Lovina's Amish Christmas 2p4q38

LOVINA’S AMISH CHRISTMAS

HANNAH WINSTONE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LOVINA’S AMISH CHRISTMAS LOVE AT WHITMAN RANCH LONE MOON RANCH THE SEAMSTRESS

Lovina snapped awake, bleary eyes blinking open as she cracked out a yawn. Something was wrong, a faint sense that the house wasn't as it should have been. She sat up, eyes darting down to the solid figure of her husband buried deep underneath the blankets. Noise. That was it. Faint, choked cries filtering through the hallway, drifting through the open bedroom door. Beside her, Luke was still deep asleep. He never did wake up for anything. With a huff, Lovina tossed back the covers and padded into the hall. To the left was Nicolas' bedroom, the door firmly closed - he couldn't sleep if there was even a crack of light shining underneath the door. Lovina peeked into his room, noticing the toys scattered and the tiny lump in the bed. Her son was fast asleep. The crying continued, muffled in failed attempt to keep quiet. Lovina's heart twisted at the sound, slender legs carrying her further down the hall without thought. The room to Ruth's door was open just a sliver, dim light from her side light barely reaching the hall. Odd; Ruth hadn't slept with a light on since she was six. "Honey?" The crying halted, stifled by a hiccup, drowned by the ruffle of bed covers. Pretending to be asleep. The door clicked shut as Lovina crept into the room, blue eyes scanning the little room. Unlike Nicolas' room this one was pristine - not a toy or book out of place. The only thing unusual was Ruth herself, buried under the covers so only a puff of her curly blonde hair was visible. She never slept with the covers over her head. "Ruth love, I know you're awake." Lovina perched at the end of the single bed, hand reaching out to tug the covers down. "What's wrong?" Another hiccup, a swipe of thin hands across tear-soaked cheeks. "Nothing," she murmured back. Her voice was croaky, like chalk across a chalkboard, not at all the usual musical voice of Lovina's daughter. Swiping a hand across her forehead brought attention to the heat emanating from her face. her cheeks were

flushed, visible even in the darkness, and she was burning up. "You're ill," Lovina murmured, "come downstairs, we'll get you a cold press and something to drink." "I don't want to get up. It hurts." Poor Ruth never did get it easy when she was ill. Headaches ran in the family and even at twelve, she wasn't free from what they jokingly called the family curse.

"How about I get Dad to sit with you while I get you something to help?" Lemon tea would at least soothe the pain in her throat, a cold press would bring down her temperature. Ruth nodded - then squirmed as pain laced through her forehead. Lovina pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek, ignoring how her heart pained. "I'll be back in a moment." She checked on Nicolas once more on her way - he squirmed in his bed, huffing out a whimper, but remained asleep. She hoped he wasn't falling ill too especially not so close to Christmas. Luke was still asleep, not that Lovina had expected anything different. She stepped into the bedroom and nudged him awake, frowning when all he did was roll over. Into her side of the bed no less. "Luke, Ruth's ill," she murmured, "she wants you to sit with her while I make her tea." Luke simply waved a tired hand, shooing her away. "What time is it?" he slurred. The house was still dark and silent. The clock above them confirmed it was still the early hours of the morning. "Four o'clock," Lovina replied. "I have work early," Luke huffed, fighting back a yawn, "I need sleep. You look after her."

Indignation rose in her chest. She could have made the tea in the time it took Luke to wake up. Now here he was, more concerned with his beauty sleep than his daughter's health. "Don't be so rude," Lovina snapped, "she's ill. You can manage fifteen minutes with your own daughter and still get enough sleep." In the darkness, Luke's brows furrowed. He had been working a lot more recently - even with Christmas coming soon, he hadn't taken time off. He was the owner of a butcher's shop, the only one in the family that worked; but did that excuse him from caring for his family? No. "Luke-" "Go back to sleep, Lovina," Luke snapped, hands flailing as if to shove her away. "Ruth's old enough to look after herself. She doesn't need me to hold her hand." Heat rose in her stomach, hands clenched into fists. How dare he dismiss them like that! Lovina stepped back, humourless laugh caught in her throat. "Fine, go to sleep. I'll look after Ruth tonight. Don't expect me to come back to bed." Luke twitched then, mouth opening to apologise - but Lovina was already gone. Outside in the drafty hall, there was space to breathe. Ruth's whimpers reached her ears then and she flinched, sucking in a breath. She could be angry at Luke later - and she would be - but right now she had other priorities. It took no time for her to cross the hall and slip into Ruth's room. "Hey love, I'm back." "Where's Dad?" Oh. Of course she would ask. "Dad's asleep love. I didn't want to disturb him." A lie. An obvious one, because she never usually had qualms about waking him when one of the children were ill. If Ruth noticed, she didn't ask. "Can I have lemon tea?" she murmured, wincing as her throat burned, "and maybe... a biscuit?" They were a simple household, not one for sugary treats or lavish food. Yet Lovina nodded, a gentle smile creeping onto her features. "Of course. Will you be okay by yourself while I prepare it?"

A nod, a wince. Yet Ruth was strong, and her resolve steady. Lovina was silent as she crept downstairs, making the tea alone. With the sound of the kettle whistling, drowning out her thoughts, she almost forgot about her anger toward Luke. Almost. She didn't go back to bed that night.

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Lovina took the children to her parent's that afternoon. Luke went off to work at his butcher's shop - something she was quietly thankful for - and he gave her barely so much as a goodbye before disappearing. It wasn't a good sign, especially with only a week until Christmas; yet the two had been experiencing problems for months, and it was quickly shoved to the back of her mind. Thankfully her parents lived only around the corner, and Lovina had bundled up the two children with enough scarves and hats that their little faces were barely visible. Ruth complained of course, but she was too ill to protest beyond a grumble and pout. Voices, muffled by the door, reached her ears even before they approached the porch. The words were a mystery, but her mother's shrill shout was clear. Her father's albeit quieter, brought a wince to her features. "Are they arguing?" Nicolas murmured, "do they not want us to come over?" Loving shushed him gently, pressing a kiss to his cold forehead. "Sometimes people argue, love. It has nothing to do with us." Even so her insides twisted, grimace spreading. Her parents rarely argued - and never so loudly. Bracing herself, Lovina knocked. The voices immediately silenced. Lovina hadn't realised how loud they really were, until it stopped. There was a scuffle, keys scraping in the lock - and then

the face of her father's grinning face. Her father, Lucius, was an older gentleman with a shock of greying hair and kind blue eyes. He greeted them with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Come inside you three, it's freezing out here." He ushered them into the living room where a crackling fire warmed the house and the scent of cinnamon drifted through from the kitchen beyond. Such a cosy, familiar sight set her mind at ease. Perhaps their argument was only trivial. She began removing Nicolas' many layers while Ruth kicked off her shoes. "Could I have a lemon tea?" Ruth rasped. Her spirits had lifted since the previous night - but her throat still ached and there were dark circles beneath her eyes. "Of course," Lucius replied with a smile. Still, Lovina thought there was something not right about the way his lips curled. She was about to ask, but he was already rushing into the kitchen, presumably to make tea. Ruth took no time in bundling up underneath one of the many blankets in the living room, claiming the armchair nearest the fireplace as her own. Nicolas ed her, perching on the arm of the chair to snag a corner of blanket. There was a moment of silence, of reprieve, where Lovina smiled gently at her two children. Then a sharp clatter from the kitchen wiped the smile from her face. "Is everything okay?" she called, head peeking through the living room door. She caught a glimpse of a shattered mug swept from the kitchen floor, and her mother's scowl. "Fine," her mother, Abigail, snapped, "just your father being clumsy. As always." Clumsy? Lucius was anything but, usually so gentle and precise in his movements. It brought a worried frown to Lovina's usually soft features. "Do you need any help?" "No thank you," "No."

Hushed whispered followed, a quiet conference she had no place in. Yet still she strained her ears, knowing eavesdropping was selfish but unable to stop. "...the children don't need to hear us argue." "Then stop picking a fight, Lucius." "You're being too harsh." A huff, a fresh mug slammed onto the kitchen table, a strangled sigh. Then, "I'm not harsh, I'm truthful. Lovina needs to get a grip on that husband of hers." Lovina's cheeks flushed crimson, eyes snapping wide as her heart skipped. They were arguing over her? Suddenly she wanted to disappear, to forget those words from her own mother's mouth. But she couldn't leave it alone, couldn't pretend she hadn't heard a thing. "Lovina, dear?" She blinked, swimming back to reality - and there father stood in the kitchen doorway with a steaming mug, brows furrowed in concern. Ste stepped into the hall, making sure to close the door so the children wouldn't hear. Her thick brows furrowed, mimicking her father. "Are you two upset? Have I done something wrong?" Abigail stood by the sink, hands on hips like a disappointed teacher. Or a disappointed mother. The thought made Lovina cringe. "Our arguments are none of your business, and it isn't polite to-" "You said my name," Lovina insisted, "and if I've done something to upset you it's only fair I know. How am I supposed to fix things if I don't know I've done anything wrong?" Oblivious, Lovina hadn't even noticed she had been clenching her hands - at least not until sharp pain shot through her palm. Unfurling her fists, she saw little half-moon nails imprinted into her palm. Abigail stared her down, not unlike the way she did when Lovina was a child. It was impossible not to wither under that look, impossible not to feel the swell of guilt. Finally she huffed and said, "Your father is under the impression everything is fine, but I know better. You pawn your children onto us at every inconvenience, and you can't even whip your own husband into shape-"

"That isn't fair. Luke and I-" "Are going through a rough spot, I know. You've been saying that for the last three months." Abigail quirked a brow, daring her to contradict. She didn't need to, because Lucius stepped in to her rescue. "That's not our business, Abigail. Lovina and Luke's relationship isn't ours to interfere in." "And that is why you're wrong," Abigail snapped. Her eyes narrowed, attention now whirling to her husband. "You live in denial if you don't think this affects us too. No wonder people take advantage of you - you don't know how to say no." "The only person taking advantage of me is you." "Lovina is the one treating us like babysitters-" "Enough!" Lovina's voice resounded from the walls, making even her jump. In the resulting silence she flushed furiously, head downcast. She fidgeted under the weight of her parents' gazes. "I'm sorry," she finally murmured, "that I've been taking advantage. I just want this Christmas to be perfect, but the children take up so much time and Luke is hardly around to help..." she trailed off, sucking in a breath. No, she wasn't going to cry. Not here. Lucius reached out for her, but Lovina couldn't meet his eyes. Before he had the chance to speak she backed away, arms wrapped around her torso. "I'll take the children home. Don't fight on my ." The children didn't complain as she ushered them back into the cold. They had probably heard her outburst, and the thought made her insides curl. One week until Christmas, and things were falling apart. How could she fix it now?

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Baking trays littered every kitchen surface. Cookies and biscuits cooled on wire

racks, the delicious, savoury scent of bread rose from the oven. It was utter chaos - but Lovina loved it. A snort of laughter reached her ears and Lovina jumped, spinning around with a handful dough still clinging to her fingers. Luke hovered in the doorway, hair still messy and eyes lidded from a night's rest. A glance toward the clock confirmed it was still only half-past eight. "How long have you been awake?" A shrug, because Lovina simply wasn't sure. Since before daybreak anyway - it had still been dark when she stumbled into the kitchen to make tea. She hadn't even bothered with breakfast before she started baking. "Seven, perhaps?" Luke rolled his eyes, reaching blindly for the cupboard where they kept the coffee. "I'm off today," he replied. There was something akin to hesitancy when his eyes darted to hers. "I could help, if you like." Her heart warmed. Were they finally past this rough patch? She couldn't the last time he had offered to help her in the kitchen. Or really spent time with her at all. "A day off?" she questioned with a smile, "how rare. But if it means I get you for the day..." she grinned at him, forgetting her dough-covered hands as she pulled him in for an embrace. Luke's laugh was muffled as he pressed his face into her neck. He was warm, impossibly so, and Lovina melted into his touch. It was almost as if she had imagined all of their problems. She breathed in, enjoying the soft, minty scent of toothpaste and the way his blonde hair tickled her nose. "Let's get baking," Luke murmured against her neck. Together they whipped up a batch of sugar cookies, an old favourite of Ruth's. Christmas was the only time they ate sugary treats - but Lovina brought out all the stops for the occasion. Perhaps things would be okay after all, she thought. Until Nicolas came careening into the room, struggling to contain heavy sobs as he buried his face in Lovina's stomach.

The spatula in her hands clattered to the floor, eyes snapping wide as she dropped into a crouch beside him. "What's wrong love?" she murmured. It was then that she smelled something sour over the sweetness of the cookies. When Nicolas pried himself away from her embrace, his cheeks were streaked with tears. His pajama t-shirt was stained yellow. Vomit. Instead of rushing to comfort his child, Luke winced. "They're both sick now? As if there isn't enough to deal with." I'm dealing with it all, Lovina wanted to snap - but instead she simply huffed, casting him a scathing look. Then her focus turned to Nicolas, and her expression softened. "Let's get you into something clean," she murmured, "you'll feel much better." He nodded, big eyes flickering between Lovina and Luke. "Can I go back to bed?" "Of course, love." "Can Daddy read me a story?" He looked up with enormous, pleading blue eyes that anyone would have to be heartless to resist. Even with his hair a frazzled mess and tears down his cheeks, he was the sweetest. Yet of all people, Luke was immune. "Taking care of him is your job," he snapped to Lovina. "You're not working today," she countered, "couldn't you just read him one?" His eyes narrowed, lips curling as if to protest. Was he about to back out again? To deny his own son comfort out of... spite for her? Yet with a quiet sigh he relented and bent down to Nicolas' height. "What story would you like?" He brightened then, although Nicolas' skin was still pale. "Any!" "Let's fix you up first," Lovina replied with a laugh. His ability to bounce back always amazed her. Certainly when she was a child she had been terrible, but Nicolas was such a sweetheart. She led him upstairs to clean up, fussing over his temperature the entire time.

With Nicolas safely back in bed, hot water bottle tucked under the blankets, Lovina returned to look. At least he was making an effort, searching through the expanse of story books for the perfect one. "I know you work a lot," she murmured, curling an arm around his waist, "and I know you have to, to us. I appreciate it, truly." His eyes narrowed. "I feel a but in that sentence." "But you can't use that as an excuse not to care." Silence. She felt herself wince, already moving away from Luke's side. Yet he caught her by the wrist, a sigh escaping him. "Work is stressful, and you are at home all day. Why should I have to work and care for the children?" "Because they're yours," Lovina snapped. before he had a chance to reply she pulled her arm from his, a scowl on her features. Lovina had thought they made progress today. How wrong she had been.

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It was two days before Christmas Eve. Lovina has been awake since six o'clock in the morning - doing everything from cleaning the fireplace to baking last minute treats. It was now ten o'clock and she hadn't stopped in four hours. Well, that was about to change. She had just settled down with a cup of tea and a new book when Ruth bounced into the room. She was still pale, her throat still rough and cracking, but the beaming smile across her round features was far more contagious than her cold. "It's nearly Christmas!" she sang, only to wince at her throat. Her smile only faltered for a second. "Yes love, it is," Lovina replied with a smile, "are you excited?" A nod, thick curls bouncing. "Of course! I love Christmas," Ruth replied with a giggle. She may have been twelve - nearly a teenager - but her childlike

enthusiasm always brightened Lovina's day. "Well if you're feeling better, I could use help in the kitchen. Do you how we make pastry?" Ruth's eyes brightened, her wide smile only growing. "We're making pie?" Not quite yet - it was too early to make the filling, but the dough lasted days in the cold. Lovina simply nodded, stifling a laugh behind her hand at Ruth's delight. Ruth all but sprinted into the kitchen, eager to get started. When Lovina shouted "wash your hands!" Ruth only laughed. It was good to see her in higher spirits after she had been so ill. Especially with Luke's detachment and her parents' arguing. A frown graced her lips as the thought, ing her own outburst. Lovina knew she was prone to anger, knew she never helped herself. But what was she supposed to do, when no one listened? Sighing, Lovina lifted her mug of still hot tea and meandered into the hall. She never made it to the kitchen. At that exact moment someone knocked on her front door, sending her jumping backward with an inelegant squeak. Who was that? She hadn't expected visitors. Setting her mug down on the hall's side table, Lovina moved to the door. It swung open a moment later, bringing with it a rush of cold air and snow. Lovina squinted, stepping back to brace herself against the chill. When her eyes met the visitors, she froze. Standing there on her porch were her parents. Abigail swept past her, thick coat bringing in all kinds of dirt and snow, while Lucius muttered an apology and followed after. Lovina could only stare. "What are you doing here?" she questioned, only to wince at her own accusatory tone, "you never said you were coming over-" "Well," Abigail huffed, "since that useless husband of yours is too busy working to help his own family, I thought I'd help instead." Already she was hanging up

her thick coat and scarf, dripping melting snow into the carpet. "I expected a... more enthusiastic greeting." "Abigail," Lucius chided with a sigh. Then, turning to Lovina he continued, "we apologise for intruding. We thought it might be nice to help in the kitchen - we know how hectic it can get, and how you like everything done for Christmas Eve." Lovina's scowl melted instantly. She gathered her father up in her slender arms, burying her face in his shoulder. "Thank you," she breathed. Abigail simply huffed, squeezing past them in the narrow hallway to settle in the living room. "Tea please, before we get started." Lucius and Lovina shared a look, raised brows and defeated. It was best just to let Abigail do as she pleased in these circumstances; Lovina had learned so as a little girl. She wandered into the kitchen to make tea, smiling at Ruth as she pottered about. She already had the dough rolled out, thin strands of it roped around her fingers. Beside her sat an ornate bowl - not a mixing bowl, but a decorative glass bowl. "Is that the wedding gift from your grandmother?" she asked, brow quirked, "please tell me you didn't prepare the dough in that." Ruth flushed, eyes darting away. "I couldn't reach the other bowls!" she excused with a nervous twitch. "You could have asked me," Lovina murmured with a laugh, "just be careful, okay?" "Okay!" Turning her attention back to the task at hand, Lovina fetched mugs for fresh tea. Her own mug was still in the hall, quickly cooling. Oh well. Setting the kettle on the stove, she went in search of sugar. Only to freeze as a pitched crash reached her ears, resounding off of the kitchen walls. She spun, wincing when she saw decorated glass shards strewn across the

tiled floor. And Ruth, eyes wide in horror, staring too. Lovina rushed to her, picking her way across glass shards before dropping in front of her. "Are you all right? Be careful, I don't want you getting cut-" "Is everything all right through there?" They both froze at Abigail's voice. If she saw this mess, knew what had been broken... Lovina shivered. "You distract your grandmother," Lovina whispered with a gentle smile, "and I'll clean this up." "You won't tell her?" "Not yet," Lovina promised. Lovina stood, turning to fetch a broom from the cupboard, and then spun back to Ruth - to see Abigail standing in the doorway. "What is this?" Lovina winced. "Well you see, we had a bit of an accident-" "You use my wedding gift, for baking?" Her eyes narrowed, lips pursing. It was the look, the specific look she gave Lovina whenever she was in trouble. Even now, at thirty years old, it still made Lovina feel incredibly small. "Accidents happen. I'm very sorry-" "You don't need to apologise." Abigail rounded on Ruth, who had backed into the kitchen counter, lower lip wobbling. "What do you think you were doing, using it for something like that?" she demanded with a scowl, "didn't your mother teach you not to be so careless?" "Mother-" "No," Abigail snapped, "that was an expensive gift, handmade by a friend. She should never have been allowed near it." "Abigail." Lucius appeared by the door, eyes drifting from the mess on the floor to his wife. "It's only a bowl, it can be replaced-"

Lovina had only heard her parents shout at each other three times in her life. Two of those times had been in the last week. Abigail's voice bounced off of the walls, burrowed into Lovina's ears as she snapped, "it's the principle. Ruth will be a woman soon, yet she doesn't even have the common sense not to ruin things." They bickered back and forth, voices rising - until Lovina snapped. "Out," she ordered calmly, "you came here to help, not to take out your anger on my child. So you will either calm down. Or leave." Lovina wasn't sure what she expected - for them to calm down like she asked? For them to continue arguing, uncaring for who overheard? What she didn't expect was for Abigail to grab Lucius by the wrist and drag him into the hall. She left without a word, the anger practically boiling over. Lovina honestly considered cancelling Christmas after that.

