Page 67

Tired, but the good kind that came from an honest day’s work to your benefit and that of your family, Seth climbed the front steps to the porch.

He had eyes only for his wife, who slowly swayed back and forth on the swing, eyes closed, the breeze teasing her hair.

In a cradle at Rowie’s feet, sleeping peacefully, was William Phillip Walker, Will, for short, their four-month-old baby boy.

When Seth eased himself onto the swing beside her, she looked at him beaming, and, as she always did, took his breath away. She was beautiful all the time, but happy and in love, with her childhood dreams come true, even more so.

He handed her the letter he’d picked up at the post office while in town.

She looked at the postmark, which was from two weeks earlier, and asked, “Who do we know in Washington, D.C.?”

“Old friends from Laramie. Mayor Jackson spoke before Congress last week to make his case for statehood.”

“Mm,” she hummed, not at all surprised. “Janelle told me he’d be a senator one day.”

“I believe she’s right, once Wyoming becomes a state.”

She opened the letter and began reading. “They’re coming to visit on their way home. It will be so nice to see them.”

“Indeed. A lot has changed for all of us in two years. It will be good to catch up. When do they arrive?”

She referred to the letter again. “If my calculations are correct… Oh, dear. They’ll be here the day after tomorrow. I have so much to do.”

The baby started fussing, and she reached for him, but Seth waved her off. “I’ve got him,” he said, scooping up his son and putting him on his shoulder. He wiggled, his baby bottom poking out as he curled his legs beneath him but then settled back to sleep.

Rowie didn’t move, watching them. “My heart is so full of love sometimes, I fear it might burst.”

“Same,” he mouthed, his eyes on her, hopefully conveying his feelings, not willing to risk waking their boy and interrupting this quiet father-son moment.

She leaned in to kiss her son’s downy soft curls—dark brown like his, but he had his mama’s stunning eyes. Then she turned and kissed him, as warm and sweet and stirring as the first time.

As he sat with his wife by his side and his sleeping son in his arms, he couldn’t imagine a more perfect life.

He never thought he could be happy living east of the Mississippi.

The mountains were hills compared to what he was used to, but Virginia was lush and green, and Eldridge House was surrounded by rolling hills just as beautiful.

The scent of the nearby honeysuckle bush filled the air, and the chirp of crickets in the trees surrounding the manor came to life as evening approached.

He watched as Rowie squinted to read the rest of the letter in the fading light.

How did he get so damn lucky? Their lives had started very different, separated by thousands of miles, and adversity had been a common theme—hers so much worse—and they’d both suffered loss, but they’d found one another despite it all.

The words he said to her often couldn’t convey how much he loved her or the gratitude he felt for the near-perfect life they had built together.

The stables kept him busy. They had a stable master, but he liked to be hands-on. Rowie, too, who was easing back into it since the birth of their son. Until coming here, he hadn’t realized how much he didn’t know about horses. Now, half of what he knew, he’d learned from his wife.

“I can’t wait to meet the twins,” she exclaimed, smiling broadly as she tucked the letter back inside the envelope.

“I can’t believe they traveled cross-country with a pair of two-year-olds in tow.”

“It sounds like a grand adventure to me.”

He laughed; he couldn’t help it, patting his son on the back gently when he stirred. Then he whispered, “It’s finally happened.”

“What’s that?”

“The pessimist has turned optimist.”

She looked up, a barely discernible glint in her eyes in the fading light. “Do you think so?”

“I know so,” he whispered, leaning to the side to press a soft kiss on her fragrant hair without disturbing their little one.

“It’s because my life is perfect, but—” She paused, a hint of fear coloring her voice when she went on, “sometimes I’m afraid to believe it’s real and I’ll have it all snatched away again.”

“That’s not happening, darlin’. Not as long as I’m around.”

“The hero of my heart,” she breathed, blinking rapidly. “Always fighting my dragons.”

