Along Came Love Read Free Page A

a
real fix, Samantha. If Rusty hadn't come along to save me, I'm not
sure what would have happened. And I couldn't lose the ranch, my
mother is buried here. It's kinda funny, Rusty and I had no idea
we'd fall in love with each other, but it did happen."
    "Well, it doesn't matter how it all started,
it ended like a fairytale. I mean you hadn't been married a year
and you had the twins. And then Joe a couple years later. And
Emily, by the way, where is Emily? I mean I know Joe started
kindergarten this year, but Emily isn't in school yet."
    "Oh, she's spending the next two weeks with
her Papa Cal, he's teaching her to ride. You know Cal, as soon as
they can walk and talk good, he's got them on a horse. She's been
riding for a year now and I can't keep her away from the 4 Bar
None. But it is a big help not having to take care of Emily, and
the others are in schools, so life's not so bad. Cal is so good
with the kids. And everyone has noticed how good they are for
him."
    "Good, that gives you a little re-cooping
time and time for Jacob."
    "Yeah, Jacob was a surprise we hadn't planned
on having any
    more children, I mean it's been four years,
but it just happened, and we couldn't be happier about it. But I
swear, this is the last one…"
    "I'm so happy for you. At least one of us has
found what they are looking for. Can I hold him a minute?"
    Hannah looked at Samantha and smiled, "Sure,
sit here beside me."
    "He's so little, I'm afraid I'll crush him."
Samantha took the baby into her arms and pulled it close to her.
The baby cuddled into her and Samantha felt her heart turn over.
She never realized how badly she wanted a child till the past year
when Pete totally refused to consider it. She smiled down into the
sleeping face. The instant warmth made Samantha cuddle him closer.
All her hormones seemed to spring forward, and the ache to have a
child screamed at her.
    "He's a Travers, and they are strong." Hannah
laughed. "Don't worry, you won't break him."
    "Oh God, Hannah, I want one of my own."
Samantha looked into little Jacob's dark blue eyes and smiled as a
gas bubble had him making a face like a smile.
    "Well, then, maybe you better get to working
on that right away," Hannah encouraged with a chuckle.
    "Yeah, fat chance. My having a child seems so
far fetched now. I'm too old. Besides, with teaching, I'll be
surrounded by children, that will be enough."
    "You know, I would never have guessed this
would happen to me either, Samantha. Or that I could be so happy in
my life." Hannah admitted with a slight smile, her eyes reflecting
her inner thoughts. "Oh, you are going to find someone just for
you, and very soon. And you are not too old. Women are waiting
later and later in life to have their first child. You still have
plenty of time. I just know things are going to work out well for
you, especially since you found a job in Sweetwater. Just because
things didn't work out between you and Pete, doesn't mean you can't
find someone else. You're still young, I hope you haven't totally
given up."
    "I guess you're right. But I'm not sure it's
the right time in my life with Mother so sick." Samantha's face
turned serious. "I guess, I just wasn't cut out to be a policeman's
wife."
    "I can see where it would be hard. But I
don't think it was his occupation, it was Pete, himself. I mean,
when you are really in love, no occupation is going to stop you
from being together. You need a man that's loyal through and
through. There is someone out there for you, just you. Maybe a few
years ago, I wouldn't be saying this, but now…I believe. Love will
come along one day, and take you by surprise, just like it did
me."
    "The two of you make love and marriage look
easy." Samantha touched the silk like hair on the baby's head. He
was gorgeous, so pink and healthy looking.
    "So why not give it another chance? You know
me Sam, do you think I ever envisioned having five kids and a
husband to die for?" Hannah asked the question that Samantha
couldn't put