No One's Bride (Escape to the West Book 1) (27 page)

Amy stood on the hill overlooking Green Hill Creek.

The town stretched out before her, the line of the railroad tracks bounding it on one side and the creek itself hidden beneath a wide canopy of trees and bushes snaking towards the river in the distance. From her vantage point she could see several farms spread out over the surrounding countryside, each a cluster of barns and farmhouses at the centre of fields of crops and grazing animals. She wasn’t sure, but she thought she could identify Sara and Daniel’s farm far away to her right.

She raised one hand to her neck, touching the Indian-made turquoise and silver necklace at her throat, a gift from Adam on their wedding night.

Home
, she thought.
This is where I belong. This is home. Thank You, Lord.

Low grey clouds hung overhead and it would probably be raining soon. A gusting breeze sent her loose hair flapping around her face. She’d abandoned pinning it up when she and Adam were alone since sooner or later he invariably found the chance to unfasten it. It was just simpler this way.

She smiled as his arms encircled her waist from behind and his lips pressed to the side of her neck.

“Happy?” Adam said, his warm breath caressing her skin.

She leaned back into her husband’s embrace with a contented sigh. “Very.” She’d never imagined it was possible to feel this happy. “You have a wonderful family.”

“
We
have a wonderful family. They’re yours now too. You have a mother and father and brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews. Whatever happens, you won’t ever be alone again.” He paused. “Whenever we visit there may be times when you come to regret that.”

She laughed. “Never.”

He smiled against her skin and kissed her again. “I’m going to miss that bunkhouse.”

Amy’s cheeks heated up and she bit her lip. “It was so thoughtful of your mother to set that up for us rather than have us stay in the house.”

“Ma always has been very practical.”

“And it was nice how she made it all pretty and comfortable.”

“And private.”

“You are shameless,” she said, trying to sound disapproving but failing badly.

He chuckled and nuzzled against her neck. “I can’t help it if I love my wife more than any man has ever loved a woman in the whole history of the world.”

She sighed again, her smile returning. “I think I must be the most blessed woman on earth.”

She linked their fingers at her waist and they stood in silence, listening to the rhythmic sound of grass tearing as Stride and Clementine gave the lush, untouched grass at the top of the hill a trim.

“Are you disappointed you didn’t get to your fancy hotel in San Francisco?” Adam said after a while.

Amy turned around in his arms and looked up into the blue eyes she loved so much. “Not even one tiny bit. How could I be disappointed when I have everything I’ve ever wanted?”

An uncertain frown creased the space between his eyebrows. “But mucking out horses and living in a tiny, three roomed house way out here instead of in luxury in the big city...”

“Is the best thing that could ever have happened to me. All I ever wanted was to be safe and happy and loved and I’ve got all that and so much more.” She pushed up onto her toes, placed her mouth against his and whispered, “As long as I’m with you, I will never ever be disappointed.”

She closed her eyes and slipped her arms around his neck and when they finally parted, Adam’s frown was gone. He led her to where the horses were grazing and helped her onto Clem before mounting Stride.

Then he leaned over to take her hand and brought it to his lips with a smile. “Let’s go home, Mrs Emerson.”

Pure joy lifted Amy’s heart into flight.

She was Adam’s bride, and she didn’t want it any other way.

Thank you for reading No One’s Bride and I hope you’ve enjoyed Amy and Adam’s story.

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A note about the book – I am British and can’t spell any other way! Those are genuine UK English spellings and are provided free of charge for your amusement and delight. Of course, if you find an actual mistake please do let me know! I have, as far as I could, tried to make the story historically accurate while tailoring it for a modern audience, but I freely admit there might be things that I may have got wrong. If you are more knowledgeable than I am (which is highly likely) and something is making you want to tear your hair out, please do get in touch via my
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No One’s Bride is the first in the Escape to the West series. If the hints about what was happening to Sara, Lizzy, Louisa and Josephine have you wanting to know more, they will each be getting their own book, each of which begins with their arrival on the train. Coming next: Sara’s story.

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Until next time...

God bless you,

Nerys

nerysleigh.com

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Here are the verses quoted, or referred to, in No One’s Bride, this time from the New International Version (NIV) translation because I find it easier to understand!

Chapter 2 - Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  James 2:15-16

Chapter 3 - Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

Chapter 13 - If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

Chapter 13 – “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:22-24

Chapter 13 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5

Chapter 21 - If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

Chapter 26 - But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Chapter 30 – Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32