The Timeless Love Romance Collection

by Dianne Christner

  Moments later the minister could be seen crossing the grounds from the chapel. When he approached, Katie sighed with relief. The man was new to her, but sympathy shone out of his eyes. He looked like a man one could trust with the truths of heaven. Clay introduced him as Adam Thomas, the new minister of the church where they attended.

  The service was brief but sincere. Adam reminded them all of the boy Darius had once been, highlighting the good things he had done and even mentioning some of the more humorous episodes of his childhood. Once again memories came flooding back to Katie, and a tight smile touched her lips. Darius had been a real scamp as a child. She wondered how the minister knew the things he was saying. James or Norma must have spent considerable time with the man.

  The prayer the man led did not make false promises of heaven but rather asked for peace and blessings on those who remained behind. Katie grew even more impressed with the man. When the service was over, the others turned to leave, but Katie hesitated. Clay glanced at her in question. She stepped toward the flowers resting at the head of the grave and pulled a rose from one of the arrangements. She knelt by the grave and touched the rose briefly to her lips.

  Closing her eyes, she lifted up a heartfelt prayer of forgiveness for Darius and asked the same for herself. When she opened her eyes, Clay was standing close by, his face creased in concern. Katie gave him a brief smile before tossing the rose into the open grave. With that flower, she symbolically threw away all the hurt and anger she had been feeling for months.

  “I forgive you, Darius,” she whispered.

  She hadn’t realized the others had stopped to watch until she heard Norma burst into tears.

  “Oh, Katie …” she cried before turning and burying her face in her husband’s coat. James held her close, his eyes meeting Katie’s. She saw him swallow hard before, nodding, he turned and moved away, still holding Norma close to his side.

  Katie glanced at Clay and noticed the relief he didn’t bother to hide. Something else lurked behind the sadness in his telling eyes, but Katie was too tired to try to figure out what it was. She had not slept the night before, and now her nerves and adrenaline were failing her as the pressures of the last days finally subsided.

  Clay helped her to her feet, wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and started walking them toward the car. “McQuinn will be waiting at the house. Are you up to this?”

  She nodded. “Let’s just get this over with.”

  When they arrived, the others had already gathered in the parlor. Clay seated Katie on the sofa next to the fireplace, and Katie was grateful for its warmth. Her tiredness and nerves and the chill of the rain had converged to make her feel cold both inside and out. Clay seated himself next to her, his attention focused on the attorney.

  “Go ahead, McQuinn.”

  When all was said and done, Katie sat in stunned amazement. Her father’s money that had been put in trust for her was still intact, but everything else would have to be sold to pay Darius’s debts. For herself, Katie didn’t mind, but for her in-laws who were so proud of their family name, she knew the news had to be devastating.

  Norma had to be taken from the room, so distraught was she. James was solicitous toward her, his love evident in his desire to protect her.

  Katie looked at Clay. “You knew, didn’t you?”

  He turned away from her, nodding his head. “There’s more to it, but my father and I want neither you nor Mother involved. It’s being taken care of.”

  Katie thought of pressing the issue, but she didn’t really want to know. What they were talking about was not a part of her life. It was something Darius had chosen for himself.

  “Is there anything I can do to help your parents?”

  He sighed heavily. “You can tell them about the baby.”

  Katie was about to protest, but Clay forestalled her. “It will give them something good to think about.”

  She knew that was true, but she was also afraid they would try to keep her here, or maybe take the baby away from her. They had that kind of power.

  Reading her look, Clay took her by the shoulders and pulled her close. Their eyes met in silent communication.

  “Listen to me, Katie. No one will ever hurt you again, do you understand me? I won’t let that happen. Not again.”

  She wasn’t certain what he meant. “What are you saying, Clay?”

  “I’m telling you I won’t allow anyone to hurt you or the baby. I will never again allow things to be unclear between us. I’m putting my cards on the table. I love you, Katie, and I think you love me.”

  She frowned, and he went on. “I know this is neither the time nor the place, but I won’t allow you to disappear again and not understand how I feel about you. How I have felt about you for years. It’s why I always went away after being around you for even a short time. So many times I almost blurted it out, but I thought Darius really cared for you, and I couldn’t hurt him.”

  Katie stared at him in surprise. Then it was true. She had read it in his eyes before, but she had been afraid to believe it.

  “Oh, Clay.” It was all she could say. So much was left unsaid, but in truth, it needed to remain unsaid. The past was the past.

  “If you go to Arizona,” he continued, “I will be going, too. If you stay here, I will stay, too. Whatever you decide, I want to be with you.”

  She opened her mouth to speak, but he placed his fingers across her lips. “No. Not now. Let’s not say anything more right now. As I said, this is neither the time nor the place. Just answer me one question. Do you love me?”

  She nodded, pressing her lips against his fingers in a kiss. He sucked in a breath, his eyes turning a molten blue. He replaced his fingers with his lips and allowed his kiss to tell her everything she needed to know. She reveled in the security she felt in his arms, the warmth that filled her as his kiss deepened. When he finally released her, they both were breathing hard.

