Destination: Romance: Five Inspirational Love Stories Spanning the Globe

by Kim Vogel Sawyer

  On Thanksgiving morning, Nat picked him up for a tour of the Arboretum. Her mother’s meal wouldn’t be ready until two that afternoon, so she asked if he’d like to visit the Arboretum for an hour or so before the big dinner. He’d jumped at the chance for some time alone with her. They would stay at her parents’ home the rest of the day since both her siblings would be home, too.

  “Before we hit the Arboretum,” she said, “I need to stop by my apartment and change into some warmer clothes. This cold spell arrived overnight, and I don’t want to cut our walk short.”

  Inside her apartment, she headed for the hallway. “I can’t wait to see Dani and Keith and for you to meet them, too. Make yourself at home while I change.”

  “Okay. And I can’t wait to meet the rest of your family.” He walked around her living room, looking at pictures on the shelves. Would he and Nat someday have their own family pictures?

  The CD player switched to a lively Celtic Christmas tune. He sat on her couch and laid his head back. He’d looked forward to this long weekend all semester. Now nervousness about popping the question to Natalie had his stomach dancing. Not the decision itself. He was certain of that. They still hadn’t agreed on how to work things out concerning her job. Was there some way they could both compromise? God, please show us the way.

  Nat returned wearing leggings with a long sweater and boots. She looked good enough to kiss. She made some hot chocolate and poured it into travel mugs, then they donned their jackets and headed for the car. “Arboretum, here we come.”

  Natalie held the car keys to Ken. “You’ve mastered driving on the right side of the road, so do you want to drive in Lexington now?”

  “Sure.” He took them from her hand and kissed the tip of her nose.

  After buckling in, he maneuvered the car out of the parking area. “You’ll need to tell me the turns.”

  “Take a right onto the road up ahead then go about a mile. Or almost two klicks.” She liked being the navigator to his driver. They did many things well together. But how could she be sure they could serve God better together than apart like her Mimi and Pappaw had?

  They approached an intersection, and they had the green light. Ken didn’t slow. A truck careened up the street on Natalie’s right. It showed no indication of slowing. She shrieked, “Stop!”

  Ken stomped on the brakes so hard she would’ve hit the windshield if she’d not been wearing a seat belt. The truck sped through the red light, almost hitting another car on its way, then continued out of sight.

  Ken gripped the steering wheel, panting. “Whew. I’m glad you hollered. We could’ve been part of a pile-up. Not a good way to start a holiday weekend.” He looked at her. “Are you okay?”

  She glanced at his white knuckles on the steering wheel. “Yeah. How about you?”

  “I’ll let you know once my heart slows down to normal.” The car behind them honked, and he eased the Camry through the intersection.

  They made it to the Arboretum without any further mishaps and enjoyed their walk together. When they came to the rose garden, Natalie darted ahead. “Oh, these are so lovely, aren’t they?” She glanced over her shoulder, but Ken wasn’t there. “Ken, where…?”

  He stepped from between bushes and went down on one knee.

  She raised a hand to her mouth.

  He smiled so sweetly it took her breath away. “Natalie Brooks, would you come here?”

  She walked toward him as if in a trance. Was this really happening?

  He took her hands, but then he let go and pulled a box out of his pocket. He reached for her again, grinning. “I should have practiced this.”

  Natalie giggled.

  He flipped the box open with his thumb, revealing a twinkling diamond encircled by smaller diamonds.

  She gasped. “Ken, it’s gorgeous!”

  “I’m glad you like it. It was my grandmother’s, and my mother saved it for it for me to give to the one God chose for me. I believe that woman is you, Natalie, and I hope you feel the same way.”

  She looked into his blue eyes. “Oh, Ken, yes, I do. I will marry you. As long as we can serve God better together than apart. That’s what my mimi told my pappaw years ago, and they’ll celebrate their fiftieth anniversary next year.”

  “I agree with that wholeheartedly.” He slipped the ring on her finger.

  A perfect fit. And a perfect ending to a perfect morning.

