The Most Eligible Bachelor Romance Collection: Nine Historical Romances Celebrate Marrying for All the Right Reasons

by Amanda Barratt, Susanne Dietze, Cynthia Hickey, Shannon McNear, Gabrielle Meyer, Connie Stevens, Erica Vetsch, Gina Welborn

  Mr. Longley had not returned by supper. Sarah felt so tense, she decided to saddle a horse and go for a ride. She needed to leave the mission, and the ladies, behind.

  She had spent hours on horseback in the months since coming to Belle Prairie. Mr. Greenfield owned two horses, and he had said they could ride whenever they liked. Sarah rode often, because there was little trouble she could cause from the back of a horse.

  She told Mrs. Greenfield she was leaving, and she went to the barn where she saddled Sam, the gentle bay gelding she had come to love.

  They left the mission behind, and Sam took the familiar trail along the riverbanks. Sarah didn’t direct the horse away from the trail, because part of her wanted to check on Mr. Longley, even if from a distance, to ensure he was all right. She had packed a sandwich and a jar of cool water in case she came across him.

  She went north, thinking he would choose a fishing hole he had seen on his way downriver from Red Lake. She and Sam hadn’t gone far when she spotted Mr. Longley sitting on the riverbank, his Bible in hand.

  Before she could turn back, he saw her and rose from the ground. “Miss Ellis.” He had removed his sack coat and waistcoat, and had rolled up his sleeves. His tie was also removed and his top button undone. He looked relaxed… and terribly handsome.

  She reached for the bag she wore around her shoulder. “I brought you something to eat and drink. You missed all three meals today.”

  He looked to the sky, as if to judge the time. “Is it that late already?”

  Sarah dismounted and secured Sam’s reins to a small maple tree nearby. “I was beginning to worry about you.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry anyone.”

  She reached inside the bag and removed the sandwich and water. “It’s not much.”

  He took them from her and indicated where he had been sitting. “Would you care to join me?”

  “I should go back. I don’t want to interrupt you—I just wanted to make sure you were all right.”

  She turned to Sam and put her left foot in the stirrup.

  “Please don’t go.”

  Sarah lowered her foot and looked over her shoulder. He stood holding her offerings, his eyes inviting.

  “All right.”

  She sat next to him on the grass, her gaze on the meandering river before them. “Have you had any luck fishing?”

  “I haven’t even tried.”

  “I thought—”

  “I meant to fish, but I spent most of the day reading my Bible and praying.” He unwrapped the sandwich. “I also took a long nap. I didn’t sleep well last night.”

  That made two of them.

  Chapter 12

  Luke hadn’t realized how hungry he was until he bit into the venison sausage sandwich Miss Ellis had brought for him. The gamey flavor of the meat reminded him of the wild land they inhabited.

  Miss Ellis sat silently beside him, her gaze on the river. The blue sky reflected on the calm waters of the Mississippi, while puffy white clouds drifted lazily overhead, and a lone bald eagle soared on the wind.

  “Thank you for the sandwich.”

  She finally turned to him, and he was reminded of how open and honest her face appeared that first evening they had met.

  “Have you had a chance to think?” she asked.

  Her question surprised him, but he nodded, amazed at how comfortable he felt talking with her. “I have.”

  She pulled her feet up and rested her elbows on her knees. “What did you think about?”

  “My father.”

  She didn’t say anything, and he appreciated the space she gave him to pull his thoughts together.

  “My father is a minister,” he said. “I grew up under the watchful eyes of my parents, as well as an entire congregation. If I so much as moved right, when I should have moved left, I was reprimanded. It’s no wonder I became rebellious in college. Eventually my grades suffered, and I got into so much trouble, my parents were called to meet with the president.” He shook his head. “My father didn’t even have to say anything. The look of disappointment was all I needed to see. But he did pull me aside to tell me I had brought shame to the Longley name.”

