The Parson's Daughters Boxed Set: Sweet and Clean Christian Romance - 4 Book Bundle

by Annie Boone

  “Europe, too? That’s impressive. I’m sure that was a hurdle.”

  “It was, but worth the risk. I traveled there extensively meeting as many people as I could who would use our products. I decided that meeting them face to face was best. It wasn’t an idea that was well received by my father. He still heads the company, you know. I pushed, though, and he finally relented. Now he almost claims the credit for getting it done!” He laughed good naturedly.

  Charity was impressed that he didn’t seem to hold a grudge about this. It was clear that he was a risk-taker who pushed limits in business. She had no real interest in business. She was concerned with how he managed his relationships. What his heart was like. She hoped to get to that part some time.

  “My travels in Europe were rowdy, indeed,” he laughed. “I worked hard, but I made many friends and played harder. I spent many nights in the pubs, that’s for sure.”

  Charity was taken by surprise at this admission. She was not a drinker and she didn’t approve of spending time in saloons. She’d heard that the lifestyles in Europe were more liberal than she was accustomed to, but that didn’t change her mind about what was proper and what was not.

  He continued with his story, though he did seem to notice that she had quieted. “After that trip, I realized I needed to make some changes. I had a wonderfully good time, but I realized it was time to grow up. It was then that I decided to take my job seriously. The company will be mine some day and I don’t want to fritter it away because I can’t settle down.”

  While Charity’s instincts told her that she shouldn’t enjoy his company, she couldn’t stop laughing at his tales. He seemed to be interested in her and she was relieved to be out of her shell if even for just an evening.

  When dessert arrived, he admitted to her, “I know there’s a woman out there who will be willing and able to bring out the best part in me. I know that there is more to life, more to what I have going for me at the moment and I want to find that woman who will enhance my life.”

  “I’m sure there’s a woman just like that for you, Dominic. But what are you willing to do in return? You must remember that a relationship, that life, isn’t one way,” Charity replied.

  “You’re right. I’m not sure what I have to offer besides fun right now. A stable income, probably. I’m still working on the rest of it, I suppose,” he chuckled lightly. She could tell however that she’d made him think for a moment.

  By the end of the night, Charity found that she really did like him. He was fun and exciting in a way that she would have never imagined she would like. He seemed to be open to changing his bad habits and that was a good thing.

  Perhaps he thinks that I could be that woman, Charity thought, feeling as though he was giving her a purpose. Eli hadn’t needed her help in this manner. In fact, Eli apparently hadn’t needed her at all. The letters he’d promised to send hadn’t started arriving. She was starting to doubt they would. She got the sense that Dominic would go after what he wanted, where Eli was content to let things happen. There was a big difference in these two men.

  After all, Charity started rationalizing how Dominic might be a better match for her than Eli. She loved to help people and she excelled when she was called on to do so. Dominic had certainly stated that he was looking for someone to help him make changes. And, his job wouldn’t take him away from San Jose except for possibly short trips for work.

  Where Eli was secure in his faith, it seemed that Dominic was not. If their conversation that night was any indication, he might be successful but he was not content with his life. He was searching for a saving grace and he needed God in his life. Charity thought that perhaps she might be the way he could get all he was searching for.

  She went to sleep that night and dreamed of someone besides Eli for the first time in what seemed like forever.

  Charity woke to someone banging on the door. She was a slow riser and this morning she couldn’t get her bearings from being woken so unexpectedly. Where was her mother? Who was at the door?

  She finally managed to wake up enough to realize she needed to answer the door. She also realized that something must be wrong. Her heart started to race and she rushed to the door without even bothering to put on a wrap.

  She yanked the door open and saw her sister standing there with a panicked look on her face.

  “Hope? What’s the matter? Who’s hurt?” Charity cried.

  “Oh, thank the Lord you’re here. Oh, thank God you’re all right!” she exclaimed. “Andrew just got the word that Dominic was in a fight last night. Oh, gracious. I was horrified that you were with him.” She gasped for breath.

  “What?” Charity demanded. “A fight? Are you sure?”

  She nodded, “Yes, I’m sure. Apparently he spent the night in jail.”

  “So he’s not dead or hurt?”

  “I think he got banged up, but from what Andrew heard he’s all right.”

  “It must have been after he dropped me off,” Charity said quietly. “I had no idea he was going somewhere else after our supper. He didn’t mention it at all.”

  Immediately, she knew that this was not the life she wanted. She would council men and women with such vices without judgement. But she was certain that she didn’t want this kind of behavior in her own life. She knew that God had a better plan for her.

  She knew that as far as a romantic intention, Dominic was too far beyond her reach. It was unlikely that a woman would truly be able to change him. That was something he would have to do for himself, with God’s help.

  So, when she looked back at her sister, she was resolute in what she said. “Hope, I love you dearly and I love what you tried to do for me. But please do me a favor and don’t set me up with any more men.”

  Hope nodded, but Charity was unconvinced that her plea, her demand, was understood.