  Hand in hand, they strolled to the car, Natalie’s excitement bubbling out in laughter. He offered her the keys, but she held up her shaking hands. “I’m too excited. Besides, how can I stare at my ring and drive?” She held her hand out and gaped at it.

  He laughed and kissed her again.

  She took her eyes off the ring only long enough to direct him to her house. After he parked, she turned toward him. “Is it okay if we wait until after the meal to announce our engagement? Not only is it Thanksgiving, it’s my mom’s birthday, so let’s get all that hoopla over with before we spring our surprise.”

  “Sure, but you better put the ring in your pocket then.”

  She hated to take it off, but agreed. As she tucked the ring in her jacket pocket, her sister, Dani, came running down the sidewalk. Her long blond hair swung into her face as she leaned down to open the door. Her squeal echoed.

  “It’s been so long since I’ve seen my big sis, I couldn’t wait.”

  Natalie got out and gave Dani a big squeeze. Ken rounded the car and Natalie smiled. “Ken, this is my excitable sister, Danielle. Dani, this is Ken.” She swung an arm around Dani, and they walked arm-in-arm into the house.

  “We’re here,” Natalie announced. “Where’s the rest of the family?”

  Mom hollered from the kitchen. “Your dad and brother are in the basement. Why don’t you take Ken down there to meet Keith, then you and Dani come back to help me finish up.”

  After the introductions, the girls climbed the steps to the main level of the house. Natalie hugged Mom. “What needs to be done first?”

  “The dressing is ready to go in the oven for thirty minutes, but set the timer for fifteen, so we’ll remember to put the rolls in next. Set the table for eight. Mimi and Pappaw are on their way.”

  Mom buttered the rolls then began the gravy. By the time the buzzer went off, the girls had the table ready. They slid the rolls in the oven.

  The familiar smells and voices brought happy memories to Natalie’s mind. She was overjoyed to be able to share her family and their traditions with Ken.

  The kitchen door opened, and Mimi appeared, bearing her famous German chocolate birthday cake. She gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek. “Happy birthday.”

  “Thanks, Mom. Where’s Dad?”

  “He’s carrying in the pecan pies.”

  Natalie’s dad appeared at the top of the basement steps, followed by Keith and Ken. “Sure smells good in here.”

  Mom stirred the gravy. “Yes, dear, the turkey and ham you sliced earlier are ready to be placed on the table because this gravy’s done.”

  Pappaw came in, and Nat took one of the pies from him. She followed him to the buffet to set them down. “Pappaw, I want you and Mimi to meet Ken, but I don’t know where he is.”

  Mimi walked into the dining room, escorted by Ken. “Is this handsome stranger the one you’re looking for, Natalie?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I should’ve known you’d find him. Ken, this is Mimi and Pappaw. The ones I told you about.” He winked, and she knew he remembered what she’d told him.

  She nodded to the man she loved. The delicious secret of their engagement swept over her. “And, this is Ken.”

  Ken battled waves of uncertainty during dinner. Her entire family had welcomed him as family, too, and they’d fed him until he felt like a stuffed pig with an apple in its mouth. Could he take Nat more than a thousand miles away from all these she held dear? Not just the distance, but also the different customs?

  She caught his eye, and his heart began to pound when she slid th
e ring on her finger. Then she waggled her hand in the air.

  Danielle squealed.

  Keith sat up straight and stared at Dani. “What’s wrong with you?”

  Flapping her hands, she smiled. “Look at Natalie’s left hand.”

  They all gasped. Mrs. Brooks and Dani left their chairs and hugged Nat.

  Her dad asked, “When did this happen?”

  “Today,” Ken and Nat answered together.

  Mimi beamed at her granddaughter. “When will the wedding be?”

  Nat laughed. “We haven’t discussed that yet.”

  “Where will the wedding be?”

  Ken shrugged. “We didn’t discuss that either.”

  Dani placed both hands on her hip. “Am I going to be your maid of honor?”

  “Of course,” Natalie said. “Who else?”

  They all laughed.

  The rest of day disappeared between wedding talk and playing board games around the dining room table. Ken bested them all at Scrabble, and he confided, “Comes from growing up playing against my parents.”

