They murmured conjointly of this and that, bringing forth reminisces, sharing the loneliness of two empty hearts, allowing a frisson of laughter to occasionally bubble forth, weaving the past together with the present to form an unbreakable bond,
Then suddenly she sat bolt upright, with another, “Sam!”
Lazily, reluctant to shatter this vital rebirth of their romance, he opened one eye. “Ahuh.”
“Sam, you and I—this—this can’t happen. I’ve promised to leave with Aunt Sophie for Boston, and you—you are pledged to—to my sister.” She looked ready to break down in tears again.
And who could blame her, with this taste of Paradise once more about to be snatched away?
“Who says?” He had the audacity to yawn.
“Sam!” Affronted and deeply hurt by such apparent stupidity, she pulled away, looking ready to slap him silly. “You have! You did! You’ve ignored me for months, you got yourself into this—this outrageous betrothal with Jess, you wouldn’t even c-c-consider—”
“Vic, don’t go blubberin’ on me now.”
“Blubber! I don’t—bl-bl-blubber—!”
In consternation, he pulled himself upright. “Vickie, my sweet, I’ve only just got you back; I for sure don’t wanna lose you again. That is,” he paused to tenderly curve one palm under her chin, “if you are still mine. Are you?”
“I can’t be, Sam. I just explained that you—”
“Okay. Here’s the thing,” he quietly told her. “I’m a free man, Victoria Clark. At least, until you claim me. Lemme just tell you what happened. Get comfortable; yeah, snuggle tight to me, just like that…Oh, Vickie, I love you so much,” this came as a sigh, acknowledging that which could never be changed. “Forever, it seems like, through the past; and till the end of time. So.”
Her sister had had, he began his account, something she called an awakening, during their return trip from San Antonio.
“Epiphany—is that the word? Think that’s what she used. Anyway, she gave a long hard look at herself, and she didn’t like what she was seein’.”
Vickie interrupted with a sniff. “Imagine that.”
It was realization of her aunt’s unpredictable medical condition, and the fact that she was actually, definitely, going to leave the ranch for her old home that had the light dawning, so to speak. This was serious. This was permanent. No more shilly-shallying around.
During the next few days, Jessica had given a great deal of thought to a number of factors: Aunt Sophie’s impending departure, her own behavior, that promise to marry a man she wasn’t even sure she liked, and all the circumstances surrounding mistreatment of her younger sister.
Eventually she had considered various options, and settled upon a couple that, she was convinced, would be satisfactory for everyone. Today, when she and Sam had come back from their visit to the Creek, she had laid out the details and her decisions. And what she proposed was fine with him.
“Jessie released me from our engagement, right here and now,” continued Sam, with great satisfaction. “It seems she’d known all along that I wasn’t in love with her. Especially since I dilly-dacked so about even gettin’ her a ring. And sure as anything, she wasn’t in love with me! But she knew someone who was, and that I’d oughta track you down quick, cut you outa the herd, and make you mine b’fore you could get away.”
The expression on Vickie’s face told him that she was torn between feeling insulted by the description and delighted by its outcome. But she remained silent, waiting for the rest.
He was holding her small capable hand sandwiched by both of his, simply because, after all this time, he could do so with impunity. “And she’s very, very sorry for all the harm she’s caused you. I think you’ll find, when we go back to the house, that she’ll wanna have a little confab so she can tell you that herself.”
Events were proceeding almost too rapidly for Vickie to assimilate and absorb. “All right, Sam. And I’ll listen. But I still don’t quite understand her giving up on the wedding she’s planned so carefully. To hear anyone talk, that was all she wanted in life. And she shoved me aside to get it. Why did she finally just—just give up?”
“It wasn’t marriage so much she wanted, Vic, as the hope of somethin’ different. After tourin’ around Santone as we did, she come to figure out that’s what she’d been hankerin’ after, all along. City life. So she’ll be the one goin’ with your aunt to Boston.”
Vickie gasped.
“Ahuh. Will that work out, d’ you think?”
“Oh, Sam!” Tears had been gathering, just below the surface, all during this incredibly moving soliloquy. Now the blue-green eyes began to sparkle suspiciously. “Oh, Sam…”
“You’d rather stay here?”
She flung herself upon him, to wrap both arms so tightly around his neck he could barely draw breath. “For always! I never wanted to leave, to begin with. But it seemed the right thing to do. I couldn’t let poor Aunt Sophie travel all that way by herself!” Suddenly she pulled back enough to catch hold of his curly head in her hands. “Here, on the ranch—with you, Sam?
