Marta was prepared to do the things that Grace Ryder had told her would drive Royce crazy. However, all it took was one look at his face when he came in the house to know tonight was not the night to start trying to entice her husband. She didn’t know what had gone on, but he didn’t look like he was happy. She walked up to him and placed a hand on his cheek. “Royce, is everything all right?”

He looked at her for a long minute before he placed his hand over hers. “We need to talk. Can you see if Grace will keep an eye on Rose and Raeann?”

She looked into his eyes. Had Grace been wrong? She’d told Marta that she was certain Royce loved her, but he just hadn’t realized it yet. What if she was wrong and he was going to send her away? After all, no one ever wanted her. Why would Royce be any different? “I’ll go ask her.”

“Thank you.”

She turned and walked into the kitchen where Grace was putting a pan of cornbread on the table to cool while the chili finished cooking. Grace looked at the tears Marta was holding back and pulled her into strong arms. “What is it, Marta?”

“Royce asked me to see if you could watch the little ones. He wants to go talk. I think he’s going to tell me he doesn’t want me here anymore.”

Grace pulled away from her. “Oh honey, don’t think like that. You're his wife. He isn’t going to send you away.”

Marta shook her head. “But I’m not, not really. I’m just the housekeeper and nanny he gave his name to so he wouldn’t ruin my reputation. I shouldn’t have pushed him to kiss me. He told me he’d never love me. I just hoped I could be enough that he’d want me even if only a little. Will you watch the children, please? The sooner I get this over with the better.”

Grace shook her head. “I’ll keep an eye on the children, but I think you’re wrong, Marta. I’ll be praying. Go on now.”

Marta nodded and wiped at her face. She took off her apron, hung it on a hook, and then smoothed her skirt. She walked back to Royce as he stood by the door. He opened it and she went through. Closing the door, Royce took her hand and placed it on his arm. They walked silently side-by-side. Royce seemed lost in his thoughts; Marta was worried about what he was going to say when he finally got everything sorted in his mind. “Was there a good turn out to meet with Marshal Ryder?” Marta finally asked just to break the silence.

“Hmm? Oh yes, most of the ranchers came and those that didn’t sent a hand or their foreman. We even had a visit from that Jasper White fella.”

Marta gasped at that. “Why would he show up?”

“Mainly to threaten everyone and try to prod Nathan into a shootout. He was careful not to say anything that was criminal but everyone knew what he was saying. But Nathan and his men will find the rustlers and the proof we need to end White’s threats. Don’t worry about that.”

“What did you need to talk to me about?”

“I’ve been thinking about our marriage.”

“Oh?”

Royce nodded. “I don’t think I’ve done right by you. I asked you to marry me out of anger and frustration. I just didn’t know what else to do, I was a failure at caring for my children and you seemed like the easy solution. However, you deserve better. You deserve to be married to someone who recognizes you for the amazing woman you are.”

“I’m not that amazing.”

Royce stopped and looked at her with shock evident in his eyes. “But you are, Marta. I think you might be one of the most amazing women I’ve ever met in my life. You married me knowing I was only doing it to get help with my house and children. But you’ve loved my children like they were your own. You’ve taken care of my house, and you haven’t complained once at the way I’ve treated you. You deserve a husband who will cherish you as the precious gift that you are, not a bitter heartbroken rancher. I want you to know I recognize how special you are.”

Then he did something that Marta thought he’d never willingly do; he pulled her into his arms and lowered his lips to hers. His kiss started gentle and sweet, but when she wrapped her arms around his neck, he pulled her tighter against him, his kiss becoming more passionate by the second. When she thought her legs wouldn’t hold her up one second more, he gentled the kiss again and finally released her mouth, but not her body. He sighed and it was a sound full of longing and regret. “Be patient with me, Marta. I’m trying to put the past behind me.”

She looked up into Royce’s blue eyes. “I’m not asking you to put Lucy behind you. Royce. I know you love her still. She’s the mother of your children and the woman you thought you’d spend the rest of your life with. I know she will always have part of your heart. I’m just asking if you can find a way to give me a part of it, too.”

Royce stroked his hand down her cheek; Marta reached up and caught his hand, turned her head and placed a kiss on his palm. He turned and put his arm around her waist; she rested her head on his shoulder as they walked. Neither felt the need to speak. They just enjoyed each other’s presence as they walked. As they topped a ridge, they saw a large oak tree beside a fenced area with a single carved headstone. Royce led her up to the grave. “This is where I laid her. I come up here on occasion and talk to her. I know she isn’t really there, but I feel closer to her when I come here.”

Marta looked up at him. “Do you want me to go and leave you alone with her?”

Royce shook his head. “No, I brought you up here so I could do what I need to do. I want to introduce you to her and then say something to her.”

“Okay.”