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When Luke came home that evening, Lovina was ready to call it quits. Nicolas was ill, Ruth hadn't spoken to her since Abigail's outburst, and Luke didn't care about any of it. When the front door opened and Luke's heavy footsteps reached her ears, she didn't even acknowledge him. "Sorry I'm home late again," he spoke, hanging up his wet coat to dry, "Samuel didn't turn up for work again, and I couldn't close the shop until late." Lovina hummed in response. She still held a cold mug of tea between both pale hands, having not even taken a sip of it. Her eyes flickered in as he entered, a frown forming on her lips. "Is something wrong?" Yes, she wanted to snap, but what do you care? She expected him to press the matter with exasperation - either that, or not to

even notice at all. It was impossible to know with Luke, especially recently. But instead of snapping at her, he surprised her by settling down on the sofa. A thick arm wrapped around her and pulled her close. He smelled of raw meat, but in that moment she didn't care about that or the stains on his shirt. Lovina buried her face in his shoulder, holding back the frustrated groan that threatened to spill. "I know the feeling," he murmured into her hair, "work is terrible at the moment." Lovina huffed. Of course, it was still about him. Or perhaps not. He shifted, tugging her even closer to press a kiss to the top of her head. "Did something happen?" he questioned, "are the children all right?" "Nicolas still has a temperature," she murmured, "but they're fine. This isn't... I mean... ugh." Lovina huffed, resisting the urge to shove him away. He was her husband, so why was it so difficult just to talk to him? She knew, of course, that he never listened - but this time, he seemed to be trying. So shouldn't she try too? He waited, more patient than she had ever seen him, for her to continue. His hands traced gentle circles over her back, soothing her ragged nerves. Eventually she straightened up, but only so she could rest her head on his shoulder. "You've been busy lately," she began, wincing, "and I understand we need the money, so you can't just abandon the shop. But we've been failing for a while now, and now my parents are arguing because... I don't know. They think I'm a bad wife. Or a bad mother. Or they think you don't care but it's still my fault for not making you care-" Suddenly there was a finger under her chin, tilting her forward. Then soft lips against her own, gentle and kind. Her own eyes slipped closed at the touch, savouring the taste of coffee on Luke's lips. "I know I haven't been a good husband lately," he murmured against her, "and I apologise for that. I'm... stressed. But so are you, and I never thought about that." His attention trailed down her jaw, soft kisses to her neck and collarbone.

When was the last time they had simply enjoyed each other's company? Finally Luke pulled away to brush thick curls from her eyes. His expression was gentle, a smile curling at the corners of his lips. "I'll try to do better. For you and the children." Lovina's heart soared. That's all she had wanted him to say, for months. A part of her had accepted that it was never going to happen - an apology, a promise to try. Yet here they were. Was she dreaming? Luke ducked down to ghost another kiss across her lips. "I know how much you love Christmas," he murmured, "and I want this one to be fantastic." She smiled into the kiss, wondering if this was all in her imagination. If it was, she didn't want it to end. Yet her smile faltered as her mother's face drifted into her mind. "I love you," she whispered, "and I'm grateful for all of this." "But?" Luke questioned, a hint of annoyance seeping into his voice. "But it doesn't fix things between my parents. I don't want them to fight, especially not over me..." she trailed off, biting her lower lip until it hurt. Then, "they're supposed to be coming over for Christmas, but now I don't know if my mother wants to." Luke's annoyance dissipated. He frowned, head tilted in thought. "You could go over, force them to talk to each other. Bring some of your delicious baking to soften the blow." He was grinning now, as if such a simple plan had no way to fail. Did he really have so much faith in her? "I suppose it couldn't hurt to try," she replied softly, "I doubt I could make things worse, anyway." "You'll have things fixed in no time," he assured, "it's your way. I'll come, if you like. Moral ." Her chest warmed then, relief and love blooming in her chest. This time when she kissed him, every last drop of doubt vanished.

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Armed with delicious treats fresh from the oven, Lovina and Luke marched over to her parent's house determined to fix things. Lovina already felt better with Luke by her side. Things were far from perfect between them, but they were trying. If they could, so could her parents. But when she knocked on their front door, peering through the window to see the hall inside, her stomach rolled. What if she made things worse? What if she ended up ruining Christmas - which was only two days away? The thoughts rolled through her mind, pale hands clenching around the dish of baked goods. When the door cracked open, releasing a flood of warmth, Abigail's brows furrowed. She didn't look pleased to see them, her arms folded across her chest. "Lovina. Luke. What can I do for you?" Lovina shifted, lips pursed. "Is Dad home? I want to talk to both of you." Both brows shot up, and Lovina could almost hear the gears in her mind turning. Eventually she sighed, stepped aside, and allowed them in. Lovina and Luke shuffled inside, sharing an awkward glance between them. When the door closed behind them Lovina winced. "Lucius! Lovina and her husband are here to see us." Abigail wandered into the living room without another word, tossing a look behind her shoulder as if to say well? Silently, they followed. Lovina set the baking down on the coffee table - and Lucius' bright smile made her feel a little more at ease. She could always count on her father. She sat down, Luke beside her, awkwardly picking at the hem of her sleeve. "We're both busy today," Abigail hinted, "so perhaps you should make this quick." Lovina didn't want to make it quick, but she held her tongue. Beside her Luke

smiled, and she managed a small quirk of her lips in return. It faded when she turned back to Abigail. "Well," she began slowly, "I want to apologise, for before. I didn't mean to lose my patience, and I hate to think the two of you argue because of me." Settling into the armchair by the fire, Abigail regarded them silently. Lovina hated that - the silent treatment, just waiting for her to slip up and make a fool of herself again. It was a tactic Abigail excelled at. She didn't back down. Luke's hand slipped into her own, a light squeeze. "I know I rely on you for a lot of things," Lovina continued. If she was anything it was determined, despite the way her stomach turned with nerves. Eyes flickering from one person to the next, she continued, "I need to be more responsible, to stop taking advantage of what you do for me and the children. But you should come to me, instead of taking it out on each other." Lucius' smile was gentle as he reached across the small space to squeeze her shoulder. "We never should have argued in front of Ruth," he agreed, "or treated it like you were a nuisance. You're our daughter." He turned to Abigail then, silently expecting her to carry on where he left off. Lovina's mother had never liked apologising, especially when she knew she was wrong. As a child, the most Lovina ever heard was a simple, half-hearted 'sorry' and a quick change of subject. Yet Abigail's gaze cast to the floor and for the first time, she looked genuinely embarrassed. "I may have overreacted," she onished with a huff, "especially over Ruth. It's just a bowl, in the end." The words I'm sorry may not have ed her lips, but it was enough. Lovina found herself grinning from ear to ear, chest swelling with delight. This whole time, had it been as simple as just talking to them? Perhaps not. She should have known it was never so simple, not with Abigail. She shifted her attention to Luke, eyes narrowed. "What about you?" she snapped, "finally decided to be a good husband?" Lovina paled - meanwhile, Luke's eyes snapped wide as he tried to stutter out a response. The two of them shared a look, completely speechless. "This isn't all about Lovina you know," Abigail continued, "the reason she has to rely on us in the first place is because you don't take care of your family."

"Abigail-" "Mother!-" Suddenly Lucius was on his feet, spritely for man in his sixties. "Don't talk to Luke like that," he insisted with a scowl, "that was uncalled for." They were going to argue, she knew it, and it was her fault again. Tears threatened to spring to her eyes but she blinked them back. No, not this time. As her parents stared each other down, Lovina stood between them with widened eyes and a stern expression. "We are not doing this again," she snapped, "it's nearly Christmas, and I will not have this family fall apart when we should be celebrating. I'll have you know that Luke and I have worked out our differences. So, mother, you need to let it go." Luke was grinning at her, pride practically emanating from him like a physical force. She had never seen him smile so widely, and she felt herself grinning too despite the anxiety welling in her chest. "Thank you," Luke murmured, barely perceptible. Abigail, finally, relented. She stepped back, arms folded but smiling gently. Smiling in the way that made it clear she wasn't happy, but trying to be amenable. It was a start. "I know things are difficult between us," Lovina muttered, relief flooding her, "but we're family, and we can work out anything. So can we please just enjoy Christmas, and work out our issues in a sensible way?" Luke stood beside her, hand slipping into hers. It was such a change from how he was, how she was used to him, that she found herself surprised. "I think we can manage that," he told her with a grin. "So do I," Lucius agreed. The three turned to Abigail, who stood with her lips pursed and arms folded. Finally she sighed, like they had just asked the world of her, and nodded. "All right, I suppose that's reasonable." Lovina wrapped slender arms around her mother, laughter bubbling up in her chest. "Good," she murmured as Abigail hesitantly returned the embrace, "then

let's stop fighting and start celebrating." They had a ways to go yet, but for the first time in a long time, Lovina was looking forward to the future to come.

LOVE AT WHITMAN RANCH

CHAPTER ONE ANT NEEDED URGENTLY AT WHITMAN RANCH Lex Whitman stood back and examined the fiftieth hand-painted sign for a couple of minutes. It was a bit lopsided and there were several dents in the wood from all the hammering, but it looked fine. At least, it looked fine to him. He lowered his hammer and wiped his brow. He’d been putting up signs for hours. The July afternoon wasn’t too hot, but sweat slicked his pectorals and abs. He didn’t really mind, though. Being outside helped him get his mind off a couple of things...like his ruined career. Before last week, he’d been a soldier in the army. For almost all twenty-six years of his life, he’d dreamed of ing the military. He’d been happy with his job for a couple of years. Then the war had come and spoiled everything. He’d returned to Wyoming immediately, in low spirits, and until today he’d been cooped up at his parents’ home at the ranch, weighed down by his bad leg and wounded pride. Those six days had been hell. Lex was glad for the opportunity to come out into the open. He turned away from the sign and gazed across the road at Whitman Ranch. A large stood in the middle of the field, flanked on both sides by a barnyard and a tool shed. When Lex squinted, he could just barely make out the cowhands working in the field, watching the grazing animals and making sure they didn’t stray. The ranch was almost half a mile away. Too long a distance for him to walk. Good thing he’d brought his truck. Lex heaved a huge sigh. A few years ago, his parents’ business had been thriving. Now they were two million dollars in the red. They’d need more than that to bring the ranch back on its feet. Lex had offered to help, though it didn’t seem likely that he could do much. He just wanted to lift the burden of the business off his parents’ shoulders. Great. More for him.

A black convertible cruised by. Two women ogled and wolf-whistled appreciatively. Lex forced a grin and waved at them until they were out of sight. He knew he was good-looking. A couple of female soldiers had dropped glaring hints during his army days. Before then, he’d dated more than half the girls in high school. But his looks were somewhere at the bottom of his priority list now that his dream career had taken a leap off a cliff. He picked his shirt off the ground and shrugged it on, leaving the buttons undone. He threw his hammer and an empty bucket of paint into the back of the truck and drove home. Lex walked in his parents’ front door and entered the kitchen. His father sat at the table in jodhpurs and a checkered shirt, sipping tea as he read his newspaper. His mother was doing the dishes. ‘I’m home,’ he announced. ‘About time.’ Mr Whitman lowered his cup and peered up at him over the rims of his glasses. ‘How’d it go?’ ‘Fifty signs in all.’ Mrs Whitman wiped her hands on her apron. ‘That’s a good start. Your father and I couldn’t have put up so many signs in one week. You’ve got stamina.’ ‘Must be the military training they gave him,’ his father blurted. There was dead silence for a few seconds. ‘Sorry,’ Mr Whitman said. ‘I didn’t mean to –’ ‘It’s okay,’ Lex lied. ‘I can’t keep grieving a career that’s already gone. Besides, I’ve got the ranch business to handle now.’ Mr Whitman cleared his throat. ‘You know, son, it’s good to see you back on your feet – no pun intended – and I really appreciate that you’re trying to help out at the ranch, but you don’t have to do this. Your mother and I are fully capable of taking care of ourselves –’ ‘We already talked about this, Pops. You and Ma are getting too old for this. Just

this morning, you nearly broke your neck trying to mount a horse.’ ‘It was Lily’s fault. She was trying to buck me off. And I didn’t break anything.’ ‘One of these days, you just might. I’ll take care of everything from now on. Soon as we get an ant, the ranch is gonna be shining again.’ ‘Oh, I doubt you’ll find anyone willing to have anything to do with this place,’ his mother said, leaning against the sink. ‘We’re losing cowhands by the week. In a couple of months, we’ll be calling it the Sahara Ranch.’ She gestured at his leg. ‘Does your knee still hurt?’ ‘Not really.’ Another lie. ‘I left some painkillers on your bedside table in case it starts hurting again. Maybe you can –’ The sound of gravel crunching beneath tyres cut her short. ‘Looks like we have a visitor,’ Mr Whitman said.

CHAPTER TWO HEATHER STONE HATED HER LIFE. She hated not having a job. She hated the fact that she was living in her mother’s basement. She hated being a burden. For nearly two years, she’d worked as an ant in New York, making barely enough to sustain herself and her daughter. Her husband had taken care of that problem. She’d lived a happy, comfortable life when Matthew was in it. She’d been a totally faithful wife. And how had her loving husband shown his appreciation? By banging the brains out of another chick in their apartment. She’d returned from work one Monday and found her husband screwing the leggy blond bimbo on the kitchen table. Matthew hadn’t even had the decency to feign remorse when he saw her gawping at them. He might as well have crushed her heart with a caterpillar. It turned out he’d been sleeping with Britney shortly after they’d gotten married. Matthew had been kind enough to point out that he’d fallen out of love with Heather and wouldn’t mind getting a divorce. Heather repaid him with a sucker punch to the jaw. Matthew, in a fit of rage, tossed her belongings out of the apartment and asked her to leave. She’d quit her job and returned to Wyoming with their four-year-old daughter, Meadow, and started living with her mother before the divorce papers even surfaced. All that had happened two months ago. When she saw the sign, Heather hit her car brakes so suddenly Meadow almost flew out of the backseat. Meadow woke up and started to cry. Heather and Matthew had had Meadow a year before their marriage. Looking back on it, Heather had a feeling the child’s birth had made Matthew feel obliged to marry her. No love involved. That bastard.

Heather said a quick apology to Meadow and threw the car in reverse, pressing the brakes more slowly this time. She looked at the sign. An ant needed. This was too good to be true! She’d quit her job in Wyoming because it had seemed to closely related to Matthew. Working in Cheyenne would be loads better. Like working from home. She felt more comfortable here...well, unless you counted the fact that she was jobless and living in her mom’s basement. But the name “Whitman” sounded several warning bells in her head. The sign might as well have read DANGER: HIGH VOLTAGE. Whitman was a name she’d hoped never to come across again in her life. But they were hiring. And she was jobless. What choice did she have? You could just ignore the sign and go straight home, said a tiny voice in her head. That was the sensible part of her. She bit her lower lip. ‘I’m going to regret this.’ Heather hit the gas pedal and headed for Whitman Range. SHE PULLED UP IN FRONT of the ranch house five minutes later, got out of her car, and gazed around. The house seemed pretty impressive. The barnyard...not so much. It looked like it hadn’t been taken care of in years. The doors sagged on their hinges. Heather was pretty sure she spotted one or two globs of animal dung on the ground. A few cowhands languidly walked in and out of the building, carrying buckets of milk or bags of manure. A large silver truck sat a few feet away. Beyond it, a man in a cowboy hat and washed out jeans sat washing his hands. He looked up and Heather froze. Could it be...? The man wiped his hands on his jeans and ambled over. Heather’s heartbeat slowed to normal. It wasn’t him. The man tipped his hat. ‘Can I be of any assistance?’ ‘Er...yeah. I saw the sign on my way here. Are you still hiring?’

He gave her a once-over that made her uncomfortable. ‘You think you can handle them cows?’ Heather frowned. ‘What cows? I thought you needed an ant.’ ‘Oh. My bad.’ The man grinned sheepishly. ‘I thought you was talking about becomin’ one of us. You’ll be wantin’ to see the new boss.’ ‘Who’s that?’ ‘Hold on a sec.’ He turned and faced the building, cupping his hands around his mouth. ‘Mr Whitman! Someone here to see you!’ As if on cue, the front door swung open and he stepped out. Crap. He’d filled out considerably since she last saw him. His arms were lean and very muscular, and he had one heck of a barrel for a chest. His face was smooth and shaved. As he walked towards her, he limped awkwardly, like there was something wrong with his leg. Heather found herself licking her lips against in spite of herself. He waved the cowhand away and looked at her. His eyes flared for a second. Then he extended his hand. ‘Nice to meet you. I’m the boss here. Can I help you?’ Nicely played, she thought. From the look in his eyes, she could tell he knew who she was, but he was feigning ignorance for some reason. She shook his hand. It was pleasantly warm. ‘Lex Whitman?’ ‘In the flesh.’ ‘I’m Heather Stone.’ ‘What brings you here, Miss Stone?’ ‘I’m an ant. At least, I used to be one.’ Real smooth. She wondered if her hair was sticking up or if she had too much makeup on. ‘I saw your sign. I hope the job isn’t taken yet.’

A look crossed his face. Anger Disappointment? ‘No, it isn’t.’ ‘That’s...wonderful.’ She hated the awkwardness that hung in the air between them like a stubborn piñata. ‘When do I start work?’ ‘You don’t.’ THE MOMENT HE’D SPOTTED HER, Lex wanted desperately to sink into the ground forever. Ten years had gone by since he’d seen her last, and she’d matured a lot, but he hadn’t forgotten the girl who’d broken his heart by refusing to go to prom with him in high school. He couldn’t pretend the sight of her wasn’t unsettling. He’d shoved his hands into his pockets so she wouldn’t see them shaking. He’d always been suave with the ladies – except Heather. She’d had a way of forcing him to break character. He hadn’t been suave when he’d asked her to prom that Thursday afternoon. It had been his first time speaking to her, and he’d blown it by stuttering and sweating like a marathoner. She’d been kind enough to quietly decline his offer and maintain a poker face while her friends sniggered at him/ Still, he’d been devastated. He’d skipped prom and fallen into depression for months because of her. Part of him resented her for that. That part of him wanted revenge. He saw her gorgeous face contort into a frown. ‘I don’t understand. Why not?’ He ignored her question and peered into the backseat of her car, where a little brown-haired girl sat staring at him. ‘Your daughter?’ Her frown became more pronounced. ‘Yes.’ ‘What’s her name?’ ‘Meadow.’ ‘That’s a nice name.’

