Love Inspired Historical October 2013 Bundle: A Family for ChristmasThe Secret PrincessTaming the Texas RancherAn Unlikely Union

by Winnie Griggs

  I’m sorry, he had said.

  She didn’t know what else was coming after that, but she could not bear to hear it. The kitchen door creaked behind her. In stepped Abigail.

  “I embarrassed him,” Emily blurted out.

  Her friend offered her a handkerchief, then her shoulder. “Are you sure ’bout that?”

  “Yes. Oh, Abigail! If you had only seen the look on his face!”

  “I did see it. Just now, as he left. He looked like a man with a heavy heart.”

  “I know.”

  “I’m not sure you do. He don’t look like he wants to go to Washington.”

  She raised her head. “He told you?”

  “He tole us all.”

  The door creaked once more. Trudy, Elizabeth and Sally surrounded her.

  “Oh, Em,” Elizabeth said. “I’m sorry.”

  The expression on her face revealed the depth of her understanding.

  “You knew?”

  Elizabeth smiled gently then, looked at the others. “Of course we did. You light up like a firefly whenever he is around.”

  Emily sniffed back tears. “That which I shamefully revealed.”

  “What is so terrible about him knowing?” Trudy asked.

  “He doesn’t feel the same.”

  “Don’t be so sure ’bout that,” Abigail said. “I saw how he looked after you when you left the room.”

  Inside, Emily felt a spark of hope, but it was quickly doused by the cold water of reality. “He’s leaving,” she said.

  “That may be,” Elizabeth countered, “but a lot could happen between now and then.”

  * * *

  Evan shut the door behind him and sat down on his cot. He knew what he wanted, was fairly certain now what she wished for, as well. Still amazed, he reviewed his planned course of action.

  Officers often took families into the field. She wanted to return to nursing. Within the Capitol district there would be plenty of bureaucrats and high-ranking officers who would have no tolerance for Southern sympathizers, but any suspicion would fall to him. As his wife, an oath of loyalty would not be required.

  But his impulsive nature had led to a great many heartaches in the past. Was this plan in Emily’s best interest? He had no idea how long the war would last, how many postings he would visit along the way. What will conditions be like? And when it is all over, where will we go?

  Evan had money in the bank, but there was no home to offer her. He raked his fingers through his hair. What woman in her right mind would enlist for a life such as this? What father would give his permission?

  And, he wondered, what does the Almighty wish?

  On the desk, beside the tintype of his brother, lay Mary’s Bible. He reached for it. Was a comfortable life in the city of her birth what God desired for Emily?

  He sighed. If she had come into his life for the sole purpose of drawing him back to his Creator, he would be forever grateful. But he truly hoped she was to be more than that.

  Lord, You alone have the answers. Please reveal them to me.

  * * *

  Despite her distracted heart, Emily had to smile. The attendance that Sunday morning was overwhelming. Every pew was filled to capacity. The outpouring of generosity in donations of canned food items and winter clothing alone were simply incredible. Beyond that, several hundred dollars had also been raised.

  The contributions were the result of wealthy Baltimore families and Federal soldiers who had attended the prayer meetings or worked at the hospital. Dr. Turner was among them, so was Jeremiah Wainwright. After the service they quickly found Emily and her friends.

  “Well done, ladies,” Dr. Turner said. “Well done, indeed.”

  “It is you we should thank,” Emily insisted.

  The old gentleman smiled and shook his head. “Evan told us what a fine cause this was. It was he who encouraged the attendance.”

  The emotion she felt at the mention of his name was bittersweet. The thought that the once hard-hearted Federal doctor would encourage his fellow physicians and staff to contribute to a cause that would chiefly benefit Confederate prisoners of war was simply amazing.

  “When does your commission delegate depart?” Dr. Turner asked.

  “Tomorrow morning, the ten o’clock train.”

  He nodded. “Have you an army to deliver all these supplies to the depot?”

  She chuckled. It would take just that. “Yes. The gentlemen of the congregation have all volunteered, and Mr. Griffith and several other delegates are coming, as well.”

  “After what you have organized, young lady, if that man is smart, he’ll make you a delegate.”

  Emily appreciated Dr. Turner’s words. Though at one time she would have wished for exactly that, she no longer found such credentials important. She could make a difference right where she was.

  The following morning she stood on the platform at Camden Station. The last of the crates were loaded on the southbound train. She had hoped Evan would come, but he had not. Although disappointed, a measure of satisfaction still pulsed through her.

  “This will be a great help to Edward,” Sally whispered.

  “Indeed,” Julia said. “I only wish we could have finished more socks.”

  “We’ll send more next time,” Emily insisted.

  When the crates were secure and all passengers on board, the whistle blew. Reverend Henry uttered the unspoken thoughts of all those looking on.

  “Go in peace,” he said. “And may God’s will be done.”

