Seth’s breath came out in a loud whoosh. Thank You, God.
The sheriff wheeled. “Well, Miss Sterling? Are you pressin’ charges?”
“No.” Her voice rang. “I believe Red tried to save me.”
“So do I,” Seth said. The poignant light in Red’s eyes sank into Seth’s soul, but the sheriff scowled.
“I ain’t sayin’ what I think, but it don’t matter now. Untie Fallon and let him go. Just one thing, mister. Don’t come back to Fresno Flats, or I’ll run you in for disturbin’ the peace—my peace of mind.”
❧
Several days later, Seth and Dori rode to the promontory that overlooked the ranch. Seated on a big rock, Seth put his arm around her and spoke from a full heart. “God is so good. He rescued us from flood and outlaws, saved Red, freed me from hatred, and gave me you.” He paused. “Dori, do you look forward to our riding through life together as much as I do?”
“Yes, but there’s one thing. . . .”
A cold wind of disappointment blew through Seth in spite of the warm evening. Lord, I thought everything that separated us was in the past. I guess I was wrong. “What is it?” he finally asked.
Dori had never looked more bewitching. Her laugh trilled out. “I can’t wait to ride through life with you, Seth Anderson—but not on a log flume or in a raging river.”
Seth roared. His long-ago prediction was right on target: Being married to Dori would be many things. But if they lived to be a hundred, it would never be boring.
Dear Readers,
Thank you for reading Romance Rides the River. Life on the Diamond S Ranch near Madera, California, in the 1880s fascinated me so much when I wrote Romance Rides the Range that I didn’t want to leave. I also wanted to get better acquainted with Seth and Dori, who clamored to step back on the stage—in this case, stagecoach. Romance Rides the River was born.
As a tweenager, my favorite reading place was an enormous willow tree outside our home near a small logging town. Two sturdy branches crossed close to the trunk and made a seat. There I read Zane Grey’s exciting book The Border Legion. A red bandana with the corners tied on top lay beside me. It held a comb, toothbrush, and extra socks. Should I be kidnapped like the heroine in my book, I was prepared with the same things Joan Randle had in her saddlebags when she was abducted.
Reading those exciting westerns and traveling through the western states with my family fostered dreams of someday writing books of my own, especially westerns. Frontiers and Frontier Brides [Barbour Publishing] are two of my best-selling collections.
I hope that seeing God at work in Seth’s and Dori’s lives reminded you how much He cares for us, especially in times of trouble. It did me!
Colleen
P.S. If you enjoyed Romance Rides the Range and Romance Rides the River, hang on to your bonnets and Stetsons and watch for Romance at Rainbow’s End, final title in the trilogy.
About the Author
COLLEEN L. REECE was born and raised in a small western Washington logging town. She learned to read by kerosene lamplight and dreamed of someday writing a book. God has multiplied Colleen’s “someday” book into more than 140 titles that have sold six million copies. Colleen was twice voted Heartsong Presents’ Favorite Author and later inducted into Heartsong’s Hall of Fame. Several of her books have appeared on the CBA bestseller list.
Dedication
For Susan K. Marlow, research expert and editor extraordinaire.
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Colleen L. Reece
Author Relations
PO Box 721
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
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