  She narrowed her eyes at Hope and continued, “Andrew is a wonderful addition to our family, but I think he’s a diamond in the rough. I don’t think that his friends, or his associates are the kind of men that I have any interested in.”

  Hope nodded again, but remained silent.

  Charity tried to smooth things over with Hope. She could tell she was surprised by her sister’s harsh reaction. “I know that I’m always the peacekeeper around here. My temperament hasn’t been normal lately. I’m on edge, I suppose. So please understand, Hope.”

  “I do understand, Charity. I support your wishes. Truly, I do.”

  “Thank you, Hope. I appreciate it.”

  “I’m sorry, Charity. I understand and considering what happened, I believe you might not be far from the truth.” She grew quiet for a moment before she added, “For what it’s worth, we are so sorry. If we had known he was like that we would have never suggested you meet him. Andrew is actually beside himself. He’s thinking of not doing so much business with him in the future.”

  “Andrew shouldn’t make business decisions based on this. If he trusts him in business, he should continue to do so. I’m just glad we don’t have another sister for him to meet!”

  The sisters laughed together. That felt good for Charity. She hoped that maybe she was coming back into the light.

  Charity nodded before she finished her thought. “I’m not angry with you. Or Andrew. I am just happy that I didn’t waste any more time with this scoundrel.”

  Hope left to go back into the city for work. Charity got up and got ready to go to the bakery. She really hoped the Bergman’s didn’t hear about this mess with Dominic. She didn’t think they would, but they always knew more than she thought they did. She crossed her fingers that she wouldn’t have to answer their questions today.

  She was still feeling a bit defeated, but she was trying to raise her head and get back to normal. She’d stopped praying for peace in this situation and she knew this was a sin to give up. On her ride into town, she sat high in the saddle on Shamrock and prayed fervently for forgiveness. Then she prayed for courage to move forward.

 
When she arrived at the bakery, she was in a much better frame of mind and she was ready to face the day doing something she loved.

  After her very short courtship with Dominic, Charity realized that she needed to get out and do more. So she did.

  Courting wasn’t an enjoyable thing for her, but when a young widower in the church invited her to the church picnic she went. She didn’t stop to think about it, she just agreed to go. The day was a disaster. He kept referring to his dead wife and she was uncomfortable being at a church function with someone other than Eli.

  Then there was the Bergman’s next door neighbor. He was about Charity’s age and had just started work at the bank. He was handsome and friendly. He was a church attender which made Charity happy. They’d met when he came to the bakery to pick up some bread for his mother.

  This relationship was doomed from the start. The Berman’s neighbor, Timothy, was already betrothed to another. He was balking at the idea of marrying the girl as it was a marriage arranged by the couple’s parents. He gave in because he really had no choice. He was a nice young man, but Charity wasn’t broken hearted when this romance fell through.

  Hope and Andrew kept their word and didn’t present any more suitable men as potential suitors. Charity was finally beginning to relax where they were concerned. She knew Hope had gotten the message, but she didn’t trust her sister to simply butt out.

  Dominic had tried to see her multiple times. He’d sent a note of apology. He’d asked Andrew about her several times. She wasn’t interested. One day while she was walking down to The Gilded Goose to see her sister, she bumped into Dominic. Literally.

  He was standing on the street talking to another man with his back to her. In truth, she didn’t realize it was him. She tripped just as she got to him and fell right into him. She almost knocked both men down.

  He turned good-naturedly to see who had bumped into him and his face lit up. “Charity! How wonderful to see you!”

  “Oh, Dominic. I didn’t realize that was you. I’m dreadfully sorry for almost knocking you down.”

  She would have apologized to the other man, too, but he had gone back inside his shop.

  “Do you think fate brought us together today?” he asked.

  “No, I don’t. I don’t really believe in fate. I believe in the power of God to direct us.”

  “Well, then. Do you think that God, brought us together today?”

  Charity blew out her breath and glared at the man. His insolence wasn’t something she was inclined to appreciate. “Look, Dominic. This, um, you, won’t work for me. We’re not suited for one another. Not even a little. Let’s just accept that and move on.”

  “That’s quite a pointed message, I’d say. A woman who speaks her mind is quite attractive. I’m surprised you’re not running an enterprise instead of working in the bakery and doing church work on the side.”

  “Please don’t patronize me and don’t make fun of what I believe in. You see, this is part of the reason that you and I are not a good match. I honestly don’t know why you’re even interested in seeing me again. I’m not a fun partner for you.”

  “All kidding aside, Charity, I’m sorry for what happened. I won’t go into the details of what happened. I’m sure none of that matters, anyway. Just know that I’m sincere when I say that I wish things could have worked out for us. You’re a wonderful woman and some man is going to be mighty lucky to have you as his wife.”

  Charity blushed against her will. She didn’t want to succumb to any flowery talk from this man. He was nothing but trouble. Apparently, though he’d gotten her message and was going to leave her alone.

  “Thank you. I wish you all the best.” With that, she turned and walked away. She didn’t see him tip his hat or smile ruefully. The Dominic chapter in her life was closed.

