Rebel opened her eyes and took in familiar surroundings. Her fever, her aches were gone, and her head was clear. She lifted a feeble hand that seemed to weigh a ton and laid it over her eyes.
What day was it? How long had she been sick?
A man—Travis, she thought, squinting—was rattling around in the kitchen. One thing about a soddy…all the rooms were together. She tried to call to him but couldn’t make a sound. She was so tired, but she didn’t want to sleep until she’d asked some questions.
At last, he finally came closer to her bed, and she took in the sight she’d never expected to see again. The cleft in Travis’s chin appeared deeper, his eyes bluer.
When he saw her staring, he did a double take, then hurried to her side. “You’re awake. You’re really awake. I’m not dreaming, am I?”
Rebel worked her tongue and got out one word. “Water.”
A big grin stretched across his face. He strode to the kitchen in that long, smooth way of his and returned. He gently lifted her and held the cup to her mouth. “Sleeping Beauty, you sure know how to worry a man. I have a lot to tell you.”
The cold water soothed her parched mouth and throat. It was as though she sipped from a mountain stream. She drank her fill and lay back on the pillow. “How long have I been sick?”
“Three weeks all together, but lingering near death’s door for seven days.” The bed sagged when he sat down beside her. “We had a service yesterday, and I gave Jenny and Ely my name. I wish now that I’d waited. Only Dr. Mary kept telling me you wouldn’t make it.”
“No, I’m glad you went ahead.” Her voice came barely louder than a whisper.
“Darlin’, your idea of this Advent is a huge success. It’s really made a big difference in the children and adults, too. I’m just sorry you missed most of it. Oh, Tally said to tell you that she took your day on the calendar.”
“That’s good.”
He smoothed back her hair and tenderly kissed her. “I don’t know why God granted my request. I’m only glad He did.” Travis chuckled. “Maybe he’d never heard such a pitiful outlaw’s strange prayers. But here you are, alive and feeling better than you have in weeks. I’m a lucky, lucky man.”
“Did I miss the wedding?” she asked, her voice faint.
“Nope. Christmas is in five days. I just don’t think you’ll be up to the ceremony.”
Rebel’s mulish chin raised just a hair. “I’ll be there. But I won’t have a dress.”
Travis rose and went to the nail where her few dresses hung. Maybe he was going to pick one out. “I found this old thing hanging at the back the other day when I was snooping around. Do you think it’ll work?”
What one could he possibly be talking about? He spread it on the bed, and Rebel’s breath caught. The red satin she’d saved for so long had created the most beautiful dress she’d ever seen.
Tears threatened. She ran her fingertips across the fabric. “Oh, Travis! But how? I gave this fabric to Eleanor Crump.”
“And she gave it back saying she wanted to see you get married in it. Nora and Tally finished two days ago when you were at your worst and it appeared I’d lose you for sure.” He lifted her hand to his lips. “Promise you won’t worry me that much again.”
“I’ll try not.” Rebel swallowed hard and stared into the face of the man she loved. “You had the dress made even when it appeared we wouldn’t need one.”
“Call me crazy. Everyone kept saying the wedding wouldn’t happen, and I kept telling them that I had faith it would, though I wavered a bit when I thought your next breath would be your last. I didn’t see how you could survive.”
“I fooled everyone.”
“That you did. Oh, I have news. Martha had her baby yesterday, and Sid was here for the event. Mother and baby are doing well, I’m told.”
“And?” Rebel saw the teasing glint in Travis’s eyes and knew he was stringing her along on purpose.
“She finally had a girl.”
“Hallelujah!”
The bed shifted when Travis stood. “I’m sure you’re starving. I’ll heat up some soup, then I’m going to bring our son and daughter home.”
“Good. I need to see them.”
* * *
Jenny squealed and Ely grinned when Travis told them to gather their things. He thanked Nora and Jack and they left, talking all the way home.
The children ran ahead hollering, “Mama! Mama!” They disappeared into the soddy, leaving Travis to follow.
Jenny was talking a mile a minute when he strolled in. “And Mrs. Truman had a girl. I was so happy. We don’t have enough girls here. There’s jus’ me an’ Violet, then baby Willow an’ the new one. That’s all.”
“It’ll even out one of these days,” Rebel said calmly.
“Guess what the new baby’s name is.”
“I don’t know. What?”
“Noelle.”
“Honey, that’s so pretty. Now let your brother talk, please.”
“I thought I’d never get a turn.” Ely propped his elbows on the bed. “My name is Ely Lassiter now. I like Lassiter because I know you and Papa will never stop loving me and Jenny. When I get big, I want to be just like my papa. No one tries to hurt him because he’s tough and will scare them.”
