OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Brave Hearts of the Frontier", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Silver Ridge, New Mexico Territory, Summer, 1885
The morning sun poured a soft golden color over the Silver Ridge train station, turning the iron rails into ribbons of light. The air was thick with the mingled scents of coal smoke and sagebrush, and the rhythmic chuff of the approaching engine echoed faintly in the distance.
Clara stood on the platform, holding onto Molly’s hand. Molly leaned toward the railway, her eyes eagerly searching for the train. Molly had brown curly hair, just like her father, but her eyes were exactly like Clara’s. Sometimes, it was like looking in a mirror. And other times, Clara felt like she was seeing her own dear mother again. At four years old, Molly was slowly leaving her toddler chubbiness behind as she grew toward girlhood. It was happening slowly and far too quickly all at once.
A part of Clara wanted to freeze her first baby in time forever, so that Molly would stay with her for all time. However, she also wanted her daughter to experience the joys of growing older.
“Is he nearly here?” Molly asked, looking up at Clara inquisitively. “I wanna meet Grandpa!”
“He’s nearly here, sweetheart,” Clara said gently.
“I want him to come now …” Molly elongated the last word, drawing it out with a slight whine.
“Patience, Molls,” Daniel said, ruffling her curly hair. He had to move their son, Peter, to his other side as he patted Molly.
Peter gurgled happily, chewing on a wooden toy that Sam had carved for him.
Clara shot Daniel a grateful look, and he put an arm around her shoulders.
“How are you feeling?” Daniel murmured, his tone was low and comforting.
Clara nodded. Her throat was too tight to speak. In her hand, she held the letter that her father wrote, confirming his arrival. It had taken them several years to get to a place where they could be reunited.
After her first letter, it had taken another six months for his response to arrive. He had been angry about how she embarrassed him in front of society. It turned out that he had also believed Victor’s lies, and he truly believed that Clara had been flighty and irresponsible.
Clara had refused to answer his letter and had given up on ever reconciling with him. However, after Molly’s birth, Clara had been holding her new baby girl in her arms, and she’d been overcome with love. She’d made up her mind to keep trying.
The two of them had written for a long time, until finally Charles accepted Clara’s invitation to come visit. The day had arrived at last, and now Clara wasn’t sure how she felt.
The train rounded the bend, steam billowing in the crisp air. The brakes hissed, metal groaning as it slowed to a halt. Clara held her breath as passengers stepped down, their chatter rising and fading like waves. She stood on her tiptoes, still holding onto Daniel and Molly’s hands as she strained to see him. And then, through the shifting crowd, she finally saw him.
Charles Whitmore stood on the platform’s edge, older than she remembered. When she’d left Charleston, his hair had been graying, and now it was completely gray. His posture was still proud, but it had softened somehow. He clutched his hat in both hands, his eyes scanning the crowd until they found hers.
For a long moment, neither of them did anything.
Clara stepped forward, moving as if she were in a dream. Her voice trembled as she managed to form a single word. “Father.”
His lips parted, but no words came. His gaze dropped to Molly, who noticed her mother’s reaction and narrowed her eyes at Charles. He raised his eyes back to her, a single question shining in them.
“Molly,” Clara said, gesturing at Charles. “That’s your granddaddy.”
Charles swallowed hard as he took a step forward.
“How do you do?” Molly asked politely, sticking out her hand for him to shake.
Charles’ expression softened as he shook her hand gently. “Pleased to meet you, little lady. You can call me Grandpa Charlie.”
“Grandpa Charlie,” Molly said slowly, as if testing the words.
“Hello, Father,” Clara said, inclining her head to him. “This is my husband, Daniel. And this is our son, Peter.”
Charles nodded at them as he stepped forward. He shook Daniel’s hand firmly. “So, you’re the reason my daughter left Charleston?”
Clara pressed her lips together as she looked between the two of them.
“That’d be me, sir,” Daniel said, inclining his head toward Charles.
“Good for you,” Charles said, clapping Daniel on the shoulder.
With that, he turned to Clara expectantly. He held out his arms to her, and Clara didn’t hesitate. She fell into his arms, hugging him tightly.
“Dear girl,” he whispered, holding her close. “I was wrong. If your mother could have seen what I did, she would have been endlessly ashamed of me. I’m so sorry. I thought I was protecting you. I thought … Oh, it doesn’t matter. I was so lost after your mama died. I should have been a better father. I’m sorry, my darling.”
Clara closed her eyes as she breathed in his familiar scent. For a moment, she felt like a little girl again, back in her father’s arms.
It had been a long road, but she’d finally found a way to forgive her father. When they broke apart, she wiped her tears away from her eyes and grinned at her father.
“Are you ready to go?” she asked.
Charles took hold of her hand and held out his other hand to Molly. The little girl took it tentatively, and they went to collect his things.
