Ellie wrapped her arms around Hannah. “I’m so happy to see the two of you work things out. I thought I’d explode if you didn’t get together.”
Margaret joined her and laughed. “We can’t help it. Those in love want everyone else to be too. Ellie and I were cooking up another scheme to get you two alone if necessary.”
“Well, it’s not necessary, unless we want it that way.” She entwined her fingers with Micah’s and grinned up at him. “I think we may be able to arrange that later today.”
Mrs. Gordon joined the group, as did Levi and James. A minute or so later Sallie and Manfred made their appearance. Everyone talked at once, and Hannah couldn’t keep up, but she turned her head from one to the other with a smile. Her heart overflowed with happiness, but one dark spot remained in the corner, pushing to be revealed. She pushed it deep. Nothing could mar the joy of this day and time.
Mrs. Gordon beamed her approval, and Hannah saw in her the mother she’d missed these months away from home. “You children come on out to the ranch for Sunday dinner. This is the greatest day, and I don’t want it to end.” She didn’t wait for an answer but herded Rose with her to the carriage.
Micah started toward his horse still holding Hannah’s hand then stopped. “How are we supposed to get out to the ranch? Levi and I both rode our horses into town.”
Manfred swept his hand toward his own buggy. “Be our guest. I can ride a horse if I need to make any calls out of town.”
“Are you sure, Doctor Whiteman? It would help.”
As they walked toward the buggy, that dark spot pushed itself forward again. Was it possible that Micah had forgotten her disability? She had to know for sure what his thoughts were.
They walked toward the buggy with Micah holding her elbow and keeping her close. Before he lifted her up, she placed her hands on his chest. “Micah, there’s one thing I have to ask you about, and you must be honest with your answer.”
“Of course I will. What do you want to know?” He still held her at the waist, his face only inches above hers.
“That first day at the depot, when you saw my special built-up shoe, your face registered your pity at my deformity. You say you love me, but how do you feel about my distorted body? Will it repulse you each time you look at it?”
Micah’s head bent until his forehead touched hers. “My precious Hannah, I must admit it disturbed me when I first saw it, but that was before I came to know you. I love you. Every inch of you. That deformity, as you call it, only makes you more special. I want to love you and cherish you and protect you. God gave me a gift when my eyes were opened to true love and faith. His second gift was to give me your love.”
He loved her as she was, inside and out. God had answered her prayer better than she could ever have imagined. Joy erased the last bit of darkness in her soul and allowed the love she had for Micah to sweep in with full force and spread its rays of light throughout her body.
He held her close. “I can’t promise what the future will hold, and it won’t always be a smooth trip. I only know that God holds our future in His hands, and whatever He’s planned is the best for us. I have some wonderful news to share with you on our way to the ranch. It’s a miracle what God has done for our family.”
“I believe He will give us exactly what we need when we need it. He won’t be a minute sooner or a minute later than He wants it to be.” She believed that with all her heart and prayed Micah’s faith would remain strong and steadfast through the days ahead.
“With you by my side, I can face and conquer whatever comes our way.” He tilted her chin and kissed her once again.
Hannah’s heart soared to heights she’d never known. The future may be filled with uncertainty, but they would face it together.
Micah leaned close, his mouth only inches from her ear. “I came home to find approval from my pa, but what I found instead is your love, and that love helped me to find the faith I lost along the way.”
His soft breath against her cheek sent warmth through her soul. When God started working in His children’s lives, the end result would be only the best for them, and God had given her that and so much more.
She slipped her arm through Micah’s and rested her head on his shoulder. Their love would be built on a faith that could carry them through whatever came in the days and years ahead. She could hardly wait until their life together began.
Coming in Fall 2014 from Martha Rogers
Love Never Fails
Book Three in
The Homeward Journey series
CHAPTER 1
* * *
Stoney Creek, Texas, June 1888
MOLLY WAVED GOOD-BYE to her last student and plopped down on the top step of the school’s porch. The last day of school always left her with mixed emotions. She loved the idea of three months without her students, but she hated to see the semester end. Just when everyone had truly begun to understand and make so much progress, summer came along. How much would they forget over the summer?
Ellie Gordon, the upper grades teacher, joined her on the steps. “Well, another year gone by. I’m always amazed how much the boys in my classes grow in height during the year, and how much the girls grow into young ladies.”
“I know what you mean. When I look at the first graders and then the fifth graders, I can’t believe how much they change. You’ll be getting a good group from those fifth graders next year.” Molly stood and swiped at the dust on her skirt. “It’s time for me to get my things and get home.”
Old friends of her parents were arriving on the train tomorrow for a visit, and Molly had to help her mother get the house ready. Of course, Mama had been working all week, but she wanted things to be perfect, so Molly had work to do.
She turned to hug Ellie, who now stood on the porch beside her. “I’m so glad you’re my teaching partner. If they hadn’t decided that married ladies could teach as well as unmarried ones, no telling who I may have ended up with.”