  “I have always loved you, Clay,” she whispered. “I just never allowed myself to admit it. I was always faithful to Darius, even in my thoughts.”

  He kissed her again, this time taking his time about it. When he finally released her, Katie knew she would never doubt his love again.

  James came back into the room, and Katie took a step away from Clay, but he wrapped an arm tightly around her shoulders and pulled her back to his side. He set his chin firmly and turned them both to face his father.

  “Father, there is something we have to tell you.”

  Epilogue

  Katie was breathing hard, sweat beading her brow despite the cold December temperatures.

  “Clay,” she admonished, “you’ve delivered babies before.”

  He glared at her from a pasty white face. “Not my own!”

  Katie hid her smile. The man was in a positive panic. Even so, his words touched her heart. This was his child. He had accepted that fact even before they were married. She loved him even more for that.

  She lay in the bed of their new home, preparing to deliver a child who had decided to come into the world a few weeks early. Not far in the distance was the Grand Canyon, an easy day’s car ride from where they had decided to build.

  “We could call a midwife,” she suggested, garnering her a black look from her husband.

  “There’s no time. Listen to me, sweetheart. When I tell you to push, you’ve got to push.”

  Katie felt the first stirrings of real fear. Something in Clay’s voice told her all was not right.

  “Clay?”

  A spasm wrenched the words from her mouth, and she cried out in pain.

  “Now, Katie!”

  She pushed until she thought she could push no more. Finally, she could hear the wail of a baby as Clay spanked its backside.

  “It’s a boy,” Clay cried, excitement evident in his voice. He quickly cleaned the infant and wrapped him, laying him in the cradle instead of handing him to Katie.

  Sighing, she lay back against their bed.

  “N
o, honey,” Clay told her. “There’s no time to rest. We’ve still got work to do.”

  Startled, she opened her mouth to speak, only to have the words choked off as another contraction seized her. So this was what had her husband so concerned. Twins. At another time she might have felt the amazement, but right now all she could think of was the pain lancing through her body.

  Wearied already, she still managed to gather enough strength to continue pushing until she felt the final rush as her other child entered the world.

  “It’s a girl,” Clay told her, this time his voice soft with feeling.

  Katie lay back exhausted until he placed her son against her breast. She smiled at the wrinkled little face of her son while Clay tended to their daughter.

  After he had their daughter clean and wrapped, he came and sat next to Katie on the bed. He noticed the tears in Katie’s eyes and smiled with understanding.

  Bending forward, he kissed her gently. His professional look scanned her from head to toe. “How are you feeling?”

  Katie was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. “Tired,” she murmured, and he smiled.

  “That’s to be expected. Rest now, sweetheart. I have our babies safe.”

  She closed her eyes as lethargy overtook her. Sighing, she drifted off to sleep.

  Clay watched his wife sleeping and felt such an overwhelming surge of love that he could barely breathe. He turned to look at the infant sleeping peacefully in her arms, then he glanced down at the infant sleeping in his own arms. Two. How could he not have known?

  The little tykes looked cherubic as they slept the sleep of exhaustion after birth, but he knew they would awaken soon and demand to be fed. He smiled at the thought. His life had certainly changed over the last few months and, it appeared, was about to change even more.

  Katie’s face, too, looked peaceful as she slept, and he thought she had never looked more beautiful.

  He tugged the crocheted blanket Dinah had sent them closer to his daughter. From her letter, it appeared that Miss Weston—now Mrs. Peterson—was going to have her own bundle of joy in a few months. Katie was thrilled.

  He touched his daughter’s cheek with a finger. “Well, little Sarah, it’s a good thing your mama had a boy’s and a girl’s name picked out.”

  Clay continued his watch over his family until the room began to darken from the sun’s descent. He got up to light the lamp sitting by the bed. Soon they would have electricity, but for now they would have to make do with the oil lamps.

  “I love you.”

  The quiet voice startled him. He turned to find Katie regarding him with eyes glowing with love. His heart turned over at her look. How had he managed to be so blessed?

  “I didn’t know you were awake,” he told her softly, coming to give her a kiss.

  “I love you,” she repeated.

  “I love you, too.”

  She began humming the Irving Berlin tune “Blue Skies.” As she studied their sleeping son, little Adam’s mouth puckered in his sleep as though he would add his own voice to the happy melody. Clay smiled, recognizing the joyful lilt in Katie’s voice for what it was. Indeed, as far as he was concerned there was nothing ahead but blue skies. Time and love had healed old wounds. As Katie was so fond of saying, today was the first day of the rest of their lives.

  OLYMPIC HOPES

  by Lynn A. Coleman

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to my grandson, Jeremiah, full of joy and energy. My prayer is that he will grow to be an honorable man grounded in the Word of God.

  Chapter 1

  Lake Placid, New York—1932

  Jamie scanned the long line in front of her and shivered. She’d been working the registration booths for hours. Athletes from all over the world were lining up, looking for anything and everything, and trying desperately to speak English. She had boned up on her French for the past three months, but few spoke that language much better than English.

