The Officer and the Traveler (35 page)

Throwing all sense of propriety to the wind, Michaela hugged him then stood back and gushed over how wonderful it was to be here while Gray shook his hand and simultaneously slapped him on the back.

“
Well, I’ll let you decide how wonderful it is to be here after you meet the other guests.”
 

Michaela and Gray exchanged a look. He knew something she didn’t. She was certain of it! He quickly averted his gaze and fell in step between her and Wes.

A peal of laughter sliced the air:
Ella!
 

Heedless to Gray and Wes’ chuckles behind her, Michaela scampered down the hall toward the room where that contagious sound was emanating. She walked inside and came to a sudden stop: Jack and Ella, Allison, Aunt Lucille and Uncle George, two elderly people she didn’t recognize and Pa!

Gray’s hand found the small of her back. “Go on,” he said, adding a hint of pressure.

“
I just can’t believe it. Everyone came.”
 

“
Well, except for Mrs. Ridgely. But I couldn’t track her down,” Wes teased, making his way to take a seat by his wife.
 

A little touch of bittersweet sadness came over Michaela. She and Sarah had exchanged a handful of letters that told good news of a full recovery and a divorce granted; and the sad news of being unable to locate her son. Then of course there was the final letter full of both hope and despair: her son had been found, but he was living with family in England. Michaela still waited for another missive, but had yet to receive one.

Then there was Mr. Ridgely who nobody spoke of any longer. Just as Pa had said, a man who didn’t want to be found could stay hidden for an eternity. Rumors of possible sightings had sparked over the years, leading men out to search for him, but a search had never been successful. Nobody minded, except perhaps Pa. He seemed agitated more than anything that the man had been able to escape him, and Michaela had little doubt that Pa would make sure the man was found and brought to justice if it’s the last thing he did. And if that’s what made him happy, it made Michaela happy, too.

“
Well, quit standing there and bring me my namesake,” Pa said, a sparkle in his green eyes.
 

“
Yes, sir,” Michaela said, bringing her six-month-old son, Grayson Samuel, over to her father to
see for the first time.
 

Pa took him from her and held him while she made her rounds.

First came Ella, who hugged her so tightly she thought she might burst then scream with excitement when Ella whispered in her ear that she, too, would be a mother before the end of the year.

Aunt Lucille was next to squeeze her until she was sure to have a bruise. Not that she cared in the least. She was happy to see them all again.

Allison waited none-too-patiently for her turn and gave perhaps the tightest hug of them all. “I’m so glad to see you again.”

“
I am, too,” Michaela said through her joyous tears. “And I cannot wait to see your precious daughter.”
 

“
She isn’t so precious when I wake her from a nap,” Allison said apologetically.
 

“
No, I can imagine she’s not.” She grinned. “Good thing they’re both so young they won’t remember the other’s poor behavior,” she said glancing over to where Pa was still rocking her son. When Allison had first sent a letter saying she was expecting, the two had already decided they’re children would be great friends if Allison had a boy and a wonderful couple if Allison had a girl.
 

Neither Gray nor Wes, but mostly Wes, liked that particular prospect and gossip had it that he’d already started collecting guns for his arsenal should little Grayson Samuel ever form an interest in his sweet Katherine.

Allison looped her arm through Michaela’s. “I wanted to introduce you to the couple who were gracious enough to let us use their home for the weekend.”

“
Of course. How remiss of me not to greet them earlier.”
 

Allison waved her hand through the air. “They don’t mind. A sweeter couple I’ve never met.” A wistful expression came over her face. “I hope Wes and I are just as much in love with each other as these two are when we’re octogenarians.”

Michaela glanced at the couple as she and Allison approached. She had the same hope for her and Gray.

“
Michaela, I’d like you to meet Wes’ grandparents, Gabriel and Marjorie Ellis.”
 

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More Books by Rose Gordon

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If you'd like to stay current on Rose's releases, then
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USA Today
Bestselling and Award Winning Author Rose Gordon writes
unusually unusual historical romances that have been known to include scarred heroes, feisty heroines, marriage-producing scandals, far too much scheming, naughty literature and always a sweet happily-ever-after.  When not escaping to another world via reading or writing a book, she spends her time chasing two young boys around the house, being hunted by wild animals, or sitting on the swing in the backyard where she has to use her arms as shields to deflect projectiles AKA: balls, water balloons, sticks, pinecones, and anything else one of her boys picks up to hurl at his brother who just happens to be hiding behind her.
 

She can be found somewhere in cyberspace at:

http://www.rosegordon.net
 

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something
inappropriate at:
 

http://rosesromanceramblings.wordpress.com
 

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