The Unexpected Bride (The Brides Book 1) (30 page)

“Is that right?” If Isaac weren’t so weak still, he might’ve pulled her off the saddle and into his arms right then.

She must have sensed the direction his thoughts had taken, for she blushed and nodded.

“I love you too, Becky. You can’t know how happy it makes me to hear you say those words to me now, but you will soon... I promise.”

“Oh,” she said and gave him a shy smile that made him wish he wasn’t still recovering from an accident.

***

Every morning now it seemed Becky woke up with a happy heart. Looking back over the past week, it was as if she and Isaac had found a wonderful peace with each other. He’d made startling progress, healing quickly, as the doctor had predicted, and his leg only seemed to give him trouble when he was tired. She marveled at how much had changed between them. All the strain of living like strangers had melted away to a warm closeness. Even now, as they ate breakfast together, she kept glancing over at her husband, liking the way he looked in the morning, all smooth-cheeked from a fresh shave, ready for the day. She liked how he looked in the red flannel shirt she’d made him—remembered his surprised pleasure at her gift. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but he seemed to like it nonetheless. With a warm rush of embarrassment, she also remembered the wonder of the marriage bed. Mama’s awkward pink-cheeked talk hadn’t prepared her in the least for the experience. She hid a smile.

Isaac leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek. “You’re looking good enough to eat, Becky, but I have to go to town to place an order.”

An order?

Becky nearly choked on her milk.

“Isaac, don’t. Save the money for your men.”

“What?” The look he gave her made her pause. Like she’d lost her senses. “What are you talking about?”

Hurrying to his old trunk, she grabbed up the ledger resting on top and returned to his side. She plunked the book down on the table and flipped through the pages.

“There has to be a mistake here, Isaac,” she insisted.

“There’s no mistake, I promise. There’s no mistake with the numbers.” He sounded so firm, so sure.

Could she have been wrong?

“But Jem said the men have gone without pay for weeks.” She looked up at him and wondered how he could possibly explain that away.

Isaac pulled himself up, his shoulders stiff and proud. “Gone without pay? Never. The only truth in that is
Jem
went without pay for a while. I had to dock his pay because he wasn’t doing his work. But I assure you, my men are well provided for, and they always have been.”

Becky gazed around the cabin, taking in the ragged potato-sack curtains, the worn furniture. Nothing matched. It was so
small
. Why, the porch was even crooked. It sloped downhill.

What he was saying made no sense.

Why would they live this way if they had as much money as his records said?

Isaac rubbed the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed by her inspection. “I guess I never explained things properly,” he said. “I can’t blame you for thinking we’re poor. It’s just, well, Pop and I never cared much what the place looks like. It’s just a place to sleep, mostly. Always has been. In fact, the only thing that means anything is that old cook stove. It was my mother’s.”

Becky looked at the stove with new eyes. “It was your mother’s?”

“Becky,” Isaac said, claiming her attention. He seemed a little anxious now, as if he had a secret to share. Which made her anxious too. “I wanted it to be a surprise, but I’ve got plans to build you a house, one with an indoor pump. With all the things a woman needs to raise her children.”

A house?

For her?

It was a dream come true. An answer to a prayer she hadn’t even realized she’d prayed.

Looking in Isaac’s eyes right then, Becky felt like every dream she’d ever had just came true. Except for one. He’d said children—plural—which was interesting and made her heart race a little too quickly. That was one dream she was still waiting for. Although for all she knew maybe it had been answered too. Maybe even now, a baby was growing inside her.

The open ledger lay before her. All those neat columns and rows. All perfectly balanced.

“I’m sorry, Isaac. I should’ve known better—I should have asked you sooner, but I—”

Before she could finish, he bent to capture her lips in a long, drawn-out kiss—a full-fledged, knee-buckling kiss that made her wish he didn’t have to leave for work.

“I’ll be back before dark,” he promised.

“I’ll be here.” She followed him outside and stood on the porch, waving goodbye as he rode away. A warm glow of contentment washed over her simply from watching him. She loved the way he moved. Like he owned the place. Which was appropriate, she thought with smile, since he did. Looking up at the bright blue sky and the sun glinting off the snow-topped mountains made her feel as close to heaven as she could ever be here on earth. It reminded her of the day she’d prayed in the farmer’s field back home. How desperate she’d felt. It seemed so long ago now. Her prayers had been answered after all. Not like she’d expected, but even better.

This
was where she belonged. Right here.

Her home was—and always would be—here with Isaac in wild Seattle.

EPILOGUE

I
saac loaded up the skid with Becky’s trunks and all the remaining items they’d be taking over to the new house today. Tying everything off with one last yank of the rope, he stepped back. Today, he’d bring his wife to her new home. Fighting a nervous tightening in his chest, he reminded himself she was sure to like it—anything was better compared to this drafty old cabin she’d lived in for the better part of a year. He felt eyes on him and glanced back. There was Pop on the porch, watching him with a distinct air of fatherly satisfaction.

Isaac raised a hand in a welcoming wave.
Meddling old man
, he thought with affection. Pop would never let him live this down now, not after it turned out to be the best thing that had ever happened to him. Isaac sighed, resigned to the fact that he was going to have to put up with Pop’s meddling in all sorts of other ways in the future.

“Mr. Jessup?” A tall, broad-shouldered young man with black hair and fair skin approached, a knapsack slung over his back. He was on foot, no sign of a horse. And he looked weary, his feet dragging a bit, as if he’d come a long way.

“Jem? Is that you? It’s been a while.” Isaac greeted him warmly, recognizing him as he drew closer. He shook Jem’s hand and grasped his shoulder.

