by Barbara Goss
“Are you serious?” Cameron was shocked. “You might as well have entered the convent.”
“There were more rules, but those were the ones that kept me from being swept off my feet by some millionaire.” She laughed, but he didn’t. They’d reached the road. He put both arms on her shoulders and looked at her in the moonlight.
“Then I’ll have to send that school a thank you note for saving you for me.”
He could see Hannah trying to find the words to answer him, so he simply kissed her lips lightly. He dropped his arms, took her hand, and they started the long walk back to the house.
“You’re still only twenty-nine,” he said. “You could still… um... well... catch up to Chloe.”
Hannah halted suddenly. “Do you mean have a child?”
“Yes. Our child.”
Hannah started walking again, and Cameron wondered what she’d say next.
“I’d love to have a child, but... we’d have to... be a bit… um...”
“Friendlier?” Cameron laughed and spun her around to face him. “I love you, Hannah. I want you to be my wife in every sense. I want you to move into the master bedroom very soon.”
Hannah’s heart raced inside her chest. She just knew she’d say something dumb and he’d change his mind. She was speechless.
“Well,” he said rubbing the back of his hand on her cheek, “it took bravery on my part to tell you, the least you could do is answer. I’m a nervous wreck waiting.”
Hannah threw her arms around his neck. “Yes, yes, yes.”
Cameron hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear, “How long do I need to wait for you to move into my room?”
“This is too much for me to digest,” she said, wiping tears of joy from her cheeks. “I’ve wanted to become your wife for real since your speech in the town square, but now that it’s going to happen, I’m nervous.”
“Tomorrow?” he whispered in her ear.
Hannah felt goose bumps run through her body. “I can be ready by tomorrow night. I’d like it to be special. You know, candles, a nice dinner, and—”
“I have a great idea—let’s ask Chloe and Charles to have the children overnight so we can have a romantic evening. That way we can romance a while before just jumping into... you know,” he said.
“Chloe will love that because Charles leaves first thing in the morning for Kansas City, so she won’t be alone. She feels a bit on edge since they haven’t captured Monroe’s killer yet.”
“I need to see Joe in the morning to find out what’s going on. The marshal should have arrived today.”
Cameron snuggled her for another kiss, but she pulled gently away. What had she agreed to? She wasn’t ready. When she thought back to what her mother had told her years ago about what married couples do, she started to feel nervous. Would he have to see her without clothes on? Would it hurt? How should she act?
“Cam,” she said looking up at him, “I don’t think I’m ready.”
He hugged her. “When the time comes you will be, I promise. It might not happen tomorrow or even the next night. It won’t happen until you tell me you’re ready.”
“But you said that we are to share a bed tomorrow—”
“That’s right. Trust me. Let’s just say I’m going to romance you until you’re ready. No matter how long that takes.”
Hannah breathed freely. He was so wonderfully understanding. She put her arms around his neck. “I do love you, it’s just maiden modesty and trepidation, I suppose.”
Cam rubbed her back gently. “Love is the magic word that will make everything work out.”
When Cam returned after his trip to the sheriff’s office, he appeared ecstatic. “Hannah, you’ll never guess what’s happening.”
Having just finished braiding Annabelle’s hair, she gave her an assignment, and the child ran off to work on it.
“Whatever it is,” she told Cam, “it sounds like good news.”
“The Federal Marshall, a man named Dan McCall, arrived yesterday. After what Joe had told him in the telegram, he questioned Chloe and Myra first. Then, he interrogated Joe as well as inspected Joe’s carriage. He found traces of blood in the rear of it. After talking to the sheriff, he arrested him on the spot for murdering Mr. Monroe. That was enough to make me happy, but the sheriff was so angry that he admitted it was all Myra’s idea. So, Myra is also behind bars. McCall has sent for two federal agents to escort Myra and the sheriff to Hays to await a trial. McCall will stay here until the council hires a new sheriff.” He hugged Hannah. “The case has been solved.
“McCall said he surmises the sheriff hit Mr. Monroe in the head from behind, then wrapped his body in a blanket and dumped it in the Wilsons’ bedroom, knowing Charles was due home and would be the perfect suspect.”
“It would have worked if not for your clever legal skills,” Hannah said.
“Now wait—a lot of the credit goes to you and your woman’s intuition.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said with a curtsy. “After dinner, you’re to take the children to the Wilsons’ for the night. They are eager because Chloe has made a cake for them.”
Cameron pulled her close and asked softly, “What about you, Mrs. Hart? Are you eager, too?”
“Eager isn’t the word I’d use to describe my feelings. I’m in a flutter, to be honest. I’m looking forward to being alone with you and sleeping beside you, but the rest—”
“The rest is my job.” Cam touched her lips with his. “Trust me.”
It took two nights of cuddling, kisses, hugs, and romantic words until Hannah was finally eager to make their marriage real. Now that it was, they couldn’t get enough of each other. He missed her when he was at the office, and he loved being home with his family.
