Sarah's Surrender (37 page)

Lara looked around. “This town reminds me of Guthrie in the beginning. They've made good headway, but I was surprised to find that there is a hotel already.”

Sarah laughed. “You have to admit it's not much of a hotel, but at least we didn't have to sleep under the stars. Too many mosquitoes this time of year for that.”

The children ran ahead. Claire wiggled to get down, so Sarah let her walk but held on to her hand. They strolled past new buildings and others still in the process of being erected. Fewer lots than on her last visit still held a tent.

“Have you made a decision about what to do?”

Sarah shrugged. “What choice do I have? Zelma informed me that the people who needed them next had wired them that they were going to have to hold off on their building project, so the Peterson men are free to rebuild my house, if I only had the money.”

Lara's mouth twisted the way it did when she was thinking. The children stopped to peer in a barbershop window, and they soon caught up with them.

“It looks like there is still plenty of work in Anadarko. What if you offered to let the Petersons live on your land for free? Some of the men could work on your house while the others found jobs in town? It could benefit all of you.”

“True, but I still don't have the money to rebuild. I paid Mr. Peterson last night for building the house and barn. I could tell he hated to take it, but they'd done the work and deserved the money. It wasn't their fault that awful man set fire to the house.”

“Why
did
he do that?”

“To insure their getaway with Claire.”

Lara shook her head. “I can't believe they wanted Claire to give to their daughter. I feel bad for the woman, but stealing a child is unconscionable.”

“Yes. It's horrible.”

Lara grasped her hand. “I'll talk to Gabe when we return home. I'm sure we could loan you the money you need.”

Sarah shook her head. “Thank you, but I don't want to start out in debt.”

They reached the town square. Sarah lifted up Claire as they crossed the street. “Why don't we sit and let the children work off some of their energy?”

“That sounds delightful.” Lara smiled, but her light green eyes held concern.

While the children chased one another on the square, Sarah and Lara sat down on a bench someone had recently built.

“Have you thought any more about Luke?”

“Only all night. I don't know what to do.”

Lara squeezed her hand. “Sarah, you've been in love with Luke for as long as I can remember. What's holding you back?”

She gazed at her friend. “What makes you say that? How can you know that I love him when I don't even know it?”

“Because whenever he walks into a room, your eyes go straight to him and your mouth tilts up in a special smile you reserve for him alone. Or when we're eating at the table, you cast shy glances his way. I've felt for years that God meant for you to be together.”

“Then how come I don't know it?”

Claire stopped her stiff-legged run to look at Sarah, as if worried by the tone of her voice. She toddled toward her, flopping against Sarah's skirts. She picked up the girl, hugging her. “I know I've hurt Luke by not agreeing to marry him. He's such a good man. But what if I marry him and he leaves me like my father did my mother?”

Lara draped her arm around Sarah's shoulders. “Luke would never do that. You're worrying far too much. Everyone but you can see how much you two are meant for one another. The only thing I know to do is pray about it, and if it's God will for Luke to be part of your life, you simply need to surrender to it.”

She had prayed. Over and over and over. Sarah watched the children gleefully playing while she felt so miserable. She'd wrestled half the night, struggling to know what to do. All she could think about was that amazing kiss that had set her body on fire and how Luke might have been killed rescuing Claire.

She couldn't stand the thought of him not being in her life. His smile brought her joy every time she saw it. She loved the teasing glint to his eyes. She loved everything about him.

And that kiss. Oh my. It was like nothing she'd ever experienced. She could spend a lifetime receiving kisses from Luke and never grow tired of them.

“Pa!” Cody ran to the edge of the lawn, waving.

Jack turned his horse and rode up to them, looking solemn. Sarah rose, sensing something else bad had happened. Jack looked at her with sad eyes and held out a dirty burlap sack. In the distance, the train whistled. “Luke asked me to give you this.”

“What is it?”

Jack shrugged. “Don't know. I didn't look.”

Sarah took the bag and sat down. Her stomach clenched as she was overcome with unease. She pulled the bag open and stared at what had to be hundreds of dollars and a single piece of paper. She tugged out the paper and turned it over. Her heart tightened. “It's from Luke.”

“What does it say?” Lara asked.

Tears burned Sarah's eyes. “It's his savings. He wants me to use it to rebuild my house.”

“But what about his livery?” Lara looked at Jack the same time Sarah did.

“He's not building it. He's at the depot now, returning to Guthrie.”

“No!” Sarah jumped up. “I don't want his money.”

“Then you'd better hurry if you plan on givin' it back.” Jack held out his reins.

Sarah handed Claire to Lara. She snatched the reins and lifted her foot. Jack hauled her up. As she dropped into the saddle, he tossed the reins over his horse's neck. Sarah grabbed them, adjusted her grip, and then turned the horse toward the train that was already pulling into the station. “Heyah!”

The poor animal lurched forward and galloped down the street. People cast Sarah angry looks as they jogged to get out of her way. “Please, God. Let me get there in time.”

She made the short distance quickly, but the people who had disembarked were already clearing the depot. Sarah slid off the horse, slapped the reins around the hitching post, and ran up the stairs. She searched the depot, but Luke wasn't there. The conductor closed the door to the first car. Sarah lifted her skirts and ran to the back of the third car, hoping to find an open door. “Please, God.”