  He swallowed the pain he still felt from that moment. “I would rather die than bring him shame again.” That’s why he had worked so hard to please his father from that day forward. “I came west because I couldn’t stay under his watchful eye any longer—but I find I still care too much what he thinks of me.”

  “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with caring what our parents think of us,” she said. “We just need to make sure we care more about what God thinks of us.”

  He thought about her words for a moment as he studied her face. All day, he had tried to push her out of his thoughts, but he couldn’t. He had tried to convince himself that he knew enough about her to make his decision, but he had been wrong. He didn’t know nearly enough.

  Maybe it was time he stopped worrying about what the Greenfields thought and get to know Sarah on his own—and the best place to start was at the beginning. “Where did you grow up?”

  “Huntington, Connecticut.” She toyed with the cuff of her dress. “My father owns a small farm there. My mother passed away two years ago, right after my older brother was married and moved to Amherst to minister at a church.”

  “What does your father think of you coming west?”

  She ran her slender finger over the frayed edge of the cuff. “I didn’t tell him I was leaving, but my conscience got the better of me by the time I reached St. Paul, so I sent him a letter then. I don’t know what he thinks.”

  Luke frowned. “Why didn’t you tell him?”

  “If I told him, he wouldn’t have let me come.”

  “Why not?”

  She was quiet for a moment before she answered. “He was never a believer, but he tolerated Mother bringing us to church. She was sick for a long time, and just before she died, she made me promise to fulfill my dream to serve in mission work. So I promised.”

  She plucked a loose thread from the cuff. “After Mother died, Father forbade me to go to church again. He said he wouldn’t allow me to be corrupted by false hope and hollow teaching. So I had to disobey him and sneak away to church. It was the only place I felt truly at peace during those hard months.”

  Another broken rule—for another noble cause.

  She lifted her eyes to the river, her gaze resting on a distant point. “I taught school to raise enough money to go to Mount Holyoke, and my brother helped as much as he could. My father only allowed it because he wanted me to get a better job to help financially. When Mrs. Greenfield came to Mount Holyoke, it was my opportunity to fulfill my promise to Mother. But I knew Father wouldn’t allow me to come… so I didn’t tell him.”

  “Does Mrs. Greenfield know he didn’t give his blessing?”

  She was quiet for a long time.

  “Didn’t you tell her?”

  She worried her bottom lip for a moment. “She didn’t ask, so I didn’t tell her.”

  A ladybug landed on Luke’s hand and he watched it crawl to the tip of his thumb before it flew away. “Is being a missionary everything you’d hoped?”

  “I’ve never felt more fulfilled in my life.” She looked at him with an earnest face. “I love doing this work, and I especially love knowing I’m making my mother proud. For the first time in my life, I feel truly alive.”

  Their eyes found each other, and he felt their hearts had, too. “You’ve just summed up exactly how I feel.”

  They sat in silence for a moment, and a sense of contentment flooded Luke.

  Finally, he stood and offered his hand. “Do you know how to fly fish, Miss Ellis?”

  She shook her head.

  “Would you like me to teach you?”

  A smile as bright as the sunshine tilted her lips. She reached out and slipped her delicate fingers inside his hand. “I’d love to learn.”

  “Come with me.” He helped her to h
er feet, and then he grabbed his fly rod.

  He led her to the banks of the river, her hand still in his. “You’ll need to take off your shoes and stockings, and tie up your dress.”

  She didn’t hesitate or ask why, but sat on a large rock and did as he instructed. He took off his socks and shoes and rolled up his pant legs. She stood, pulled the back of her dress up to the front, and then secured it in the belt around her small waist.

  “Mrs. Greenfield would be shocked if she saw me. There has to be a rule against wearing my dress this way.”

  He laughed and offered his hand again while they stepped out into the river. Cool water pooled around their ankles, and hard pebbles jabbed at his feet. “We’ll need to go out a bit farther. Are you all right?”

  Her eyes were large with delight. “The water feels amazing.”

  Standing there with her felt amazing, too.

  He gave her a quick lesson, showing her how to hold the rod in her right hand and the line in her left, and how to cast the artificial fly into the water to attract the smallmouth bass.

