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Three Years Later
Reid and Georgie were out for a buggy ride in town with their little two-year-old, Winifred. A sweet child, the spitting image of her mother, and pretty much her temperament too, the little girl was Georgie and Reid’s greatest joy.
“Now that John and Ruby are about to have their first and my dear Betsy with twins, who would have thought that three years ago we would all be in this place? It’s heavenly having everyone I really and truly love around me. In fact, this year I’m very much looking forward to the yearly visit of my aunt and uncle. They should be arriving in one month, I believe.”
“Yes, darling, one month exactly. And to think, little Winnie has grown so much since they last saw her. She’s walking and even talking.”
“I know.” Georgie leaned down and kissed the top of the sleeping child’s head. “She’s getting tall, too.”
“She is in all ways, her mother. When we have our next one, do you think you might allow him or her to inherit my blue eyes? Not that my daughter’s golden brown eyes aren’t lovely.”
Georgie laughed. “I’m sorry that our child looks exactly like me, darling. Will you ever forgive me?”
“Every day, my darling.” Reid chuckled and pulled the buggy to the side of the road and hopped down.
“Do you need anything, from the dry goods, Georgie?”
“I don’t, but if you don’t mind checking the post office for any mail. Thank you, dear.”
“The post office! Why, everyone you know lives here in Pine Springs,” Reid teased. “Who besides your aunt and uncle would write to you?” He grinned.
“Very funny.” Georgie chuckled. “ I had an odd dream last night. I think I might have a letter.”
“Is that so? Odd, you say? How so?”
Georgie had forgotten that as a result of being from Cornwall, Reid was quite superstitious. Odd had been a poor choice of word.
“It wasn’t anything bad or even alarming, dear. However it was odd. That’s the best word to describe it, though I know it gives another connotation entirely. When I woke up this morning I had the feeling that there’s news from New York. Good news, mind you.”
Reid blinked once and just looked at her for a moment. “Is that so? Well, far be it from me to question the concept of women’s intuition! I’ll be right back.”
“Thank you, Reid,” Georgie called as he walked away. She just couldn’t imagine what the news was, but they’d know soon enough.
In a minute, Reid came back to the buggy, waving a letter in his hand. “Well, well, will you lookie-here? Seems your dream or your intuition or whatever it was, was spot on, darling.”
“Oh let’s get home so I can read it. Not too fast because of the baby, but neither of us can read it.”
“Do you want to read it right here?”
“I married a genius, but you would have to read it so I don’t disturb Winnie. Let’s wait until we get home, darling.”
“Whatever my lady fancies,” Reid teased again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 23, 1871
Dear Georgiana,
I have the need to confess something to you. And the desire to thank you.
Apparently, when Mr. William Tuttle visited you shortly after you left New York, you told him to go back to New York. You also told him something else. I don’t know exactly what it was, but I know it had something to do with me.
And Georgie! The most wonderful thing happened. Mr. Tuttle asked Papa if he could court me! Me! Of course, Mama was beside herself with joy. And I found out, inadvertently, from Mr. Tuttle that I owe my good fortune to you and I want to thank you with all of my heart.
You see, I have a confession to make. I have long been in love with Mr. Tuttle. When my mother told me he was to marry you because he preferred you, I was heartbroken. Now everything has changed. I am to marry Mr. Tuttle in one month’s time.
While I don’t possess your strength of will and saucy character, I feel confident that I have what it will take to keep the home fires burning and keep Mr. Tuttle happy.
And my confession is that when I was told that he wanted to marry you, I hated you. And I regret any mean word, look, or action I might have sent your way. I hope that you will forgive me.
I would be pleased beyond belief if you, and Mr. Beechum, could come back to New York for the ceremony. I know that’s asking a lot, but it would mean so much to me. You’ll receive a formal invitation, but I wanted to tell you myself, first. As it is, I pray you and Mr. Beechum and your little Winnifred are all well.
With love, your sister,
Susan Endicott
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reid and Georgie sat on the porch. The baby was with Janey, who’d come over to the house with Georgie when she married.
“Hmm. In a month. It will take us about five days to get to New York. Then we’d be there for the two weeks’ visit. We can leave Winnie with Betsy and Paul over at the Lunneys, or Ruby and John, also at the Lunneys! Or all of them!”