  Natalie’s dad said, “Let’s invite them for next Thanksgiving. It will keep me studying all year.”

  “Great idea.” Ken glanced out the window. The sky was dark. “What time is it?”

  Nat sighed. “After seven. I better drive you home, Mr. Scrabble Champ.”

  Mrs. Brooks returned from the kitchen toting several plastic containers in a bag. “I’ve packed up some leftovers for a snack tonight or tomorrow, Ken.”

  “Thank you very much.” Ken bent and kissed her on the cheek like he did his own mother. More family to love. He hoped they wouldn’t all be disappointed if he took Natalie far away from them.

  Th e closer they got to Wilmore, the slower Natalie drove. She parked the car in the lot beside his dorm but left it running to keep them warm. She took Ken’s hand. “We need to talk.”

  He squeezed her fingers. “You’re right. I’m willing to compromise, even if it means you need to stay in the States for part of the time.”

  She loved that he was willing to compromise. “I’ve been reading online about the Norman Manley Law School. I want a break from classes after seven years of college, but if we got married soon after we graduated, classes wouldn’t start there until September. So I’d have several months’ break from school and time to acclimate myself to marriage in my new country. Plus, I found out my credentials from there would cover most all of the Caribbean Islands, which is great.”

  His mouth was hanging open.

  Her heart sank. “Am I rushing you? Maybe you don’t want to marry that soon.”

  He burst out laughing. “Of course I want to marry you that soon, or even sooner if you want to. Let’s pray about it and discuss it on Tuesday evening. Graduation is less than six months away, but we can trust Him to work it all out so we can serve him better together than apart.”

  She leaned toward him. “Let’s stop talking and kiss good-night.”

  “I won’t argue with that.”

  EPILOGUE

  On a beautiful Friday afternoon in May, Natalie drove to Wilmore and picked up Ken. Then the two of them drove to the airport to meet Ken’s parents. While the car tires hummed on the highway, her mind whirred with everything crowding the calendar.

  Th eir last semester of graduate school had passed even faster than the first, and this coming week would be jam-packed. Tomorrow morning at ten o’clock was Ken’s graduation from the seminary, followed by her own from UK College of Law at two in the afternoon. Mimi and Pappaw had invited both sides of the family to a graduation supper Saturday evening.

  Sunday afternoon, Dani and Jenna were hosting a personal shower for Nat at Bobbi’s house, and Keith had planned a cookout for the other groomsmen and Ken. The following Friday they’d have their rehearsal and dinner.

  On Saturday afternoon, she and Ken would pledge their vows to one another at her home church in front of God and a couple of hundred others. A reception would follow in the church hall, and she would officially be Mrs. Ken Worth of Jamaica.

  After their honeymoon on a Caribbean cruise, where they would meet several of the orphanage missionaries she might be working with in years to come, they would return to Jamaica and stay at Ken’s parents’ home for a week. During that time, the mission team from Asbury would arrive to assemble their small pre-fab home, a wedding present courtesy of Uncle J.T.

  Th ey parked at the airport parking lot, and she settled her gaze on Ken’s adoring face. “Do you think our lives will ever return to normal?”

  He covered her hand with his. “As my dad once told me, ‘We serve a risen Savior. He wasn’t ordinary or normal, and neither should we expect to be.’ As long as we let Him lead us, everything will be fine. You remind me if I forget that, and I’ll remind you.”

  “Agreed. And, we’ll always serve Him better together than apart.” “Amen.” He sealed his promise with a kiss.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Th anks: Special thanks to Kim Sawyer and her fabulous team at Wings of Hope, especially Connie Stevens, lead editor, for all the help and hope they share with me and others. And for Kim and Don Sawyer inviting my husband and me to go on a K-Love cruise with them in January 2016, which gave Kim and me the ideas for our stories in this book. I thank our Father in Heaven for leading us both to do this book together after encouraging and praying for each other for over fifteen years!

