Page 19 of The Preacher's Bride

“When I pulled him out, it was all I could do to keep him from going back in.” Caleb smiled at the memory.

Mia’s head snapped up. “How did you do it?”

Caleb sighed. “I told him that he could do more good by praying. We spent most of the day in prayer until you came out.”

Mia looked away. “Between us, when the baby was born blue, I thought we’d lost her.”

Caleb stopped and looked into her eyes. “The baby was born blue?”

Mia nodded. “The little girl.”

“Well, thank goodness she pulled through.” Caleb glanced over at her, his heart pounding at her beauty. “You were a big help to the doctor tonight, you know.”

Mia smiled. “Thank you. I just wish I could have done more.”

“You did enough.” Pride shone in his voice.

As the horses plodded on through the snow, he knew that he needed to talk to her.

“Mia, I’m sorry for being so abrupt to you earlier today.” He let out a deep breath. “You deserved better than how I treated you when you got off the train.”

“It’s okay, Caleb. I understand.”

He shook his head. “No. You’re a good woman, Mia, and you deserve to know what you’re getting yourself into.”

She looked back at Shane and then into his eyes. “I appreciate that, but I don’t think now is the time.”

He nodded, knowing she was right.

“Caleb, I know it hasn’t been easy for you and the children.”

“It’s been hard,” he admitted, letting out a deep breath.

She covered his hand with hers. “I know, but you have to find a way to let go of the past and move on.”

He smirked without humor as he looked into her eyes, pulling his hand away. “So, you want me to forget?”

She shook her head. “No, of course not. Never forget. But someday, you’ll have to find a way to move on.”

“It’s easier said than done.” He let out a deep breath, shaking his head.

She let her hand drop. “Take all the time you need.”

A few minutes later, he pulled the team to a stop in front of the hotel in Laramie. “Mia, I hope you don’t mind, but I thoughtabout it, and I don’t want to get caught on the road in the dark this time of year. Also, we can’t leave Colton and Ella to get back on their own with the babies. Although it hasn’t snowed for the past few weeks, we’re not out of the woods yet. And if it starts snowing with the children before we get home—”

“Say no more.” Her eyes met his, looking so beautiful that it overwhelmed him, but he quickly pushed the thought aside. “I don’t mind… really.”

Caleb pulled the brake. “I’ll be right back.” Shane started to get down. “Come on, buddy.”

Shane happily hopped down and took his father’s hand. He was always following him, emulating him. It was clear that he idolized his father. Caleb just wanted to live up to it.

Inside, Caleb and Shane walked up to the front desk where a man was standing behind the counter.

“Welcome to the Laramie Inn!” the man behind the desk beamed, a bit too chipper. “What can I do for you?”

“I’d like two rooms please.” Caleb didn’t want to think that it was technically their wedding night, and he also didn’t want to think about losing the kindest, most beautiful woman in the world. Guild reared its ugly head within his chest.

The man turned around and pulled two skeleton keys from a peg board behind him. “That’ll be .75 cents each or $1.50 for two.”

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