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  “Cassandra Morley, you are as lovely on the inside as you are on the outside. I may not have always shown it, but I found you delightful every time you came to visit the boys. I loved watching you struggle to be polite whenever I was being surly. Your patience with the boys as you helped teach them to ride made me want to pull you into my arms, even as I tried to keep you at arm’s length. I didn’t want to have any feelings for you because I was convinced your place was back in New York.”

  Cassie tried to prevent it, but tears were welling in her eyes as he expressed his thoughts to her. One solitary tear broke its confines and slid down her cheek. She didn’t speak. He surged back to his feet, reaching out gently to wipe the tear away. “As hard as I fought my feelings, they continued to grow. You might not have much experience at country living or even running a household, but I have watched you, especially while Walter was missing. You make up for whatever you might lack in knowledge or experience with your intelligence, willingness, and enthusiasm. I am completely convinced that you could make a success of whatever you might put your mind to. I hope you might put your mind to making a life here with me, and with those three boys you love so much. Even more, I am most certain that, while you will be a wonderful mother to the boys we’ve already got and any more children that we might be blessed with, I look forward to spending an adventurous life with you long after the children have left home. I love you Cassie, and I want to spend the rest of my days with you by my side. If you need more time to figure out if you could possibly feel the same way, I will try to understand, but I reserve the right to work very hard at convincing you. Please say you’ll have me.”

  With a delighted whoop of joy, Cassie pulled her hands from his grasp and threw them around his neck. “That is the loveliest thing anyone has ever said to me. I’ve been fighting my feelings for you ever since I met you. I didn’t think you could possibly love me. But I can see what you’re saying. We are uniquely suited. I can see that you love the boys and will be a wonderful father. More importantly, though, you understand where I have come from and will be able to help me adjust to this new life. I love you, too, Mr. Gibson Charles Ainsworth Emmerson,” she declared with a giggle while he growled at her.

  “We needn’t be so formal. Charles will do.” He squeezed her tight.

  In his tight hold, she didn’t have much air, but she couldn’t find it in herself to care. She didn’t want to be anywhere else. With laughter filled with pure joy, she finally gave him the answer he was waiting for. “Yes, please, Charles, I would very much love to be your wife.”

  Charles had already been squeezing the breath out of her, but after one quick, tighter squeeze, he loosened his grasp and one of his hands came up to cradle the back of her head. Cassie was already feeling lightheaded from being in his arms, but now, as their breath mingled and his eyes stared hotly into hers, she felt as though her legs would have given out if not for the fact that his other arm was still wrapped around her. She was already up on her tiptoes, now it felt as though her feet weren’t even touching the floor. He started at the corner of her eye, placing a soft kiss just where it was crinkled up from her wide smile. Then he trailed down to her cheekbone with a feather-light kiss there. She held her breath as he moved again.

  His lips were a hairsbreadth away from hers when he whispered once more, “I love you, Cassie.” And then there were no more words as he sealed their bargain with the press of his lips. He tasted of coffee and sweet applesauce and something else that could only be uniquely him. A multitude of thoughts chased each other around her head in the split second before she could no longer think as they enjoyed the sweet moment.

  They broke away to catch their breath, but he continued to hold her securely in his embrace. Cassie threw her head back and laughed. “My parents will have to forgive me after all. I managed to catch myself an Emmerson.”

  Charles joined her in shared laughter before his lips descended onto hers once more.

  The End

  Katie

  ~ BOOK 3 ~

  Orphan Train Series

  Wendy May Andrews

  ∞∞∞

  Sparrow Ink

  www.sparrowdeck.com

  Copyright © 2018 Wendy May Andrews

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced, transmitted, or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  www.wendymayandrews.com

  Can she risk love without sacrificing her independence?

  When Katie’s husband and baby died, she vowed to never face such heartache again. Accompanying a trainload of orphans to their new lives in Missouri affords Katie the opportunity to start a new life of her own. She jumps at the chance, determined to grab life with both hands.

  Doctor Wyatt Jeffries doesn’t appreciate Katie’s independence and determination. Having had his heart broken when his first wife’s illness turned her into a hard-hearted hellion, Wyatt is looking for a wife who will be happy staying home and raising babies. So he doesn’t understand why he can’t stop thinking about the town’s new seamstress.

  When the deadly threat of a mysterious illness looms, Katie and Wyatt are forced to work together to save their town. Is there any chance they can save their own hearts too?

  Dedication

  Because I was heartbroken when my big brother started school, my mother spent time reading to me and my love affair with books began. Books have been my haven and escape ever since. So I dedicate this book to all those whose favorite place is in the pages of a book. And to Mum and Dad for reading to me way back when.

  Acknowledgements

  Thanks go to my beta readers: Marlene, Suzanne, Monique, and Alfred – your zeal for my stories and making them better makes my heart happy.

  Thank you to my editor, Julie Sherwood, I love working with you. Any mistakes left are my fault, not hers.

  Thank you too to my online communities full of wonderful readers and writers who help me with research or cheer me on.

