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One Year Later
“Hurry up, we don’t want to be late,” Andre called from the hallway.
“Easy for you to say. You’re not the size of a house right now,” Sophia answered as she hobbled down the hallway with Alice guiding her to the living room.
“You need to be a bit more compassionate with your wife, Andre. She is in a delicate condition these days,” Alice scolded. Andre pressed his lips into a tight line and quickly took Alice’s place next to Sophia.
“I’m sorry,” Andre whispered into Sophia’s ear. “Are you sure you want to go, though? If you’re not feeling up to it, then we don’t have to.”
“We are going to church,” Sophia said. “So stop your hemming and hawing. And help me to the carriage.”
Andre took gentle care while helping Sophia up into the carriage, making sure his wife was well positioned before climbing up to take the reins.
“What a lovely day it is,” Alice said, glancing at the sky. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more lovely day.”
“Is everyone ready?” Andre asked. “We have everything we need? I don’t want to have to come back five minutes from now because we forgot something.”
“We are all ready,” Sophia said with a huge smile. Andre couldn’t help but smile back at her. It blew his mind how lovely Sophia was. He thought her lovely before, but now that she carried his child, she was radiant.
Andre made certain the horses went slow and steady to keep the rocking to a minimum. He glanced around, admiring the ten acres of land Jerome had gifted them as a wedding present.
“Now, are you sure we aren’t supposed to meet at your father’s house?” Andre asked.
“Nope,” Sophia answered. “He made it very clear that we were to go to the church.”
“I find that kind of odd, don’t you?” Andre asked. “He’s never wanted to meet there before.”
“That’s just what he said.”
The carriage rocked to and fro as they made their way to town. Andre gave a nod as he passed the people on the road. When they finally reached the church, he climbed down and helped his mother first before scrambling to the front to help Sophia.
“Easy,” Andre said.
“Honey, I’m pregnant, not a cripple. I think I can get down. It’s getting up that’s difficult.”
“I just don’t want you to hurt yourself,” Andre said as he guided Sophia off the carriage and helped her to the steps of the church. She beamed as she caught her father on the side of the church with a huge fire roaring in a stone circle.
“There she is,” Jerome called out as he threw his arms open to embrace Sophia. “How are you doing?”
“Getting along,” Sophia said as she rubbed her belly.
“I bet,” Jerome said as he looked her over. “Happy Birthday, by the way.”
“Dad, you don’t need to shout it to the heavens.”
“And why not? Today is your day, and I know the road to the house has so many bumps in it, I figured meeting here would be better.”
“Wait,” Sophia stopped and glanced around at the streamers and various townsfolk wandering about the town. “Is today the town fair?”
“It is, and I’m making your favorite, smoked ribs,” Jerome said with a huge grin that stretched ear to ear.
“Awe, Dad, you didn’t have to. You know you’re going to have to feed the whole town those, too.”
“Already two steps ahead of you. I’ve got plenty on the spit, and there’s more coming if we need it. Kate’s at the homestead getting the next batch ready to bring over. I just wanted to give you the best day I could. Once that kid comes out, you won’t get a lot of days to celebrate you.”
“I love you,” Sophia said as she hugged Jerome as best as she could.
“Now, where’s Andre? I need to know if he’s helping with the run next week.”
“He’s around here somewhere,” Sophia said, glancing over her shoulder to find Andre chatting with his friend Dominic. “There he is.”
“Be right back,” Jerome said. “Watch the meat for me while I’m gone.”
“I’ll take care of the food,” Alice said, giving Sophia a pat on the shoulder. “You need to get off your feet. Go find a nice shady spot to sit and get comfortable.”
Sophia glanced up to the sky to catch the clouds floating lazily through the azure blue. She couldn’t help but smile. Somehow she knew in the pit of her stomach that her mother was looking down on her from heaven.
“Sophia,” Andre’s voice pulled Sophia from her thoughts. “Come meet Janet.”
“Don’t you dare get up,” Janet said as she, Andre, and Dominic, and came over to Sophia. “You should never ask a woman in such a condition to do anything. Poor thing must be aching all over.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Sophia said as she extended her hand to Dominic’s new lady friend. Sophia could see the way Janet made Dominic’s face beam, and she couldn’t help but glance over to Andre. Andre bobbed his head and flashed her a smile as if to acknowledge Dominic was serious about this new girl.
“Likewise. Now if there is anything you need, you just let me know, and I’ll get right on it, you hear me?” Janet said. Sophia couldn’t help but admire Janet’s thick Southern accent that seemed to drag out every vowel and turn it into a flowery tone.
“I’ll try to remember that,” Sophia said.
“Isn’t she just the cutest. Now when are you due? Surely you must be ready to pop any day now,” Janet said as she sat down beside Sophia on the grass.
“I’ve got a few more months to go,” Sophia answered as she glanced at Andre.
“How’s your mother doing?” Dominic asked Andre.
“She’s by the pit if you want to say hello,” Sophia said. “My father put her in charge of the grub until he gets back.”
“It’s just dreadful what you’ve been through,” Janet said with a pat of her hand on Sophia’s shoulder. Sophia arched an eyebrow and stared at Janet for a moment.
“The whole kidnapping thing. Dominic told me everything. He said that’s when Andre proposed to you a year ago. How about that.”
“It was quite a shock,” Sophia said as she noticed Flora and Mark walking down the street, hand in hand. Sophia wished she could get up and chat with them a moment, but the thought of having to rise pained her. Just seeing everyone she loved and cared for filled Sophia up more than she could explain.
“What are you two going on about?” Jerome asked as he came waltzing back to the pit.
“Sophia was just telling me about her ordeal last year,” Janet said. Sophia noticed the way her father’s eyes rolled with disgust.
