Misty's True Love (Mail Order Brides of Pioneer Town, Book 2) (13 page)

“
Actually, Miss Indiana,”
Cody interjected. His smile was warm, but there was a hint of
anxiety there as well. “I was hoping that I might be granted a few
minutes alone with Miss Misty.”

Indiana disengaged her arm from
Misty’s, giving her friend a wink.

It was not long before Cody and Misty
were alone under the darkening sky.

“
You seem to be settling in
rather well over here,” Cody said pleasantly, smiling at
her.

“
I am growing to love it
here,” she said softly. “I am glad that I have come here. It feels
like home, one might say.”

“
Good. Good. That is good.”
The man nodded more to himself than to her. His brow was furrowed
in deep thought as he raised his elbow in offering.

She gladly accepted, rested her hand
on his arm as they walked side by side around the house. The first
insects were starting to sing. Somewhere near the little pond,
Misty could hear a frog croaking for all it was worth. There was a
distant sound of cattle settling in for the night.

“
Did something happen on
the way back?” Misty asked as they made their slow trek, earning
her a confused expression from the young gentleman. “You were gone
so late. We had thought you two planned to stay away the
night.”

“
Ah no. I had something I
needed to do that couldn’t wait. I thought I would only be a
moment, but my venture took longer than expected. Morgan has the
patience of a saint.” Cody gazed around as if he were in search of
something. Whatever it was he sought, he did not find, however. “I
had thought to do this tomorrow. Yet the more I think about it, the
less I can wait.”

Misty gazed at him curiously as he
pulled her over to the middle of the yard, resting in the light
from one of the windows. “Miss Misty, you are an amazing woman. You
had everything thrown at you from an earthquake to a jail cell, and
somehow you are as sweet as you ever were. I’ve never met a lady
that could take what you’ve taken with such grace.”

Misty felt her face redden at the
sudden praise. She never really saw herself as particularly sweet.
She wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that.

“
And that is why I won’t do
this to you anymore. You deserve a lot finer.”

Misty felt a second of confusion,
followed by a painful clenching dread. They had gone through so
much since her arrival. Was Cody giving up now?

“
Well…” Cody cleared his
throat. “As a man who has fallen deeply in love with you, I desire
to make it official.”

Misty blinked, trying to take in the
information. His sudden proclamation had caught her completely off
guard, even more so when he started to lower himself onto his
knee.

“
Misty, I do not wish to
start our lives on a letter and a promise. I want to offer you this
ring, and introduce you to everyone right and proper as my
fiancé.”

Misty’s vision blurred as she watched
him pull out a beautiful golden ring, inlaid with a huge diamond
that shone brightly, even in the pale light of the window. He gave
a warm smile as he offered it to her. “Misty, would you do me the
honor of being my wife?”

Misty felt stunned as the reality of
it hit her. She had been fully prepared to be his wife, but somehow
seeing him there, ring in hand, was so much more different than she
ever expected it to be. She felt a girlish squeal escape her as she
practically pounced forward to wrap her arms tight around his neck
in a hug. The sudden motion caught him by surprise.

“
Is that a yes?” he asked,
grinning from ear to ear as he gazed up at her.

“
Yes, oh yes!” she
exclaimed as she felt him caress her cheek with the back of his
hand.

He pulled himself up slowly, softly
brushing his warm lips against hers.

Misty had never believed in fairy
tales—but maybe that was because they were all written wrongly. The
days of knights and castles and white horses were far gone and
away. Her prince was a rancher in Wyoming, and he rode a palomino.
And they loved each other, flaws and all. That was all the happily
ever after she could ever want.

* * * The End * *
*

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Other books by Ruth
Hartzler

Ruth Hartzler is also the author of the
#1 Best-selling and Kindle All-Star Award winning
series
,
The Amish
Buggy Horse
.

Faith
(Book 1)

For years, Nettie looked after her
aged mother Elma, a demanding woman who did not want any
involvement with the community.

Now that her mother has died, Nettie
is alone. She is regarded with suspicion by the local townspeople,
and has had no visitors from her community for some
years.

Nettie’s buggy horse has gone lame and
has had to be retired, but Nettie cannot afford a new horse. Just
as Nettie is despairing about not having any means of transport, a
lost horse appears in her driveway, bringing with him far-reaching
consequences.

Daniel Glick is drawn to the lonely
figure of Nettie, but Nettie wants to be left alone.

However, when Jebediah Sprinkler tries
to force Nettie to hand over her house, Daniel springs to the
rescue.

As Nettie’s struggles mount, she has
to decide whether to take the law into her own hands.

And what will Daniel do when he
discovers the secret that Nettie is hiding from him?

Ruth Hartzler is also the author
of:

Off the Grid (Amish Safe
House Book 1)

(Book 1 of the 3 Book
Amish Safe House
series)
(Christian Romantic Suspense)

Kate Briggs is a U.S. Marshal who
works in WITSEC, the federal witness protection program. After an
attempt on her life, her boss sends her to live in a small Amish
community until the mole in the agency is found. Will Kate, who is
used to the ways of the world, be convincing as a sweet Amish
woman?

When a murder is committed in the
community, how will Kate assist the handsome police officer heading
up the case without revealing her true identity?

And will Kate be able to
leave behind her
Englisch
ways as she finds herself off the grid in more
ways than one?

About the Author

Ruth Hartzler

Ruth Hartzler’s father was
from generations of Brethren. Ruth’s mother, a Southern Baptist,
had years of struggle adapting to the cultural differences, and
always cut her hair, which was a continual concern to Ruth’s
father’s family. Ruth was raised strictly Brethren and from birth
attended three meetings every Sunday, the Wednesday night meeting,
and the yearly “Conference,” until she left the Brethren at the age
of twenty one. Ruth still has close friends in the Brethren, as
well as the Amish, both groups having Anabaptist (literally:
re-baptizers
: belief in
adult baptism) roots. Ruth’s family had electricity, but not
television, radio, or magazines, and they had plain cars. Make up,
bright or fashionable clothes, and hair cutting were not permitted
for women. Women had to wear hats in meetings (what others would
call church meetings) but not elsewhere. The word “church” was
never used and there were no bishops or ministers. All baptized men
were able to speak (preach, or give out a hymn) spontaneously at
meetings. Musical instruments were forbidden, with the exception of
the traditional pump organ which was allowed only if played in the
home for hymn music. Even so, singing of hymns in accompaniment was
forbidden.

Ruth Hartzler is a widow with one
adult child and two grandchildren. She lives alone with her
Yorkshire Terrier and two cats. She is a retired middle school
teacher and enjoys quilting, reading, and writing.