“Are those happy tears? You know my rule,” he said playfully, only half teasing.

“Always,” she assured him, with a sniffle. “It’s funny. After Carson, through all the years of misery, I didn’t cry a single tear; then you came into my life, and I turned into a watering pot.”

“A more beautiful watering pot has never existed.”

This time, she leaned in, and he savored the sweetness of cherries, fresh from the small grove on their property, and the saltiness of her tears in her kiss.

“I love you so much, Seth. I thank the good lord every day for sending you to me and for giving us a beautiful boy.” She rested against his side, her hand on Will’s back.

“I would have been content with only my family, but we also have Eldridge House and the stables. Some days, I don’t think I deserve to be this happy. ”

“You more than deserve it, darlin’. This is recompense for all you had to endure.”

“Did I tell you I saw Jael in town the other day?”

“And ruin my day? I’m grateful you didn’t.”

She laughed softy at his dry wit then told him anyway. “She was the same old tyrant, barking a torrent of complaints and orders at her poor driver. Losing her social standing and most of her wealth hasn’t taught her a thing.”

“Some people are only happy when they’re making others miserable. It defies comprehension how she convinced your father—a scholarly man—to marry her.”

“Their courtship was brief. Evidently, assuming a role drastically different from your true nature is possible if the reward is worthwhile.”

“She missed her calling on the stage,” Seth muttered. “Too bad she didn’t answer it.”

Rowie nudged him gently, lips curved slightly at his wit but not able to laugh about the woman responsible for stealing a large part of her life just yet.

“I don’t know why she stayed. She has no friends here. A fresh start might have served her well.”

“Not for that spotted leopard. Maybe it’s part of her punishment.”

She glanced his way. “What is?”

“Having to watch you thrive as mistress of the manor, with respect from the community, and a stable twice the size as the one she left, and doubly successful. Bet that hurts.”

“Her bitterness suggests that it does.”

Sweet baby noises emerged from Will. When he lifted his dark head, looked around, and spotted his mother, he immediately reached out for her.

“Let me take the little prince before he starts crying and demanding his supper. It’s well past time.”

Seth kissed his son’s soft cheek before relinquishing him. “It’s past mine too. How long before you join me?”

“Not long. I’ll turn him over to Maw so we can enjoy Mrs. Hunter’s roast beef that I’ve been smelling all afternoon.

Afterward, while you and Will entertain one another, I’ll need to meet with the staff briefly to discuss preparations for our guests.

” She laid her hand on his bearded cheek.

“The rest of the evening, I’m all yours. ”

He turned his head and kissed her palm, whispering, “The highlight of my day.”

Out of patience at the delay of his supper, their boy let out a squeal of protest. Patting his back and cooing in his ear, Rowie hurried inside.

For quite a while, Seth sat on the swing, pondering the vagaries of fate as he watched the last streaks of red and orange fade into the ether of the evening sky.

He thought of all the changes in his life—all for the better.

If Deadeye Bill and the Hartigan Gang still roamed the West, he might still be living on horseback, sleeping under the stars, waking to snow on his bedroll some mornings, and constantly looking over his shoulder for the law or a bounty hunter eager to collect his reward.

In those scenarios, he might have never rescued a green-eyed, auburn-haired young woman from a blazing building.

Nor would he have reconnected with her years later, ultimately falling in love, marrying, and sharing a tender kiss on a porch swing with their son in his arms.

He didn’t have to wonder about Miss Charlotte. She was the strongest, bravest, and most resilient person he had ever met. She would have survived on her own, but he was grateful that she didn’t have to; fate had brought them together, leading them to the happy, thriving life they shared today.

The screen door squeaked as it opened, and Rowie appeared. “Ready for supper?”

Seth rose from the swing and moved to join her—answer enough. Before he entered, he took her in his arms and kissed her, the woman of his dreams and the love of his life. Then they went inside, together as they were always meant to be.