Rebel glanced at Travis leaning against the wall. He lifted innocent eyebrows at her.
“Your father will indeed scare people who try to harm us.” Rebel pulled Ely close and kissed his hair.
After several more minutes, Travis pushed away from the wall. “That’s enough, kids. Let your mama rest. She’s tired.”
With a happy sigh, Rebel burrowed into the covers, loving this man who watched over her, doing everything to see she gained her strength for the wedding that almost wasn’t.
* * *
The days flew by in a flurry of excitement. Though shy, Eleanor came to visit Rebel, which pleased her to no end. This was Eleanor’s start to finding her way back.
A big snow on Christmas Eve left everything all white and glistening like thousands of diamonds. Eleanor opened her door and gave out pretty, little, bite-size decorated cakes she’d made. The kids loved them and said she made the best treats of anyone.
“She didn’t look that scary, and she can sure cook,” Ely had reported.
Rebel remained very weak and unable to be up long at a time, but she wasn’t going to miss another day of her children’s lives if she could help it. Travis hovered over her as though she was going to break until she sent him to go spend some time with Clay and Jack. Just as he started out, a wagon lumbered to a stop hauling a big Christmas tree, and Tait and Ridge jumped down.
In all the flurry, she hadn’t given the tree a thought. Ely and Jenny ran out of the soddy like a couple of banshees. Rebel wrapped her shawl closer and went to look, holding on to the few pieces of furniture for support.
Christmas was almost perfect.
But she didn’t have any gifts for the children. Or Travis. Even if she hurried, she couldn’t make anything in time. She went to her trunk and raised the lid. At the very bottom in the corner, she found a watch chain—her only remembrance of her father—and slipped it into her pocket. After digging through the contents, she found nothing suitable to give Jenny and Ely.
With a heavy heart she lay on the bed.
* * *
Travis entered the quiet house to find Rebel napping, teardrops clinging to the tips of her long lashes. As he turned to go, the toe of his boot caught the open trunk and made a racket.
Rebel raised herself on an elbow. “You’re back.”
“Sorry I woke you. We got the tree unloaded and up in the center of town. The children are decorating it under the ladies’ watchful eyes.”
He sat beside her on the bed and wiped her tears. “What’s wrong?”
She moved into his arms and laid her head on his shoulder. He held her tenderly as she bemoaned, “I don’t have any gifts for Ely and Jenny. What kind of mother am I?”
“The best kind. I got you covered, darlin’.”
She leaned back to look at him. “What do you mean?”
“I bought a pocketknife for Ely and a new doll for Jenny—one with glass eyes and real arms. You’re no longer alone and having to figure things out by yourself. We’re a team, and we’ll handle problems together.”
“It’s hard to realize that after all these years of being on my own.” She brushed her fingers across his cheek and jaw. “I love you so much.”
He placed a hand around her neck and pulled her forward until his lips met hers. The kiss was long and deep. Rebel melted against him and he savored the chance they’d been given.
Thankfulness for the wish granted and love for this remarkable woman wound through Travis like a life-giving river. He prayed he’d never have to learn to live without her. She was all he ever wanted and all he’d ever need, and he couldn’t wait to make it official.
He broke the kiss and lay down beside her, pulling her close, lacing his fingers through hers. “We need to make some decisions.”
“Like what?”
“Where we’re going to live for starters. This soddy is too small for four people, and mine is practically uninhabitable. What do you say to us building a new house?”
A soft gasp left her. “How? With what? Do you have money?”
“I have a little I saved up over the years. I never needed much, so I put aside everything I earned. We’re not destitute by any means.”
“That’s good to know.”
“But I received a proposition that I want to run by you.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers. “Owen Vaughn over at the mercantile is having to leave for a while.”
“That’s old news. I heard he’s going to settle his father’s estate and expects to be gone for at least six months—or so Tally says.”
Travis stared at her. She was sick and bedridden for weeks. How could she know this? “I guess I’m a little behind on the grapevine. Anyway, he asked me to take over in his absence.”
“That’s wonderful!”
“Not only that, but he has that big house and offered it to us while he’s gone.” He drew lazy circles on Rebel’s arm. “I figure we can build our house in that length of time.”
Rebel was quiet for so long he thought she’d drifted off. Finally, she sniffled. “I don’t know what to say. It’s too generous. The people here truly are amazing. They open their hearts and let you walk in.”
“Yes, they do. I take it that’s a yes on accepting?”
“A very positive yes.”
“I hope you’re ready to work because it’s not going to be easy.”
“As long as you’re with me, I can do anything.”