He thought over his father’s last letter. Val’s sister was still too young to look for a husband, but it sounded like there were some promising prospects for when she was ready. His father seemed to have made a little money, but it sounded like Val had fared better over the past two years. He didn’t know if he’d ever get to see his family again or not. Travel all the way across the ocean wasn’t all that easy, not with all of the responsibilities that operating a farm entailed. So, he’d done the next best thing: he’d paid a photographer to take a picture of him, Nelly, and Ethan and sent it with his last letter. Val had chosen to name his son after his great-grandfather, and he thought his father might appreciate the fact that he was keeping his family legacy alive.
Val turned to the cookstove and poured the eggs into the skillet to make the omelets. After they ate, he got the buggy ready, and once the farmhand was ready with his horse, they all went to Nelly’s parents.
To say the dogs were a little excited to see them would be an understatement. The three were hovering around the buggy before Val even had time to pull it up to the yard next to the other wagons and buggies.
Ethan started to cry when the youngest dog, Barney, came up to him and started licking his face.
“Barney, don’t scare my grandson!” Nelly’s pa came up to the buggy and urged the excited dog down. He grinned at Ethan. “Did that big furry dog scare you? Come to Papa. I’ll make it all better.”
Nelly laughed and handed Ethan to him. “Why do I get the feeling that you were watching for us?”
“Because he was,” Val replied. “He’s been looking forward to seeing Ethan again ever since he left our place yesterday to remind us to bring him when we came.”
Like he and Nelly would forget to bring their baby. Val hid his amusement and set the brake. He then turned and helped her out of the buggy.
Nelly’s pa reached into his back pocket and showed Ethan a small ball. “When you get older, we’re going to play with this. I’ve been saving this from my childhood.”
“Pa always wanted a son but never had one,” Nelly whispered to Val then giggled.
Val glanced over at her pa, but he was too wrapped up in talking to Ethan to notice them. “In that case, it’s good we had a boy,” he replied.
Val barely had time to finish his comment when three very excited sisters rushed past them to see Ethan. They hovered around their father.
“Babies are so adorable, aren’t they?” one asked.
“I can’t wait to have one of my own,” another said.
“When can we hold our nephew?” another asked.
They were all so close together that Val couldn’t even make out which sister was saying what.
“I doubt I’ll get to be with Ethan very much during the harvest,” Nelly said with a pretty frown. “If only I’d had him a couple of months sooner. Then I could be out in the fields today instead of stuck inside all day cooking or sewing.”
“There’s always next year,” Val replied, putting an arm around her shoulders to comfort her. “That is, unless Ethan has a little brother or sister by then.”
“We shouldn’t have another one until winter. That’s the best time for a baby,” Nelly decided. “So, that’s what you’re going to do. Make sure the next one is born from December to February.”
Val’s eyes grew wide. How was he supposed to make sure their next child was born during those months?
He caught the sparkle in her eye and realized she’d been joking. He gave her a kiss. “If you really want to ensure that happens, then you need to be as unpleasant as Seth’s wife is so I won’t touch you while we’re in bed.”
“Is she really as bad as people say?” Nelly asked.
Val nodded. He had thought she couldn’t possibly be, but he’d seen Seth and his wife in town a couple of times, and he was very glad he hadn’t ended up with her. Though a part of him almost sympathized with Seth, in the end, he had to admit that Seth had gotten what he’d deserved.
“Oh good, you’re here!” Nelly’s ma came over to them and looked between them. “Where’s Ethan?”
“Over there.” Nelly gestured to the spot where her pa and sisters had taken the baby. “You’ll have to fight for his attention.”
Her ma frowned in disappointment. “It’s a shame your sisters won’t be in the field today with your pa. They’ll be fussing over Ethan all day.”
“I’m sure they’ll have children at some point,” Nelly said.
“I hope they do it soon,” her ma replied. “Go on into the house and sit down. You still need some time to recover from giving birth to my precious grandson. Your sisters and I will join you and the other women shortly.”
Nelly nodded and joined Val in going to the pink house.
Val kissed her. “I’m sure most husbands don’t say this to their wives, but I’ll be very glad when the harvest is over.”
“You did much better last year than you did two years ago.”
He grimaced. He never wanted to think of the mishaps he’d had that first year. He was just glad that the crops had been tall enough to hide most of them.
“You’ll do even better this year,” Nelly assured him. “I know it.” She gave him another kiss. “I’ll miss you.”
“I think you meant to say, ‘I’ll miss you and the fields’, but I’m happy to be included in that sentiment.”
She giggled and released him. “I love you more than the fields. Though, I admit, I love them a lot, too.”
“I know.” He winked at her. “I’ll see you at lunch.”
She gave him a quick wave then went into the house. He, in turn, went to the barn and got the scythe her pa saved for him each year.
Don’t Miss Other Larson Books!
If you love the Larson family and would like to know what books feature a Larson in it, here is a quick reference so you can find other Larson romances in my book catalogue. (I am doing this in chronological order.)
This list is current as of December 2019.
