Rebecca's Hope

by Kimberly Grist

  Pulling both girls into an embrace, he kissed the tops of their heads. “Let’s check on those puppies. Afterward, you girls need to wash up and change. Then I will carefully comb those curls.”

  Grace wagged her finger. “You too, Pa. Don’t forget to shave.”

  Sam rubbed his hand across his chin and grinned sheepishly. “Sure am glad you girls are here to keep me straight. I will do my best to make myself presentable. I don’t want to give Rebecca any reason not to agree when Pastor Nelson asks her if she wants to marry me.”

  Sadie and Grace faced each other, smiled and said. “We don’t either, Pa.”

  Hope Final Chapter

  Dear Papa,

  Sam asked me to be his wife. I said yes…

  The blue silk skirt moved freely as Rebecca twirled in front of the full-length mirror. Her mother’s wedding gown fit perfectly. “I am glad we decided to forgo the hoop skirt.” She ran her hand and felt the smoothness of the silk. The design was a double-layered, draped overskirt in baby blue. “Lois, the floral pattern on the jacket matches perfectly. The lace details and stand collar you added make the whole ensemble look identical to the one from your fashion magazines.”

  Rebecca pressed one hand to her stomach while Lois circled her again with a critical eye. “You needed a jacket to accommodate for the cooler weather.” Lois placed her finger to her mouth, paused then smiled. “Your dress contains the something old, new, and blue.”

  Rebecca sighed. “Goodness, I didn’t realize I was holding my breath. You had me worried for a moment.”

  Emma unfolded Rebecca’s grandmother’s handmade veil. “Nonsense, you look lovely.”A tear rolled down Rebecca’s cheek as she bent her head to allow Emma to place the Brussels lace over her head. I can’t believe this day is finally here.

  Lois took the headpiece she fashioned with wax flowers and placed it over the veil. “Perfect. You are a vision.”

  Blinking back tears, Molly handed her a lace handkerchief. “I carried this in my wedding. I hoped you would use it for your something borrowed.”

  Rebecca took in a deep breath, blinked rapidly and offered a watery smile. “I can’t thank you all enough. I am blessed.” She reached to embrace the three women and laughed when she felt the familiar pat on her back from Lois.

  Elizabeth walked into the room carrying a package. “What’s this? You ladies know better than to give in to tears. You’ll spoil your looks. You best cut out the crying, or I am going to get Sara Jane.”

  “Don’t you dare,” Emma sniffed. “There are too many women in here as it is.”

  Elizabeth waved her hand. “Not at all. Besides, I come bearing gifts.” She placed the package on the table. “Your father sent this, along with a penny. I assume they are wedding shoes. Do you want me to unwrap the parcel?”

  Rebecca felt her stomach lurch. She looked at her satin slippers. I don’t even want to think about what he might have selected. “Frankly, I am afraid to look.”

  Elizabeth unwrapped the package. “Don’t be silly. I am sure your father’s taste is very…”

  Rebecca looked into the shocked faces of the women she held dear. Now I know what people mean by the silence was deafening. Molly stared. Lois looked away. Elizabeth held one dainty, gloved hand over her mouth, and Emma was crying. No, she was laughing. Not able to withhold her curiosity, Rebecca hurried over to see the most outlandish pair of boots she’d ever laid eyes on.

  Molly recovered first. “Rebecca, I feel certain your father meant well.” She picked up one boot and ran her hand over the leather. “I am sure they will be comfortable and more practical than slippers, especially for a wedding this late in the fall.”

  Lois reached for the other boot. “Since I’ve more time to look, I believe they will be fine. Your dress will cover all but the foot of the boot. You won’t see the design at all.”

  Emma put an arm around Rebecca. “I am sorry for laughing. But when Elizabeth unwrapped the package, I remembered what you told me about you and your father’s shopping trip. You mentioned he loved ornate patterns. He wanted to surprise you.”

  Rebecca studied the pointy-toed, pull-on boots, made of a hand-tooled, dark brown leather. The tips of the shoe were plain until exploding into a design of colorful flowers with decorative stitching above the base of the boot.

  Rebecca swallowed. “The design is not something I would pick for myself. But the more I think of the effort he must have gone to. I really am touched.”

  Lois pointed at Rebecca’s headpiece. “Orange blossoms, the design on your boots are orange blossoms. I should have recognized the pattern immediately. Especially since I worked for days trying to duplicate the same flower for your headpiece and bouquet.”

  Each woman in the room displayed smiles of approval as Emma put the penny in her left boot and helped Rebecca slip into her new footwear. She lifted her skirt to view her new boots and blinked back tears again. My father put a lot of thought into this gift. A knock on the door interrupted. Her father entered hesitantly.

