millie could go through their list of needs and available resources. Together. They would decide how to handle the future. Together.

  “It’s not that bad.” Millie’s voice was hesitant, and Adam appreciated what she was trying to do. The fire had been thorough in its ravaging. But it had not taken everything. They saw evidence that not all was lost. Trees standing, limbs still stretched out in defiance. Random patches of green here and there, screaming loudly that they had survived.

  When they approached the turnoff from the main road that would lead to their farm, Adam almost suggested going alone at first, maybe so he could find a way to make it look less bad. But he knew Millie would never agree. And, she’d proven rather good at getting her way when it came to them staying together.

  When they finally arrived at the turnoff, Adam stopped the wagon. This used to be the part of the journey from town when Adam would feel his heart fill with pride. This was the beginning of his land. Of what he had created.

  But it wasn’t his land. And whatever came from it was not his creation. He’d known that, but the point was far more salient today. He was a steward of what God gave him. Turning to look at his wife and children, Adam smiled. God had given him a lot.

  As they rode toward the house it became obvious that none of the crops had survived. The fields were a solid blanket of thick black char.

  “Oh, Adam. Is there any chance the plants are alive under that? That they will come back?”

  He wanted to say yes. “Probably not. I’ll go out and look later, but I just can’t see how any of them would have survived.”

  “All your hard work. I can’t believe it is gone.”

  Neither could he. “On the bright side, I’m not going to be in the fields from sunup to sundown for a while. And harvest won’t be time-consuming at all this year.”

  Millie laughed. And sobbed. “That’s not funny, Adam.”

  He kept a straight face. “I’m also a lot less worried about drought right now.”

  Millie’s laugh won out right along with Adam’s smile.

  Things became more somber when they approached the house and outbuildings. The barn and bunkhouse were gone, nothing left but a few charred timbers scattered on the ground. Adam couldn’t tell about the root cellar yet, but he hoped the things he’d put inside had survived.

  The house was still standing. Kind of. The rock chimney was still there. That counted for something.

  Both children burst into tears when they saw what was left of the house. Genie began to sob loudly. Caty was crying quietly, but the tears were nonstop down her little face. Millie was trying to comfort them both as best she could.

  Adam stopped the wagon in front of the house, got out and reached out for Caty. She practically leaped into him, squeezing her little arms around his neck as hard as she could. Adam could feel her body shuddering. He looked over Caty’s shoulder and saw tears running down Millie’s face, too.

  It suddenly all felt like too much. All Adam could do was hold his daughter and let her grieve. Watch his wife do the same while comforting their son.

  After a few minutes of Adam murmuring reassurances in her ear, Caty calmed down. Adam set her down and took Genie from Millie. Then he helped Millie down from the wagon.

  “Our house is gone.” Genie’s voice was full of nothing but sadness.

  “Hey, look at me, kiddos.” Adam squatted down and moved both children to stand in front of him. Millie came to stand at his side, resting a hand on his shoulder. “The fire was bad. But it’s going to be okay.”

  “You always say that, Daddy.” Millie snorted at Caty’s accusation. It was true.

  “Yep. And it is. We’ve had sad times before. But we always are okay, aren’t we?” Both kids nodded, though Adam suspected Genie was merely copying his sister. It would have to be good enough for now.

  “And we are going to be okay this time, too. We are together. We love each other and God loves us.”

  Caty looked between Millie and Adam with a skeptical look on her sweet little face. “We all love each other?”

  That questions actually startled Adam, and he felt Millie’s hand tighten on his shoulder. “Yes, baby. Of course we do.”

  “Everyone?”

  “Yes, baby. Everyone.”

  “So you and Mama love me? And Genie?”

  “Of course we do, Caty. We both love you so much.” Millie’s voice was adamant. Adam was about to confirm her words when Caty spoke again.

  “And you and Mama love each other?”

  Millie’s hand left his shoulder as it came to rest over her mouth, eyes wide. Millie looked at him and he stood to be at her side. He felt like an errant teenager who had been caught doing something wrong. By a five-year-old with big brown eyes.

  Adam started to speak and was embarrassed to find he needed to clear his throat. He did so and tried to ignore the smirk Millie was hiding under her hand. Fine lot of help she was. “Yes, Caty. Mama and I love each other. So much. Just like we love you and Genie and the new baby. For forever.”

