Page 33 of The Marshal's Bride
Four Years Later
Justine stared at the letter in her hand.
It was done.
“Bad news?” her mother-in-law, Lida Davis, asked. She had arrived on the stage and had been staying with them for a few weeks. Justine already loved her. She was so different from Marjorie. Lida had a heart full of love and wasn’t afraid to share it with anyone she met.
Looking at her mother-in-law, who was rocking little Samuel, Justine gave a slight nod.
“It’s a letter from the sanitorium in Illinois. They wrote to inform me that Marjorie passed away three months ago.”
“That was your dead husband’s mother?”
“Yes. She couldn’t get over the grief of losing her son. It drove her mad.”
“I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine the kind of pain she must have experienced.”
“If anything happens to Sam, do you think you’d be inconsolable?”
“The love of a mother is strong indeed, but I have grandbabies that need me.” Looking pointedly at Justine, she smiled. “And you. I would hope that you need me as well.”
“We most definitely do.”
“I just heard the news.” Sam’s voice broke through their conversation.
“How did you find out?”
“Whitney got the same letter because she was his prisoner.”
Marjorie McGuthry was committed to the women’s sanitorium in Illinois. The three men who kidnapped Hope and stole horses from Benjamin Kendrick were found guilty of their crimes and hung outside of town. Sam attended the execution, but Justine didn’t. She just wanted to put everything behind her.
“I’m fine. Of course, I’m sad she died in such a horrible place, but I forgave her a long time ago. I just pray she could find forgiveness in her heart.”
Lida nodded. “You have to forgive, otherwise our Father in heaven won’t forgive you here on Earth.”
Justine gave a sad smile. “That’s exactly what Dillon said the day they kidnapped Hope.”
Sam kissed his wife’s head, smoothing her hair. “I’m glad you are all right.”
“Since you are both here. I wanted to tell you at the same time, and ask Lida a question.”
Sam sat down and took his wife’s hand. “Is Hope all right?”
“She’s fine. The only time she’s quiet is when she’s asleep or at school. I know she wants to go to the park as soon as her lessons are done for the day.” Squeezing Sam’s fingers, she smiled. “We are going to have another baby. I know Samuel is only six months old, but here we are. Lida, I was wondering if you could stay with us longer than a visit. I’m going to need help at the café and with the children.”
Sam whooped as Lida laughed.
“Of course,” she replied. “It’s too hot in Texas for these old bones. I would like you to call me Ma, or Mother. I’ve longed for a daughter, and I couldn’t have wished for a finer one than you. A beautiful daughter, two precious grandchildren and another one on the way. The Lord has certainly blessed me.”
“I guess we’ll have to look at having a house built, since we’ll need more room. I want you to look at hiring more help. The town is getting bigger, and more people are stopping through.”
“Flat River seems like a nice enough town,” Lida said. “The perfect place to raise a family.”
“And find love,” Sam said, placing his hand on Justine’s shoulder.
Justine smiled. “Thanks to one successful matchmaker.”
“Matchmaker?” Lida raised an eyebrow.
“Yes. She’s matched most of the people in town.”
“Interesting. Isn’t that so?” the older woman cooed to the baby in her arms. “It’s a shame your grandma is too old to find love again.”
Justine and Sam looked at each other and smiled.
She couldn’t wait to introduce Lida to Ingrid Chapman.
