Page 73 of Mail-Order Bride Substitute
“Kit’s a good boy. Eager to please. Happy with Luke and Honor. He’s learning to read and write.” Luke had said little about the man who’d left the boy. “Are you his father?”
“No. But I loved his mother. I knowed she’d want me to do what was right for the boy.”
Huh. Love. It was the reason for Hob’s choice. Riley would let it be the impetus for what he had to do.
“Love’s a strange thing, it is.” Hob leaned over his legs and grew philosophical. “Makes a man do things he didn’t think he could. Makes him forget the past too.” He looked into the sky. “Guess ya could say it’s got power. Power to heal. Power to conquer. Take me, for instance. I loved that little gal more than I thought possible. When she passed, I missed her like I nursed a giant toothache.” He grunted. “Still do. Yet—” He shifted so he looked Riley right in the eye. “That pain can never erase the love I have for her.”
Love. That word again. “Might have hurt less if you never fell in love with her.” Riley kept his tone soft as if this discussion held no stinging power for him.
“No.” Hob blasted out the word. “It’s not like that atall. I’d take ten times the amount of pain in exchange for the three years I had with her. And a hundred times more if’n I could have her another three.” His gaze was on Riley. “Young fella, if I can make you believe love is worth anything. Anything, I say. Then I’ll consider I’ve done ya a favor.” He rose. “I best be on my way. Tell Kit I asked after him.”
Riley scrambled to his feet and shook hands with Hob then watched him until he disappeared from sight in a distant grove of trees. He continued to look in that direction, hearing the man’s words.
Love is worth anything.Even the pain of loss? Hob had enjoyed love for three years and considered it worth the resulting pain.
Riley pictured Olivia. Struggling with the stove. Taking flapping laundry from the line. Producing a wonderful meal. Sitting across from him as they ate. Enjoying a picnic. Watching her sketch scenes of the country.
She vowed she wouldn’t want to return to the city.
Could he trust her?
The bigger, more important question was could he trust God with their future?
God, You answered my prayer. Thank you. You didn’t give me what I asked for. You gave me better.
He laughed as he rode toward home, forcing himself not to gallop King the entire way. He rode past the barn and directly to his house. “Olivia,” he shouted as he raced for the door.
An acrid smell greeted him. And silence. “Olivia?” More silence.
Blackened walls and ceiling caught his attention. Evidence of a fire. Where was Olivia? Was she injured?
Matt came through the door. His watchful eyes sent cold waves throughout Riley’s veins
“Is she hurt? Where is she? I need to see her.”
Matt blocked the doorway. “Olivia’s a little shaken but uninjured.”
“Is she at your house? Or Andy’s? Where—”
Matt caught his arm to keep him from pushing past him. “Riley, you need to be sure of what you want. Either marry her or let her go back East.”
Let her go? Did Matt mean what it sounded like. “She’s gone?”
“Alfred took her to town.” Matt ducked from the house, leaving Riley staring at the door.
He knew what he wanted. He only had to convince Olivia he’d changed his mind and wanted her to stay.Love was worth the risk.
A white envelope on the table caught his attention. He picked it up. Addressed to Olivia. A sheet of paper fell from the packet. It was written to Olivia, but Riley read it. Then groaned and tossed it away.
She was going home. Exactly as he’d told her she would. Expected she would. But when she left, she’d take his heart.
A truth blazed through his head. He couldn’t keep her safe here. Nor would she be any safer in Kellom. Or on the train. Or crossing a street in Philadelphia. He had to trust God for the future. And for the safety of his heart and the safety of those he loved.
Could he reach town in time to catch her and tell her he loved her and wanted her to stay?
Would she even believe him? Or had she given up on ranch life and him?
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