Chapter Eighteen
“Oh, Micah,” Ellie breathed as she took in the sight of their finished cabin. “It’s absolutely perfect.”
Micah beamed with pride as he watched his wife flit to every nook and cranny of their simple log cabin.
Abe, Jacob, and Isaac had surprised him while they were in California by finishing the framing, complete with a small bedroom off the back.
His initial plan had been a one room cabin complete with their bed in the corner, but Isaac had found his sketched out plans for a phase two and had worked it in.
All Micah had needed to do when he returned was work on the floors, chinking for moisture and drafts, and insert the glass windows he’d ordered shortly after he and Ellie got married.
Thankfully, his shoulder had healed quickly and not caused an issue in the work he’d needed to complete.
The stove would arrive in May, but they took most of their meals at the big house anyway, so it wasn’t an issue.
As for Perival James, a group of Texas Rangers had come into town to take him to stand trial in Dallas.
Zeke hadn’t been with them, but some of the men had known him and told them he was a fine lawman.
Unfortunately, Percival had refused to stand trial, taking his own life before he had the chance.
As Micah had heard it, the Rangers had only gotten halfway to Dallas when they woke up to find the man had hung himself with his own belt.
For that, at least, Micah was grateful his brother hadn’t come with the outfit.
It had grated on Micah that Zeke hadn’t come back when the town needed him, but at least Sheriff Ray had finally announced his retirement.
Maybe, if they were lucky, the town might finally get a sheriff who was worth his title.
As for Zeke, he had his own demons he needed to fight, and he’d never find peace until he did.
Despite his annoyance at his brother, Micah couldn’t help but grin at his wife’s excitement.
“So you really like it? You can see yourself moving in here one day?” The insecurity he felt over her opinion wasn’t one he was used to, but it reminded him of the day she’d shown him her first piece of art.
In the weeks since, she’d sent off her paintings and the stories Louisa had helped her craft to a few magazines back East, and now they awaited word.
Ellie bit her lip, something he’d noticed she did when feeling self conscious.
“I’d actually like to move in here with you now if you’re amenable.
” She smiled softly, but he could see the slight tremble in her hands.
“I…I don’t know what else I’m ready for yet, but I’d like to move forward with you. ”
Message heard loud and clear, Micah pressed his forehead to Ellie’s.
“I’d be honored to share my home with you, Mrs. Sutton, and we have our whole lives ahead of us to figure out the rest.” She’d grown more and more comfortable with him physically since they’d returned from California and that night at the Founder’s Day dance.
It was as though Percival James’s arrest and then death had unlocked something within her, giving her closure she’d desperately needed.
Micah would never rejoice in death, especially an unbeliever, but he’d sleep soundly knowing he’d done everything he could to enable the man to stand before a jury and judge.
“Thank you,” Ellie breathed softly. “I can’t believe it came together so quickly. I was going to offer you some money from my trust, but-”
“I don’t need it, El. I meant it when I said it’s my job to take care of us.
You can do whatever you want with that money, and I won’t say a word about it.
If it sits in the bank until the day we die, it’s all right by me.
” He truly did mean every word. The day the bank manager came out to the ranch personally to let them know they’d received it, Micah could tell the man had never had quite a sum of money come in at one time.
He’d been a little shell shocked, but they’d been banking with Mr. Turner for years.
He’d always treated them fairly and knew he’d invest it wisely.
Ellie’s smile widened, and he could see the trust slowly but surely building there. “I did have an idea of one thing to do with it.”
“What’s that?”
“Callie once told me there are a few things which would make diagnostics at the clinic easier. An x-ray machine, a microscope for culturing bacteria, and something with a name I’ve forgotten to clean instruments more effectively.
It would require electricity to the town to run them, and the x-ray machine itself would need its own room separate from their home and the clinic for safety purposes.
The field behind the clinic is vacant, so I thought I might use a little bit of the money to buy it, have the structure built, and provide her with a laboratory of sorts. ”
Micah pulled his generous bride into his arms, reveling at the way she fit there so perfectly.
“I think it sounds perfect.” Lowering his lips to hers, Micah wrapped one hand around her head, letting his fingers lose themselves in her silky locks, and the other around her waist. He held back for a moment, paying attention to any stiffening of her body or other signs of discomfort.
When she sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck, he took it as a sign she was pleased with the direction of things and deepened the kiss.
“I love you, Ellie Sutton,” he said as he pulled back far enough to speak.
“More than I ever thought possible.” She felt like a personification of the hope Christ offered, something he’d never deserve but grace had freely given.
“I love you too,” she whispered before pressing her lips to his once more. It wasn’t the first time she’d initiated a kiss, but the pride he felt at her trust in him made him feel like he could take on the world. “Thank you for building this home for us.”
It was worth every sore muscle and every bead of sweat to hear the joy in her voice.