Wagon Trail Bride – this features Richard Larson
Her Heart’s Desire – this features Sally Larson
A Bride For Tom – this features Tom Larson
Eye of the Beholder – this features Dave Larson (with Mary)
The Wrong Husband – this features Jenny Larson
Shotgun Groom – this features Joel Larson
To Have And To Hold – this is a second Dave & Mary Larson book
Forever Yours – this is the third (and last) Dave & Mary Larson book (Due out November 2019)
The Perfect Wife – this features Mark Larson (Richard’s son)
The Imperfect Husband – this features Annabelle Larson (Richard’s daughter)
Nelly’s Mail-Order Husband – this features Nelly Larson (Tom and Jessica’s oldest daughter)
Isaac’s Decision – this features Isaac Larson (Dave’s son)
Boaz’s Wager – Rachel Larson (Dave’s daughter) is a secondary character in this one
Catching Kent – this features Rose Larson (Dave’s daughter)
His Convenient Wife – this features Harriett Larson (Dave’s daughter)
I also mentioned Eva early on in this book. I did write Eva Connealy’s romance, and that takes place years after this one ends. (This book features Rachel Larson as a secondary character.)
It’s called Boaz’s Wager.
It’s Book 2 in the Montana Collection.
Here’s the description:
What Boaz Grady wants more than anything else is to have his children living with him. But in order to get them back, he needs to marry a woman who’ll be their mother.
Eva Connealy left Omaha, Nebraska to be a school teacher. While in Montana, her stagecoach is attacked, and the men decide to sell her. While the men in Lewistown post bids for her, Boaz makes a wager of his own and wins the right to marry her.
Despite the shaky beginning, Boaz is sure she�
�ll adjust to her new life as his children’s mother. But she wants to be more than a mother. She also wants to be a wife and vows to figure out how to take their marriage of convenience into something much, much more.
All Books by Ruth Ann Nordin
(Chronological Order)
Regencies
Marriage by Scandal Series
The Earl’s Inconvenient Wife
A Most Unsuitable Earl
His Reluctant Lady
The Earl’s Scandalous Wife
Standalone Regency
Her Counterfeit Husband (happens during A Most Unsuitable Earl)
Marriage by Deceit Series
The Earl’s Secret Bargain
Love Lessons With the Duke
Ruined by the Earl
The Earl’s Stolen Bride
Marriage by Arrangement Series
His Wicked Lady
Her Devilish Marquess
The Earl’s Wallflower Bride
Marriage by Bargain Series
The Viscount’s Runaway Bride
The Rake’s Vow
Taming The Viscountess
If It Takes A Scandal
Marriage by Fate Series
The Reclusive Earl
Married In Haste
Make Believe Bride
The Perfect Duke
Kidnapping the Viscount
Marriage by Fairytale Series
The Marriage Contract
One Enchanted Evening
The Wedding Pact
Fairest of Them All
Historical Western Romances
Pioneer Series
Wagon Trail Bride
The Marriage Agreement
Groom For Hire
Forced Into Marriage
Nebraska Series
Her Heart’s Desire
A Bride for Tom
A Husband for Margaret
Eye of the Beholder
The Wrong Husband
Shotgun Groom
To Have and To Hold
His Redeeming Bride
Forever Yours (out November, 2 2019)
Isaac’s Decision
Misled Mail Order Brides Series
The Bride Price
The Rejected Groom
The Perfect Wife
The Imperfect Husband
Chance at Love Series
The Convenient Mail Order Bride
The Mistaken Mail Order Bride
The Accidental Mail Order Bride
The Bargain Mail Order Bride
South Dakota Series
Loving Eliza
Bid for a Bride
Bride of Second Chances
Montana Collection
Mitch’s Win
Boaz’s Wager
Patty’s Gamble
Shane’s Deal
Native American Romance Series
Restoring Hope
A Chance In Time
Brave Beginnings
Bound by Honor, Bound by Love
Virginia Series
An Unlikely Place for Love
The Cold Wife
An Inconvenient Marriage
Romancing Adrienne
Standalone Historical Western Romances
Falling In Love With Her Husband
Kent Ashton’s Backstory
Catching Kent
His Convenient Wife
Meant To Be
The Mail Order Bride’s Deception
Contemporary Romances
Omaha Series
With This Ring, I Thee Dread
What Nathan Wants
Just Good Friends
Across the Stars Series
Suddenly a Bride
Runaway Bride
His Abducted Bride
Standalone Contemporaries
Substitute Bride
Co-Authored Romances
Historical Romance Anthologies (with Janet Syas Nitsick)
Bride by Arrangement
A Groom’s Promise
Thrillers
Return of the Aliens (Christian End-Times Novel)
Late One Night (flash fiction)
The Very True Legends of Ol’ Man Wickleberry and his Demise - Ink Slingers’ Anthology
Fantasies
Enchanted Galaxy Series
A Royal Engagement
Royal Hearts
The Royal Pursuit
Royal Heiress
Nonfiction
Writing Tips Series
11 Tips for New Writers
The Emotionally Engaging Character
Where to Find Ruth
Monthly Newsletter Blog: https://ruthannnordinnewsletter.com
Regular Author Blog: https://ruthannnordinauthorblog.com
Website: http://www.ruthannnordin.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruthannnordin
MeWe: mewe.com/i/ruthnordin