‘Which is why I picked it.’ Heather folded her arms across her chest and stared at him. ‘Why won’t you give me this job? You said it yourself that it hasn’t been taken. Is there something wrong with me?’ Hell no. ‘ ten years ago?’ She raised an eyebrow, and Lex realised his mistake. Dammit! He’d blown it again. He was supposed to be pretending not to know her. Feigning ignorance made things so much easier. It couldn’t hurt to go with the flow. ‘ the day I asked you to prom?’ Maybe he was imagining things, but he thought he saw a smirk flicker across her face. ‘What about it?’ ‘You turned me down.’ She opened her mouth to say something, then seemed to think the better of it. She resorted to blinking at him. ‘July seventeen, 2008, you turned me down,’ he repeated. ‘Why should I hire you?’ But he already knew the answer: the ranch was crumbling. Heartbroken or not, he needed to do something before his parents’ business plummeted into a posthole. And the solution was standing right in front of him, in jeans and a cute shirt that brought out the colour in her beautiful eyes – He clenched his jaw to keep himself from losing control. For a moment she looked at him like she couldn’t believe he’d had the nerve to the exact date. Then she said slowly, ‘Lex, please. I know I might have offended you then –’ Offended? She had no idea. ‘– but I really, really need this job. I’m going through a lot lately, and I’d appreciate it if you helped me out now. I promise I’ll work hard.’ He sighed. ‘We’re two million dollars short.’

Her jaw hung open. ‘Run that by me again?’ ‘This place ain’t as great as it used to be. It’s coming down fast. Unless you can help us make two million in a week –’ ‘I’ll do it, I’m sure I can.’ ‘Work starts at seven tomorrow,’ Lex said. ‘Don’t be late.’ Then, without waiting for a reply, he turned and hobbled back into the house. He didn’t move until he heard the clang of an engine. Why, just why had he brought up the subject of prom? HIS PARENTS WERE WAITING for him in the kitchen. ‘Who was it?’ his father asked. ‘An ant.’ Lex sat at the table and sipped the tea his mother had made him. ‘Work starts tomorrow.’ ‘Well, that was pretty fast.’ ‘I have to agree with your father on that one, dear,’ Mrs Whitman said, sitting beside her husband. ‘What’s his name?’ Lex paused with the cup to his lips. ‘You mean her name. It’s a woman.’ He paused, then added: ‘Heather Stone.’ He saw his parents exchange glances. ‘Isn’t that the girl who turned down your prom invitation in high school?’ asked Mrs Whitman. Lex nearly choked on his tea. ‘I can’t . Hey, this tea tastes really wonderful –’ ‘I hear she just got divorced,’ his mother said to her husband. ‘Divorced is a small word. More like dumped.’

Lex’s breathing grew ragged. He was still mad at Heather for breaking his heart, but the idea that anyone would dump such an angel for any reason made him want to go ballistic. At the same time, he felt a shiver of elation. He was not having feelings for her. He couldn’t possibly be. ‘Lex, is your leg hurting again?’ Mrs Whitman wanted to know. ‘You look a little pale.’ He hadn’t even realised he’d dropped his teacup. He rose to his feet. ‘I think I’ve lost my appetite.’ His high school crush was working for him now. She was divorced. Lex had a feeling things were going to get interesting at the ranch in a bit.

CHAPTER THREE THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF WORK were positively thrilling for Heather. She had her own office at the ranch. She began work early and left the office rather late, but she didn’t complain. She had a job she actually liked. Once, she even brought Meadow to keep her company. Meadow was asleep most of the time they were together, but Heather hardly minded. Her new office was a smaller-than-average wooden structure situated beside the barnyard, so the smell of manure wafted into Heather’s nostrils from time to time. The office comprised only a mahogany chair and a desk covered with stacks of papers. Through a tiny window to her right, she could see the cowhands working under the afternoon sun. From time to time, Mr and Mrs Whitman stopped by to chat and have tea with her. Lex Whitman hadn’t come to check on her yet. Heather wasn’t sure whether to feel happy or disturbed by this fact. On the one hand, his keeping his distance from her made her feel a bit safe. On the other hand, knowing that he hadn’t cared enough to check on her downed her spirits. It also made her curious. Maybe he was playing games with her. Maybe. She’d spoken to a couple of cowhands and found out about Lex’s leg injury, sotto voce. It turned out he’d been shot in the leg while he was still the army and had to be discharged. Heather wasn’t sure what to make of that. She fleetingly wondered if that was why he looked so grumpy most of the time. Maybe it was because of her. Again, maybe. Inside her handbag, her cellphone rang. She fished it out, stared at the screen for a second, then declined the call. Matthew again. He’d been calling her cell for days. The cheating bastard seemed hellbent on making her life miserable. Heather ignored the rest of Matthew’s calls until the fool seemed to catch on.

She was about slipping her phone back into her bag when the door creaked open and Lex lumbered in. ‘Howdy,’ he said. Heather’s heart did a couple of backflips. ‘You didn’t knock,’ she blurted. He shrugged. ‘Didn’t think I needed to. You look like someone just took your cat’s ninth life. You want me to leave?’ ‘No!’ Damn. ‘I mean, no, it has nothing to do with you. It’s my ex-husband. He’s been calling my cell ever since we...divorced.’ Another of those stormy looks crossed his face, but it was gone in a flash. ‘I see. Any ideas on how to make two million dollars for Whitman Ranch?’ ‘Actually, yes,’ she said, glad for the change of subject. She grabbed a latherbound book and handed it to him. ‘I was flipping through the ledger this morning and I found we’ve been selling less than we were last year. One of the reasons is we’re rapidly losing workers, owing to their low wages.’ ‘Low wages?’ ‘Yes. I don’t think they’re satisfied with what they’re earning. If you double their income, I’m sure you’ll have more workers and productivity will increase by at least fifty percent.’ Lex flipped through the ledger. ‘Is that all?’ ‘Well, there’s also the problem of the price of livestock and produce.’ He arched an eyebrow. ‘What’s wrong with it?’ ‘It’s too high. We need to cut it down to half. I’ve already talked to your parents and they’ve agreed.’ The ledger hit the table with a bang. Lex’s eyes were the size of saucers. ‘What? Why? It’s been the same for years!’

‘That’s the problem. Trust me, this will work. We’ll have more customers once the prices drop. People like to pay less for the things they purchase. That’s how the economy works. We keep that up, we’ll have enough customers by the time we return the price to normal.’ ‘You’re good,’ he said. She watched his hands stroke the back cover of the ledger. Very strong hands, she observed. ‘Um, I have to be good at my job so we can move forward.’ ‘You keep saying “we”.’ She surprised herself by meeting his gaze. ‘Is there a problem with that?’ ‘No,’ he said after a moment’s hesitation. The office was silent for a second. ‘You want to take a ride with me?’ he asked. ‘I promise it’ll be fun.’ That statement was open to an array of interpretations. ‘I’d rather not.’ Lex’s jawline became more pronounced. ‘Let me rephrase that,’ he said with a small smile. ‘I want you to go on a ride with me outside. Now.’ Oh. That kind of ride. She despised this bossy attitude. ‘Yes, sir. You want to go in my car of your truck?’ His smile broadened. ‘Neither. We’re taking horses.’ THEY RODE ACROSS THE RANCH in silence, neither sparing a glance at the other. A couple of cowhands waved at them as they sped by, but Lex barely acknowledged them. They didn’t stop until they reached the low wooden fence at the far end of the ranch. Beyond the fence, Heather could see the road. Lex broke the silence. ‘Tell me about your ex-husband.’ Heather sucked in a breath and frowned at him. Why was he butting into her like this? ‘Well, his name’s Matthew and we’re no longer together.’

He shot a glance in her direction. ‘No shit. Is he Meadow’s father?’ She was surprised he’d ed her daughter’s name. Matthew had called her “Mellow” two weeks before Heather decided to correct him. ‘Yes. We had her before we got married. When we got the divorce, Matthew said he wanted nothing to do with Meadow. Not that I would’ve let him, anyway.’ ‘Your ex-husband sounds like an asshole. Why’s he still disturbing you if you’re already divorced? He doesn’t want you back now, does he?’ She grimaced. ‘Hopefully not.’ ‘You hesitated.’ ‘You’re observant.’ ‘I have a lot of talents.’ She opened her mouth to reply, but then a sound made them look up. A shiny red car was heading towards them from the road. It slowed to a stop a few feet away, and a blonde woman wearing a pink tank top that revealed a ten-mile cleavage and a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses climbed out. She took of the sunglasses, and Heather recognised her at once. Dorothy Evans. She’d been one of Lex’s many girlfriends in high school, and had been Heather’s archenemy. Heather didn’t see a ring on Dorothy’s finger. Lex slid off his horse, landing on his good leg. As soon as Dorothy spotted him, she let out a squeal and ran towards him, pausing to climb over the fence, and three her arms around him, kissing him full on the lips. Naturally. Heather felt her hands tighten around the horse reins. Lex resurfaced a few seconds later and extricated himself. ‘Dorothy!’ He glanced at Heather and gave a shaky grin. ‘What brings you here? ‘I heard you were back in Cheyenne, Baby,' Dorothy said, licking her lips. ‘Sorry it took me so long to come and visit. How’s the leg?’

Lex sighed. ‘It sure has seen better days.’ ‘I feel so bad for you.’ Dorothy leaned towards him, no doubt for another kiss. Heather’s horse whinnied. Dorothy turned and seemed to notice Heather for the first time. She flashed her a fake grin. ‘Well, hello! You’re Heather, aren’t you? I you. I heard you just got a divorce. I’m darn sure the pain must really be getting to you. What are you doing here?’ She said it like Heather was a weed that somehow managed to grow on Whitman soil. Heather ground her teeth some. ‘She’s my ant,’ Lex explained quickly. ‘The ranch needs money, so we hired her to sort out our finances.’ ‘I see.’ Dorothy looked at Heather, than at Lex, as if to say, This was the best you could find, Baby? Well, I’ll be going now. Wouldn’t want to interrupt anything.’ She gave Lex one last lingering kiss, climbed back into her car, and sped off. Lex swung onto his horse. ‘Sorry about that,’ he said sheepishly. ‘Totally unsolicited.’ ‘I’m not complaining.’ Not technically. ‘I should probably get back to work.’ ‘No. Stay.’ Then something weird happened. Lex suddenly lurched towards her and braced his hands on her horse to keep from falling. His face moved closer to hers, and she suddenly realised what was going on. Shit! She couldn’t let it happen. Before his lips could make with hers, she flicked her horse reins and turned around, speeding for the ranch house. She heard a grunt as Lex hit the ground behind her, but she didn’t look back. She was not ready for a love affair now. And definitely not with Lex Whitman. The man reminded her of her ex-husband. With any luck, she’d get her heart shattered into pieces. Again.

HE FELT LIKE AN IDIOT. This was the second time he’d behaved stupidly in Heather’s presence. The first time, he’d brought up a high school dance she’d obviously cared nothing about. Now he’s tried to kiss her. What had he been thinking? Nothing, that’s what. His mind practically went blank whenever he was within a hundred feet of her. He couldn’t help it. As much as he resented Heather, he found himself wanting to be with her every second of the day. She evidently didn’t feel the same way about him. She never had. He staggered to his feet. His bad leg hurt a little from the fall. He’d have to take some painkillers for that. He clambered onto his horse and took off in the direction of the ranch, wondering what to do next. Should he act macho and fire her? No, that would be a disaster. Firing Heather was next to committing suicide on her list of top ten dumb things to do. He needed her to stop the Whitman business from collapsing. But he couldn’t face her everyday knowing that she was afraid he’d make a move on her again. She’d probably avoid him from now on. He thought about going to apologise now, then decided against it. Too soon. CHAPTER FOUR THE MAILMAN ARRIVED a few days later with a thin envelope and left immediately. The envelope had come from the bank. Lex tore open the envelope and read the letter. And he saw red. SHE WAS RIFLING THROUGH the paperwork on her desk when the door flew open. Lex slammed a sheet of paper on her desk. I told you this was a bad idea!’ he snarled. ‘The damn demand level hasn’t gone up one bit! What with the maintenance fees and increased wages, we’re even worse off than before. Do you have any idea what you’ve cost us?’ She’d never seen him this angry since the time he flunked math in high school.

‘Lex, please calm down –’ ‘Calm down?’ His eyes narrowed to slits. ‘You want me to calm down? This is my family business you’re jeopardising! We’re almost bankrupt, and you want me to calm down? Are you out of your mind?’ His words stabbed her like hot knives to the chest. ‘Lex, there’s no need to sound so harsh –’ He cut her off with a mirthless laugh. ‘You’re one to talk. Every single chance you get, you find a way to make my life miserable. You did it ten years ago, and you’ve done it again!’ Realisation hit her with the force of a charging bull. ‘So that’s what this is all about,’ she said, nodding slowly. ‘A juvenile ball.’ ‘Yes! I mean, no! Look, things were bad before you came here, and now they’re worse. It’s almost like you’re deliberately bringing this ranch to the ground.’ An inferno blazed behind her eyes. ‘Oh, really? Well, if that’s what you think, then I quit!’ She shot to her feet and began packing her things. ‘I’m never going to work for you again. You’re such a giant prick!’ ‘Fine!’ he yelled. ‘Fine!’ she shouted, choking back tears. Lex left the office, slamming the door behind him. Heather sank back onto her chair and sobbed. SHE DIDN’T GO TO the ranch the next day or the day after that. She didn’t even leave her mother’s house. She sat brooding in the basement, occasionally helping herself to a bag of chips and some orange juice her mother had brought her yesterday. Maybe she shouldn’t have quit her job. She was back to square one now. Besides, she kind of missed Lex. Despite his leg injury and irking attitude, she found him quite attractive. When he’d made a move on her near the fence that day, she couldn’t pretend she wasn’t tempted to kiss him.

Still, he’d been rude to her. He’d disrespected her, just like Matthew had. If she’d stayed after that, she’d have looked like the biggest idiot in Cheyenne. Within twenty hours, she ran out of food. She trudged up the stairs in her pyjamas and went to the kitchen. Her mother and Meadow were having lunch when she walked in. Heather mumbled a greeting and grabbed a bottle of soda from the fridge, draining it on the spot. ‘That’s the fifth soda you’ve had in two days,’ her mother said. ‘You know too much of that stuff is bad for you.’ Heather leaned over and snagged a potato of Meadow’s plate. She popped it into her mouth and chewed loudly. ‘Happy?’ Mrs Stone rolled her eyes. ‘Matthew called again. He’s in Cheyenne. He wants to know if the two of you can meet up somewhere close and have a nice chat.’ Heather took a jug of milk from the fridge, sat down at the table across from her mother. ‘I’m not interested. Next time he calls, tell him I’m not in the country. Or that I’ve ed NASA and I’m currently on Mars.’ More eye-rolling. ‘You know, you can’t keep avoiding him forever. I know he broke your heart, but that happens to people all the time. I’m not saying you have to get back together, but avoiding him...it’s not very mature of you. when your father was alive, we used to argue a lot. But we never behaved the way you are now.’ ‘This is different.’ Heather tipped her head backwards and started to drain the jug. ‘Sure it is. Wait a minute. Does this behaviour of yours have anything to do with that Whitman boy you’re working for?’ Heather was so caught off guard she slopped milk down her front. ‘No!’ Meadow giggled. Heather shot her a glare. ‘I hear he’s quite handsome.’ Mrs Stone wiggled her eyebrows.

‘Mum!’ ‘What? I was just teasing you. Unless, of course, you do have feelings for him.’ ‘I just got divorced,’ Heather said through gritted teeth. ‘I’m not ready for romance right now. And even if I were, I’m sure it wouldn’t be with Lex Whitman.’ ‘Right. Speaking of Whitman, why aren’t you working at the ranch today?’ Heather hesitated for a few seconds. ‘I quit.’ Mrs Stone’s hands flew to her chest. ‘Why would you do such a thing?’ Heather sighed and filled her mother in on everything, from her first meeting with Lex to the argument they’d had. ‘And you think he was mad at you mostly because you ignored his high school prom invitation?’ Mrs Stone asked once Heather had finished her story. ‘Well, he kept bringing it up. Though I don’t see why he took it so badly. The reason I turned down his invitation was because I didn’t want to get hurt.’ ‘How do you mean?’ ‘Lex was a player. I mean, almost all the girls in high school had their hearts broken by him. No way I was gonna become one of them. So I turned him down.’ ‘Smart move. Except he might not be the same –’ The phone on the kitchen counter rang, and Heather’s mother got up to get it. ‘Hello?’ she said. Then her eyes widened. She looked at Heather and mouthed, It’s Lex. Damn. I am not here, Heather mouthed back. Mrs Stone rolled her eyes. ‘She’s not here. She left early this morning – really?’ Her eyebrows shot up. ‘That’s...that’s wonderful! I’ll tell her right now – er, I mean, when she gets back. Bye!’ Disconnect.

‘What?’ Heather wanted to know. ‘He says he wants you back at the ranch as soon as possible. The ranch business is kickin’ again. Something about skyrocketing demand levels.’ Heather’s eyes widened. ‘But that’s impossible! Lex said it was going down!’ ‘This here’s what I call a miracle. You want to go and see him?’ Did she! ‘After what he said to me? The hell I do. Tell Matthew I’ll meet him in an hour.’ THE COFFEE SHOP SMELLED of...well, coffee. Customers streamed in and out, clutching suitcases or lattes. The shop bar was filled with round tables and uncomfortable stools. The white tiled floor had been polished recently, so you were likely to slip and break your neck whenever you walked across it. Bright sunlight shone in through the large windows. A bell chimed every time a customer opened the transparent door with the OPEN sign on it. Heather was wearing a blue sequined dress her mother had loaned her. Matthew sat across her in an expensive business suit, one hand clutching his coffee, yelling into his phone so that other customers whipped their heads in his direction. The sight of him stirred up many crazy ideas in Heather, the top two of which were puking all over the table and strangling her ex-husband with his own tie. Matthew hung up and looked at Heather. For a few seconds, neither of them spoke a word. Then Matthew broke the silence. ‘So,’ he said. ‘I hear you’re working at a ranch now.’ Heather blinked. ‘I was working at a ranch. But how do you even know about the ranch?’ ‘Your mother told me everything.’ ‘I see.’ She added berating the hell out of her mother to her mental list. ‘How’s Lex?’

She could feel her face growing hot. ‘He’s...fine. Look, that’s not important. What did you want to see me for?’ Matthew sighed and sipped his coffee. ‘I’ve realised I made a mistake letting you go, babe. I want you back in my life, Heather.’ Heather snorted. ‘Fat chance.’ ‘I knew you’d say something like that. But you’re welcome to New York and live with me. That is, if you’re willing to forget everything that happened.’ ‘If I’m willing to forget?’ she repeated. This guy was more annoying than Lex. ‘You think it’s easy to forget seeing you and that slut thrashing about on her kitchen table? You cheated on me, Matthew!’ ‘Ah, yes, but in my defence, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time.’ She ground her teeth some. ‘I was in the wrong place at the right time?’ ‘You keep repeating me. Anyway, see, if you’d stayed say a little longer, Brittany and I would’ve been through before you got back home, and then you wouldn’t have gone wild and asked for the divorce.’ Heather heard her pulse beat in her ears, slightly faster than normal. ‘You’re saying it was my fault?’ Half the people in the shop turned to look at her, but she didn’t care. ‘Well, yeah, obviously, babe –’ ‘Please do not call me that ever again,’ Heather snapped irritably. The beat became a dissonant pounding. She thought she saw a familiar shape sweep into her periphery, but she was too focused on Matthew to pay it any attention. ‘Whatever you say, babe,’ Matthew said. ‘Virtually all men cheat on their wives. No one’s perfect. But you couldn’t just be a good girl and accept that, could you? No, you had to be a bitch about it.’ The pounding transformed into a roar. Heather snatched up her cup. By the time the roar in her ears faded, Matthew’s face was dripping with coffee. His suit and shirt had huge brown stains on them.

