Page 40 of An Outlaw Bride
Hale polished the remainder off in two bites.
Isabella laughed and added his plate to the stack on the table.
“Where’s the baby?” he asked.
“Upstairs with Tansy.”
“I don’t know how I feel about this Williams fellow,” Hale said.
“He’s perfectly nice,” Isabella said as she set the pie up for later. “You only think you dislike him because Tansy’s your sister. Will you hand me that towel?”
Hale picked it up and held it out. Underneath it was an opened envelope. “How is your father?” he asked, tapping a finger on the letter.
“He’s well enough. He spent most of the letter talking about how happy he was that Carter and Henry are coming here.” Isabella couldn’t hold back a smile at those words. The money Hale had paid the lawyer had been worth it. Although the court found her brothers were still guilty of their crimes, they’d issued a shorter sentence after taking into consideration their motivation. They’d both been released a few months prior,found work, and had saved enough money to purchase train fare to Crest Stone, where they intended to live.
“I know that makes you happy too.” Hale took a few steps forward until he was close enough to rest his hands on her waist.
“I can’t wait,” Isabella said. “The boys will love having uncles, and I’ve missed them so much. I need to write Papa and tell him I’ll let him know how they settle in.”
“I’m glad you were able to come to an understanding with him,” Hale said.
Isabella leaned her cheek against his chest, and his arms wrapped around her. She closed her eyes and breathed in his comforting scent. “Me too.”
It hadn’t been easy. She’d been so angry, but one day she’d felt the strangest urge to write to him. She hadn’t said much, although she shared the news of Grant’s birth. She had mailed the letter with the usual ones she sent to Carter and Henry. His response arrived not too long afterward. He had apologized and told her how remorseful he’d felt. He explained that he had planned to give the money away, but never could seem to part with it. He didn’t know why, thought perhaps it had been fear of his own about being poor again, but he was sorry that he’d lied to them for so long.
It was at least two years before Isabella realized she had forgiven him. The realization hit her one day, while she was watching her boys sleep. So, she wrote it down in her next letter to him. Ever since then, their letters had grown warmer. Nothing would ever be the same as it was, but it felt like it was the best it could be in that moment.
“What are you thinking about?” Hale asked, his breath ruffling her hair.
When she didn’t answer right away, he sighed. “Another baby, is that it? You want another baby.”
Isabella laughed against his chest. “Maybe,” she said. “But not just yet.”
“Are you sure? Because—”
“Mama! Daniel put the quilts in the hall. And he won’t pick them up!” Grant’s irritated little voice interrupted his father.
“I’m sure. For now.” Isabella leaned back and smiled at her husband. “And if you’d like to have supper, you’ll need to figure out the quilt situation.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Hale grinned before giving her a quick peck. He turned around and scooped up his son. Grant shrieked in glee as Hale swung him up.
There wasn’t anything more she could possibly want, Isabella thought. She had her family—allof her family. And nothing was more important.