  She started back home. She’d been going to surprise Hope at her shop, but her enthusiasm for that had passed. She walked back to the bakery and got on Shamrock to head home. Her mind ran wild for the whole journey.

  Even after all these situations with men, she was never able to truly put Eli out of her mind. She was tired of all of it. Going out with potential suitors was boring, tedious, and pointless.

  Charity, for the first time in her life, was beginning to give up hope of having a happy family of her own. She had always thought that things would work out, but with the way things were going for her, she really was beginning to doubt that.

  Charity just couldn’t understand why no matter what she did, things never worked out for her good. She was cursed. She didn’t even believe in this kind of thing, but she was starting to wonder. Not seriously, she was almost desperate to find out why she couldn’t find happiness.

  Truthfully, she had never thought much about love and marriage, before she met Eli. She had been content to let things just work out how they would. But since Eli, everything was different. He still consumed her thoughts and her heart.

  She felt like it was probably causing her to make decisions that were uncharacteristic of her. She didn’t want any of the men that she was courting and yet she continued to try because she felt the need to have a life like her sisters had. She wanted the kind of relationships they had. There was nothing wrong with that. She wasn’t jealous, she was just inspired by how things had worked out for them.

  Eli had awakened the desire for love inside her. For as much as she wished that she could put it back, she knew that just wasn’t possible. It hurt. She wished it didn’t.

  It was clear to her now, more than ever, that in addition to leading a life with God as the center and guiding light, she wanted a Godly husband. And eventually a family. All the flurry around Faith and the coming birth of her new niece or nephew made her want to have babies.

  She had thought about children before and thought it would be nice to have them. It had never been such a burning desire before now. She always knew she had much to accomplish before getting to that point. But now she felt differently.

  Yet, she didn’t want just any husband or any babies. Oh, no. She wanted Eli and she wanted to start a family with him. All this unrest in her heart. All this sadness in her soul. Because of Eli. And because she wanted Eli’s children.

  She was a little surprised when she saw the gate to the ranch just head. She’d come all this way with her mind on the state of her life. The state of her heart. And her unhappiness with all of it. She was thankful Shamrock knew the way home because she’d not paid any attention to where they were going on the trip home.

  She walked in the door of the cottage and hung her bonnet on the peg and put her bag on the bench. Her mother was standing there waiting on her when she turned to head further into the house.

  “You’ll never guess who I spoke with this afternoon,” her mother said with a broad smile.

  Really not wanting to play the guessing game, Charity answered a little crossly, “Who, Mama?”

  “Cherise Smallwood. She was in town buying vegetables. Their garden hasn’t done so well and she needs to preserve some things for the winter.”

  “That’s nice, Mama. I know you like her and I’m sure you had a good chat.” She turned to go to her room and relax a bit before supper time.

  “Well, don’t you want to know what she had to say?”

  Charity let out her breath slowly. She didn’t really need this now, but she saw no way out without hurting her mother’s feelings. She didn’t want to do that. She really did want to get back to her former self. The one where she was cheerful and always happy to hear anything anyone she loved had to say. This was her chance to get back to where she wanted to be.

  She pasted on a smile and turned back to her mother. “Of course, I do. So what’s happening with Mrs. Smallwood? Besides her need to buy vegetables.”

  Helen Barnesdale was clearly about to burst. Charity could see the excitement in her eyes. Clearly she had some news that Charity was going to have to feign happiness over.

  “Well, the minister saw you in town with
a few of your recent suitors,” she began.

  Charity had no idea what might come next and she felt her cheeks redden. Partly in anger and partly in embarrassment.

  Before she could protest to her mother, she continued, “So, Cherise said that the parson sent a letter to Eli, telling him that you have suitors.”

  “Oh, no. I can’t believe this,” Charity groaned. “What else?”

  “Well, he told Eli that he’ll help him figure out a way to stay in San Jose. Cherise was very happy that Bruce took the bull by the horns and stepped in. She thinks it will work to get Eli to come to his senses.”

  Charity wasn’t sure what to say. She wanted to lash out and at the same time she was amazed that she meant so much to Eli’s parents. She was torn about how to feel. She was hopeful that this could work and that Eli could come home for her. But she was sad that it may take a summons from his father to get him to come back.

  She stared at her mother with a keen eye before she said, “So, his father is basically blackmailing him to get him to come home.”

  Rearing back, her mother seemed confused, “I thought you would be happy about that? Eli is the one you want, isn’t he?”

  Charity took a moment to collect her thoughts before she responded, “Of course, Eli is exactly what I want and who I want. But the idea that he is being forced home from a job he loves just to be with me is unacceptable. I don’t want it to happen that way. I want it to be his idea. And Mama, don’t you remember that he hasn’t written one single letter to me since he’s been gone. That doesn’t sound like someone who wants to be with me.”

  “First of all, Charity, you told him it was over. What was he supposed to do? Pine away for you forever? And secondly, he isn’t being forced to do anything. If he doesn’t want to come to San Jose, then he won’t return. If he wants you, then he is going to find a way to get back here. It’s time for this thing to either go or be done once and for all.”