Chapter Six

The Texas sun was relentless, a fiery chaperone to Jane"s new beginning. Stepping onto the dusty platform, her heart hammered with a cocktail of nerves and elation. The steam from the train hissed a farewell as she gripped her suitcase—the one containing her few worldly possessions—her knuckles white with anticipation.

"Jane! Over here!" A familiar voice sliced through the throng of people.

Deborah's dress fluttered lightly in the breeze, the pattern lost in the shuffle but her smile impossible to miss. Jane"s steps quickened, the ground beneath her seeming to usher her toward the open arms of family.

"I'm so glad you're here!" Deborah exclaimed, her eyes twinkling as she pulled Jane into an embrace.

"Thank you for coming to get me," Jane said, the tension leaving her shoulders as she returned the tight hug. "I can"t believe I"m finally here."

"Believe it," Deborah said, holding her at arm"s length now, her gaze sweeping over Jane with sisterly appraisal. "Texas suits you already."

"Does it?" Jane couldn"t help but grin, feeling the truth of it in her bones. "Well, I think I"m ready for whatever it has to offer."

"Let"s get you to Susan's house," Deborah said as they weaved through the crowd. They approached a buggy drawn by a pair of chestnut horses.

"Here, allow me," Deborah offered, taking Jane"s suitcase and hoisting it onto the carriage with ease.

"Thank you," Jane murmured, her gaze lingering on the sturdy horses. "They"re beautiful."

"Ah, those two are Bess and Duke," Deborah replied with a chuckle, patting the flank of the nearest horse affectionately. "Susan's husband David trained them for Aaron."

"They sound like nice people," Jane said, feeling a bit intimidated. "Are you sure they don't mind me staying with them?"

"You'll love them!" Deborah said, helping Jane up into the buggy. "They are truly kind people, and they have plenty of room."

As Deborah drove away from the station, they slowly left Fort Worth and moved into the rural area outside it. Open plains stretched out toward the horizon, dotted with the occasional farmhouse and wandering cattle.

A short while later, the Dailey homestead came into view. It was a modest but well-kept two-story house, with a wraparound porch that seemed to invite the world inside. On that porch, a group of women stood waiting, their forms silhouetted by the afternoon light. As the carriage drew closer, Jane could make out their expressions—eyes bright with anticipation, smiles spreading contagiously.

"Are those...?" Jane began, leaning forward for a better look.

"All of our sisters, yes," Deborah confirmed, her voice warm with pride. "They"ve been looking forward to this day almost as much as I have."

The buggy came to a stop, and before Jane could even step down, the women descended upon her like a flurry of summer dresses, each one eager to greet her. There were hugs and kisses on cheeks, laughter mingling with the buzz of excited chatter. Jane found herself swept up in the whirlwind of affection, every embrace banishing a bit more of her uncertainty.

"Welcome home, Jane!" they chorused, and the words seemed to bloom in her chest like wildflowers after a rain.

"Home," Jane whispered, a smile finding its way onto her lips.

"Jane, I've missed you!" Imogene said, spreading her arms for a hug from Jane.

"Imogene," Jane said, running into the embrace of the sister she was closest to. "I can"t believe I"m finally here."

"Believe it, sister. Texas is ready for you," Imogene replied, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Is it always this warm?" Jane asked with a laugh that tumbled into their reunion like a playful breeze.

"It's August. Thankfully, this is the hottest it gets," Susan Dailey said, fanning her face with her hand, and laughter bubbled up among them.

"Tell us everything, Jane. The train, the journey—leave nothing out!" Brenda urged, pulling Jane toward the settee.

"Was it terribly crowded? Did you meet any interesting characters?" Amy said.

"Nothing too wild," Jane said with a chuckle. "Though a gentleman did try to explain the entire history of cattle ranching to me."

"Sounds about right," Deborah muttered, smiling softly.

They gathered around Jane, their conversation flowing as easily as the river outside. Stories were traded, laughter shared, and with every word spoken, the bond between them strengthened.

"Texas does seem quite different from what I"m used to," Jane admitted, her voice tinged with excitement.

"Give it time. It"ll soon feel like you"ve been here all your life," Deborah assured her, squeezing Jane"s hand gently.

"Isn"t it cozy?" Susan remarked, noticing Jane"s wide-eyed appraisal. "We spend most of our evenings here, sharing stories."

"Let me show you your room," Susan said, guiding her up the narrow staircase lined with worn carpet.

The room Susan presented to Jane was small but filled with touches that transformed it from mere sleeping quarters to a sanctuary. The bed, adorned with a patchwork quilt, promised restful nights, while a simple wooden desk awaited letters yet to be penned.

