His Tempting Bride (The Brides of Paradise Ranch - Spicy Version Book 5) (14 page)

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Miles announced in his best stage voice. “We have a very special finale for you tonight. It is my understanding that an unusual love story has been unfolding all around us these last few weeks. To hear some tell it, the story has been unfolding for months now.”

The audience hummed and chuckled, as if they knew all about it. Miriam inched forward until she could see Libby and Wendy in the audience. They were both beaming with delight. Miriam’s heart jumped to a faster, deeper rhythm.

“It is a love story filled with mistaken identity, cross-purposes, and second chances,” Miles went on. “Of a love that was meant to be, was derailed by circumstance, but was rescued at the last minute…in a blizzard, of all things.”

The audience laughed again. Miriam was dizzy with expectation.

“Cody, I think you should take it from here.” Miles took a few steps back, standing among the children.

Cody squared his shoulders and stepped onto the stage as the people of Haskell applauded him. Just as he reached the spot Miles had occupied moments before, looking into the wings, Juan nudged Miriam in the back, propelling her past the curtains and onto the stage itself. The audience’s applause swelled.

“Friends,” Cody began once they had quieted. “I’d like you to meet someone who’s become very special to me.”

“We’ve already met her,” Athos called from the front row.

Cody’s expression dropped to a teasing scowl, and he pointed at Athos. “You send away for your own bride, Athos.”

“I know, I know.” Athos chuckled, the audience with him.

Cody recovered his smile and squared his shoulders again. He turned to Miriam, holding out a hand in such a way that she couldn’t help but rush forward to take it.

“You don’t have to do this,” she whispered, unable to swallow her giggles. “I don’t need an audience.”

“Don’t you?” Cody raised a brow in mock surprise. That expression melted to a smile that was so full of love and happiness that tears sprang to Miriam’s eyes. “Folks,” Cody went on, “last summer, I thought I did something right—even though I didn’t—when I rejected Wendy, the first bride to come my way.”

Wendy lowered her head in modest forgiveness, waving a hand to let him know it was all right.

“But it turns out that I did something right, because the right woman for me had yet to come along,” he continued. “Only, back then, Miriam had other ideas about that.”

The audience chuckled knowingly, and Miriam raised her free hand to cover her face for a moment. She ended up using it to wipe tears from her eyes.

“Well, I’ve got a feeling now that she was right to do that back then.”

“I was?” She ignored the audience and lifted her eyes to Cody.

“Yeah,” he said as if they were the only two in the room. “Because back then, I wasn’t ready. I still had a chip or two on my shoulders. I guess I needed to go through a few things—and get to know you better—before I was really ready.”

“I…I think the same is true for me too,” she admitted.

“But now…” He paused, handing her the fragrant bouquet. “Now I think the time is just right.”

Before Miriam could catch her breath, Cody dropped to one knee. He reached into his jacket pocket and produced a tiny, garnet ring, holding it up to her.

“Miriam Long, I know this isn’t much, and truth be told, I’m not much. But I love you. I’m sorry for all my past mistakes, and I’m ready to put them behind me. I know you feel the same way too.”

There was so much intensity in his eyes, so much understanding, that he didn’t need to go into all the details of her past and who she used to be. He didn’t need to bring up the fear that had made her run before, or the shame that had kept her from getting off the train all those months ago. Better still, he was letting her know in front of all of their friends—past, present, and future—that whatever the mistakes of their past had been, they were over, done, and would never be mentioned again.

“Miriam, maybe I should have asked this way straight from the start instead of sending away in the mail, but will you be my bride?”

Tears choked the words right out of Miriam, even though she knew her answer without a doubt. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. So instead, she nodded vigorously, throwing her arms around Cody’s shoulders.

The audience applauded wildly, some of them rising to their feet. Cody stayed on his knee long enough to fit the ring on Miriam’s finger, then he stood, sweeping her into a tight embrace. Right there, in front of everyone, he kissed her with passionate promise. That was all it took. With Cody’s arms around her and the love and approval of an entire town swelling in support, she knew that she had found her heart’s home at last.

