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  “Lost love?” he whispered. “I never knew you in England …”

  “No,” she turned to face him. “But as a young girl, I knew you, or at least wanted to. Of course, you never gave me a second thought – I was just a child.”

  He choked, his eyes full of tears. “Imogene … I’m sorry, I’m sorry I’ve been such a terrible person.”

  “Thackary Holmes wasn’t always terrible. And after he became that way, I’m glad that in the end, he decided to become a better man.”

  “Imogene, what are you saying?”

  “I’m saying that I’m in love with an old, battered, humbled wreck of a man, just as I was as a silly girl. A man who I can see loves his children very, very much.”

  Cutty sniffled, wiped his eyes and glanced around again, then took a rag from his pocket and blew his nose with it. “I ain’t ready to tell ‘em’,” he said speaking as Cutty again.

  “You’ll know when it’s time.”

  “You … ya ain’t gonna tell nobody, are ya?”

  “No, Cutty. I ain’t gonna tell nobody,” she said, mimicking his accent.

  “On what condition?” he asked.

  Her brows rose at that. “What makes you think there’s a condition?”

  “’Cause that no-good worthless Thackary … well, I figured he probably did you wrong somewhere too, and now you want to see him get what’s comin’ to him.”

  “No, he didn’t – not to me. And as far as I’m concerned, Thackary Holmes no longer exists. There’s only Cutty.” She took one of his hands and held it. “And that’s the man I love.”

  His eyes widened. “Imogene, ya ain’t just sayin’ that?”

  She looked somewhat affronted. “I don’t say something unless I mean it.”

  “And ya ain’t gonna tell no one? Not even the Cookes?”

  “Who you really are, or rather were, is not mine to tell.”

  He looked away, then back again. “Imogene Sayer … I love ya.”

  “Yes,” she agreed with pride. “I know.”

  He glanced around yet again, leaned toward her and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

  She smiled and blushed. “So, do you …” she looked at him. “Want to get hitched, as they say here in America?”

  His mouth dropped open. “Are you askin’ me to marry ya?”

  “Is that a problem?”

  “No, it’s just that it’s usually the other way ‘round.”

  “Oh, that’s far too boring. I like adventure, you know that.”

  His eyes widened. “Well, I think I’ve had more’n enough adventure to last me a while.” He looked at Amon and Nettie.

  Imogene sighed. “I suppose you have. But you still need to tell them.”

  “Maybe I’ll tell ‘em after we get hitched. How’s that sound?”

  She considered it for a moment. Then she smiled, kissed him on the nose, and rested her forehead against his own. “That sounds fine, Cutty. Just fine.”

  * * *

  “Your sister sure looks happy,” Ryder said, handing Newton his canteen.

  “Yes, Amon is a fine match for her. I’m sure he’ll see to all her needs.”

  “You make it sound like a job,” Seth commented.

  “It is,” Newton said, his voice stoic.

  Ryder and Seth exchanged a quick look before Seth raised an eyebrow at Newton. “You don’t have to make it sound so laborious.”

  “Isn’t it?” Newton asked, then gave him the canteen and strode away.

  “What’s ailin’ him?” Ryder asked his brother.

  “I think he’s going to miss his sister. Maybe part of him is mad she’s married.”

  “What makes ya say that?”

  Seth took a swig from the canteen. “Doc Drake told me that’s how it is sometimes with twins. Newton and Nettie are probably real close.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  “A good ding …”

  Ryder and Seth spun around. Mr. Awahnee stood behind them and casually leaned against the covered wagon they’d used to haul out some of the building supplies. His eyes were fixated on Amon and Nettie sitting near the half-built home.

  “Hey, friend – where’dja come from?” Ryder asked. “We thought ya’d left.”

  “Not just yet. Dere is still work to do.”

  “Work?” Seth said. “What work is that?”

  Mr. Awahnee chuckled low in his throat, his eyes intent on something else. He pointed right at Newton.

  Seth and Ryder looked at Mr. Awahnee again. “What about him?” Ryder asked.

  Mr. Awahnee gave them a broad grin, then burst out laughing.

  The other men sighed. They both knew the big man could laugh all day and was probably going to. They waited for Mr. Awahnee to catch his breath before Seth asked the inevitable. “So what do you want us to do?”

  Mr. Awahnee’s laughter stopped. He leaned over them, his eyes narrowed to slits. “See him married.”

  “Married?” Ryder said in shock. “To who? There ain’t an unattached female his age around here for miles!”

  Mr. Awahnee stood to his full height and, putting fisted hands on his hips said, “Dere is one ….”

  The End

  (for now …)

  I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Amon, the seventh and final book in the Prairie Grooms series. Be sure to check out the rest of the books:

  August (Prairie Grooms, Book One)

  Ryder (Prairie Grooms, Book Two)

  Seth (Prairie Grooms, Book Three)

  Chase (Prairie Grooms, Book Four)

  Levi (Prairie Grooms, Book Five)

  Bran (Prairie Grooms, Book Six)

  But as you might have gathered, while the series is over, we’re not quite done with Newton Whitman yet – or with the mysterious Awahnees. Watch for Kit Morgan and Geralyn Beauchamp’s The Prairie Groom, coming later in 2015!

  And if you’d like to know more about Kwaku Ahwahnee – seriously, what could an African couple be doing wandering around the Civil War-era West?! – check out Geralyn Beauchamp’s books:

  Time Masters, Book One: The Call

  Time Masters, Book Two: The Prophecy

  Time Masters, Book Three The Legacy – coming soon

  About the Author

  Kit Morgan, aka Geralyn Beauchamp, loves a good Western. Her father loved them as well and they watched their fair share together over the years. You can keep up-to-date on future books, fun contests and more at Kit Morgan’s Facebook page – or by checking out her website at www.authorkitmorgan.com