GW strode over. “I don’t know what’s been going on between you two, but whatever it is, I’m glad it’s settled. And I don’t think anyone will mind if you don’t stay for supper. I remember my own newlywed days.” He grinned and tucked his thumbs and forefingers into his vest pockets, heading into the dining room with the rest of the party guests. As he turned the corner, he looked back and gave them a broad wink. “Merry Christmas.”
Bowie threaded his fingers through Elise’s, laughing. “Well, Hart sons always listen to our pa. Guess that means I can take you home, wife.”
She rested her head against his arm, still unable to believe how her night had changed from miserable to majestic in such a short time.
When they reached the house, Gage was there to take the horses and buggy, and the minute he was out of sight, Bowie scooped Elise up in his arms. She squealed and flung her arms around his neck, but he didn’t stop, striding over the threshold, kicking the door shut behind them, and heading up the stairs. “I’ll have you know, I am never sleeping in that little bed across the hall again, and don’t think I don’t know what you were up to, woman, ordering such a large bed for in here and such short ones for the other rooms.”
Elise laughed, kissed him on his scarred cheek, and said, “I was willing to try anything to get your attention.”
“You’ve had my attention since the first time I smelled your jasmine perfume.” He set her down beside the bed. “And I can prove it.” He withdrew a scrap of fabric from his suit coat pocket.
“What is that?” She took it, frowning.
“It’s one of your hankies. You dropped it more than a decade ago in the hospital, and I’ve had it all these years. Having it got me through some tough times.” He trailed his finger down her cheek. “But having you is much better.”
“Bowie,” she whispered as she wrapped her arms around him, clutching the handkerchief, overcome with love for him.
“I love you, Elise,” he whispered against her hair. “I want to make you happy. I want to fill this house with kids and laughter and love. I don’t want you to ever regret marrying me.”
She thought she might burst with happiness, with all the love he was offering her. It was more than she’d hoped for and everything she’d dreamed. “I can’t believe we’ve found love at last, after all these years.”
Bowie reached out and shut the bedroom door, sealing them into a world of two.
Epilogue
by Erica Vetsch
New Year’s Day, 1875
7 Heart Ranch, Hartville, Texas
GW sniffed and blinked hard, slowly walking through the dining room to stand in front of the portrait of his wife. The bundle in his arms squirmed and snuffled before quieting back to sleep.
“Well, Victoria, we did it.” He eased the blanket back from the baby’s face. “I’d like to present Edmund Jackson Davis Hart, Jack for short. Your first Hart grandchild.” GW wiped away a tear with his shoulder. “Hays and Emma kept up with tradition. He’s named after the governor of Texas.”
GW angled his chair at the head of the table so he could see the portrait and sat, glancing down at Jack’s full cheeks and head of dark hair, then back up at his wife’s lovely face.
“I sure wish you were here to see him. He looks a lot like Hays. You always did have pretty babies, and it looks like the next generation will be just as handsome.”
He surveyed the long dining room table, set for the New Year’s Day dinner. The number of chairs had doubled in the past twelve months. “Hard to believe it’s been a whole year, but what a year it was. All your boys are married now. You’d like their wives, every one of them.”
Going down the table, he relived each romance: Hays’s whirlwind courtship of Emma, Chisholm’s falling for a Mexican beauty, Travis reconciling with his sweet Annie, Houston winning the love of his childhood sweetheart, Crockett doing a kind deed for his neighbors and ending up head over boots in love with Jane, Austin fixin’ to marry one gal and falling for her twin sister instead, and Bowie realizing he loved Elise and her happiness meant more to him than his own insecurities.
“Yep, quite a year. Seven marriages, and a new grandbaby in twelve months. And another baby will be making his appearance soon. Probably another boy. Harts tend to throw boys. Though I wouldn’t mind a girl or two, just to keep things interesting.”
Laughter came from the parlor across the hall. “You raised some mighty fine boys, Victoria, and smart, too. Travis guessed what was behind the codicil to my will, and he rounded on me pretty good for not telling him. He prescribed some new pills that he said should help with my heart trouble, and he said if I took it easy and did what he said, I should live for quite a few years yet, Lord willing. Which is good, because while I’m looking forward to seeing you again when the Lord calls me Home, I still have a lot to live for.”
He rose, pressing a kiss against Jack’s forehead, and went to rejoin his family.