Springtime had always been Miriam’s favorite part of the year, but this spring held far more wonder than she ever could have imagined. Not only had the deep cold and bitterness of the Wyoming winter finally broken, giving way to gentler breezes and the flowers blooming on the high prairie, Haskell was suddenly blessed with a slew of babies. Corva Haskell gave birth to a baby boy—who she and Franklin named Howard Franklin Haskell, much to his granddaddy’s delight—and Eden and Luke Chance were blessed with a baby girl. Shortly after, Libby Montrose gave birth to her own girl. For Mason, it was love at first sight.

But none of those joyful beginnings was as heartfelt to Miriam as the day she said “I do” and became Cody’s bride at last.

“I can’t believe it finally happened.” Libby hugged Miriam with one arm while cradling her tiny daughter in the other as the two of them stood in the sunshine of the common area of the houses in The Village. Mason, Travis, and Wendy stood with them, along with Juan and Theophilus Gunn. “And at the same time, I feel as though the two of you have been together forever.”

“As far as I’m concerned, we have,” Cody answered from Miriam’s side.

Around them, their friends smiled and chuckled in approval. The commons were filled with all the well-wishers who had attended their wedding in town that morning. Eden and Libby and Wendy—now round with child herself—as well as Gunn and a few other townspeople had decorated the area with bunting and flowers, and a wedding cake that took Miriam’s breath away. It was the perfect spot for an outdoor party, and already Miriam had ideas for picnics she could host and outdoor performances she could stage throughout the summer.

Miriam stepped away from Libby and looped her arm around Cody’s waist. “Whether we’ve been married for two hours or two years or two lifetimes, all I care about is looking forward. I’m done with saying I should have married him sooner or gotten off the train or any and all of those things.”

Cody smiled from ear to ear and hugged her close. “Good. That’s the way is it should be. And I’m done with worrying about whether I’ve been a good enough man for you in the past. I’m bound and determined to be good enough for you every day for the rest of my life.”

Love and hope swelled in Miriam’s heart. She had no idea how she’d gotten so lucky.

“I only wish that Miles and Meizhen and Meiying were here to celebrate with us today,” she sighed.

“Miles sent a telegram and swears there’s a gift coming from Europe, though.” Cody reassured her.

“Europe?” Libby’s brow flew up.

“Madame Kopanari felt a sudden need to see her homeland again,” Gunn explained. “So Miles took her on a tour to see her birthplace.”

Miriam pressed a hand to her heart. “Wherever did they find the money for that?”

Gunn only smiled vaguely in response, a faint blush gracing his cheeks.

“And Meizhen sent a telegram last week, saying that she and Meiying might have finally found their brother, thanks to Chen’s help,” Juan added.

“I hope so.” Miriam squeezed Cody harder. “I want them to be as happy and content as I am.” She glanced up to her handsome cowboy husband with a fond grin on her lips and bliss in her heart.

“I bet they will be,” Cody answered, then dipped down to kiss her. “They’ve got friends helping them out, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that friends make all the difference.”

All around, the bright, shining faces of their friends and family were filled with joy. Miriam never thought she’d see the day when she felt so safe and content with her lot.

“I think we should—oh!”

Her words were cut off as two of the smaller Strong girls came racing across the commons and thumped right into her side. They gasped and giggled, then ran on to join three of their older brothers. The boys were shouting and whooping like cowboys and Indians. Libby’s boys and several other children from town jumped and ran and scrambled along with them.

“Hey! You girls behave.” Athos Strong came running after them, red-faced and panting in his finest suit.

Miriam raised her brow. The overworked widower was reasonably attractive all cleaned up and shaved for the formal occasion.

He stopped beside the Miriam and Cody, and leaned over to catch his breath. “I’m sorry. They’re running wild today.” He straightened and shook his head. “I never should have let Piper take that trip to San Francisco.”

“Aw, come on now.” Travis thumped Athos on the back. “Your sister works her fingers to the bone looking out for those kids. She needed a break.”

“She needs more than a break,” Wendy added, one eyebrow arched.

“I know, I know.” Athos held up his hands in surrender. “That’s what she keeps telling me. And I know she wants to find a man and raise a family of her own someday too.”