  His eyes misty, Charles Muller spoke in a gruff voice. “You look beautiful, Liebling. Your mother would be pleased you wore her dress and veil.”

  Rebecca blinked rapidly as the tears flowed. “Thank you, Papa.”

  Charles cleared his throat. “Now, I suppose I must give you away to that cowboy of yours?”

  She took her father’s extended arm. He patted her hand roughly. “I do approve your choice. Sam is a good man and wants to make you happy. I am even growing used to the idea of being a grandpa to his girls.”

  Elizabeth opened the door and signaled to the other women. “We best get to our places. We don’t want the groom to think you’ve changed your mind.”

  Rebecca waited with her father to proceed into the sanctuary.

  Sadie and Grace followed Emma down the aisle proudly. They were adorable in matching pink dresses. The girls removed dried rose petals from their baskets and scattered them along their path.

  Rebecca trembled as she took the first step. She met Sam’s gaze, and her nerves subsided. He looked handsome in his Sunday suit and string tie. His blue eyes seemed to light the room. His smile is all the encouragement I need.

  Pastor Nelson’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Friends, it is my honor to welcome you. We are gathered here on this day to join in marriage Rebecca Mueller and Sam Brady. Who gives this woman to be married?”

  Pastor Nelson gave Rebecca a wink, and she heard other male voices, combined with her father say, “We do.”

  Rebecca looked at her father whose face tightened before relaxing into a smile. They turned together to see the many men from the town who were an intricate part of her life, smile and nod with approval. Doc Benton stood next to Mrs. Doc, beaming. Mayor Fears handed his handkerchief to Mr. Young, the blacksmith whose tears were running unashamedly down his cheeks. Friends both old and new joined together to be a part of this special day. Mrs. Potts stood with Lois, surrounded by the girls from her Sunday School class. Her lips quivered as her eyes rested on Molly and Adam who sat on the front row holding their newborn twins.

  Emma took her bridal flowers then squeezed her hand briefly as she stood in place beside her as maid of honor. Rebecca’s father placed her hand in Sam’s, and her heart overflowed. Thank you, God. I’m so grateful for your provision and love.

  Pastor Nelson took out a handkerchief and wiped tears from his face. “I am often moved with emotion at weddings. But perhaps never quite so early in the ceremony or in such an extreme fashion.”

  Her father took his seat on the front pew next to Elizabeth and Sara Jane. The pastor encircled the room with his hand. “I believe God used many of you here today to be His extension, and thereby you have been a part of what is the perfect example of love. Agape is the Greek word for the highest expression of love. It originates from God. It is the pure, self-sacrificing love of God demonstrated by man.”

  “The Bible teaches us to love our neighbor and our enemies. I sometimes wonder if
that’s because they are often one and the same.” Pastor Nelson laughed at his own joke.

  Rebecca smiled when she heard Sam join in with a soft chuckle.

  The pastor read 1 Corinthians Chapter 13, before turning his attention to the marriage vows.

  Sam’s husky voice spoke without prompting. “I, Samuel Paul Brady, take you, Rebecca Leah Mueller, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.” His hands shook slightly when he placed a gold band on her finger.

  At the conclusion of the ceremony, Pastor Nelson once again wiped his face with his handkerchief, his eyes tear-filled. “You may kiss your bride.”

  After their lips met in their first kiss as man and wife, Rebecca matched Sam’s grin.

  Pastor Nelson shook Sam’s hand. “Congratulations. May God richly bless you.” He placed his arm around Rebecca for a brief hug then proclaimed in a loud voice, “Let me introduce for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Brady.”

  They left the church to smiling faces and applause. Rebecca felt Sam’s hand on the small of her back guide her toward the buggy.

  “I figure I’m about the luckiest man in Texas.” Sam helped Rebecca into her seat, and they made the short trip to the hotel for the reception.

  Rebecca leaned her head on Sam’s shoulder. “I think I’m the luckiest woman not only in Texas but the whole world.” Her nose twitched, and she sneezed several times in succession. A small feather in the air caught her attention. When they stopped, Rebecca noticed multiple small pieces of fluff floating in the air.

  She sneezed again while Sam helped her from the buggy. “I’m sorry, honey, I thought I cleaned everything up, but I was in a rush.”

  Rebecca turned. Soft down danced in the wind. “Sam, are those chicken feathers?”

  Sam chuckled. “Yes, but not just any chicken, but rather one you are acquainted with and know by name.”

  Rebecca put her hand to her mouth and giggled. “Petunia?”

  Sam took his hand and brushed a few feathers from his coat. “The one and only. The girls thought their favorite pet ought to be part of the ceremony. They almost got away with it too. I will tell you the whole story some other time. But not today. It’s time to go start on our happily ever after.”

  The End

  Kimberly Grist is married to her high school sweetheart, Nelson, who is a pastor in Griffin, Georgia. She and her husband have three adult sons, one with Down syndrome, and she has a passion to encourage others in offering a special needs ministry in the church. Kim is also a grandmother and proud to be a child of the living God. She feels called to help and encourage others and to share experiences both good and bad in order to be the witness that God would have us to be.

  Kim has enjoyed writing since she was a young girl; however, she began writing her first novel in 2017. Inspired by so many things life has to offer, one of which includes her oldest son’s diagnosis of cancer, she finds it especially gratifying to write a happy ending. “Suffering is, of course, my least favorite thing. My objective is not to discuss my struggles specifically but to combine a love of history with biblical principles to produce a historical, Christian-based story that shows how God uses adversity for our good in ways we may never expect.”

  Website: kimberlygrist.wordpress.com

  Other Books by Kimberly Grist

  ~o0o~

  Rebecca's Hope

  Raised by her guardian and influenced by the mostly male population of Carrie Town Texas, Rebecca benefited from a forward-thinking, unorthodox education not typical for a young woman in the late Nineteenth century.

  As an adult, she is armed with skills that most would covet, yet she lives in a boarding house, works as a waitress and struggles financially. Most single women in the area didn’t stay single long. Most, but not her. The one man she had said yes to was dragging his feet. The townspeople all agree she needs a husband. Even the young girls in her Sunday School Class have taken action by writing an ad for the paper.

  Wanted: Husband for Rebecca Mueller. **Must be handsome, nice, like children, and live within walking distance of Carrie Town School.

  Will her circumstances change and allow her to hold out for true love?

  ~o0o~

  Emma's Dream

  In my first novel Rebecca's Hope, I introduced a western town in the late 19th century filled with colorful characters and innovative young women. Emma's Dream is a continuation of the tale based on Rebecca's best friend. While other young women in the late nineteenth century are reading about proper housekeeping, Emma studies herd improvement and her cooking skills leave a lot to be desired.

  Our story begins several months before Rebecca's wedding. Circumstances require Emma to take on the household chores which include taking care of her six-year-old twin cousins. Like a double-edged sword, help arrives in the form of Grandma Tennessee who manages a household with ease but whose colorful stories, old wives’ tales and superstitions flow like a river.

  As I researched pioneer life in the late 19th century, I found that superstitions were widely practiced as immigrants migrated and cultures blended. One of my goals as I wrote was to give an accurate account of the period while exposing the inaccuracy of the quotes and beliefs in a humorous way. Hence the birth of the delightful character, Grandma Tennessee.

  Emma's Dream is a story of love that's tested by distance and has the perfect combination of history, humor, and romance with an emphasis on faith, friends and good clean fun!

  ~o0o~

  Lois's Risk

  Lois Weaver has been schooled to be polite, lady-like, honest, to clean, cook and sew, so that at the proper age she would marry. As an adult, she surpassed her father’s expectations with her skills and beauty only to shatter them when she opens a dress shop. She risked everything to start her own business.

  Now the handsome bank owner has come calling. So why isn’t she happy? And why can’t she forget about a certain farmer with big brown eyes? Daniel Lawrence, former Texas Ranger, gained immense satisfaction when he purchased his farm and livestock. His new way of life is not only a means to make a living but adds a sense of fulfillment. The only thing lacking is a wife and family.

  He is just shy of proposing when a family tragedy forces him to open his home to his grieving sister and his niece. How could he bring a new wife home to this? Lois is heartbroken because Daniel is ignoring her. Can she go against the 19th-century rules of how a woman should behave and have the courage to tell Daniel how she feels?

  Combining history, humor, and romance with an emphasis on faith, friends, and good clean fun, fans of historical romance set in late 19th-century will enjoy Lois’s Risk a delightful tale of courage and reminds us how God uses adversity to strengthen us and draw us closer to Him.

  ~o0o~

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SM9HKWP

  Twenty-year-old Maggie Montgomery, is a petite young woman ahead of her time. She's had a wonderful childhood and enjoyed spending time with her father and five brothers and is happiest working in the smithy with them. A competent cook and housekeeper, as a favor to the local doctor, she moves in to assist his wife who is struggling to recuperate from a bout of pneumonia.

  A tomboy at heart, she ignores her mother's pleas to dress more appropriately. Until the son returns. A recent graduate of medical school, although handsome, the young doctor is stoic and obviously put out that his father has hired her to help his mother recuperate. Sparks fly and suddenly for the first time Maggie is concerned more about how she is perceived by others, especially the young doctor? The question is why? Can they get past their first impressions?

  Maggie draws on unrelenting strength where iron sharpens iron—forging an unexpected result of the romantic kind.

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