The entire shop was silent for a second. ‘You bitch.’ Matthew lunged across the table and slapped Heather across the face. More silence. Heather gaped at her ex-husband in shock. He’d never been the abusive type. Before she could react, a fist zoomed into her line of vision and slammed into Matthew’s jaw, and he went down like a pack of cards. ‘Don’t you dare touch her, you bastard!’ Lex Whitman yelled. He raised his foot and brought it down on Matthew’s nose. Blood spurted onto Matthew’s face and clothes. Lex started kicking him in the side with his good leg. Everyone else in the shop shot to their feet. Heather rushed towards Lex and – quite reluctantly – pulled him away from her ex-husband. ‘Lex, what are you doing here?’ she cried. ‘You could’ve killed him!’ A muscle tightened in Lex’s jaw, but he said nothing. Heather felt a warm fluttery feeling in her chest. Still lying on the floor, Matthew groaned in agony. ‘I’m gonna sue your ass. You’re gonna lose your bloody chickens.’ ‘He’s a cowboy,’ Heather snapped. She grabbed Lex’s arm. ‘Come on. Let’s get out of here before things get uglier.’ WHITMAN RANCH LOOKED pretty grand in the sunset. Lex sat in his truck and watched the sun sink below the horizon. Heather stood outside her car, talking to her ex-husband on the phone. She disconnected and looked in Lex’s window. ‘Matthew says he’s not pressing charges.’ Lex gave a snort. ‘Why would he? That little turd assaulted you.’ He looked at her. ‘I hope you’re not hurt?’ ‘Last I checked, only my inner woman is. How did you know where to find me?’ He gave an airy wave of his hand. ‘I’m psychic.’

She cocked an eyebrow at him. ‘I phoned your mother and she told me everything.’ Heather was definitely going to have that chat with her mother. ‘You know I could sue you for stalking me, right?’ ‘I know you won’t.’ She managed a smile. ‘Thanks, anyway. For being there for me.’ ‘Hey, it was the least I could do to repay you. You brought the ranch back into business.’ ‘I was just doing my job.’ ‘I doubted you. I yelled at you and made you cry.’ She gave him a quizzical look. ‘How do you know I was crying?’ ‘I told you, I’m psychic.’ ‘Yeah, right.’ A sudden rush of emotion overwhelmed her. Before she could stop herself, she’d pulled the driver’s side door open and grabbed his hand. He frowned at her. ‘What are you doing?’ ‘Get out of the car,’ she said, tugging his hand. ‘Heather, what’s going on?’ ‘Just do it, Lex. Don’t make me yank you out.’ ‘Okay, okay.’ Lex climbed out of the truck and closed the door. ‘Now what?’ She took his left hand in her right, and guided the other hand to her waist, placing her hand on his shoulder. ‘Now we dance. This was what you wanted, right?’ He stared at her. In the sun’s afterglow he looked beautiful. His eyes glistened becomingly.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said, swallowing. ‘I didn’t mean to sound do snappish –’ ‘No, it’s okay.’ She smiled again. ‘But, seriously, was this all you wanted when you asked me to go to prom with you? To dance with me?’ ‘Of course. What did you think my intentions were?’ ‘Well, if I recall correctly, you weren’t exactly, ah, nailed down when it came to girls.’ There was silence for a few seconds after that. Lex’s lips slowly curved into a smile. The hand on the small of her trembled slightly. ‘Wow. I didn’t have anything else in mind when I asked you out. I did it because I had a bit of a crush on you.’ She could feel a lump growing in her throat. ‘A...bit?’ ‘Well, it was more of an obsession. The other girls were only supposed to make me look cool, if you know what I mean. I didn’t want you to see me as an undesirable fool.’ ‘I’m highly flattered.’ ‘You should be.’ She leaned closer to him. ‘So what’s going to happen now?’ ‘Well, I was thinking...um...I was wondering if...if maybe you could...give me another chance to be with you.’ Lex said. ‘It’s fine if you’re not interested, though –’ ‘Oh, I’m definitely interested,’ she said with a laugh. Just like that. She swung her to one side and they began to dance slowly. ‘I’m still not sure how this is going to work out. I mean, what about Meadow?

Matthew is her father. Not you. And we’re dating.’ She saw him grimace. ‘I guess it can’t hurt to give it a try. Who knows, in months we could be married. I might not be her father, but I could be her daddy.’ She was sure he’d meant it as a joke, but his words sent waves of anticipation crashing over her. ‘I guess that’s possible.’ ‘Your ex-husband is an idiot,’ Lex said, and he kissed her before she could reply, wrapping her arms around her. His lips were warm and sensuous. Heather curled her toes in ecstasy and leaned into him to deepen the kiss. He suddenly pulled away. ‘Oh my God.’ ‘Something wrong? Is it my lips?’ Maybe she’d put on too much lipstick. Curse Matthew ‘No, it’s not you. That kiss just about the best thing that ever happened to me, trust me. Heather, do you know what today is?’ She scrunched up her face. ‘Beats me.’ ‘It’s July seventeen,’ he said, and his lips met hers in another kiss.

LONE MOON RANCH

AIMEE YOUNG

PART ONE She felt a mix of relief and despair as she watched the Boston skyline fade away. She felt a mix of relief and despair. She knew she would never come back to her beloved hometown. There was nothing left for her there. In fact, all she had left fit into a small carry-on bag. Her life had shattered, and most of the pieces had blown away in the wind. She grabbed her phone and read Colt’s email again. I am a simple man. I own the Lone Moon Ranch in Helena, Montana. I’ve lived here all my life. I am 26 now. I am looking for a wife, someone who can take over the household duties; cooking, cleaning and such. Also, to assist with various chores around the ranch. I need someone who is not deterred by early mornings and not afraid of hard work. In return, I will make sure you are well-taken care of. I am seeking a partner, not a companion. Please me if you have questions. He didn’t include a photo and she never asked for one. It didn’t matter what he looked like. She appreciated the fact that he sounded very businesslike in his email. That’s what this was – a business deal. She had placed an ad on a mail order bride site - not for love, but for security. Colt fit the bill. He needed a wife and she needed an escape. Of course, he had no clue what she was escaping from. She hadn’t been completely honest with him about her past. She tossed her phone back into her purse. She rubbed her thumb against her ring finger as she laid back against her seat and closed her eyes. She didn’t want to think about Nick. But he was always there, lurking just below the surface. She could picture his dark eyes and dangerous smile. When they met, he made her feel alive and invincible. Loving Nick was like grabbing hold of a lightning bolt. He had lit her up and then burned her to ashes. They got married a month after their first date. Nick was wild and impulsive that way, and she couldn’t deny him anything. But Nick was also a drunk and a gambler. He got so wasted on their wedding night that he ed out in the hotel lobby. Three months in, he had blown through all her savings. He became violent and erratic when the money ran out. He isolated her from her family and her friends so she had no one to help her. And she couldn’t leave him. They were each other’s obsession even though he scared her. But then one night he crashed

into another car and almost killed the driver. She could picture his face the day of sentencing. Six years. And the way he looked at her the last time she went to visit him, to tell him she had filed for divorce. She lied to him and told him it was all his fault. But she couldn’t lie to herself. She knew she was just as much to blame. Maybe he struck the match but they had both danced within the flames. Their 2-year marriage had stripped her of everything. She lost her condo, her car, and even her job. Her parents had both ed way, and both her brother and sister had given up on her. She needed to start over. And there were worst ways to do that than a beautiful ranch in Montana. So, she bought a plane ticket and a new dress using the only credit card she had left and swore to do her very best to not look back.

***

Colt Malone stood inside Helena Regional Airport. He jiggled his truck keys impatiently against his thigh. Joelle’s flight had been delayed. And while he was many things, patient was not one of them. It was a trait that had never come easily to him. Mainly because he rarely liked to be idle. Nearly every woman that walked past him, smiled. Women had always noticed him. But it had been a long time since one had shared his life or his bed. Not since Ashlyn. They had grown up together. He chased her from the moment he was big enough to run. He couldn’t recall a moment of his life that he didn’t love her. She had been his best friend and then his lover. But Ashlyn wanted to chase something of her own. Her dreams had taken her far from Montana and far from him. She was in California now. He used to think they’d get married and build a life together. He used to think love matter more than anything. Now he knew better. Love broke you in ways that would never heal. And he didn’t intend to ever give someone that kind of power over him again. He made the ranch his whole life. His father had died three years prior, and he had no other family. When his father died, the ranch and all the responsibility of it became his. It was a huge undertaking. The ranch was financially in bad shape. It was burden his father had never shared with him, but something he inherited

just the same. Things still weren’t great. He worked from sun up to sun down, but the ranch was still in jeopardy. He had to lay off most of the staff. He had taken out new loans to pay off old ones. But the ranch was still in debt. He knew he didn’t have time to be angry but he was. He was angry that his father hadn’t been a better businessman. He was angry at his mother for leaving when he was young. He was angry at the hand life and love had dealt him. He couldn’t say what came over him the night he went online and found the mail order bride website. He guessed it was his loneliness. He wanted to come home to a hot meal and a warm body. He didn’t want someone to fall in love with but he did want a partner. Someone to share his burdens and his life. Joelle’s ad had stood out to him. She was beautiful but haunted. Long, dark hair and big expressive eyes. She looked like a painting from another time and place. She seemed like a woman that could possess a man and make him beg at her feet, and yet gave him the sense that she didn’t want to possess anyone. What she wanted was security. A place in the world that belonged to her. He could give her that, even if he could never give her his heart. The gate opened, and a rush of people came toward him. Cole scanned the crowd looking for her. He had looked at her picture a dozen times. He had stared into her hazel eyes and memorized the color of her lips and the curve of her neck. His finger had traced each wave of her long, raven hair. But that picture had in no way prepared him for the real-life version. He called her name and she walked toward him, her cheeks flush and her hair slightly tangled. She was smiling, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Colt?” “Hello,” he said. His voice came out slightly gruff. “Hi.” She hesitated for a moment, but then sat down her bag and leaned into him. He didn’t think, he just put his arms around her and closed his eyes. He felt his whole body respond to hers, full and warm against him. She smelled of a lavender and citrus. And when she pulled back to look up at him, he felt breathless for the first time in a long time. Yep, she could awaken a hunger in a

man and he was in no way immune; and it was a hunger he had almost forgotten was there. His pulse quickened, and this animal desire to ravage her was stirring inside. He swallowed, and took a long, shaky breath. “I’m glad I’m here,” she said softly. “So am I.” They stood for a moment, still half in each other’s arm. He took another breath and steadied himself. “We should get going Do you have more bags?” he asked. She smiled again in a sad sort of way. He saw something in her eyes for the briefest of moments, but then it was gone. “This is all I have.” She gestured toward the bag at her feet. “I meant it when I said I was looking forward to a fresh start.” He picked up the bag for her. “My trucks just outside then,” he said. “We have an appointment at the courthouse in less than an hour.” She nodded. They had done the paperwork online, and obtain their marriage license. He had told her he didn’t see any reason to put things off, and so he made an appointment at the courthouse for them to be married that afternoon. She didn’t seem to want to wait either. They exited the airport and Joelle’s breath hitched as she took in the landscape. The blue sky was cloudless and seemed to have no end. The land before them was flat and rugged until your eyes found the mountains jutting into the heavens. “It’s so beautiful,” she said softly. “It is,” he agreed. He had never strayed far from home. The soul of him came from the land and those mountains. They reached his pickup truck, and he tossed her bag into the bed of it. The truck was painted a fire engine red and it was well loved and taken care of.

“After you.” He opened the enger side door, and then without thinking he reached down and touched her cheek. This made her lips part slightly. An invitation? Her lips were as red as his truck and he couldn’t seem to look away. Slowly he bent down, letting his own lips graze her’s. His hands fell to her waist, and he pulled her body to his. He kissed her, tasting the sweetness of her. She didn’t respond to him at first. But he felt the exact moment when she let go. She molded herself to him, and her body hummed. She made a sexy, breathy sound and it about did him in. Somehow he knew she had the same kind of demons that he did. She buried things too. Maybe like him, she still held out hope that one day she’d find redemption. She pulled away first. She stared at him, her breath ragged. “Colt, I didn’t come here to fall for you.” Trying to regain his composure he said, “I didn’t bring you here to fall in love.” “Before we do this, I need you to promise me again. Love is not part of the agreement.” “I do. And I’ll keep my promise.” He nodded toward the open truck door and ran his fingers through his hair. She was holding his gaze, searching. “So will I,” she said and got up into the truck. They were on the road a moment later, heading for the courthouse on the other side of town.

***

Joelle tried to stop her hands from shaking. She and Colt had arrived at the courthouse, and she could hear the Judge and Colt talking. But all she could think of was that moment she spotted him in the airport. He had on a pair of Wrangler’s that fit him well and a button-down shirt. Cowboy boots of course and she had spotted a matching cowboy hat in the truck. He was also sporting a

five o’clock shadow even though it was only noon. He wore it well. Too well. He was quite possibly the most handsome man she had even laid eyes on. His auburn hair that curled at the ends and those smoky eyes rimmed with lashes that went on for days. And when he kissed her... “We’re ready.” Colt touched her arm lightly. The Judge was just beside him. “But are you ready my dear?” he asked. He had a soft voice and a kindly face. “I do – I mean I am,” she stammered. They both smiled at her and she laughed nervously. Colt had her undone and that was not part of the plan. The simple ceremony took less than ten minutes. When it concluded, Colt leaned in and kissed her again. This kiss was softer and sweeter. It held a promise instead of ion. It told her he would be there and he would take care of her. “Let’s go home,” he said. It was a good twenty minutes before they reached the ranch. Colt turned down a rocky drive. Lone Moon Ranch sat a mile off the main road with rolling hills on either side. The main house was average in size, painted red with a white a trim. A barn sat directly to the left of the house, and acres of pasture and field to the right. She breathed in the smell of cut grass and watched as hundreds of dandelions danced in the late afternoon breeze. She spotted several cows in the pasture, and could make out the sound of horses nearby. He put the car in park right in front of the house. He got out and came around to open the door for her. They stood in the driveway for a long time in silence. He was letting her take everything in. She had never seen so much land and beauty in all her life. She felt like she had been dropped in the middle of nowhere, and the middle of nowhere looked a lot like paradise. “Hello!” A middle-aged woman came down the front porch steps. She was drying her hands on the apron she wore. Her graying hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and she had a big smile on her face. She came toward Joelle, and pulled her into a tight hug. “My goodness, you are gorgeous.” She pulled back, holding Joelle at arm’s length. Then she leaned in and hugged her again. “We are so happy to have you. And congratulations to you both!” She turned to him then, and he bent so she

could kiss his cheek. She looked at him with such affection that it made Joelle smile. “This is Minnie,” Colt said. “Minnie, this is Joelle.” “You can call me Jo.” Minnie turned back and hugged her again. “Minnie is a dear friend,” he explained. “She comes by once or twice a week to help tidy up or cook one of her delicious meals. I don’t deserve her at all, but I honestly don’t know what I would do without her.” “Oh shush.” She slapped him playfully on the arm. “I love you like my own son. And how I wish I could do more for you, love.” Her eyes got misty. “But here you are now.” She turned back to Joelle. “I am just so happy that Colt has found someone to love again.” Colt cleared his throat uncomfortably and she got the impression that Minnie had no idea how they had met. And maybe she would be a bit taken aback if she knew he had basically gone online and ordered up a bride. “Well, I am happy to be here. So happy,” Joelle said. “Colt has just stolen my heart and I don’t ever want it back.” Minnie clapped her hands in delight, smiling brightly at them. He was giving her a look, and she gave him a sideways smile. “Well, come on in. You must be tired and famished. I have dinner all ready.” She directed them inside, like a shepherd herding her flock. Once inside the house, she took a moment to look around her new home. All the rooms were big and open, with high ceilings and lots of windows. The living room was to her left, and a large stone fireplace stood against the back wall. He didn’t have a whole lot of furniture, a leather couch, and two big chairs. She made her way to the kitchen, which was also airy and full of lots of natural light. A large island sat in the center and a small breakfast nook in the corner. The dining room sat off to the right, and both rooms blended well together.

“There’s a roast warming in the oven. And biscuits on the table,” Minnie said. “You’ve outdone yourself again,” he told her. “Oh, don’t fuss on me. You sit down and enjoy your dinner. I’ll be around tomorrow, Jo, to help you settle in.” “Thank you – so much,” she said. Minnie smiled and touched her cheek. “You’re going to be very happy here,” she promised and then she was gone. He glanced toward the dining room table. “Shall we?” he asked. She nodded, her stomach rumbling at the thought. She hadn’t eaten breakfast or lunch that day. In fact, she hadn’t eaten much at all lately. Certainly, nothing that resembled a home cooked meal. They ate in silence for several minutes. She savored the biscuits dipped in honey. She glanced up at him, the late afternoon sun poured in through a window, and she could see the flecks of red in his hair. “I’m sorry you didn’t have any family or friends here today,” he said. “I don’t have a family. None that speak to me anyway. And no real friends either,” she told him. “It’s just me.” “Why doesn’t your family speak to you?” he asked. She looked up, meeting his gaze. “My parents died last year. It was a car accident. That sent my spiraling a bit. I didn’t always make the best decisions. My brother and sister are both older than me. I guess they handle things better than I do. She has two kids and he owns his own business. I’m the black sheep and they finally threw in the towel.” “Doesn’t seem fair,” he said. “You’re family. They shouldn’t just turn their backs on you.” “I don’t blame them,” she replied honestly. “I hurt them a lot. They felt like they needed to protect themselves.”

He sat back in his chair, holding her gaze across the table. “Is that why you left? Why you married me?” “I don’t have anything, Colt. I’m embarrassed to say that, but it’s the truth. But now I’m your wife. And here we are together, and I want this to work. I want this ranch to be as much mine as it is yours. I want us to take care of it together.” “And you mean that?” “I do.” “You know, it’s just me, too. Sure – I have friends. Wonderful friends. But no family. This ranch is all I have, and I work every day to hold on to it for me... For us.” He paused still watching her. “And I’m sorry about your parents. I never knew my mother, but my daddy ed away three years ago. So, I mean it – I am sorry.” “It’s been over a year. You would think it would hurt a little less by now.” “It won’t ever hurt any less. You just learn to live with it.” They took their time finishing dinner. She liked talking to him and he seemed to like to listen. She talked a lot about Boston. It was her first love after all. They also talked about the ranch, and she asked him questions about his life growing up. When they finished, he stood and pushed his chair back heavily. “I get up at five. We should go to bed.” Bed? His eyes had turned to smolder. Slowly, she stood as well. “Okay.” “Jo, listen - I’ve never had a woman in my bed who didn’t want to be there,” he began. “But it’s been a long time. So, I am hoping you will me in it tonight.” With that, he stepped around the table and walked past her. She listened to the echo of his boots as he went upstairs.