  “Okay.” Caty smiled and all the tension left the air.

  “Okay?”

  “Yes, okay. Hey, Genie, do you wanna play tag? I’m it!”

  With that, Caty began to chase a shrieking Genie around the yard, using a lot of the fallen and burned debris as obstacles that only added to their fun. Millie lowered her hand, and Adam saw the smirk morph into a giant smile. That smile further morphed into a laugh, loud and long. It was a glorious sound.

  “What’s so funny, Mrs. Beale?”

  “You...” Her words were broken up by deep breaths and more laughs. “You looked so scared to tell a little girl that you love your wife. I’ll never forget that look. Ever.”

  Adam crossed his arms over his chest, pretending to be irritated. Millie didn’t seem to be concerned about his wrath, however. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go see what survived in the root cellar. Are you coming?”

  Still smiling, Millie reached out and took his hand. “With you? Always.”

  Epilogue

  To Do:

  Love

  This wasn’t a church, but it felt more holy than their first wedding. God had certainly been at her first wedding to Adam. He had been here through their marriage so far. And He was here now. Oh, yes. She was renewing her vows to Adam in front of their children. Their friends. And the Lord. He was in every singl
e part of this day and all the events leading up to it.

  Millie closed her eyes and breathed in deep, feeling the life that seemed to fill the air. Fill her lungs. Fill her heart.

  She opened them and saw Adam smiling at her. He reached out and took her free hand, even though the pastor had not yet reached the part of the ceremony requiring it.

  It didn’t matter. This day wasn’t about doing things in a certain order. It was about them. The family they had created. The family they had become.

  Millie looked around, trying to keep her breath. Her husband was in front of her. Their son was standing right next to him, one fist clutching Adam’s pant leg. Caty was next to Millie, grinning wide to reveal the gap where teeth had recently fallen out. And baby Hannah was held securely in Millie’s arms. Millie still couldn’t believe that she was a part of such a perfect family.

  But she was. And, it had nothing to do with making lists. With carefully crafted plans.

  When it was time for Millie to say her vows, she felt like her heart was trying to leave her chest right along with her words. She felt the tears rolling down her face but refused to take her hand from Adam’s to wipe them away. Let them stay, they were a testimony to the sincerity of her feelings.

  Adam used his free hand to wipe them instead. Then he used that same hand to wipe his own. They kissed and turned to face the crowd who had joined them out in this field. The crowd that was currently clapping and whooping, likely scaring every living creature in a five-mile radius.

  The pastor had looked at them like they were crazy when they’d said they wanted to renew their vows here in the dirt. But, after they’d explained their reasons, he’d grinned and declared it a perfect idea.

  They were standing right in the middle of the field that Millie had tried to control. The one that had made Adam so defensive. The place that had burned. Been destroyed.

  The place that had come back with new life.

  The group made its way to the rebuilt house, carefully navigating the rows of green sprouts that covered the landscape. Millie had made several pies yesterday. Once she told Edith what she had planned, Edith wasted no time in organizing the women. Each had also brought a pie to share. Only Adam and Millie would understand that the simple reception of pie actually held a much deeper meaning.

  Still holding her hand, Millie saw Adam shake his head at something.

  “What is it?”

  Adam looked at her, his grin as deep as ever. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I just can’t believe how good these crops look already. Those are the strongest-looking plants I’ve ever seen.”

  Mike, who was also holding Edith’s hand as they walked, snorted. “It’s not a mystery. It was the fire. The soil is so rich now you’d almost have to try to kill your crops to make that happen.”

  Millie stopped and looked at the fields, seeing the fire in her mind. Remembering the heat of the flames. The day they had finally returned home to view the devastation. God surely worked in His own way.

  Adam reached out and took Hannah, reclasped his free hand with Millie’s and they started walking again. “It’s going to be a bountiful harvest.”

  And it would be, no matter what came next.

  * * * * *

  If you loved this story, don’t miss these other

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  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE RANCHER’S SURPRISE TRIPLETS by Linda Ford.

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  Dear Reader,

  This is my first published book and my first Dear Reader letter. If you’re reading this, thank you. You’re part of a dream come true.

