by Danni Roan
“Are you sure you won’t come home?” He asked. He had been to see the preacher who had shown him that the marriage license was legal and had been filed accordingly.
Appealing to the sheriff had only brought a report stating that Ruth was of age upon her marriage and entered into it willingly with full knowledge of her rights as a woman and bride. In short Spencer had told Mr. Warthan that he would neither assist nor allow him to carry his daughter back to Philadelphia against her will.
Thoroughly defeated he appealed to her one more time. “Think of your mother all alone in that big house,” he implored. “You were her closest companion.”
“But I shouldn’t be,” Ruth had spoken softly her words kind. “You, Father, should be her closest ally in all things. Perhaps if you would spend more time at home yourself, you would not be content to see me return. I have found my home, my purpose, and my love here in Texas, and I will not leave.”
Her father had tried bullying, but Darwin stood his ground, silent but steady at her back and in the end Mr. Warthan had relented. “You may never see either of us again,” he had snapped with finality. “We are no longer young and anything could happen.”
“You are welcome to visit at anytime,” Ruth said. “I will write and tell mother she is welcome as long as no one expects me to return to Philadelphia. My place is here with my husband.”
Chapter 29
Ruth tripped out of Daliah’s house three weeks later too stunned to know where to go. Unbidden her feet traveled along the familiar track to the Hampton House, and she found herself sitting in a chair while Ellen, Joseph’s wife, carried her a cup of tea.
“Is everything alright?” the quiet blonde woman asked. “You look upset.”
Ruth looked up meeting the other woman’s blue eyes. “I, I don’t know how I feel,” she stated.
“Are you ill?”
“No.” Ruth’s word stretched out fading in a matter of seconds.
“Then what is it?” Ellen slipped into the seat across from Ruth puzzled by the usually cheerful woman’s stupor. “Can I help?”
“I didn’t think,” Ruth started, shaking her head and trying again. “I mean I didn’t know it could happen this fast.”
“What could happen this fast?” Ellen asked as Rosa joined them eyeing Ruth suspiciously.
“A baby,” Rosa said leaning in as he dark eyes sparkled with delight. “You are having a baby.”
Ruth nodded still not able to comprehend it. “But I’ve only been married three months.”
Rosa slipped into a chair as warm laughter bubbled from her. “Time does not matter; a bambino comes when a bambino comes.”
Ruth shook her head as fear, doubt, and dread engulfed her. “What am I going to tell Darwin?”
“You will tell him he is going to be a father,” Ellen grinned looking toward Rosa. Ellen and Joseph had two children of their own a girl of seven and a boy of five. “Congratulations,” she added pressing the cup firmly into Ruth’s hand. “Drink that then go find that husband of yours. He’s going to be thrilled.”
Ruth nodded absently sipping the restorative tea as Rosa continued to laugh.
***
“Spencer and I have worked out my hours finally,” Darwin said walking into the house that evening. “I’m only working three days a week with him, but as the town grows, he might want me more often. The extra money can go toward buying horses to start that ranch.”
“Hm?” Ruth asked absently.
“The deputy post,” Darwin said looking at her with concern. “Are you feeling alright?”
“Darwin sit down,” Ruth said leading him to a chair.
“Ruth, what’s wrong,” he protested. “What’s happened?”
“Just sit down,” Ruth said.
Darwin slipped into a chair and studied his wife’s face clinging to her hands as fear clawed at his heart.
“I went to see Daliah today,” Ruth said. “I haven’t been feeling well in the morning, and I thought I had come down with something or perhaps had eaten something that was bad for me.”
“Are you all right? What did she say?” Darwin could feel his heart rate quicken as he studied Ruth’s serious face. His sweet, cheerful Ruth with the big laugh and sparkling eyes looked scared.
“I’m, I’m,” Ruth swallowed hard. “I’m having a baby,” she blurted her words falling around them in a rush.
“A baby?” Darwin asked still studying her. “A baby?”
Ruth nodded not sure what else to say or do. She didn’t know anything about having a baby. They hadn’t even discussed children.
“A baby!” Darwin sprang to his feet wrapping her in his arms and lifting her off her feet as he danced around the tiny home. “We’re having a baby!” He shouted again while putting her down.
“You’re happy about it?” Ruth asked.