She felt rooted in place for several seconds, twisting her dinner napkin back and forth in her hands. The attraction she felt toward him was undeniable. And even hours later, she could still the taste of his lips on hers. A slight tremor went through her at the memory. It had been a long time for her as well. And he was her husband... He was sitting on the bed in the first bedroom. There was a large bay window to the left with a window seat. The setting sun painted the room a dusty rose color. “I don’t sleep in the master bedroom,” he explained. He watched her as she scanned the bedroom, taking it all in. “Why?” she asked softly. “It’s not mine. Never was, and I don’t see how it could ever be. Is that a problem?” She shook her head no. She was still standing in the doorway, and they watched each other across the room. She could see his chest rise and fall with each breath. He seemed to be tracing her whole body with his eyes. “Come to bed,” he told her. His voice was a husky whisper. Again, a tremor went through her. She felt an ache and longing deep inside. She had not just been alone; she had been lonely. And she had been that way long before Nick got arrested. “Colt.” She came to him, straddling his waist and pushing him down on the bed. She leaned over, creating a canopy with her hair. It blocked out the world, so all that was left was the two of them. They held on to each other. Some moments thrashing against the night and all the loneliness that had held them captive. They were iron and lace, colliding in moments of raw, insatiable need. And in other moments, they were soft and gentle and warm like a summer breeze. Their bodies lifting and swaying like waves to the shore. PART TWO Joelle rolled over in bed, pulling the covers around her. She opened her eyes to see that the sun was making its way across the sky. She sighed happily. Her whole body felt sated and relaxed. She smiled, thinking of the night before. She

could feel her insides vibrate and stir. She wasn’t sure any man had ever made her feel that way. She was literally humming from the inside out. She was more than satisfied, yet the hunger for him lingered. “Jo.” She jumped slightly, then turned back over in bed. Colt was standing over her, completely dressed. He was clean shaven and he smelled wonderful. She reached out, her hand caressing his. “Come back to bed,” she told him. “Back to bed?” he repeated. “You need to get up.” She blinked and sat up. She wasn’t dressed, so she pulled the sheet up around her. “What’s wrong?” “There’s no breakfast made. And I am heading out. There is housework to be done. I thought we discussed all this.” “Colt...” “I need a partner, Jo.” “I know that.” She blinked several more times, pushing back tears that suddenly burned her eyes. “We were partners last night,” she said softly. “I have to start my day. I’ll eat some biscuits left over from last night. But I’ll be back at noon, and I’d like something hot waiting for me.” He turned then and stalked out of the bedroom. She smacks away a few tears that had managed to escape. She got out of bed, pulling the sheet along with her. She needed a shower and she needed coffee. And she needed to get herself in check. She couldn’t lay in bed daydreaming about him all day. He was a business decision, nothing more. She padded down the hall, the floor cold against her bare feet. Her clothes were still in her suitcase which she’d left in the foyer. The house was silent as she

made her way carefully down the winding staircase. Just as she reached the landing, the front door swung open. A man stood there looking like John Wayne come back to life. He was most likely in his forties. But a life working under the sun had leathered his skin, and it made him appear older. “Well, I beg your pardon,” he said. He respectfully glanced away as she clutched the sheet tighter. “Who are you?” she asked. “Jeff Loggings, darling,” he said. “You must be Joelle.” “Good morning.” Minnie came through the door but stopped in her tracks when she saw Joelle. “Goodness, Jeff.” She slapped his arm. “We’re sorry to barge in, honey. Go on up and get yourself ready. It looks like you had a wonderful wedding night.” She gave Joelle a wink, and then pushed Jeff toward the kitchen. She grabbed her suitcase and ran back up the stairs. She was out of the shower and dressed in ten minutes. As she headed back downstairs, the smell of perked coffee wafting up to her. “I hope you don’t mind, I got things started,” Jeff said, nodding toward the coffee pot. “Not at all. Thank you.” He handed her a steaming cup. Minnie was bustling around, going back and forth between the refrigerator and the pantry. “How are you settling in?” Jeff asked as they sat down at the table. “Just fine.” “Is that so?” Jeff gave her a look that remaindered her of her father. “I slept in,” she itted. She glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. It was a quarter after seven. “Getting up at dawn takes getting used to. You’ll get into the swing of it. Minnie,

Colt and I have been doing it our whole lives. I wouldn’t know how to sleep in even if I could.” “I could teach you,” she said with a smile. He returned it. “Don’t let him scare you off,” he said a moment later. “Scare me off?” “Colt is certainly rough around the edges. But beneath all that there is a heart of gold. He’s just been lonely too long. And he feels the weight of the world on his shoulders. When his daddy died, it about did him in. That was all the family he had, and he was just here one day and gone the next. I don’t think Colt even realizes how much it affected him. How much it broke his heart.” She took a long sip from her cup. She certainly knew about heartbreak. “He doesn’t scare me a bit,” she said. “I’m quite fond of him.” She was surprised to hear some truth in her words. Jeff leaned across the table and said quietly, “I know how you met. Minnie doesn’t. God don’t tell her! But I know. And I know Colt told you he wasn’t looking for love.” “He did. I’m not looking for love either,” she confessed. “Is that so? Now, darling, everyone is looking for love. Surely, you know that.” “I’ve had love.” “And how did that work out?” “Lousy,” she replied. “So lousy that it turned me off to the prospect altogether.” Jeff laughed. He had a genuine twinkle in his eye. “If I had a nickel for every time someone said those words. For every time I said those words.” “But aren’t you and Minnie married?” she asked. “Yes. Third time for me, though. I was pretty bitter on love, but there it was all these years – right in front of my face.” He stood up then, draining the last of his

coffee. “Minnie, I am heading out,” he called. She was just coming out of the pantry. She came over and kissed his cheek. “It was nice meeting you, Jo.” “It was very nice to meet you, too,” she told him. “I’ll see you soon.” He put on his hat and tipped it toward her. Then he headed out the back door.

***

Minnie stayed for a few hours. She started a pot of chili, and she showed her around the house. It was almost noon when she left, promising to be back the next day. Joelle started a load of laundry and put some cornbread in the oven. It was ready twenty minutes later when Colt came in. “Smells good,” he said. “Wash up,” she told him. She gave her a tired smile, and memories of the night before flooded her again. She felt her cheeks go warm and her body go flush as he brushed past her. He stood at the kitchen sink for several minutes, washing away the morning. When he finally sat back down, she placed a hot bowl of chili in front of him. “I have to go into town this afternoon,” he said. He turned to his chili and downed half the bowl in a matter of seconds. “Should I come?” she asked. “No need. I have an appointment at the bank. I’m a little behind on the mortgage.” She looked up at him. “What do you mean?” “My daddy was a great man, but his finances were a mess when he died. I’ve

been working day and night to get things in order again. But times are hard.” She dropped her spoon into her bowl. Bits of chili splashed across the table. “I don’t understand. I thought you owned this ranch.” “The bank owns the ranch, Jo.” “But you said you could take care of a wife.” She didn’t know why she suddenly felt so panicky, but she did. “I can. The manager is a buddy of mine. Everything will be alright,” he said. “I’m doing my best. I’ve been running uphill for three years now.” “I don’t know what to say.” And she didn’t. “Listen, I apologize if what I said made you believe I owned this ranch right out. I don’t. But I hope to someday. I can tell you this, I will always take care of you. But this isn’t a prison, it’s a marriage. You can leave anytime you want if this isn’t what you want.” “Do you want me to leave?” “No – I don’t.” “I just – I can’t go back.” Tears burned her eyes. She couldn’t look up at him. But she heard him push his chair back and come around the table. “Then don’t.” He reached down and tilted her head back so she was looking at him. Then he bent and kissed her lips, softly at first and then harder. He pulled her up from the chair and against him. She wanted him. Wanted him right then and there. As if reading her mind, he lifted her up and onto the table. He came down on top of her, the weight of him making her whole body ache with want. She arched into him and he moaned softly, his breath warm against her ear. And when he took her, she clung to him as if she was lost at sea and he was the only thing keeping her from drowning completely.

***

Colt left the bank feeling uneasy. He was almost three months behind on the mortgage. Not to mention the taxes were due. He had one month to catch up on payments or the ranch will be put up for auction. He hadn’t a clue how he would manage, but he was certainly going to try. He just had to work harder. He knew how to do that. He spent the next few weeks doing just that and showing Joelle the ins and outs of ranch life. She was able to help with some of the manual labor, but not much. He was simply stronger and had been doing it his whole life. There was always hay to cut, bale and stack. Always a fence that needed mending or manure to haul. Joelle helped with other things. She worked a lot in the garden and with the animals. She seemed to enjoy the animals more than anything, especially the horses. He liked watching her with them. In fact, over the next few days, he caught himself watching her more and more. He also liked coming home to her – most days. It had become painfully obvious she had never kept house before. She could cook - sure, but nothing from scratch. And she tried baking but burned practically everything. She told him that she cleaned every day. He was sure she did. But it was more like tidying up here and there. She had yet to give the whole ranch the good scrubbing that it needed. It was gnawing at him. They had fought about it more than once. “I just don’t know what you want from me!” she told him. “You know exactly what I want, Jo. Come on.” “A housemaid.” “A partner! Don’t act like I don’t work myself into an early grave. Is it so much to ask to have a clean house and a decent dinner?” She stormed out of the room. He found her an hour later, listening to music in the living room. It was a slow song, something country and twangy. The sun had gone down, and the living room was in shadows. He held out his hand to her, and she took it. They swayed together to the music.

“I am trying,” she said sadly. “I know.” He held her, getting lost in the moment. They went upstairs a little later. This is what he longed for all day. It didn’t matter if they had bickered all day, he couldn’t wait to get under the blankets with her each night. She was beautiful and soft. She awakened things in him that had been dormant for too long. In those moments, he could care less if she knew how to bake bread or use a vacuum. He was completely under her spell.

***

Joelle sat drinking her third cup of coffee. It was late in the day. Colt would be home soon. A part of her hummed with the anticipation of seeing him. The other part of her worried. She glanced around the kitchen and dining room, searching for some spot she hadn’t dusted or dish she hadn’t washed. She knew he was disappointed. She was not a housewife. At least not one that lived up to his standards. But she was trying. She was becoming more and more aware of how hard she was trying. How much she wanted to make him happy. That made her nervous. There were days when all she thought about was the moment he would walk through the door. “Hey,” he came in just then. He looked rugged and handsome, tired from a long day. “Something smells sweet.” “I baked a cheesecake today,” she said proudly. “And I didn’t burn it.” “I didn’t know you had to actually bake a cheesecake.” “Exactly,” she replied. They both smiled. He sat down, mail in his hand. He began to shuffle through it as she got up to make him a sandwich. “Jo, why would a lawyer be writing to you?” he questioned.

She stopped mid-step and turned back toward him. “What?” He held up one of the envelopes and gave her a questioning stare. “Well?” “I don’t know,” she said. “Let me have it.” She snatched it from her hand. “What’s going on?” he asked with a frown. “I think it’s just about some property I use to own,” she lied. He stood up and came toward her. “Then let’s open it.” His voice had gone cold. “It’s personal.” “You’re my wife...” “Colt, please.” “Is this , Joelle? What are you trying to do – what are you after?” “After?” she repeated. “What does that mean?” “Just open the envelope!” “You think I trying to take something from you? After the past four weeks, that’s what you think of me?” “I don’t know what to think. Just open it.” She threw the letter at him, hot tears springing up in her eyes. “This has nothing to do with you. It’s about me. I was married before, Colt. He was a drunk and an ab, and he’s in prison now. And now you know.” He took a step back as if he’d been punched in the gut. “You were married before?” “I was. He took everything I had. He gambled it away. He drank it away. He became violet when it all ran out. And he almost killed someone.” Tears were streaming down her cheeks now. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I should have.” “Then, why didn’t you?”

“A lot of reasons. Mostly because I didn’t want you to know. I didn’t think you’d want me if you knew, and I needed you to want me. And I was embarrassed. I had been such a fool for him. And it’s hard to it our mistakes sometimes...” “You lied to me.” “I’m sorry.” “So am I.” He turned and walked out the back door. “Colt,” she said. The tears were raging now. She sunk down on the kitchen tile and cried her eyes out. PART THREE Colt didn’t sleep at all that night. He stayed downstairs on the couch. He could hear Jo above him, pacing the floor. He could hear when she cried. He wanted to go to her, but he couldn’t. Finally, he got up and got in the shower. Joelle had finally fallen asleep, and he didn’t wake her before he left. He drove into town. Ashlyn was coming to meet him. He sat at a back table of the local diner. He and Ashlyn had come here almost every weekend when they were dating. He thought about how young and free they had been. He was still young, but he didn’t feel very free anymore. “Colt.” He looked up, and there she was. She looked just the same, if not more beautiful. He stood up as she fluttered into his arms. When they sat down, she reached across the table and held his hand. “I’ve missed you,” she said. “I heard you got married.” “I did,” he replied with a sad smile. “I’m happy for you. I mean that,” she told him. He nodded slowly. “I know you do.” “Do you love her?” she asked.

Did he? He knew he had been falling for her more every day. It hadn’t been his plan. But it had happened just the same. “Love is hard,” he said. “It’s not,” she replied. “Not everyone runs from love, Colt. Not everyone is as big a fool as I am.” She squeezed his hand and then let it go. She shuffled around in her purse and then pulled out an envelope. She slid it across the table. “This should take care of things,” she told him. “I’ll pay you back, I swear.” “I know,” she said softly. “I am just glad I could help. I love that ranch. And your daddy would be real proud of you.” “Would he?” “Believe me, he would. You’ve built a nice life for yourself. You should let yourself enjoy it.” He smiled at her across the table. “Maybe you’re right. It meant a lot to see you, but I should go.” He stood up, sliding the envelope into his pocket. He came to the table, bent down and kissed the top of her head. “Thank you.” She nodded, reaching up and taking his hand one more time. She held it for a moment and then let him go for good.

***

Colt had been gone all day. It was getting late, and Joelle was drained. She had packed a bag, and she planned on leaving in the morning. Her heart restricted at the thought. Despite her best efforts, she was falling for him. But the truth was out now, and he didn’t want her anymore.

“Hi.” Colt appeared in the doorway. “I want you to take a ride with me.” She didn’t question him. She just got up and followed him outside. It was cold, and she shivered slightly. The world was dark, not even the moon was out as they headed for the barn. One of the horses was out, already saddled. They rode for a long time without speaking. She felt like they were the only people left in the world. And when they reached a meadow, he got down off the horse and brought her with him. They sunk down in the cool grass, under the sable sky and made love. It was slow and sweet and tender. So much so that she felt like her heart might burst. “Every day for the past month I have asked myself the same two questions,” he said, lying beside her. “And what are they?” she asked. “What am I doing? What are we doing?” “Come up with any answers?” He gave her a sideways smile. “Some. But they terrify me.” “Why?” “Because I’m falling in love with you. I broke my promise. And you lied.” “I’m sorry.” “I know. And I know why you did it. You deserve better than him. And I’m sorry for what he did to you.” He reached over and took her hand. “I didn’t want to fall for you either. But I did. A little more every day. Colt – please understand. I didn’t know how kind a man could be. And yes, you want things your way. Your stubborn and a perfectionist. And you work too hard. But you’re also loving and comionate. Strong and ive.” She turned to face him. “Jo...”

“I fell for you, too.” She had come here to escape love. But everything catches up to you eventually. No point is running. And she supposed she always knew deep down it would be a losing battle. The first time she saw him, she knew. The first time he kissed her, she knew. And when they made love...well, she certainly knew then. “I promise never to keep anything from you again,” she said. “And I promise to take care of you every day of my life.” “And I promise to love you, Colt. And never leave you.” “I promise to love you and worship you.” He kissed her softly. “This time, I’ll keep my promises.” She smiled against his lips. “So will I.” THE END

ADA JESSIE VERMONT

Chapter 1 Ada looked at the letter she held in her hands. Her heart was beating hard. Part of herself was questioning the idea of even doing this. She was going to leave behind everything familiar, as terrible as it might be right now, for a man she had never met before. However, his letter and all his previous ones had looked kind enough. “Ada, It will be a pleasure to meet you. I have enjoyed conversing with you, and I will be waiting to meet you in the train station on the tenth of October. I hope you will have a safe journey. Rainer” While Rainer was usually a lot wordier, their letters had become shorter as they worked out the details of her travel. “Dear God,” Ada said, praying aloud as she finished packing her trunk. “I think you have really given me something special with Rainer. I pray that you would please help me have a safe journey and take away these fears that are plaguing me. Thank you for your mercy. Amen.” Ada sat on her bed as she stared at her trunk. It was not often that a women left a well settled Eastern town to go out West on the idea that they were going to marry a strange man, but Ada had always been one for adventure. Besides, leaving this town behind would let her leave her secret behind. There was no way it could follow her. Ada took a deep breath. She would soon be able to leave everything behind. The trunk seemed to be full of everything she would need. She didn’t even need to look around her room. It was completely empty. She had entered the house with only this trunk of things, and she had not had an opportunity to acquire any new belongings. Ada had already informed her landlady that she would be leaving. The woman had inquired about where she was going, but Ada had skirted around the answer. It was better that no one knew; her landlady tended to enjoy talking about the most interesting bits of news in regards to her tenants a bit too much

for Ada’s taste. Ada smiled at the pile of letters she had from Rainer. They had been conversing over two months’ time, and she felt as though she already knew him. “Now, I just need to wait until my train leaves,” Ada said, as the hours stretched before her. There would be no one to take leave of. The next morning, Ada was happy to finally board the train. She had never been on a train before, and she was excited to see what it was like. She smiled to herself as she imagined what Rainer might look like. She had asked him to describe himself, but he only said that he had dark hair and dark eyes. Ada felt like her heart might recognize the man she had met through the letters. After all, if everything went well, they were to be married. Ada’s heart raced. Was she ready for marriage? She had to be. This was the only way to escape her hometown. “Where are you going?” The woman sitting across from her asked amiably. Her voice startled Ada, and Ada put her hand over her heart. “I’m sorry. I was completely distracted,” Ada said. She smiled. “I’m going to Topeka, Kansas. And where are you going?” “Denver, Colorado. My journey should be a fair bit longer than yours.” Ada smiled. “Are you visiting or moving?” “Visiting,” the woman nodded. “I grew up in Denver, but I wanted to move East when I got old enough to go out on my own.” Ada smiled. This woman had wanted to move East, and Ada had wanted to move West, each one escaping from where they had grown up. “I’m moving,” Ada offered. “I grew up in. . . New York, but it was time for me to move on.” The woman smiled. “Well, I wish you good luck. Moving to a new part of the country can be a very difficult venture.” “Thank you,” Ada said, her stomach rolling over. Perhaps it had been difficult for this woman, but anything would be better than her life in New York. She

would finally be free to be herself and start over. Ada ed the journey looking out the window and eating occasionally, but the hours stretched on. Ada felt as though she would never arrive in Topeka. “What time should we arrive in Topeka?” she asked a man working on the train the next day. “We are running a little behind schedule,” the man said, glancing at his wristwatch. “I think we should arrive any time between four and five o’clock this evening.” Ada nodded. She hoped Rainer wouldn’t mind waiting so long. She knew that she hated waiting, but at least when she was on the train, time seemed to more easily. However, her body was aching from spending the night sleeping in a sitting up position. Ada just wanted to arrive and sleep in a nice bed. “I’m sorry,” Ada said, stopping the same man as he made another round through the train. “What time is it?” “1:30,” the man replied. Ada nodded. “Thank you.” The time was ing more quickly than she had thought it would. Although lunchtime had already ed, Ada didn’t feel the least tinges of hunger. She wondered how Rainer would act upon meeting her. Would he be affectionate right away or more cautious? Ada was naturally cautious, but she felt as though she already knew this stranger. However, when it was time for Ada to deboard the train, what she saw was nothing like anything she had imagined.