  The wheels began to chug. The group watched until the last car disappeared around the bend.

  “Well, ladies,” Sam said. “I have classes waiting and I suspect all of you would prefer the comfort of a fireside to this cold.”

  Rachael squealed as if to say she concurred. Laughing, Emily, Julia and Sally could not disagree. Frost clung to the lampposts and the wind was ripping at their cloaks.

  Leaving the station, the carriage ride home was just as cold. Sam dropped Emily at her front gate. She longed for a cup of tea and the opportunity to tell her parents about all that had taken place. Emily wondered why they had not come. They had promised to arrive before the train’s departure.

  She pushed open the door. Her mother met her at once.

  “Hurry now!” she said, tugging off Emily’s winter cap, then her cloak.

  “Whatever is the matter?”

  “He’s with your father. You don’t want to keep him waiting any longer.”

  There was only one reason a waiting gentleman caller would please her mother so. Emily’s heart slammed into her ribs. “Keep who waiting?”

  Mrs. Davis grinned. “Dr. Mackay!”

  Emily gasped. “Truly?”

  “Yes, my dear. Oh!” her mother then complained. “Your hands are like ice. For goodness’ sake, try to warm them!” She urged her toward the library.

  Emily feared that any moment she was going to wake, for this had to be a dream. Sure enough, however, Evan was standing in front of the fireplace, staring at her portrait. The moment he turned around, a smile filled his face. Emily no longer had any doubt.

  Breathe! Breathe!

  “My dear,” she heard her father say. “Dr. Mackay wishes to speak with you.”

  He then exited the room.

  Smile fading, Evan took a step forward. His jaw twitched. This time she recognized the action for what it was.

  He is just as nervous as I.

  After several seconds of silence, he cleared his throat.

  “I have never been very good with words,” he said. “I suppose that is why Mary wished me to read poetry.”

  He visibly cringed. Emily’s heart went out to him. Her own anxiety eased somewhat.

  “Did you wish for us to recite ‘Bruce’s March to Bannockburn’? I believe I know most of that.”

  The corner of his mouth lifted with a smile. He chuckled. “No. Hardly.” He moved toward her. Emily’s heart fluttered.

  “You know I have orde
rs for Washington.”

  “Yes.”

  “It won’t be an easy place. Conditions will not be comfortable.”

  “I dare say that isn’t the purpose for you being there.”

  “Aye. I mean, no, ’tis not.” He swallowed. “I am to report next week. There...is not much time.”

  Her heart was now pounding as she waited most eagerly. Evan drew in a quick breath, took her hand and knelt before her. Emily stared at his strong jaw, which at the moment was having such trouble working.

  “Emily Davis, I love you. Will you come with me and be my love? Will you marry me?”

  The words could not have been delivered more beautifully, but now it was she who was at a loss for them. Tears would have to do.

  He squeezed her hand. That smile emerged. “Is that a yes, lass?”

  She could not contain her happiness. Throwing her arms around his neck, she cried, “I love you, Evan. Oh, how I love you!”

  “And I you, Emily.”

  Slowly he stood and brushed her cheek with his fingers. Emily felt a shiver as he lifted her chin. Then she lost herself in the strength of his arms and the gentleness of his kisses.

  Epilogue

  Washington, D.C.

  March 4, 1865

  Evan steered his wife and infant son around a large puddle, inching as close as they could to the East Portico. Weeks of rainy weather had left the Capitol grounds wet and muddy, yet thousands still had gathered.

  “Can you see him?” he asked.

  “I can now.”

  A hush fell over the crowd as President Lincoln began to speak.

  “Fellow countrymen, at this second appearing to take the oath of the presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address then there was at the first....”

  The late winter wind ruffled cloaks and tugged at the hats of those around them. Evan drew Emily a little closer. She looked up at him and smiled. One glance from those wide blue eyes still tied his tongue.

  She had left the luxury of Baltimore for the dark, near-destitute conditions of the military hospitals. Never once had she complained. Side by side they had worked, he mending wounds and she the broken hearts of countless men in blue and gray.

  “Let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes...”

  Aye, Evan couldn’t help but think as Lincoln continued. And God’s greatest purpose is to draw all men unto Him. May we now seek His guidance, chart a new course for this nation.

  The wind gusted again and little Andrew twisted his face in protest. Emily snuggled him close. Four years ago, if someone had told Evan that he would fall for a Southern woman, that he would make peace with the rebels, he wouldn’t have believed it possible. But she had taught him the healing power of forgiveness and the strength to be found in grace.

  Emily had managed to soften the hardest of hearts, even here in Washington. She had collected numerous funds and items for the Christian Commission, supplies that would be distributed to wounded soldiers and prisoners of war.

  Evan did not know when the battles would cease, but he knew eventually they would. The process of healing had already begun.

