A Bride for Cameron by Barbara Goss (read novels website .txt) 📗

through here instead of Great Bend.  It would cost the railroad company less since we are due south,  and Great Bend is southeast.  I was excited about it until he said I needed a family to become elected.

“I almost backed out of finding a wife and adopting children just so Hunter’s Grove could grow, but then I realized how our legal business would grow, as well as other businesses.  I also felt the need for the companionship of a wife.

“I didn’t just pick the first woman who answered my ad.  I read them all,  and when I read yours,  I felt strangely drawn to you.  I filed the others away and concentrated on writing to you.

“I’ve never seen how a husband should act since I never had a father to imitate, and I’ve never been around children.  My letters sounded like legal briefs—I messed everything up.”

Hannah squeezed his hand.  “No, you didn’t mess up.  You are learning and doing a wonderful job.  I can see the change--”

An urgent cry interrupted Hannah, “Mama!  Papa!  Help!”

Before Hannah could react, Cameron was already half-way down to the sand dune.

Hannah followed.

Georgie was up to his waist in wet sand and couldn’t get out.

Cameron tried to calm him while pulling him from under his arms.  “Quicksand!” he yelled.

Hannah pulled Annabelle close as she watched Cameron fight to get Georgie out of the quicksand.  “Pull him out!”

“No, that’s the worst thing to do,” Cameron said.  “I read about this not long ago.  Trust me.”

“Georgie,” Cameron said,  taking his hands.  “Papa will get you out, but you must stop crying immediately.  And stop wiggling—it’s making you sink even further.”

Georgie stopped crying and looked up at Cameron.  “Out, Papa.”

“I want you to do something very odd: lay on your back until your head hits the sand.”

“I scared, Papa.”

“Georgie, Papa would never do anything to harm you.  You’re my son.  I’ll be right here holding your hand.”

Georgie did as Cameron directed,  and his knees popped up. Cameron slipped his arms beneath the child’s body and lifted him.  The sand made an ugly sucking noise, but Georgie was free.

Chapter Sixteen

Cameron hugged Georgie to him despite all the mud and carried him to safe ground.  He rocked Georgie in his arms to calm the boy.

Hannah stood with Annabelle in her grasp. She felt like hugging Cameron.  He had saved Georgie.  What if Cameron hadn’t been there?  What would she have done?

Cameron slowly loosened his hold on Georgie.  “We need to get his clothes off.  The oils in the quicksand can burn his skin.”

Hannah rushed over to help Cameron remove Georgie’s clothes until he was naked.

“Annabelle,” Hannah called, “run and get the tablecloth.”

Once Georgie was safely wrapped in the cloth, Hannah used a wet napkin to wash his face, arms, and hands.  “What about you, Cameron?  Now you’re full of that mud, too.”

“Well, I’m not going to get naked,” he said with a sly smile and a wink.  He removed his shirt, waded out into the creek, and held out his arms for Georgie, who jumped eagerly into them.  Cameron ripped off the cloth that had been around Georgie, and threw it to Hannah.

She watched them splash around in the shallow water.  Georgie was laughing, and so was Cameron.  She felt something odd in her chest as if her heart had skipped a beat.  It was a lovely scene.  She’d never seen Georgie laugh so hard.  His laugh was so infectious that soon she and Annabelle were laughing, too.

As the Hart family ate breakfast, Cameron said, “After church, we'll stop at the livery, all right?”

Hannah nodded.  “What about the children?”

“I’ve taken care of that,” Bessie said as she carried another dish of biscuits from the kitchen. “My friend, Otto, and I will take them to his ranch for dinner.  He wants them to see the new litter of puppies that his dog, Sheba, had two weeks ago. Then you may pick them up at Otto’s house later.”

Annabelle squealed with delight.  “I can hardly wait.”

“Maybe we should get a pet for the children someday.  What should it be?”  Cameron aimed his question at Annabelle.

“I love cats and dogs,” she said, “but my favorite animal is a goat.”

“A goat!” Hannah and Cameron said in unison.

“Where did you see a goat?” Hannah asked.

“The orphanage had cows and a goat.  A few of the children got sick from cow’s milk,” she said.

Hannah asked, “And is that where you learned to read so well?”

“Yes. I had school every day, but I like your school better.  Georgie was too little, so he had to go to the nursery.”

Hannah put her arm around Annabelle and gave her a hug.  “I’m so glad Papa brought you home from the orphan train.  We both love you and Georgie very much.”

“How would you like a pony?” Cameron asked.

“Oh, my!  I’d love a pony.”  She looked up at Hannah.  “Would you teach me to ride it?”

“Of course, I would.  According to the paperwork from the orphanage that Papa showed me, your birthday is in two weeks.”

“It is?  How old will I be, Mama?”

“Six-years-old.”

Cameron winked at Annabelle.  “I can’t promise a pony, but I’ll try as hard as I can to find one.  If I can’t, would you like a puppy or kitten?”

Annabelle frowned as if deep in thought.  “I’ll let you know what I'd like if you can't find a pony after I see Mr. Otto’s puppies today.  And I won’t be disappointed if you can’t find one.”

Cameron got up from the table and hugged Annabelle.  “That’s the best attitude. I’ll do the best I can.”

At church that morning, the Reverend Hollister was still there.  He said, “Now that we’ve gone over all of God’s commandments, you're probably wondering what happens if you break one of