“Spent time with a crew of loggers outside Sacramento. Learned a lot about the business—and myself.” Jem smiled, but his eyes were sober. He looked years older. “You seen my pa?”

“No sign of him,” Isaac assured him, but from Jem’s creased brow he knew the young man was worried his father would return to take revenge.

“I came back to ask if I could join the crew again.” Jem rushed on quickly without waiting for Isaac’s response, “I know I acted the fool—‘kicking against the goads’ so to speak—but I’m willing to work wherever you feel’s best. I felt called to return. I’m hopin’ you’ll take me back?”

Isaac looked the young man over thoughtfully. He did seem willing to take direction. Time would tell, but after seeing how Jem’s father had treated him, Isaac felt the young man needed more than a second chance.

“How’d you like to learn the business from a real expert?” He directed a questioning gaze at Pop, who walked over and stood beside him.

“I’ve got an extra room in the cabin that needs a body,” Pop declared. “Don’t need no shenanigans though.” He fixed Jem with a steely-gray stare, the one Isaac had heeled to his whole life.

“No, sir.”

“Well, then, I ’spect we could use an assistant.”

“You don’t mean it?” Jem looked back and forth between the two older men, his gaze incredulous.

“Do I have to ask twice?” Sam shrugged and started to walk off.

“No, sir!” Jem stepped closer and offered his hand. “You’ve got an assistant.”

“Well, then, let’s get you started.” Pop led the young man toward the current logging site, talking to him as they went. “Enjoy your new home, Son!” he called back with a cheery wave. “I’m expecting to hear all about it tomorrow.”

“Make it the day after. I’m taking tomorrow off,” Isaac shouted back. He could hear Pop chuckling as he continued walking on. His father bent his head in toward Jem, no doubt settling in for a lecture on the dangers of the logging business.

***

After a short ride though the forest, Becky followed Isaac until they reached the edge of a clearing.

This was it.

He was finally going to show her their new home. Countless delays had cropped up to keep the project going for months longer than Isaac had planned, but several days ago he’d declared the new house ready, and she’d packed for the move in a flurry of activity.

With her mother’s letter tucked in her pocket, she felt everything in her world was right. He father had even scrawled a note at the bottom saying simply, “Miss you. Hope all is well, Papa.” Those few words made her cry every time she read them. Simply thinking about them now made her eyes smart with tears. Who would’ve guessed that leaving home and moving to the other side of the country would have the unexpected side effect of bringing her closer to her father? That, in and of itself, was a miracle. God had brought her here and given her a home—a place to belong. He’d given her a wonderful husband to share it with. She looked at Isaac with a contented smile.

He helped her dismount and immediately covered her eyes with his hand.

She leaned back against him, felt his arm slide securely around her waist.

“Do you trust me?” He whispered close to her ear, making her shiver a little, in the best way possible.

“Of course.” She smiled. “That’s a silly question.”

“Glad to hear it.” He pressed a quick kiss to her cheek and guided her forward. “Just a little farther now.”

Her heart skipped along a little faster, and she laughed from sheer excitement.

“Here we are.” His voice sounded a little deeper than usual, like he was nervous. He dropped his hand, but she kept her eyes shut, delaying the suspense.

“I can’t wait to see it.”

“Then open your eyes, woman.” He playfully tickled the small of her back.

“All right.” She popped one eye open and then the other. “Oh, Isaac.” A quaint little cabin with a covered porch stood in the clearing before her. “The windows are so big! And you planted flowers?” She glanced over her shoulder at him, a smile nearly bursting from her face. “It’s perfect.”

“It’s no mansion,” he said, with a self-deprecating smile. “But there’s a real barn.” He pointed to a large wood-beam structure behind the cabin. “And we’ve got an indoor pump, and one of those indoor necessaries.”

“That’s lovely.” She teased him with her eyes and looped her arm through his. “Almost as lovely as my birthday present. I still don’t know how you got Dr. Sawyer to part with my old rifle.”

“He has a soft spot for you, I think. Plus, I convinced him that gun was sized just right for you.” He took her hands in his and squeezed lightly, guiding her gaze to the new cabin. “So, you like my surprise?” he asked, obviously fishing.

She nodded and squeezed his hands back. “I love it. And—and I have a surprise for you too,” she said in a little singsong voice.

“Do you now?” His eyes twinkled.

“It’s a good thing you made the cabin plenty big...”

His smile wavered, and his dark brown eyes grew serious. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“Are you going to be happy about it?”

He grinned and swung her up in his arms, spinning her around. Holding her aloft, he jumped up onto the front porch.

“Isaac!” she protested, as her feet dangled uselessly off the ground. She squirmed. “Put me down.”

He simply hitched her more securely into his arms, looping his arm under her legs and cradling her to his chest. She immediately stopped protesting and snuggled in close. Perhaps it wasn’t so bad being carried, just this once. It was almost like she was a new bride and he was the groom. As if they’d just come from repeating their vows.

Now there was a thought she hadn’t considered until now...

“I think it’s time to show you the rest of your new home,” Isaac said. “And I think you’ll especially appreciate the rug in front of the fireplace.” He carried her inside and set her on her feet.

She took a few steps forward and turned in a slow circle, a smile splitting her face.

It was perfect. Wide pine floors, heavy beams, all in earthy tones of caramel-gold and brown. Warm and welcoming. There was a generous kitchen area to one side, with a big red cast-iron cook stove. Cabinets and shelves that went from floor to ceiling. An ice box. And a great big kitchen table with eight wood chairs and an extra bench sitting against one wall—so she guessed they’d be entertaining a fair bit. Plenty of room for Pop to come visit. Plenty of room for children some day.