“We’ll still have to take the stagecoach to Cheyenne. Then Chicago, and finally, New York. It will be as I said, a few days.” It was a journey Reid wasn’t looking forward to. He had no wish to be at William Tuttle’s marriage. Even if he was marrying Georgie’s cousin.
He didn’t want to say anything about it though. Georgie could be sensitive when it came to her family. Especially when it involved Uncle Robert, KK, and now, William Tuttle. It was a complicated issue and one better not to delve into. He had no wish to distress his wife.
“Well, darling, everything you say is true. We would need to begin our journey in about three weeks, isn’t that correct?”
“Yes, that’s right. That’s ample time to make our relevant plans, don’t you think? Remember when you first came to Pine Springs? You found out about it and 15 hours later you were on the train bound for Chicago.”
“Oh my goodness! I packed so quickly and so light. And as I recall, I had a most charming traveling companion for the main part of the trip!”
“It was the nicest trip from Chicago I’ve ever had,” Reid added.
“So then, three weeks, is that what you think?” She was stringing him along and she was enjoying the game.”
“That seems about right to me. Do you feel satisfied with that time frame?”
“Well, yes, but then what do I do about my condition?”
“Your condition? Georgie! What’s wrong?’
“Nothing is wrong. In fact everything is right, darling.”
“What’s going on? If you’re unwell, why haven’t you said something?”
“I’m well enough. Nothing to worry about. But travel in the next few months would be not ideal. That’s because I’m going to have a baby, Reid.”
“What? You…a baby? This is wonderful news, Georgie.”
“Yes, in one month, the time we would be in New York, for Susan’s wedding, I will be at six months. I’d like to stay close to home.” Her hand went to her belly.
Reid took his hand and placed it over Georgie’s. “Of course, if you want to stay in Pine Springs, then that’s what we’ll do. I’ll send a nice wedding gift, a carriage or something comparable. This is wonderful news, my darling, and a very appropriate excuse to not be at Susan and William’s wedding.”
Georgie grinned. “I must admit, I have no desire to see William Tuttle, but I would have gone back east for Susan’s sake. She’s so happy we’re all on speaking terms and have been since you and I got married, dear. But, now with another little one on the way, to leave Winnie for three weeks and then soon after have a new baby in the house. I think it would be too much. For her and for me. I couldn’t be away from her for that long. I just couldn’t.”
Reid took Georgie’s hand in his own. “I think you’re absolutely right. We’ll stay here, darling. You don’t need to come up with excuses. It would be an arduous journey for you to make.”
“But we must send congratulations. And a gift. We’ll need to put our heads together to come up with the right item. And, Reid, if you want to go to the wedding alone, to show our respects. I’ll understand completely.”
“There are very few things, indeed, that would ever cause me to leave you at such a crucial time, Georgie. I care nothing for social convention. If the happy couple doesn’t get the nature of our respect from the gift sent, then there’s nothing else I can do. There’s nothing else that I will do. I’ll send something to Susan and William, dear. You don’t need to worry about a thing. I’ll tell you what I have in mind before sending it, of course. I didn’t mean to sound as if your input wasn’t welcome.”
“Sh…shush, Reid. I’m not offended or upset. I know you’ll send something appropriate, dear. I like the idea of a carriage. It’s lovely, really.”
“I might send out a matched pair to go with the carriage. What would you think of that, my darling?”
Georgie giggled. “I think you would definitely show William Tuttle that you’re quite a bit richer than he took you for.” She shook her head and laughed some more.
“Well, it’s not my intent. I could care less what the man thinks about me. It’s for your sister that we are sending a gift. Do you think Susan would go for a carriage with a matched pair?”
“I do, Reid. Susan’s not much for horseback riding, but she absolutely adores riding in a carriage. Do get a carriage that is easy for a woman to maneuver, will you?”
“Yes, darling. I will.”
“Thank you.” Georgie grinned. “To think our Susan is 19. The same age I was when you and I married. How time does fly.”
“Yes, it most certainly does. Another reason for us to not be away from our little girl.”
“What do you mean?”