  She looked behind her for someone to take her place. A short break and a warming pit stop in front of the grand fireplace were in order. She noticed Dr. Dewey prancing about in his full-length fur coat. The man was a genuine marvel.

  Her mother came through the hall with her arms loaded.

  “Mother, can you relieve me for a moment?”

  “Sure, I’ll be back in a couple minutes.”

  Jamie turned back to the line in front of her and asked, “May I help you?”

  “Is this the line for the speed skating competition?” a man inquired.

  She smiled, hearing English. “Yes. What’s your name, and which country do you represent?”

  His long, thin body seemed like it would fit his chosen sport.

  “Dameon Grant, U.S.A.”

  She reached for the list of American athletes and scanned its length. “I’m sorry, what did you say your name was?”

  “Dameon Grant.”

  “I don’t understand. You’re not on the list.”

  “What list?”

  “The list of athletes, of course. When did you qualify?”

  “Qualify?”

  Oh dear, she had another one of those. “Yes, the pretrial competition for the Olympics. Did you participate, and did you win a place on the team?”

  He pulled the knit cap off his head. His matted, sandy blond hair practically stuck to his skull. She reached out and placed her hand upon his. “You didn’t know, did you?”

  He shook his head no.

  Jamie’s heart went out to the young man. The Depression was hitting everyone. “You thought if you won, you’d earn some prize money for you or your family, right?”

  He nodded yes. He had a large backpack and a pair of racing skates slung over his shoulder.

  “How long have you been walking?”

  “One week. I take it there’s nothing here for me.”

  “I’m sorry. The athletes competed in the qualifying heats long ago. Are you hungry? I’m certain I can get you a hot meal.”

  He wrung his knit cap tightly in his hands. He’s a proud man and won’t beg for food, she assessed. “Let me ask around; perhaps there are some odd jobs you could help with.”

  “Really?” A glimmer of hope flickered through his hazel eyes.

  “Yeah.” It ought to be worth something that her parents were on the official Olympic Committee. They’d been working for the past three months, living in the area to help these games get under way.

  “Sit over there, and warm up by the fire. I’ll be free in a few minutes and will see what I can do.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate this.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He slid off his pack and walked over toward the fire.

  Jamie glanced over her shoulder as Dameon Grant left the table. She turned back to the line when the volunteer next to her leaned closer. “I bet you feed stray cats, too?” Martha Kingston purred.

  “It’s the least we can do. You do realize he’s not the first person to have traveled here hoping to compete and win.”

  “Yes, yes, but that doesn’t mean we have to take care of them. Oh, I don’t mind giving them a meal or two, but you’ve decided to find him a job. How are you going to manage that? We’re all volunteering.”

  Martha had a point.

  “It’s only for a day. Just something to give him pocket money for his trip home. Did you hear he’d been on the road for one week? Where do you suppose he came from?”

  “I don’t know, and I really don’t care. I’m going crazy with all these foreigners. Didn’t anyone teach them English?”

  “You were supposed to learn French,” Jamie countered.

  “Who had the time?”

  “I did.” Not that she had to learn French, since she had been speaking it since she was three.

  “Well, I wasn’t stuck up in these mountains for three months like you and your family. I have a life.”

  Ouch. The truth did hurt. Was it painfully obvious to everyone that her family had
been hit by the Depression? “You know my parents—ever since the unsuccessful 1904 Olympics held in St. Louis, they’ve been working to make this one successful.”

  “Did your parents learn Greek?”

  Jamie noticed her mother within earshot of Martha’s last question. “Some,” her mother answered, not revealing that she had been born and raised in Greece.

  Sophia Preston’s elegant pose warned others not to speak rudely to her. Jamie’s parents were in their fifties now and still had a passion for the Olympics, where they’d met and fallen in love. She turned toward Jamie and winked. “I take it that gentleman over there isn’t a competing athlete?”

  “Afraid so.”

  “Feed him a good, hot meal, and I’ll take care of this line.”

  “Thanks, Mother.” Jamie kissed her mother on the cheek and headed toward Dameon Grant.

  “Hi, my name is Jamie, and I’ll set you up with a hot meal. The job will be a harder problem, but I’ll work on it.”

  “Thank you. I don’t know what to say.” His shoulders sagged. “I thought by coming here, I might earn the prize money.”

  “There is no prize money. The athletes get a gold, silver, or bronze medal and world recognition. That’s why it’s for amateur athletes.”

  “Oh. I thought when it said amateurs, anyone could compete.”

  “You’re not the only one. Come on, there’s a hot meal waiting to warm your belly.” Jamie led him to the main dining hall. “Set your stuff over there and pick up a tray; then pick out whatever you’d like. I’m afraid it’s cafeteria-style dining tonight. There will be a sit-down meal tomorrow night.”

  “This is fine. I’ve been eating out of a can for the past week.”

  Jamie prayed her family’s misfortunes wouldn’t have them eating out of cans someday. An image of hoboes sitting in the train yards, cooking over an open campfire, flashed through her mind. “You’ll have to excuse me for a few minutes. I’ll be back in a while. Just stay put.” Jamie started to walk away, then turned back and said, “After you get your meal, of course.”