Chapter 2 Ada scanned the crowd. She had never even seen a photo of this man. She assumed they did not have the kind of equipment out here in Topeka to even make a picture. However, there was one man in the crowd who just made her smile. He had dark hair, but Ada couldn’t see his eyes. He was taller than a majority of the people. Ada’s heart fell as soon as she saw him talking to a woman. It couldn’t be Rainer then. Ada took a deep breath and scanned the crowd again. She shouldn’t be disappointed. Why was she disappointed? She had no right to feel disappointed just because Rainer wasn’t the first handsome man she ran into. There were two other men on one side who both had dark hair. One of them could easily be Rainer, but they weren’t looking in her direction. Shouldn’t they be looking for her? Was she supposed to approach random men and ask if they were named Rainer? This was ridiculous. Ada let her eye wander back to that first man. He was looking right at her. He smiled and started striding over to her. “Are you Ada?” he asked. Ada’s heart leaped, and the smile that popped onto her face was involuntarily. “Yes, I’m Ada. You must be Rainer then?” The man nodded and awkwardly offered his hand. Ada felt strange shaking this man’s hand like they had just made a business deal, but a hug would certainly not be appropriate at this time. “It is such a pleasure to meet you,” Rainer said. He looked down at her trunk. “Do you have any more things?” “That’s everything,” Ada replied. “Let’s go then,” Rainer said, turning and looking back. Ada saw that the woman she had first seen talking to Rainer was still standing there next to a pile of her things. Ada had assumed that Rainer was simply talking to her to find out if she was Ada. If that wasn’t the case, why were there two women here for Rainer?

Ada wanted to ask, but she didn’t feel comfortable enough yet. Instead, she asked a different question. “Where are we going?” “I thought,” Rainer said, turning back to look her full in the face. His face was chiseled and clean shaven. Ada liked the way he looked. “I thought I would take you to my mother’s house. She has offered you a place to stay. I just finished constructing my own cabin, but I don’t think it’s quite a home yet. I thought letting you stay in my mother and father’s house would be a good place for you as we get to know one another.” Ada had heard horror stories about men who had met their women in the stations and married them that same day. Ada was glad that Rainer wanted to take his time. “I think it sounds very thoughtful of you to have planned this out,” Ada said. She smiled up at him. “I’m ready to go with you.” Rainer scooped up Ada’s suitcase and led her back over to the other woman. “Ada, this is Kaya. Kaya, this is Ada.” “Pleased to meet you,” Kaya said. “You as well,” Ada said, dropping a curtsy. Kaya stared at her strangely, and Ada wondered if her customs were out of place in this Western town. Ada desperately searched for a reason that this woman was going with them. Perhaps she was a family member. Rainer grabbed one of Kaya’s bags, and she carried the smaller bag with her. “I’ll drop you off first, Kaya,” Rainer said as he placed the suitcases in the back of his carriage. “Let me help you ladies up.” Kaya bustled in to be let up first. Ada demurely followed behind. Rainer hoisted her up just as he had done for Kaya. He then went to the opposite side of the carriage and took the horses’ reins. Kaya was in the middle. Ada started becoming angry. She was supposed to be coming out to Topeka to meet a ranch owner who was free to marry. What then was this other woman doing here at the same time? Surely, Rainer had not been writing to more than one woman? Ada couldn’t bear the thought. Returning to New York simply was not an option. “How far do you live from the station?” Ada asked. She leaned forward a little

so she could see Rainer around Kaya. “It’s not far. About half an hour’s journey.” Rainer immediately turned to Kaya. “The hotel is about ten minutes from here. I promise you that the owners are very friendly. I know them personally, and you will feel quite comfortable there.” Kaya smiled at Rainer, and Ada seethed. She was normally a very laid back person, but this woman was coming in and stomping all over her fairy tale. What was she supposed to do? Push Kaya out of the carriage and slide over next to Rainer? Ada shook her head and took a deep breath. She silently prayed and asked God for patience. She asked him for some of his mercy on this girl. Ada felt a lot better after giving God her worries. The ride was short, and a few minutes later as the carriage rested on the edge of town, Rainer jumped out. He helped Kaya down then gathered her bags. “I’ll be right back. I’m just going to take these bags inside for Kaya. Will you be alright waiting here?” Ada nodded, feeling the jealousy cropping up. Rainer started walking toward the hotel. Kaya stayed behind for a few minutes. “Are you courting Rainer?” she asked in a low voice. Ada paused. Were they courting? It was more like something more. They already knew they were going to get married. “Not exactly,” Ada said, trying to explain. “I came to Topeka. I just met him, but. . .” Kaya nodded. “Okay, I should probably go.” She pointed at the hotel across the street. “Rainer is probably waiting.” But we’re going to get married! Ada wanted to shout at Kaya, but Kaya was already bustling inside. Ada folded her arms and waited as the sun sank below the horizon. The sunset was beautiful, but Ada didn’t enjoy it. She tried to reason with herself, but her idea of a happy ending seemed to be fast fading. She didn’t want Kaya getting in her way, and she didn’t know how long Kaya was planning to be here. Kaya’s open question made her intentions clear enough.

Chapter 3 When Rainer got back in the carriage, all of the things that Ada wanted to say to him, warning him about Kaya’s possible intentions were fading out of her mind. After all, even though she had come out here to marry Rainer, they might not fall in love. He might discover that their personalities were simply too different. After all, he didn’t seem very picky or jealous like she was. “Sorry about the delay,” Rainer smiled at her. “I felt bad for her. She said that she didn’t know how to find the hotel.” “Of course,” Ada said. “It was kind of you to help someone you don’t know at all.” She emphasized those words to demonstrate the difference between herself and this new woman. “The sunset was beautiful.” Rainer smiled at her. “Isn’t it? I love the way God puts a touch of beauty in everything he makes.” Ada smiled genuinely, feeling the stress seep away. “I agree. I’m glad that the countryside is so beautiful. While it is a far cry from what I know in New York, I somehow feel at home here.” “Perhaps it is because God created us to be at home no matter where we are in his world.” Ada liked the way that Rainer mentioned God and talked about him as though he was his best friend. “I know you have a lot of cows and few bulls from your letters,” Ada said. “But I want to learn more about your farm.” Ada sent him a sideways glance. She didn’t have to feign interest. She already felt it strongly. “Tell about what you do every day. You’re not confined to a small piece of paper or a telegram.” Rainer smiled. “Well, I love my cows, you know. I might get to jabbering away about them for hours at a time. Just tell me when you get bored.” Ada smiled and agreed. Rainer then began telling her about what he did on his farm, how he milked the cows, fixed the fences, and did anything else required of him. Ada was very interested in how he milked the cows.

“I actually have a boy who comes over and helps me with the milking,” Rainer explained. “If you’re interested in helping, I definitely need the hands.” “I’m not an expert milker,” Ada laughed, “but I would be very interested in trying it out.” “Maybe after a few lessons, you’ll find you are a natural.” Ada was disappointed to see them pulling into the drive in front of a log house. “This is my family’s house,” Rainer explained. “Where do you live?” Ada asked. Rainer put his arm around her and pointed to the West. “If you look, you might be able to distinguish my house against the moon’s light.” Ada was more focused on how his arm felt around her shoulders. She tried to find the house, moving her face around. “I think I see it,” Ada said, even though she wasn’t sure. “It’s about another fifteen minutes from here by road, unless you get to galloping on a horse.” “Now horse riding is something I can do,” Ada said. She was thankful for the horse riding lessons she had had when she was young. “Let’s go inside,” Rainer said. He brought her into the house and introduced his mother and father. They were just laying out dinner, and Ada’s stomach rumbled. That lunch she had not eaten meant she was empty and ready to eat. Ada tried to be polite to everyone. “Let me get Ada’s trunk,” Rainer said. “I’ll be back.” He went outside and briefly left Ada by herself. She smiled at everyone nervously. “It’s nice to have you here,” Rainer’s mother- Rachel- said. Ada nodded. “Thank you for being so accommodating. I know it must put you out to have a stranger among you.” Rainer’s father, Benjamin, shook his head. “No, I much prefer it this way. It’s

better you stay here while you and Rainer get to know one another, before you get married and find out that your letters were poor representations of who you really are.” Ada was silent. She could tell that Rainer’s father did not approve of their method of finding each other. She merely looked around and noted that the house was mostly quiet. There were no small children. Ada was under the impression that Western families always had a lot of children. “Do you have any more children?” Ada asked politely. Rachel nodded. “Yes, we have five children total. Three have married and moved out. Rainer just finished building his own house, and Ella is probably out there with our baby pigs. She is crazy about baby animals.” “How old is Ella?” Ada asked. “Sixteen,” Rachel replied. Ada nodded and looked around the house as she stood awkwardly in the doorway. “Come,” Rachel said. “Sit down, and I will serve you a plate.” “Thank you,” Ada said. “But perhaps I should wait for Rainer first.” She saw Rachel give Benjamin a look, but she could only guess what was ing between both of Rainer’s parents. When Rainer finally came in with his sister in tow, they all sat down and ate dinner. Ada found Ella very friendly, even though she was five years younger than herself. Ada knew that she would get along well with Ella. Now, Ada only had to worry about how things would work out without Rainer. “I am going to ride over to my house,” Rainer said. He made eye with Ada. “Would you like to go outside with me for a few minutes?” Ada nodded and tried to keep the smile off her face. She had been wanting a few minutes to speak privately with Rainer. They sat outside the cabin on two stools. The only light came from the fire inside that leaked light through the cracks. “Would you really like to help with milking tomorrow?” Rainer asked. “I would,” Ada hesitated. “But my journey has tired me out. I think I may need

to sleep late tomorrow. But perhaps the next day. . .” Rainer nodded. “Of course. Don’t worry. Another day will work just fine. How about after I finish everything that needs to be taken care of on the farm, I could drive you into town? If you are missing anything or you find that you need something, we can get it.” “I really don’t need anything,” Ada protested. Rainer held up his hand. “Then I shall get you something you don’t need. There is a woman in town who makes delicious ice cream. I’d like to get you a cone.” Ada smiled. She liked the idea. “Okay, I’ll be ready then.” “Good night,” Rainer said. He stood as did Ada. There was a moment of awkwardness as they tried to decide how to say goodbye. They finally both waved. Rainer mounted his horse and disappeared into the darkness. Ada sat outside for a few minutes by herself, thinking over her day. When she started nodding off, she realized she should go to bed before she fell off the stool and hurt herself.

Chapter 4 The next day, Ada waited anxiously for the time when Rainer would arrive. He did not disappoint, and he came over just in time for the midday meal. After they had eaten, he told her he would ready the carriage and take her for ice cream. “Oh, can’t I go?” Ella asked. Rainer didn’t even take a moment to think about his answer. “Of course. I can’t keep my baby sister ice cream free.” “I’m not your baby sister.” “Oh, do I have another sister younger than you?” Rainer teased, pretending to look around. His voice dropped as though they were discussing an important, secret matter. “Is Ma going to have another child?” Ella laughed. “I wish she would, but you know that won’t happen. Let me go change into my nice shoes.” “You don’t mind, do you?” Rainer asked, turning to Ada. Ada shook her head, even though she did mind. She had wanted to experience this first outing alone with Rainer. She felt as though if she went out with brother and sister, she would immediately feel let out of all their jokes. “Let’s go,” Rainer said. Ella hurried toward the carriage, but Rainer purposely boosted Ada first before helping his sister in. Ada felt her cheeks warm as Rainer pushed into the carriage and sat right next to her. She could feel his leg pressed against hers, and Ada swallowed a few times to keep her mouth from growing dry. Rainer teased Ella about her money for ice cream, asking her how she planned to buy one when she didn’t have any money. Ada smiled. These two were close, and that said something about Rainer. Ada knew there were seven years between the two, but she liked how close they were. She liked the jokester, generous side of him that she hadn’t quite been able to grasp through his letters. When they reached town, Rainer helped them both down. He walked in the

middle and held his arm out. Ada looped her arm through Rainer’s and smiled as they chatted. The more she talked to him, the more she felt as though this was the kind of man she could spend the rest of her life with. They reached the ice cream parlor and stepped inside. The parlor only offered five different flavors and was very different from the pharmacy where Ada got her ice cream in New York. She looked at the flavors and knew immediately that she wanted chocolate. Nothing else appealed to her. Even though there were not a menagerie of flavors, Ella took perhaps ten minutes scanning the flavors. “What are you getting, Ada?” she finally asked. “Chocolate,” Ada answered easily. “I love anything chocolate, and I probably indulged in it too much in my earlier days.” Ada stopped herself before she went too deep into her memories. “I think chocolate is a good idea,” Ella said. “I’ll have chocolate as well,” Ella said. Rainer ordered their ice creams and handed each of the cones to them paired with a gallant bow. They sat down at a small table and began eating their ice cream. Rainer and Ella began talking about some of the latest town news. Ada listened in. “I’m sorry,” Rainer said, in the middle of saying something to his sister. “We must have been boring you incredibly. I didn’t mean to make conversation about something you wouldn’t know, but. . .” “Please,” Ada said, smiling. “Don’t worry yourself about it. I am finding it quite interesting learning about my new town.” “So,” Ella broke in. “Are you two really going to marry just because you wrote letters to each other?” Ada’s cheeks turned red. This was one of those questions that made the person speechless when they received it, but later on, they knew exactly how they would answer. Ada slid a look at Rainer who was smiling at her. “I guess that’s what we’re going to find out, Ella. Maybe you should keep your nose in your own business.” Ella gave her brother an annoyed look. “I just wanted to know. It seems a little

strange to me.” “You seem a little strange to me,” Rainer replied, ducking from his sister’s retaliation. Ada stood and threw her napkin in the bin. Rainer copied suit and held out his arm for her to use once again. Ada slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow as Ella caught up with them. “Did you discover you needed anything?” Rainer asked. “Um, no, I have everything,” Ada said, feeling strange about Rainer’s freedom to spend money on anything she might request. “Surely you need something. Perhaps you and Ella can go together into the general store. I do need to buy some meat. My icebox is almost empty. I shall leave you two here and meet you back in half an hour. Surely you can find something to occupy your time during then,” Rainer said. The two women nodded and watched Rainer took off with a purposeful stride. “Where would you like to go?” Ella asked. Ada shrugged. “You know this town much better than I do. I might simply like to walk for a bit.” The two girls got to know each other as they took a walk through the town. Ada enjoyed meeting new people. Many seemed to know Ella, and they all asked who her new friend was. Ada found herself the center of attention. “Has the time ed yet?” she asked Ella. Ella nodded. “I believe it has. Let’s go back. If we are late, my brother won’t be happy.” The two made their way back to the corner, and Ada was not happy when she saw who was standing there waiting for them. Rainer was talking with Kaya. Ada set her jaw, wanting to hang back so that Rainer wouldn’t notice them. Maybe if they hung back, then she could see how Rainer acted when he didn’t anyone was watching him. Kaya laid her hand on Rainer’s arm as she laughed. Rainer was laughing too, and Ada’s stomach felt sick. What did he find so funny about this woman? What were they talking about?

Ella burst forward to the two. “Has it been half an hour already? I feel like the time just flies. Ava and I didn’t think you would be here yet.” Rainer nodded. “Yes, but don’t worry. I haven’t minded the waiting.” Ava hung back. She was really hurt by the fact that the one time that she left Rainer alone, he would start talking with this woman and let her put her hands all over him. She had a right to act hurt, but if she acted hurt, then there was no way she would be able to get Rainer’s attention again. Ava stepped forward. “It’s nice to see you again, Kaya,” Ava said, resisting offering a curtsy. Ella looked confused. “You know this woman. I’ve never seen her before. Are you new in town?” Ella asked Kaya. Kaya nodded. “Yes, I just came in yesterday on the train.” She answered as one would answer an annoying pet that kept barking at her. “Oh, are you going to be staying in town for long?” Ada was glad that Ella had the courage to ask all the questions on Ada’s mind. “Yes,” Kaya nodded. “I just moved here. My family lived her when I was little. I thought it would be a good place to find a husband.” Ava couldn’t believe Kaya was so open about her intentions, and even more than that, Ava couldn’t believe that Rainer was not disgusted by Kaya’s obvious desperation. “So, you’ll be here for a while then?” Rainer asked. “If all goes well, then I hope to live here for the rest of my life,” Kaya said, smiling in a sickly sweet way at Rainer. Ava made a face then quickly changed her expression to a neutral one. She couldn’t have Rainer asking her about why she was so resistant to this woman. Some men simply didn’t understand. But then, Ava couldn’t believe her ears. “I’m sure my Ma wouldn’t mind if I invited you for dinner sometime. I’ll warn her, but I am fairly sure that any evening would be fine. She would hate for a

new woman in town to be eating by herself every night.” Kaya smiled. “Of course,” she smiled. “Thank you for your invitation. I shall be sure to accept your invitation one evening this week. It’s not easy moving back to a town from your childhood. It seems as though most people don’t me. They know of my parents, but that doesn’t make it any easier for me.” Ava watched as Kaya successfully secured it. “I’m sure that is hard,” Rainer agreed. “I can’t imagine living somewhere far away from my family.” “Well,” Rainer said, glancing at his watch. “The meat is going to get warm. We should probably go. I shall talk to you later.” Ella and Ava said goodbye as well. As Ava was helped into the carriage this time, she didn’t feel as happy as she had when they set out that morning.

Chapter 5 Ava spent the next three days exploring Rainer’s farm. “I wasn’t sure what I thought about a cattle farm,” Ada said. “Why?” Rainer said, giving her an odd look as though it was strange anyone could have a problem with cows. “Because,” Ada said. She smiled, because she knew how Rainer would react. “I’ve never seen a cow before.” “What?” Rainer’s surprise soon gave way to laughter. “Don’t they herd cattle where you live? There have to be fields close to the city.” Ada shook her head. “No. My landlady would buy fresh milk every morning, but the man who sold it didn’t bring the cow along with him.” Rainer laughed. “I wouldn’t bring my cows along either. I use them mostly for breeding, but when they don’t have a baby, why wouldn’t I take the milk?” “Do you sell it?” Ada asked. “I haven’t seen you coming down the streets making sales.” “I take it to the general store every morning. Mr. Baines buys it from me and sells it to his customers. I keep some of it to make butter. Do you know how to churn butter?” Ada shook her head. “No, show me how.” Rainer laughed again. “I don’t know how. I know the basic process. It includes a lot of movement, but I don’t know the specific techniques. My ma can help you out in that area.” Rainer put his hand on his stomach. “I think my stomach is telling me it is supper time. Are you hungry?” Ada nodded. She wanted to eat a private dinner with Rainer, but he always ate dinner at his ma’s house. Ada wasn’t quite sure why he had moved over there if he was going to spend some much time there.

They paused in the doorway of his house, and Ada looked around. As soon as she had first seen the house, she began imagining how she could put some touches of home in it. Ada turned back. Rainer was right behind her, and Ada smiled gently. “When we live here,” she ventured to say. “I will make you a special dinner every night.” “You will, will you?” Rainer asked, his thumb coming up and gently stroking her jaw. The touch made Ada feel nervous. She knew that she felt strongly for Rainer, but she had been unsure of his feelings until that very moment. “I think I’ll enjoy that very much, a special dinner for the two of us.” “What do you like to eat?” Ada said, taking Rainer’s rough hand between her own. She didn’t want to go yet. She didn’t want to walk across those fields and enter his mom’s house, missing this romantic moment. “My favorite? Oh, I love some good mashed potatoes with some homemade butter. That’s my favorite.” He looked down at her, and Ada suddenly realized how close they were standing. “But anything you cook, I would be happy to try.” Ada felt her breath come quickly. She looked down at Rainer’s lips and back into his eyes. A smile twitched on his lips. He gently bent down and kissed her lips. Ada leaned into his lips and felt them softly part. When Rainer pulled back, his face was completely serious. But the moment Ada smiled, Rainer’s face popped into a smile too. Ada wanted to say something. She wanted to tell Rainer that his kiss had been everything she wanted it to be. She wanted to ask him when they were going to get married. She had come out here to be his bride, but Rainer seemed content to wait. “Come on,” Rainer said. “My ma will begin to wonder where we are.” Ada nodded and took Rainer’s extended hand. They walked hand in hand the distance to his ma’s house. It took them twenty minutes, and it took every ounce of Ada’s strength not to jabber his ear off. She wanted to keep the silence and replay the moment in her head. Just a few minutes before they entered Rachel and Benjamin’s cabin, Ada smiled at Rainer. He smiled at her, and Ada knew they shared a special secret.