“I can’t wait to build a life with you here next.
” Hopefully, one day they’d need to add on again, but it would be up to the Lord how many children He blessed them with.
For now, Micah would enjoy every moment with Ellie and their unconventional story.
“Are you ready to head back to the main house for dinner? We can share our news about Louisa losing her roommate.”
Micah doubted his brothers would be a lick surprised, nor would the children and Louisa.
The latter might be a little sad at losing Ellie in the cottage, but she’d be marrying Isaac so soon he doubted she’d mind.
“Let’s go,” Ellie said as she pushed up to her tiptoes for one last kiss - one he happily obliged.
Micah could hardly believe how far the Lord had brought them.
Ellie was his, and he belonged completely to her.
She’d agreed to move into the cabin the next day, something he’d honestly believed would take much longer due to his utter refusal to pressure her about it.
As for the money, she could tell the bank to keep it as far as he was concerned.
She wouldn’t do that, as she had plans to bless others with the vast sum of money, but it didn’t matter in the slightest to him.
As they approached the main house for dinner, the early April sun and full swing spring warmth seeping into his bones, it was nothing compared to what the woman under his arm brought him.
She’d settled into his side, and he knew they’d walk this path for years to come.
Hopefully, Lord willing, they’d one day have children in tow.
Jacob and Callie would marry in a few weeks’ time, but they’d decided to build an addition onto the clinic to serve as their living quarters.
It wasn’t far from the town or the ranch, and they’d still see the two of them multiple times a week.
Louisa still lived in the cottage for the time being, but their June wedding was approaching quickly as well.
Micah grinned at the thought of his brother’s impatience to get on with it, but June was the soonest her family could make it back to Texas.
“Micah,” Ellie said as they entered the yard. “Do you know that woman on the porch?” A woman climbed the steps, her fashionable and altogether impractical gown dirty, and her hair unkempt. She didn’t look injured, more like she’d left somewhere in a hurry.
“Never seen her before in my life,” Micah replied.
As the woman raised her hand to knock, the front door opened to reveal his brother, Abe.
His brother’s eyes widened at the sight of the woman before him, and Micah supposed she was pretty if a man wasn’t completely besotted with his wife.
Her hair was blonde, though not quite as blonde as Ellie’s, and looked thick from the way it tried to break free of her pins.
She wasn’t as tall as Callie nor as petite as Ellie, somewhere in between.
They weren’t close enough to make out any of her other features, and she had her back to them anyway.
“Can I help you?” Abe’s voice sounded like he spoke through a dry mouth at first, but he recovered quickly. “Are you lost?” His eyes narrowed and darted behind her to where they finally spotted Micah and Ellie. Micah shrugged his shoulders, and Abe’s attention returned to the woman.
“I’m looking for Louisa Davenport,” she said with a hint of desperation.
“The sheriff in town said she lived out here, and it wasn’t a long walk.
” She scoffed, and Micah could’ve throttled Sheriff Ray.
It was indeed a long walk for a woman in a thick gown and likely impractical shoes.
It was also a warm day, and Micah saw the sheen of sweat on the woman’s face as they grew closer.
“Please tell me this is the Sutton ranch.”
Before Abe could respond, a loud squeal sounded from inside the house, and Louisa barreled past Abe and onto the porch.
“Penelope!” She engulfed the woman in a hug for a moment before releasing her and pushing back.
Isaac had followed his fiance onto the porch, and he studied Penelope with the same caution Abe and Micah did.
“What on earth are you doing here? Why are you wearing a ball gown?”
Penelope took a deep breath and let out a chuckle full of nerves and no real mirth. “Well, I was wondering if I could stay here for a while. I’ve gotten myself into a bit of trouble, and a…” she hesitated. “A friend bought me a ticket and sent me here to keep me safe.”
“Penelope,” Ellie whispered beside him as Penelope continued briefly. “She’s Louisa’s friend from school in Boston. Since they graduated, she’s worked for a job training program for women at risk and trying to break free from prostitution.”
Micah and Ellie stepped forward towards the porch, but Abe spoke before anyone else had a chance. “You can stay here as long as you need.” His voice, normally jovial and light, brooked no argument as he studied their new arrival. “We’ll keep you safe, but we need to know who’s after you.”
He traded glances with Isaac, their eldest brother not offering any dissent. “Yes, Penelope, of course, you’re safe here. Abe’s right. We can’t keep you safe if we don’t know the threat.”
Penelope stepped back from Louisa’s now loose hold. “I uncovered the wrongdoings of some very wealthy and well-connected men in Boston. As you can imagine, they’d prefer me dead.”
Beside him, Ellie gasped, and Micah put his arm around her, drawing her close. Well, they’d just fought one giant, but they were Suttons. When someone was in need, they’d band together to slay them all.