Her gaze found Grant’s, as it usually did, and he sent her a wink. He was such a different person now, ever since the day he and White Horse had rescued her and Steps Right from Flies Ahead’s camp. The new life inside him was impossible to miss. They’d prayed together often since then. And the peace on his face when he communicated with the Father made her heart swell every time.
TWENTY-SIX
A glorious sunset of orange and purple streaked the western horizon as they all sat around the campfire outside White Horse’s lodge that evening. Steps Right sat as the special guest of honor, with Faith on one side and White Horse on the other. Rosie sat on his left. It was becoming so natural to see the two of them together. Their lingering gazes didn’t catch her off-guard anymore.
She hadn’t had a chance to ask June or Lorelei whether they knew anything about Rosie’s feelings. Too much had happened that day. When Lorelei and Tanner arrived with Ol’ Henry and Dragoon, there had been another round of introductions and tears, and they’d begun preparing for this celebration meal.
Faith eyed Lorelei, who sat on Rosie’s left across the fire. She looked radiant, and even had a little bump beneath her dress, though it couldn’t be seen the way she sat now. Tanner had his arm braced beside her, giving her something to lean against. He took such good care of Lorelei, adoringher the way she deserved. Faith couldn’t imagine a better choice for her sweet sister.
Juniper had found her perfect match too. Apparent now as Riley stood behind his wife, bouncing their overly tired toddler to distract her so Juniper could stay seated with the group. Currently, she’d settled next to Will, peppering him with questions about his time in the west. She’d already done the same with Grant, hearing his retelling of their travels to find Steps Right. Faith had told her sisters the details as they were cooking that afternoon, but they would likely be sharing memorable moments for days to come.
When Will finished answering Juniper’s latest question, June glanced around the fire at the group. Faith caught her gaze, and her sister’s warm smile eased any lingering tension in her chest. It was so good to be home, surrounded by those who loved her.
Juniper’s focus shifted to Rosemary, and a look passed between them. Faith’s heart picked up speed. Rosie’s glance darted to Steps Right, then she stood and moved back out of the circle of firelight. Was this the moment?
When she and her sisters had gathered this afternoon for her to give the full report of her journey, Rosemary had asked them all if they’d like to present the beads to Steps Right this evening, if the time seemed right. Could there be a moment more perfect than this gathering of friends under the wide expanse of the starry sky?
Rosie returned to the firelight, but this time crouched beside Steps Right. White Horse scooted over so she could settle where he’d been beside his mother. Steps Right regarded her, watching with interest.
Rosemary held the leather pouch in her hands, the onethat had hung around Faith’s neck for weeks. The one that had somehow ended up in Grant’s saddlebag, bringing him back to her on the day she needed him most.
As though he could feel her thoughts, or maybe because her fingers brushed against his trousers, his hand closed around hers, strong and steady. His grip settled her, and she tightened her hold on him.
The entire group had quieted, and Rosie looked at each of their sisters—Juniper, then Lorelei, then her—before turning back to Steps Right.
Her voice came strong as she focused on the woman. “You once found our father, injured on the plain and near death. You stayed with him, caring for him until help could come. Because of your kindness, he lived to come home to us. To help his daughters grow.” Her gaze slid to Faith for a half second as the corners of her mouth tipped. “One of his daughters would never have been born, had you not saved his life.”
Faith couldn’t help her own smile. In more ways than one, she wouldn’t be here without this special woman.
Rosie’s fingers slipped into the opening of the pouch in her lap, pulling out the string of blue crystal beads. She raised them to hang from her left hand, then draped them over her right so she extended the necklace like the gift of the magi.
“You gave this to our father that night on the plain, and he told you stories of his family, a story for each bead in this necklace. He would not have lived that night without your care and the hope you gave him through the beads of this necklace.”
Steps Right’s eyes had begun to glisten, and Rosie’s voicesoftened as she continued. “Three years ago, as my sisters and I were gathered around him during his final moments on this earth, our father asked us to bring the beads back to you so they could be reunited with the other strands passed down through your family’s generations. We’re honored to finally accomplish this. But even more than that, we’re honored to know you and your son.”
A few tears had slipped past Faith’s defenses as she listened, and now her blurry vision made her nearly miss the way Rosemary turned to look at White Horse, just for a moment.
Steps Right took the beads from Rosie, then gathered them in one hand and used her free one to reach out and clasp Rosie’s fingers. When she spoke, though, she used her Peigan tongue, speaking a string of words to White Horse.
His voice came deeper, softer, as he interpreted. “My mother thanks you for bringing the beads. But she is more thankful for you, her daughters.”
Steps Right’s eyes smiled as she looked from Rosie on her left to Faith on her right, then to Lorelei and Juniper. She still gripped Rosie’s hand, and quietly, she placed the bead necklace in her lap and reached for Faith’s also.
As Steps Right’s warm palm pressed against her own, Faith gave a gentle squeeze back. Through tears of joy, she let her gaze roam the group of people she loved. Steps Right, her sisters and the men special to them, her niece, their friends. And Grant.
He held her gaze as his thumb stroked the back of her hand. His eyes said everything she needed to know about the depth of his affection.
Thankfulness welled in her so rich and full, new tearsslipped down her cheeks, following the curves of her smile.Father in heaven, your goodness is far better than I could have imagined.
When the fire had died down, Grant helped Faith carry the food and dishes that had come from the main cabin, while the others worked through the smaller details to ensure everyone settled in for the night. He and Will had already pitched a tent, as had Dragoon and Ol’ Henry. White Horse had made a place for his mother in his lodge, and the rest would sleep in the two cabins.
The day had been so full, arriving at the ranch and meeting all the people who meant so much to her. She was loved abundantly, as he’d known she must be. But what continued to catch him by surprise was how easily they welcomed him in as one of them. Maybe because he’d already met Rosemary and she’d allowed him to come.
He’d expected to have to prove himself to her other sisters and their husbands, as he’d had to with White Horse and Rosemary already. But their focus had mainly been on Steps Right and on Faith, as it should have been.
When he set the last empty crate on the stack under the counter in their kitchen, Grant turned to Faith in the dim light of the cabin she and Rosie shared. “Are you too tired for a walk under the stars?”
He hadn’t planned to ask that. She was likely exhausted. But he wasn’t ready to leave her yet, even for the night.