“I’m thrilled,” he said cupping her face in his hands and kissing her. “We have so much to do,” he released her spinning on the spot and looking at the house. “We have to add on. Do you want to go up or out? If we go up, we can build another room out back as well, and you can have a proper kitchen to the side of this room. That way if it’s a girl you can teach her to cook, or I can teacher her it doesn’t matter.”
Ruth felt the laughter fill her, and it broke forth washing away her fear and doubt. They were having a baby, and it would change everything, but as long as they were together, she was sure they could get through it all. Her heart swelled with love, joy, hope and peace as she silently praised God for the gift He had given her in leading her to Needful. The town she never knew she needed.
Epilogue
“She’s perfect,” Mrs. Warthan sighed as she gazed down at her granddaughter. “I can’t believe you did it, but she’s perfect.”
“What’s not to believe?” Darwin snapped moving closer to Ruth who was sitting up in bed. Their daughter Evangeline was two days old, and her grandparents had finally come to Needful.
“I,” Mrs. Warthan looked up noting the scowl on her son-in-law’s face. “I’m sorry,” she said. “All these years, I thought Ruth would never survive as a wife, a mother. I was wrong.”
Ruth reached for Darwin’s hand squeezing it as her heart turned over. Perhaps she and her family could build new bonds based on love and respect. She had been shocked, thrilled, and a little intimidated when her mother had replied to her letter stating that she and Ruth’s father would come to Needful to meet their new grandchild.
“What I don’t understand,” Ruth spoke carefully. “What I don’t understand is why you always believed that I was weak, incapable of doing or thinking for myself. I was a virtual prisoner in my own home. Never allowed to pursue my own interest or hopes. Why?”
Mrs. Warthan turned in her chair still cradling tiny Evangeline in her arms. “There is something you don’t know,” she said meeting her daughter’s eyes, with her pale blue gaze.
“Dora you don’t need to,” Mr. Warthan said.
“Yes, Macon I think I do. Perhaps we should have told her long ago.”
“What purpose will it serve, it’s in the past? It isn’t your fault, it’s no one’s fault.”
“Ruth,” Dora Warthan began again as her husband placed a hand on her shoulder. “You were not my third but my fifth pregnancy. I had lost two children before you were born, and when I found out, I was expecting again, I fell into a deep depression. I was sure that you wouldn’t survive, that I was doomed to never have another child.”
Ruth looked between her mother and father trying to understand. Had they been so fearful at losing her before they even knew her that they couldn’t let her go?
“The doctors were very concerned for my health when they found out I was pregnant, and when I grew heavier and heavier with child, they were frightened. We discovered that I was carrying twins.”
Ruth gasped her eyes going wide as she watched her father place another hand on his wife’s shoulders.
“I was bed ridden for most of the pregn
ancy. They kept me on a very strict diet, and I had constant care until I went into labor. You were born first,” the older woman sniffed her eyes filling with tears. “You were perfect, just like this one,” she sighed. “Then, then…” her voice broke and she collapsed into tears as she held the baby tight.
“Your brother was born dead,” Mr. Warthan finished his voice firm but his eyes full of sorrow. “Your mother all but gave up the will to live, but you needed her. The nurses, doctors, and wet nurses could never seem to calm you only your mother’s touch would sooth, so she poured everything into your care. It saved her life, but forged a bond that held her heart in fear.”
Ruth turned slinging her feet out of the bed and brushing off Darwin’s warm hand on her shoulder as she padded to her mother wrapping her in her arms.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked as she held her mother tight. “I would have understood.”
“It’s why we kept you so close,” Mr. Warthan said.
“I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you. Of something happening to you. Even when I got your letter about the baby, I was terrified for you when I should have felt joy.”
“Mother,” Ruth sobbed, hugging her tight once more. “Have faith. I’m here. I’m right here, and I still love you. I had to find my own life, and I forgive you for how you cloistered me holding me in a gilded cage until I finally escaped. Now that I understand, I hope we can be close once more.”
Dora Warthan nodded. “I didn’t mean to make you unhappy,” she sniffed. “I just never wanted to lose you. I see now that by trying so hard to hold on, I drove you away.”
Darwin smiled down at his beautiful, loving and forgiving wife. He had added two rooms to the house since they found out about Evangeline’s impending birth, a kitchen to one side of the original room, and a bedroom at the back of the house, but the effort was nothing in the light of the love he felt for Ruth.