“My brother, ha!” Jerome chuckled maliciously. “Serves him right, what happened to him.”
“He’s in jail,” Sophia whispered to Janet.
“The audacity of that man!” Jerome growled. “You know I went to his hearing last week? Turns out his goal was to forge the deed to the house and put it into his name so he could sell it off. As if kidnapping my Sophia for every cent I had wasn’t enough to get him out of his debt. But then hiring that Fergus fellow and promising him twenty percent.”
“Easy there,” Sophia said in a soothing tone. “The Good Lord was watching over us, and what was meant for evil ended up being used for good.”
“Good?” Jerome asked, arching an eyebrow. Sophia shared a glance with Andre as she rubbed her belly, feeling the baby kicking within her.
“Well, I suppose if you look at it that way. Things did end up working out for the best, didn’t they?”
“I’d say so,” Andre answered as he moved to Sophia to steal a kiss.
“Well, enough of that topic? Who’s hungry?” Jerome asked as he rubbed his hands together, eager to serve the food.
“I could eat a whole cow,” Sophia said.
“Please don’t,” Andre chuckled. “Because I know you won’t finish it, and you’ll have me clean your plate. And I don’t think I could eat that much.”
Sophia pulled in a long deep breath and let the smile on her face linger as she listened to the small talk around her. She never expected to be surrounded by so many people who loved her, and yet, here she was, and she knew she had finally found a love she could cherish and a life she never wanted to leave.
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OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, " Faith and Love on the Frontier", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hello, my dear readers! I hope that you enjoyed my story and the extended epilogue. I’m looking forward to reading your comments!
Great book though I thought it ended a little abruptly. Wish there were more detail on what sickness ailed Alice and how Kate dealt with the news on Sophia and Andre’s engagement. But overall a splendid book. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, dear Elaine, I will keep this in minde!
Agreed. The epilogue helped tie it together.
I am glad you liked it!
The story is a great love story! I liked tat it looked at relationships with a sick parent. Looked at step relationships which are often rocky. It looked at how a person can feel very left out even in their own household. It might be cliche, but love is a powerful force in healing the wounded spirit.
Thank you dear for saying that!
Loved the story. Would have liked a better ending with more details, her having the baby, and Kate actually being nice at last. What a witch.
I am glad you enjoyed it!!
Great read!
Thank you!
I loved the book.Wonderful story Looking forward to more of your works.
Thank you so much!!
A good book. Loved the characters I was glad Sophia’s father finally got wise to his wife and realized how much he was hurting his daughter. Enjoyed the extended episode but in would have liked to know a little bit more about what happened to the uncle how did Kate take to Sophie and Andres marriage.
Thank you, dear!!
Ms Lilah
The Ranchers Secret arrangement turned out to be such a wonderful and exciting story with Andre and Sophia. I got upset that her stepmother Kate was so mean to her. Andre’s mother Alice is such a lovely lady and I enjoyed her so much. The extended epilogue was wonderful and I enjoyed knowing Sophia was expecting a baby. Thank you for such a wonderful story.
Sincerely
Sharon
Thank you for all the support!
Enjoyed Sophia and Where’s story. Great Character development, Kate almost pushed me over the edge with her jealousy, when all Sofia needed was love and kindness.
Thank you for the kind words!
Wonderful reading but what happened to Kate and her attitude? I was almost ready for her to be mixed up with the villain uncle !!! Guess she finally got her jealous head straightened out. Thanks for the great entertainment !!!
Thank you so much for your feedback! I’m glad you enjoyed the book. Kate’s journey was definitely a tumultuous one, but she learned and grew from her experiences. I’m thrilled that you found it entertaining!
Good book, as can always be expected from Lilah Rivers! Loved the story, and characters. I would have liked the wicked step mother Kate to have been in league with Vincent the wicked uncle. But what a great romp! Thank you for your good writing, I so enjoy your books.
Thank you so much, dear!
I loved your book. You are an excellent writer. May God bless you always!! ❤
Thank you so much, I am so happy!!
Great read much enjoyed, Some typo’s need sorting like “writing like a man” instead of” riding like a man”
Thank you, dear! I have already fixed them!
This book gets 10 stars!!! This was so different from other books I’ve read this year I can’t wait for your next book.
Thank you so much!
A great read
Thank you!
This was a good story but I would have enjoyed knowing how and when step-
mother Kate had a change of heart or dad got a backbone and made changes in the family that included Sophia. I’m glad the evil uncle got his due and went to jail to pay for his crimes.
Thank you dear!
What a sweet love story. Thank goodness Jerome wanted his daughter to have a great love and not necessarily just money. Kate was really a stinker. We need.more of your books, they’re always great.
Thank you so much my dear!
Another terrific book! Loved this story! Can’t wait to start the next one by Lilah Rivers! They never are disappointing!
Thank you so much!!
A great story! Like the rest, I would have liked to know of the mother’s illness, and how the father dealt with the unsupportive step mom. She was too hard on Sophia. Almost like self-serving.
Thank you, dear for the kind words!
Great read!!!So many things in this book to like.Masterful job with Kate’s personality. I was surprised to learn she was middle-aged. She was acting so insecure. Wonder how she’ll be as a grandmother?? So nice for Dad to recognize what Kate was doing and step up to prevent it…the stinker in me almost wanted the newlyweds and Alice to move into the big house with Kate…how’s that for revenge? Think Alice must have had consumption. The dry air in Texas would have helped with that, as well as getting her away from dusty Nebraska.
You have been blessed with an awesome talent for writing this genre of books, Ms Rivers. Thank you for sharing it with us, your audience.
Thank you os much for the amazing feedback, I am so humbled by your words!