  “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds....”

  Emily looked up at him and smiled. Evan knew that together, they would seek to do just that.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from A FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS by Winnie Griggs.

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for choosing, An Unlikely Union, the second book in my civil war series. Although spared the destruction other Southern cities faced, Baltimore still witnessed the high cost of battle. Throughout the war it served as a distribution point for thousands of wounded soldiers and Confederate prisoners. Despite Federal occupation, Southern sympathy remained strong, particularly among the upper class. Supplies and information secretly flowed even as the U.S. Army tried desperately to maintain control. Martial law was instituted. Searches, seizures and arrests (often of innocent civilians) were common. Sadly, slavery remained legal throughout Maryland until a new state constitution took effect in 1864.

  Yet amid the abuse and desire for retribution on both sides, there were those committed to charity and reconciliation. The U.S. Christian Commission was one such example. Born out of the YMCA’s commitment to mentoring America’s young and the noontide prayer meetings of the late 1850s, the Commission provided relief for soldiers, sailors and prisoners of war by attending to both physical and spiritual needs. Hundreds of delegates sacrificed their own finances, health and, in some cases, their very lives to share God’s message of love and forgiveness on the battlefields, in the hospitals and camps. The volunteers treated their fellow countrymen with dignity and respect, regardless of which uniform they wore. Little by little, hearts were softened and the war-torn nation inched its way toward healing.

  The work however, is not yet complete. May we continue what they started.

  Let your light shine,

  Shannon Farrington

  Questions for Discussion

  How does Evan’s prejudice toward the people of Baltimore affect the way he treats Emily? How do her preconceived notions concerning “Yankees” influence her opinion of him? Have you ever made assumptions about people who were different than you?

  Why does Evan become so angry when Emily plays the role of the dying sergeant’s wife? Should she have done so? Why or why not?

  Although Emily respects many of the Federal physicians in the hospital, she perceives Evan as an enemy. How does her realization of such change her attitude toward him? What influence do you think Abigail may have had?

  Why does Evan recommend Emily for the position of night nurse?

  Why is Evan so secretive about his past? How does this affect his relationships with his fellow physicians in the hospital?

  Emily slowly realizes she is attracted to Evan. In what ways is he the man she dreams of marrying? In what ways is he different?

  Evan is hesitant to pray, because he fears God’s rejection. Have you ever felt this way? What did you do about it?

  When Emily learns her interaction with Ben Reed provides an opportunity for another prisoner’s escape, she regrets her involvement. Have you ever regretted an act of compassion? If so, what lesson did you learn?

  How does Evan’s attitude toward Confederate prisoners change once he realizes God has forgiven him for his past mistakes?

  When Emily learns that prisoner exchanges have stopped she is devastated. How does she cope with this reality?

  Which character can you identify with most in this story? Which scene is your favorite?

  Can forgiveness bring about healing? Is love truly more powerful than hate?

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Historical title.

  You find illumination in days gone by. Love Inspired Historical stories lift the spirit as heroines tackle the challenges of life in another era with hope, faith and a focus on family.

  Enjoy four new stories from Love Inspired Historical every month!

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  Chapter One

  Turnabout, Texas, November 1895

  “Stop! You can’t do this.”

  Eve’s protests fell on deaf ears as the conductor continued to forcibly escort her young friend off the train without so much as a backward glance. She trotted to keep up with the long-legged official as he moved toward the ex
it, his fist firmly clutching Leo’s collar.

  “Please be careful!” she called out as she saw Leo stumble. “He’s just a boy. Don’t hurt him.”

  But the conductor still didn’t slow down. Did the man have no feelings?

  As soon as they were on the platform, Eve scooted around to face him, determined to halt his progress and make him listen to her.

  “Mr. McIvers, you can’t mean to just toss him from the train and leave him here.” She tried to infuse her voice with as much authority and confidence as possible but was afraid there was a touch of pleading there, as well. How had she not realized before now that Leo was a stowaway?

  She risked a glance Leo’s way. The trapped, desperate look that had crossed the boy’s face when the conductor pounced on him a moment ago was still there. It was enough to break her heart—no child should look so haunted.

  “And what do you suggest I do with him?” The conductor, a beanpole of a man with bushy sideburns and an officious manner, looked down his nose at her as if she were no older than the ten-year-old in his grip.

  She was used to such treatment. Even though she was a grown woman of twenty, with her slight build and standing barely five feet two inches with her hair up, folks often dismissed her as a child. But Eve drew herself up to her full height and tried to match his stern expression. “I’m certain there’s been some kind of misunderstanding. If you’ll just allow Leo to explain—”

  Leo tried to shake himself free of the conductor’s grasp, but the man tightened his hold. “The time to explain has come and gone,” the man said sternly. “He’s a stowaway, pure and simple. And he rides no farther on my train.”