The bell on the doorjamb jingled. A blast of cold air filled the room.
“Parson Kincaid, what can I do for you?”
He removed his black hat and folded it in his hands. The thin, middle-aged man was dressed in black from head to toe except for the backward collar of white. “Miss Danner, there is a reason for you to come to the church.”
Pamela placed her hand on the counter, bracing herself. What could she have done wrong? “What’s the matter?”
“Truthfully, I’ve never heard of such a thing. But the gentleman insists.”
“Parson, is everything all right?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. In all my years, I’ve never seen it done this way.”
Curiosity was definitely getting the best of her. “All right. Let me gather my coat.”
Parson Kincaid nodded his head and placed his hat back upon it. Pamela slipped to the back room and retrieved her wool coat.
Urias stood by the parson. “Would you like me to come?” His freckled face didn’t hold the same joy it had moments before.
Perhaps it was wise to have him with her. Not that she couldn’t trust Parson Kincaid. He and his wife, Martha, had shown her great kindness over the past couple months. He’d helped her understand that repentance freed her from God’s judgment, that she didn’t have to live in fear.
“Sure.” She slipped the key from the folds of her apron, locking the door after they all exited.
They walked in silence across the hard, rutted street. Winter frost lined the tops of the ruts. When they entered the church, she found it warm and comfortable. “Go to the altar,” the parson instructed. “There’s a message for you there.”
She opened her mouth to speak. He smiled and placed a hand on Urias’s shoulder. “You’ll need a few minutes. I’ll keep the boy with me. Holler if you need me.”
Pamela’s insides quivered like a new fawn trying to stand on its legs for the first time. Working her way down the center aisle, she approached the small oak table with white painted sides and a dark stained top. Carved on the front panel were the words “Remember Me.” She closed her eyes, knowing the words were Christ’s regarding communion. On top of the table a small oval of white lace accented a small circle of gold. A rolled-up piece of paper rested within the band.
Her hands trembled.
She reached for the band and pulled out the paper. Unfurling the note, she read the words, “Forgive me.”
❧
Mac stood in the shadowed room off to the side of the altar. Pamela dropped the note and braced herself, holding the edges of the table. With her head bent, she asked, “Where are you, Mac?”
Closing the distance between them, he silently stood behind her. “Right here,” he whispered. A whiff of her delicate perfume tickled his nostrils. “I’ve missed you.”
“I don’t understand.” Her profiled body held fast, not turning around to face him. Her knuckles whitened.
Father, help me say the right words here. “I’m sorry for not giving you a chance to speak. Mother’s made it abundantly clear that I was rather hardheaded.”
A gentle smirk rose on her pink lips.
“Please, forgive me, Pamela. I held against you what Tilly had done to me. It wasn’t right, and it wasn’t fair. I can’t blame you for being afraid in a wilderness area with no one to trust. And most importantly, with Jasper hot on your trail. I assumed you were Quinton’s widow. Your decision to simply let me continue with that misimpression was no different from my choice to let Jasper think we were married.”
Her body trembled.
He ached to close the distance between them but didn’t dare.
She squeezed her eyes tighter. “I loved you,” she confessed. “You hurt me.”
He took the final step that remained between them. He could feel the heat from her body. Still she remained resolute, not wavering.
“I’m sorry.” He dropped to his knees and placed a hand over hers.
“Why didn’t you come to the store? Why haven’t you tried to contact me? A letter, a message, something…I don’t understand. You couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.” She turned and looked down at him.
“I wanted to. I really did. But I didn’t know how. I’ve been praying and waiting. Honey, the waiting has been the hardest part. I wanted to come before now. But Father needed me. The farm couldn’t be left unattended for that long a period. I even thought of sending Urias. But God said no. He said to wait. I love you, Pamela. I know it seems rather late to say that, but I do with all my heart. I never thought I could love another woman. I put myself in an area where few women lived. And the ones who were nearby were married. I tried, I really tried to avoid women. But God had other plans. I know that now. But I fought Him every step of the way.”
Tears fell down her face.
Mac stood and pulled her close. “I’m so sorry. I love you. I want us to be together. I’ve even arranged for us to be married.”
She placed her hands on his chest and pushed out of his embrace. “You what? This ring is for today?”
He looked down and scuffed the floor with his right foot. “Uh, yeah.”
“You are really something, Mac. You come into my life and expect me to just drop everything and go running off with you.” She placed her hands on her hips. “I have responsibilities, you know. I guess you expected me to just marry you and ride off into the sunset, forgetting any responsibility I might have.”
That had been the plan. It had sounded good before he heard it from her lips. Now he wasn’t too sure. “Yeah.”
A whistle went streaming through her teeth. “Have you heard of courting?”
“Yes, but…” How could he word this without losing her?
“Mac, there’s a lot we have to know about each other before we talk marriage.”
“Like what?” He sat down on the front pew. She came up beside him and sat down.
“I don’t know. But we don’t know each other all that well.”
“We traveled together for almost three weeks, isn’t that enough?” His voice rose.
“Shh,” Pam admonished and placed her hand upon his.
This is not going the way I had planned. He sighed.
“Mac, I…”
He turned, embracing her, and captured her lips.
She moaned. Or was that him?
Pulling away, she gasped, “Mac, stop.”
“I love you, Pam. I want you.”
“I love you, too, but…”
Joy filled him. He placed his finger to her lips. “Don’t, not just yet. Let me enjoy what you just said.”
Pamela shook her head from side to side and laughed. “It wouldn’t be boring.”
“What?”
“Marriage to you.”
“Please, Pamela. Please marry me. I brought Mother and Urias as witnesses. I even convinced Parson Kincaid that you’d agree.”
“No, Mac. Not here, not now. Not like this.”
“I don’t understand.” He slumped back into the pew.
“Let me try to explain. I have a business. Are you planning on staying in Creelsboro?”
“No, I thought you’d come back to the farm with me. I know you didn’t want the business.”
“You’re right. I don’t, and I’ve put it on the market.”
“See.” He felt like a little boy.
“See what? That I should be irresponsible and just lock up the business and not sell it first?”
“It’ll sell.”
“Yes, it will. But if I simply closed the store, I’d lose money on the sale. I’m certain you are aware that an active, successful business is worth far more than a closed one.”
“I don’t care about money.”
Pamela chuckled. “I know. And I’m not as concerned as you think. But I do believe the Bible tells us to be good stewards of what we have. And I don’t believe it’s being a good steward to simply walk away from one’s obligations. In the same way that you couldn’t walk away from your f
ather’s need for you on the farm.”
“Very well, you’ve made your point. But I still want to get married.”
Pamela chuckled. Seeing Mac pout sent an image of a young boy, their son, and how he would behave in years to come. “I do, too,” she confessed.
“Yahoo!” he shouted. “You mean it?”
“Yes. But not today.”
“When?”
“In time. A woman needs to plan her wedding, make her dress, prepare, you know?”
“Honey, I don’t understand women all that well. You, for one, know that. But if you need time, I can wait.”
“Mac, where will we live? On the farm? In the wilderness? Where?”
“The farm. Dad will never be able to run it again. He’ll get around and all, but he won’t have the strength. However, we’ll need to take a trip back to my cabin in the gap. There are some items I’d like to keep.” He leaned up beside her. “I thought we could make it a romantic getaway for just the two of us.”
“Oh, Mac.” She threw herself into his arms and kissed him. “I’d love that. There is one thing you should know.” She whispered into his ear.
“You traveled with that much?” His eyes bulged.
“Yes. Can you handle the dowry?”
“I guess. What are we going to do with that kind of money?”
“Building our own private house might be nice.”
Mac laughed. “Anything you’d like. Just promise me you’ll marry me?”
“I promise.” His sweet lips were upon hers before she could say another thing. Thank You, Lord, for the night it rained fire.
About the Author
LYNN A. COLEMAN was raised on Martha’s Vineyard and now calls Miami, Florida, home. She has three grown children and seven grandchildren. She is a minister’s wife who writes to the Lord’s glory through the various means of articles, short stories, and a Web site. She also hosts an inspirational romance writing workshop on the Internet and serves as advisor of the American Christian Romance Writers organization. Visit her Web page at: www.lynncoleman.com
Dedication
To my grandson, Matthew, who’s been slow to speak but from whom I expect great things will come.
A note from the author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Lynn A. Coleman
Author Relations
PO Box 719
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
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