Royce led them right up to the headstone. He released his hold on Marta’s waist and took her hand as he knelt down by the tomb. “Hey Lucy. This is Marta, the woman I was telling you about the other day. She’s taking good care of your babies. She even makes sure they hear stories about you and shares their memories of you. She’s taking good care of us; I don’t want you to worry about that.” Tears ran down Marta’s face as he stroked Lucy’s name just like he’d done her cheek just a few minutes ago. “I love you, Lucy. I always will; but I’ve come to say good-bye. This will be my last visit. I’m married to Marta now. You know that but I had to tell you again. I’m letting you go, and I’m going to let my heart move on to Marta now. She deserves my love as much as you do. So, good-bye, my love. I’ll see you when I get to the kingdom someday.” He stood and started to lead Marta away, but she hesitated. “Can you give me a minute with her?”

Royce looked at Marta with something like surprise on his face. Then he nodded and walked away to stand outside the fence. Marta knelt down and laid her hand on Lucy’s name. “I promise, Lucy. I'll love your family just like you did. Thank you for letting me be part of the family. I’ll love him just as much as you did. You rest in the arms of Jesus. I’ll take care of our family.” She patted the stone and stood. She walked over to Royce, and he wrapped his arm around her again. She sighed as her head went back to his shoulder. They walked back toward the house with several stops along the way for even more romantic kisses.

When they walked through the door to the house, Marta saw the look Grace gave her and the smile that she couldn’t contain. Marta’s face burned, knowing that the older woman could tell she had been well kissed. Grace winked and then motioned for them to take a seat at the table. She leaned close to Marta and whispered. “Doesn’t look like I need to teach you anything, honey.” Marta kept her head lowered to hide the blush that she couldn’t control.

Royce couldn’t take his eyes off of Marta. Now that he had allowed himself to admit that he was attracted to her, he couldn’t seem to think of anything except finding time to be alone with her. Nighttime became the most frustrating for him. He was still taking it slow to let Marta get used to the physical aspect of marriage. But when she snuggled up against him to be kissed and held, he didn’t want to take it slow. No, what he wanted was to make Marta his wife in every sense of the word. Yet he knew she needed time to get used to the thought of anything more intimate. He’d go slow and fall more deeply in love with his wife every day.

They’d had a week of peace after the meeting with the other ranchers, but during the second week the rustling and attacks on other ranchers had increased. Nathan and his men were spread over several ranches, following trails and trying to get a line on where the rustlers disappeared. Royce and his hands were busy moving their herd in closer by utilizing the winter grazing fields. This would make it more difficult when the snows came because the fields would have already been grazed. As much as Royce disliked the idea, he was going to have to buy extra hay for the winter and pray that his herd didn’t suffer too many losses.

It was Saturday night and he’d promised Marta that they’d go to church the next day. She didn’t push him often, knowing that the two hours to Bachelor weren't something they could do every week. But he had always tried to go once a month and he’d told Marta they’d go this week. They could probably go more often now that Reverend Theodore was opening the church in Creede again. He’d informed everyone that the doors would be open the next Sunday. Royce thought he might better go just to make sure the young zealot didn’t get strung-up on his first Sunday.

He watched as Marta showed Rachel how to heat the iron on the stove to press everyone's Sunday clothes. He had to agree with Grace Ryder; his daughter seemed to have blossomed under Marta’s care. With Lucy, she had been well behaved and helpful; with Marta, she seemed to come alive under the fun games and tricks Marta used to teach the children to help with the chores around the house. At first, he’d been a bit leery of her getting RJ and Randy to help with dishes, laundry, and even mending. RJ was also learning how to help with cooking, just like Rachel. While he wasn’t sure about the boys learning how to do women’s work, he had to admit that Marta had a point. She’d told him if he’d learned how to cook and do some basic cleaning and mending, then he wouldn’t have been so overwhelmed when Lucy had passed.

Marta had pointed out that the cowboy cook was a man and that the cowboys all needed to be able to mend their own shirts and socks. It wasn’t something that Royce had ever thought of. He’d worked for his parents until he got married to Lucy, and then they had moved and she’d done all that for him. He was happy Marta also encouraged the boys to spend time helping in the care of both the stable and the horses. She wasn’t Lucy, she was different in many ways, but she was exactly what he and his children needed. She was even trying to encourage Rose to walk more and to speak.

She caught him watching her, and her face blushed red. He loved that her face was so responsive. He wondered if she knew how lovely he found her. He’d wait until she sent Rachel to get something and then he’d tell her. He was so blessed. God had given him a second gift of love, one that was exactly what he and his children needed. A woman who longed for a family and a home and completed theirs.

Just as he got ready to tell her to send the children to bed and spend time alone with her, there came the sound of hooves and the shout of men looking for him and Nathan. He watched as she smiled at him and nodded. He grabbed his gun belt and Stetson on the way out the door, then came back quickly and kissed Marta. “I’ll be back when I can.”

She smiled at him. “I know; go find these rustlers so we can move on with life.”

He nodded and slipped out the door. Another night he’d not get to hold his wife as they drifted to sleep. It seemed that since he’d decided to let his heart love her, everything that could get between them, had. Now rustlers again. They had to figure out where they were hiding and put an end to this before someone gave up and sold out to Thrilway, or Jasper White pushed too hard and someone's family was hurt.