When Ada stepped inside and saw Kaya seated comfortably at the table, Ada felt her stomach drop. Rainer let go of Ada’s hand and went over to greet Kaya. Ada was cordial, but she could not bring herself to be friendly. Even though she was scolding her own behavior, Ada could not help but be jealous. Rainer seemed to be so friendly with Kaya, and he barely knew her. “I am so glad you were able to find your way here,” Rainer said. Kaya smiled back. She spotted Ada in the doorway and seemed confused, but she continued right on with her conversation with Rainer, not caring how Ada felt. Wasn’t Ada going to marry Rainer? Hadn’t he said as much? Why would he act so different now? Ada swallowed as she realized that he hadn’t mentioned it since in their letters. Maybe the only reason he hadn’t married her yet was that he was distracted by Kaya. Maybe that was the whole reason it was taking them so long to “get to know each other.” Ada settled on the corner of the couch, wanting to know everything that ed between Kaya and Rainer, yet not wanting to hear how amiable Rainer sounded the whole time. Ada started worrying about what would happen should Rainer decide not to marry her. Ada felt as if she was choking in the heat of the fire. Ada stood and walked over to the doorway where the cool air was coming in. She couldn’t go back to New York. She had already been shunned by her family, what was left of it. Ada swallowed over and over, licking her lips and trying to make herself feel normal. Would she have to stay in Topeka and watch Rainer and Kaya have children together? Ada stepped outside to brush away the two tears that rushed out without permission. “God,” Ada said quietly. “Please, please.” She didn’t know what else to say as she begged God for mercy on her situation. “I can’t go back, but I wouldn’t have the money to stay here. I used up almost everything staying with the landlord in New York. Please have mercy. I thought this was what you wanted for me.” Ada was silent and felt a gentle breeze that seemed to come straight from heaven to her. It helped her feel peaceful. It was as though that wind carried the words “Trust Me.” “I’m trying,” Ada protested, then she realized she wasn’t really trying at all. She

had just assumed that everything was going wrong, so she began to let her fears take over. “God, help me trust you,” Ada said. She took a deep breath and was just about to step inside when she saw Rainer standing in the doorway. “Is everything alright, Ada?” he asked. Ada nodded, trying to force a smile for him. Rainer’s smile was not forced by any means. “Come on,” he said. “My ma has dinner ready, and she doesn’t want it to get cold. You’re hungry, aren’t you?” Ada nodded as Rainer took her hand and led her in to a spot on the bench beside himself. Ella and Kaya sat across from them. They all held hands to bless the meal, then Ada began eating. Rainer amiably made conversation with them all. Every time he turned and looked at Ada, she felt warmth in her stomach.

Chapter 6 Ada was disappointed when Rainer offered to drive Kaya back into town. She said that she had asked someone to drive her out there, but she did not have a way back. It was the perfect excuse, of course, but Ada was still disappointed. She did not like the idea of Rainer being with Kaya alone. Ada dejectedly changed into her nightdress and combed out her hair. She was sharing a bed with Ella, and Ella was getting ready for bed as well. “If I didn’t know that my brother had sent for you to marry him, I would think he was quite taken with that Kaya.” Ella’s words were not the ones Ada wanted to hear. Ada nodded, not being able to add her thoughts without crying. Ella turned and saw Ada’s serious face. “Don’t worry. My brother’s just always friendly to everyone.” She seemed to be saying the exact opposite of what she had said only a moment earlier. “I prefer not to talk about it,” Ada said. “I’m very tired, and I need to get up for milking tomorrow.” With that, Ada lay down on the bed and shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep. The next morning, Ada showed up early for the milking. She tied an apron around her waist and made her way out to the barn. By now, she was comfortable around the cows. While she still was scared that one of them would step on her, she didn’t shy away from the smell anymore. “Good morning!” Rainer said, stepping out of the barn. “Oh, am I late?” Ada asked, her eyes dropping to the ground. Rainer shook his head. “You’re right on time.” He came forward and took one of her hands. “Come on, let’s get this milking done, so I can let them out to pasture.” Ada sat down on the stool that was set up in her milking stall. Across the aisle, Rainer was milking another cow. His more experienced hands finished three

cows in the time it took her to do one, but Ada was learning. She worked out her stress as she finished milking the cow. She needed to talk with Rainer about Kaya. She had to know how Rainer felt. If he felt something for Kaya, she would need another plan, because she couldn’t stay in that town either. With about five cows left, Rainer suggested she go inside and make breakfast while he finished up and let them all out to pasture. Ada quickly whipped up some eggs. She got out the bread she had made the day before and spread some jam on it. She placed the food on the table and waited for Rainer to come in. “Let’s pray,” Rainer said. He bowed his head and thanked God for the food then began digging in. “Rainer,” Ada said softly. He looked up. “You know, I’ve been here more than a week, and we still haven’t talked of getting married. I came out here to be your bride, didn’t I?” Rainer smiled at her. “Getting impatient, are you?” “No,” Ada immediately protested. “I just, I’m confused, what with your behavior toward Kaya, and no mention of a marriage.” “Surely you didn’t think I wasn’t going to marry you,” Rainer protested. Ada shrugged. She felt silly itting it now. Rainer stood and left his breakfast at the table as he pulled her to her feet. He forced her to look into his eyes. “I don’t want you to be confused anymore,” Rainer said. “Yes, I am going to marry you. I would never bring you away from your hometown, your family, everything, unless my intentions were true.” Ada swallowed, her secret weighing heavily on her. Could Rainer really love her if he didn’t know the truth about everything that she had done before she came to Topeka? A part of her whispered that the past was in the past; all had been forgiven. But another part of her was nervous. She was worried Rainer would eventually find out and never trust her again. Ada pulled Rainer into a hug and laid her head on his chest. She could feel his heart beating. Rainer wrapped his arms around her and gently kissed the top of her head.

“Ada,” Rainer said gently. “I will marry you today if that is what you want.” Ada’s heart almost felt like it was going to stop beating right then. She couldn’t. He had to know, No, he didn’t. Ada went back and forth in her mind, and Rainer pulled back from her, easing her chin up as he watched the emotions over her face. “Something’s wrong,” he said, shaking his head. This was all wrong! Why hadn’t she just agreed as soon as he said it? “Do you find yourself unhappy here?” Rainer asked, lifting his eyebrows. Ada shook her head hurriedly. “No, I love your family, and I lo-” Ada broke off. “I enjoy getting to know you. I couldn’t imagine my future in any other city with any other family.” “Then, what’s the trouble?” Rainer asked. Ada took a deep breath. She felt the unasked for tears rising to the surface. She was ruining everything! Rainer took another step backward as though her tears were scaring him. He shook his head. Ada wanted to reach out and grab him, force him to hug her again as he had been doing, force him to love her and ignore her secrets. “I’m sorry,” Ada said, quickly wiping her fingers under her eyes. “We should eat up the breakfast before it gets cold.” Rainer sat down at the table and began eating, but Ada found that she could not eat. She stirred the food around on her plate then asked Rainer if he would like some more. He shook his head. “Look,” he said. “I know it must be hard being away from your family. If this isn’t right for you, you should decide that now before we get married.” Ada’s stomach clenched up. She couldn’t imagine feeling as strongly about a man as she felt about Rainer, but he seemed to be distancing himself from her. Ada knew that if she wanted to hold onto this man, she would have to tell him everything.

Chapter 7 “Rainer,” Ada said, following him to the door. “I need to talk to you.” Rainer turned around and studied her. “What’s wrong?” he asked. Ada wanted to take his hand and pull him back to the kitchen table. She didn’t want to have this conversation while he was standing in the doorway, glancing out to the barn, and thinking about his chores. At the same time, she didn’t have the courage to be bold and bring him back to the table. “I am responsible for my sister’s death,” Ada said. Rainer raised his eyebrows then did exactly what Ada had been wanting. He guided her back to the kitchen table, and they sat facing each other. “What happened?” Rainer asked. Ada tried to swallow back the tears, but they seemed insistent on coming anyway. The tears spilled over, and Ada sobbed as she told her story. “It happened about three months ago. The weather was warm, and my mom asked me to watch my younger sister. Penelope was her name.” Ada swallowed slowly as Rainer put his hand on top of hers. “I decided to take her swimming. We stopped by my friend’s house. I asked her if she wanted to come. She came with us. Penelope was three years old. When we got to the pond, there were plenty of children who had the same idea. I shooed Penelope into the water, preferring to talk with my friend instead of watching her. I heard children’s shouts and saw Penelope in the middle of the pond. She went under the water. I know now, it must have been the tenth or twelfth time she went under. She was drowning. I stood watching her. I wasn’t able to move. I counted the seconds, waiting for her to come up. She never did. I finally swam out and found her. . .her body. She was dead.” Ada was crying, and she lost her ability to talk. She laid her face on her hands and sobbed. How could she have been so thoughtless? If she had just looked at her sister instead of her friend, if she had been more careful, or moved more quickly, she could have saved her. Rainer wrapped his arms around her, but it didn’t make Ada feel any better.

When her sobs had finished wracking through her body, Ada looked up and wiped her face. “My parents told me I was not welcome in their house any longer. I had to move out. I wanted to come here to escape. I enjoyed talking with you through our letters, but,” Ada swallowed, wanting to tell the truth completely. “Honestly, I did not care who the man was, as long as I could get away from my hometown and start over. I didn’t like the people looking at me and whispering. I wanted to be normal, accepted, and loved.” Rainer gently rubbed the top of her hand. He didn’t look angry or condemning. He looked like he might understand her. “Ada,” he said, causing her to look into his eyes, urgently hoping he would be able to forgive her. “I would never hold such a mistake against you,” he said. “What happened was an accident, not something you purposely did.” Ada furrowed her brows. “I’m sure you loved Penelope, am I right?” “I never showed her how much I loved her,” Ada said, her voice full of regret. She suddenly gave a sob that had a smile. “I how she would get home from going out with either me or my mother, and she would throw her shoes into the air and begin running around the house. She hated shoes.” Rainer smiled. “They can be quite cumbersome for a little child.” “I just,” Ada was back to thinking on her current situation. “I want to start over. I didn’t want you to know. I felt like you might decide I wasn’t ready. But, since I came here, I realized that I don’t only like the idea of leaving my town, I really like you.” Rainer kissed her forehead. “You know what, Ada? I like you as well. In fact, I really want to marry you.” “Marry me,” Ada repeated the words like a child fascinated with the idea. “Yes, please,” Ada said. Rainer stood and took both of her hands. He pulled her closer and kissed her lips with such promise that Ada was left breathless.

“Yes,” Rainer said. “I’ll marry you. You can be my wife, and I will be your husband. We can have a family together.” Ada smiled widely. “Yes,” she said. She hugged Rainer tightly. She wanted to shout. She felt so filled with joy. “We will get married and have a life together.” “Forever and ever,” Rainer whispered gently. “Ada, would you have time in your busy day today to go to the courthouse?” Ada’s stomach dropped as she nodded. This was really happening. She was going to marry this man. “I think I can perhaps make time for you,” she teased, her fears relived from having told him her darkest secret. “Do you have something special to wear?” Rainer asked. Ada nodded. “Yes, I have a special white dress that I sewed myself.” Rainer smiled. “Tell my Ma and Pa to drive you into town. I will meet you at the courthouse at ten o’clock.” Ada wrapped her arms around Rainer and smiled again, delirious with joy. “I shall tell them right now.” She took a few running steps toward his parents’ cabin before she turned back. “I forgot something.” Rainer looked confused for a moment, but then Ada kissed him, her soft lips pressed against his. She pulled back, and he was smiling widely at her. “I’m going to marry you,” Ada said. Rainer nodded. “Yes, you are. Now, go. Go get ready!”

THE SEAMSTRESS

LORI BLACK

Chapter 1 Isabel finished taking Susan’s measurements, or Miss Susan, as the woman insisted on being called. She had only been this woman’s seamstress for an hour, and she was already tiring of her. Unfortunately, Isabel was not in a position to turn down work. She knew that being new in the town meant she was lucky to have gotten a job as lucrative as this one. Miss Susan did not cease to remind her of the fact either. “My wedding dress needs to be one to be ed,” Isabel said. “I want careful bead work along the neckline, and if it doesn’t look nice, I will have you take it out and do it again. I will only have this day once in my lifetime, and all the guests need to have something to talk about.” Isabel nodded as Miss Susan continued giving the instructions. “I have spoken with the fabric shop, and they know what kind of cloth you will be buying. Your job is to simply take this money, purchase the cloth, and bring the change back. Can you do that?” “Yes, I can,” Isabel said, taking the woman’s money and stuffing it safely away. “Good, and I would like you to only work on the dress here. I can’t imagine what the living circumstances of your abode must be, and I prefer to have the white cloth as white as a dove when I am wearing it at my wedding.” Isabel nodded once again, itching to get moving on with her work. She certainly hoped Miss Susan was not planning on staying in the room with her the whole time she was sewing or Isabel would be completely crazy by the time she finished the job. Isabel went toward the front door and let herself out. As she opened the door, a man was standing with his hand just poised to knock. “Can I help you?” Isabel asked, instantly noticing how handsome the man was. She could not help but smile at him as she took in his neatly carved features. The man studied her for a moment before seeming to his manners. “Are you new here?” he asked. “I guess you could say that. I’m Isabel. I shall be working with Miss Susan, er, Susan on her dress.”

“A seamstress?” the man asked studying her dress, which she had sewed herself. “Are you wearing one of your creations?” “Yes,” Isabel said, trying not to let her pride show through as the man complimented her on her style. “I should probably make my way over to the fabric shop so I can purchase the fabric,” Isabel said as the man appeared comfortable to remain talking in the doorway the whole day. “Do you know the way?” the man asked. Isabel smiled gently. “I believe a seamstress can find her way to the fabric shop, thank you.” “Oh, I’m sorry for my rudeness,” the man said. “My name is Michael.” “Nice to meet you,” Isabel said. “I bid you good day!” Michael stepped inside the house, and Isabel stepped out of it. She looked back over her shoulder and saw him just disappearing inside. Isabel couldn’t help but smile. Perhaps it was simply her faulty memory, but she thought him the most handsome man she had met. Her heart was singing with the memory of their meeting. Still, Isabel knew it would not be propitious to be so forward. When Isabel reached the fabric shop, she turned her mind to measurements so that she would order the correct amount of cloth. When the cloth had been cut according to her requirements, Isabel paid and carefully guarded the bag as she walked down the street. She wondered if Michael would still be at the house. She also wondered what he was doing there. Isabel knocked on the door and was let in by a kindly servant. She was told to go up to the sewing room where she would be able to work. Isabel kept her eyes and ears open, but she decided that the handsome stranger must have left. When Isabel stepped into the sewing room, she set about her work immediately. There would be no sewing today. She was simply measuring and cutting fabric. The best part of her work was that she needed speak with Miss Susan only once more that day. Miss Susan told her she would need to have the dress completed in three weeks, which meant that Isabel would have to work day and night for the dress to be done in time. She sighed but dared not say anything to her only client.

When Isabel reached the apartment she was renting from her landlady, she fell into the bed exhausted. Money was money, and she needed to receive at least a small payment from Miss Susan in the next week or she wouldn’t have enough for food. Isabel closed her eyes and tried to shut out her worries.

Chapter 2 Isabel saw the same handsome man walking toward her the next morning as she strode toward Miss Susan’s house. Isabel averted her eyes and pretended that she didn’t see him. The attraction she felt to him was so strong after only one meeting that Isabel did not feel capable of speaking with him without revealing the confusion inside. Michael placed his hand on her arm to stop her as soon as he saw her. “Isabel!” he said. Isabel was surprised by the delighted look on Michael’s face. “Good morning,” she said, bobbing in a curtsey. Michael tipped his hat to her. “How are you this morning?” A person trying to hurry past bumped into Isabel, causing her to stumble forward. Michael steadied her and stared after the person who had done the bumping. “Are you alright?” “I’m fine,” Isabel said, smoothing her skirt. “Perhaps we stopping to talk in the middle of the thoroughfare was not the best decision.” Michael pulled her over to the side so their conversation would be a little more private. “I you saying you were new in town, and I just wanted to tell you that you should come to my father’s church. He is a pastor of the church just down this street.” Isabel’s cheeks heated up. “Thank you for your kind invitation.” In reality, she wanted to find a church to attend, but the Sunday before she had felt too sick to rise from bed. It looked as though these Sundays she might need to work all day to complete the dress on time. “I shall soon be taking over my father’s church as the head pastor,” Michael said. He did not say it with the proud tone of someone who wanted recognition but with the tone of someone making conversation. Why was he making conversation? Why did he want to speak with her so badly? Was it possible he could find her attractive? Isabel thought that was nearly impossible. She had

never been a beautiful woman. “Do you feel you are ready for the position?” Isabel said, knowing she needed to reply somehow, but unsure how to do it exactly. Michael shrugged. “Truthfully, I feel as though I am a bit young to pastor the church as my father does, but he assures me he will help me should I need it.” “Your father sounds like a kind man,” Isabel commented, glancing at Miss Susan’s house, only half a block more down the street. “I should probably get to work,” she said, nodding toward the house. “It was nice to see you again.” Isabel finally looked up into Michael’s face, and she was taken aback by the rush of shock that flowed through her body. She felt attracted to him so strongly that Isabel took a step backward in an attempt to break away from the feeling encoming her body. Michael offered his arm. “May I walk you to your work? I too am going in that direction.” “Thank you,” Isabel said, scared of what touching his arm might do to her sense of judgment if a simply look had affected her so much. She pretended she did not see his offered arm as they walked side by side. Michael was a funny man, and Isabel laughed as he made jokes. She smiled up at him and once again felt that same shiver of attraction work its way down her spine. She escaped into the sewing room and took a deep breath. What was happening to her? Why was she unable to act as a woman should in a situation of social politeness? Isabel’s ears pricked up as she heard the sound of Michael’s voice in the house’s entryway. The sewing room was at the top of the stairs, and Isabel crept to the top on her hands and knees. She peered through the railing and saw Michael making amiable conversation with the servant. The servant motioned him to take the stairs, and Isabel scrambled back. Was he really coming so far to seek her out? She breathed heavily as she picked up the cloth. Her fingers fumbled, and she dropped it. She picked it up and tried to set it neatly on the table. Her measurements seemed to blur as she looked at them. Isabel took three deep breaths then continued her cutting. Finally, she realized that Michael must not be

searching for her. That almost made her feel disappointed. When it was the dinner hour, Isabel went to search for Miss Susan. She needed to tell her that she was going back to the boarding house to eat her dinner. Isabel knocked on the sitting room door. It was mostly open, and Isabel stepped inside without an invitation. She was surprised to see Susan snuggled up to Michael. The two sprang apart as though they had been caught doing something they shouldn’t do. Isabel looked at the ground to hide her flushed face. “I am going to eat my dinner now,” she stumbled through her sentence. “I shall be back after the dinner hour.” “You may go!” Miss Susan said in a stony voice. “And never enter a room again unless you are bidden. Leave!” Isabel scurried out of the room as tears pricked at her eyes. Now she knew why Michael was visiting so often. He was Miss Susan’s fiancé. She was making this dress for Susan to wear when she married Michael. Isabel could not let herself be seen crying in the streets, but she had trouble holding back her emotions. She had felt so strongly attracted to Michael. The only reason she had run away was that she was afraid of him realizing how strongly attracted she had become to a mere stranger after only a few looks. A relationship of love should never be based on looks. Isabel knew that, but she still felt as though she had been betrayed. She resolved to be strong and to avoid Michael as much as possible. Because the moment she had seen the two on the couch, she had wanted to be in Miss Susan’s position. She had wanted to be sitting that close to Michael. That was why her face had flushed. She was afraid they would know what she was thinking.

