He couldn’t wait another minute. He scooped her into his arms and whirled her around. “And it’s possible for a stubborn woman to finally come to her senses.”
She giggled and pushed herself out of his arms. “Wait, I haven’t finished saying what I have to say.”
He set her down but didn’t let her go. “There’s more? What more can you give a man than the fulfillment of his most desired dream?”
She gazed up at him with eyes and cheeks and lips full of sheer delight. She was so beautiful he could hardly stand it.
“How about the fulfillment of his second-most desired dream?” Her gaze turned coy, then confident. “Jason Kent, you’re going to go ahead with your land speculation, and I’m going to help you every step of the way. We’re going to found and build that town, and I’m going to turn our new community into a civilized place fit for the best of society.”
“What?” He could feel his eyes growing as he took in what she’d offered.
“It’s the perfect answer for both of us. We both get what we want most--besides each other, of course.”
“You’re sure this is what you want?”
She stretched up and kissed him on the lips. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”
He crushed her against his chest and devoured her with a kiss he hoped expressed the love overflowing from his heart. He kissed her some more and more, until he wondered if he could separate from her long enough to take a breath. When she went limp in his arms, he pulled away to gaze down at her lovely face.
She smiled at him. “We’ll never build a new town if you’re going to kiss me like that, Jason Kent. I’ll be too weak to work.”
He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the sofa. “Then I’ll carry you everywhere you need to go.”
“Let’s wake Zack and tell him the good news,” she said excitedly.
“Zack will be awake on his own soon enough,” he said, sitting next to her. Jase pulled her into his arms again. “I want you all to myself for a few minutes.”
The sight of the shade of red filling her cheeks, the same vermillion color the dawn had painted outside the window, warmed him clear through. He thought of all the nights and dawns they would share together in the coming years, and he got warmer still. As he held her closer intending to kiss her again, he heard a crunching sound which caused him to stop his advances. “What’s that?”
Marietta grinned, pulled away and reached into the pocket of her nightgown. “It’s the last letter I received from Kathy, the one which opened my eyes completely and set me on the right path.”
Jase tilted his head and quirked a brow as he reached for the letter. “Just what sort of magic does this paper hold?”
She blushed again and reached for the paper he’d taken from her hand. “Never mind,” she said coyly. “You should never pry into sisterly secrets.”
Her demure behavior roused his curiosity. He held the paper away from her and began to read it, but she grabbed it from him before he could read very far. All he had time to discern was one insignificant little phrase which had been underlined several times: Mother was wrong.
Marietta stuffed the letter into her pocket and grinned at him seductively. “Wasn’t there something you wanted before we were distracted by the letter, Jase?”
Pleasantly surprised to see she knew a bit about teasing a man, he grinned at her and took her into his arms. “What letter?”
He moved closer to her until his lips touched hers softly. He kissed her slowly, carefully, until he was sure she knew she’d be treasured for the rest of her life. Then he thanked God and Kathy for Marietta’s blessed change of heart.
The End
PREVIEWS SECTION
Coming up: Read premises and excerpts from more of Fran Shaff’s acclaimed and award-winning novels. Genres include historical romance, romantic comedy, contemporary romance and novels for young people. Note: Fran Shaff’s adult novels are of the PG variety, which makes them suitable for teens as well.
Historical Romance
LAURA’S LOST LOVE
STEPHANIE’S SURPRISE
MARI’S MIRACLE
Romantic Comedy
MALE FRAUD
MARRIED WHILE INTOXICATED
CROSSED WIRES
Dramatic Contemporary Romance
FOR LOVE OF MAGGIE (Triple Award-Winning Novel)
STOLEN SON
Contemporary Romance
MONTANA MAGIC
KELLY AND THE CANDIDATE
EVER SO HUMBLE
MONTANA MATCH
THE LOVE TRAP
Historical Novels for Young People
A PARTNER’S PROMISE
THE TRADING GAME
~ * ~
Historical Romance
Laura’s Lost Love, Book One, Heart Junction Series
Stephanie’s Surprise, Book Two, Heart Junction Series
Mari’s Miracle, Book Three, Heart Junction Series
LAURA’S LOST LOVE, Book One of the Heart Junction Series
Available in e-book and paperback
1912, Heart Junction, South Dakota. Laura Windsor wants to become a mother to an orphan girl, but Gavin Maitland won't allow it. His civic duty requires him to place children from the orphan train with married couples only. As the two of them struggle to do what is best for the girl who has won their hearts, they find a special love of their own. But can two people at odds ever join together?
Excerpts, reviews, more at: https://sites.google.com/site/lauraslostlove
The Opening…
Laura had waited an eternity for this day, and now everything was happening quickly. The train was due any minute.
Her tummy rumbled. She placed a hand over her abdomen as if that would help to settle an empty stomach. She’d been too excited to eat. This was the biggest day of her life.
Her daughter, yes, her daughter, a little girl she’d never even seen, would be stepping down from the train in the next few minutes. She was rushing things by thinking of Angelina as her daughter already, but she couldn’t help it. In her heart, Angelina Sanchez was already Laura’s very own little girl.
