Linda Ford (14 page)

He’d made several trips downtown, visiting the lawyer, asking where the best land was, and purchasing supplies and equipment to set up a new place. Returning from one of his trips, he paused to look at the house. Smoke snaked up the chimney. He smelled savory meat and fresh bread.

He opened the door. Maggie sat peeling potatoes.

“Crane! Crane! You’re back!” Betsy wrapped herself around his legs.

He scooped her up and tossed her high.

She giggled. “Do it again.”

He tossed her up again, then tucked her under his arm like a sack of potatoes.

Ted got up from the floor where he’d been playing with Cat. “I took care of all the chores you gave me.”

“Good boy.” He ruffled the boy’s hair.

He crossed to the table. “And how about you, Maggie? What have you been doing with yourself?”

She glanced up. “Nothing much.” She ducked her head again but not before Crane caught the sheen of unshed tears.

He waited, but she kept her head down. He set Betsy on her feet. “Ted.” He didn’t take his focus off Maggie. “Take Betsy outside for a bit.” He waited for the door to close behind them.

Still she didn’t lift her head, and the knife in her hand remained idle. He knelt, trying to see her eyes, but she pressed her chin down.

“Maggie.” His throat tightened. He swallowed hard and tried again. “Maggie. What’s the matter?”

She shook her head.

He tipped her chin up. Tears trailed down each cheek. “Are you sick?”

Again she shook her head.

He jiggled her chin until she lifted her glistening eyes.

“You’ve got to tell me what’s wrong.”

She took a long, trembling breath. “I’ve ruined it all, haven’t I?”

He blinked. What on earth was she talking about? He glanced around the room half expecting to see a torn blanket or a failed cake, but he saw nothing. He wanted nothing more than to kiss away the tears and hold her tight. Instead he asked, “What are you talking about?”

“First the children. Then insisting we go up to the hill.” She sobbed once, then continued. “Now on top of it all, after agreeing our marriage was going to be businesslike, I’ve gone and fallen in love with you.” Her words ended in a wail.

She pulled away and hid her face. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I never meant to say that.”

His heart thudded against his ribs as if it’d been shot from a cannon. He couldn’t move. “Are you crying because you love me?”

Her head jerked up. “No, of course not. I’m crying because I’m so tired of keeping it a secret.”

He laughed low in his throat.

She blinked and narrowed her eyes. “Why are you laughing?”

“Because, my dear sweet Maggie, I love you and have been trying to find a way to tell you and wondering if you’d be angry at me.” He chuckled and leaned forward, resting his forearms across her knees. “Doesn’t it strike you as the least bit funny that we both felt the same way?”

She smiled. “Guess you were as foolish as me.”

“Foolish and crazy,” he agreed. “Crazy in love with you, Maggie mine.”

Her cheeks turned rosy. “I can’t believe it.”

He caught her chin and waited for her gaze to stop its restless darting about. When it did, he almost fell apart at the love he saw.

“When did you first know?” she whispered.

“I admitted it when you slid down that muddy slope and got so sick.” He shuddered. “You had me worried, I’ll say.” He chased away that dark moment. “But I think I fell in love the day you stood up to Bull.” He grinned. “Knew then I’d found me a real woman.”

“A real troublemaker, you mean,” she muttered.

“Just someone willing to help another even if it isn’t easy.” He trailed his finger along her jawline. He wanted to run a path of kisses along the same path, but first he had to know. “When did you fall in love with me?”

Her cheeks glowed. Her eyes were dark and shiny.

He could feel his heart pulsing in his throat at the way she looked at him.

“That night.”

His breath exploded from him. He knew she meant the night they’d shared the little willow shelter. He wanted to laugh and yell and dance around the room. Perhaps he would later, but there was something he wanted even more than that. He leaned closer but found he didn’t have to lean very far, for she met him halfway.

He found her lips. At the same time he found the love he’d wanted all his life.

Later, after the children were put to bed, Maggie climbed into her bunk and patted the space beside her.

Grinning, he crawled under the covers and took her in his arms. “I love you, Maggie mine.”

She laughed against his chest. “And I love you, Byler Crane.”

A warm feeling filled him. Except for his ma, no one had called him Byler since he was a youngster.

She tapped his chest with one finger. “We’ve had some good experiences on this journey.”

“And a few bad ones.” But lying with her in his arms, he had a hard time remembering them.

“And I’ve found God again.”

“Me too.”

She squeezed him, making it difficult for him to keep his thoughts on the conversation. “And now it’s time to finish our journey and build ourselves a new home.”

He was quiet a moment, trying to find the words he wanted. “Our journey won’t be over,” he said. “It will be only starting.”

“You’re right.”

He half sat. “I almost forgot.”

She pulled him down again. “I’m sure it will wait until morning.”

He laughed. “It will. It’s only another part of the beginning of our journey together.”

“Umm. What?”

“I knew you wouldn’t be able to let it go.” He chuckled.

“I can too.” She snuggled close.

He pressed his face into her hair, breathing in the scent of her, and waited.

“I think maybe I want to know.” Her voice was muffled against his chest.

He laughed, pleased with his knowledge of her. Then he murmured, “I went to see a lawyer here. To find out about the children. He says you can apply for guardianship of Ted and name me as joint guardian, or if your pa will relinquish his rights, we can adopt him.”

He felt her waiting stillness. “That’s up to you. He’ll act on your behalf if you like.

“I told him all we know about Betsy, and he sent out some letters. He says there shouldn’t be any problem with us adopting her.”

“I’m glad. It’s the beginning for all of us.”

“Tomorrow, if you’re feeling up to it, we’ll head north. I hear there’s fine land available up there.”

“I’m up to it.” Before he found her lips again, he breathed a silent prayer.
Thank You, God, for this family. For the children. But especially for Maggie, my bride.

About the Author

LINDA FORD draws on her own experiences living in the Canadian prairie and Rockies to paint wonderful adventures in romance and faith. She lives in Alberta, Canada, with her family, writing as much as her full-time job of taking care of a paraplegic and four kids who are still at home will allow. Linda says, “I thank God that he has given me a full productive life and that I’m not bored. I thank Him for placing a little bit of the creative energy revealed in his creation into me, and I pray I might use my writing for his honor and glory.”

Dedication

To my husband, Ivan:

Together we have journeyed many years,

faced many hardships, enjoyed many adventures,

and grown together in love.

A note from the author:

I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:

Linda Ford

Author Relations

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Uhrichsville, OH 44683