A Love to Cherish Read online

  “Pshaw. It would be impossible. You take it home and press it and wear it for your wedding. When is the big day?”

  “Saturday.”

  “Girl, that’s day after tomorrow. How do you plan to get ready by then?”

  “We’ll be ready. All it takes is standing up before my pa and promising now and forever.”

  Sylvie’s eyes grew dreamy. “It’s that simple, isn’t it?”

  Two days later Victoria donned her borrowed finery and admired the floating layers of silk.

  “It’s beautiful,” Ma said.

  “I’d have to agree,” Mother added.

  Victoria’s sisters had already left and waited for them in the vestibule.

  Pa had left and also waited at the church.

  Her Hayworth parents and her ma escorted her across the yard to the church. She peeked into the sanctuary and gasped at the crowd. “I didn’t expect anyone to come.”

  “Everyone is happy for you.”

  Kade led Victoria’s two mothers down the aisle and seated them.

  Flora began to play the Bridal Chorus.

  Victoria took her Hayworth father’s arm and stepped into the aisle.

  Reese was handsome in a black suit and white shirt. His dark eyes held her gaze as she walked toward him.

  They repeated their vows before Pa and the gathered audience. They signed the official papers then Pa introduced them.

  “May I present Mr. and Mrs. Reese Cartwright. May the Lord bless your union.”

  Amidst clapping they hurried down the aisle.

  Victoria shouldn’t have been surprised that the women of the area had put together a nice lunch. But she didn’t taste a bit of it. Couldn’t remember if she even ate.

  Finally, someone brought a wagon to the church and Reese lifted her into it.

  As they headed home, Reese said, “When your pa had us say, ‘I plight thee my troth’ I made my own vow.” He stopped the wagon and took her hands in his. “Victoria, I pledge thee truth and trust forever.”

  Her heart so full there was hardly room for her words, she said, “Reese, I pledge thee my past, my present, and my future. Every minute of my life from now until the Lord calls me home. I hope to always make you happy.”

  “You have filled my heart to overflowing.” He kissed her soundly. Then they drove on toward home and a shared life.

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  The story of the Kinsley family begins long before they take up residence in Glory, Montana Territory. It begins with a young woman, married to a preacher man. Both of them desire to serve God and have a large family. But their lives aren’t the dream they’d imagined. There are disappointments that threaten their hearts. Will their faith endure and their love survive?

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  Sneak peek of Renewing Love

  It wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be.

  Eve Kinsley stared across the distance at a man who looked very much like the one who had walked out of her life over two years ago. She turned to her brother-in-law beside her on the wagon seat.

  “You didn’t tell me the name of your new neighbors.” And yet she’d eagerly agreed to leave town and go to the ranch to care for two older women. Mostly because it got her away from the persistent wooing of a cowboy she found annoying.

  The man she thought she recognized was several yards away, his face shaded by a hat. She must be mistaken in thinking it was him.

  “I’m sorry. How neglectful of me. Cole Carter, his mother, and maiden aunt.”

  Cole! The very same man. How had she gotten herself into this? More importantly, how was she going to get out of it?

  They drove toward the house. “There he is now. Cole,” Reese called, spotting the man by the barn.

  Cole turned. Two years older. He’d now be twenty-five. Two years bigger if that was possible. The man had filled out some. Shoulders like a bear and slim hips. He’d always cut a good figure. Dark brown hair beneath a black cowboy hat. Dark brown eyes that went to Reese.

  Two years more attractive. Not that Eve cared a fig about that.

  A wide mouth that smiled at Reese as he waved a welcome and then drew into a tight line as he recognized Eve. Cole’s strong angular jaw reminded her just how stubborn and unforgiving he was.

  He stepped forward. “Eve Kinsley. What a surprise.” He made it sound like a very unpleasant discovery.

  “You two know each other?” Reese looked from one to the other. “How is that possible?”

  “I used to live in Verdun, Ohio.” Cole’s words were so hard that Eve flinched. “Miss Kinsley and I were acquainted.”

  Acquainted? Was that how he saw it? Had he forgotten he’d asked her to marry him and then rode out of her life without a word of explanation? He’d not given her a chance to explain her views or even collect her thoughts.

  He adjusted his hat and shifted away from Eve as if looking at her hurt his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he said to Reese. “I’ve decided I no longer need help. Would you mind taking Miss Kinsley back to town?”

  Reese stared at Cole and then at Eve. “Would someone mind telling me what’s going on?”

  Coming soon!

  Also by Linda Ford

  Contemporary Romance

  Montana Skies series

  Cry of My Heart

  Forever in My Heart

  Everlasting Love

  Inheritance of Love

  Historical Romance

  Love on the Santa Fe Trail

  Wagon Train Baby

  Wagon Train Wedding

  Wagon Train Matchmaker

  Wagon Train Christmas

  Dakota Brides series

  Temporary Bride

  Abandoned Bride

  Second-Chance Bride

  Reluctant Bride

  War Brides series

  Lizzie

  Maryelle

  Irene

  Grace

  Wild Rose Country

  Crane’s Bride

  Hannah’s Dream

  Chastity’s Angel

  Cowboy Bodyguard

  Copyright © 2018 by Linda Ford

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.