Hannah Saves Samuel (Wanted: Wives In The West 1) (5 page)

On those evenings, when they all gathered around to admire what they’d done, and the women shared the dishes they’d brought for supper, Samuel felt a sense of peace and calm wash over him. He prayed at night, saying, “
Thank you, dear Lord, for surrounding me with angels who have taken me under their wings and brought comfort to my life.”

The morning of Hannah’s arrival, Samuel was a nervous wreck. He woke up and walked through the house, making sure everything looked just right. He went out to the field and picked a bouquet of bluebonnets and put them in some water to give to Hannah later. He was still worried that perhaps the Marshalls would return alone, with news that she had decided to stay in Georgia.

But that wasn’t the case. At noon, the train arrived on time and Hannah, Jenny and the Marshalls all stepped onto the platform, ready to head over to Samuel’s. They had been told he was having a special luncheon to welcome Jenny to Fort Worth. Jenny clutched her doll in one hand, and held Hannah’s with the other. “Where are the cows, Hannah?” she asked innocently. “You said Fort Worth was called
cowtown
. I want to see a big one with long horns!”

“They’re at the ranch, Jenny,” Hannah laughed. “You’ll see them at Samuel’s house today. If you’re good, I’ll ask him to show you one up close!” That was all Jenny had to hear to make her behave on the ride there.

As the carriage pulled up to Samuel’s ranch, Hannah’s heart warmed at the outpouring of support for her and her sister. Almost the entire congregation was there, and each had brought a dish for the welcome dinner. Hannah spotted Samuel coming out of the house to greet her. She wanted to run and hug him, but she knew she couldn’t. Instead, he walked up to her and greeted her, bending down on one knee to introduce himself to Jenny. “My, I’ve heard some good things about you, Jenny,” he said slyly.

“You have?” she asked, her eyes growing big. “Like what?”

“Well, your sister Hannah tells me that you draw some amazing pictures,” he said. “I happen to have some brand new paper sitting on my table inside, and I’d love it if you draw something for me.” Jenny smiled big and nodded her head before skipping off toward the house. The others accompanied Jenny inside, arms filled with more toys to help her with the transition. There was a new porcelain doll, more beautiful than any doll Jenny had ever seen. Pastor Littlejohn gave her a string and showed her how to play Cat’s Cradle as she sat upon his lap, being doted on by all the elders.

As Samuel stood, he took Hannah’s hands in his. The other members of the church were heading into the house, leaving the two of them alone. “Thank you for making her feel special,” Hannah said, tears starting to surface in her eyes. “She’s been through so much.”

“So have you,” Samuel said, brushing a tear away from her cheek, as she stood there trying to be strong. “Hannah,” he said softly, “I spent the last two weeks here without you. I felt lost, like part of me was missing. I never want us to be apart again. You lift me up, Hannah Browning, and I would be honored if you would accept my proposal of marriage and let me take care of you and Jenny forever.” He knelt down on one knee and lifted up the ring he had taken out of his pocket. “Marry me?” he asked.

Hannah’s tears couldn’t stay hidden anymore. They flooded down her face as she nodded her head “Yes” and he stood up to embrace her. “Oh, Samuel,” she said. “I knew the Lord had a plan for me when He gave me the strength to go on this journey. I was so scared, but when I got here, you saved me.”

“No, Hannah,” he said, lifting her chin up to meet her gaze. “
You
saved
me
.” Hannah melted into his arms in an embrace and closed her eyes to whisper a prayer of thanks to the Lord. He had found her a Christian man who appreciated and loved her, even through tough times.

The happy couple went inside the house and proudly shared the news. “Well, this means we get to plan a wedding!” Margaret squealed. The elder women walked Hannah and Jenny through the house, showing them what they’d been up to ever since she left. The men had built an addition on to Samuel’s house, with enough room for Jenny and a baby in their future.

The women had stocked Samuel’s kitchen full of cookware and utensils, and turned his drab bachelor home into a warm and inviting place for Hannah and Jenny, using beautiful, homemade quilts and other items with a feminine touch.

Hannah gasped as she saw the effort that had gone into this project. She turned to Margaret, Mabel, Caleb and Stanley and ran up to hug them all. “You’re the best family a girl could ever have!” she cried. “Thank you!”

…

A week later, the congregation gathered at the church for Samuel and Hannah’s wedding. Samuel stood at the altar, looking out at the family who had refused to give up on him. The church was decorated along the pews with beautiful flowers and a soloist began singing sweetly. Little Jenny walked down the aisle as her sister’s flower girl.

She sprinkled the petals quickly as she ran up, eager to stand by Samuel at the front of the church. Pastor Littlejohn stood there as well, beaming with an accomplished smile. His first matchmaking experience was a success. When the doors opened and Hannah met Samuel’s gaze, you could hear the gasps at her beauty, and several quiet sobs of emotion as two of the town’s favorite lovebirds carried out their wedding plans.

Pastor Littlejohn acted as the officiant, and when it was over, the celebration was underway. The townspeople were already talking about who would be next to benefit from the pastor’s matchmaking skills. Mabel kept it a secret, but she had been working with him on a plan to help Sheriff Lockhart find a wife.

Months after Hannah and Samuel returned from their honeymoon, Hannah stood out on their front porch, overlooking the Texas plains. The sun was setting just beyond the horizon and Jenny was laughing and playing in the front yard, trying her best to catch a firefly as they danced around her in the dusk.

Samuel walked out onto the porch and put his arm around his wife. He kissed the top of her head and Hannah snuggled in close to him. “It was all worth it,” he said. “Everything I went through—because it meant I got to end up here, with you.”

Hannah turned to him and looked up into his eyes. She was grateful to God for leading her to this man, who loved and protected her just as her pa did. She was happy that Jenny would get to experience that kind of father, too. “Samuel?” she asked.

“Yes, darling?” he replied.

“Do you want to be called Pa or Father?” she asked.

“Jenny calls me Samuel,” he said. “But she’s welcome to call me whatever she wants.”

“But I’m not talking about Jenny,” Hannah said, a grin spreading across her face as she watched it dawn on Samuel that he was going to be a father.

…The End…

I hope you’ve enjoyed story #1 in the Wanted: Wives in the West series.

Story #2 is ready! Read
The Mail Order Midwife’s Secret
today.

Please visit
http://trinityford.com
to see what else is available in this series, as well as others I’m working on.

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xox

Trinity

Special thanks to Cover Art by Kellie Dennis at Book Cover by Design
www.bookcoverbydesign.co.uk