“Winnie is growing so fast. Think of all she accomplishes in a three week time span. Her vocabulary will increase, for one thing.”
Georgie smiled and clasped her hands together. “It is incredible how much progress she makes in just a few days.”
The two continued to list the wonderful attributes and qualities of their little girl. And they went on to entertain ideas about the baby who would join them in four months’ time.
Georgie looked from the horizon that was now colored pink and orange to her husband and sighed a happy sigh of contented joy. Her life was so much more than she could ever have imagined it to be. It was rich with the love and care of a good man who loved her, friends who brought her joy, and her own delight in every blessing that had come her way. Life was good.
She looked over at her husband.
“You know the day I met you turned out to be the most fortunate and blessed day of my life, Reid. I love you and I love our path together.”
He took her hand again and held it in between his two. “There are no words I have to say that do my feelings justice, darling, except to tell you that I love you. And I’m so glad you decided to make your home here, in Pine Springs, with me.”
They looked out over the prairie then, at the sun setting and the horses grazing off in the distance. As long as they had one another, life was good.
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OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 5 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Brides of the Untamed Frontier", and get 5 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hello my dears, I hope you enjoyed the book and the Extended Epilogue! I will be waiting for your comments here. Thank you 🙂
A marvelous read. The story line takes Georgie from a sad birthday girl to a very happily married lady in the west. As always the extended episode wraps everything up like a nice package. Keep up the excellent writing. Thank you.
So glad you enjoyed it, my dear Ella! Thank you so much for your kind comments and support!
I enjoyed this story ,was glad that Georgie was able to fight for herself and a wonderful love story.look forward to the next one.thanks
I’m glad to hear that you enjoy my stories! Make sure to stay tuned because I have more coming!
Where Love takes Control, written by Aurora Hanson, it was a fantastic read, I enjoyed it tremendously, I loved the characters, Georgina and Reid, such a wonderful couple. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for your kind words and support. I truly appreciate it!
Very easy to read. It has an interesting story line. I love the extended ending.
Happy to hear it, dear Barbara!
I have now read a number of you books and have love everyone of them. Keep up the good work, now to start another one, thank you.
I’m really grateful for your support, dear Doris!
I really enjoyed this book. The characters in this story were unique and sarcastic at times but becoming of that time period.
Thank you, dear Barbara!
I love h ow your stories are all wrapped up in a nice big bow. Lol Your stories are always,clean, romantic and keep me guessing. Clean historical romances are one of my favorite genre’s. Especially during this pandemic when our activities are limited, it is good t o look forward to reading a good book on my Kindle. I also appreciate the free books you offer, my husband and I are 80 years old and on a tight budget, so keep the freebies coming also. Have a Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year.
Glad you feel this way, dear Diane! I’m truly grateful for your support!
I enjoyed this book very much. A different and clever way of writing another mail order bride story.
I’ve just about had my fill of mail order brides but this book was great.
So happy you enjoyed it, dear Helen! Thank you!
I loved the book and extended epilogue.
Thank you, dear Pat! Happy to hear this!
I throughly enjoyed the book. Sad that the story ended but so pleased with the ending. Thank you for the lovely characters and story line. I love mail order brides stories.
Thanks Elvira!
A sweet story. I enjoyed it very much.
Great, Annette!
I love your books. Thanks for sharing your imaginative thoughts with others, me included!!
Thank you so much, Anne!
Ms aurora
Where Love takes Control was absolutely beautiful. The book and extended epilogue were wonderful and I couldn’t stop reading the book. Georgie and Reid were perfect together and I was happy that Georgie had Winnie and another baby on the way. So much enjoyment for me reading this book.
Very sincerely
Sharon
I loved this story and the extended epilogue wrapped it up nicely. I always enjoy reading your books.
Your support means a lot to me, my dear Karen! Thank you!
A great story of a lady with spunk moving west. A good close with the epilogue.
Glad you enjoyed it, dear Patricia!
A very good and wonderful story about a young woman that thought for herself and followed her Heart and the extended epilogue wraps everything together
Thank you for your kind comment, my dear Gwen!
I enjoyed this book very much.
Happy to hear this, my dear Virginia!