“Piper would make some man a splendid wife,” Mason agreed. “As long as he understands the power of two little words.”

“What words would those be?” Cody asked.

Mason grinned. “Words you should learn as well, little brother. ‘Yes, dear.’”

Miriam giggled, as did the other women. Cody playfully narrowed his eyes at Mason, but was quick to smile again.

“Well, I think I’m finally going to learn those words myself and do what Piper’s been telling me to do this whole time,” Athos went on.

“What is that?” Miriam asked.

Athos took a breath, ran a hand through his overlong hair, and glanced down bashfully. “I’m going to send away for one of those brides from Hurst Home. I only hope she’s as delightful as you fine ladies.” He glanced from Miriam to Wendy as he spoke.

Wendy exchanged a glance with Miriam. “Who do we know at Hurst Home who would be a good mother to eight children?”

To Miriam’s surprise, her heart caught in her chest at the thought of the women she’d known at Hurst Home. For some reason, they felt like part of her past. Her reasons for being in Hurst Home were all of the things about her life she was most eager to forget. How could she face having one or more of those women—the women who knew the way she used to be—living around her now?

One look at Wendy’s content and curious face—growing plumper now as the baby inside of her grew—was all the reassurance she needed. Those women were looking for new lives too.

“I don’t know,” she answered truthfully. “But whoever she is, I’ll be happy to see her.” She turned to Cody, moving her arm so she could take his hand. “The women who came to Hurst Home might not have been the happiest women I’ve known, but we were all looking for something better. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’ve found that better life right here.” She squeezed Cody’s hand and hugged his arm.

“I know that feeling.” Wendy leaned closer to Travis, going so far as to kiss his cheek. Travis blushed and glanced into Wendy’s eyes with adoration.

“That’s decided, then,” Athos declared. “It’s time for me to remarry. The children need a new mother, Piper needs a life of her own, and I’m sure Natalie would want me to move on. It’s not like I have to actually fall in love with the woman, after all.”

Athos’s comment was met with silence and knowing looks. Travis tried to hide his amusement behind a cough. Mason merely shook his head. And Cody gazed into Miriam’s eyes with all the love a woman could hope to see from her husband and more.

Miriam leaned toward Cody and kissed him square on the lips. Athos could plan not to fall in love all he wanted, but if there was one thing she had learned in the journey of her life, it was that you couldn’t escape what fate had in store for you. She’d tried to run, but her heart belonged to Cody, no matter what she did.

And that was just fine with her.

*          *          *

I hope you’ve enjoyed meeting new characters and getting to know Haskell, Wyoming better! Don’t worry, a lot of those new friends—and your favorite old friends—will be back in future books. But next up we get to see what happens when father of eight, Athos Strong, sends away for a bride. Do you remember Wendy’s proper, tidy, British friend, Elspeth Leonard, from Hurst Home? How do you think she’ll do with all those kids and baffled, overwhelmed Athos? Find out in
His Remarkable Bride
, coming soon!

Click here for a complete list of other works by Merry Farmer
.

About the Author

I hope you have enjoyed
His Tempting Bride
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Merry Farmer is an award-winning novelist who lives in suburban Philadelphia with her two cats, Butterfly and Torpedo. She has been writing since she was ten years old and realized one day that she didn't have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something. It was the best day of her life. She then went on to earn not one but two degrees in History so that she would always have something to write about. Her books have topped the Amazon and iBooks charts and have been named finalists in the prestigious RONE and Rom Com Reader’s Crown awards.

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Merry also has a blog,
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Acknowledgements

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my awesome beta-readers, Caroline Lee and Jolene Stewart, for their suggestions and advice. And a big, big thanks to my editor, Cissie Patterson, for doing an outstanding job, as always, and for leaving hilarious comments throughout the manuscript. Also, a big round of applause for my marketing and promo mistress, Sara Benedict.

And a special thank you to the Pioneer Hearts group! Do you love Western Historical Romance? Wanna come play with us? Become a member at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pioneerhearts/

Click here for a complete list of other works by Merry Farmer
.