To Have and to Hold (Cactus Creek Cowboys) (25 page)
Read To Have and to Hold (Cactus Creek Cowboys) Online
Authors: Leigh Greenwood
“But you want them because of me.”
“Yes, I want them because I know they’re yours, but I want them because I’ve fallen in love with them. I hope I’ll be able to give you children, but none of them will ever be more special to me than Peter and Esther. Now stop worrying.”
“I’m trying, but I want this so much I live in fear that something will go wrong.”
“Many things will go wrong, but nothing will change how much I love you or the children. Everything else we can deal with.”
Naomi was pleased when rather than voice any more doubts, Colby decided to use his energy kissing her. Being married had introduced her to many new experiences, but being taken into the powerful arms of her husband and kissed ruthlessly was one of the ones she enjoyed most. She was looking forward to many years of the same.
“I hate to interrupt,” her father said, “but unless you want to end up in the river, you’d better spare some attention for your oxen.”
Colby was embarrassed, but Naomi didn’t mind the laughter. She’d already crossed a flood-swollen river in pursuit of Colby. The river ahead was only the Rio Grande.
A year later
The bare outline of the tiny settlement that was Cactus Corner came into view around a bend in the Verde River in the Arizona Territory.
“Is that where we’re going to live?” Peter asked his father.
“Yes, this will be your new home,” Colby told his son.
Colby didn’t know when he’d anticipated anything as eagerly as welcoming his son and daughter into his home. Only his wedding day and learning Naomi was pregnant with their first child merited comparison. It had been an arduous journey of over six hundred miles from Santa Fe in a covered wagon, but Colby wouldn’t have traded a minute. Having his children to himself for nearly seven weeks had been a terrifying experience, but he would always cherish the memory of the evenings by the campfire, an arm wrapped around each child, telling them stories and answering questions about their new life.
His only regret was that Naomi hadn’t been able to accompany him.
As the first houses came into view, Esther said, “They don’t look like Mama’s house.”
The buildings were constructed of raw wood that hadn’t had time to weather. Only a few had been painted.
“Which one is ours?” Peter was scrutinizing each house as they passed. “Will I have my own horse?”
The transformation of the children had been gradual, but it was now complete. Each wore floppy hats to protect them from the sun and heavy shoes to safeguard their feet. Esther’s dress was of calico while Peter’s pants were of denim and his plaid shirt cotton. Both children ran rather than walked, jabbered constantly, played noisily, laughed aloud, and viewed their strange new world with endless curiosity. The two large trunks containing their clothes hadn’t been opened after the first day.
“Our house will be the white one in the middle of town,” Colby said. “Naomi will be on the porch waiting for you.”
Colby had had no way of letting Naomi know when he and the children would arrive, but he had met Reece Hill’s boys gathering wood about a mile back. By now the boys had had time to alert everyone in town to Colby’s arrival. When his house came into view, it was surrounded by nearly everyone in town.
“Who are those people?” Peter asked.
“These are people who’ve come to welcome you to your new home.”
Bert Hill ran up to the wagon. “I told everybody you were coming,” he shouted to Colby as he ran alongside. “Mama said Peter could come over whenever he wants.”
Esther pointed to Naomi who had walked out of the house and down the steps to greet them. “Is she going to be my new mother?” she asked.
“Yes,” Colby answered as he pulled the wagon to a stop. He jumped down and held out his arms to Naomi who folded into his embrace.
“I thought you’d never get here,” she whispered. “The last two months have seemed liked two years.”
“I’ve missed you, too. How are you doing?”
Naomi put his hand on her belly.
“Papa says
we
are doing just fine. How are the children? How are you?” She laughed. “I wasn’t sure you’d survive the trip.”
Colby glanced back at the children. “Except for missing you, I wouldn’t have cared if it
had
lasted two years. I’ve never been so scared yet had so much fun in my life. Come on. They’re waiting to meet you.”
Peter jumped down from the wagon. “I’m Peter,” he announced as he extended his hand to Naomi. “I remember when you came to our house.”
“I’ve been waiting ever since to welcome you to our home,” Naomi told the boy.
“Mama said I would like you. Esther will, too, but she’s afraid.”
“Maybe you and I can make her unafraid.”
“I’m not afraid,” Esther insisted. “Mama told me young ladies should wait until they’re spoken to. Boys don’t have to wait. I don’t think that’s fair.”
“I agree with you,” Naomi said. “Let Colby help you down, and we can meet all the people who’ve come to welcome you to Cactus Corner.”
“I can get down by myself,” Esther announced. “Colby taught me how. He said young ladies have to know how to drive buggies and ride horses. He said he’s going to teach me.”
“Let me give you a hug,” Naomi said when Esther had climbed down from the wagon. “I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time.”
“Have you been wanting to hug me?” Peter asked.
“Very much,” Naomi said.
“Now that we’re all welcomed and hugged,” Colby said, “it’s time to meet your new neighbors.”
Bert Hill swaggered up. “I’ll introduce them,” he offered. “Mama says after being gone for so long, you won’t want to let go of Naomi for any reason.”