She stretched to look down the tracks. No sign of any movement, no sounds from the distance. She bit her lip and closed her eyes. She needed to calm down.
She opened her eyes and looked around at the other people waiting for the train. Farmers, mostly, a few people she’d seen around town during the last week since she’d arrived in Heart Junction, South Dakota.
She set her focus on the landscape around the tiny town. She’d never seen land so flat in all her life. Iowa had been flat, in her estimation, but no where near as flat as northeastern South Dakota. Both states were located on the Great Plains, but Heart Junction and land for miles around could easily be referred to as the Great Plane.
Laura smiled and admitted to herself her pun was not amusing, but she had to occupy her mind with something besides her impatience at meeting her new daughter.
She scanned the crowd again. This time a man in a dark suit caught her attention. His attire set him apart from the other men near him. He stood at least six feet tall. His caramel-colored, thick hair was neatly groomed around his ears. His shoulders looked as though they could carry the weight of one of the boulders which hindered the plows on the prairie.
He glanced at Laura and pinned his gaze to her when he caught her staring at him.
Laura froze for several moments until the movement of a farmer a few feet in front of her sliced the line holding her fast to the handsome man’s gaze.
The whistle of a locomotive chipped at the frozen air of mid November, and Laura’s heart began to melt. Angelina, her very own little angel, would be with her momentarily.
Laura wrapped her arms around her sapphire wool coat. She wondered if Angelina was dressed warm enough, if she’d had enough to eat on the train, if the little girl was worn out from her long journey. New York was such a great distance from South Dakota. Angelina’s adjustm
ent wouldn’t be easy. No one knew that better than Laura.
“Good day.”
Laura looked to her right and found the handsome man whom she’d noticed earlier. “Hello.”
“You’re waiting for the Orphan Train to arrive?”
Laura smiled and nodded. “My daughter is on the train. I can’t wait to meet her.”
He returned her smile, his medium-brown eyes twinkling. “You’re going to take in one of the needy orphans, a little girl to foster? How wonderful,” he said, staring at her deeply.
Laura thought his gaze would melt her right where she stood. “Yes,” she said her expression sporting uncharacteristic demureness.
The sound of the train whistle broke their interlocking gaze.
Laura turned toward the tracks. “She’s here!” She looked at the man next to her.
He put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m Gavin Maitland.”
“Laura Windsor.”
He drew back his hand and bowed slightly toward her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He slipped on the black wool coat he had been holding on his arm. “Until we meet again.”
“Yes, Mr. Maitland. So nice to meet you.”
He bowed once more. “Best to you and Mr. Windsor.”
The locomotive’s whistle screamed through the air. Mr. Maitland didn’t hear Laura clarify that there was no Mr. Windsor. By the time the whistle quieted, Mr. Maitland was twenty feet away.
Laura turned her attention to the arriving train. She watched as smoke and steam billowed around the trail of cars. When the mass of iron stopped, the conductor jumped down from one of the cars and lowered the steps.
The first person off the train was a severe-looking woman, well past fifty. The rotund maid or matriarch wrapped her charcoal woolen cape tightly around her shoulders. Her white hair blew in the chilling breeze. She stood at the bottom of the steps calling for the children to disembark.
Frightened faces from five to fifteen exposed themselves to the prairie air, one child at a time. The dowager below them called each by name and ordered them to form a line next to the train. Within a few minutes, a line of seven children fidgeted close to the tracks.
Bitter memories tugged at Laura’s heart. She remembered exactly what it felt like to be one of those lost, little souls. Deep within her heart she wished each of the children who’d come so far would find new families who would love them. She knew only too well how bitter life could be without love.
A little girl, her eyes cast downward, stepped onto the outer deck of the rail car. Long dark curls hung around her face.
“Chin up, child,” the older woman ordered.
The little girl lifted her face and surveyed the crowd.
“Angelina!” Laura cried.
The girl looked at her.
All the breath left Laura’s body. She believed she’d pass out.
“Down the stairs with you,” the dowager scolded.
Laura’s senses returned. “She’s not going to talk to my little girl like that,” Laura mumbled. She darted through the crowd to the dark-haired waif. “Angelina,” she said softly, smiling at her precious daughter.
“Si,” the child said.
Turning to the severe woman, Laura said, “She is Angelina Sanchez, isn’t she?”
“Yes,” the woman said, looking down her nose at Laura’s diminutive five-feet, three-inch stature.
The woman’s five extra inches and stocky build did nothing to intimidate Laura. “I am her mother, Laura Windsor. I’ve made all the arrangements with the agency in New York.” She turned to Angelina and pointed to herself. “Tu mama.”
Angelina’s eyes grew as she stared at Laura’s smile.
“You needn’t speak Spanish to the child. We made sure she could speak English before we brought her here.”
Laura lifted her eyes to the elderly woman. “I want to make her feel at home, Mrs.--”
“It’s Miss,” the woman said, raising her hand. “I’ve dedicated my life to caring for urchins such as these. By my hand and God’s these children have received better care than any of them have earned.”
