Texas Lonesome (31 page)
Authors: Caroline Fyffe
Tags: #Medical, #boots, #Gambling, #clean romance, #Happiness, #Indie books, #Amnesia, #Cove, #ransom, #Montana fiction, #mail-order brides, #sweet, #desert, #mail order brides, #Caroline Fyffe, #page turner, #Award winners, #Series, #buckaroo, #Pioneer Hearts, #Texas men, #Fiction, #Frontier, #rodeo, #Montana men, #mail order husbands, #Mail-Order Brides of the West, #Literature, #Harbor, #Mystery, #Historical Fiction, #Family Life, #Coldwater, #Wyoming men, #Sky, #brothers, #Western historical romance, #Wild, #Second chances, #Lonesome, #Inspirational, #Texas fiction, #sisters, #groom, #Creek, #whispering, #arraigned marriage, #Horses, #historical western romance, #love, #cowboy novel, #Prairie Hearts, #touching romance, #saga, #Bachelors, #McCutcheon family, #Genre Fiction, #wedding, #spurs, #Wyoming fiction, #western fiction, #Pioneer
Three and a Half Weeks Later
B
undled in sheepskin coats, Sidney rode with Dustin into Rio Wells, both sets of saddlebags near bursting with gifts for their friends.
Christmas Eve was only ten days away. John and Lily were hosting a small gathering at the shop, just for a few close friends, to celebrate the coming holiday. The crisp air that turned Dustin’s nose red had yet to fall below freezing. Even with a cranberry-colored beak, he was still the handsomest man she’d ever seen.
Sidney glanced down at Jackson trotting at their heels. “He looks tired,” she said, unable to stop a rush of affection for the friend she’d had for many years. “Guess he’s getting old.”
Dustin looked her way, down at the animal, and then back up at her. He was relaxed back in the saddle, and for the last few days had let his beard grow in. She liked the look immensely.
“You worried about him?” He lifted a shoulder. “Looks fine to me.”
“No, not worried. Just feeling emotional, I guess.”
He smiled and shook his head. “Can’t figure you out.”
Rio Wells looked beautiful. Wreaths hung on doors and windows, and candles flickering in windowsills added to the ambience of the kerosene lights. As they passed by the livery, she saw Cradle in his upstairs window, combing his hair. He waved and smiled, getting ready for the same party they were headed to.
After reining up in front of the dress shop, she spotted Dustin, already dismounted, at the side of her horse. She arched a brow.
“Be nice. I like helping you down.”
She hid her smile and put out her hand. Once on the ground, she barely had room between him and her gelding.
“See what I mean?” He leaned in and captured her lips. When he pulled away, he chuckled. “Gives me the advantage. Sometimes, a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.”
The door to the shop opened. “Stop your kissing and get in here, you two lovebirds,” John called. “The air’s quite nippy out there.”
From inside, she could hear Dr. Bixby’s voice as well as Tucker’s as they talked about something. A giggle she didn’t recognize melded with their laughter.
“Be right in,” she called, working the knots holding her saddlebags.
Finished with his, Dustin aptly did her other side and hoisted both burdens over his shoulder.
Lily met them at the door. “You haven’t been to town for two weeks,” she scolded. “I’ve been impatiently waiting to see you.”
John took their coats, and the women hugged.
Lily looked her over. “You appear wonderfully happy. I can’t imagine why.”
Sidney’s cheeks warmed. The fact that everyone in the world knew what activities she and Dustin had been up to was a bit disconcerting.
She pushed away her embarrassment. “How’re you faring in the shop without me? I feel terrible about leaving you shorthanded.”
“Nonsense,” Lily replied. “Business is a bit slower now, but with John’s excitement over the new business, he thinks we may send for Giselle by this summer. Until then, he agrees I should look for another helper.” Lily’s face lit up. “Did you hear the good news? Mr. Knutson is paying for the bottles, barrels, and such that were destroyed in the fire. John’s venture is moving right along. Now, no more worries. This is a party.” She put her arm through Sidney’s and pulled her toward the kitchen alcove.
“Merry Christmas!” old Doc Bixby hollered, a cup of punch in his hand. His bright red shirt was for once buttoned properly and tucked neatly into his dungarees.
Tucker stood hand in hand with a young woman Sidney didn’t know. Her pixie face was wreathed in a warm smile.
“Come meet our girl, Maisy!” Bixby added, unable to hide his affection. “Actually, she’s Tucker’s girl, but she’s like the daughter I never had.” He winked at her. “We’ll keep her.”
The cinnamon-scented room filled with guests while Sidney sipped eggnog, nibbled on Christmas cookies, and watched the festivities going on around her. Her heart, near to bursting with love, shuddered as she watched Dustin, John, Cradle, and Noah in some kind of manly discussion. Madeline and Becky had stayed home, just getting over a sour stomach.
Noah still had a few more months before he’d earned enough to pay off his debt. She wondered what he would do when time came for him to go back to Santa Fe.
“Have you heard from Chaim?” Lily asked softly, appearing at her side. “I’m still so shocked at his sudden departure. Every morning and night, I pray that God will hold him close.”
“I know what you mean. Everyone’s worried. But we did have a telegram from him yesterday. He arrived safely in Galveston, and he and Brick are seeing the sights.”
“Galveston! Why there?”
