Forever Yours Read online

  Though Eli had been born just a few days ago, she’d gotten so restless staying at home that she’d insisted Dave take her and Eli along for the dance and potluck at Tom’s property. Dave agreed only on the condition that she spend the evening sitting. “Let others wait on you for a change,” he’d added.

  This was the first year since Isaac was born that he wasn’t going to join them. He was working in town these days, and he was married to Emily, who was expecting their first child. He had plans to save up money over the next couple of years so he could buy his own farm. Mary hadn’t realized his dream since childhood was to be like Dave until he’d confided in her that he respected Dave more than anyone else. She had no doubt that Isaac would be as good of a father as Dave was because Dave had been a good role model.

  It was a bittersweet experience to know her firstborn son was on his own. She was proud of Isaac, of course, but she couldn’t help but think that she’d once held him in her arms, just as she was holding Eli now. The time had passed so fast. And yet, it didn’t seem like it’d been all that long ago when she first held Isaac. Sometimes it only seemed like she’d married Dave yesterday. Her life in Nebraska had proven to be so much better than she’d ever dreamed possible.

  She blinked back the tears from her eyes in case someone saw her and thought something was wrong. She’d cried quite a bit over the past year ever since Isaac married. She didn’t know if it would be as hard to watch her other children leave home and make a life of their own, but she was in no hurry to find out.

  “You need to stay little for as long as possible,” she told Eli. “Enjoy your childhood.”

  Dave wove through the group of several families who were either dancing or talking and sat in the chair next to her on the lawn. “I brought you some punch in case you get thirsty.”

  “Thank you.” She smiled at him. “I’m fine for the moment.”

  “I think this is our children’s favorite time of year. It’s the only time everyone gets together to play.”

  “Does it bother you that Adam and Jacob are playing with Luke and Elizabeth?”

  “I keep telling you I’m fine with our children playing with Neil’s,” Dave said. “I no longer want to see Neil hung up by his feet and made to stay out in the fields all day like a scarecrow.”

  She chuckled. “I’m glad you two worked things out. I know it wasn’t easy for you to put aside what happened in the past, but you did it for Isaac’s sake. I’m proud of you for that.”

  “I think any other parent would do the same for their child. When you have children, your life becomes more about them than it does about yourself.” He put his arm around Mary’s shoulders. “I have no regrets.”

  “I don’t, either. We’re blessed.”

  Her gaze went to twelve-year-old Adam and nine-year-old Jacob. They were playing tag with a few of the other children, and among them were Neil and Sarah’s children, eleven-year-old Luke and ten-year-old Elizabeth. The group was undoubtedly having a good time.

  Tom’s girls were too old to play such games anymore. Already, Nelly and Patricia were married, though they had yet to have any children. Children would be coming soon enough, and she knew Tom and Jessica were looking forward to being grandparents. Erin was twenty, and Daisy was seventeen. Soon, they would be married as well, but at the moment, all but Daisy were dancing as Tom played the fiddle.

  Daisy had chosen to pick wildflowers with Rachel who was already fifteen. It wouldn’t be long before Rachel got married, and guessing by how romantic Rachel thought it was that Mary had become a mail-order bride, Mary suspected Rachel was going to choose the same path. This would require her to leave Nebraska, but Mary would have to let her make the choice. She wasn’t going to try to hold her back like her own mother had. She was going to let Rachel pursue her dreams, wherever they would take her.

  Rachel’s younger twin sisters, Harriett and Rose, were only five, so Mary still had some time to enjoy having them home. She looked for them and saw that they were with Dave’s parents. Rose was holding a kitten. Though Dave’s father held another one to Harriett, she refused to hold it. Instead, she gave it a tentative pat on the head.

  “I see your parents are trying to get rid of some of the kittens they had,” Mary told Dave in amusement.

  “They are, but I’m not taking any home,” Dave said.

  Jessica came over to them and sat on Mary’s other side. “How are you doing?”

  “I’m doing good,” Mary replied. “Would you like to hold your newest nephew?”

  “I was hoping you’d offer.” Not hiding her excitement, Jessica gently took Eli into her arms. “One of these days, Tom and I are hoping Nelly will tell us she’s expecting a baby. They are so cute.” She rubbed Eli’s cheek and smiled at him.

  “You’ll make a good grandma, Jessica,” Mary said.

  “I’m going to have fun with it. I used to wonder why Tom and Dave’s mother kept asking to let one of my daughters stay with them. Now I realize it’s because the more we mature, the more adorable these little bundles of joy are.”

  “I don’t feel old enough to be a grandpa,” Dave mused.

  “Well, you are,” Mary teased. “Soon Isaac will be bringing over a grandson or granddaughter.”

  “Being a grandparent doesn’t mean we’ll be old,” Jessica said. “It only means that we know how much we have to appreciate the little ones while they’re still little. You also have the benefit of experience. You’re wiser. You’re only as old as you feel. Look at Tom and Dave’s parents. They still act like newlyweds from time to time.”

  Jessica was right. Mary would catch their father giving their mother a kiss when he thought no one was looking, and his mother would giggle like a schoolgirl.

  Mary’s gaze went back to Dave’s parents. Rose had decided to sit on the grass and was playing with the kitten in her lap. Harriett decided to stay by her grandparents and was still looking as if she wanted to pet the kitten her grandpa was holding but was still too afraid to do more than tap it on the head.

  Stan, Neil and Sarah’s eight-year-old boy, threw a stick for a dog to catch, and the dog, in its excitement, ended up bumping into Harriett and knocking her over. Harriett started to cry. Even from a distance, Mary could tell her daughter was doing that more from shock than from being hurt. The grass, after all, was soft, and the dog hadn’t run into her too hard.

  Stan hurried over to Harriett and helped her up. He said something to her, but Mary couldn’t make out what it was. Whatever it was, however, it calmed Harriett right down, and after a moment, Harriett laughed. Stan bent down, picked up the barrette that had fallen out of Harriett’s hair, and gave it back to her. Then he picked up the stick and led the dog further away so they wouldn’t risk getting in her way again.

  “Wouldn’t it be cute if they ended up together?” Jessica asked Mary. “He’s kind of like her knight in shining armor.”

  “Even though it was his fault she got knocked over?” Dave asked. When Mary and Jessica looked over at him, he laughed. “I was joking. I know he didn’t do it on purpose. It was nice of him to help her up.”

  It was. And Mary supposed it would be cute if they ended up together, but she wasn’t anywhere near thinking that far into the future yet. Jessica’s daughters were of marrying age, so it was no wonder Jessica’s thoughts had gone in the direction they had.

  “We’re all very fortunate, aren’t we?” Jessica asked Mary and Dave. “We had another great year of harvest, and we get the opportunity to celebrate with family and friends.”

  “We are fortunate,” Mary said. Then with a glance at Dave and her children, she couldn’t help but think the best was yet to come.

  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 November 2019.

  Wagon Trail Bride – this features Richa
rd 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

  The Rejected Groom – this features Tony Larson (Richard’s son)

  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)

  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

  The Duke’s Secluded Bride – coming early 2020

  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

  Forever Yours

  His Redeeming Bride

  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

  My Monthly Newsletter: https://ruthannnordinnewsletter.com

  Great for if you want a quick monthly update on what books I’m working on.

  My Blog: https://ruthannnordinauthorblog.com

  Great for if you want a more personal connection with what I’m writing, my thoughts on writing/publishing, and other topics that pique my interest.

  My Website: http://www.ruthannnordin.com

  Great for a quick look at what books are due out soon and what books I have already published according to genre. This is an overview of all I do.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Epilogue