Maggie's Valley (Strong Hearts, Open Spirits Book 1) Read online

  Maggie closed her eyes against the sharp tears that threatened to spill over. She then brushed off her skirt and walked into the house to put on some fresh coffee. What on earth could the man be doing here.

  “Mr. Danvers! Mr. Danvers!” Chaz shouted as he urged more speed out of his oversized mount. Jason raised a hand in greeting and Chaz reined in, then pulled his horse around to walk beside the gray. “You came back!” Chaz said. His face glowing with the thought that perhaps the man would stay.

  “Yes I did Chaz.” Jason smiled at the young man.

  “What took you so long? Did the snow keep ya from coming up earlier? How’s everythin’ in Sawbrush? There ain’t been any more trouble has there?”

  “No. Sawbrush is quiet. As a matter of fact the new lawman has arrived. A Sheriff elected by the people of the city. So my jobs all done.”

  “Oh.” Chaz said a hint of disappointment edging his voice. “What you got all these mules for anyhow?” Chaz finally asked. “There’s six of em’”

  Jason smiled. “Yes, there are six of them and I just thought I bring a few things up to Miss Maggie so she wouldn’t have to head down to town too soon.”

  “Well that’s plumb nice of you. What ya got?” he asked as he rode back along the string noticing many large household items.

  “Chaz would you mind, bringing them the rest of the way in?” Jason asked lifting the lead rope in his direction. “I’d like to have a minute to talk to Maggie, if you don’t mind.”

  Chaz grinned and took the rope. “Go on then.” He replied with a grin.

  Jason laid heels to his gelding and was off like a shot. The leggy gray stretched out and raced across the new grass that was turning the valley green again and in no time he was pulling to a stop in front of Maggie who stood in the front yard looking up at him with sorrow in her eyes.

  Whipping his hat from his head, he swung down and stepped up to her. His eyes studying her face, drinking her in like a man dying of thirst. Maggie gasped, as he stepped up to her, his face only inches from her own. The bright afternoon sun shown off of his dark hair, and absently she noted he needed a haircut. He was standing so close she could smell leather and horse, mixed with that special smell that was all him.

  “I’ve missed you Maggie.” He said his voice husky.

  “Oh, Jason. Please don’t” Maggie whispered, tears springing to her eyes. She thought she would get over him. She thought if she hid away in her valley, she could forget about him but in her heart she knew it wasn’t true and now here he stood, tall, handsome, and in the flesh, looking at her with what could only be love in his eyes and her traitorous heart leaped in her breast.

  He took a step closer, his body almost touching hers and reaching out a hand, pushed a lock of hair that had come loose from its pins, away from her face. “Why Maggie? Why shouldn’t I?” His voice was soft, teasing, but her heart was breaking. How could he do this to her? Why couldn’t he understand?

  “You know why?” Her voice came out a croak as she tried to turn away but his hand snaked out and gently grasped her arm, turning her back around to face him.

  “Ms. Weston. I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He chortled “Why ever not?” A soft sob escaped Maggie as she looked up at him, and he flinched. “Especially, when God went to so much trouble to bring us together.” He said then very softly, with her eyes still wide with surprise and shock, he kissed her.

  For a long moment, while his lips gently brushed hers, Maggie’s mind echoed his words. Then with a gasp she threw her arms around his neck, kissing him back, while her heart sang.

  “Whoo wee!” Chaz’s shout from just behind them broke them apart, but as they turned Jason placed his arm around Maggie’s shoulders and drew her close. He could still see the bright tears streaming down her cheeks as she to wrapped her arm around his waist in return and leaned into him.

  “I guess this means you’re staying.” Chaz said beaming at the new couple.

  “I guess it does at that.” Maggie stated, looking up into Jason’s smiling face.

  “I for one sure am glad of that.” Jason said, a roguish grin spreading across his face. “Otherwise Charlie and the preacher would be wasting their time coming up her tomorrow.

  “What?” Maggie gaped.

  “I told them they were invited to a wedding.”

