The Marshal's Ready-Made Family & Conveniently Wed by Sherri Shackelford

Author:Sherri Shackelford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-07-08T12:51:43+00:00

* * *

Daisy sat at the foot of the table in the center of the small cabin. At the side of the table, James and John climbed onto the bench they had helped their father build.

“Boys, we need to talk.” She wasn’t sure exactly what to tell them first. “We’ve all been through a lot in the last few weeks. You have been such good boys. And you know I’d do anything in the world for you.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they answered in unison.

She took her father’s letter from the pocket of her skirt. “You know how happy your papa was when you did something he asked you to do?” They both nodded, then looked at each other curiously before turning back to her and crossing their arms on the table in front of them. Matching brows drew together to join mirrored frowns.

“This is a letter from Papa Warren.” She laid the letter on the table and smoothed it with her palm. A breeze lifted the lace curtain at the window by the door, causing the pages to flutter. The air’s freshness helped her draw the breath for her next bit of news.

“He wants me to do something that will help us keep our home and make a way for you boys to still have this land when you’re grown up—just like your papa wanted.” The lack of understanding in their eyes caused Daisy to move straight to the point.

“I’m going to marry Mr. Barlow.”

“Why, Momma?” There was a chorus of disbelief. “You can’t! You’re already married to Papa. You can’t marry somebody else!”

Tears formed in her eyes, to be quickly blinked away. Daisy swallowed and reached out to the twins, inviting them into her embrace. They scrambled to her, and she wrapped them in her arms. “I know you don’t understand. I did marry your papa. He and I loved each other very much.” She pulled back and cupped one chin in each hand so James and John would see directly into her eyes. “I will always love your papa—just like you will. It hurts me as much as it hurts the two of you that he isn’t here anymore. We know he’s with Jesus.”

Small tear-stained faces waited for her to continue. “Papa worked hard for this land. He wouldn’t want us to lose everything because he isn’t here anymore. That could happen if I don’t marry again. It doesn’t mean I don’t love your papa. It means I love him so much that I want to make sure his dreams come true for you boys.”

James spoke. As the firstborn he usually took the lead, and John rarely objected. “How could we lose our house, Momma?” Clearly the eight-year-old didn’t understand.

“The government controls who gets to keep a house. Ladies have problems owning land that men don’t have. It’s complicated, so you’re going to have to trust that Papa Warren knows best.”

“Are you sure, Momma?” John’s concern reflected in his small face. “Can’t we keep it? It’s ours now.”

Daisy drew the boys back into a hug and kissed both blond heads.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.