Maco Warthan walked across the room and extended his hand to his son-in-law. “I’m sorry for everything,” he said as Darwin took his hand. “I was only trying to look out for those I love.”
Darwin smiled. “I understand,” he said. “I’d do the same, in my own way,” he agreed.
“I see now that I was wrong,” Macon said. “Can you forgive me? Both of you?” he added turning to look at Ruth.
“Of course we do,” Ruth said smiling at Darwin as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Today is a new start for all of us, and tomorrow will bring what it brings. I hope we’ll see more of you in the years to come.”
Dora nodded as a smile broke across her face. “I love you Ruthie,” she sighed. “It might not be easy, but I’ll try to always see you as the strong, loving, and capable young woman you have become.”
“I wouldn’t mind talking to you more about your horse raising scheme as well,” Macon added lifting hazel eyes to Darwin. “I see now that you not only have my daughter’s best interest in mind but you have a desire to do better for you both.”
Ruth smiled nodding at her husband who grinned at his father-in-law. “We can talk,” he agreed, “but now I think my wife needs her rest.”
***
Darwin took his daughter from Ruth placing little Evangeline in the basinet by their bed and blowing out the light. Ruth’s parents had returned to the Hampton House earlier, and now the quiet sounds of a brisk Texas winter engulfed the house.
Slipping back into their warm bed, he pulled Ruth close kissing her brow as his heart sent praises to heaven for the gifts he had received. Once an orphan, he now had a family. Once lost and alone, he had hope, and peace had fallen on his wife and her kin.
Ruth had come to Needful to find a life of her own, bringing with her everything he had ever longed for. Sweet, cheerful and loving Ruth was exactly what he needed.
His impatience had nearly cost him the perfect gift God had waiting for him all along.
“I love you Ruth Rivers,” he whispered into her hair. “I have everything I need right here.”
Ruth tipped her head up to look at Darwin, her voice sleepy as she replied. “I love you too, Darwin Rivers,” she laughed. “Now go to sleep, you know your daughter will have us up before the dawn.”
The End
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Other Books by this Author:
From the Cattleman’s Daughters
Katie Isabella
FionaAlexis
Meg Mae
Cattleman’s Daughters Companions
Cathleen
The Redemption of Rachel
Sean’s Secret Heart
Mel
Sweet Annie
Joan
Tales from Biders Clump
Christmas Kringle
Quil’s Careful Cowboy
Bruno’s Belligerent Beauty
Tywyn’sTroubles
A Teaching Touch
Prissy’s Predicament
Lucinda’s Luck
Ferd’s Fair Favor
The Travels of Titus
Winter’s Worth
Strong Hearts: Open Spirits
Maggie’s ValleySadina’s Stocking
Celestre’s Song Beloved Beulah
Whispers in Wyoming
Love Letters & Home
Counting Kadence
Mercy’s Light
Falling Forward
Racing Destiny
Baby be Mine
The Ornamental Match Maker
Carousel Horse Christmas
Loose Goose Christmas
Pineapple Persuasion
July’s Jubilant Christmas Jumble
Shutter Shock Christmas in July
Brides of Needful Texas
Daliah
Prim
Peri
Beth
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Dear Reader,
Thank you for choosing to read my book. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. If you enjoyed the story, please feel free to leave a review wherever you purchased the book. Leaving a review will help me and prospective readers to know what you liked about this book. It is an opportunity for your voice to be heard and for you to tell others why the story is worth a read.
About the Author
Danni Roan, a native of western Pennsylvania, spent her childhood roaming the lush green mountains on horseback. She has always loved westerns and specifically western romance and is thrilled to be part of this exciting genre. She has lived and worked overseas with her husband and tries to incorporate the unique quality of the people she has met throughout the years into her books.
Danni currently lives in her thirty-six foot RV with her husband and is traveling the United States to see this beautiful country and experience its history first hand.
Danni and her ‘every-day-hero’ have one son who is attending college and finding his own way as his crazy parents experience the author life along with life on the road.
As a Christian Danni, believes strongly that God brings new challenges, and blessings into one’s life to help them grow and she hopes that her words were both and encouragement and inspiration to you.
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