The Most Eligible Bachelor Romance Collection: Nine Historical Romances Celebrate Marrying for All the Right Reasons (27 page)

She had to hurry. If Zeke arrived before her, he might think she wasn’t coming. He might leave, and she would never know whether he had chosen her or not.

Shoving aside low branches, she pounded down the trail, her chest heaving and her breath coming in gasps. It would be worth the stitch in her side if she arrived in time to catch him.

The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow in the small clearing next to the creek. She stood in the center of the light, not wanting to dirty her dress on a rock or log. She plucked a handful of summer blossoms from the water’s edge and clasped them in her sweaty palms as her bridal bouquet. She fixed her gaze on the path she had taken.

As time passed and the sun continued its descent over the mountain, Sadie’s hopes and dreams fell with it. Zeke wasn’t coming. She plopped on a log, her dress forming a cloud of white around her. All Ma’s work, all Sadie’s prayers, were for naught.

Her prince wasn’t coming. There would be no happily-ever-after for her.

She lifted a tear-streaked face toward the sky. “Why? Was it because of my foolish idea?”

She’d come to know days ago that having women compete for the hand of the town’s bachelor had been ridiculous. If someone had come to her with the idea of doing the same for the hand of a woman, she would have been outraged. Her scandalous behavior had affected the lives of so many.

A man and a woman should be free to choose their mate out of love, not be held within the confines of the rules of a competition. Sadie had been blinded by greed.

So be it. She must pay for her sins. Her drive to sell more newspapers had gotten her in this fix. Yes, she had wanted to help Pa, but she had hurt others in the process. Tomorrow, she would begin her search for a new life in a new town. The townsfolk would be glad to see her, and her ideas, leave on the next train.

Not wanting to face her parents or the town, she decided to wait awhile longer and let her pain have time to ebb. She couldn’t arrive at the church and watch Zeke marry another while she had tears staining her face.

Yet, she would have to go. The whole thing was her idea. She wouldn’t hide under a rock. She would arrive in her green church dress with her head held high.

The tears started fresh. Zeke had always loved her in green. She covered her face with her hands and sobbed.

A twig snapped. She bolted to her feet. A deer emerged from the trees on the other bank.

Sadie put a hand over her heart, having thought for a second that Zeke had arrived. When would her foolishness end? When would she grow up and act like a mature woman instead of a child? Her schemes and fancies were no better than Annabell’s.

She tossed the flowers she had picked into the stream and let them take her dreams with them as they floated away. Taking a deep breath, she lifted her hem and turned.

Zeke stepped from the trees, one hand behind his back. “No.”

She swallowed against the rock in her throat and sagged to the ground.

Chapter 10

N
o?” She stared at him in horror. Her heart shattered at her feet. “Then why are you here?”

“I mean no, I didn’t mean to hurt Annabell.” He ran his hand through his hair, causing it to stand on end. “I’m bungling this.”

He knelt beside her and handed her a bouquet of wildflowers. “I was laughing at something Ruby said. Sadie, I would never laugh at someone’s misfortune.” He took her hands and pulled her to her feet. “I’m so sorry I’m late. I had a rush of patients all day.”

“I thought you weren’t coming. I thought I’d lost you forever.” She searched his eyes, reveling in the well of emotion there.

“Never, Sadie. You could never lose me.” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.

Tenderly at first, then increasing in passion. His hands tangled in her hair, pulling the pins free. Sadie’s knees buckled. If he hadn’t been holding her, she would have fallen to the ground.

He pulled back, resting his forehead on hers. “You’ve been my other half since I first laid eyes on you more than ten years ago.”

Her heart swelled. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on as if her life depended on it. Which, if she thought about it, was true. He was her life. It had taken a crazy competition to prove that to her.

“I pick you, Sadie Rollins. Will you marry me?”

“Oh yes, Zeke.” She tightened her embrace, crushing her flowers. She didn’t care. She could pick more flowers.

“Then we had better get going before the others think we aren’t coming.”

“What about Lucy and Ruby?”

“I had a messenger deliver notes to them.” His smile faded. “I couldn’t stand the thought of them waiting when there was no chance. It’s always been you, Sadie.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “I like your hair down.”

She slipped her arms through his, loving him more at that moment than she thought possible. Only Zeke would care so deeply for the other women’s feelings. How could she have thought him callous, even for a moment, in regard to Annabell?

“I promise to never come up with another crazy scheme.” She hugged his arm. “Look what I’ve put you through.”

“Don’t you dare promise that. Crazy schemes are part of who you are.” He led her down the path toward home. “If you stop, life won’t be nearly as much fun.” He grinned, a dimple on the right side of his mouth winking.

“Can you handle a wife who can’t stand the sight of blood?” She giggled. “I’ll be useless as your nurse.”

“You can remain with the newspaper if you’d like.” He glanced down at her. “Or work as my receptionist. Whichever appeals to you more. I won’t stifle you.”

