The Accidental Bride (35 page)
She choked back a laugh. “Sorry about, you know, all the yelling. I didn't mean a word of it.” Truth be told, she didn't remember much of what she'd said.
Travis smiled. “I sure hope he doesn't have your temper.”
As if on cue, their baby boy let out a screech.
“Uh-oh,” she said.
One of the nurses raised her bed while another bundled their baby in a hospital blanket and brought him over.
He was light as a feather in Shay's arms. She cradled him against her, shushing him.
Travis leaned in, smiling at Austin's red, wrinkled face.
“It's okay, little guy,” Shay said. “Mama and Daddy are here.”
The infant hushed his crying, searched for the voice, and fastened his glassy blue eyes on Shay. He had a healthy patch of Travis's dark hair, but the shape of his eyes was all Shay. He was beautiful. A wonderful mixture of the two of them. Love for this tiny being filled her to overflowing, making her eyes burn.
Travis touched the baby's hand with his finger. “He's so perfect. Look at his tiny hands, his paper-thin nails . . . his little nose . . .” The baby's eyes swung toward his dad, and Travis smiled. “He knows my voice.”
Shay moved the bundle toward him. “Your turn, Daddy.”
Travis took Austin with utmost care, his eyes never leaving his son's face. His eyes filled. “I can't believe I have a son,” he said, blinking back the moisture.
Shay set her arm on Travis's and squeezed. The labor had been hard, but worth the reward. So worth it.
“Knock knock,” the nurse said, peeking in. “Big Sister's out here, eager to meet her little brother.”
“Oh, send her in,” Shay said.
Olivia moved into the room tentatively.
“Come on in, kiddo.” Travis turned on the bed. “Meet your little brother.”
Olivia reached out and touched his cheek with the back of her hand. “He's so little . . . and he has so much hair.”
“Want to hold him?” Shay asked.
Olivia nodded. “I already washed my hands.”
Shay had her sit in the nearby chair, and Travis placed the bundle in her arms.
“What do you think?” Travis asked, squatting beside her.
“He's light. His eyes are so blue. Will they change color?”
“Probably,” Shay said. “Maybe they'll turn brown just like yours.”
“Or gray like Dad's.” She looked down at Austin and smiled. “Hey, baby brother. I'm your big sister, Olivia.”
Austin made a funny little peep, and Olivia chuckled.
A knock sounded on the door. “It's just us,” Abigail said.
Shay adjusted her covers. “Come on in.”
“We won't stayâwe just want to take a peek.” Abigail and Miss Lucy entered the room. They went straight to the chair where Olivia sat with the baby.
“Oh, Shay, he's beautiful,” Abigail said. “He favors you, Olivia.”
“He does,” Miss Lucy said. “And Big Sister's doing such a good job holding him.”
“Have you been here long?” Travis asked.
“Are you kidding?” Abigail said. “You no sooner called and told us you were in labor than we heard a squall coming from the room.” She gave Shay a mock glare. “I'm trying not to hate you.”
Shay shrugged, all innocence. “He was in a hurry.”
“All right, Mama,” the nurse said as she entered the room. “Time to feed baby McCoy.”
“Awwww . . .” Olivia pouted as she handed over her brother.
Abigail gave Shay a peck on the forehead. “I'm happy for you, friend.”
Miss Lucy kissed Shay's cheek. “Congratulations.”
Where would she be without her elderly friend? “Thanks for praying for me, Miss Lucy.”
She patted Shay's hand. “Always, dear.”
Miss Lucy hugged Travis, then framed his face and whispered, “See? It all worked outâjust as God intended.” She gave him a big hug, patting his back.
Abigail and Miss Lucy left, promising Olivia a late supper. The nurse placed Austin in Shay's arms, and her son latched onto her.
“Well, that was easy,” the nurse said, chuckling. She showed Shay how to position her arms to prevent fatigue and gave her a few reminders. “If you need anything, just press the button.”
“Thanks, I think we're fine.”
When she left, Travis perched on the edge of the bed and stared in wonder at his son. Soon Austin fell asleep, and Shay propped him against her shoulder. Travis scooted beside her, gathering her in his arms.
As she patted the baby's back, Shay thought back over what she'd heard Miss Lucy say. “What was all that aboutâwhat Miss Lucy said?”
Travis looked into her eyes, nostalgia sweeping over his face. “Back when I discovered what happened with the wedding, I called her. I was a little frazzled. I mean, I loved the idea of being married to you, but I knew you were gonna blow a gasket.”
“I didn't blow a gasket.”
Travis tilted his head and gave her a look.
“Okay, maybe a little.”
