Ashley Merrick - India: Bride of Indiana (American Mail-Order Bride 19) (10 page)

L
ong after the
dishes were done and the children were sound asleep in bed, India and Richard sat in the den by the fire, each with a book in their lap and both waiting for just the right moment to have the most important conversation of their lives.

India finally couldn’t take it any longer. She stood, stretched and tried to gather her courage to speak. But Richard thought she was getting ready to go to bed.

“You’re not going upstairs yet? It’s still early.” He sounded a bit panicked at the idea which wasn’t like him.

“No, not yet. I’m just feeling a bit stiff. I do have a question for you, though.”

“Yes?”

India still didn’t quite have the courage to ask the question that was really on her mind, so she asked something else instead.

“Did you have that roof fixed for Tommy Haskell’s mother?”

Richard looked at her in surprise. “Does it matter if I did or didn’t?”

“Well, no. But it’s such a nice thing to do. You don’t want people to know it was you?”

Richard smiled. “No. It’s not about me. I don’t need the glory for helping. It’s enough to know that I was able to help in some small way.”

A thought occurred to India. “Are you the Secret Santa? The one that has been anonymously helping people out, with firewood and deliveries of shoes and clothing for that family with all the children?”

Richard looked away and then stood and pulled her to him. “It’s given me great joy to help like that. After I lost Amy, I lost myself for a while, too. I didn’t feel as though I was worthy of ever being loved again. Doing those small things, helped to fill a hole in me that was missing—it’s helped me probably even more than it’s helped them. I have no doubt about that.”

He leaned over then and lightly brushed his lips against hers. India instantly melted into him and he deepened the kiss. When they paused for a moment he said, “It was meeting you that ultimately helped me to heal and to believe that it might be possible for me to find love again. At first, I thought I was just lucky and that we’d be good companions. I’ve been so comfortable with you from the start. My favorite time of the day is when we sit here in the evenings and just enjoy each other’s company and talk about our days.”

“It’s mine, too,” India admitted happily.

Richard gently kissed her forehead and then said, “I had that with Amy once and I didn’t expect to ever find it again. But I did, with you. When I started to sense that you might actually have a romantic interest in me, I have to confess, it terrified me.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t know if it was real or just a passing fancy, a curiosity given my scars. I had to be sure that your feelings ran deeper than that. I wouldn’t have been able to handle it if you’d changed your mind.”

India smiled and unbuttoned his shirt half-way and pushed it aside. She leaned over and kissed the middle of his chest, where his scars were the ugliest. She felt him shudder at the contact.

She closed his shirt up and then leaned back and looked into his eyes. “I will never change my mind about you. I love you, Richard Blake. Every inch of you and every scar is all mine.”

“I love you, India Blake, until the end of time.”

He kissed her again, and again. And then he led her upstairs.

T
hree months later
…

“
S
o
, we’ll be opening in ten minutes. We take people in one at a time and walk around with them, helping them fill their bags. There are guidelines for how much to give, based on the size of their family, such as a dozen eggs for a family of four, half a dozen for smaller families.”

“How will we know if they’re telling the truth?” Olivia asked. It was her first time working a shift at the pantry and India was showing her around.

“We take people at their word. If they show up here and say they need food, we give it to them. None of the guidelines are set in stone. Use your own good judgment. If you feel like giving extra food to people, do it. That’s what we’re here for.”

Laura was working the shift with her as well, and Sammy was helping by stacking jars and boxes of food on the shelves.

They had a steady stream of people coming through the pantry right up until they were ready to close at three o’clock.

“That wasn’t so bad,” Olivia said as she walked out with them.

“You did a good job,” India told her.

“Would you like us to schedule you again?” Laura asked. She kept the schedule for all the volunteers and usually only put people in for one shift a month, since they had plenty of interested volunteers.

“I would. Same time next month would work well for me. See you both at women’s group on Wednesday.”

She walked off and as India and Laura headed toward their buggies, India said, “She’s really not so bad.”

“She has her moments,” Laura said and then agreed. “She does seem to have mellowed some.”

“I heard a rumor that Smith Jones is courting her,” India said mischievously.

“Really? No wonder she seems happier.”

Laura climbed into her buggy and drove off and then Sammy and India did the same, stopping by the school to pick up Julia. They headed home after that and India started getting dinner ready. She was making her favorite meal, which was also one of Richard’s favorites—her chicken potpies.

He recognized the smell when he walked through the door.

“What’s today? Is it a special occasion? You usually make the chicken potpies for holidays or birthdays. Is it someone’s birthday and I’ve forgotten?” he teased.

“Something like that,” India said mysteriously. “Wash up and get ready for dinner. When we sit down to eat, I may have an announcement for everyone.”

Richard shot her a curious look as he headed off to wash his hands. Once everyone was gathered around the dinner table and Richard had said grace, India made her announcement.

“I have some good news to share. Another member of the household may be joining us in about six months’ time.”

The children looked at her in confusion as Richard jumped out of his seat.

“Julia, Sammy, I think what India is trying to say is that you may be having a new brother or sister soon.”

The children didn’t seem nearly as excited as their father.

“That’s nice,” Julia said.

“I hope it’s a boy. I want someone fun to play with,” Sammy said and then turned his attention to his food.

“You’re sure?” Richard asked.

“I saw the doctor this morning. He confirmed my suspicion. I wasn’t sure at first because I haven’t been anywhere near as sick as Sylvia’s mother, but I haven’t felt quite myself, either.

“That’s really wonderful news. I couldn’t be happier,” Richard said.

“I couldn’t wait to tell you. I’m going to write Beth and my mother tonight to give them the good news, too. Next time I see my mother, she might be a grandmother.”

“My mother will be thrilled, too. The whole family will be. You’ve just made me the happiest man in the world.”

“You make me happy every day. I love you, Richard Blake.”

“Here they go again,” Sammy said.

Richard chuckled. “Yes, Sammy, get used to it. You’re going to hear me tell India that I love her for many years to come.” He reached across the table, took her hand and squeezed it.

“I love you, India. Till the end of time.”

~
T
he End
~

T
his story was
a joy to write. I hope that you enjoyed it!

I love Christmas stories, and local food pantries are a cause that is very important to me. Along with several others, I help to run a food pantry here in Plymouth and it’s an honor to serve our clients there.

E
mma

Julia

Colleen

Brianna

Ricky

Maeve

B
e
sure to check out my other book in this series, about India’s sister, Beth.

C
lick
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Visit
http://www.newwesternromance.com
to learn more about all of the 50 books in this unprecedented series!

A
shley grew
up on Cape Cod, MA and now lives in a seaside town halfway between Boston and the Cape. Her first paid writing work was in college when she wrote the obituaries and birth announcements for a local paper. That led to more creative writing--radio commercials and in recent years, some food blogging and writing for a Cape Cod newspaper. She loves all things food related and has always been an avid reader, across many genres, romance, mystery, suspense, paranormal and of course, historical.

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