Grace didn’t stop to think. She threw herself into Alex’s arms and kissed him. But then she remembered when she’d done the same thing at the fort and he’d pushed her away. She stopped despite Alex’s passionate response, and this time she was the one to step back.
“I’m sorry.”
He shook his head and reached for her. “I’m not, and I was a fool to stop you the last time you kissed me like that.” He pulled her back into his arms. “Grace, I love you, and I want you to be my wife.”
She nodded, fighting back more tears. “I love you, Alex, and I want very much to be your wife. I never thought I’d hear you ask.”
There was rustling in the brush behind her, and Grace turned to see Nigel walking away. He had most likely been listening for some time.
“I need to go talk to him,” she said, pulling away from Alex. “Go to the house, and I’ll meet you there.”
“I won’t leave you to face him alone.”
“It’s all right. He’s a kind man and I never lied to him. He always knew there was someone else, that I didn’t love him. I only agreed to marry him for the sake of my sisters. I had to have a way to provide for them.”
“I figured as much. Why don’t I wait here with your horse?”
Grace smiled and nodded. “Thank you.”
She hurried after Nigel and caught up with him just as he cleared the forest and started across his recently cleared land.
“Wait, Nigel. Please.”
He stopped and slowly turned. Great sadness filled his expression. “You don’t need to say anything.”
Grace went to him. “But I do. I never meant to hurt you.”
“I know that. You were honest about everything.” He released a heavy sigh. “I suppose down deep, I knew we’d never marry.”
She smiled. “Nigel, you’re a good man, and you deserve a wife who truly loves you. I want that for you, because I know what it is to marry without love.”
“I was sure in time that I could make you love me.”
Grace knew otherwise. “I’m sorry. Please know that I do care about you. You’ve been so kind to me—so helpful in caring for my animals.”
“I’ll keep on caring for them if you like.” He shrugged. “It’s no problem.”
“Thank you. For now, that would be very helpful.” She touched his arm. “I’ll pray that God sends you a woman worthy of your love.”
She turned and walked away without saying anything further. She hadn’t gone far into the woods when she spied Alex. He hadn’t waited where they’d talked but had moved within range to help her should she need it. His protective nature made her smile.
“I believe I should go home and put Hope’s and Mercy’s minds at rest. They were very unhappy that I was going to marry Nigel.”
He put his arm around her. “Not nearly as much as I was.”
That night after Alex had left for his room at the hotel, Grace finished cleaning the kitchen and thought about how happy she was for the first time in such a very long time.
“I still can’t believe you thought I’d throw you and your sisters out of the house,” Uncle Edward said, bringing her his empty coffee cup.
“Well, there was no reason to believe you wouldn’t need this house for your new family. How was I to know that the widow had a much better and bigger house in town?”
“Still, you should have known I would never have abandoned you.”
“I didn’t think you would abandon us. I just figured you’d need us out of the way. Now I know better.” She took the cup from him and stretched up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “And I love you all the more.”
His face reddened. “Well, don’t let it happen again. You and your sisters and Alex too are welcome to stay here as long as you like. As far as I’m concerned, it’s your home.”
“Thank you. I haven’t had a chance to ask Alex his preferences. I think he has to sort out a great deal before we can marry—especially where a job is concerned.”
“I mentioned to him that I’m starting up my own lumber mill. I figured he might want to come in with me—maybe be a partner.”
Grace couldn’t hide her pleasure. “That might be a perfect solution. Alex loves working outdoors, but he’s no farmer. I couldn’t imagine him giving up trapping, but I think this might be something that would suit him.”
“I hope so. It’s a lot of work for just one old man.”
Laughing, Grace went back to work. “You’ll never be old, Uncle Edward. There’s too much orneriness in you.”
“That’s a fact,” he said, giving a hearty laugh. “Well, this ornery man is going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
The house was quiet. Mercy and Hope had gone upstairs sometime earlier. Both were happy at the new turn of events. Grace had worried about how her announcement would affect Hope, but she seemed pleased.
