Bowing to Betsy (The Matchmaker's Ball Book 11) Read online

  He cupped her cheek in his other hand. “Betsy Walters, I have a feeling you’re going to make me a very happy man.”

  “Well, I’m certainly going to try, and if you’re not happy, it’s probably your fault. You do have some choice in the matter, you know . . .”

  “Betsy?”

  “Yes?”

  “I need you to hold your lips still again. Just for a minute.”

  She let out a long-suffering sigh. “All right. If I must.”

  Epilogue

  “Oh, Betsy! There you are!”

  Betsy looked up and saw Mrs. Morgan hurrying toward her down the aisle of Mr. Redfern’s bookstore. She smiled and put the book she’d been looking at back on the shelf. “Good morning, Mrs. Morgan. How are you today?”

  “I’m just fine, but more importantly, I must ask, how are you? So many things have been happening of late, and I’m afraid I’m behind on the news. I don’t believe in gossip, but news—well, my ears are always perked for that.”

  Betsy smiled again. “Oh, let’s see—there is rather a lot. Joey has made a complete recovery—he’s running around like nothing ever happened.”

  “What a blessing, and so quickly, too! It’s only been a couple of weeks, hasn’t it?”

  “Three, actually, but yes, it’s remarkable. Bradley has started adding on to his cabin to get ready for our wedding, and he’s also been working on a house for James and Francine. They said they aren’t in a hurry—they’re perfectly content to live in the big house until their own is ready, and they want our cabin finished as soon as possible. Isn’t that generous?”

  “It really is,” Mrs. Morgan said. “Such good people.”

  “Agreed. Oh, and once Bradley and I are married, Mrs. Stratton wants me to work as her cook—she loves doing it herself, but her arthritis is getting rather bad, so she’s asked if she can hire me to come in. I think I’ll enjoy that a lot.”

  “No sense in letting talent sit unused,” Mrs. Morgan said. “Do you have a date set yet?”

  “Yes. One month from tomorrow. Bradley’s working hard to get the cabin finished, and we see no reason to wait. He says he knows he loves me, and that’s not going to change regardless of the wedding date. He’s even accepted the fact that I have three cats.”

  “And Joey approves of the match?”

  “Yes. In fact, it was practically his idea—he told us we should start courting. Of course, he didn’t know we already were.”

  “Oh, that’s so sweet.” Mrs. Morgan put a hand to her chest. “This is why I love what I do, Betsy. Seeing love blossom and grow where none believed it would. Bradley was convinced he would never love again, but now? He’s been proven wrong, and I’m sure he couldn’t be happier about it.”

  “He has said so a few times,” Betsy replied with a smile.

  “So wonderful. Just so wonderful.” Mrs. Morgan looked dreamy for a moment, then blinked. “And there’s another reason why I wanted to speak with you, Betsy.”

  “Oh? What’s that?”

  “Well, as you know, I’m in charge of the fundraiser for the school, and I’m looking for volunteers . . .”

  THE END

  About Amelia C. Adams

  Amelia traces her family tree right back to the settlement of the Old West—her great-great-grandmother even drove a wagon to her new home. Amelia is a wife, a mother, and a novelist. She spends her days dreaming up stories and her nights writing them down. Her biggest hero is her husband, and you might just see bits and pieces of him as you read her novels. She loves all things historical and enjoys learning about days gone by, but she's glad she was born in modern times because the Internet is awesome, and she's glad she doesn't have to wash her clothes by hand in a galvanized tub. She’s an eater of tacos, a taker of naps, and a dreamer of dreams. You can reach Amelia at [email protected].

  And if you’ve enjoyed any of her novels, please consider leaving a review on Amazon. It’s much appreciated!

  Also by Amelia C. Adams

  The Kansas Crossroads Series

  The Nurses of New York Series

  The River’s End Ranch Series

  The Mail Order Mounties Series

  The Cowboys and Angels Series

  The Matchmaker’s Ball Series

  The Main Street Merchants Series

  The Brody Hotel Series

  The Pinkerton Matchmaker Series

  The Kansas Cowboys Series

  The Sewing Circle Series

  The Hearts of Nashville Series

  Visit Amelia’s website for a complete list of publications by this author, and here to sign up for her newsletter.