Abbie smiles and squeezes his arm. “You’re amazing, Tucker.” Stepping inside, they quickly glance around, and Abbie smiles. “I know what I need. Where will you be?’ she asks.
“Right at your side, Mrs. Daygle,” he frowns and glances around the store. It’s busy with people, and he’s worried about protecting her.
“Mrs. Daygle? Where did that come from?” she asks as she moves to the section where the dresses are.
“My mother’s maiden name,” Tucker says.
“Oh.” Abbie selects two gowns. One in purple and another in dark hunter green. A clerk approaches her and helps her to the dressing room to change.
Tucker stands against the wall, waiting and when she steps out from behind the curtain, his smile lights up his face.
Abbie blushes and turns slowly so he can see the whole dress. “Purple is a happy color, isn’t it?” she asks softly. It’s purple satin with black velvet trimming, and a bustled gown. Small black buttons draw the eyes to her waist. Fitted to her form, she is stunning.
“It’s the color of glory. You should wear it often,” he insists. “That’s more like it, darling. You look beautiful.”
The clerk sighs, “You two must be newlyweds. I have two more in the same size, a little different style. One is a turquoise that would look amazing with your coloring, and the other is a beautiful blue.”
“No…” Abbie starts to say, but Tucker jumps in.
“Yes, she’ll take them,” Tucker insists.
Hurrying away with a laugh, the clerk calls out that she will have them waiting at the register.
“Now I will need a bag to put them in,” Abbie says.
“Excellent, I want to get a baseball glove and ball,” Tucker says as he guides her to the rack he’s been eyeing.
“Why?” she asks.
“Every child should learn to play ball.”
Abbie’s eyes light up, and she smiles. “Oh, that’s a wonderful idea!” Together they choose it and hurry to grab a bag and pay.
Abbie pulls out her cash and pays before Tucker can object and she smirks in satisfaction. It strikes him that she has no idea that he makes a second income from his land.
As they step into the street, she slips her hand into his free one and squeezes tightly. “Thank you. That was fun. Though I admit, I feel guilty not wearing the traditional black.”
“Why? He doesn’t deserve your respect,” Tucker snaps.
“I understand why you’d say that, Tucker, but it’s not just about me now. For some reason, God has decided to entrust the life of a child to me, and I intend to make him proud. I can’t do that if I hold onto bitterness and hate.”
Shame strikes Tucker hard. How often had he thought of his ex-wife with just that? He’s never once stopped to look and ask what God’s plan in his life was. Was there a lesson hidden in the pain?
He is quiet as he guides her to the train, and they wait to board. “Thank you, Abbilene for the lesson. It would seem God is using you in many ways.”
Surprise flickers across her face as she steps closer to him. “What do you mean?”
“Only that I have a lot to learn about God’s grace. Thank you for teaching me.” He presses a kiss to her forehead, and she smiles up at him.
“You’re welcome.”
Chapter 23
Abbie watches Tucker sleep and smiles when he snores. Her pain is keeping her awake. They have a three-hour train ride, and she is hoping that it will be uneventful.
Watching over Tucker, she is surprised by her feelings toward him. The physical attraction is undeniable, but it’s the protective urge that he brings out in her that has her worried. He’s been hurt and has yet to forgive his ex-wife, not that she can blame him.
If Burton hadn’t pushed his child on her, she might have carried that anger and resentment for years as well. The little boy waiting for her deserves better, and he will need her to be strong for him.
In her heart, she hears a battle cry calling her to pick up her shield and protect the men in her life. No matter how big or small, sometimes they need a warrior too. She grins and bows her head, asking her Father to provide her with the skills and strength that she will need.
Tucker told her that he sent a telegram to some friends to meet them at the station. She’s nervous about meeting them. What will they think of this situation? “Why do I care?” she wonders as the scenery flows by, and it occurs to her that she doesn’t have to care. The only person that matters is the one guiding her steps.
San Francisco is abuzz with activity. Abbie stares in wide-eyed shock at the number of people moving through the train station.
Tucker slips an arm around her shoulders and surveys the station. “We don’t need to worry about our bags. The boys are picking them up for me.”
He leads her through the crowd, snapping a sharp, “No,” at anyone who attempts to approach them.
“What do they want, Tucker?” she asks softly.
“Money, or anything you will give them, Abbs.” He glares at a large, mountain of a man approaching them and Tucker smiles in relief when he recognizes him.
“Shep!” Dressed in all black, save for the dark blue vest and hat, the man is intimidating to look at. He is well over two inches taller than Tucker. His hair is short, and he wears a black mustache and goatee.
Abbie steps into Tucker with a gasp when he bows in front of her.
“Ma’am, forgive me, but we need to move.” His voice is a deep rich baritone, and even as he speaks to them, he is scanning the station for
