Page 90 of In Honor’s Defense

Luke hopped down, turned the wagon and team over to one of the Gringolet hands, then circled behind the wagon to join Damaris. As happy as she was to see Nate, Luke knew the journey had taken a toll on her, and he aimed to get her to a chair on the veranda as soon as possible.

“Hi, Mr. Luke.” Abner, one of the kids from Harmony House, waved as he and his pal Rawley trotted up to Nate’s side.

Luke glanced over the yard, where close to a dozen other children scampered all over creation. Apparently, Wallace and Brooks had packed up their entire passel of foundling home kids and brought them for a visit. No wonder the other Horsemen had been ready at a moment’s notice when Luke wired the captain for help.

Luke tipped his hat to the boys. “You scamps stayin’ outta trouble?”

“Yes, sir.” Abner nodded.

Rawley, on the other hand, shrugged, his face stoic except for the mischief dancing in his dark eyes. “Mostly.”

Luke chuckled. Then he looked at the scene again. Wallace swung Kate around in a circle before doing the same for each of the girls in their care. Jonah pulled off his hat, dragged Eliza to him, then used his brim as a shield to hide his welcome-home kiss from the rest of the kids. As if they didn’t know perfectly well what was happening behind that hat. The hoots and hollers told the truth and earned Jonah a slap on the arm when he finally released his wife. But the way Eliza slid her arm through his and leaned against his side made it clear she bore him no ill will.

Matt had already made his way to the veranda, where Thaddeus gladly commandeered his sleeping granddaughter from the arms of her mother so Josephine could wrap those arms around her husband’s neck instead.

A couple of months ago, Luke would’ve been battling jealousy and discomfort about now, hurrying away with the hands so he could put himself to use in the barn. But not today. He settled his palm at Damaris’s back and smiled when she glanced at him over her shoulder. Today he had his own family. A family he’d honor and defend and love until the day he died.

“C’mon, Nate,” Abner said, tugging on the older boy’s arm. “Wart wants you to teach him how to sword fight, too.”

Nate had managed to untangle himself from his aunt’s embrace and rub away any emotional leaks with his sleeve before the younger boys arrived. He gave a quick sniff, and then, instead of running off, he paused and looked to Damaris for permission.

“Can I, Aunt Maris?”

A slight tremor ran through Damaris at the question, and Luke recognized the significance of the moment. Whatever barriers Nate had built up between him and his aunt had crumbled to silt in the last few days.

She smiled, and the beauty in the expression stole Luke’s breath. “I don’t see why not.”

The boys whooped, but Luke didn’t let them run off just yet.

“He’ll be there in a minute,” he said. “I need to have a word with him first. Man to man.”

Rawley and Abner exchanged looks, then grins, then gave a salute and ran off to join the others. Nate’s brow crinkled, but he dutifully remained behind.

Suddenly nervous, Luke cleared his throat. “I, ah, need to ask you a question.”

“All right.”

“I’ll be writing a letter to your grandpa too, but since you’ll be affected most, I wanted to ask your permission first.” Good grief. He was stumbling around worse than a blind buffalo. Just spit it out, for Pete’s sake. “I want to marry your aunt.”

Nate’s lips twitched, but he crossed his arms and forced his mouth into a straight line. “Does she want to marry you?”

“She happens to be right here, gentlemen, and can speak for herself.”

Both male heads swiveled in her direction. Thankfully, she was smiling, so she wasn’t too perturbed.

She dipped her chin toward Nate. “Yes. I want to marry him very much.”

Nate raised a brow as he turned back to Luke. “You know you’re gonna have to put up with her terrible cooking, right?”

“Hey!”

Luke chuckled. “She’s worth it.”

Nate finally let his grin loose. “Yep. I suppose she is.” A new light came into his eyes. “Does this mean I can call you Uncle Luke?”

His heart squeezed. “I’d like that.”

“Wait ’til all the kids at school find out my uncle’s a Horseman! I’m gonna be the most popular kid in town.” He sprinted off to join his new friends. “Hey, Rawley! I’m gettin’ an uncle!”