“Miss Lucy said it would all work out as God intended.” His eyes grew serious, and a smile played at the corner of his lips. “She was right.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her temple.
His breath was warm on her skin. “I couldn't be happier, Shay,” he whispered.
She drank in the love that shone from his eyes. “Me neither.”
Travis pulled her close, and she nestled in the safety of his arms. Outside the window, night fell. A heavy drape of blue fell slowly over the Gallatin Range, swaddling the valley in stillness.
1. Shay was afraid to marry again after having her heart broken twice before. How does fear play into our ability to love fully?
2. Because of Shay's background, she tended to worry too much about others' opinions. Galatians 1:10 says, “For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people?” What does that mean to you?
3. How were Abigail's blurry pictures a metaphor for Shay's outlook?
4. Olivia picked up on Shay's issue with pleasing others. Are there any issues that were handed down to you from your parents? What can you do to break the cycle?
5. Travis made the selfish decision to leave Shay at the altar when he was a young adult. What price did he and others pay as a result? Discuss the ways in which poor choices can sometimes have far-reaching consequences. How can we best recover?
6. How did Shay's tendency to please others impact her decision-making? What events caused her to see her sin? What changes did she make as a result of this revelation?
7. When Travis lost Shay, he realized he hadn't sought God's will during a critical point in his life. Instead, he'd relied on Miss Lucy's prayers. Do you ever foist your spiritual responsibilities onto someone you feel has a closer walk with God?
8. Miss Lucy supported Shay in prayer for years. Is there someone who lifts you up in prayer faithfully? Whom do you pray for?
9. Were you more frustrated at Travis or Shay for the way each of them handled every new obstacle? His not telling her about the rodeo competition? Her not asking about the jewelry package? His not returning right after the competition? Her not telling him she was pregnant? Or do you think both were accountable for what kept them apart?
10. Ranching is hard work, and money is often tight. Why do you think families continue this way of life?
Dear friend,
I
hope you enjoyed the special love story of Travis and Shay. These characters wormed their way into my heart and became like close friends.
When I decided this story would have an accidental wedding, I had no idea what a challenge I'd set out on. Turns out, it's not so easy to become accidently married!
To pull off such a feat, I had to bend the rules a littleâwe like to call that “artistic license.” While artistic licenses are valid indefinitely, Wyoming wedding licenses are not, nor are they mailed to the newlyweds after the ceremony. So rest assured, an accidental marriage is not likely to happen to you or anyone you know!
I hope you enjoyed the story, despite these two improvisations, and I hope that walking in Shay's shoes (boots!) somehow drew you into a closer walk with God. Thank you for joining me on the journey to Moose Creek, Montana. I value each one of you more than you can know!
In His grace,
Denise Hunter
I
'm so grateful for the many people who helped shape this story.
The Accidental Bride
wouldn't exist without the Thomas Nelson fiction team. I'm so grateful for the entire team, led by Publisher Allen Arnold: Amanda Bostic, Eric Mullett, Natalie Hanemann, Dean Arvidson, Jodi Hughes, Ami McConnell, Heather McCulloch, Becky Monds, Ashley Schneider, Katie Bond, and Kristen Vasgaard.
Thanks especially to my editor, Natalie Hanemann, who helped shape this story, notified me of gaping holes, and otherwise helped me fashion this into a more enjoyable read. I'm forever grateful to the talented LB Norton, who fine-tuned this manuscript, finessed my prose, and saved me from more than one embarrassing mistake!
Authors Colleen Coble and Diann Hunt are my brainstorming partners. Thank you, friends! And thank you, Colleen, for always being my first reader.
I'm grateful to my agent, Karen Solem, who handles all the left-brained matters so I can focus on the right-brained stuff.
To Billy and Marci Whitehurst, who opened their Montana home and ranch for a city girl and her husband. Thanks for taking the time to show me the cowboy way of life.
A research trip to Montana would've been impossible without my sister-in-law Gina Sinclair, brother-in-law Mark Sinclair, and niece Mindy Sinclair. Thanks so much for coming to take over our daily lives for a few days so Kevin and I could gallivant all over Big Sky Country. We're so grateful to call you family.
Thanks to my Facebook friends at Denise Hunter Readers Circle who helped me name the town of Moose Creek and the series itself. Thanks for all your input!
To my family, Kevin, Justin, Chad, and Trevor. I love each one of you so much!
Lastly, thank you, friend, for letting me share this story with you. I've enjoyed getting to know so many readers like you through my Facebook group. Visit my website at
www.DeniseHunterBooks.com
or just drop me a note at [email protected] I'd love to hear from you!
NANTUCKET LOVE STORIES
