Brides of Alaska (57 page)

Rita found Mark's sense of humor contagious. “I did some dreaming of my own,” she admitted. “About a tall, broad-chested law officer, who saved my life and stole my heart. You've always been a part of my dreams, Mark. And you always will be.”

“Then you'll marry me?” Mark asked for the second time.

Rita stepped forward and put her arms around his neck. “I would be most happy to marry you, Mr. Williams. Positively delighted!”

“Promise?” he said, raising a questioning brow. “You aren't going to change your mind and replace me with another Iditarod dream, are you?”

Rita laughed out loud. “Not hardly, Mr. Williams. You are caught, hook, line, and harness. No Texas or race or cowboys or frozen wilderness is gonna stop me. You're stuck with me, like it or not.”

“I like it,” Mark said, lowering his lips to Rita's. “I like it very much.” He kissed her tenderly while Rita melted against him.

When he lifted his lips, Rita sighed. “I'm going to like this, too. I can tell.”

Mark surprised her by taking her hand and pulling her with him to sit on the porch step. “This is going to be new for both of us. We've both been used to independence and we've both lived our lives without real concern for the decisions we make. Now, however, we'll have to consider each other in every choice we make.”

Rita nodded. “It won't be easy to change our lifestyles overnight.”

“We'll no doubt have our moments when we're not very happy with one another,” Mark added.

“True,” Rita replied. “But if we're honest with each other and careful to work through those times, maybe we won't have to spend too much time in strife.”

“It's going to be a lot of work,” Mark stated.

“You sound like you did when you were training me for the Iditarod.” Rita couldn't help but laugh. She saw the amusement in Mark's eyes.

“Marriage is going to be even more work than the race,” Mark answered. “And a whole lot more dangerous.”

Rita questioned his words. “Just what do you mean?”

“I hear you don't cook too well,” he laughed. “I might be in for some strange cuisine. Then there's mending and sewing.”

“Whoa!” Rita called out. “I'm a nurse, remember? I have a job that I hope to do and I enjoy working in medicine. You have the kennel and the dogs. I don't see any reason why we can't work together and trade off on the cooking and cleaning.”

Mark rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “All right,” he said in a teasing tone. “I suppose that's fair enough. But I draw the line at mending clothes. I'm no good at it. I can mend harness and rigs with the best of them, but I can't even sew on a button.”

Rita laughed. “Me neither. I can stitch up wounds though. Does that count?”

Mark put his arm around her. “Maybe your mom could sew on the buttons.”

“Maybe,” Rita mused, “she could give us sewing lessons.”

They fell silent, enjoying the brilliant sun and the warmth that filtered down to thaw the earth.

“What about dogsledding?” Mark asked suddenly.

“What about it?” Rita questioned.

“You plan to race anymore?” Mark's question took Rita by surprise.

“It all depends,” Rita replied.

“On what?” Mark asked her. Now he held the puzzled look.

“On you,” Rita grinned.

“Me? What are you talking about?”

“You asked me back in Nome, ‘What makes you think I'll let you come next year?'”

Mark laughed and squeezed Rita's shoulders. “I guess I did at that. But, seriously, do you want to race again?”

Rita nodded. “I thought it was wonderful. It was everything I dreamed it would be.”

“You suppose marriage will be the same way?” Mark's question caused Rita to think.

“I know it will, Mark. It's the best of all possible dreams and even my goal of racing the Iditarod will never be as great as the goal of making you a good wife.”

“You'll be a good wife, Texas Rita,” Mark said, dropping his arm to take her hand. “There may be other Iditarod dreams, there may even be other races, but there is only one you—”

“And one you,” Rita interjected.

“And together, we'll make the dream a reality,” Mark whispered. “With God, we'll work to make a good life together. A life founded on Him.”

Rita covered Mark's hand with her free one. Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing to give yourself over to another person, after all. Especially when that other person was God's very best answer to all your fondest dreams.

About the Author

Tracie Peterson, bestselling, award-winning author of over ninety fiction titles and three non-fiction books, lives and writes in Belgrade, Montana. As a Christian, wife, mother, writer, editor, and speaker (in that order), Tracie finds her slate quite full.

Voted favorite author for 1995, 1996, and 1997 by the Heartsong Presents' readership, and awarded Affaire de Coeur's Inspirational Romance of the Year 1994, Romantic Times 2007 Career Achievement, American Christian Fiction Writers Lifetime Achievement 2011 and other awards, Tracie enjoys the pleasure of spinning stories for readers and thanks God for the imagination He's given. She desires that the books would Entertain, Educate, and Encourage—Tracie's three E's.

Tracie was the managing editor of Heartsong Presents for Barbour Publishing for over three years and helped with acquisitions prior to that. She co-founded the American Christian Fiction Writer's organization in 2000 and continues to work with new authors, teaching at a variety of conferences, giving workshops on inspirational romance, historical research, and anything else that offers assistance to fellow writers. She often speaks at women's retreats and church functions. Her website is
www.traciepeterson.com
.