  I’ve always loved historical stories set on the prairie land I call home. My mother could tell you how I used to wander through my grandpa’s fields in a long calico skirt and ankle boots, pretending to be a pioneer fresh off a covered wagon. But she won’t. Mainly because I’m not going to let her.

  This story, especially Millie’s need for control, is dear to my heart. It’s my prayer that I, and you if you need, do not let fear control our lives. Instead, may we find peace and comfort in faith.

  I would love to hear from you. You can find my email address and social media links on my website at www.victoriawaustin.com.

  Victoria

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Historical title.

  You find illumination in days gone by. Love Inspired Historical stories lift the spirit as heroines tackle the challenges of life in another era with hope, faith and a focus on family.

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  The Rancher’s Surprise Triplets

  by Linda Ford

  Chapter One

  June 1896

  Little Horn, Texas

  Louisa Clark pushed through the half-dozen young women to get to the counter of the store. They peered at a sign on top of the oak counter.

  “A dime a dance, you say?” One of the pretty women spoke. So young and fresh looking it made Louisa, at twenty-seven, realize she was well past her prime...old enough to earn the title of “spinster.” Not that it mattered to her. She was content with her life...found it immensely satisfying.

  She edged between two of the young women and glanced at the sign. Dances were being sold at a dime a piece to raise money to help out the many needy families in the area. The ongoing drought left so many struggling to survive. Her heart went out to them. To be unable to care for one’s family must surely be the worst feeling in the world.

  “There will be a dance Saturday night to wind up our three-day fair. Every man who wants a dance will have to pay a dime. Won’t that be fun?”

  She glanced toward the speaker who answered the young lady’s question.

  Bo Stillwater leaned back on the heels of his well-worn cowboy boots and pushed his equally well-worn cowboy hat back on his head, revealing sandy-brown hair and silvery eyes that seemed to be perpetually laughing at life. She’d met him shortly after her arrival in town and had barely been able to look directly at those eyes. He was a rancher and his twin brother was the preacher at the church next to the doctor’s house.

  The young ladies turned as one to cluster around the cowboy.

  “What about you, Mr. Stillwater? Are you going to pay a dime to dance with each of us?” The young miss blossomed rosy pink.

  Louisa felt sorry for her. Had she ever been so young and innoc
ent? Oh, yes, there was a time she’d fancied herself in love. At eighteen she had been naive and full of dreams. She’d loved Wes and trusted that he loved her. But when things got serious enough for them to talk marriage, she had warned him they’d have to wait until Amy and Mother no longer needed her. He had responded that it sounded like she meant for him to wait most of his life. Said he wasn’t willing to wait. She wasn’t worth waiting for. Nine years later she sometimes wondered if she was finally worth waiting for or if she was meant to always be alone.

  Enough dwelling on the past. It offered nothing but painful memories. She glanced at her work-worn hands and the dusty skirts of her dress. She had no time for fussing about her looks. What mattered the most was helping her father with his doctoring and caring for her mother.

  In the three weeks they’d been in Little Horn, Texas, she’d helped Father clean the office area and examining room. He’d been seeing patients from the beginning but could now receive them in his office. Getting the rest of the house ready for Mother’s arrival was next.

  “I’ve come up with a better idea,” Bo said. “I’m going to sell dances with me for a dime. That way anyone who wants to be my partner can be and it’s a fine way to raise more money.” He held up a piece of paper. “I have slots to fill. Anyone interested?”

  The young ladies rivaled each other for the chance to pay money to dance with Mr. Bo Stillwater.

  The storekeeper finally turned his attention to Louisa and she ordered the supplies she needed. She wanted more cleaning compound to get the grime off the walls of the kitchen.

  “You must be scrubbing that house within an inch of its life,” he commented.

  “Simply doing what I can to make it ready for my mother.” The house Father purchased to set up his medical practice and a home for the family was adequate for the most part. But not for an invalid like her mother. Mother needed things to be extremely clean or she’d catch something and get ill. Her weak heart put her life in jeopardy. Besides utmost cleanliness, she needed the furniture arranged in such a way she could navigate the rooms in her wheelchair. Louisa was anxious to see her mother again and smiled as she thought of how welcoming she would make the house for her and how appreciative Mother would be.