Chapter 3 When Isabel returned to Miss Susan’s house in the afternoon, she made sure to be as quiet as possible. If Miss Susan decided to fire her, Isabel would be without work again. She didn’t know where else to search for a job that would pay as well as Miss Susan’s father was offering for the dress. Isabel quietly sewed her thoughts away as she began making the first seams on the dress. All seemed well, though Isabel chose to not take leave of Miss Susan when she left for the night. The next morning, Isabel came across Michael as she was walking to work. She gasped and turned away. She didn’t want him to see her, so she quickly went down a side street that was very empty of people. Isabel heard her name, and she stopped. She shouldn’t speak to him, but he was the pastor’s son. Surely he wouldn’t do something that was wrong under God’s eyes. Isabel should be able to trust him, right? “Good morning, where are you going?” Michael asked, switching the basket he was carrying to his other arm. Isabel turned around and took in Michael’s sharp dress that morning. She couldn’t help the smile that formed on her face. “I am taking a little. . .detour. Sometimes the many people can be disconcerting in the morning. I prefer a more peaceful walk.” “I must accompany you then. Being new in the area means that you do not know all the ways. I can help you avoid the most dangerous paths.” “Where are you going this morning?” Isabel asked, forcing herself to accept the truth. Michael was going to marry Isabel’s rude employer. “I am actually going to pay a visit to one of the poorer families outside of the town. I am worried that the children are not eating well.” Michael held up the basket in his hand which must o food. “I did not know that pastors did that sort of thing,” Isabel said, her iration for Michael growing. Perhaps he was simply being kindly to her as he would to any other member of his congregation.

“I don’t know how other churches function,” Michael itted. “But my father has always taught me that each life matters. If a person’s own pastor can’t even reach out to the poor, how can a pastor expect the church to care for the sick and poor as Jesus commands? If you are a leader, you must do what you expect your followers to do.” “Your perspective is refreshing,” Isabel itted as Michael indicated they should cross the street. “I have to say that I am often disappointed by how often people only care for themselves. I have always grown up poor, but I try to help those who need it when I can.” Isabel forgot for a moment that she was walking with Michael and began dreaming aloud. “The best thing I could do with my life would be to serve those who cannot take care of themselves. Unfortunately, I cannot be paid for such a position, which means I cannot live that way.” “Those who have much give little, while those who have little are the most generous creatures on the planet,” Michael said. “I aim to change that. I have been given a healthy life and God’s love. I don’t want to keep it all for myself; I want to share it.” Isabel smiled up at Michael. His words were just what she had been wanting to hear ever since she moved here. But when she caught his eyes, she became lost in them. She wanted to stop there and just study every aspect of his face. In fact, Isabel’s step paused involuntarily. Michael was looking at her with a grin that said he was curious at her constant staring. Isabel broke away and picked up the pace. “I’m sorry,” she muttered gently. “How much farther is it to Miss Susan’s?” “Perhaps five minutes’ walk,” Michael replied. “Are you tiring?” “No,” Isabel said, her pride standing up. She was used to being a poor woman. She knew how to walk for miles without tiring. She never wanted Michael to think she was the kind of woman who could not do for herself, not that it mattered what Michael thought, Isabel reminded herself. “Thank you,” Isabel said as Miss Susan’s house came into sight. “I shall ask you to leave me here.” The last thing she needed was Miss Susan looking out the window and spotting her fiancé and her seamstress walking together, especially when Michael did not plan on visiting Miss Susan that morning.

“Good day!” Michael said, giving a cheerful wave. “Good day,” Isabel said as she turned toward Miss Susan’s not so humble abode. Once Isabel was inside and peacefully sewing in the sewing room, she thought back over her conversation. Michael was definitely the kind of man she had always wanted to have. But, Isabel kept reminding herself, Michael was not a man she could have. He already had a fiancé. Isabel felt like protesting a perfectly good man spending the rest of his life with a woman like Susan. Surely he would not be able to be happy in circumstances like that. Did Susan really make him so happy? “It’s none of your business,” Isabel said. “The least you can do is find a man who is not attached to a woman. Why do you have to choose a man who already has a commitment to fall in love with?” Isabel had to it that she hadn’t really chosen Michael at all. He was handsome and kind and. . . .not married yet. Isabel shook her head. No, she would not step in the middle of a relationship. Isabel struggled with herself in this same way until the end of the day. She found herself searching Michael out in the streets as she made her way home. The streets were dark and nearly empty. Isabel didn’t know what she hoped to accomplish by seeing Michael. She just wanted to talk to him. Talking was not a bad thing. The next morning, Isabel was ready to speak with Michael. When she saw him, she smiled at him instead of avoiding him as she had done the last two days. “Good morning,” Isabel greeted. Michael seemed just as happy to see her. “How are you faring this morning?” Michael asked. “I am just fine, and yourself?” “I am doing well,” Michael. “Shall you be taking a new path this morning?” “Yes,” Isabel replied. “I liked the path we took yesterday.” She liked walking with him on the less crowded streets. There was no heavy

bumping or ugly traffic of cars swerving to avoid people. “I preferred yesterday’s walk as well,” Michael said. “And I do believe it is shorter.” “What are your plans for the day?” Isabel asked. “I shall be visiting with Susan today,” Michael said in a light tone. His answer felt like a thousand rocks had been shoved into her stomach. Isabel no longer seemed able to enjoy the bright morning sunshine or the walk. She didn’t want to be reminded that what she was doing was not correct. She should not be here with him. “You are going to marry Susan,” Isabel stated. They may as well speak clearly with each other. Michael was silent. Isabel eventually looked over to her silent companion to see that his face was completely serious. None of the joking manner or happy smile from earlier was left. “I believed so,” he said. Isabel’s breath caught in her throat. She stopped and stared at Michael. What was he trying to insinuate? Her mouth worked but no words came out. When she realized it was not functioning properly, Isabel closed her mouth and tried to avert her eyes. “I am very confused,” Michael finally said. Isabel raised her eyebrows. “Why?” “I have never felt such a connection with any woman as I have felt with you.” Isabel swallowed and tried to find a resting place for her eyes other than Michael. Her heart was racing. Was he itting that he also felt something special with her? She couldn’t stop thinking about him, but he was engaged. Didn’t he feel strongly for Susan? Michael stepped forward and took Isabel’s hand. Isabel felt the warmth from his fingers transferred to her own hand that was trembling with his revelation. “Isabel, I. . .I am very confused right now.”

Isabel gently slid her hand out of his. “Let me unconfuse you,” she said, her eyes on his neatly polished shoes. “You are Susan’s fiancé.” Isabel’s eyes flickered. It was as though the type of romance she had always envisioned was taking place right in front of her, but she dare not accept what Michael might or might not be offering. Susan’s family had a lot of influence in the community, and she would need to leave town if she did anything to hurt Susan. “We should probably continue our walk,” Michael said. Isabel looked up at Michael and locked eyes with him. Her eyes dropped down to his mouth, and she studied those perfectly rounded lips for a few moments before she could make herself look away. “I think that is a good idea,” Isabel said. “Susan is waiting for you.” Isabel swallowed and took the lead as they reached her employer’s house. It was time to work.

Chapter 4 The next day was Sunday, and Isabel wanted to visit Michael’s father’s church. She had been planning on working, but a gentle urging told her she should take the day off and go to church. Part of what influenced that urging may have been her aching hands. She had been so distracted that week that she had pricked her hands more times than she had her whole time as a seamstress. Isabel arrived at the church and smoothed her hair back. She could see Michael standing at the church’s front door and greeting guests. Isabel smiled and started hurrying over to him. Instead, she was intercepted by Susan’s family. Both of Susan’s parents, herself, and her younger sister were being greeted profusely by Michael. Isabel hung back and watched the interaction. Susan confidently made her way over to Michael and brazenly kissed his cheek. Michael smiled back at her, and Isabel felt so confused. How could he have told her just the day before that she was different from all other women then kiss Susan on the cheek? Was he lying? Isabel knew that God would not approve of such behavior. She felt conflicted as she tried to slip up the stairs. “Good morning, Isabel!” Michael called even though he was on the other side of the stairs. A few people walked between them as Isabel wondered what she should do. Michael made the decision by crossing the pathway to stand in front of her. “I’m glad you decided to visit our church this morning,” Michael said. Isabel nodded. “Thank you for telling me about this church. I am glad I can spend some time with some fellow believers. If you’ll excuse me, I should probably find a seat.” As Isabel walked inside the church, she could feel Michael’s eyes on her. She looked over her shoulder to check, and she was right. Michael smiled at her. Isabel was distracted throughout the church service. Michael spoke for a few minutes, but even when he was not speaking, he was sitting in the front row. Isabel could see his dark head, distinguished from the others. She barely heard a

word the pastor said, but the moment the last amen had been uttered, she left the church as quickly as possible. This was supposed to be a day of rest, but she could not rest from the thoughts that were swirling around in her head. What did Michael think she was supposed to do? Be friendly to him even when he was marrying her employer almost two weeks? That was not an option as far as Isabel was concerned. The next morning, Isabel was not able to escape Michael. He was in the street just as he always was. Isabel didn’t know how he had time to visit the church if he was so busy leading her on. He grabbed her arm and led her into the side street after a friendly greeting. His grip was all business, though. “I ask you to please let go of my arm,” Isabel said in a firm voice. “You’re going to leave a mark.” Michael slowly let go of her arm as they reached the private street. “I didn’t want you to get away from me,” he tried to say with a smile. Isabel gave him an unhappy look. “Am I not allowed the freedom of choosing my own route to my employment now? Am I obliged to be walked by you?” “If you wish, you may go back to the main thoroughfare right now,” Michael said, stopping and indicating the street that was behind them. “I shall not stop you.” Isabel took a deep breath and was faced with a choice. If she walked away from Michael now, then she might not ever have the opportunity to speak with him again. And whether or not Isabel wanted to it it, she enjoyed her time with Michael a bit too much. She stood silent until Michael dropped his hand. “Then you mustn’t complain since you have made your choice.” His comment was heavy and hung in the air. Isabel was angry with him, but at the same time, he had not really done anything wrong, except be overly friendly. “I wasn’t complaining. I simply asked a question.” They were silent, and their feet were quickly eating up the path to Miss Susan’s house. Isabel knew that soon they would have reached the house, and she

wouldn’t have said what she wanted to say. “I believe, as hard as it may be for me, we should not walk together in the mornings anymore,” Isabel said. Michael reached out and gently stopped her. “You don’t enjoy our walks?” “I enjoy the walks. I never said anything touching the contrary. I simply know that you are going to marry Susan. If she found us walking together, then I don’t believe she would be very happy with either one of us.” “I agree,” Michael said. Isabel’s raised her eyebrows. That was it? All she had to do was tell Michael they should stop walking, and he listened to her? “Susan wouldn’t be very happy, but I must tell you something if you care to know. I am not very happy right now.” “Why not?” “Marrying Susan was not my idea,” Michael said. “You may think less of my father if you hear this story, but I must be honest. He wants me to marry Susan, because her family are the primary benefactors of the church. They give perhaps 60% of our monetary income. If they chose not to give their money to the church anymore, then our church would not have the funds it needs to continue ministering to the poor.” Isabel studied Michael’s face, but she only saw honesty. He had not lied to her yet, though he might be deceiving Susan. “But you agreed,” Isabel said. “You must have agreed for some reason.” “I agreed, because Susan was attracted to me.” Michael suddenly looked around as he placed his hand on Isabel’s arm. “You mustn’t tell anyone what is ing between us. What I am telling you is only for your ears.” “Who would I tell?” Isabel asked, referencing her lack of acquaintances in the

city. “Either way, I should never tell the secrets of one to another. What kind of person do you take me for?” “Thank you,” Michael said. He shoved his hands in his pockets and studied the ground. “Susan made a few comments that made it clear she would be interested in a marriage between the two of us. I didn’t want to agree at first. I would much prefer a woman who would come with me when we take food to those who don’t have any. I know that Susan will never be that kind of woman. I know that God has created her a beautiful woman, and He has a purpose for her. I am simply beginning to question if that purpose might not be better accomplished if she is matched with someone else.” “But why are you suddenly questioning everything?” Michael licked his lips and studied her carefully. “I am questioning it, because you came into my life.” Isabel tried not to react to his statement. She didn’t want to let him see how much that affected her. How could he feel so strongly for her when he had known her but a week? “I don’t see how that changes anything. Should it have changed anything were you Susan’s husband?” “No,” Michael replied quickly. “Of course marriage before the eyes of God should never be broken, but we are not yet married. . .” “It does not work like that, Michael!” Isabel said fiercely, tired of having her emotions tugged around. “You have chosen to marry her. The wedding has not taken place yet, but I am making her wedding dress. Why should you choose to leave a woman now if you say you should be so faithful had I come into your life a mere three weeks from today?” “I certainly hope I would be faithful,” Michael said, stepping forward and taking both of Isabel’s hands. She took her hands from his. “No!” she shouted fiercely. “Don’t touch me! Don’t take my hands! Have you not understood what I am saying? You have promised yourself to Susan. I cannot come between the two of you.”

“But, Isabel, it is not you coming between us. I already had my doubts. I was simply scared to say anything or break off a relationship with her for the sake of the church.” “You shall choose to be miserable for the rest of your life because you are worried about money?” Isabel practically shouted again. “I guess that shows how true your faith in God is. I must get to work.” Isabel turned on her heel and made it through the rest of the streets in record time. She felt like even the distance she had already put between herself and Michael was not enough. Perhaps she should leave the city as soon as the job was done. Starting over in a new town would be much better than staying here and suffering through the consequences of shoving Michael to choose Susan.

Chapter 5 Isabel kept her tears from falling as she worked, scared that any water mark might stain the silk. She could not afford for Susan’s scrutinous eye to catch a mistake such as that. She would be sure to punish Isabel for any imperfection. Isabel’s work, which she always enjoyed, seemed at once monotonous and boring. Her sewing was not enough to occupy her mind, and it kept returning to the discussion that morning, if such a civil word could be used to describe their interaction. Miss Susan’s father came into the sewing room that day. Isabel had met him once. All of her instruction was received from Miss Susan herself, who did not lack in wisdom to give, even about subjects which she knew nothing. “You are to stop working on the dress immediately,” Mr. Hashing said. Isabel looked up at the man. Had her secret walks with Michael been found out? Was she to be fired for simply talking to this troublesome man? Isabel carefully set the materials on the table, but she did not plan to leave without a fight. Perhaps her encounter with Michael that morning had only served to fill her with anger, but she could not help feeling the injustice of the situation. “May I ask why?” she asked in what she considered a subdued voice. “There is no need for you to complete the dress,” Mr. Hashing said. “We shall you should we be in further need of your services.” Isabel paused in the doorway. His answer had done nothing to answer her question except tell her that the answer was not one for her ears. “How much shall I be paid for the part I have completed?” she asked. Mr. Hashing looked surprised that she should ask for compensation. “You shan’t receive compensation. You have not finished the job.” “If you will please consider,” Isabel said, feeling her anger already rising. “I am only not finishing the job as you have told me I should not continue. Were it not for your words, I should complete the dress on time, just as Miss Susan requested.”

“Yes, but now that the dress shall not be completed, you cannot expect me to give you money for pieces of fabric which we shall not be able to use.” Isabel had a nasty feeling settling into her stomach as to why they would not be able to use the garments. “Sir, if I may, I beg that you consider the week’s time I have spent already working on the dress. Though it is not to be finished, I must be compensated for the time I spent working on it.” Mr. Hashing surveyed the dress, picked it up, and rubbed it between his fingers to test the stitches. “It seems you have done good work. I shall pay you a small sum, even though I receive no benefit from the work you have done.” Isabel accepted the bills he handed her without counting them. She could not believe that a family so obviously blessed with money would be so grudging to compensate her fairly. Isabel gathered her bag and left the house. Why would they not want her to work for them anymore unless there would be no wedding? And if there was no wedding, that must mean that something had happened between Michael and Susan. Isabel’s stomach curled up. Surely it had nothing to do with her. She had done nothing wrong. Isabel spent the afternoon talking to possible customers throughout town and trying to get more work as a seamstress. She was unsuccessful, and she returned distraught to her room. She had enough money to pay the room for the next month and buy a substantial amount of food. Even though Mr. Hashing had been reluctant to give her the money, he had been generous. The next day, Isabel continued looking for work. She was willing to accept any job, even sewing up holes in clothes. However, she could not find anything. As she was walking back to her boarding house for her midday meal, she saw Michael ahead. When he saw her, he broke into a run. “We must talk,” he said, in lieu of a greeting. Isabel shook her head. “I don’t know what you did or what happened, but I am out of work. I need to find a job or I shan’t be able to eat. Then maybe your excuse for talking with me will be giving me free food because I am one of your poor.” Isabel knew that her reply was worse than rude, but she was frustrated with her

failures of the morning. “Isabel, please,” Michael said. He seemed determined to say something, so Isabel waited with her hands on her hips. “I took your advice. I listened to what you said. God is an all-powerful God, right?” “Yes, of course.” “So, I don’t believe He would want me to marry a woman who does not share my love for serving the poor. I believe God would want me to marry a woman like you, one who has stolen my heart.” Isabel once again felt incapable of moving and answering this man’s plea. She finally found that she was shaking her head back and forth. “Come on,” Michael said. He took her hand and rushed her through the streets. He brought her to the park, and they found a bench to sit on. When they finally sat, Michael looked at her expectantly. Did he want her to applaud him for what he did? At least right now, it had greatly crippled her chances at success. “What do you think of making your living by serving others? Maybe you could help the poor, teach them how to sew. I could feed them and teach the men how to make a living. You could work with the children and teach them to read.” Isabel was smiling as she pictured them working together to reach those closest to God’s heart. “I like the idea,” she murmured. “Me too,” Michael said. “I love it. And, I want to marry you. I know it is sudden. I know I have known you but two weeks, but I have never felt my heart stirred so much as it is when I am around you. What do you say, Isabel?” Isabel laughed at Michael’s eagerness. “I can’t deny that you paint a pretty picture, but I don’t know. I barely know you.” Michael took her hand, and Isabel did not resist. He didn’t say anything, and that was the best part. He knew what Isabel felt. She gently squeezed his hand and lifted her eyebrows. “Alright. I will,” was all she was able to say. Michael smiled. He looked around the park, but there were few people there that Tuesday morning.

With no more delay, he leaned forward and kissed Isabel’s lips. She leaned into his kiss and couldn’t help smiling when she pulled back. She looked up into the eyes of this attractive man who had gained her attention on her first sight of him. His eyes were crinkled at the corners from smiling, and Isabel pulled him into a tight hug. She couldn’t help showing him how glad she was that they were finally going to have their happy ending.