The Judge's Bride (Montana Brides of Solomon's Valley Book 1) by Patricia PacJac Carroll

Author:Patricia PacJac Carroll [Carroll, Patricia PacJac]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PacJac Publishing
Published: 2017-04-20T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Rachel flipped through the pages of the catalog and pointed out the Bouquet dOr, a yellow climber, and a tea rose that was a pink. She would add more if they survived the Montana winters. She sighed, just the idea of having the fragrance made her homesick. Her roses had been her salvation on the farm.

Frank had chided her on more than one occasion that he ought to quit farming crops and raise flowers. She sighed at the remembrance of him, and the good times they’d had together. An image of Sol slipped into her mind. Would they be able to put away the past and enjoy one another? Or would they merely be companions brought together because of need?

Her cheeks flushed warmly. She prayed that need would be held at bay for some time. She wasn’t ready to consider her wifely duties just yet.

William tapped her shoulder, causing her to jump.

“Mother, are you ready to go? I think we should leave so we aren’t out at dark.”

“Yes.” She thanked the storeowner, embarrassed that she had forgotten his name. She wasn’t the best at remembering people’s names. She laughed to herself, perhaps she used up all her naming faculties with her brood. “Let’s get home. I miss the children.”

He laughed. “I’m sure they’re fine. They were excited to play with the pups today.” He grew quiet, his face taking on a pensive expression. After she was seated in the wagon, he climbed in beside her.

“Mother, are you sure you want to marry the judge?”

Rachel stilled her racing doubts. She mustn’t let him see her indecision and fear. “William, it is why we are here. I trust the judge is a good man. He’s treated us with nothing but kindness.”

“I don’t like it. I could get a job. I could—”

“William, you are a good son, but you are not my husband or responsible for providing for the family. You have your own life to live. Have you thought any more about Sue Goodfert? I thought you and she had talked about marriage.”

He shook his head. “No. We weren’t right for one another. Once Father died, she drifted away from me. She wants a man who can provide a good and easy life for her.”

“I see.” Rachel began to understand some of her son’s discomfort at the arrangement between her and Sol. “William, don’t judge me too harshly for the decision I have made to marry Sol. He is a good man. He will provide nicely for me and all of you children. Give him a chance.”

Her son’s jaw muscles tightened, but he held his tongue and remained silent. She could feel his displeasure. That angered her. Life for a woman alone wasn’t easy or full of opportunities, especially when she had ten children to care for. She was fortunate to have found Sol and that he had agreed to take on her children.

She rubbed William’s arm. “We will have good times again. Sol is a good man. I can feel that in my heart.

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