Colby could imagine Flora’s embarrassment over her son’s statement, but she was right. He didn’t want to let go of Naomi ever again. But he wouldn’t have to now. He finally had his family with him.
All
of his family.
He watched as Bert took the children around to each family, introducing them to the children first and the adults afterward. Soon they were surrounded by a gaggle of kids making plans for enough entertainment to occupy the children through most of the summer.
“Did you ever imagine anything like this could happen?” Naomi asked Colby.
“Never in a thousand years. But never in a million years would I have imagined I’d be standing here with my arms around you watching those two amazing children become part of the rest of our lives.”
It came as an unbidden afterthought.
The
only
thing
that
could
have
made
it
better
would
have
been
if
his
two
brothers
could
have
been
standing
here
with
him.
The Santa Fe Trail is probably the most storied trail in U.S. history and the one in operation for the longest time. Captain William Becknell took the first wagons over the Trail to Santa Fe in 1821. It remained a major artery of commerce until the railroad reached Santa Fe in 1880. I have found two books to be of great help in doing research for this book. The first, Stanley Vestal’s
The
Old
Santa
Fe
Trail,
was invaluable for its meticulous description of the various places along the Cimarron cutoff, the condition of the land and the rivers, and its stories of colorful episodes in the life of the trail.
The second book,
The
Prairie
Traveler
, was written by U.S. Army Captain Randolph B. Marcy as a guide to anyone contemplating a journey across the prairie from points in Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri. It covers everything from relative merits of mules and oxen to the choice of desiccated and canned vegetables, methods of purifying water, repairing and circling up wagons, and any kind of equipment needed for such an adventure. It was from this book that I found the treatment for rattlesnake bites.
Another book of great interest, but not used directly for this book, is
Down
the
Santa
Fe
Trail
and
into
Mexico
, the diary of Susan Shelby Magoffin, 1846–1847. Her description of each day’s travel was colorful and remarkable for its detail. It also makes clear that even with the proper equipment, preparation, and leadership, the journey over the trail was a challenging experience.
Leigh Greenwood is the author of the popular Seven Brides, Cowboy, and Night Riders series. The proud father of three grown children, Leigh resides in Charlotte, NC. He never intended to be a writer, but found it hard to ignore the people in his head, and the only way to get them out was to write. For more information visit
www.leigh-greenwood.com
.
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Nate has been on the vengeance trail so long, he nearly forgot what a real home looked like. And Roberta is mighty fine incentive to stay put for a while—even if she has a stubborn streak as wide as the great state of Texas. She might be convinced she’s healing the wound in his chest, but neither of them know she’s also soothing the hurt in his heart.
“Readers will enjoy the battle of wits between these two stubborn protagonists.”
—
RT Book Reviews
, 4 Stars
“Strap yourself in for a wild ride with this cowboy and the stubborn love of his life.”
—Fresh Fiction
For more Leigh Greenwood, visit:
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Praise for Leigh Greenwood:
“For a fast-paced story of the Wild West, Leigh Greenwood is one of the best”
—
RT Book Reviews
For more Leigh Greenwood, visit:
Coming Fall 2014
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Laurie gets more than she bargains for when she makes a deal with Ja
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For more Leigh Greenwood, visit:
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by Rosanne Bittner
Maggie Tucker has just gone through hell. Outlaws murdered her husband, looted their camp, and terrorized Maggie before leaving her lost and alone in the wilds of Wyoming. She isn’t about to let another strange man get close enough to harm her.
Sage Lightfoot, owner of Paradise Valley ranch, is hunting for the men who killed his best ranch hand. But what he finds is a beautiful, bedraggled woman digging a grave. And pointing a pistol at his heart.
From that moment on, Sage will do anything to protect the strong-yet-vulnerable Maggie. Together, they’ll embark on a life-changing journey along the dangerous Outlaw Trail, risking their lives…and their love.
Praise for Rosanne Bittner:
“A wonderful, absorbing re
ad, with characters to capture the heart and the imagination… it’s a romance not to be missed.”
—Heather Graham on
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“Power, passion, tragedy, and triumph are Rosanne Bittner’s hallmarks.”
—
RT Book Reviews
on
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For more Rosanne Bittner, visit:
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by Rosanne Bittner
In a land of opportunity
Sunny Landers wanted a big life—as big and free as the untamed land that stretched before her. Land she would help her father conquer to achieve his dream of a transcontinental railroad. She wouldn’t let a cold, creaky wagon, murderous bandits, or stampeding buffalo stand in her way. She wanted it all—including Colt Travis.
All the odds were against them
Like the land of his birth, half-Cherokee Colt Travis was wild, hard, and dangerous. He was a drifter, a wilderness scout with no land and no prospects hired to guide the Landers’ wagon train. He knew Sunny was out of his league and her father would never approve, but beneath the endless starlit sky, anything seemed possible…
“Bittner has a knack for writing strong, believable characters who truly seem to jump off the pages.”
—Historical Novel Review
“I hated having to put it down for even one second.”
—Romancing the Book
For more Rosanne Bittner, visit:
