by Jenna Brandt
He nodded. “At the moment, I can’t think of anything I want more.”
Without another thought except the need to taste her, his mouth came down gently, testing her lips with his own. The kiss was everything he thought it would be; sweet, thrilling perfection. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. Her hands came up and wrapped around his neck as she leaned into his embrace.
There was a cascade of loud shouts from inside the Charleston mansion, interrupting their kiss. Wyatt pulled back slightly, not wanting to stop, but knowing he should. “I don’t want to, but I should probably go see what that’s all about.”
He started to pull away, but her hand reached out and stopped him. “You never told me your name.”
“That’s right; how silly of me. I told you, you have my head all mixed up. My name is Wyatt Hammond.”
Her eyes grew round with shock. “My father talks about you all the time. You’re one of his most promising students.”
“Don’t hold that against me,” he chuckled, just as another round of shouts came bursting from the house. “I really should go find out what all the commotion is about, but I promise you, this is to be continued. If you’re amiable to the idea, I would like to ask your father tomorrow if I can court you.”
“I’ll hold you to that, Mr. Hammond,” she declared, laughing as she waved him off. “And you should probably know my name, so you know who to call on when you come around tomorrow. Miss Grace Abernathy.”
“I would have found that out somehow. Believe me, nothing is going to keep me from you.”
Wyatt never got his chance to call on Grace, or ask to court her. The South seceded from the Union that very day. Wyatt didn’t think it fair to ask her to commit to him, when he knew he would be serving as a doctor for the war efforts. He wouldn’t be able to provide a stable life for her, and she deserved better than that. He knew she was the type that would protest, and so he had decided to break her heart in order to make it easier for her. If he never came around again, she would think he was just a cad that had taken advantage of her on the eve the war broke out.
Two days after the war started, Wyatt graduated early from medical school and was sent as a volunteer to help with the war efforts in New Orleans. He spent a year there, escaping just before the city was captured. He made his way to Atlanta, where he stayed for another two years, narrowly escaped being captured for a second time when the city fell. Each time he narrowly escaped, it confirmed he made the right decision about Grace. She didn’t deserve to live her life in fear of losing the man she cared about.
When the Myrtle Grove doctor decided it was time to retire, it was an easy decision to take the job. His aunt, uncle, and cousin, were the only family he had left after his cousin, Gregory, was killed in the war. He didn’t want to cause the family anymore losses. He even thought about writing to Grace and explaining why he did what he did; however, fate had a different idea. Two months after becoming the town doctor in Myrtle Grove, he was conscripted to join the war as an official field doctor.
“Wyatt, aren’t you going to introduce yourself to the Abernathys’ cousin?” he heard his aunt ask him, bringing him back to the present.
His eyes focused back on Grace, who was looking at him with obvious recognition. “We’ve met before,” he whispered. “While I was at medical school in Charleston.”
“I should have guessed you might know each other. You studied under my brother, didn’t you?” Thomas asked.
“Yes, Dr. Abernathy was my mentor,” Wyatt admitted. “He taught me everything I know about medicine.”
“I get that, but how do the two of you know each other?” Faith asked, tilting her head and glancing between them in a way that made Wyatt uncomfortable. Could she tell they had been romantically involved in the past?
“We met at a ball right before the war started,” Grace explained. “It was the briefest of moments.”
The dismissive words stung, causing Wyatt to look away. He had expected when he never told Grace why he decided to do what he did that it would hurt her, but never did he think she had thought so little of their time together. The way she spoke of their encounter, it was as if they were less than acquaintances.
“That will change now that you’re both living here in Myrtle Grove,” Hope said, coming up next to her cousin. “There will be plenty of time for you both to get to know each other.”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Faith gushed. “I was just saying earlier this afternoon how I thought Grace and Wyatt would get along fabulously.”
Wyatt glanced back at Grace to see her reaction to their cousins’ declarations. Was there a chance she might be open to reconnecting? In all of the things he regretted, he wished he had handled the situation with her differently. In all the time that passed, she never strayed far from his thoughts; his feelings for her never fading. Now, as she stood in front of him, he knew he needed to do whatever it took to convince her to take another chance on him. The problem was, from the withering look Grace was giving her cousin, it was clear she wouldn’t be open to the possibility. At least, not yet. Hopefully, over time he would be able to convince her to give him a second chance.
“I think we’ve had enough matchmaking for one day,” Thomas said in a way that made it clear everyone should drop the subject. “I’m ready to eat.”
The Hammond family laid out their blanket next to the other two brought by the Abernathys, and both families took spots on them. Wyatt noticed that Grace settled on a spot as far away from him as she could. He tried to hide his disappointment and focus on the food. Though his aunt was a good cook, each bite stuck in his throat like sandpaper, as he watched Grace from across the blankets. She was carefully avoiding eye contact with him, which made him only feel worse about the situation.
Once everyone was finished eating, the group decided they would go over and watch the kids participate in the games and activities. Ida volunteered to be a part of a magic trick. Everyone marveled as a quarter appeared from behind her ear, and when a baby kitten appeared in her skirt pocket. Despite their bickering, Jack and Nancy won the three-legged race.