  To Bobbi and Jenna Graffunder, whom we met on the K-Love cruise in 2016, and who graciously allowed me to use their first names as roommates for my character. Also for their suggestions and Bobbi’s offer to do a critique. Thanks to Christy Kinney and Mandy Thornberry, who also read over and helped edit this book, as well as Joy Liddy, who critiqued all the chapters and Loretta Gibbons, who critiqued the first three chapters.

  Plus a big thanks to present-day missionary in Haiti, Susan Ross Hammond (HammondsinHaiti.com) who came for a visit and shared with me such wonderful details of Caribbean culture, some which I’ve used in this book. Also to Allen Arnold whose book and class on The Story of With at the ACFW conference in August, 2016, worked their way into my heart to stay and also into this story which I began soon after. I highly recommend both the book and class to all.

  Th anks to Maria Koppelberger in the Admissions department at Asbury Theological Seminary who answered my three phone calls and helped me choose the right educational pathway for my fictional hero. Any mistakes are my own.

  Humongous thanks to all my readers and prayer partners who are always so encouraging and want to know when the next book will be out! As always, a huge thanks to my husband who does dishes, driving, and all the details it takes to promote me as a writer—my biggest fan who always reads the book aloud with me as the last step before it goes to the publisher.

  Foremost, to my Father in heaven who is the Giver of ideas!

  A SHELTER IN A WEARY LAND

  Julane Hiebert

  To Him,

  who is my constant shelter, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

  “For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.” psalm 31:3 kjv

  CHAPTER 1

  Cass County, Missouri Late August, 1863 Heavy with child, Charlotte Teasdale widened her stance to balance on the uneven terrain of the Missouri hillside. “I can’t believe you made me do this, Lafe Teasdale. I’m sweating, I’m thirsty, and you’ll be lucky if I don’t have this babe right here on the side of this rocky hill.”

  Lafe put his arms around her. “You’ll thank me one day.” He kissed her nose. “Besides, it’s for your own good—yours and the babe’s. Now follow me. We’ve only a bit farther.” He grasped her hand and gave a tug.

  She groaned with the e ffort of another step. She’d never questioned her husband’s reasoning before now, but this entire plan frightened her. Her husband was one of the few young men in Cass County who’d not ventured off to war. But of late, Lafe went riding off to meetings he said he couldn’t tell he
r about, with people he wouldn’t identify. Middle-of-the-night visitors had become more frequent. There’d be a loud bang on the door, and Lafe would grab his gun and disappear into the dark, always with a command that she stay put and under no condition follow him. And at times he’d be gone for days.

  He rode o ff in the night three days ago, and this morning he returned and insisted she follow him…and don’t ask questions. Something deep inside her warned of trouble.

  She yanked her hand from his. “Lafe, I’ll not take another step until you tell me why this is so allfired important. My back hurts, my legs hurt, and frankly, you’re scaring me.”

  His eyes darkened. “Don’t fight me on this, Char.” He leaned against a nearby tree and pulled her to him. “Look, I’m scared, too. Bad things are going to happen. Bad things have happened. You’re not safe in our cabin.” “What kind of bad things?” Her heart skipped a beat. “Lafe, where have you been? What have you done?”

  “I told you, no questions.”

  She stomped her foot. “No, Lafe. You’re wrong. I will ask questions. You leave me with no explanation, and now you’re dragging me up the hill to hide in some cave like an animal. And I’m not to ask questions? We promised. Remember? No secrets—ever.”

  “It’s not safe to stand out in the open like this, my love. Trust me, that’s all I’m asking. Please.”

  “Out in the open? Lafe Teasdale, if you were to move ten feet from me I couldn’t find you in this brush and timber.”

  “You could if you had a spy glass. Please, Char. Just come with me.”

  He locked his fingers around her wrist so hard it hurt, but she knew better than to utter one more complaint. She’d go with him. But if he left her again, she’d make her way back down to their cabin, and he couldn’t stop her.

  The remainder of the climb was grueling. If Lafe hadn’t held her wrist so tight, she wondered if she could manage to carry her growing body up the steep hill by herself. For sure, it wasn’t something she could do in a hurry. Perhaps she should reconsider her self-pledge to disobey her husband.