The Sister Wife (31 page)

She sighed and gave Enid a small smile. “Now isn't the time to speak of such things. The Saints have a lot to deal with aside from the errant behavior of children and training them as if they were…” A smile tugged at her lips, and she couldn't finish.

The reflection of the spangle of stars on the new-fallen snow gave just enough light for Bronwyn to see Enid's wide smile and the gleam of her wild silver-red mane. She was glad to see the woman wasn't offended until she spoke again…

“Have you told the others?” Enid's gaze was fixed on Mary Rose.

Mary Rose glanced at her but didn't answer.

“I suppose it falls to me, then, as many things in the household will in the future.” Enid laughed, and the sound wasn't unkind. Rather, it seemed to hold a tone of authority.

Bronwyn leaned forward, tilting her head toward Enid so she wouldn't miss a word.

“We're getting married!” Enid's smile was joyful and triumphant. “Gabe and I are getting married as soon as we reach winter quarters. Mary Rose has finally agreed that it will be the best for us all.”

Bronwyn's stomach clenched tight, and for a moment she couldn't breathe. She stared at Mary Rose. “You didn't…you couldn't have.”

Enid's laughter rang out, and the thud of her high-stepping horse's hooves drummed as if in rhythm with the sound. “She did, bless her, she did.” She looked as if nothing could quench her joy.

“Dearest,” she said as Gabe rode toward her. “I've just let everyone know our good news.”

Gabe's eyes went to Bronwyn first, and then to Mary Rose, who kept her gaze on the backs of the oxen. She popped the whip harder than she had before, frightening the beasts even though the leather tip didn't touch them.

The children had fallen silent as mice in the back of the wagon.

Gabe rode closer, his gaze now on Bronwyn again, searching her face as if looking to her for permission to love another. The look was so fleeting, she thought she had imagined it, but before he could speak, Enid rode up beside him.

“We'll discuss this later,” she said to the three women, “and what it will mean to the running of our household.” She flashed them another smile before riding off with Gabe.

“The running of our household?” Cordelia laughed heartily. “Methinks if she tries, she'll have quite a time of it, considering the likes of us.” The older woman had come to live with them right after Grandfather's death. Though not a wife, she had become the matriarch of their family, full of love and laughter and spunk.

Bronwyn paid little attention to Cordelia's words or even to the rollicking laughter from the back of the wagon as Mary Grace perfectly mimicked Enid's parting words.

She was too busy thinking about Gabe, too filled with wonder at his expression when his eyes met hers, too surprised at the strange stirring of her heart. The look was different than any he'd given her before. It was almost as if he was falling in love with her.

Why now? She fell back against the wagon seat, trying to take in the jumbled emotions.

She'd accepted that he loved Mary Rose and didn't love her—at least not with the same kind of love. The relationship that they'd developed after they married had been based on physical attraction on his part and need on hers.

She craned to look back at Enid and Gabe riding toward the
back of the wagon train, silhouetted against the orange sky of the burning city of Nauvoo.

Never once, during all the times they'd come together, had he said he loved her. She had accepted it as a fact, because in truth, her heart had still belonged to Griffin. And she knew his belonged to Mary Rose.

Now, in that one lingering look, his eyes said he loved her. She was sure of it. She wanted to laugh and cry and have a hissy fit, as Cordelia would say, all at the same time.

Mary Rose looked over at her. “Are you all right?”

“I think so,” she said.

“I'm sorry I couldn't tell you,” she said.

“Why now? You said you would never give permission for him to marry her.”

Mary Rose swallowed hard, and her expression softened. “It had to be now.” She handed the reins to Cordelia and turned sideways on the seat. “I couldn't wait.”

“You still haven't answered my question.”

The wagon wheels creaked in the snow, the oxen snorted, and behind them, the voices of the other travelers could be heard. Finally Mary Rose spoke. “It's because of you.”

“Me?”

“Because you are falling in love with Gabe. And he with you.” Mary Rose gave her a small smile. “I've seen it in his face long before tonight.”

They fell silent again, and then Mary Rose circled her arm around Bronwyn's shoulders. “I gave my permission for him to marry Enid to save you from the heartache of loving Gabriel MacKay.”

I owe a debt of gratitude to the following:

Cynthia DiTiberio
,
my editor at HarperOne, for catching and holding onto the dream that became Brides of Gabriel and remaining passionate about it from our first conversation through the day I turned in Book One in the series. Thank you, Cindy!

Joel Kneedler, my agent, for your expert direction, astute career guidance, and calm spirit that keep me focused (and sane!). This book wouldn't have happened without you. You're the best, my friend!

Lorin Oberweger, editorial consultant, cheerleader, and friend, for your expert advice and support throughout the writing of
The Sister Wife.
Thank you for being there for me.

Jim and Tori Thomas, for providing this writing gnome a place to write her tome! And to think you decorated C2 just for me. Your Western memorabilia couldn't have been a more appropriate setting in which to write this historical novel. You two are the greatest!

My daughter Amy Martinez, whose daily phone calls never fail to uplift me. Amy, you are a portrait of love in action. It was never more evident than when you and Mark dropped everything to fly across the country to be with me at Mom's passing midway through the writing of this book. Also, a heartfelt thanks to my daughter Melinda Head, whose love and prayers are always with me—and who's always ready to celebrate a book's completion with delightful spa days spent together!

A special thanks to dear friends Linda Udell, Marihelen Goodwin, and Tom and Susan Johnson. Your love never wavered, your prayers never ceased, and your encouragement gave me the strength I needed to continue writing even during my journey through some of life's most difficult emotional places. I love you all!

Big hugs of thanks to my NC family. I'm blessed by their love and their amazing feedback as my first readers—especially my sister-in-law Kathi and my brother Dennis, who also keeps my mind sharp and fingers flying, and Kristin, whose unsinkable spirit always inspires me. Can't wait until
Leap of Faith
publishes and we take our first skydiving “leap” together.

Last, but not least, a heart of gratitude to my husband, Tom, resident historian and chef extraordinaire, whose love and support are without equal. Your historical expertise and literary feedback bring my novels to life, and your knowledge of American history, especially the history of the American West, provides the best possible backdrop detail for my stories. Thank you, especially, for encouraging me to attend the Oregon-California Trails Association meeting with you in Yuma last spring—where the seeds of writing another historical series set in the American West took root.

Cover photographs: woman © Ashley Lebedev/Trevillion Images; field © Rudyanto Wijaya/Shutterstock Images