After talking to Joe about his devotion to his family and his reluctance to relinquish it for weeks at a time while working at the capitol, Joe had a solution. “If you should win, you could get a little house in Topeka for your family while you’re at the capitol. You’ll be more than able to afford one.”
“What an excellent idea. I can’t wait to tell it to Hannah,” Cameron said.
“Well, first we have to win. Now, let’s write down your platform and some speeches. Remember—we need a railway to come to Hunter’s Grove.”
“On what will I base the need for it to stop here?” he asked Joe.
“The salt mines. It had to close due to a lack of workers. We need to keep that valuable mine open. We also have land grants that have sat stagnant. No one wants them without transportation. If we get the railroad through, those land grants will be grabbed up fast, and there are even more for the railroad to use.
“The railroad will bring industries and businesses to Hunter’s Grove.”
Cameron had taken notes. “I’ll make it a priority.”
Hannah supported Cameron with his campaigning and even gave a few speeches for him. They posed for photographs with the children and everywhere they went in town, people knew them.
Cameron won the election by a landslide and these were the first words of his acceptance speech. “Without the support from my family, I wouldn’t be here today to announce our victory.” He pulled Hannah and the children close. “They helped and encouraged me, and I promise to be the best Senator this state has ever had. This is our home, and I want to make it the best place for my family and for my fellow citizens.”
Epilogue
Topeka, Kansas 1875
Annabelle held her finger out for the new baby to grasp. “She’s strong.”
“What do you think of your new baby sister, George?” Hannah asked.
“She’s all right.”
“Mama,” Annabelle said with more seriousness than Hannah had seen in a long time, “will there be a lot more babies coming?”
Hannah remembered Annabelle and George’s past. Their parents had lived in a run-down three-bedroom home with fifteen children and had to give some of them away.
“Come here, Annabelle,”
Hannah said, patting her lap. “I don’t care how old you are; you aren’t too big for my lap, and you never will be.
“Unfortunately, the doctor said I won’t be able to have any more children. That saddened me at first, but then I thanked God because three children is a perfect size for a family. I have two beautiful daughters, Lillian and Annabelle, and the cutest son, George, who no longer wants to be call Georgie.”
Cameron came into the bedroom. “Hannah, have you seen my briefcase?”
“Yes, dear. It’s hanging on the closet doorknob.”
“Thank you. I’ve just received a message that an emergency meeting is being called, and I have to rush over to the capitol.” Cameron grabbed his case and kissed all three children, but Hannah got the biggest kiss of all.
“I’ll wait up for you, Cam,” she whispered
Cam kissed her again. “Now, I won't be paying full attention to the meeting, knowing you’re at home, waiting for me.”
“Papa,” Annabelle said, “When can we go back to Hunter’s Grove? I miss my pony.”
“In two weeks, sweetie, and we’ll get there fast, now that the railroad goes to Hunter’s Grove.”
Annabelle clapped her hands. “That’s because you made it happen, Papa.”
Cameron kissed them all one more time. “Only because I had help from my family.
The next book in the series is.... 57) Mar 30 - Marianne Spitzer - A Bride for Ames
(The Proxy Brides Series)
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Looking for another good book to read?
Other books by Barbara Goss:
1. Forbidden Legacy
2. Captured Heart
3. Stolen Heritage
4. Dangerous Illusions
5. Silent Love
6. The Final Vow
7. The Kissing Bridge
8. Drawn from Darkness
9. Temptation by Moonlight
10. The Romantic Ruse
11. Shadow of Shame
12. Shadow of Deceit
13. Shadow of Regret
14. Shadow of Hope
15. Shadow of Love
16. Shadow of Faith
17. Shadow of Second Chances
18. Sunshine in the Rain and 19. Yesterday’s Rain (Two books in one)
20. Mail Order Mishap Book 1
21. Mail Order Vixen Book 2
22. Mail Order Ruse Book 3
23. Mail Order Calamity Book 4
24 Mail Order Compromise Book 5
25. The Guilty Proposal
26. The Reckless Proposal
27. The Shotgun Proposal
28. The Housekeeper’s Proposal
29. Dan McCall’s Bride
30. Looking for Love
31. Delightfully Deluded
32. Ricochet Romance – (2 books in one) and 33
34. Wanted: Horse Breeder - Silverpines Series
35. Wanted: A Trusting Heart – Silverpines Series
36. Rescued in El Paso
37. A Bride for Nathan (Proxy Brides Series)
38. The Trapper
39. A Bride for Travis (Proxy Brides Series)
40. Hope (Prairie Rose Series)
41. The Secret Diary (Lockets and Lace Series)
42. A Bride for Logan (Proxy Brides Series)
43. The Marshal’s Mission
44. A Bride for Wyatt (Proxy Brides Series, Christmas Edition)
45. A Bride for Adam (Proxy Brides Series)
46. Conner’s Contrary Bride (Matchmaker’s Mix-Up series)
47. Jesse (Bounty Hunter’s of Sunset Creek)
48. A Bride for Cameron The Proxy Bride Series # 56
