Chapter 27
The Jeffersons hired a comfortable carriage for the ride back to Harmony Springs. Ella watched their interactions with interest, wondering anew at their history, but she kept her questions to herself. Prying wasn’t her style.
Cody’s comfort mattered most. He struggled to move without wincing and was clearly in pain, but he insisted on walking to the carriage himself, refusing the proffered wheeled chair. Ella shook her head but respected his wish for some independence.
After several hours in the carriage, Ella experienced a nausea she’d never before known. She tried to ignore it. It pushed back with a vengeance.
“Stop the carriage!”
Dorothy pounded the roof. The vehicle soon came to a halt.
Ella stumbled out. She dropped to her knees and lost the contents of her stomach on the dusty roadside.
Someone crouched beside her, a hand on her back. “You all right, darlin’?”
She glanced up, her husband’s blue eyes looking at her in concern. “Cody, you shouldn’t be out of the carriage. You need to rest.”
“I’m not about to let you be sick out here by yourself. Not when I’m responsible for your condition.”
That made her smile. She put a hand on his cheek. “It could simply be motion sickness. I felt some nausea on the train ride from Boston too.”
He helped her stand. Ella caught the grimace as he turned to their conveyance and told him firmly, “You stay inside if I need to stop the carriage again.”
“Hopefully, we won’t need to.”
She climbed in after him.
Lydia gripped her hand. “Are you ill?”
“Just some motion sickness. I’ll be fine.”
Thankfully, no further incidents occurred during their trip. As dusk fell, they reached the ranch. Ella thanked the Jeffersons for their generosity. “Are you sure you won’t come in for a cup of tea or some other refreshment?”
Lydia smiled. “Thank you, Ella, but we need to settle into our new home. We’ll call on you before long.”
“Please do. I’m happy you’re both staying.” She hugged each lady. “Thank you for everything. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t heard my cry for help.”
Dorothy patted her hand. “I firmly believe the good Lord intended us to be there for you. And He brought us together for a reason. More than just being in the right place at the right time.”
Ella tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
The older woman’s gaze fluttered to her daughter-in-law before going back to Ella. “Let’s just say friendship is something we all need. Some more than others.”
“What—?”
Lydia took Dorothy’s arm. “We should let them get to their family.” She smiled at Ella. “See you soon.”
Ella stood beside Cody as the carriage drove off. “I wonder what happened to Lydia. I get the sense she’s been deeply hurt.”
He slipped an arm around her waist. “I’m sure you’ll find out when the time is right.”
The front door burst open. Isaiah flew out of the house. “Mama! Papa!”
He made a beeline straight to Ella. She knelt down to catch him as he careened into her. Sobs shook his little body. “I thought you weren’t coming back.”
Ella held him close. “I’m sorry I scared you, sweetie.”
“Did the bad man get caught?”
“Yes. He won’t bother us any longer.”
Isaiah sank into her. “Good.” He squeezed her again, then started for Cody.
Ella put a restraining hand on his shoulder. “Be careful, Isaiah. Your papa is hurt.”
Their son paused. “Hurt?”
Cody smiled. “I’ll be fine, buddy. Just need you to hug me on this side for a bit.” He pointed to his left.
Isaiah complied. “Why’re you hurt, Papa?”
He was saved from answering by a shriek from the front door. Tori stood there, hands over her mouth. “You’re back!” She raced down the steps and enveloped Ella in a hug. “I kept imagining the worst.”
Ella threw her arms around her sister. “All’s well now.”
Their embrace lasted a long time. Cody mumbled something about checking on Preston, and he and Isaiah headed for the barn. Tori pulled back first, her eyes following Cody. “Is he all right?”
“He will be.” Ella led her sister to the house. “I want to hear all about medical school.”
“In time.” Tori squeezed her arm. “First, I want to know what happened.”
Ella gave a brief explanation of the events that led to Cody’s injuries. By the time she finished, Tori’s eyes were wide.
“My word, Ella. You’ve been through a lot in a few days.”
She nodded, suddenly exhausted.
Tori slipped an arm around her waist. “Why don’t you say hello to your other two children? Supper will be ready soon.”
Ella blinked. “You cook?”
“Oh, goodness, no. I’m hopeless when it comes to that. Cassie brought over a large pot of stew.” She smiled. “I like her. Travis found himself a wonderful wife.”
“Indeed.” Ella glanced around. “Is Miss Hattie here?”
Tori shook her head. “Her grandson had an emergency, so I told her to go home to help. The children and I have been getting along famously. I felt comfortable taking care of them myself, though Miss Hattie did promise to come back as soon as the situation at home was resolved.”
They entered the kitchen. Addie and Jonah sat on the floor, playing.
Jonah saw her first. His eyes grew large.
“Mama!” He jumped up and ran to her. She wrapped him in her arms, kissing his forehead.
Addie crawled over and tugged her skirt.
Ella lowered herself to the floor so she could hold both children.
She cuddled them close, basking in their sweet innocence.
When her eyes finally opened again, she saw Tori watching her with an intense expression.
“What is it?”
Her sister shook her head. “You, my dear Ella. I wasn’t sure how you’d survive in the wilds of the West. But it’s obvious you’ve found your place.
All I heard while you were gone was ‘Mama this’ and ‘Papa that.’ These children love you and your husband.
” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “It’s the opposite of what we experienced as children.
It…it gives me hope.” She sat on the floor beside Ella. “I do have one question.”
Ella rested her head against Addie’s. “Go ahead.”
“I can tell Cody loves you. His reaction to Howard taking you was telling. But you—how do you feel about him?”
A smile curled up her lips. “I love him too.”
Cody poked his head around the corner. “I’ll never get tired of hearing that. Or of saying it to you.”
Tori jumped, a hand over her heart.