“Dustin couldn’t figure that out either. Guess he wants to taste the boom of a large city. Who knows where he’ll go next? We were all very relieved when Brick Paulson threw in with him. Dustin says he’s a real good man. Good with a gun and straight in the head. Winston and Winnie were thrilled. Gave him their blessing to go along and promised he’d have a job, with a promotion, the moment they returned.”
“That’s all good news. And your sisters-in-law? How’re they feeling? Better?”
“I believe so. Becky had the worst of it. I think they’re both on the mend.”
Lily winced and discreetly rubbed her stomach. “I pray I’m not coming down with anything. I don’t want to miss Christmas. Every time I think I am, the feeling goes away. Strange.”
Before Sidney could respond, the door opened again. Lily had said they weren’t expecting anyone else. The shop was filled to its capacity already. In strode the Knutson girls, dressed to the hilt. When Lily saw them, she raised a hand to her mouth, her eyes wide.
At the strained moment, Misti—Sidney thought, she was never quite sure yet which girl was which—took a tentative step forward, followed by her four sisters. The nanny brought up the rear and lingered in the doorway.
Misti extended a tray of goodies to Lily. “Thank you for the kind invitation, Mrs. McCutcheon. Rainey was over the moon to bring us the news yesterday. I hope we’re not too late.”
As if just now realizing the mistake by the surprise on everyone’s faces and the deadly quiet room, the young woman lowered her brows and her smile ebbed away. She cut a not-so-nice-glance to her little sister, who stood twisting back and forth with a mischievous grin on her face.
Lily quickly stepped forward, her signature smile drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Without missing a beat, she graciously took the dish of goodies from Misti Knutson’s hands.
“We’re so pleased you could make it, Miss Knutson.” Lily’s welcoming glance extended to the other four sisters, and then the nanny. “Please come in and warm up.”
Dustin ambled over to Sidney’s side. His fingers found hers and he gave a squeeze, drawing her attention up to his smiling gaze. She marveled again at the turn of events in her life, her magnificent husband, and her wonderful friends.
“Things around here sure have picked up since I went to San Antonio,” he said. His gaze dropped to her lips and became a bit wicked. “I’m thinking I just might send Judge Halford a little note. Thank him on his sound decision-making. Think he’d like that, darlin’?”
His molasses-warm voice next to her ear made her shiver with want. She could barely eke the words past her lips. He knew very well the power he had over her. She was putty in his hands.
“He’d think you’d lost your mind.”
Dustin laughed. “You’re right. He would think that. And because he will, I’m writing that correspondence tomorrow morning first thing. Right after we—”
Sidney slapped her hand over his mouth, halting his words. The room was very crowded. Surely, someone would overhear the daring talk he so loved to use to color her cheeks.
He covered her hand with his, pulled her close, and kissed her palm.
“Dustin.” She tensed, wishing to pull away, but he wouldn’t let her.
“Yes, Mrs. McCutcheon?” He searched her eyes. “Do you have something to say? Are you complaining about my affections?”
Sidney smiled back and shook her head. Overwhelming wonder filled her heart as she gazed at Dustin McCutcheon, her husband, a man larger than the whole West combined.
“Never in this lifetime, Mr. McCutcheon. I love you.”
Read on for an excerpt of Sourdough Creek!
Also, don’t miss the new arrival of
Under a Falling Star
Book 4
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Heartfelt gratitude goes out to so many special people for their help in creating
Texas Lonesome
, book eight of the McCutcheon Family series.
My fabulous editors, Pam Berehulke of Bulletproof Editing, and Linda Carroll-Bradd of Lustre Editing, for their wonderful suggestions, sharp eyes, and deep and thoughtful guidance to round this story out to its fullest.
To Sandy Loyd, Lisa Cooke, and Saralee Etter, my author friends and first readers who spotted the missing opportunities of the story that I’d never want to miss. You gals rock!
To Kelli Ann Morgan for the new cover designs of my whole series, and especially for
Lonesome
. I finally have my little Western town. If you look very closely, I even have riders moving along the dusty roads of Rio Wells.
To my formatter, Bob Houston, for never scolding me for all the re-dos I ask him to make.
To the Pioneer Hearts Facebook Group of authors and readers, for making me smile every single day.
To my husband, Michael, for taking up all the slack so I can get my two thousand words a day. Thank you so much!
My awesome family—Matthew, Rachel, Adam, Misti, and baby Evelyn—you all set the moon and stars.
My four older sisters who always have my back—Shelly (in heaven), Sherry, Jenny, and Mary. No youngest sister could ever have such a wonderful family. I love you all.
To the most awesome readers in the universe—I can’t tell you what your love and enthusiasm means to me. It’s everything!
And to our Awesome God for making all this possible in the first place!
Caroline Fyffe was born in Waco, Texas, the first of many towns she would call home during her father’s career with the US Air Force. A horse aficionado from an early age, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications from California State University-Chico before launching what would become a twenty-year career as an equine photographer. She began writing fiction to pass the time during long days in the show arena, channeling her love of horses and the Old West into a series of Western historicals. Her debut novel,
Where the Wind Blows
, won the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart Award as well as the Wisconsin RWA’s Write Touch Readers’ Award. She and her husband have two grown sons and live in the Pacific Northwest.
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