Page 29 of On a Midnight Clear
Epilogue
The wind howled like a wounded beast , rattling the stagecoach as it lurched through the blinding snow. Noah pulled his wool coat tighter around himself as he strained to see anything beyond the frosted window. Across from him , the only other passenger slept through the noise.
“Hold tight, folks!” their driver called over the roaring storm. “Stage stop just ahead!”
Noah eased out a breath. He was nearly there. Nearly to Hope.
His heart quickened at the thought, a mix of anticipation and trepidation making his palms sweat inside his gloves. What would she say when she saw him? Would her eyes light up with joy, or would her feelings have ebbed?
They’d exchanged letters, but because of the distance between them and his traveling, it had been weeks since she’d written the last one.
Maybe she’d changed her mind since then.
Perhaps she’d decided theirs was only a temporary attraction.
The result of too much proximity and the romance of the Christmas holiday.
Lord , if this is the direction you would have me go , let her affections have grown , not lessened.
A sudden jolt jarred him from his thoughts as the coach lurched forward, then slowed to a creaking halt. The driver’s voice carried through the wind. “Split Rock Pony Express and Stage Stop! We’ll be here for the night, so gather your things and head inside.”
The slumbering man across from him jolted awake with a snort, then blinked as he sat upright.
Noah straightened, too, gripping the handle of his leather satchel as he peered out the frost-rimmed window at the familiar wooden building nestled in the snowy valley.
A plume of smoke rose from the stone chimney, and the golden glow spilling from the windows promised warmth and shelter from the biting cold.
He pushed open the stage door and stepped down onto the snow-covered ground, wincing at the icy chill that seeped through his boots.
He made his way through the swirling snow, his heart pounding with each crunching step.
The front door swung open, and a familiar figure emerged from the warm glow within.
When the man caught sight of him, he paused. “Noah?” A grin spread across Martin’s face as he hurried forward, his hand outstretched. “By golly, it is you! We weren’t expecting you for another month at least.”
Noah clasped Martin’s hand, a smile tugging at his own lips despite the nerves in his belly. “I made better time than I thought. The weather held out longer than expected.” He glanced past Martin to the closed door. “Is Hope ...?”
“She’s inside, making food for the passengers.” Martin’s grin widened, and he clapped Noah on the shoulder. “Go in while I see to the horses.”
Noah nodded his thanks, then turned and climbed the wooden steps to the front door. The moment he stepped inside, a rush of warmth enveloped him.
The familiar scents of woodsmoke and simmering stew filled his senses as his gaze swept the room—taking in the crackling fire in the hearth and the long table set for a meal.
Then his eyes found Hope, and all else faded away.
She stood at the stove, her back to him as she stirred a large pot. Her dark hair was pinned up in its usual bun, a few loose tendrils curling at the nape of her neck. A blue apron covered her simple brown dress, the fabric hugging her curves in a way that made his throat go dry.
She focused so intently on her task, she’d not heard him.
He cleared his throat, and she glanced over her shoulder. When her eyes met his, they widened in surprise ... then lit with a joy that stole his breath.
“Noah!” In an instant, she abandoned the spoon and rushed toward him, skirts swishing around her ankles. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
Before he could respond, she launched into his arms, wrapping her own tight around his waist. He stumbled a step back but regained his footing and pulled her close against his chest.
Her body molded to his, warm and solid and real. He closed his eyes and breathed her in—the scent of lavender and woodsmoke and something uniquely Hope. Something he’d missed even more than he’d realized.
His hands moved of their own accord, sliding up to cradle her head as his fingers threaded through her silky hair.
He felt her shudder, heard her sigh his name against his shirtfront.
And just like that, every worry and fear melted away, replaced by a sense of rightness that settled deep in his bones.
This was where he belonged. Here, with Hope in his arms.
The sudden relief at seeing Noah again, of feeling his strong arms around her, made it hard to breathe, much less speak. When Hope finally found her words, they came out choked and broken. “You’re here. I can’t ... I can’t believe you’re here.”
He stroked her back, not letting her go. Just holding her. She’d already lost control of her tears. He came back , Lord. He came back. Thank You. Thank You for bringing him back.
She needed to see his face now. Every handsome part of him. She pulled away, just enough to look up at him, then wiped her eyes to clear the blurriness. “I didn’t expect you so soon. I figured with the weather you would be another month at least.”
Those beautiful brown eyes sparkled, pleasure curving his mouth. “Do you think I could wait that long? Two months already felt like two years.”
Her chest squeezed. To know he’d missed her too, that these months apart had been as hard for him ... it meant more than she could say. More than she could show.
Noah kept one hand around her back, then used the other to brush away the remnants of her tears.
His hand settled on her cheek. “I missed you.” His voice rumbled with emotion.
“Every day, every hour, every minute. I thought of you constantly, wondered what you were doing, if you were thinking of me too.”
Hope leaned into his touch, savoring the warmth of his skin against hers. “I was. I prayed for your safe return, for God to watch over you and bring you back to me.”
“He answered your prayers.”
“He did.” She reached up to trace the line of his jaw. He was really here, standing in front of her. “Did Miss Whitmore reach her father safely? And was he upset about your leave of absence?”
A mischievous sparkle lit Noah’s eyes, and a smile played at the corners of his mouth. “Yes, Miss Whitmore arrived without incident. And as for Charles, he didn’t begrudge my leave at all. In fact, I have some good news on that front, but I’ll tell you about it later.”
Curiosity burned through her. News? What could he possibly have? She gripped his wrist. “Tell me now. Please, Noah. I don’t think I can bear the suspense.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “I should have known better.” He took her hand in his.
“This might sound a bit presumptuous, but ... Mr. Whitmore has suggested that I consider a different partnership in the business. He thinks we could start a transport branch across the territories, with me stationed somewhere near the middle of the route to have access to both ends. We would hire another man to assist with the work in the east.”
Hope’s heart leaped. “That’s wonderful. Do you like the idea?”
He removed his other hand from her back, cradling both her hands in his. His gaze locked on her, intense and unwavering. “I like it a great deal, since it means I’ll have the freedom to court you. Officially. If you’ll have me, that is.”
Joy exploded within her, so fierce that it stole her breath. She blinked back a fresh wave of tears, her smile trembling. “Oh, Noah. That’s wonderful.”
He grinned, relief and happiness etched into every line of his face. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
As he lifted her hands to press a kiss to her fingertips, her mind spun through the days ahead.
“Where will you stay? We’re the only shelter for miles around.
We haven’t made much progress rebuilding the bunkhouse with so much snow.
” And she was fairly certain Martin wouldn’t allow Noah to live under the same roof while he courted her.
His eyes held that twinkle. “I was hoping you and Martin wouldn’t mind me staying in the barn. At least until I can build other accommodations.”
Yes . Still proper, yet wonderfully close. She couldn’t stop her endless grin. “I think that will be perfect.”
As he lowered his mouth to hers, she sank into the rightness of his touch. His presence here. His arms around her.
This moment was everything she’d hoped for, everything she’d prayed for.
Noah was home, and he was hers. Truly hers.