A Family for the Farmer (19 page)

The sideways smile she loved lit up his lean face.

“All right,” he said. “If that's what you want, I'll say it straight out. Emily, I love you so much my life falls to bits without you. I'll tell you up front I'm not much of a prize. I'm probably going to mess up every one of those pretty plans you're so fond of and drive you crazy because I've never loved anybody like I love you, and I don't have a clue how to do it. And you'd better take a real good look at what you're getting because I don't change easy. I never have, and I most likely never will. If I were a piece of wood, I'd be a chunk of oak with a stubborn grain that you can hardly get a chisel in. But I'll last, Emily. I'll last, and I'll love you and those twins until the last day the sun rises for me. You have my word on that.”

“You still haven't asked me anything,” she chided softly. She stood and closed the gap between them. His woodsy scent enveloped her, and it felt like coming home.

“Do I actually have to ask?” There was a pained twinkle in his eye now. “With words?”

“I think that's generally how it's done.”

“All right, then.” He took a deep breath. “Will you marry me, Emily?”

She smiled. “Absolutely. Yes. This minute, if you want me to.”

His blue eyes held hers, and the corner of his mouth quirked. “You know, that worked out mighty well. Maybe I'm better at this talking thing than I thought.”

“Don't you count on it. Those five words probably just got you into the most trouble of any you've ever said, because you're stuck with me now, Abel Whitlock. You'd better take a good look at what you're getting, too. I stink at farming, and I'm used to doing things my own way, and I come complete with twins, who are going to be so happy to see you again that they'll never give you a minute's peace. The three of us are going to try that legendary patience of yours right to its limits. And when that happens, please just remember that I think you're the kindest, strongest,
finest
man I've ever met and that I love you beyond all reason. And,” she added mischievously, “that you asked for it.”

There was a suspicious shimmer in his eyes, and he shook his head. “Now I really don't know what to say.”

“Now I think words are optional.” She tiptoed and pressed her lips to his crooked mouth.

He took charge of the kiss easily, and when he finally lifted his lips from hers, she sank back into the chair.

It was another weak-kneed girlie moment for Emily Elliott.

She'd probably better get used to those.

He knelt in front of her, giving her the unusual experience of looking straight into the tall man's eyes as he gathered both her hands in his. “Before we start making any more plans, Emily, there's something I've got to tell you.”

Her heart fluttered, but she shook her head resolutely. “Whatever it is, it doesn't matter. I trust you.”

“Well, now, it might matter. Just a little.”

His eyes were twinkling. Surely that meant it couldn't be bad news. “All right.” Emily braced herself. “What is it?”

“I didn't sell the farm. It's still mine. Ours, as it turns out.”

“You didn't sell? Oh, Abel, I'm so glad!” Emily frowned. “But if you didn't sell Goosefeather Farm, where'd that money come from?”

“I sold the buck.”

“What?” Emily whirled and saw the pedestal standing empty in its corner. “Oh, no! That carving meant so much to you!” She felt her tears starting again.

“You and the twins mean more,” he answered simply. “No, now, don't cry over it. That buck already served his purpose. Now that I've got you, Emily, I sure won't need any other reminders of how much God has blessed me.”

“But if you didn't sell Goosefeather, where'd the rest of the money come from? Surely you didn't get all that from selling one carving?”

“Most of it.” Abel shrugged. “Somebody'd been hankering after that buck for a while, but I was stubborn about selling it. He'd have given me more if I'd asked.” He smiled. “The truth is, I've been selling my carvings for a while now, and folks seem to like them well enough to pay steep prices for the better ones. I'm no millionaire, but I figure I can take care of you and the twins just fine, along with any other babies we might have.”

Babies
. And not just any babies. Abel's babies with his dark hair and blue eyes. Emily's heart lurched, and she clamped down on his big hand as if her life depended on it.

“Abel?”

“What is it, darlin'?”

“I think... I think I'm going to need that paper bag again.”

Epilogue

“I
'm so sorry,” Clary said breathlessly. “I had the ring tied to the bouquet ribbon for safekeeping.” Emily's maid of honor brandished her nosegay of creamy roses as evidence. “That goose took it right off.”

“Glory was just jealous. She's happy now because she's got everybody's attention.” Emily watched through her veil as Clary discarded her heels and hitched up her yellow dress. She, Bailey and Pastor Stone, the tails of his gray suit flapping behind him, chased Glory through the white folding chairs arranged between the blooming plum trees. The twins, who'd looked so pristine and perfect in their wedding attire just a few minutes ago, ran after them shrieking.

Lois Gordon in her prim lavender suit hobbled behind them as fast as her heels allowed. “Phoebe, Paul! Come to Nana, darlings! You'll spoil your clothes!”

Emily started to step out of her spot to corral her children, but Abel caught her gently by the arm.

“Let Lois handle it,” he murmured. He smiled, and the combination of his particular smile and the gray suit he was wearing knocked every other thought out of Emily's head.

Oh, how she loved this man!

She smiled back at him. “They really will ruin their outfits.”

“Oh, now, I don't know about that. Miss Lois seems pretty determined.” They watched together as Lois cleared a shrub in pursuit of her grandchildren. “And she's spry for her age.”

“You were right about letting her spend time with the twins,” Emily admitted. “She's turning out to be a pretty stellar grandmother.”

