Chapter Thirty-Five
Wildflowers brushed against Travis’s legs, swaying with the wind.
Sophie had always adored this meadow, cherishing each flower whether she knew its name or not.
The snow had melted, welcoming spring once more.
A cool mountain breeze wrapped around him, carrying the scent of fresh earth as grass and wildflowers danced in harmony.
Everything here felt untouched, unspoiled—a haven of quiet perfection.
This was Sophie’s place, where her spirit seemed to linger, as beautiful and free as the wind.
Then his breath left his lungs. Sophie appeared before him, wearing her familiar white-and-blue calico dress, her copper-brown hair stopping at her waist. She looked as radiant as ever.
The moment felt too real, blurring the line between dream and reality.
Was this truly happening? Sophie turned to face him, a soft smile on her lips, holding a bouquet just as she always had.
The setting sun bathed her in a warm glow as she stepped toward him.
Travis’s heart raced, his legs trembling. He couldn’t just stand there—he had to reach her. Without hesitation, he desperately broke into a run, afraid she might disappear before he could hold her again.
He didn’t stop until she was in his arms, his hands sliding around her slender waist as he pulled her close, embracing her against him.
He buried his face in her neck, inhaling the scent of honeysuckles.
Travis sighed, closing his eyes as he laid a kiss against her temple.
Tears blurred his vision while he cupped Sophie’s face, studying every inch of her.
My wife, my darling wife. Her green eyes met his, those innocent eyes he’d never forget.
“My sweet Sophie. Tell me this is real. I beg you.”
Travis leaned in to kiss her lips. Her kisses were like a drug to him, and the year without them had been pure agony. Now, with her back in his arms, he had the chance he never thought he’d get again, and he wasn’t about to let it slip away.
Before his lips could touch hers, Sophie pulled back. Travis’s brows furrowed in confusion. This wasn’t like her. They had been apart for so long—why would Sophie turn away from a moment they both craved?
“Travis, I can’t let you kiss me. It’s wrong.”
Wrong? Sophie had always been a good teaser, but something in him said this wasn’t one of her flirty tricks. Why would she torture him again when her lips were so close?
“How is this wrong? You’re my wife, Sophie. I vowed till death do us part.”
“Travis,” Sophie said softly. “Death did us part.”
Travis shook his head, his grip tightening around her back, holding her closer. “No, we’re together again. You’re here with me now. We can start again, you and me.”
Sophie removed his arms, pulling them to her sides. “You can’t join me . . . not yet. You must be there for the children. They need you now more than ever. You can’t leave them without a father.”
The children were everything to Travis. He couldn’t leave them, but when he looked at Sophie, he couldn’t help but think about his selfish desires.
He had already moved on without her and was now starting a new beginning with Josie.
He knew she carried secrets, ones she hadn’t yet revealed, but her caring and selfless nature never wavered.
He remembered the first time he made Josie laugh—the way her eyes squinted and her laughter spilled out, soft and musical like a melody.
His mind wandered to the day he braved a blizzard to fetch Aunt Polly to deliver Nathan.
Holding the child in his arms for the first time, he felt a rush of warmth he hadn’t understood then, but now he did.
The day he found Josie ill in the fields was the moment he realized he’d risk everything for her—and he had, more than once.
Travis’s soul ached as he gazed into Sophie’s face. How could he betray her? How could he let these thoughts consume him while holding the woman he had loved all his life in his arms?
Sophie lifted Travis’s chin. “It’s all right to love her, Travis. I gave you my blessing long ago when I left this earth. I want you to be happy. You won’t betray me because I want you to live on with the joy life brings. You need Josie, and she needs you. You must go home to her and the children.”
Travis pressed his lips together and closed his eyes, fighting to restrain his tears.
He had already made his decision, but he wanted to savor this moment with Sophie one last time.
He wrapped his arms around her and ran his fingers through her soft hair, just as he had done thousands of times before.
“I’m sorry, Sophie. Everything was my fault. I should have known what having another baby would do.”
Sophie dried his tears with her fingers. “And it was all worth it. Please know that, Travis. Know that when you look at our son every day. Without your sacrifice to let me go, he wouldn’t be here.” Sophie pressed a kiss to the top of his forehead.
“I love you, Sophie,” Travis whispered.
“And I love you,” Sophie said with a smile. “Now, go to them. Live life to the fullest and tell the children how much I love them.”
“Travis? Can you hear me?”
Travis’s eyes fluttered open to the sight of Josie’s tear-streaked face, her brown eyes puffy and red. Glistening tears clung to her cheeks, and his heart tightened at the worry etched into her features.
“Jo,” he whispered hoarsely.
Josie touched his forehead, her expression melting into a happy grin. “Your fever has broken.”
Josie adjusted pillows behind him and assisted him up.
Travis groaned as she guided his body upward like a bag of feed.
She was infinitely stronger than he thought, or maybe he was the weak one.
Then his heart drummed against his chest as Josie unexpectedly leaned into him, her arms wrapping around him.
He paused for a moment, then carefully lifted a hand, resting it behind her head.
He threaded his fingers through her soft hair while she sobbed against him.
“I thought I lost you. You were growing worse by the minute.”
Travis caressed her neck, tracing the skin with his fingertips.
Sophie was right; Josie was exactly who his family needed.
Here she was, devoting her time to him and Jonas and now showing how much she cared for him as her tears hit his shirt.
Seeing Sophie had to be delirium, but why did it feel so real?
Whatever it was, he experienced a wave of peace, coming over him like a warm blanket.
He missed having Sophie in his arms, but waking up to Josie, a woman who risked her life and motherhood to care for him and his son, made him respect her more.
She had risked everything to care for him and Jonas. Nathan needed his mother, but Josie was at their side, her eyes baggy and red from exhaustion.
“Thank you, Jo,” he muttered, his eyelids heavy. “Thank you . . . for everything.”
Josie wiped her tears and smiled. “Jonas’s fever broke. Yesterday he sat up and started drinking broth. He’s asleep now, but he’s going to be all right.”
Travis tilted his head, his gaze shifting to Jonas, who was sleeping soundly in the bed beside him. The boy’s color had returned, giving Travis relief. With a deep exhalation, he closed his eyes and whispered a quiet prayer. “Thank you, Lord.”
“The children are still at the parsonage. After I burn these blankets and get the extras from the barn storage, we can all live together again.”
“Good.” Travis cleared his throat and winced. “I’m ready to get out of this bed and put myself to use.”
Josie chuckled softly, her hand resting on his chest. “You will in time, but first we must get your strength back up.” She stood. “I’ll fetch you some broth.”
When Josie left the room, Travis closed his eyes.
After waking with Josie there, new feelings swelled through him—more than gratitude and stronger than before.
Was this love—or was he just trying too hard?
Love was supposed to come naturally and unquestioned.
If he genuinely loved her, wouldn’t he have loved her from first sight like he did with Sophie?
He had only loved one woman, so this was an entirely new experience.
But one thing bothered him—Josie had a hard life in the past, being married to a cruel man. Had she ever known love? Did she trust Travis enough to give him her heart?