Ellie’s laughter floated on the warm afternoon air. “Well, I suppose since my own twin boys and Joel are here in school, they figured I would be able to do as good a job as any other. I’m happy you were here to take Miss Crabtree’s place two years ago when she left. We were getting more students, and she didn’t want to handle that many.”
“It’s a good thing Levi and Micah and Mr. Hudson decided to enlarge the building and divide into two levels.” Molly turned to gaze at the expanded building that had opened last fall. Two larger classrooms were now joined with a coatroom separating them, along with space for storage of materials and supplies. New maps, chalkboards, and pictures adorned the walls, along with new desks that gave the rooms a more comfortable feel, making for a good learning environment the past school year.
Ellie headed back to her classroom. “I’m going to gather my belongings and go down to Margaret’s to collect my young’uns. They do love to play together. But they can create a lot of mischief with their cousins too.”
Molly laughed and shook her head. How well she understood that since those same cousins occupied her classroom as first and third graders.
After Ellie entered the building, Molly stood on the porch a few minutes longer. How she loved this town where she’d lived since early childhood. It had prospered in those years and now had two doctors to take care of the growing population. Her father had been delighted when one of Stoney Creek’s own boys, Andrew Delmont, had returned as a doctor to partner in the practice.
One other thing that had changed happened to be the female population. In those years many more girls had been born than boys, and the female population of Stoney Creek had begun to overtake the males. And that meant very few men her age were single. In addition, younger families made up most of the new people coming into town recently.
Molly sighed, went back inside to collect her belongings, and gazed around her classroom once more before heading for the door. The empty desks and silence surrounded her, and she ran her fingers along the desks as s
he walked up the center aisle. She’d miss the children this summer, and the months loomed ahead without much activity going on. At least July would be here before she knew it. She loved the celebration for Independence Day.
Once outside, Molly realized she now had to rush to get home and help her sister with the final preparations for the Elliot family’s arrival. The last time she’d seen them back in Louisiana had been for her uncle’s wedding, and that was over ten years ago. Stefan Elliot was only a few months older, and at the age of twelve, he and a few friends had teased and played jokes on Molly and Clarissa, Stefan’s sister.
Clarissa would be with her parents, but Stefan had followed in his father’s footsteps and chosen the military as his career, so he most likely wouldn’t be with his family. It would be interesting to have a man her age around though. Even though he was an eligible bachelor, her father’s partner, Dr. Andrew Delmont, was too much like an older brother to be of much interest other than as a friend.
Molly bounded up the steps to the clinic run by her father and Andrew. She’d never get used to calling him Dr. Delmont. She darted through the waiting area and wiggled her fingers in her father’s direction. The examination room’s door was closed, which meant Andrew must be with a patient.
Mama’s singing echoed from the kitchen where she made last-minute preparations for her guests. The doctor before them had a large family and had built a big house at the back of and over the area that served as an infirmary for the town. They had five bedrooms for the family, plus the infirmary had room for six patients if they needed to stay overnight.
Molly deposited her box of things from school at the bottom of the stairs and joined her mother in the kitchen. “Hi, Mama. I’m sorry I’m late, but it took me longer than I planned to close up for the summer.”
Mama continued to roll out the pastry for a pie. “I understand. The last day of school is even more exciting than the first day of a new semester.”
“Hmm, maybe, but I love starting the new year, and I will miss the children.” She swiped a few berries from the bowl on the counter then grabbed an apron. “What can I do to help?”
“What I need most right now is to see that Alice and Juliet have their things moved into Clara’s room so we’ll have their room for Mr. and Mrs. Elliot.”
“It’s nice to have five bedrooms for when we have company. I remember when Aunt Hannah lived with us, and how much fun it was. I’ll go up now and check on Alice and Juliet.” If Mama’s other two babies had lived, the house would be much more crowded, but it suited a family with six children just fine. She and Clarissa would share a room, and what fun they would have catching up on what had happened since their last visit.
At the top of the stairs the voices of her younger sisters reached the hallway. Their giggles meant they were either sharing a funny moment or up to a prank on Clara. Molly opened the door to find the two girls trying on some of Clara’s clothes. “What’s going on here?”
Their eyes widened and their cheeks burned red. Alice jumped up from the floor and nearly fell over trying to balance in Clara’s best shoes. “Molly, we didn’t know you were home.”
Molly crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot on the hardwood floor. “Obviously. I don’t think Clara would be happy with what you’re doing with her things. Now get out of those clothes and put them back where they belong. You’re lucky I found you and not Clara.”
“Yes, ma’am, and please don’t tell her.” Alice pulled off the shoes and put them back in the wardrobe with the others.
Juliet slipped one of Clara’s skirts down to her feet and stepped out of it. “Clara has such pretty things, and we just wanted to see how they looked.”
“I understand, but it’s not nice to pry into someone else’s belongings.” Molly had to hide the smile that threatened to surface at the sight of the two younger girls scrambling to get things back in order. Alice had been promoted to Ellie’s class for next year, but Juliet would still be in Molly’s. The two had been fairly well behaved in school, but Alice was one to be watched. That child loved practical jokes and, like other eleven-year-olds, always had fun on her mind.