She reached for the handle, pressed it down, and pulled back. It opened! She stepped inside. People where still standing in the aisle, finding their seats—and then she looked up. Luke stood at the far end of the aisle, staring at her. He shook his head and walked toward her. She backed out the door and held it, not wanting an audience for what she needed to say.

He stepped onto the landing between the rail cars and closed the door, his gaze wary.

She held up the bag. “I don't want your money.”

He snorted a laugh. “I should have known. You don't want anything to do with me.”

The pain in his voice gutted her. She'd done this to him. “You're wrong. I don't want your money. I want you.”

His gaze shot to hers, tentative—hopeful. “What?”

“I'm so sorry, Luke. I've been stupid. Stubborn. Scared.”

“Scared of me?”

“No, scared of my past. Scared that if we married I'd spoil whatever good there was between us.”

“But you don't feel that way now?”

She shook her head, smiling. “No. I've finally surrendered to God's will.”

He leaned against the wall, looking less miserable. “And what is His will for you?”

“To be your wife. It took me a while to realize it, but I love you.”

A blue fire ignited in his gaze. He pulled her to him, kissing her soundly. She returned his wonderful kiss, heedless of their public display. Their lips melded together, their breath joining as one. He cradled her head against his arm, and she received the gift of his love.

The train whistled, and the car jerked, knocking Sarah against Luke's injured shoulder. He hissed.

“Sorry.” Sarah grabbed his hand, tugging him toward the stairs. “We've got to get off.”

He tugged back. “Can't.”

“Why?” Surely he wasn't going to leave after her declaration.

“My horse is on this train. You're gonna have to ride with me to the next stop until we can get him off.”

“I don't have a ticket.”

He bent down and picked up the bag of money she'd dropped. “I've just come into a slew of money. I think I can afford a ticket for my soon-to-be wife.”

Grinning, she followed him into the car and sat down beside him as the conductor entered their car. She sidled a shy glance at Luke. “Soon-to-be?”

He smiled and winked at her. “You don't think I'm giving you time to back out, do you?”

He paid her ticket then wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Sarah leaned against him, and he rested his head contently against hers as the train chugged out of the depot.

This was her home. Not a pretty house on a hill. But Luke. And Claire. She didn't know where they would live, but it no longer mattered as long as she had the people she loved near her.

T
he sound of birds chirping and sunlight shining in the window drew Sarah from her sleep. She awoke cradled in the strong arms of her husband.
Husband.
She smiled. Never had a word sounded so nice.

“Mmm … you must be happy to see me.”

“Always.” She leaned up, placing a kiss on his lips.

Luke growled and rolled over. “You call that a kiss?” Bending down, he proceeded to educate her in an achingly delicious way. With her heart pounding and every part of her crying for him, he pulled back and grinned proudly. “That, my dear wife, is a kiss.”

She blinked, giving him an innocent gaze. “I don't quite think I have the hang of it yet. I need more instruction.”

Luke's beautiful blue eyes sparked. “I'm more than a little happy to oblige you, ma'am.”

An hour later, they stood at the back door of the cabin on Gabe's land, looking out at the horses in the pasture. Luke kissed her head, drawing her close. “Sure was nice of Jack to loan us his cabin for a few days.”

“Yes. And I'm grateful to Lara for keeping Claire.”

“Me, too.”

“But I do miss her.”

“Is that a hint that it's time to visit the big house?”

She exhaled a happy sigh. “Not yet. I have something I need to say.” She turned to face him, her hand pressed against his chest. “I'm sorry, Luke.”

“For what?”

“For wanting a house more than you. I was so foolish.”

He cupped her cheeks, gazing at her with the blue eyes she loved so much. “I'm not sorry. I'll admit, there were times I had my doubts that I'd ever win your heart, but I thank God that we're here together.” He bent and kissed her on the nose. “You were worth the wait.”

She smiled. Her husband was a good man. “Thank you for being so patient.” She laid her head against his chest, taking care to stay away from his wound, which was still tender.

She thought of their wedding yesterday in the little church that Jack had returned to pastoring on Gabe's land. It was the most joyous time of her life, pledging herself to Luke and then spending the night together. She trailed her fingers through the hairs on his chest. “Um … is it awful of me to say that I'm not ready to share you yet?”

Luke leaned down, his gaze happy. “I feel the same, Mrs. McNeil.” He lifted her in his arms, carried her back into the house, and kicked the door closed.

Sarah breathed in a breath of happiness. In a few days, she and her new husband would head back to Anadarko, where the Petersons had already started on the new house. Luke would have his livery, but every night, he'd come home to her and Claire.

She snuggled against him, so glad she quit fighting God and His will for her life.

Surrendering had never felt so good.

Bestselling author Vickie McDonough grew up wanting to marry a rancher but instead married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams in her fictional stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. Vickie is the award-winning author of forty published books and novellas. Her novels include the fun and feisty Texas Boardinghouse Brides series, as well as
Gabriel's Atonement
and
Joline's Redemption,
books 1 and 2 in her Land Rush Dreams series.

Vickie has been married forty-one years to Robert. They have four grown sons, one of whom is married, and a precocious ten-year-old granddaughter. When she's not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, antiquing, watching movies, and traveling. To learn more about Vickie's books or to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website:
www.vickiemcdonough.com
.