Glory’s heart thudded in her chest. “Because he loved you.”
“Yes, because he loved me. He thought my life was worth saving. And I would have done the same for him if given the chance.”
A sole tear spilled down Glory’s cheek. Wrapped up in emotional turmoil, Glory didn’t have words. She sat there stonily, absorbing all that she’d learned today. Everything she’d come to know, everything she’d believed in her life, had changed somehow, in one afternoon.
No, that wasn’t entirely true. She’d changed her opinion about the Rainbow girls after coming to know them. She’d lived with them for a time, helped to save one, perhaps, but she cared deeply for them all. Just a short time ago, she’d despised who and what they were and now, she thought of those women as her friends.
Lorene patted her hand once, then stood. “I thought you should know. I think Jonathan would approve. He never wanted to keep our friendship a secret. I was the one who had insisted.”
Lorene smiled, this time in earnest, bringing light to her eyes and rosy color to her face. “As far as the ‘why now’ question, I think you know the answer to that, Gloria Mae. Just search your heart.”
Glory searched her heart all through the evening, finding solace and truth. Peace had finally settled within her as she opened her Bible that night to Luke 6:37 and read a passage aloud, finally allowing the wise words to sink in.
“‘Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”’
Glory’s heart had finally opened up. She’d finally let go her anguish and pain. She knew now that she could move on with life without hostility toward anyone. She wouldn’t hold Lorene Harding responsible for her father’s death any longer, for to do so would be the ultimate betrayal of him and his great sacrifice. Her father had given his life protecting Lorene. He had loved her, without condemnation. He had not judged her harshly as Glory once had.
She mused that even from his grave, her father still had lessons to teach. And Glory had learned, had her faith restored. Oh, she still missed him terribly and wished the events that had occurred one year ago hadn’t happened, but she was free now to pursue her dreams.
By rights, she was a wealthy woman. After clearing up details at the claims office days ago, Glory had hired four down-on-their-luck miners to work her claim. She paid them more than fairly for an honest day’s work and the claim continued to produce revenue, a flow of money that Glory had never seen before. She’d never want for anything again, except that she did.
She wanted Steven.
But he hadn’t asked her to stay.
Like an injured bird that could fly again, he’d liberated her and set her free.
“I don’t want to be free,” she muttered as she lowered herself down to sleep that night.
Loneliness surrounded her much like the cloak she’d worn to conceal herself while hiding out. It covered her with despair and tightened around her heart with sorrow. She stretched out and hugged her pillow, hoping to dream of Steven.
Morning dawned too quickly, it seemed. Glory had slept fitfully, tossing and turning, unable to find comfort. And as she knew a great measure of forgiveness now, she feared it had come far too late. What was it Lorene had said yesterday as she spoke of her relationship with her father?
Our time together, our one chance at happiness had come and gone.
Was that true of her and Steven as well? Had their time together come and gone? Had they lost their one chance at happiness?
Glory rose and dressed. She entered the small kitchen area, where she’d often sat with her father on Sunday mornings as they talked about their coming day. He’d test out his sermon on her and she’d give him her youthful advice. On more than one occasion, her father had heeded her ideas and then thanked her once the sermon was over. Melancholy seeped in, a bittersweet reminder of how fragile, how very precious love is.
As she sipped her second cup of coffee, loud knocking at her door startled her, nearly causing her to spill the hot liquid onto her hand. She couldn’t fathom who’d be visiting so early in the morning.
Glory walked to the door, peered though the curtained window then thrust the door wide open. Glory faced Carmen, Ruby and Emmie. “Mercy, this is a surprise!”
“It is a bigger surprise to us. We are up at the very crack of dawn, no?” Carmen said.
“May we come in?” Emmie asked politely.
“Oh, of course.” She ushered them inside. “Can I get you something to eat? I have coffee and there’s plenty of food.”
“No, there’s no need. Mattie fixed us a plate earlier,” Ruby said.
“Well, sit down, then,” Glory said, gesturing to the sofa. “I’m so happy to see all of you.”
“We have no time to sit. We have the wagon waiting outside. We’re taking you away for the day,” Ruby announced.
Pleasantly surprised, Glory smiled. She couldn’t think of a better way to spend her day. “You are? Where are we going?”
The ladies glanced at each other, then Emmie piped up, “On a picnic. We have planned quite a pleasant outing.”
“Oh, that sounds lovely.”
Glory was beside herself with joy. She’d been so lonely lately, and had only Mr. Goodman and the few who wrote for the Enterprise to break up the monotony of the day. Going on a picnic on a Sunday morning with friends seemed absolutely perfect.
“Well, grab a wrap and take the dog,” Ruby said, smiling when she spotted the red shawl she’d given Glory draped across a wing chair. “We should get going.”
Glory took up the shawl, picked up a lazy Buddy and followed the ladies out the front door. They boarded the wagon, Ruby driving the team with Carmen in the front, Emmie and Glory on the bench just behind. They ambled out of town, heading south, the girls chatting and laughing all the while, enjoying the ride. Ruby praised the article Glory had written about Trudy Tremaine, Carmen recited a few verses from the Bible and Emmie relayed tales of Mattie’s latest cooking adventures. Buddy spent his time running from one end of the wagon to the other, barking happily at being included in this adventure.