  “Now it’s your turn.” He stood back to watch.

  She pulled the rod back and tossed the fly into the water. Her movements were a bit clumsy, but he admired her for trying. And when she laughed, he laughed with her.

  “I’m completely helpless,” she said.

  He reached his arms around her and gently put her hand where it belonged on the rod. Together, they pulled it back and tossed the fly out into the water. “Just like that,” he said.

  She smelled of wind and wildflowers, and when she turned, her bare feet rubbed against his in the water.

  Suddenly, he became aware of every inch of her body close to his. Her warm breath brushed his mouth, and he wanted nothing more than to taste her sweet lips.

  By the look in her eyes, she wanted the same thing.

  For the briefest moment, it felt as if the world held its breath, waiting to see what he would do.

  “Miss Ellis…”

  “It’s Sarah.”

  The wind played with the curls about her cheeks, and he lifted his hand to touch one of the tendrils—

  A tug on the line brought both their gazes back to the water.

  “I have something!” She yanked on the line, her face beaming.

  He’d barely helped her land the fish before she breathlessly asked, “May I try again?”

  He nodded and then stood behind her. He helped her cast once again, taking more pleasure in helping her than he had ever taken in fishing alone.

  Chapter 13

  Sarah had never enjoyed herself more. For hours she and Mr. Longley stood in the river, catching a string of smallmouth bass. She would never tire of fishing, especially with him by her side.

  As they fished, they spoke of anything that came to mind. Some things were trivial, but other things reached deep inside both of them.

  The sun continued to sink in the sky, but Sarah wasn’t ready to go back to the mission, and it didn’t appear that Luke was either.

  Finally, they stepped out of the river to dry their feet in the tall grass. When their feet were dry, they put on their socks and shoes and picked up their things. Luke took Sam’s reins in his hand, and they walked slowly back to the mission, leading the horse behind them.

  The first star pricked the purple and orange sky as they unsaddled Sam and rubbed him down for the night.

  Their conversation had not stopped, and as they walked from the barn to the house, they didn’t notice Mrs. Greenfield in the doorway until they were almost upon her.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Greenfield,” Sarah said.

  “May I have a word with both of you?”

  Sarah glanced at Luke, a slither of apprehension snaking up from her stomach and into her throat. “Of course.”

  They followed her through the foyer and into the back office where Mr. Greenfield sat waiting. He rose when they entered the room.

  No one said a word until Mrs. Greenfield closed the door.

  “I’m surprised at you, Mr. Longley.” Mr. Greenfield came around his desk to stand in front of Luke. “Everyone must be in the house by sunset—and not a minute later. It’s much too dangerous to be out of the house at night. Were you aware of the curfew?”

  Luke dropped his gaze. “I was aware of it.”

  “Sarah.” Mrs. Greenfield clasped her hands in front of her waist. “How could you break yet another rule?”

  Sarah swallowed the shame. “I’m very sorry. The evening ran away from us, and we weren’t aware of the time.”

  “It was very careless of you.”

  Sarah closed her eyes briefly, wishing she could be careful for once in her life.

  “Where were you?” Mrs. Greenfield asked. “I was worried sick. You left the house over three hours ago. I was about to send out a search party.”

  “I brought Mr. Longley a sandwich, and he showed me how to fish.”

  “It’s my fault,” Luke said. “Please don’t blame Miss Ellis.”

  Mrs. Greenfield sighed. “Sarah, I’m afraid we cannot tolerate your disobedience any longer. You not only put yourself at risk, but you’ve endangered Mr. Longley as well. We need to uphold our punishment, or others may do the same.”

  “I’m to be suspended?” Sarah’s tone was laced with disbelief. How could she come so far, just to be suspended?

  “Not suspended.” Mrs. Greenfield’s face lined with regret. “Terminated.”

  “But she’s not to blame,” Luke said. “I was with her, and I should have made sure we were back in time.”

