His Perfect Bride (The Brides of Paradise Ranch - Spicy Version Book 1) (16 page)

Epilogue

The first chill of autumn was always a relief after a long hot summer. The change in the leaves that marked the season was one of the most beautiful things that Corva could think of every year. She’d tried before to capture the colors of fall on canvas, but this year, she was finally able to paint a picture that embodied everything she loved about the season. And among the red, orange, and gold leaves in the painting she’d so recently finished was something else that had recently been finished—a new house.

“What an excellent structure,” Mr. Charlie Garrett complimented Corva and Franklin as they stood by a table laden with every kind of treat, all for the friends who had come to warm the new house. “I particularly like the way you’ve built the whole thing on one level.”

“That was Gideon’s idea.” Franklin nodded to his brother-in-law across the room, who was busy keeping Minnie from using one of Franklin’s canes as a sword to battle her little brother with. “I don’t need as much help getting around as I was afraid I would after the burns,” Franklin went on, “but it’s still nice not to have to worry about stairs.”

“I suppose that will be handy for you as well.” Olivia Garrett winked at Corva.

Corva’s cheeks burned bright pink, and she rested a hand on her barely rounded stomach. “I didn’t think people knew yet.”

“This is Haskell, Wyoming,” Charlie laughed. “Everybody knows everything.”

“Everybody knows everything about what?” Lucy bounced over to join the group, a baby on her hip.

“About everybody’s business in town,” Olivia laughed. “And you’ve just shown us all why.”

“Because everybody is always talking about things all the time?” Lucy grinned.

“No, sis, because some people like to butt their noses into everyone’s business.” Franklin nudged her arm.

“Not everyone’s business, just family business.” She elbowed Franklin back.

Corva watched the exchange, her heart feeling light. So much had changed during the summer, in the months since the fire. Not only had Franklin recovered from his burns far better than anyone could have predicted, he’d learned to smile more, and he’d spent more time with his family. The Haskell family had always been close, as far as Corva knew, but throughout the summer, they had grown even closer. Franklin and Lucy got along so well, like a…well, they didn’t use the expression “like a house on fire” in the Haskell family anymore.

“Do you know what else I know?” Lucy went on as everyone finished giggling.

“Ooh? What?” Corva asked. It was so easy to fit in with these people, especially Lucy, especially when there was town gossip to be had.

Lucy leaned in closer. “I’ve heard that several more of the ranch hands here on Paradise Ranch have asked Aunt Ginny and Josephine and you, Charlie, to bring brides out for them, now that they’ve seen how happy Franklin is.”

“Is that so?” Franklin asked.

“It is,” Charlie confirmed with a nod. “And Mrs. Breashears over in Hurst Home has let us know that several young women there are mighty interested in the job.”

“So what are you going to do?” Corva asked, thinking of the friends she had made in her stay at Hurst Home.

“Why, we’re going to find them suitable husbands, is what we’re going to do,” Charlie answered with a wink. “Seeing as we were so successful with our first try.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Corva let out a sigh of relief. She wished that every woman who had been through what she had could have as happy an ending and as lovely a new start as she’d had.

“Well,” Lucy leaned closer once more, “I’ve heard that a certain Mr. Luke Chance already has a bride lined up for him.”

“Really?” Olivia glanced to her husband. “Have you three been looking for a bride for Luke?” She seemed more surprised than anything else.

“We have.” Charlie nodded. “Although I can tell you, it’s been no easy task.”

“Luke is a good man,” Franklin began, face slightly pinched, “but he’s the last one I’d pick to be ready to settle down.”

“Believe it or not, he was eager as could be when he approached us. I guess he’s taking a page from Virginia’s book,” Charlie said.

“Well then, I hope that whatever young woman you pick is ready,” Lucy said.

Charlie grinned from ear to ear. “From what Mrs. Breashears tells me of the young woman she’s sending out this way, Luke had better be ready for her.”

Corva’s mind raced with all the possibilities of women who she’d gotten to know at Hurst Home. Whoever the lucky girl was, she didn’t think they could possibly beat the level of happiness and satisfaction that she’d found with Franklin.

She stepped closer to Franklin, slipping her arm through his. “Whoever she is,” she said. “I wish her all the love that we have found.”

“I’m not sure that it’s possible for a man to love a woman more than I love you,” Franklin added in a whisper.

He bent closer to kiss Corva, in spite of all their friends standing around, and as her heart flooded with joy, it occurred to Corva that she didn’t care one bit how unladylike it was. She loved her husband.

* * *

I hope you’ve enjoyed
His Perfect Bride
! Remember, reviews are always appreciated. And of course, there will be more brides. You can read all about Luke and his bride, Eden, in
His Dangerous Bride
, available now! Yep, Luke had better be ready, because Eden is not at all what he expected. And if you haven’t read about how Franklin received his injuries, you can read all about it in
Trail of Destiny
, part of the Hot on the Trail series.
Click here for a complete list of other works by Merry Farmer
.

About the Author

I hope you have enjoyed
His Perfect Bride
. If you’d like to be the first to learn about when the new series comes out and more, please sign up for my newsletter here:
http://eepurl.com/RQ-KX
And remember, Read it, Review it, Share it! For a complete list of works by Merry Farmer with links, please visit
http://wp.me/P5ttjb-14F
.

Merry Farmer is an award-winning novelist who lives in suburban Philadelphia with her two cats, Butterfly and Torpedo. She has been writing since she was ten years old and realized one day that she didn't have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something. It was the best day of her life. She then went on to earn not one but two degrees in History so that she would always have something to write about. Her books have topped the Amazon and iBooks charts and have been named finalists in the prestigious RONE and Rom Com Reader’s Crown awards.

You can email her at
[email protected]
or follow her on Twitter @merryfarmer20.

Merry also has a blog,
http://merryfarmer.net
,

and a Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/merryfarmerauthor

Acknowledgements

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my awesome beta-readers, Caroline Lee and Jolene Stewart, for their suggestions and advice. And a big, big thanks to my editor, Cissie Patterson, for doing an outstanding job, as always, and for leaving hilarious comments throughout the manuscript. Also, a big round of applause for my marketing and promo team, Sara Benedict and Jessica Valliere.

And a special thank you to the Pioneer Hearts group! Do you love Western Historical Romance? Wanna come play with us? Become a member at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pioneerhearts/

Other Works by Merry Farmer

The Noble Hearts Trilogy

(Medieval Romance)

The Loyal Heart
,
The Faithful Heart
,
The Courageous Heart

Montana Romance

(Historical Western Romance – 1890s)

Our Little Secrets
,
Fool for Love
,
Sarah Sunshine
,

In Your Arms
,
The Indomitable Eve
,
Seeks For Her

Somebody to Love

Hot on the Trail

(Oregon Trail Romance – 1860s)

Trail of Kisses
,
Trail of Hope
,
Trail of Longing
,