The Cowboy's Baby (16 page)

Within minutes Anna stood outside Hugh’s house. Perhaps Colby had changed his mind. She smiled. He meant it when he said he loved her. And she trusted him.

Just as she trusted God and He had provided a way for her to let go of her current responsibilities. Even when she hadn’t had the faith to ask for such a blessing.

Assured this was of God and propelled by her love, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Colby was resting in the chair.

“Colby?”

He blinked, his eyes widening with pleasure when he saw her.

“Let me tell you about how faithful our God is.” She told him of Grace’s assurance that Father and Alex would be well taken care of.

As she talked the sunshine came to Colby’s eyes until they glowed.

She finished but he didn’t speak. He just looked at her with such a look of joy that she felt tonguetied. And yet he still didn’t say anything.

“Have you changed your mind?”

“About what?” he croaked.

“About me.” She couldn’t look at him for fear she’d built a false dream.

He jumped to his feet, groaned with a reminder of his recent injuries. Laughing he pulled her to his arms. “I will never change my mind about you. And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving how much I love you.” He trailed a warm fingertip down her cheek to the center of her chin. “Anna, I love you. Will you marry me and make me the happiest man on earth?”

He waited, his gaze warm and eager.

She laughed, her heart so full she didn’t know how to contain it. “I love you, Colby, and I will marry you.”

“When?”

Her smile widened at his eagerness. “I think we need to discuss such things and make plans.”

“Later.” He lifted her chin with his finger, lowered his head slowly as if delighting in the anticipation, and then sweetly covered her lips with his.

“I knew it would take a miracle for you to leave your family. And we got it. Hallelujah. Let’s thank God.”

She gladly joined him in thanking their heavenly Father for providing a way for them to be together. And then they sat side by side, holding hands and talking.

She remembered his words about wanting a home. “Colby, I will provide you a home where you always feel welcome and cared for.”

He hugged her and kissed her. “I know you will. And I promise to be a man you can trust at all times.”

The sun slanted through the window and bathed them in golden light.

She bolted to her feet. “I forgot about Dorrie and supper.” She leaned over and kissed him. “You have filled my thoughts to the exclusion of all else.”

“Can’t have that, now can we? Let me go with you.”

Gladly she let him accompany her home.

Dorrie sat in her chair playing with a little yarn doll Anna had never seen before. She knew Grace brought it, probably made it herself. Pots boiled on the stove.

Grace grinned at them. “Wondered if you were ever coming back. I don’t have to ask if you worked things out satisfactorily. Your faces say it all.”

Anna and Colby grinned at each other, their hearts full of love.

One month later

F
ather and Grace stood together on one side of the pulpit. Colby and Anna on the other.

Dorrie wore a pretty pink dress Grace made for her. She looked like an angel in her father’s arms.

Anna’s dress was a deep rose fitted at the waist and wrists and falling to the floor in a gored skirt. She’d made the dress with Grace’s assistance. It had turned out rather well, more thanks to Grace’s patience than Anna’s talent as a seamstress.

Colby had watched her work on it but saw her in it the first time a few minutes ago. His eyes had widened with pleasure that brought warmth to Anna’s cheeks. How she loved this man. How she
relished his expressions of love—his kisses, his compliments, his restrained hugs.

She shifted her gaze from Colby for fear her heart would burst from its moorings with joy.

Grace had chosen to make a tailored suit in dove-gray. “It will serve me well as the preacher’s wife.” Her ruffled blouse was of the same fabric as Anna’s dress.

Father looked very handsome in his best black suit and white shirt.

Colby also wore a white shirt and black string tie. His grin threatened to split his face. He’d confessed he never stopped smiling. He said he fell asleep with a smile on his lips and woke the same way.

They’d talked almost round the clock as they made plans. Anna opened every corner of her heart to him, sharing her doubts, her misgivings, things long buried, long denied. She’d always had to be strong and in control.

When she told Colby that, he’d laughed. “You can be as strong as you want but never again do you have to carry your load alone. I’m here to share your responsibilities.”

They kept the wedding plans simple. Just the four of them in a double ceremony and a few close friends—Grace’s sister and family, Laura and Carl and their children, Hugh, and the men Colby had led to the Lord.

A friend of Father’s had come to perform the ceremony.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together…”

Anna had heard the words on hundreds of occasions but this time it was for her and Colby.

Father and Grace exchanged vows first and then stood by as Colby and Anna exchanged theirs.

Then the pastor announced the new Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell. Everyone clapped. He then announced Mr. and Mrs. Bloxham. Anna couldn’t stop smiling as she accepted congratulations.