A wonderful story! Such a roller coaster of emotions for a young orphaned cbild! Whirlwind of emotions that end with knowing what love and contentment really are.
So happy you like the story, my dear Marilyn! Thank you for your supportive words!
Wonderful story . Kept my attention for the entire time. Love the ending.
Amazing! Thank you, my dear Ellen!
I enjoyed the story and was very interesting to read. I like your mail order bride being strong and making her own decisions
Glad to hear that you liked it, my dear Linda! I deeply appreciate your kind comment!
Aurora what a wonderful story. A step back in time. Great characters to carry the story along and I was lost.
Thank you for the entertainment. I could not put it down
I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it, dear Carol Ann! Make sure to stay tuned because I have more coming!
Georgie, what a woman. One that needed to fight for herself because her stepmother was not the nicest person. She did and even though they insisted she go out west to marry. They had no idea what kind of a man Reid was. He loved Georgie enough to let her go of that’s what she wanted. Great story.
Happy you liked the heroine, dear Donna!
Loved this book so very much. I didn’t want to put the book down until I was done with it. Loved the spunk that Georgie had. Was so glad that everything worked out for her.
Thank you for your encouraging words, dear Rita!
Another great read. Thoroughly enjoyed the journey with Reid and Georgie. Roller coaster emotions of love, a bit of forgiveness, true friendship. Love your books please continue writing good clean entertaining romance that takes one on a journey. Thank you for the free books you offer, keeps my library full as I have a strict budget which unfortunately does not allow for buying books. And its my favorite past time to get lost in the pages of a good book. Thanks again.
Thank you, dear, for your support and kind words! I’m really grateful!
A western Cinderella story! I agree with the footnotes within the text that there were several discrepancies but just ignore them. It is a good story with a happy ending. Just the thing to end 2020.
Thank you for this sweet comment, dear! I hope 2021 will be an amazing year for you and your loved ones!
Another lovely story with its challenges and ups and downs.
Happy to hear it, dear Barbara! Thank you!
A wonderful story of a young girl growing up, finding herself and living a happy life with a good husband and daughter s d having another child love your stories and characters. You make them real. Thanks for the extended epilogue. It closest the story with a big bow! Looming for more books from you!.
I’m humbled, dear! I deeply appreciate your kind words and support!
I absolutely loved this story. The additional storyline was a perfect ending to the story. I read the book in two days. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much, my dear Ivajean. I really appreciate your words!
I would describe “When Love Takes Control” as mail order bride with a twist. I appreciate that twist. Although Georgie’s and Reid’s inner dialogue was tiresome at times, the story line was excellent. Thank you for a good read.
Thank you, Vivian!
I really enjoyed your story. KIt had a wonderful ending. Thank you
Thanks Delores!
Great read! Thoroughly enjoyed the book! Seems that being spoiled can be overlooked, and be admired, and can enjoy a great love with the right person. Lucky lady, and a very indulgent husband! Enjoy!
Thanks Mary!
Always enjoy your books, Aurora! This is a mail order
Bride with a few twists
Thank you Gloria!
I enjoyed the book very much. I loved how you showed Georgianna was very forward in her thinking for the time period. But love always wins. Thanks for the extended epilogue and how you ended the story. Keep up the good writing.
I sure will, Letha! Thank you.
A delightful book. Sometimes they do stupid things, and I have to wonder how many of them I do. Maybe some soul searching is in order😂. Thank you for the delightful read. My heart did go out to Georgie, though, at the way her aunt treated her, as that happens as well in real life.
So true, Linda! We all should do some soul searching.
Really enjoyed the story and could not put it down.Keep up the good 👍work and I look forward to reading some more of your books 📚. So glad that they sorted things out and that they have settled down to enjoy their lives together ❤and started a family. Look forward to reading some more of your books 📚. Thanks again😀😄😊💖💜
Thank you Lynda!
I loved this book! I loved Georgie& Reid!!! Both strong characters! Reid’s my kinda guy!! so loving & honest.
I must say I really love that your books are different from each other!! They are a joy 2 read & I don’t feel like same story different title!
I also love that they are clean!
Thank you! epilog was awesome!❤️❤️
Thanks, Celia!