  And sincere thanks need to also go to my husband for being my everything – friend, partner, companion, web guru, formatter, idea sounding board, counterpart. You’re the best, Mr. Andrews.

  Chapter One

  K atie walked along the dusty trail reveling in the sweet clutch of the small, warm hand holding tightly to her own, careful not to reveal how much it meant to her by holding on too tightly. One of the few little girls to have been included in the group of train orphans, little Annie still hadn’t found a family to take her in. While Katie wanted her to find a good home, she was secretly glad that she could spend a little more time with her. If only she were in a position to take her herself. She swallowed the sigh that pushed to escape. She smiled instead.

  “Good day, ladies,” the gentleman lifted his hat slightly and bent a little, as though to bow to them.

  Frowning, Katie wanted to ignore him, but Annie, usually so shy, stopped in her tracks to gaze at the man. Katie couldn’t very well carry on without her.

  “Hello,” the little girl answered simply and continued staring at the stranger.

  When he crouched down to be on her level, Katie’s heart softened ever so slightly before she hardened her resolve once more. It didn’t matter that he was approachable. Being handsome as the devil with his thick dark hair, clear gray eyes, and strong cheekbones and jaw line was a drawback if you asked her. Made her think he was in league with the Dark Knight to be that good looking. He probably had a black heart to go with it. She wanted to snatch Annie up into her arms and run away while babbling a mantra of “handsome men are devils you must avoid,” over and over. But that would never do. She gritted her teeth and bore the silence that felt like it stretched for eons but was probably merely a coupl
e heartbeats in length.

  When it seemed like neither of the females were going to say anything further, the stranger broke the silence, directing his words toward Annie. “You must be new around here, young miss. I haven’t yet had the pleasure of making your acquaintance.”

  “I just arrived,” she answered, her small chest seeming to fill with importance at the adult attention. She wasn’t used to men being around; it was usually only women who worked at the orphanage, except for the laborers, and they never paid her much mind anyway.

  Katie swallowed the lump in her throat when she saw the depth of fascination in the little girl’s gaze. Katie again suppressed the urge to snatch her away. She didn’t want to develop the reputation as a madwoman in her new town. She couldn’t flee from every stranger. She was new in town — everyone was a stranger.

  “Welcome to Bucklin. My name is Dr. Wyatt Jeffries.”

  Annie’s eyes grew wide at his words, and she stepped closer to Katie. “I don’t like doctors,” she declared firmly.

  Katie pursed her lips together to prevent a grin from spreading across her face. She needn’t scare the girl off about this man; he’d done it all by himself. She avoided his curious gaze as the doctor looked at her for some sort of explanation. She didn’t oblige.

  She realized she ought not to brush past him wordlessly. If he truly was the town doctor, she would probably have to encounter him from time to time about town. She would never seek out his services, of course, but she didn’t want to appear to be a total boor.

  “We really ought to be on our way, Dr. Jeffries. It was nice of you to welcome us. Good day.”

  With those words, she hurried away with Annie tucked firmly beside her. She ignored his words that followed her.

  “But you didn’t even tell me your names.”

  Her strides were purposeful and Annie had to almost run to keep up. Katie tried to talk herself into a state of calm once more. She needn’t drag the child for the next mile while she worked off her fidgets.

  “Well that was too bad, wasn’t it, Sweet Pea? What are the chances of us running into a doctor here? I wasn’t even sure if a town this size would have a doctor.”

  “He seemed nice until he told us that, didn’t he?”

  “It wasn’t really long enough for me to decide,” Katie answered carefully, not wanting to put her own issues onto the child. “But never mind about him, we’re almost to the mercantile. I can’t wait to see what they have.”

  “Do you think they might have some lemon drops?” The child’s hopeful tone put a grin back onto Katie’s face.

  “There is a strong possibility. And an even stronger chance that I’ll buy you a couple. But you mustn’t spoil your appetite for dinner.”

  The little girl skipped along beside her, delighted at the prospect of such a treat. Katie’s heart turned over. The poor child had faced so much trouble and loss in her six short years. It was a marvel that she could still delight in such simple things as the prospect of a treat. Katie resolved to do all in her power to ensure the little girl was soon settled into a happy, secure home. How she would do that was still to be determined, but she would worry about that later. Now she had the delightful prospect ahead of her of exploring the local general store. She knew it would be nothing like what they had in New York, but she was anxious to see what there was. It would help her know where to begin with this new life she had set for herself. She was determined to make it a success despite her rocky reaction to any men she encountered. With time, surely that would pass. Or she would at least be able to hide it better.

  With a firm tread and her chin lifted to enforce her determination, Katie stepped briskly through the open door and felt her eyes widen as she looked around. She suppressed a giggle. It was nearly everything you could find in New York but on a much smaller scale, all packed into one open room. She could barely take it all in there was such a variety of items on display.

  “Lemon drops,” Annie whispered reverentially.