“You’d better believe it, little missy. Why’dja think I was braggin’ about my cowboyin’ talents? Yeah, you’re gonna stay here on the ranch. With me.” Giving a great joyous shout of laughter, he roughly enveloped her in a grizzly bear hug. “And with all your critters. Forever and ever, amen.”
Chapter 19
It certainly wasn’t the lavish ceremony one might have expected of a Clark daughter.
But, then, this wasn’t the Clark daughter who was expected to be married.
Nor was the location. Nor the attire. Nor much of anything else.
Upon Jessica’s determined insistence, and despite Vickie’s objection, the girls had simply exchanged dresses. Jessica, it was noted by all and sundry, was a changed person these days. Likable. Friendly. Down to earth. Someone worth knowing.
What a difference in personality, in character, such a short time can make!
So, it was dressed in her sister’s wedding finery that Vickie, excited beyond measure, was escorted to the couple’s favorite glade, beside the Vestigo River’s offshoot. She was accompanied by Jess and Aunt Sophie, both of whom were carrying huge bouquets of garden flowers and fragrant wildflowers, and her father, who would be resting his weary old bones upon a small bench brought along specifically for his use.
The Reverend Hiram Portnoy, of the Heavenly Light of God Church, had been persuaded to forsake the confines of his sanctified building for the great outdoors, and was already in attendance.
As was Samuel Marsden, looking fit and dapper in a new suit, and his brother, Matthew, beside him. Both as proud as punch.
Sam had refused to delay their nuptials any longer than a week. He’d already lost so many months and years; he wasn’t about to tempt fate by another postponement. Very shortly he would be able to slide a ring upon Vickie’s finger, claim her as his bride, and carry her off to somewhere as yet unannounced, for a brief honeymoon.
The gathering had, per the wishes of both, been limited to family and close friends only.
Thus, Mariah Marsden joined Sophie in the background, along with Abigail Dunlap and her little daughter; and, surprisingly, Beau Draper, who had congratulated his wartime confederate and brought along a beautifully carved wooden box holding assorted chocolates as their gift.
Buckley Marsden did not bless the occasion with his presence.
Buckley was, to put it tactfully, in his cups, and was snoring peacefully in the single bed to which he had been relegated long ago.
Buckley was not missed.
It was a solemn yet joyful hour, made all the more memorable by the lulling murmur of creek water trickling over the stones as a peaceful backdrop, and the dappled sunlight overhead like a benediction, and the forest birds which burst into ebullient song just as the couple pledged their vows with a kiss.
Afterward, amid best wishes and felicitations, the party began withdrawing to the ra
nch house, where a wonderful feast and an elaborate bride’s cake, iced in white with pure refined sugar, awaited the guests.
Once settled in the surrey, which had been decorated with bows and streamers, Vickie rested her head against her new husband’s sturdy shoulder.
Sam looked tenderly down at her. “Happy, sweetheart?”
“Oh, Sam. I couldn’t be happier. Everything was so beautiful. The setting was perfect. The weather was perfect. You are perfect.”
He chuckled. “You just remember that when we have our first fight.”
She sat upright again, as he negotiated their vehicle through a ragged path and around this tree or that boulder. “Why, I don’t expect we’ll ever fight at all.”
“Yeah?” A touch of his forefinger to the tip of her nose. “Wish I could write that down somewheres. Would be handy to hold up as a reminder. You ready to come with me to the Hotel Dupree, later on this evenin’?”
Vickie nodded.
“Ready to be my wife?”
A lowering of her lashes, and a blush. “Uh-huh.”
“All right, then. Let’s get to it, shall we? Got folks anxious to arrive at your house and chomp down some vittles.”
“Our house, now, Sam. With all the world ahead of us.”
It was fortunate that Petunia, hitched up to the surrey, knew what was expected of her and needed little guidance finding her way back to the Yellowstar. Because Sam, being otherwise occupied, had dropped the reins.
THE END
Can't get enough of Vickie and Sam? Then make sure to check out the Extended Epilogue to find out…
What will be the striking news that Jesse will bring to Vickie and Sam, five years later?
How will Vickie and Sam welcome Jesse at their home? How different will the relationship between the two sisters be now?
How will the two couples contribute to the development of their small town?
Click the link or enter it into your browser
http://loreleibrogan.com/vickie
(After reading the Extended Epilogue, turn the page to read the first chapters from “An Encounter of Courageous Hearts”, my Amazon Best-Selling novel!)!
