“And we’ll begin a life here,” he said. “Here, in this place where there’s hope amongst the sorrows, and miracles amongst the struggles.”
“A home and a future.”
“Together.”
More than a month had passed since Emma and Mrs. Archer left for Baltimore. So much had happened in that time. The stagecoach had made two additional runs that month. Aidan O’Connor had convinced Burke to take him on as something of an apprentice. And Sophie had made every dream Burke had come true by marrying him.
He didn’t think he’d ever been happier in all his life.
The stage was stopping at the inn that day. Burke had reluctantly bid Sophie farewell that morning so she could help Eliza and Patrick prepare for the passengers. She loved her work at the inn and being part of Hope Springs. Burke loved building a life with her.
Sometimes he looked back at the dilemma he’d wrestled with mere months earlier and wondered how he could ever have been confused. Hope Springs was home. And family. He belonged here in a way he never had anywhere else. That his beloved Sophie was here further solidified his love of this tiny corner of the world. And that the people here loved her and embraced her increased his love for them.
He swept the afternoon’s dust from the entryway and porch as he did every day he was home at this time. And, as happened at least once a week, the sound of the approaching stage rumbled in the distance.
Burke leaned his broom against the side of the building and slipped inside the inn. “Stage is approaching,” he announced.
Eliza peeked her head out from the kitchen. “How near is it?”
“Just past the horizon.”
Eliza disappeared again, though he heard her call out to Patrick.
Sophie stepped out of the kitchen, wearing the apron she’d adopted for days working at the inn. “I wonder how many passengers we’ll have staying tonight.”
“It’s hard to say.” He pulled her into an embrace. “So I’ll hold you while I can. You might be incredibly busy in a few more minutes.”
She pressed a kiss to his cheek, smiling as happily as she had for weeks now. Even setting aside their happiness together, he was relieved she hadn’t returned to Baltimore. That city had been pressing the life out of her, and she, of all the people he knew, deserved to live a full and happy life.
Eliza stepped past them. “Best get that out of your systems, you two. We’ll have travelers soon enough.”
The town took such delight in teasing them.
Burke pulled his beloved ever closer. “The travelers will keep a bit longer.”
Sophie shook in his arms with a silent laugh. “It’s a good thing Eliza and Patrick need me here. Otherwise, you’d get me fired.”
Not many minutes later, the stage rolled to a stop out in front of the inn. With his arm tucked around her, Burke and Sophie made their way to the inn’s front doors to watch the disembarking and count the arrivals.
Only one person emerged. One, whose appearance pulled a quiet expression of surprise from Burke.
“You know him?” Sophie asked.
“That’s Alexander—Dr. Montgomery, from Chicago.”
She turned worried eyes to him. “Are you ready for him?”
Burke shrugged. “He can think what he will. I’m not ashamed of what I have here.”
He took her hand and moved to the stagecoach. His friend grinned when he saw him. What could have been an awkward reunion proved anything but. Alexander shook his hand firmly and said again and again how good it was to see him.
“The inn, here, will see you settled and comfortable,” Burke assured him. “Then we can catch up a bit.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” He motioned to a crate just then being pulled out of the stage by the driver. “And while I’m settling in, you can sort this out.”
The crate was set on the porch in front of Burke. “What is it?”
“Medicines and powders and a few instruments I thought you might not be able to find out here.”