“Why don’t the three of you participate in the pie-eating contest,” Hope suggested, pushing Wyatt and Davis forward as Faith did the same with her husband. “I’d love to see which one of you can eat the most before giving up.”
“I don’t think I’m up for that,” Nathan protested. “The last thing I want is a bunch of people staring at me with my face full of pie.”
“Oh, come now, Nathan, don’t be a spoilsport. Your friends are doing it,” Faith pointed out.
“I’m not sure when I agreed to do this,” Wyatt protested. “I’d much rather watch than participate.”
“I don’t mind,” Davis said with a shrug. “Anything to impress my new bride.”
Wyatt then realized there was a chance he could do the same with Grace. If he partook and was a good sport about it, maybe it would remind Grace he could be fun. “You know what, I’ve changed my mind. I think I will take the challenge.”
“You do that often, don’t you,” Grace quipped from behind him.
“I do what?” he asked, turning around to face her. The rest of the group moved past them, over to the pie-eating contest area, leaving them alone.
“Change your mind,” she clipped out as she glared at him. “You did it the night of the ball. One moment you were promising to ask my father to court me and to come calling, the next, you put me out of your mind and never gave me another thought.”
“That isn’t true, Grace. I—”
“Miss Abernathy,” she corrected. “We are not familiar enough to call each other by our given names.”
He moved towards her, lowering his voice so only she could hear. “I think the kiss we shared would dispute your objection.”
“How dare you bring that up,” she snapped. “I was vulnerable that night, and now you’re using it against me.”
“That’s not what I meant to do. I
just want you to remember that we did have a connection—even if it was a long time ago. If the war hadn’t happened, I have no doubt I would have followed through on my promise. I was asked to go help the soldiers and I couldn’t refuse.”
“Don’t blame the war for your fickle nature. You could have come and told me what your plans were. I would have understood. It wasn’t like I didn’t believe in the war effort. I helped my father nurse wounded soldiers for the duration of it.”
“I didn’t know that,” Wyatt muttered. “That was very noble of you. It must have been very hard.”
“We all had to do our part,” she said with steely resolve. “I’m a Southern lady, after all.”
“Come on you two,” Davis shouted from the pie-eating contest area. “The contest is about to start.”
“You should hurry. You don’t want to miss out on your chance to eat dozens of pies.”
“I’d rather stay here and talk with you, if you’ll let me explain why I made the decision I did.”
“Look, Dr. Hammond, it was only one night. I don’t need to hear your excuses as to why you chose to lead me on and then jilt me. We’ve both moved on.”
He tried to hide the look of hurt on his face, but he knew it was a lost cause. Her words stabbed him like a dagger to the heart. “That might be true for you, but there wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think about you, Grace.”
Her angry face softened for a moment, but she quickly replaced it with indifference. “I told you a long time ago, I’ve had my share of flattering words. If you’ll excuse me, I need to return to my family.”
As Wyatt watched Grace walk away, he realized it was going to be a lot harder work than he first anticipated to get Grace to give him a second chance. He was willing, however, to put in the time. Wyatt didn’t care how long it took, or how hard she made it, he was going to convince Grace they belonged together.
Chapter 5
Grace spent the entire previous night avoiding Wyatt at the picnic and subsequent dance. Every time he tried to come up to her, she would make an excuse to get away. Part of her knew she should give him the chance to explain what happened five years ago, but then the other part of her that was hurt by him, followed by what had happened to her during the war, caused her to reject the idea. It was better to keep him at a distance, than open her heart to anyone again.
“You ready for church this morning?” her Aunt Tabitha asked, coming into the room and helping her finish placing the last of the pins into her hair.
“I have to admit, I’m a bit nervous about going with you all today,” Grace confessed.
“Why would you feel that way?”
“I haven’t been in Myrtle Grove for years, and by now, everyone knows I’m back. I’m worried that people will ask me why I’ve come to stay with you.”
“It isn’t any of their concern. Don’t you worry about any of them,” her aunt said in a way that made Grace almost believe she could do that. “Besides, you’re family. You’re always welcome here at Oak Haven and anywhere else in Myrtle Grove.”
“Thank you, Aunt Tabitha,” Grace said, turning to the older woman and giving her a grateful smile.
Even though her aunt’s reassurance helped some, what Grace didn’t mention was that there was one person in particular she wasn’t looking forward to seeing. She was certain Wyatt would be in church, which meant there was a possibility of having to be around him again. She knew she wasn’t being fair to him; that she should at least hear him out about the decisions he had made. The problem was, it didn’t matter because she didn’t want to get close to any man after what happened during the war.
Grace dabbed the top of her face with the clean edge of her apron as she took a seat next to Elijah’s bed. She held back the tired sigh that threatened to escape, knowing no matter how tired she was, or how rough she might feel at the moment, Elijah was in far worse condition.
“How are you doing today?” she asked, hoping he had finally turned the corner emotionally. “I’m sorry I haven’t been by sooner, but we had an influx of patients this morning.”
Elijah didn’t roll over, but continued to stare at the wall beside him.