  “But Jason, what happened? I had given up hope.”

  “You? Given up? I doubt that. Maybe you just couldn’t see what I had to go through to get here. But now I understand Maggie. It’s a wondrous thing.”

  “Yes, yes it is.”

  Epilogue:

  Maggie, stood quietly from the rocking chair, lifting the tiny bundle of blankets that swaddled her new son. You look so much like your father, she thought as she brushed a gentle kiss on his forehead.

  A soft smile stole across her even features as she laid her father’s name sake in his cradle. Joy squeezed at her heart as she looked around her. The big steel bed was neatly made up with bright quilts laid over the thick feather mattress and she watched as tiny dust motes scattered through the rays of sunlight filtering through the lace curtains.

  On silent feet she stepped out of the room and into the kitchen. The posterior of her husband was the first thing she saw as he bent to exam the interior of the big icebox. She smiled clearing her throat and making him jump. The tall man, uncoiled his form from the heavy wooden chest and turned to her with a smile.

  “I’m just looking for some lunch.” He said in way of explanation. “I didn’t want to wake you if you’d laid down with him.”

  Maggie walked around the table lifting her arms toward Jason a twinkle in her eye. In response he titled his head kissing her lightly. Pulling away from him Maggie grinned.

  “I’ll fix you something get yourself a cup of coffee and sit down.” She said, turning toward one of the many items that had made her life so much easier over the past year. Pulling ham and pickles from the low shelfs she turned back around to look at the handsome man who had brought so much joy to her life.

  Her mind cast itself back to that spring day so many months ago now when he’d coming ridding across the valley a string of pack mules laden with everything a woman could want to start her married life. Then the next day when Charlie and the preacher had ridden in driving twenty head of cattle before them.

  It had been a simple ceremony. Sweet and poignant in the soft air of spring, surrounded by her valley carpeted in flowers and long waving grass. Jason had turned his badge in to the new Sheriff in Sawbrush and had made this place his home, his heart.

  The front door opened and Chaz, taller than ever and beginning to fill out into a man proper, stepped through the door.

  “Howdy Miss Maggie. I reckon the little bit’s sleepin’ is he?” he smiled creeping across the floor so as not to wake the baby. Moving to the stove he poured himself a cup of coffee and slipped into a chair at the table. “I got the stock moved.” He stated, looking at Jason but also letting Maggie know. “We got a good lot of calves this year and I’d say the herds grown by about a third in just one year.”

  “That’s good to hear.” Jason replied sipping his coffee all the while watching his beautiful wife making thick ham sandwiches and plating them up with pickles.

  Maggie carried three plates to the table then turned back to the ice chest to pull out a pitcher of milk, placing it on the table with a glass for herself before settling down to eat lunch with her best fellas.

  Reaching out his hands and taking hold of the ones on either side of him Jason Danvers bowed his head and lifted a prayer of thanks to the Father above.

  “How are you keeping at the cabin Chaz?” she asked, after the prayer, lifting her sandwich off of the plate. “Do you have enough provisions in case we get a late snow?”

  The young man chortled. “Miss Maggie, I’ve got enough food out there for at least five people and since I mostly eat up here with you it’ll be ages before it’s all gone. Stop worrying about me. I’m ha
ppy as a pig in mud having a place to call my own.”

  He smiled then and took a huge bite of his sandwich, washing it down with a swig of coffee. He and Jason had built the cabin quickly the spring before as Chaz had insisted on moving out of the cabin as soon as the couple had wed, staying in the loft of the barn until his own place was ready. Maggie was amazed at how the boy had grown since coming to the valley and was proud of the young man he was becoming.

  Maggie laughed. Who would have imagined that such an unlikely crew could ever all end up in her isolated valley, far from all the noise and bustle of the growing state? Her heart filled with joy as she looked around her.

  She had a home that was full of faith and love. It had been a long journey full of heart ache and pain but as the good book said “Joy cometh in the morning.” With a happy smile she lifted a silent prayer of thanks to God for bringing her home.

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