Ella chuckled as Jonah wiggled out of her arms. “Papa, Papa!”
“Careful, Jonah!” Isaiah stood like a guard in front of Cody, pointing to his uninjured side. “You need to hug him here.”
Jonah plunked his hands on his hips. “Why?”
“’Cuz he’s hurt. C’mere.”
Isaiah guided his brother to the right spot. Addie bounced in Ella’s lap, one arm straining toward Cody. Ella stood and waited for Jonah to finish his hug, then slipped to Cody’s uninjured side and let the baby rest her head on his chest.
Cody put one hand over Addie’s back and used the other to draw Ella closer. He let his head drop against hers with a sigh. “It’s good to be home.”
The family insisted on celebrating Cody’s birthday the Saturday after their return from Helena.
Besides Ella and the children, Travis and Cassie, Tori, Miss Hattie, and the ranch hands all crowded around the kitchen table for a special dinner.
Cody tried to help his wife serve dinner, only to be shooed to the table by a plethora of women.
Tori steered him to his seat. “From what Ella tells me, you are always trying to help. Let us show you some care today.”
He dug in his heels. “I’ve been doing nothing but lying around all week.”
“To recover. And this is a day celebrating you. Now sit!”
Her tone raised his brows. He looked over her head at Ella. “Is she always this bossy?”
Ella laughed. “Pretty much.”
“And proudly so.” Tori tossed her red curls, shooting Cody a wink. “Best get used to it, brother.”
He chuckled and allowed her to push him into the chair.
Joey crossed his arms, a twinkle in his eye. “I don’t recall you ever takin’ orders from anyone. Family life changed you, Boss.”
“For the better,” Eddie injected. “You smile more.”
“And you spend as much time with them as you can.”
“And—”
“Okay.” Cody held up a hand, cutting off the twins’ praise. His face felt unnaturally warm. “Point taken, boys.”
Ella served him a plate of chicken pot pie. The savory aroma of gravy and vegetables made his mouth water. His wife rubbed a hand against his back, leaning close. “I, for one, am grateful you’re a family man.”
Cassie and Tori brought over more plates. When everyone was served, they joined hands for grace. After a simple but heartfelt prayer, Cody looked up with a smile. “Amen.”
“Amen.”
Chatter ensued. Cody’s knee bounced while his hand drummed against the table.
Travis eyed him with a grin. “Not used to being the center of attention, huh?”
Cody chuckled. “Is it that obvious?”
His friend laughed. “Oh, yeah.”
Taking a bite of his meal, Cody forgot his trepidation. “Ella, this is wonderful. You make the best chicken pot pie.”
She flushed with pleasure.
Cassie arched her brows. “Hey, now. What about me?”
He shrugged. “What can I say? You’ve been usurped.”
“Well, since it’s Ella, I won’t complain.” Cassie grinned at his wife. “I don’t mind taking second to you.”
Travis engaged him in a good-natured argument over their wives’ cooking.
The meal flew by. Tori and Hattie served dessert.
Ella had made his favorite—caramel cake.
He smiled, remembering the first time they’d had dinner together at Travis and Cassie’s.
He’d been impressed with her baking then, and she’d only improved over time.
Somehow, the cake tasted even better now.
He complimented her extensively, making her ears rosy.
“Present time!” Isaiah hollered, bouncing in his seat.
Cassie rose. “Let us get the dishes done, sweetie. Then your papa will open his gifts.”
“Awww.” Isaiah slumped back. “Why do we have to do so much waiting all the time?”
Cody tapped his shoulder. “That’s life, buddy. How about we build a tower while we wait?”
“Yeah!”
He ushered the kids into the parlor. They got out the blocks and spent the next fifteen minutes on the rug making a tower that fell down over and over, much to the children’s delight.
By the time the rest of the adults trickled in, the three kids were laughing so hard, everyone else caught the amusement.
When the hilarity died down, Addie crawled into Cody’s lap. She stuck her thumb in her mouth, looking around as people found places to sit. Cody eyed the couch but decided to remain where he was. Ella settled beside him on the floor. One by one, his family and friends presented him with gifts.
A new tool belt from his ranch hands.
A saddle he’d had his eye on from Travis and Cassie.
Cookies in a decorative tin from Hattie.
Artwork from his children—directed by Tori.
Ella handed him her gift last. It was wrapped in brown paper with a simple string tied around and looped into a bow. He undid the bow. Addie reached for it. Cody dangled the string in front of her before letting her play with it. With her occupied, he removed the paper.
A frame sat in his hands. Inside, a sheet of white paper looked up at him. It was filled with beautiful cursive. A combination of watercolor and pressed wildflowers decorated the edges. The familiar words of his favorite poem came to life on the page. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…
He caught his breath. His gaze found his wife’s. “Did you make this?”
“I did.” Her green eyes searched his. “Do you like it?”
Cody placed the frame on the floor. He cupped Ella’s cheek and drew her close, pressing his lips against hers. “I love it.” He grinned. “But not as much as I love you.”
A chorus of laughs sounded throughout the room.
Hank groaned. “Sheesh, Boss, you’re getting soft.”
Ella’s fingers trailed over his face. “He’s always had a soft heart. He just didn’t show it.”
“I need to keep some secrets, darlin’.”
More laughter rang out. Ella leaned against him, lowering her voice until only he could hear. “I thought you might like a reminder of your mother. We can hang it wherever you want.”
He kissed her again, heedless of their audience.
“It’s a thoughtful gift, Ella. But it no longer just reminds me of Ma.
” His hand curled around hers. “It reminds me of us. How we married for practical purposes but found our way to love in the simplicity of everyday life.” Their eyes met and held.
“I thank God every single day that He saw fit to bring us together.”
Ella melted into him, her eyes bright. “Me too.”