When the train whistle blew again, a flock of doves scattered from the eaves of the depot. The train prepared to depart as the family walked toward the wagon. Overhead, the sun rose higher above the prairie, gilding the new day in light.
***
That afternoon, the family all gathered to welcome Charles to the ranch. Matthew and Daniel worked on the beef roast, while Sarah played with Peter. Ruth and Preacher Eaton sat with Clara and Charles, while Sam gave Molly piggyback rides on the porch.
Her delighted squeals echoed throughout the air while Sam and Ruth’s little boy, Ezra, ran alongside them, cheering them on in his toddler babble.
“I feel as though I’ve missed out on so much,” Charles said, shaking his head as he looked over at Clara. “It’s my own fault, of course. I just can’t believe that I was so stubborn.”
“I don’t blame you,” the preacher said with a wince. “I was also taken in by Victor’s charm. He painted a convincing picture of Clara being a woman in need. I didn’t know what to believe after he’d visited me!”
Ruth patted her father’s shoulder reassuringly.
“It was a long time ago,” Clara said, waving their words away. “We shouldn’t linger on the past. Besides, Victor’s still in prison for a long time.”
“Have you gotten any new letters from him?” Ruth asked with a frown.
Clara shook her head. “No, thank heavens. I ignored him.”
“He wrote to me, too,” Charles admitted, shaking his head. “At first, I thought there had been a terrible mistake. I couldn’t believe that he would kidnap Clara, let alone try and hurt her. When I got his letter, I was sure that I could straighten things out. Then I received Clara’s letter, and I wasn’t sure what to believe. So, I wrote to Sheriff Carter.”
Clara stamped down on her frustration as her father spoke. Why had it been so hard for him to believe her?
“Well, he told me everything and more, including how brave you were,” Charles said, smiling at his daughter, “and I was reminded of your mother. I realized how foolish I’d been. I should have listened to you from the beginning.”
“Yes,” Daniel piped up from the kitchen, “you should have!”
Clara chuckled and shook her head. She leaned forward and placed a hand over her father’s. “Let’s leave this all behind us. Victor isn’t a part of our lives anymore. He tried to tear us apart, but he lost.”
“Nothing will ever keep me from my family again,” Charles swore, patting her hand. “Actually, I have an announcement to make. I have sold my business, and I intend to build a house here in Silver Ridge.”
“What?” Clara’s eyes widened.
“I hope you don’t mind, my dear,” Charles said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I figured I had wasted enough time, and I don’t want to miss anything else! I want to watch Molly and Peter grow up.”
“I can’t believe it,” Clara said, glancing over at Daniel.
He winked at her, and her smile grew. Her father had finally chosen her. He wanted to be in her life. Her family was finally complete.
“That’s why it took me so long to get here,” Charles admitted. “I made the decision when I got your first letter, Clara. It was something you said … We might not be the family you imagined having, but I can assure you that we’re a family worth having. You were right, my darling. This is a family worth having, and I want to be a part of it.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Clara admitted.
“Just tell me you’re happy,” Charles pleaded. “I’d hate to think that this makes you uncomfortable. Perhaps you’re not ready to have me around all the time!”
“I am ready,” Clara said firmly. She quickly threw her arms around her father’s neck and hugged him tightly. “Thank you! Thank you so much …”
Charles smiled and cupped her cheek when she pulled away. He smiled at them all as he stood up.
“Oh, and there’s one more thing … I’d like to invest the profits from the sale in this here ranch.”
Daniel and Clara looked at each other in amazement.
“That’s awful kind of you,” Daniel said slowly, “but we’re doing just fine. We’d be happy if we just spent time with you, Charles. You don’t need to give us money.”
“I want to,” Charles said with a smile. “This ranch right here is your family business. The McAllister Ranch … Well, I think we can turn this into a very successful enterprise. This can be our legacy, but only if you’re willing. I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes.”
“You’re not,” Daniel assured him. “We’re happy to include you in the family business.”
Clara’s heart swelled with love as she hugged her father then went to go stand by her husband. She gave him a quick kiss before looking around the room.
“How are you feeling?” Daniel murmured, hugging her tightly.
Little Peter toddled away from Sarah and held out his arms to Charles. An awed expression crossed her father’s face as he picked up the toddler. Peter chuckled and cooed, reaching out to grab hold of Charles’ nose.
“Complete,” Clara admitted.
She was so grateful that Daniel had encouraged her to make peace with her father. They were starting a new chapter in their family, and she was certain that things would only get better. They’d have their fair share of challenges, but they would face them together, as a united family.
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Brave Hearts of the Frontier", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hi, lovely readers! I hope this heartwarming romance left you feeling just as touched as I did while writing it! I’d love to hear what you think—did you imagine a different ending for our couple? I can’t wait to read your thoughts in the comments! Thank you for your continued support! ♥️💫