"Look at that view," Jane whispered, stepping closer to the window.

"Texas has a way of getting into your heart," Susan replied, standing beside her. "You"ll see. This land is part of us now."

"Thank you, Susan," Jane said, her voice catching with emotion. "For everything."

"You"re not just a guest here, Jane. You"re family," Susan stated firmly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "This is your home now."

"Family," Jane repeated, allowing the weight of the word to settle in her heart. As she looked out at the vast Texas landscape, she knew that this was where her future would unfold—one day, one experience at a time.

The clatter of dishes and the rich aroma of stewed beef mingled in the air as Jane stepped into the bustling kitchen. Susan ushered her towards the large wooden table where a feast spread out like a patchwork quilt of colors and textures. The room echoed with the chatter of women, their laughter rising and falling like a melody.

"Come on, sit here by me," Deborah beckoned, patting the chair beside her.

"Deborah, tell me about Texas," Jane said softly, turning to her sister. "Does it ever feel like home to you?"

"Every day, a little more," Deborah replied, her voice low, as if divulging a secret. "There"s beauty in the area. Like you can breathe easier here."

"Is it as grand as they say?" Jane asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Grand doesn"t quite cover it," Deborah chuckled, her gaze meeting Jane"s with a warmth that spoke volumes. "It"s like the land stretches on forever, just waiting for our dreams to catch up."

"Sounds perfect for new beginnings," Jane murmured, her spoon pausing midway to her mouth.

"Exactly." Deborah nodded, her blue eyes reflecting a quiet hope. "New beginnings for us all. You'll find a good man here. We all have."

"Thank you," Jane smiled, her heart swelling with gratitude and anticipation for the future that awaited her.

All too soon, Deborah had to head home to fix supper for Aaron. She hugged Jane goodbye as she drove the buggy back to her house.

"Jane"s laughter is like music," she mused quietly. The presence of her younger sister had been so nice, soothing the homesickness that occasionally flared up.

She pulled up into the yard of the home she shared with Aaron, and set the brake on the buggy as Aaron had taught her before heading into the house.

A sense of peace enveloped her, borne from the camaraderie, the shared meal, and the stories that wove them all together.

"Even the way she sees things," Deborah continued to herself, remembering Jane"s wide-eyed wonder at the Texas landscape, "makes it all seem new again."

When she reached her house, the warm glow from within promised comfort and security. Aaron was there, his tall frame casting a long shadow against the light as he stood in the doorway, waiting for her.

"Evening, Deborah," he greeted her with his deep, soothing voice, the corners of his eyes crinkling in a smile. "How was your gathering? Did Jane get in safely?"

"Full of joy," Deborah replied. She looked up at him, her blue eyes shining with unspoken gratitude. "Jane"s here, the last of the ten. It feels... complete now."

"Good to hear." Aaron nodded, leaning against the wooden doorframe. "More family means stronger roots. Texas needs strong roots."

"I guess it does," she agreed. "And maybe I needed Jane more than I knew. She reminds me that we"re not just surviving out here—we"re living."

"Sounds like she"s got the right idea," Aaron remarked, his tone lighthearted yet sincere. "You always did say family brings out the best in us."

"True enough," Deborah said, her spirit lighter than when she"d left. She glanced back at the open prairie, feeling the truth of her words settle in her heart. "True enough."

"Sounds like you"ve got some stories to share," Aaron said, stepping aside to let her pass into their home.

"Plenty," she replied, moving past him. "But they can wait."

"Can they now?" His voice was a low rumble, teasing yet affectionate, as he closed the door behind them and turned to face her.

"Yes," Deborah confirmed, her lips curving into a smile. The simplicity of their life together, the quiet understanding and shared dreams, filled her with a profound sense of contentment.

In the dim light of the parlor, she could see the flicker of the oil lamp reflecting in his eyes, those steady pools that had so often looked upon her with tenderness and strength. She reached out, her fingers brushing against the fabric of his shirt, feeling the solid reality of him beneath her touch.

"Deborah," Aaron murmured, his hands finding her waist, drawing her closer until there was no space left between them. His breath was warm on her cheek, and she tilted her face upward, anticipation tingling through her veins.

"Thank you, Aaron," she whispered, her words barely audible. "For making Texas feel like home."

"I..." he began, but whatever he intended to say was lost as she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. The kiss deepened. It was a passionate affirmation of all they had built together.

He responded with equal fervor, his arms tightening around her as if he could pull her inside him.

"More kin means stronger roots," Aaron had said, and in the sanctity of their embrace, she knew it to be true. He made her feel at home, and so did her sisters.