Rocky Mountain Dreams & Family on the Range by Danica Favorite (summer beach reads txt) 📕

Joseph had done a lot of judging, and misjudging, as he’d been quick to accuse Annabelle of. But this last judgment was one he needed to let go of. Joseph needed to forgive his pa, and in forgiving, needed to let go of his own expectations of people and let them make their own decisions.

He looked down at Nugget, a child too young to understand the pain of his thoughts. “You never even got to say goodbye, did you?”

Nugget shook her head, messy half-curled hair that spoke of the others’ neglect bouncing in every direction. Mary was trying, he’d give her that, but he could see the strain in her eyes when she looked at Nugget or had to do anything for their sister’s care.

“Are they terribly mean to you?”

In front of Joseph, they put on a good front, but he’d seen past it. He’d just been helpless to do anything about it. With getting everything ready for their arrival, and trying to procure a house for the family, and putting things in order with the mine...

Nugget’s slow nod tore at him.

Those things should have been secondary. And in his pride, he’d ignored the fact that Annabelle would have been able to help him. He hadn’t even given her the consideration to discuss it.

“I’m sorry, Nugget.” He pressed the little girl to his chest. “How about we try to catch that train to say goodbye?”

Nugget jumped off his lap and ran for the door.

Harrison Avenue was overly congested, already filled with wagons and people and more activity than he’d imagined normal for a day like today.

The train whistle blew when they were two blocks from the station.

Surely Annabelle was onboard by now.

Nugget’s pace slowed. “It’s too late.”

“Sometimes they get delayed. We’ll still try.”

His spirits sagged when they arrived at the platform just as the train was pulling out.

He calculated how much money he had on him. Based on getting his own family here, Annabelle would most likely have to spend a day or two in Denver to catch whichever train would take her east. So if he bought a ticket for the next train, they could get to Denver and then...

Surely they’d have a few hours to talk.

Nugget let go of his hand.

“Sweetheart, I’m sorry.” He turned so he could bend down and talk to her, but she was gone.

“Nugget?” Joseph spun, looking around the station for the little girl. Though the train had departed, people still milled about, catching up on their business, and carting luggage to and fro.

“Nugget!”

He walked in the direction of the departing train. Had she run after it? Joseph picked up his pace, scouring the area for any sign of her. A porter laden with baggage bumped into him, blocking his path.

“Watch it!” the guy yelled as Joseph darted around him.

And then he stopped short.

There was Annabelle, kneeling in front of Nugget, her back to him. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself as he approached.

“I cannot imagine what has gotten into your hair. You must’ve been tossing and turning all night to undo your curls and have only half your head fixed.”

Annabelle put her hand in Nugget’s hair, mussing it slightly before declaring, “Well, there’s nothing that can be done, I suppose. We’ll braid it, and you’ll still be cute as a button. What do you think of that?”

Nugget didn’t say anything, but looked up at him, causing Annabelle to turn her head slightly until she noticed him. “Oh!”

Annabelle stood, then took Nugget’s hand before facing him. “It seems like you’ve let her run absolutely wild since I’ve seen you last.”

Her words rushed past him. “What are you... You’re supposed to be...”

She looked at him long and hard. “I never could tolerate a bully. And frankly, your behavior toward me in regards to my leaving is nothing short of being bullied. Nugget needs me, and I’m not going to shirk my responsibility toward her just because you act like a bear about it.”

Joseph closed his eyes. So that was it. More of Annabelle doing her duty. The worst of it was, he almost wanted to let her. But he couldn’t. Didn’t she understand that as much as everyone wanted to make him the bad guy, this was killing him?

“She’s not your responsibility.” He opened his eyes and looked at her. “You need to live your life, Annabelle. Follow your dreams.”

“Of course she’s my responsibility. I love Nugget, and I...” Annabelle looked away for a moment, then back at him. “Well, you don’t leave the ones you love. Not when they need you and you need them.”

The lump in his throat made it hard for Joseph to swallow, let alone speak. Annabelle had already done this for her father. And now for Nugget? It was too much.

But what was he supposed to do, to say? The selfish side of him wanted to keep her here, to be close to him, to help Nugget, to help Mary figure out how to keep peace, to...to do dozens of things, all of which had everything to do with him and his needs and none to do with hers.

“Please, Annabelle,” he finally said. “I’ll buy you a ticket for the next train. This is what you’ve always wanted, and I—”

“You have no idea what I’ve always wanted.” She stamped her foot in such an insolent way that he wanted to kiss her. But that was beside the point.

“Yes, I admit that when we first met, I wanted nothing more than to leave this place and stay with my aunt, and discover the world outside. But I’ve grown since then. I’ve changed. And I can’t believe that you’d think that the woman standing before you is still that silly girl who thought of nothing more than wearing the latest fashions.”

Her words shamed him. Mostly because he’d tried so hard not to fall in love with that silly girl, but as he watched her grow into the woman