“Oh.” She stopped to pick another bundle of flowers. Ma would already be aghast at the sight of her daughter’s hair flowing down her back. The lack of a bridal bouquet might set the poor woman over the edge.

They passed her house and headed down the sidewalk. At the end of the street, the town gathered, clapping as they neared. Sadie’s face heated. What a spectacle she must make, with her wild hair and dirty hem. Still, with her arm in Zeke’s, she felt like royalty.

The town’s citizens formed two lines, and Zeke led Sadie between them. He couldn’t be happier or more proud of the woman on his arm.

He glanced around the crowd. Ruby was in attendance, but Lucy seemed to have chosen not to come, along with her parents. Same with Annabell and her family. He didn’t blame the girls. Ruby’s letter had stated that she would like nothing more than to be chosen by Zeke but wasn’t too blind to see who had claimed his heart.

As they made their way to the church, he couldn’t help but think this was the most unconventional wedding he had ever attended. He smiled at his bride-to-be. But it suited Sadie. She wasn’t conventional in the slightest.

The congregation followed them into the building, taking their seats while Zeke led Sadie to the front. They took their places and faced the pastor.

“Well, I must say I’ve never witnessed such a way of getting two people together,” The pastor said. “But it seems to have worked out well for these two. We must never question the will of God. Our God has a sense of humor, of that there is little doubt.” He smiled at Zeke and Sadie. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered…”

Zeke heard little else until it was time for his vows. He said “I do,” and slipped his mother’s emerald ring on Sadie’s finger. Her eyes glimmered, matching the stone. She fixed her eyes on his and repeated her wedding vows.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” The pastor announced. “You may kiss your bride.”

Zeke dipped Sadie over his arm, her face tilted toward his, and planted a hearty kiss on her lips as the townspeople cheered. He raised her back to her feet, her face as red as a rose. “I love you,” he whispered, his lips close to her ear.

“I love you, too.” She caressed his cheek. “My husband.”

“Good people of Oak Shadows, may I present to you Dr. and Mrs. Phelps.” The pastor beamed.

Zeke took Sadie’s hand and headed outside to the church steps where they would greet each of those who attended the wedding. While they received hugs from person after person, he kept a hold of her hand. He would never let her go.

Ruby approached them, pretty in a gown of deep pink. “You made a good choice, Dr. Phelps. May I present you with a gift?”

“Certainly.”

“I would like to give you a room for the night.” Her eyes twinkled. “Have you thought of where you would spend your wedding night? I doubt your room above your office is accommodating enough for a new bride.”

She was right. While he’d thought of little else than their wedding night since seeing Sadie in the woods, he hadn’t spent much time thinking of where they would spend it. He flushed. “I, uh—”

Sadie giggled. “We appreciate and accept your offer. Come, husband. Let’s eat, so you won’t have to answer any more embarrassing questions for a while.”

This time it was Sadie who did the leading. Ruby’s offer seemed to have left her new husband in a stupor. She couldn’t help but remember his comment about a doctor being familiar with the human anatomy. It seemed as if coming together with his bride was a different story.

She loved the idea that she could fluster Zeke. She hoped to affect him the same way for many years to come.

A table had been set up for them in front of several others at the side of the churchyard. Lanterns gave the area a festive glow, and mason jars of flowers adorned each table. The women of the town had outdone themselves, despite Sadie’s foolishness. She was a blessed woman indeed.

After the pastor led them in a blessing for the food and for their marriage, Sadie and Zeke were served a meal of beef, potatoes, and fresh vegetables from someone’s garden. Tears pricked Sadie’s eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Zeke peered into her face, his eyes clouded with worry.

“I’m so happy is all. When we were young and I made you promise to marry me, I never thought for a moment that this day would actually come. Then you returned, and I didn’t think I could have a career and a marriage.” She sniffed. “I thought I had come up with a great idea to auction you off like a prize bull. Then, I thought I’d lost you. Despite my stupidity, I got everything I dreamed of.”

He laughed. “Stop dwelling on the contest. I’m glad you did it. While it was embarrassing at times, I had a lot of fun. Those other girls will realize in time that I wasn’t the husband for them. Relax and enjoy the evening. We’re married now.”

“You’re right.” She lifted her glass of iced tea. “A toast to us and many happy years together.”

“To us.” He leaned closer, claiming her lips again.

Life was good, and God had blessed Sadie beyond all reason. She couldn’t wait to see what the future had in store for the adventurous daughter of a newspaperman and the town’s most eligible bachelor.

Cynthia Hickey grew up in a family of storytellers and moved around the country a lot as an army brat. Her desire is to write about real, but flawed characters in a wholesome way that her seven children and five grandchildren can all be proud of. She and her husband live in Arizona where Cynthia is a full-time writer.

The Highwayman

by Shannon McNear

Dedication

To my darling family, who remain the lifeblood of my inspiration.