Laura’s jaw turned hard. “Earned? No child needs to earn good care. A good home is the birth right of every child in this free country.”
“Orphans are different, my good woman.”
“Yes, they are,” Laura agreed. “Orphans have suffered unbearable loss. They deserve more love and kindness and understanding than is ever issued to them.” She turned to Angelina. “And I have an ocean of love to give this sweet child.” She took Angelina’s hand. “Come with me, preciosa.”
The spinster grabbed Laura’s arm. “She’s a sickly one, you know.”
Laura squeezed Angelina’s hand. “I know all about her health problems.” She glanced down at Angelina. “I will take very good care of her,” she said, looking at the woman again.
“Of course.”
Laura glanced at the line of children standing next to the train. She’d been one of them seven years before. She prayed these children would find good homes instead of the life of servitude to which she had been relegated in the home where she’d been placed.
A tear trickled from her eye. How she wished she could take all of them home with her to fill her house with love.
She stooped next to Angelina. “You’re very pretty. Bella,” she said, touching the child’s cheek.
Angelina smiled sheepishly. She touched Laura’s face. “Bella,” she said.
Laura bit back tears. Her father was the last person to tell her she was beautiful, ten years ago, right before he and her mother became fatally ill.
She reached into her pocket and took out a peppermint stick. “For you, Angelina.”
“Gracias, Madrina.”
Laura stroked the child’s hair. “I’m not your godmother, darling. I’m your foster mother for now. In a year or so, once we’ve met the guidelines of the agency from New York, I’m going to adopt you. Then I’ll be your true mother. Now and always you are going to live with me, and you can call me Mama. Will that be all right with you?”
Angelina lifted her eyes to meet Laura’s. “I live with you?”
“Yes. Would you like that?”
Angelina looked away. She savored her peppermint stick as she seemed to be thinking over Laura’s proposal. When she turned back to her new mother, she shrugged her shoulders. “You have a Children’s Home like in New York?”
“No, darling. There will be only you and I, no one else.”
Angelina lifted Laura’s hand to her face. The girl warmed Laura’s fingers with her rosy cheek and smiled.
A wordless, perfect response, easily understood in any language. Angelina had made it clear Laura had found her daughter.
Though their hearts had sealed their pact, there was still the law to satisfy. Once Laura had retrieved Angelina’s one modest bag of belongings, she went to find the city official for Heart Junction in charge of orphan placement. She needed to sign the legal papers which would place Angelina in her care.
She hadn’t noticed anyone else taking children from the train, yet, when she arrived at the table outside the train station where the city official was taking signatures for promises to give the orphan train children proper homes, she found a line containing several people waiting to sign contracts.
It seemed everyone ahead of her was tall. She couldn’t see who was issuing the contracts, but, then, what difference would that make? Whoever it was, in a few minutes the law would be just as satisfied as she and Angelina were with their new alliance.
Laura bent toward her little girl. “Is the candy good?”
Angelina giggled and shared the scent of peppermint which lingered in her mouth. “Candy good. Tengo hambre, Madrina.”
Laura stroked Angelina’s soft, long coffee curls. “I know, sweetheart. As soon as we’ve finished here, I’ll take you home and fix you something warm to eat. I know how hungry a child can get riding for days on the train.”
A horse
less vehicle passed through the street, a mere two dozen feet from the boardwalk. Angelina watched the strange machine travel up the street.
Laura watched with her daughter. “It’s a sign of the future, darling, machines doing the job God gave animals to do.” She stood up straight. “I don’t like it much, but then,” she said, glancing at the locomotive before looking back at Angelina, “sometimes change is good. Trains travel much faster than the stages which used to come through this part of the country before either of us was born.” She squeezed Angelina’s hand. “And look at the two of us.” She bent and kissed her cheek. “We’re in for some wonderful changes in our lives, aren’t we?”
Angelina threw her arms around Laura’s neck. “Change, different. Here is different from the city.”
Laura laughed. “Like cheese and peppermint. Very different.”
“Excuse me,” a deep voice called. “I’m waiting, Mrs. Windsor.”
Laura’s gaze darted away from Angelina when she heard a husky, male voice. “Mr. Maitland. You are the city official handling the placements?” Laura stepped forward on the boardwalk to the table outside the railway station.
“Yes.” A smile lit his striking, masculine features.
“Wonderful. Where do I sign? I can’t wait to take Angelina home with me.”
Mr. Maitland looked around her as though he were searching for something.
“Is anything wrong?” Laura asked, confused.
“I don’t see Mr. Windsor. He must sign the placement papers too.”
Relief washed over her. For a moment she thought there might be a real problem. “You needn’t bother looking for a Mr. Windsor. There isn’t one.”
“You’re a widow?”
“No, I’ve never been married. But this has nothing to do with my caring for Angelina. I telegraphed the Children’s Home in New York. Everything has been worked out. Angelina is to be placed with me. When the one-year waiting period is over, I fully intend to adopt her.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Please, Miss Windsor, sit down,” he said, motioning to the chair across from his table.