Glory relished the ride and the conversation. She’d lost track of time, but realized that they’d gone quite far from town, passing up many wonderful picnic spots along the way.
Suddenly, Glory recognized the terrain—the certain bend in the road that led to Steven’s ranch. “Mercy,” she said, leaning back in her seat. “What are you all planning?”
Giggles erupted and knowing glances, but not one of the women responded to her question.
“Carmen?”
“You will see,” she answered.
“Ruby?”
“My, it’s beautiful up here,” Ruby reflected. “Don’t you agree, Emmie?”
Emmie grinned, ignoring Glory’s intense stare. “Yes, just lovely.”
Within minutes, the wagon pulled to a stop in front of the ranch house. Steven stood on the porch, watching, his dark eyes gleaming. Buddy barked his greeting and jumped down, racing toward the barn, apparently happy to be back at the ranch.
Glory’s heart did a giant flip. It had been more than a week since she’d seen Steven, the separation seeming more like an eternity. Buddy wasn’t the only one happy to be back here.
Steven shook his head at the girls. “You ladies don’t give a man a chance.”
He helped each one of them down from the wagon. And when it was Glory’s turn, he wrapped his hands around her waist, lifting her with ease, his gaze never wavering. He held her tight, planting her safely on the ground, yet Glory felt weightless as though she were floating. They stared into each others’ eyes.
Ruby interrupted the moment. “You can’t keep a sweet young gal like Glory waiting too long now, Steven. There’s a herd of young men in town wanting to court her.”
“That so?” Steven asked, applying slight pressure to her waist, his eyes resting solely on her.
“We heard she had three gentlemen callers already.
She turned them down flat.”
He smiled and gave a little squeeze before releasing her. He turned, announcing to the women, “I had some work to finish here. I was coming for her tomorrow.”
“Coming for me?” Glory asked, guarding her heart from too much hope.
“We’ll be leaving now,” Ruby said with a grin, and the women bounded back onto the wagon without pause. Ruby took up the reins. “We’ve done our part, now it’s up to you. Bye, Glory.”
Stunned, Glory gave a small wave to her friends and watched the wagon circle around to make its way off the property, the girls waving back and giggling their goodbyes.
Glory turned to find Steven beside her. “Steven?”
He took her hand and helped her up onto his newly finished veranda. The floorboards beneath her feet squeaked with newness. She’d noticed the work he’d done since she’d been gone. He’d been a busy man, but right now, he seemed intent on busying himself with her.
He flashed her a hot, hungry gaze, but Glory also witnessed something else in his eyes—something she’d never seen in him before, vulnerability. “I wanted to finish the house before coming for you. I wanted to offer you a home—my home. The time I spent here with you was the best in my life. Don’t tell me it was a mistake. It couldn’t possibly be. Not when living here without you, seems like the biggest blunder of my life.”
“Oh, Steven. I realize now I was the one mistaken.” Lorene had helped her see that. She’d helped her understand that opportunities don’t come along too often in life. Glory wouldn’t let this chance for happiness pass her by. “My time with you…was the best in my life, as well. I loved living here.”
Steven wrapped her in a tight embrace. The wondrous feel of his arms around her created tingles that shot down to her toes. His gaze softened to a light caress and she trembled when he cast her a beautiful smile. “I loved living here, too…because I love you. You made this place a real home for me, Glory.”
He brought his mouth down, claiming her lips. Glory whimpered slightly, the heady familiar touch nearly too much for her.
“We can put the past behind us and start a new life, together, right here. Would you consider being a rancher’s wife, sweetheart? Will you marry me?”
Glory had no doubts now. She’d learned so much about life and love from Steven. He’d taught her how a man could be gentle and powerful at the same time. He’d taught her what it meant to share their bodies, their minds and their hearts, without fear and recrimination. He’d taught her so many things. She was anxious to learn more. “Yes, Steven. Yes. I’ll be your wife.” Glory sent up a prayer of thanks to the Lord. She’d almost lost it all, only to be given a new chance, a future filled with promise.
Yes, she would marry this strong, tender man. She would love him with her whole heart, bear him children and have the life she’d always dreamed about. Her thoughts turned to her father. He would approve. He would be happy about the union. Too bad he and Lorene, whose paths had been so different, hadn’t found a way to breach that gap. Too bad they hadn’t found a way back to each other. But she and Steven had and she planned to live a happy life with Steven always by her side.
Steven kissed her deeply then took her hand, leading her to a work area by the barn. “I couldn’t think up a name for the ranch, until I met you.” He smiled and pointed out a new sign, with the wood etched out and halfway painted.
She looked down at the marker that would give claim to the ranch. “The Triple G?”
Steven nodded, taking her into his arms and speaking the words that he’d be whispering for thousands of nights to come.
“Glory…glory…glory.”
ISBN: 978-1-4603-0936-0
THE COURTING OF WIDOW SHAW
Copyright © 2004 by Charlene Swink
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
www.eHarlequin.com
The Courting of Widow Shaw Page 24