An Encounter of Courageous Hearts
Introduction
Lana Smith leads a lonely life. She is a dedicated teacher in the city of Southport until she finds out that her best friend’s husband passed away. Having to deal with her beloved’s loss as well as physical injuries, she will ask her to come over to help her care for her children and manage the insurmountable tasks her late husband left behind. Lana is quick to accept the request, finding it the perfect excuse to leave, and start her life over. When she finds out that she is not welcome by everyone there, will she take up on a quest to win his trust?
Nick Cooper is a very protective man, and his family means the world to him. When he discovers that Ginger’s best friend is coming over to help, he is too proud to let it be. He thinks himself the only responsible person to care for his family, and he does not want outsiders meddling in their business. He is trying his best to make Lana leave the ranch, but she is relentless in staying. But Lana won’t be the only thing preoccupying Nick’s mind. When suspicions rise that his brother-in-law’s death was not actually an accident, another turmoil will be added to his list...
While Nick and Lana become closer day by day, the mystery of the accidental death unravels, and a thrilling adventure begins. Can Lana and Nick work together to keep their new-built family safe? Will their lack of trust hold them back or will they realize that they actually need each other?
Chapter 1
Lana carefully tied her hair up into a bun. She loved letting her hair down while she was relaxing around the house, but she always made sure it was tied out of the way while she taught her class at the little school in Southport, Illinois.
She stacked up her books and tucked them under her arm and draped her shawl over that. She paused for a moment, debating whether or not she should wear a second wrap over her shawl. It was early spring, but the snow was still in scattered patches where the buildings blocked the sun's warming rays. The past week had dissolved much of the snow cover and the mud was becoming the new menace.
She loved early mornings. She loved being one of the first people on the street, up with the sun. It felt as if she almost got to see a secret part of the day that few others experienced. It was crisp and cool, and she could see her breath, but the sun touched her and promised to warm the day again as it had all week. The sun was still low in the sky and the buildings cast long shadows across the road.
Of course, as soon as she had stepped out onto the street other people seemed to follow suit, filling the streets and the buildings with a buzz of activity as they started their days too.
It didn’t take long to get to the schoolhouse. It was one of the benefits of living right in town. She shivered at the coolness of the morning and was thankful for the short walk.
Lana hummed a happy tune as she opened the door and began to prepare for a day of classes. There were two floors to the schoolhouse. The older children studied upstairs with another teacher and the younger children studied downstairs with her.
Lana loved teaching. There had been a time when she had chosen it as a second option, but that time had passed. She loved spending time with the little children and watching them grow.
A knock at the door made her look up and when she did, her heart froze in place and her breath hitched. Henry Jones was standing there, one of his crooked smiles stretched across his face.
The smile fell for a moment and he looked around her, almost as if he were concerned about something. “I’m sorry to bother you, Lana, but I need to talk to you.”
Lana shook her head, refusing to respond. She wanted to tell Henry to go back to the general store where he belonged, but she knew she would be wasting her breath. Every other time he had come to talk to her and she had sent him away, he had refused to listen. She wasn’t sure how this time would be any different.
“Come on, Lana. You can’t ignore me forever,” he wheedled. Henry took a few steps into the small schoolhouse. His heavy boots thumped on the wooden floors making her bristle with annoyance.
“I can certainly try. I have told you multiple times, I don’t want anything to do with you. You chose your path. Please leave me alone.” Lana slammed her books down on the desk with a little extra force. This was not how she had been planning to start her day.
“Can’t you at least talk to me? You owe me that much.” Henry’s words made Lana’s blood boil. She turned to him with fury in her eyes.
“Owe you? You think I owe you?” She enunciated every one of her words, trying to emphasize the impudence of what he had just said.
“Yes, we were…I thought we would marry each other.” Henry shrugged a little and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Then you just called things off and walked away. How is that fair to me? You can’t just change your mind like that.”
Lana barked a harsh laugh. “I can’t believe you’re actually acting as if you’re serious right now and as if this was my fault. I may have been the one to tell you it was over, but you made it over when you were out running around with another woman behind my back.”
Lana was unsure how Henry couldn’t see this. How could he continue to think that seeing a different woman while discussing marriage with her was completely okay?
“I’ve already told you, she didn’t mean anything to me. It was a bit of harmless fun. So, I have a little fun now and then. It shouldn’t affect our relationship.”
“Some fishing is some harmless fun. Even going with the boys to the saloon for a game of cards is some harmless fun. Kissing another woman and being loose with every other woman in town is just plain disrespectful. I am not interested in marrying a man who has no respect for his wife.” Lana held his gaze, trying her best to inject her own gaze with every bit of anger she could.
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