The Stafford Collection, Historical Western Romances (52 page)

“
You have come from different backgrounds. You have walked different paths. You are different individuals. Your love has transcended these differences. May the challenges of your life together be met with courage and hopefulness. May you learn from your failures, and grow in your achievements. May life bless you with an abundance of children, friends, and family. May you face pain, toil, and trouble with a stout, but light heart. May you share with others the radiance of your seasons of joy and pleasure. May you always remember that laughter is the medicine of God.

“
I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. You may kiss the bride.”

Once again, Sabrina was in Brock
’s arms. Leaning her head back to give him better access, she kissed him as if it was their last. The clanging of the bell and cheers from her family barely penetrated her brain. She placed her hand on Brock’s chest for support as she reluctantly pulled away for air. She was rewarded by Brock’s twinkling eyes.

She was grabbed up in a hug by Riley and then the rest. Thomas was
last; he made to talk but instead broke down in tears as he pulled her close thinking of his own lost bride.

“
No one is gone as long as they are in our hearts,” Sabrina whispered as he turned, kissed her cheek, and retreated to the house.

Brock
’s arm stole around her as she leaned into him. She noticed a woman standing off to the side. It was Shauna, her friend from the dress shop.

“
I wasn’t sure if I should come.”

“
Of course you should have,” Sabrina said hugging her.

“
I think you look grand and Brock is so
handsome
! You are very lucky.”

Sabrina looked around at all of her friends and
family, her eyes landing on her new husband. “Yes, yes I am.”

Chapter 32

Amelia stared out the window of the train as it lumbered down the tracks. She and Riley had left the next day. The further she was from Montgomery, the more her heart ached. She missed Chase desperately but she would be damned if she admitted it to anyone. She was so angry at him for leaving. She knew he was in pain and she could not imagine her grief if she ever lost Riley, but nonetheless, they were all hurting.

What if he returned to Montgomery and found her gone? How would he find her? Would he even look? Their brief time together was so wondrous she began to doubt her sanity. Perhaps it was just a dream?

The train whistle blew loudly, causing Riley to awake with a jolt.

“
Sleep well?”

“
Nope. Can’t remember the last time I’ve had a good sleep,” he said darkly.

Amelia frowned. It wasn
’t a dream and all the hurts and pain flooded back to mind as she stood to exit the train. Amelia grabbed two bags and followed Riley down the boardwalk. The familiar sounds of seagulls and the smell of salt water filled her head. She was home.

Entering the store, she dropped her bags and ran to her father hugging his neck tightly. She had missed him so. He pulled away questioning the tears in her eyes.

“What is wrong, dear?”

“
I’m just happy to be home.”

“
You don’t look very happy. Did Sabrina get married?”

Unable to
talk, Amelia just nodded her head before hurrying to the back and bursting into tears. Her father raised an eyebrow at Riley.

“
It’s a long story. Let’s close the store and go for a walk.”

***

Weeks passed, and each day was much like the next. Amelia still was not back to her usual self as her father had hoped. She was paler than usual and much, much quieter. Riley had left shortly after they returned; he had taken a job at the shipyard and was away. Her father was off running some errands for the store; thus, she was alone. Normally it was she who ran the errands. She had always hated being cooped up in the store, but since her return she hated to leave.

She wasn
’t sure if she just missed the store so much while she was gone or if she just felt safer there. She didn’t like going anywhere alone these days. Perhaps her kidnapping had hurt her more than she had thought. They had stolen her courage.

She was standing on a stool stocking a new shipment of glassware when the bell on the door chimed. She turned to greet her customer as the words died in her throat; the glass tumbled from her hand and shattered on the floor.
It was Chase.

She felt her knees weaken and she would have fallen if not for Chase
’s quick reaction. He grabbed her arm and steadied her as she hopped to the ground.

She was livid as she wrenched her arm free.
“How dare you! How dare you leave and not come back? Don’t you know what I went through?” Amelia was so distraught with emotion she couldn’t breathe. Falling to her knees she fought for air as her body was racked with sobs.

She was so
distraught she didn’t realize she cut her hand on a piece of glass. Feeling no pain, she lifted her hand in surprise to see the blood trickling down her palm. She heard Chase cuss as he picked her up and took her into the back room where he sat her down on a chair. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and bound her wound. Amelia had exhausted her energy by this time and just sat scowling at him as she tried sniffing back her tears.

He reached up to touch her face and she turned her head away. He sighed as he sat back on his haunches.
“Amelia, I was in pain as well. My heart and my head ached so badly I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t accept her death. That Jaelyn was gone. I half convinced myself that she was home. So that’s where I went. I rode for days in disbelief. And when I finally got there I was alone. Not only had I lost Jaelyn but you as well.

I wanted to go back to Montgomery but I didn
’t know if you would be there. I even thought about coming to San Francisco and looking for you. But I didn’t, I didn’t know if you would want me to come. I figured you would hate me after what I did. Like I hated myself.”

Amelia shook her head in confusion.
“But you did come to San Francisco.”

Chase took a deep breath.
“I hunted, I fished, I existed. I wasn’t really living. Then one day Riley shows up.”

“
Riley?” Amelia asked her eyes narrowing as she sat up straighter. They had lied to her, Riley and her father both.

“
Yes, he is a great tracker. He said you had been sick, that you missed me. That, that you needed me.”

“
Well Riley lied. I’m not sick and I don’t need you.”

A sparkle lit in his eyes. A sparkle that reminded her of the old Chase, the happy Chase, the Chase she loved.

“You didn’t say you didn’t miss me.” he whispered.

“
Damn you!” Amelia said before throwing her arms around his neck. He pulled her down onto his lap and held her tightly. She risked peeking up at him and was rewarded by an earthquaking kiss. She pulled away breathlessly as she spoke. “I knew you would come.”

“
Always.”

Epilogue

Four months later

Chase bent over and blew out the loose slivers of wood he had just whittled away from the cradle he was carving. Stafford Cradles were the best in San Francisco. Amelia ran into the store breathlessly with a piece of mail in her hand.
“We got a letter from Sabrina!”

Chase withheld his excitement. The last letter from Sabrina, in response to Amelia
’s letter, was full of obscenities for him making his family worry.

This one was on a more pleasant note;
“Lydia Jaelyn Stafford was born a week ago and looks just like her father,” Amelia read aloud.

“
Poor thing,” Chase teased as she hit him with the envelope.

“
You be nice. By the way you better hurry up and finish that cradle since you have another one to make.”

“
We have another order?”

Amelia
smiled. “Yes, I need to order one.”

Chase
’s mouth dropped as the words sunk in.

“
Really?”

“
Really.” Chase pulled Amelia into his arms and crushed his mouth to hers.

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