Later, as the celebrations came to an end, Father hugged Anna. “You have been such a help for so long. Now you can use your skills to build a home of your own. I’m so glad you and Colby are together.”

Grace hugged her. “I will probably never live up to your reputation.”

Anna laughed. Grace had already proven to be very capable and efficient. “I’m certain I won’t be favorably compared to the efficient new Mrs. Caldwell. But I don’t care.” They shared a laugh. “I am so happy for you and Father.”

She kissed Alex and warned him to be a good boy.

He grinned. “I have a job for the summer.”

“You do? Why is this the first I’ve heard of it?”

“Father just gave his permission. I’m going to work for Mr. Ziegler.” Colby joined them and Alex flexed an arm. “I’m going to build some real muscles working on a farm.”

Colby squeezed Alex’s shoulders. “You’re going to grow into a fine man.”

Then it was time to leave. Anna felt a twinge of regret as Colby lifted her into the waiting buggy and handed up Dorrie. She waved to everyone and gave a tremulous smile.

The buggy tipped as he climbed up beside her. “Why the sad look?”

“I’m just saying goodbye to the only life I’ve ever known.” She shifted so she faced Colby squarely. “And I’m anticipating starting a new phase sharing my love with you and Dorrie.”

Colby leaned over and kissed her gently. “We will build a home together. I can hardly wait.” They drove through town, waving to everyone they saw. A few minutes later, Colby turned the buggy down a dusty trail to the prettiest little house in the whole county. They had decided to stay here for now and had spent many enjoyable hours preparing the house.

They didn’t know what the future held. Maybe a move. Hopefully more children. But Anna was certain of their love for each other and God’s faithfulness.

Colby set Dorrie on the ground and let her run ahead. He scooped Anna into his arms and held her there as he kissed her.

“You better put me down before you do damage to your injury.”

But he carried her across the threshold of the house where he kissed her again. “Home sweet home.”

She glanced around at the place they had worked on together to make livable. “It’s simple but I like it.”

He kissed her again. “I didn’t mean the house. I meant our hearts.”

She pulled his head closer and, just before their lips touched, murmured, “Our heart will always be at home with each other.” From the first day they’d met, their love was meant to be. It had just taken them a very long time to be ready for it. But thanks to God’s tender mercies and faithfulness to them they had a lifetime to enjoy it.

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the West where the heroes are big and bold (no matter what their physical size) and the heroines are small but mighty. As my father often said, “Good things come in small packages.” Then he would pause and add, “So does dynamite.” I was the shortest one in the family so the comment was usually directed at me. LOL. I often think I’d like to have been a woman living in the New West. Then I remember they didn’t have central heat or running water, though, again my dad said, “We had running water. Son, run and get us a bucketful.”

When I write these stories I wonder how to incorporate the facts about the harshness of life, then I remember it was normal for these people and didn’t bear commenting on unless there was a vicious storm outside or a bear lingering in the outhouse. The people settling the West were hardy, stubborn and forward thinking. They have my admiration.

I hope you enjoy this story of two people who boldly faced their situation and through their growing faith overcame their personal odds. I pray you will be encouraged in your own faith walk.

I love to hear from readers. Contact me through
e-mail at [email protected]. Feel free to check on updates and bits about my research at my Web site www.lindaford.org.

God bless,

1. Anna had witnessed her beloved stepmother dying. How did that affect her? Does it still affect her? How?
   
2. What did Anna and Colby share in the past? How was that undermined?
   
3. Why did Colby run from Anna’s pain?
   
4. Anna has taken over running her father’s home and being mother to two children. Is she trying to prove something by doing this?
   
5. Colby is afraid he will be like his father. In what ways is he or has he been similar? In what ways is he different?
   
6. Colby has come back. Why? Do you think he is right or wrong in doing so?
   
7. Anna sees activities at the church that make her wonder about what Colby is up to. Do you think she is wise in being cautious and even suspicious? Does she have a deeper reason than caution about the sort of men she sees?
   
8. Others see the drunks and down-and-out men visiting the church. Some of them are upset. What are their reasons?
   
9. Colby is determined to prove he’s changed yet people see the company he keeps and wonder if he’s changed. How does he reveal he truly is?
   
10. Anna’s brother, Alex, changes because of Colby. How and why?
    
11. How does Colby prove that the most important thing in his life is the safety of Anna and Dorrie? Does Anna believe it?
    
12. Anna struggles with fear of loss. What helps her to overcome this? What would you have said to her to help her deal with this?
    
13. Do you think Colby is truly free from his past? What challenges do you foresee for him in the future?
    
14. Do you think Anna has matured enough to deal with the uncertainties of what lies ahead?
    
15. What spiritual lesson did they each learn?