Giving the kitchen one last look, Grace put away her dishcloth. She blew out the lamp and made her way to the front of the house, where the fire in the hearth lit the room in a golden glow. It really was a comfortable little house, and it pleased her to think they might stay there.
She walked to the front door, thinking only to secure the latch, but instead she opened it and stepped outside to gaze up at the surprisingly clear sky. The stars seemed almost close enough to touch, and the full moon shone so bright that she could make out details along the river.
“Thank You, Lord. I know we’ve a long way to go, but I feel confident You will be with us every step of the way.”
She hugged her arms to her body and just enjoyed the silence. She was half a world away from where she’d started, but somehow it felt like home.
“Grace.”
She startled. Alex appeared from the shadows. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d gone back to the hotel.”
He drew closer and took her in his arms. “I couldn’t stand being so far away from you.”
She laughed. “It’s not even a mile to the hotel.”
“Far enough that it’s difficult to protect my treasure.”
“Your treasure?”
“Yes, my treasured Grace.” He kissed her gently, then turned her toward the house when she shivered.
“Since you’re awake and obviously have nothing else to do, what say we plan our wedding?” He followed her inside, then drew her into his arms again. “I understand there’s a preacher with an opening at the end of this month.”
Grace had no chance to reply because his lips were once again upon hers. She sighed and lost herself in this most wonderful moment.
Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over one hundred novels, both historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her stories, as seen in her bestselling HEIRS OF MONTANA and ALASKAN QUEST series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Visit Tracie’s website at www.traciepeterson.com.
Books by Tracie Peterson
www.traciepeterson.com
HEART OF THE FRONTIER
Treasured Grace
SAPPHIRE BRIDES
A Treasure Concealed
A Beauty Refined • A Love Transformed
BRIDES OF SEATTLE
Steadfast Heart
Refining Fire • Love Everlasting
LONE STAR BRIDES
A Sensible Arrangement
A Moment in Time • A Matter of Heart
Lone Star Brides (3 in 1)
LAND OF SHINING WATER
The Icecutter’s Daughter
The Quarryman’s Bride • The Miner’s Lady
LAND OF THE LONE STAR
Chasing the Sun
Touching the Sky • Taming the Wind
BRIDAL VEIL ISLAND*
To Have and To Hold
To Love and Cherish • To Honor and Trust
STRIKING A MATCH
Embers of Love
Hearts Aglow • Hope Rekindled
SONG OF ALASKA
Dawn’s Prelude
Morning’s Refrain • Twilight’
s Serenade
ALASKAN QUEST
Summer of the Midnight Sun
Under the Northern Lights
Whispers of Winter
Alaskan Quest (3 in 1)
BRIDES OF GALLATIN COUNTY
A Promise to Believe In
A Love to Last Forever • A Dream to Call My Own
THE BROADMOOR LEGACY*
A Daughter’s Inheritance
An Unexpected Love • A Surrendered Heart
BELLS OF LOWELL*
Daughter of the Loom
A Fragile Design • These Tangled Threads
LIGHTS OF LOWELL*
A Tapestry of Hope
A Love Woven TrueThe Pattern of Her Heart
DESERT ROSES
Shadows of the Canyon
Across the Years • Beneath a Harvest Sky
HEIRS OF MONTANA
Land of My Heart • The Coming Storm
To Dream Anew • The Hope Within
LADIES OF LIBERTY
A Lady of High Regard
A Lady of Hidden Intent
A Lady of Secret Devotion
RIBBONS OF STEEL**
Distant Dreams • A Hope Beyond
A Promise for Tomorrow
RIBBONS WEST**
Westward the Dream
Separate Roads • Ties That Bind
WESTWARD CHRONICLES
A Shelter of Hope
Hidden in a Whisper • A Veiled Reflection
YUKON QUEST
Treasures of the North
Ashes and Ice • Rivers of Gold
In the Shadow of Denali***
All Things Hidden***
Beyond the Silence***
House of Secrets
A Slender Thread
What She Left for Me
Where My Heart Belongs
*with Judith Miller **with Judith Pella ***with Kimberley Woodhouse
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Twitter: @Bethany House
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