  Mrs. Greenfield reached for an envelope on the desk. “We received a letter today that has solidified our decision.”

  She handed the letter to Sarah.

  With a trembling hand, Sarah took the letter and looked at the handwriting.

  Father.

  Mr. Greenfield sat on the edge of his desk, his arms crossed. “You can imagine our surprise at discovering he didn’t know you were in Minnesota until you had already arrived.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me, Sarah?” Mrs. Greenfield asked.

  Humiliation and disappointment coursed through Sarah. “If you knew, you wouldn’t have let me come.”

  “Your father is coming to take you home.” Mrs. Greenfield’s voice held her sorrow. “He should be here any day.”

  Father was coming all this way to take her home? The letter trembled so violently in her hands Luke reached out and took it from her.

  “I know you are of an age to make up your own mind, Miss Ellis,” said Mr. Greenfield. “But I’m afraid we cannot allow you to disobey your father. We will expect you to be ready to leave as soon as he arrives.”

  “But—”

  “Good night, Sarah,” said Mrs. Greenfield. “We’ll see you in the morning.”

  Sarah wanted to stay and fight for her dream—for her promise to Mother—but there was no point. There was nothing she could do.

  She opened the door and slipped out into the shadowed foyer, unable to look at Luke.

  Tears stung the back of her eyes as she thought of leaving. Father would be furious when he arrived, and he’d lash her with his tongue all the way home.

  She pulled herself up the stairs, feeling weak and powerless. One lone lantern sat on a table in the foyer and sent light quivering on the stairway.

  “Sarah.” Luke’s voice stopped her ascent.

  He took the stairs two at a time until he stood before her. “I’m very sorry, for everything.”

  She took a deep breath and found her voice. She spoke quietly, not wanting to disturb the others who were already in bed. “It’s not your fault. It was careless of me to keep you out so late.”

  “Sarah.” His voice was gentle as he took her hand in his. “It wasn’t careless of you. I’ve never known anyone more thoughtful in my life.”

  Sarah looked down at his strong hand holding hers, tears gathering in her eyes.

  “There has to be something I can do.” He took one more step a
nd was now eye to eye with her. The light flickered across his face as he studied her.

  There was nothing he could do, short of marrying her. Father couldn’t demand she return if she was married. But she wouldn’t say this to Luke. He needed to make up his own mind.

  She slipped her hand from his. “There’s nothing.”

  She pulled away and ascended the steps, not looking back to see if he watched her go.

  Chapter 14

  Luke watched Sarah climb the stairs, feeling helpless. She had been wrong to come without her father’s consent, and if Luke had been her father, he’d feel exactly as Mr. Ellis felt. He would move heaven and earth to rescue his daughter from the wild frontier.

  But Sarah didn’t need rescuing. She was strong and determined, and would do well as a missionary. What she needed was a husband to fulfill the board’s wishes—and prevent her father from taking her away from the place she loved.

  Luke headed toward Mr. Greenfield’s office, determination in his steps. In the days he’d come to know Sarah, he had developed respect and admiration for her. A spark had ignited that he knew would turn to love, given the time and commitment Sarah said love needed. And he was willing—desirous—to make that commitment to her.

  She didn’t have the most experience on the mission field like Miss Smith, but her heart longed to serve and proclaim the Gospel, and she wasn’t afraid of hard work. Her eyes didn’t twinkle with uncontainable joy like Miss Cooper, but her joy was in serving the Lord, and when hard times came, her faith would be the rock she would stand on. And though she wasn’t stunning like Miss Pinet, her inner beauty came from a deep well that would never run dry, and as she aged and grew in wisdom, she would only become more beautiful.

  Luke knocked on the office door.

  Mrs. Greenfield opened the door and invited him to enter. Mr. Greenfield sat at his desk, his head bent and his hands clasped as if in prayer.

  Suddenly, Luke was reminded of their advice to him about Sarah. What would they say when they found out he was going against their better judgment to marry her?

  Mr. Greenfield looked up. “I was hoping you’d come back.”