  The little girl’s tone surprised a giggle out of Katie’s throat despite its tightness. She took a deep, fortifying breath. Determined to show the little girl a good time, Katie kept the smile pinned to her face, maintained her relaxed grip on the girl’s hand, and began to stroll around the room.

  “We’ll get the candies when we’re ready to go,” she told the eager youngster. “We can’t eat them until we’ve paid for them, anyway.”

  The store owner must have overheard because his kind smile encompassed them as he beckoned them closer. “Surely you can have one for now to tide you over,” he said with a wink as he pulled one of the coveted candies out of the case and dropped it into Annie’s eagerly outstretched hand.

  Her eyes round as saucers, Annie looked from Katie to the kindly shopkeeper. “Thank you ever so much, mister.” There was no way she was going to refuse his largesse. She popped the candy into her mouth and graced both adults with a wide grin.

  “That was kind of you, thank you,” Katie murmured, trying to ignore his questioning gaze, knowing he probably wanted to chat. She didn’t have very much experience with towns and villages, but she had no trouble interpreting the look of curiosity painted on his face. Despite the long train ride, she still hadn’t fully settled on what she would be willing to share about herself. She offered a polite smile, took Annie’s hand once more, and proceeded to meander around the store.

  There was an amazing array of articles. Not the variety of each type that you would find in New York, of course, but she was surprised to see that she couldn’t think of anything she might want or need that wasn’t present in the crowded emporium. No doubt the presence of train service made keeping the store stocked that much easier, despite how far they were from a real city. It reaffirmed for her that she had made a good decision when she thought to settle here. She felt the first hint of assurance settle into her mind, and with it, her shoulders relaxed incrementally.

  Looking over the many bolts of fabric, Katie nodded to herself. She would be able to set herself up as a seamstress. Hopefully there wasn’t already one in the town, or if there was, they wouldn’t make too much fuss about her efforts to get some business. Surely the town was big enough that anyone who wanted to start a business could do so.

  Katie glanced back at the shopkeeper. She would have to discuss with him whether or not he could offer her a discount on fabric since she would obviously be a frequent customer. Her stomach knotted itself up at the thought. Perhaps another day. It was enough that she had ventured out this far. With a sigh, she picked out the few items she absolutely required and made her way to the counter.

  “And a small bag of the lemon candies, please, sir.”

  The shopkeeper, although seemingly pleasant, hadn’t said anything as he added up her purchases. Katie appreciated that he was sufficiently perceptive to realize she didn’t want to talk. Maybe people here mind their own business, she thought to herself with an inward smile.

  “Have a good day,” was all he said as the two girls left the store with a wave.

  Annie cast her a sideways glance. “Did you like the store?”

  “I did, did you?”

  The little girl shrugged. “There were too many things for my eyes to see. I’ll have to go again to decide for sure.”

  This prompted a chuckle from Katie. “Why is that?”

  All Annie did at first was shrug again. She lapsed into silence for a moment, as though pondering the depth of the question. “I s’pose it’s nice that there was so much stuff. But I think it’s better if there aren’t so many things. That store made me think of a New York street. All crowded and colourful. I like it better here.”

  “Do you really?”

  The girl nodded vigorously.

  “I’m so happy to hear that. I would have thought you would be a little bit homesick for the familiarity of the city.”

  “Everything I was used to was already gone,” the girl answered, her wistful tone making Katie’s heart ache.

 
“Of course,” Katie replied and squeezed her hand. “This will soon become familiar, I hope.”

  The child’s sunny smile appeared in response.

  Katie marvelled at how resilient the child was. She had lost everything. No parents or siblings. Only strangers to care for her in the orphanage. And now a strange new place to call home. Hopefully a nice family would soon claim her as their own. The thought made Katie’s heart clench once more, even though it would be the best thing for the child. Again, she wished she could claim her herself. But she shoved the useless thought away. The child needed a mother and a father. Not a broken widow like herself.

  “Shall we go sit on the edge of the planks to eat our candies while we watch to see what there is to see?”

  Annie’s vigorous nod was accompanied by a grin.

  Chapter Two

  W yatt Jeffries watched the woman and her daughter walk away. He stood stock still with his heart hammering. He ought to sit down. There was clearly something wrong with him. It didn’t take his doctor’s degree to know it wasn’t healthy for a man’s heart to hammer at such a speed.

  His eyes followed the pair as they made their way into the mercantile. He ought to be continuing on his way. Mrs. Jenkins’ boils wouldn’t be getting better on their own. And she certainly wouldn’t thank him for dawdling.

  Shaking his head wouldn’t rid it of the image of the lovely brunette with her crooked smile and wary eyes. The color in her cheeks had proclaimed her vigorous health despite her cold reception to his greeting. Even though she was a tiny little woman, she had seemed to be brimming with life as he watched her interacting with the child before he had interrupted them. Wyatt would guess she was in her early twenties. He wondered who her husband was.

  “Surely you’re committing several sins at once by thinking about how attractive another man’s wife is,” he muttered to himself as he set off in the direction of Mrs. Jenkins and her boils.