“Have you moved your clothes and things so Mr. and Mrs. Elliot will have plenty of room?”
Juliet nodded her head. “Yes, we did. Clara was nice and made a space for us in the wardrobe and in the chest.”
“And this is how you repay her kindness?” At the remorse in Juliet’s big brown eyes, Molly’s stern voice turned gentle. “I won’t tell on you this time, but Mama and I both expect you two to be on your best behavior while the Elliot family is here.”
At their firm nods, Molly wrapped her arms around them and kissed their heads. “I love you girls. Now play with your dolls or something else for a while.”
Molly closed the door to their room and made her way to the one to be used by Mr. and Mrs. Elliot. Everything looked in order, even to the empty drawers in the chest and the extra space in the wardrobe. Next she checked on her brothers’ rooms. Now twelve and nineteen, they kept their room fairly neat, but Daniel’s clothes, discarded after school, lay scattered on the floor.
Molly grinned and shook her head. Mama would have him clean it up later or Tom would force him to. Tom should be off work by now and had probably taken Daniel for a ride Her youngest brother loved horses and wanted to work on his uncle Micah’s ranch one day. No telling where they were riding, but if they stayed true to form, they’d be back soon because suppertime would be along shortly.
By this time tomorrow the house would be full of people. She anticipated seeing Clarissa, but she wished Stefan could join them too. He would certainly make for a more interesting visit.
Stefan rubbed his thumb along the handle of his cane. Two more weeks and he’d be rid of this thing and able to get back to his regiment. At least his injury had not been severe enough to prevent his return, but being off for these past weeks had been boring to say the least. He glanced through the window of the train as it clacked its way across East Texas and the piney woods. Not a whole lot different from the part of Louisiana they’d just come through. Still, it was Texas, and that made the difference.
Tomorrow morning they’d arrive in Stoney Creek to visit old friends of his family. His parents had talked of little else for weeks and then insisted that he join them. After much persuasion and pleading from his sister, Clarissa, he consented. Why, he wasn’t sure, except that he did remember back ten years ago when Molly Whiteman visited for her uncle’s wedding. If she was as pretty now as she was then, the visit just might prove to be worth the time and effort.
He fingered the brass buttons on his uniform. The blue and gold of the army had attracted more than one young lady, so it should be no different with Molly. She’d be impressed by the medal he’d earned for marksmanship as well as the one from the skirmish with Indians that had caused his injury. Indian uprisings were supposed to be over, but once in a while a renegade band would try to defy the government.
Ever since childhood he’d planned to follow in his father’s footsteps and be a high-ranking officer in the United States Army. Now he was well on his way to that goal since his graduation from West Point.
“Are you thinking about when you’ll return to your regiment?” Clarissa leaned forward and pressed Stefan’s arm.
He patted his sister’s hand. “Yes and no. I’ll be glad to get rid of this cane and get back to duty, but I was also thinking of our visit with the Whiteman family. Did I understand Mother to say they have six children?”
“Yes, they do. You remember Molly, don’t you?”
Heat rose in his face. “Hmm, yes, and I . . . uh . . . I was wondering about her. If I remember correctly, she has red hair like her mother.”
Clarissa sat back, a smirk filling her face. “You remember correctly, and well you should, with as much grief as you gave us when they were in Louisiana. I was ready to have Father string you up to dry.”
“I must have lost that part of the memory.” He
frowned to hide the fact that he did indeed remember the teasing. He’d done it all to get Molly’s attention and see if he could rouse the anger that was supposed to go along with having red hair. It had worked, and she had been even prettier with her anger riled up.
“I just bet you have.” Clarissa’s laughter rang out and caused his parents to turn their heads toward them. A few of the other passengers also looked in their direction with curiosity written across their faces.
Stefan frowned at his sister. “Quiet down. You have everyone staring at us.”
“And since when did you not want all the attention? I’ve seen you showing off your uniform and telling tall tales enough to know you enjoy it.”
“This is different. Now sit back like a young lady and be quiet.” What she said had an element of truth, but could he help it if he drew the attention of the young ladies? If Molly didn’t take to him, he’d find someone in town who would. After all, they’d be there a fortnight, and that was plenty of time to charm an impressionable young lady or two.
Clarissa shook her head and poked him in that teasing manner of hers. “I can’t wait to see Molly again. It’s been so long.” A sly grin turned up the corners of her lips. “She’s not the same little girl she was ten years ago.”
“I should hope not. You aren’t the same either.” He smiled but made no further comment. Under no circumstances would he admit his anticipation of seeing Molly again, and to express disinterest would be a lie. He may embellish the truth, but telling an outright lie was not his way. He’d have to be careful with his comments and reactions around Molly. The hours until the next morning couldn’t pass quickly enough.
Love Finds Faith Page 23
