They would have to be enough.
* * *
Nate was relieved that Louise spent much of the day reading from the Bible he’d bought for her. Only one other thing would have pleased him more. If she’d slept. She had to be tired and immensely sore, though she did her best to hide it.
He smiled as he thought of how Kamoose and Colonel Macleod had saluted her. She certainly deserved the respect she’d earned at the fort. As many of the men said, she was the sort of woman who could handle the challenges of the new West.
Once he’d taken care of the details of buying the place, he’d see if she would like to be part of building a new ranch. He smiled to himself at the thought of Louise and Chloe in the improved cabin on what he hoped would soon be his land.
In his mind he envisioned how she’d make it a real home, all the touches she would add to it. Before he knew it, he’d passed the whole day and they were stopping for the night just before dark. “Our last time to sleep in a stopping house before we reach Eden Valley Ranch.”
She grinned widely. “I won’t be sorry to sleep in a proper bed night after night, but I also can’t say I’ve minded the adventure of this journey.” Her gaze held his, seeking something more. His foolish heart wished she had enjoyed the closeness they’d shared on the trip.
The stopping house was smaller than most they’d slept in; the host somewhat taciturn. But none of that mattered. Tomorrow they would reach Edendale. He’d buy that piece of land and then ask Louise if she wanted to share the future with him.
He took his turn walking Chloe throughout the night and promised himself the first piece of furniture for his cabin would be a rocking chair.
The next morning they rose early and left before the sun broke over the horizon. On the last leg of their journey, he lifted the curtain so they could see the sunrise. Orange and pink and red filled the sky.
Louise leaned over his shoulder. “It’s beautiful.”
“The promise of a good day and more to come.” A future as bright as the sun beckoned.
They made good time throughout the day, with Petey as eager to reach their destination as any of them. It was midafternoon when they approached Edendale. Nate opened the curtains so he could point out the various landmarks. Then the stage rolled to a stop before Macpherson’s store.
He jumped down, helped the ladies to the wooden sidewalk in front of the store, smiling at the little bundle cradled in Louise’s arms, then turned to help Petey unload the trunks. He meant to go to the livery stables and rent a wagon to take him to Eden Valley Ranch, but a wagon rolled up behind the stage and Buster, the youngest cowboy from the ranch, hailed him.
“Say, are you heading back to the ranch?” Nate asked.
“As soon as I pick up the order from the store.”
“We’ll ride along, if that’s okay.”
“Sure thing.”
Nate turned and introduced Missy, Louise and the baby. Buster stared at Missy a moment, swallowed hard, then forced his gaze away. Nate grinned, knowing every man in the area would have the same reaction to Missy’s beauty. He saw her only as the girl he’d known most of his life, almost a little sister. Compared to Louise, Missy was too fragile looking for his taste.
A few minutes later, they were in the wagon headed toward the ranch. Louise, Missy and the baby were in the back. Louise had insisted she’d be more comfortable in the box than on the hard bench.
Nate sat beside Buster. Several times, he turned around to point out various things.
“The new church. It’s almost finished.” Blue and Clara had built the pews recently. “We’re waiting to find a preacher.”
Louise studied the building.
“Back there is where the Mortons run a kind of dining room. They feed travelers and Mrs. Morton bakes goods that Macpherson sells at his store.” Suddenly he could think of so much he wanted to tell her. How Cassie had started the business, and she and Roper had worked together to care for four orphaned children, and were now married and parents to those four children. Strange how a child or children had brought so many of the young married couples together. It seemed to apply to him, as well. If Louise hadn’t been expecting a baby, if she hadn’t needed him to protect her from Vic, if they hadn’t agreed to a pretend marriage...well, things would be vastly different. Seemed God had worked everything out to bring Nate and Louise together.