“Please, don’t be mad at me,” Grace pleaded. “I came as soon as I could.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he whispered, unmoving. “I’ve resolved that I’m never leaving this place—at least alive.”
“Don’t say that. You’re stronger than you think,” Grace encouraged. “I’ve seen you heal from wounds that killed other men. You just need to push through this melancholy, and you’ll be ready to start your new life.”
“I was a soldier; that was all I was ever good at. Now, with one of my eyes missing and my memory gone, I can’t even do that anymore. I don’t have a future.”
“That isn’t true. You just have to find your new purpose,” Grace encouraged, reaching out and placing her hand on his arm. “Why don’t I pray with you for God to show you what it is?”
“We’re here,” Grace heard Nancy shout with glee, causing her to return to the present.
The Abernathys piled out of the wagon, then entered the church; joining Faith and Nathan in their family pew. Davis and Hope were sitting in the row right in front of them.
Grace glanced around the room, trying to figure out if Wyatt was there. When she didn’t see him, she had mixed emotions. Part of her was relieved he wasn’t there; the other part she hated to admit was there, was disappointed she wouldn’t have a chance to see him again. She hated that part, and tried to push it away.
Just before the service was about to start, the Hammonds arrived and took seats next to Hope and Davis. Great, that meant that Grace had to stare at the back of Wyatt for the entire service. How was she going to avoid thinking about him now?
The congregation stood to their feet and sang several hymns, then Pastor George Howell came to the front, taking his place behind the pulpit.
“Good morning, everyone,” Pastor Howell greeted in his slow Southern drawl. “I’m grateful to see each of you, including Wyatt Hammond, whose safe return we’ve waited and prayed for patiently. I also see that Grace Abernathy is with us today. I grew up with her father, and it pleases me to see his daughter here. Today, I feel like God wants me to speak about forgiveness. It’s a difficult subject, as many of us have a long list of wrongs done to us. It’s easy to keep a record of wrongs, but we aren’t called to do that. The Lord calls us to forgive, even when it’s the hardest thing in the world to do. Harboring unforgiveness in our hearts hurts us; not those that we hold it against. It’s why it’s so important for us to release it, and pray for them rather than continue to live in a state of anger and bitterness because of what happened to us.”
Grace stiffened under the rebuke. She knew Pastor Howell was correct, and even more importantly, God was using him to talk to her. No one besides her parents knew the full reason for her being sent to Myrtle Grove. He couldn’t have known she was filled with anger and bitterness because of what happened with Elijah. Even though she needed to find a way to forgive and let it go, it seemed impossible.
After the service, everyone was filing out of the church. Outside in the courtyard, Grace’s worst fears about coming to church came true. Several of the women cornered her and started asking questions.
“How are you doing, dear?” Bonnie Baker, the town busybody inquired, with a concerned look on her face. “I hear your family was right in the thick of the war. I can’t even imagine the atrocities you saw.”
“I’m fine, Mrs. Baker, just trying to adjust to life here in Myrtle Grove.”
“Yes, how long will you be staying with your cousins?” Sarah, one of the other townswomen, asked.
“I’m not sure—”
“What’s that on the edge of your sleeve? It looks like dried blood?” Bonnie asked with a disapproving scowl.
Though Grace was relieved that her interruption kept her from having to go into details about her stay, she was mortified the other woman noticed a
stain on her dress. Grace glanced down at her sleeve, and sure enough, there was a dark, red dash across the edge. “Oh, my, I thought I had gotten that out,” she lamented. “This was one of the dresses I wore when I tended the soldiers at the hospital.”
“You did that? I can’t even imagine being around all those poor, wounded men,” Sarah said with a shiver.
“I think I would rightly pass out from it,” Wendy chimed in, her eyes wide with astonishment.
“I wasn’t doing it alone. There were other volunteers, as well as my father, who’s a doctor,” Grace explained. “They needed as much help as they could get, and my father had been teaching me about medicine before the war broke out.”
“What an odd notion,” Bonnie said, scrunching her nose up. “Why would anyone think a proper young lady would want to do such a thing?”
“I couldn’t stand by and let more of our men die, when I had the ability to help them,” Grace said, trying to justify her choice. “Even if it meant ruining a few dresses or seeing some things I’d rather forget.”
“I just think your father should have known better. It’s his job to protect you, not put you in such a precarious position,” Bonnie protested further. “Of course, he was always eccentric, even when he was growing up here in Myrtle Grove. I remember this one time, he—”
Grace could feel her cheeks flame red from the woman’s negative, inaccurate observation about her father. She was about to interrupt the town busybody and correct her, but Wyatt’s familiar voice did so for her, instead.
“Dr. Abernathy is a good man. He would never do anything to harm anyone, let alone his own daughter,” Wyatt said, coming up to the group. “All your comment does is prove you don’t know him, or you wouldn’t be saying such things about him.”
Bonnie looked embarrassed. After a moment, she started to move away, saying, “We should be going. We look forward to seeing you around town.”
Grace swiveled around to face Wyatt, glaring at him with irritation. “I didn’t need your intervention.”
