“What?” Both Rosie and Jesse gasped the word at the same time.
Summer nodded. “I answered a newspaper ad for a man who wants a mail-order bride, and as luck would have it, he lives right here in Aspen. Mr. Adam Fairbanks is from a wealthy family, and he will be starting up his own business.”
“Fairbanks?” Jesse asked, wearing a scowl.
“Yes. Do you know him?”
Jesse nodded. “I know his father better.”
“Well,” she aimed her answer at her sister, who still appeared shocked. “Adam won’t mind if we help out Ma and Pa. He has more money than Jesse, so I’m sure Adam will be able to hire men to help at the livery until Pa gets better.” She just prayed Pa could heal quickly.
She glanced at Jesse for a moment to see his expression tighten as he stared at the road ahead. She probably shouldn’t have mentioned his lack of income, but she wanted to let them know that Adam Fairbanks would have the funds to help.
Dragged from thoughts by the familiar scenery, she focused on the two-story house growing closer by the second. She put aside her concern for her father momentarily and joined the joyous homecoming.
She scanned the yard, the house.Home.
The old elm tree she’d climbed as a kid still stood guard over the front yard, and the house looked as if it had been freshly white-washed. Windows sparkled against the sun, and a rainbow of flowers in the planter below the porch enlivened the entry and calmed her spirit.
Everything was exactly as she remembered.
Jesse pulled the team to a stop and set the brake as Ma moved toward then, wiping her hands on her apron. Summer smiled down at her, fighting back the tears.
“I don’t believe what I’m seeing. Summer, you’re wearing a dress.”
Although her mother’s comment was humorous, it was difficult to laugh.
“I think you better tell us what happened with our little tomboy,” Ma said.
Summer finally laughed. “Aunt Lydia buried that ruffian back in Springfield.”
Ma clapped her hands joyfully. “Oh, thank the good Lord.”
Jesse helped Summer down from the wagon. She really didn’t want to look at his face up this close, but his eyes were so mesmerizing. Even if it only took a few seconds for him to lift her, the beat of her heart quickened from their closeness. For a moment, she detected confusion in his gaze, but as soon as he released her, indifference replaced his expression. Before Summer could analyze this, her mother wrapped her arm around Summer and held her tightly.
Soon, Ma pulled back, holding Summer at arm’s length. Happiness lit her face.
Ma hadn’t changed. Still short, plump, and healthy looking. Her brown eyes sparkled with love as they gazed into Summer’s. The only thing different was a few more strands of gray hair in the auburn knot at the back of her head. Most certainly from the stress of caring for Pa.
“Welcome home, sweetheart.”
“Oh, Ma. It’s good to be home.” Summer glanced toward the house. “Where is Pa?”
The happy expression on her mother’s face wavered. “He’s waiting for you in the parlor, dear.”
Summer entered the house, and familiar smells brought back a flood of memories. The nostalgic scent of Pa’s pipe overwhelmed her with the homesickness she suffered when she first left home. She glanced across the hall to the parlor. The faded yellow curtains and the well-worn brown carpet brought comforting reminders of cold winter evenings when the family gathered by the fire.
Pa sat in his favorite over-stuffed chair, facing the hearth with his back to her. She could see that his grayish-black hair had thinned, leaving a bare spot on the top of his head. And as Rosie and Jesse had warned, the man was nearly unrecognizable. Her heart pounded as she stepped closer to him.
“Pa?”
He turned his head slightly and reached out his arm. “I’m here, Summer.”
She ran to the front of his chair and knelt at his feet. “Oh, Papa, what happened to you?”
Her father touched her cheek lovingly. “My dear, sweet, Summer. Come, give me a hug.”
She lifted and embraced him.