“Forgiveness is generally the best thing all around,” Abel said quietly. “Watch and see. Those twins will make all the difference to that woman. Love's the surest cure for grief there is.”

The flapping goose and her pursuers looped back by, and Emily shook her head ruefully. “At least Glory's not honking, so hopefully she's still got the ring in her beak. She'd better have. If she's swallowed your wedding ring, Abel, I'm cooking that bird for Sunday dinner. I mean it!”

Jacob Stone took a flying leap at the goose, who had her wings outstretched and was running for all she was worth. He missed and went down in a spectacular belly flop, which startled Glory enough that she flew right up into Bailey's face. The disheveled bridesmaid snagged the struggling bird in midair.

“Gotcha!” A second later she held up the ring, and the wedding guests cheered.

The bridesmaids rejoined the wedding party, and Bailey handed the ring over to Emily with a flash of her perfect smile. “Crisis averted!” Bailey slid into place beside Clary, brushing away Emily's whispered apology with another grin. “Are you kidding me? This is hands down the most fun I've ever had at a wedding!”

Glory ducked into the pasture where a heavily pregnant Beulah was quietly cropping grass and ignoring the entire spectacle. The goose sidled close to the cow for safety, then let out a series of loud honks as Pastor Stone, breathing hard, resumed his position under the flower-decked trellis.

Lois, beaming triumphantly, shepherded the twins carefully back into position. She tweaked the hem of Phoebe's creamy dress into place and darted a tentative smile up at Emily before sinking back in her seat, eyes fastened on her giggling grandchildren.

“Now,” Jacob Stone muttered, “where were we?” He leaned over and retrieved a leather binder from the grass. He flipped it open, throwing a baleful look toward the protesting goose. “I think we've pretty well covered the ‘if anybody objects' part.”

“You're burning daylight, Stone.” Abel looked deep into Emily's eyes and smiled his crooked smile. “Get to it.”

“Don't rush me, Whitlock. Some things take time if you're going to do them right.” Stone paged through his book. “I
think
we were halfway through the rings.”

“Fine. Start there and let's get this finished. I'd like this pretty lady married to me before she changes her mind.”

“Any chance of you changing your mind, Emily?” The minister raised a questioning eyebrow.

“Nope.” Emily smiled at her groom and tilted up her chin. “No chance at all.” Without waiting for her prompt, she slipped the rescued ring on Abel's finger. His twinkling eyes grew serious as he folded her veil carefully back over her hair, his roughened hands snagging slightly on the delicate threads.

The minister nodded. “Good enough. Then by the authority vested in me by the state of Georgia, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Finally. Now hurry up and kiss your bride, Whitlock,” he added, “before that goose honks herself inside out.”

“Don't rush me, Stone.” Abel held Emily's eyes as he leaned toward her, the smile she loved quirking up the corner of his mouth. “Some things take time if you're going to do them right.”

* * * * *

If you enjoyed A FAMILY FOR THE FARMER,

look for these other emotionally gripping
and wonderful stories

THE RANCHER'S TEXAS MATCH by Brenda Minton

LONE STAR DAD by Linda Goodnight

FALLING FOR THE SINGLE DAD by Lisa Carter

Available now from Love Inspired!

Find more great reads at
www.LoveInspired.com
.

Keep reading for an excerpt from
THE RANCHER'S TEXAS MATCH
by Brenda Minton.

Get rewarded every time you buy a Harlequin ebook!
Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards
http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003

Dear Reader,

Come on in! I'll put some fresh apple muffins on a plate, pour you a nice glass of sweet iced tea and we'll settle in for a visit here at the scrubbed kitchen table of Goosefeather Farm.

There's just something about a farm, isn't there? A farm can serve as an oasis of peace and old-fashioned values in the middle of a rushed and confusing world. It's a place for family, for deep and abiding friendships and sometimes, as we saw with Abel and Emily, even for falling in love! Of course, as little Phoebe pointed out, there's also plenty of hard work and dirt, but in the end it's all worth it!

I admit I might be just a tiny bit biased—my family and I live on a Georgia farm very similar to Goosefeather, and we love it! In fact, I “borrowed” several of our own quirky animals for this story! Beulah the milk cow, Glory the goose and Cherry the goat greet me every single morning, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Thanks so much for visiting with me on Goosefeather Farm, and feel free to come back anytime! The back door's never locked, you're always welcome and I have a feeling that this old place has lots more sweet stories to tell us. In the meantime, if you want to chat, drop me a line at
[email protected]
. I'd love to hear from you!

Laurel Blount

Get rewarded every time you buy a Harlequin ebook!

Do you want to earn
Free Books
and More?
Join
Harlequin My Rewards
points program and earn points every time you shop.

You can redeem your points to get more of what you love:

Free books
Exclusive gifts and contests
Book recommendations tailored to your reading preferences

Earn
2000 points
instantly when you join—getting you closer to redeeming your first free book.

Don't miss out. Reward the book lover in you!

Click
here
to sign up
Or visit us online to sign up at

http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010001

We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

You believe hearts can heal.
Love Inspired
stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.

Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired every month!

Connect with us on
Harlequin.com
for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

Harlequin.com/newsletters
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
HarlequinBlog.com