Their eyes were locked on one another’s. Finally, Seth pulled her closer. “I don’t want you to leave Ruby, I want you to stay. I want Timmy to stay, too. There’s just one problem.”
Ruby’s shoulders sank. If only she hadn’t mentioned wanting love. It was too much to ask. Ruby closed her eyes trying to forget how much she wanted Seth to care for her, to love her.
Seth reached over, placed his hand under her chin and tilted her head up.
“Ruby, the problem is, I don’t want a relationship without love either.”
Ruby sighed. If only he could love her.
“I understand, Seth. Timmy and I will leave.” She tried to turn away. There was no point in waiting. They needed to leave now. “Do you know where I can sell my ruby necklace?”
Seth reached held her, his cupped hand turning her face back toward him.
“You don’t understand Ruby. You don’t need to sell your necklace.”
“But I’ll need money. I can’t ask you to give us anything more.”
Seth just kept shaking his head. “You don’t understand Ruby, I don’t want a relationship without love, but I do want a relationship with you.”
Ruby’s face lit up. “Do you mean…?”
“Yes. I want you Ruby, and I want love. I think I’ve been waiting for you my whole life.”
Ruby’s heart began to soar, but quickly crashed. “But, Timmy?”
“Losing my son tore my heart apart, but I think you and Timmy can put it back together. I promise I’ll love Timmy.” His eyes were riveted on her. “Ruby, will you be my wife? A real wife?”
Ruby felt her heart bursting with joy. “Yes, Seth, oh yes.”
Seth leaned closer and pressed his lips on hers. Ruby’s arm slipped around his neck and she thoroughly enjoyed her first real kiss.
Epilogue
Ruby stood beside Seth on the platform, her cheeks pink from excitement. She’d been married several months now and Seth had turned out to be a wonderful husband and father. She was proud to stand beside him on the day he was being sworn in as mayor.
Her eyes scanned the crowd of people who’d become her friends. At the very front stood the three Carter brothers with wide grins on their faces. They’d been Seth’s strongest supporters during the election, to the point of almost forcing some voters to choose Seth.
The biggest issue that had stood against Seth was the saloon. The old mayor; Mr. Crane, was in favor of keeping the saloon in Waterhole, whereas Seth wanted to close it down. There were quite a few men against the idea, however, Seth was well liked and his lovely wife had promised several of the men to look into finding them mail order brides.
In the end, Seth had won by a landslide. Mr. Crane and his wife packed up their belongings and left town. Although sad to lose one of the few women in town, Ruby felt some of the gossip the woman spread would now dwindle away. This town was really only for strong women like the Sheriff brides; Sam, Jo, Dan and Rob. All of whom, Ruby was now close friends with. Their sense of justice and strong wills would forever help to guide the town, even if none of them were the sheriff any longer.
They supported Seth’s hopes for a saloon free town.
Ruby could feel the weight of the lovely ruby necklace around her throat. She now looked at it as a thing of beauty, because Seth thought she looked beautiful when she wore it. However, today was the last time she would ever don it.
She and Seth had agreed to send the necklace back to her mother. Ruby had finally written her mother a letter, hoping to persuade the woman to join them in Waterhole. The woman had balked at the idea of leaving the city. However, they did find out that Sophia was no longer the sought after and desired dancer at the Golden Dawn, so she would need money to continue to live in the city. Ruby had hopes of a future reconciliation even though Sophia asked nothing about her son.
Timmy was growing into a strong, healthy and vocal child. His favorite words were Mama, Dada and boy, the last he used for each of the Carter boys.
Ruby looked out over the small town of Waterhole and wondered if it would ever become a thriving western town, or always remain as it now was. Part of her hoped, someday it would grow, but for now, a safe town, with no saloon was good enough.
She turned and glanced at Seth. His eyes met hers and for several seconds the world stood quit still. The both could feel the love emanating from the other.
Theirs was no longer just an arranged marriage. It was now a true, full and everlasting marriage of love.
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TERESA IVES LILLY’s ninth grade teacher inspired her writing by allowing her to take a twelfth-grade creative writing course during the summer. After that, it has been her passion and dream to write. However, until her Salvation in 1986 when she discovered the genre of Christian Romance, Teresa did not even try writing. Since then, she has gone on to write over twenty-five novellas and novels including two published by Barbour Books. Teresa lives in San Antonio, Texas where she and her husband are close to their three grown children and one grandson. Teresa believes God let her be born “at such a time as this” to be able to write and share her stories of faith. Her book Orphan Train Bride was a best seller for two weeks on Amazon. PLEASE LEAVE POSITIVE REVIEWS ON AMAZON AND GOODREADS FOR HER. THANK YOU.
Series by Teresa Ives Lilly
BRIDES OF WATERHOLE, TEXAS
