There Your Heart Will Be Also

by Felicia Rogers

  Cedric’s tightened his hands upon her arm. For a moment, Sarra thought he was going to pull away. Then he relaxed, placed a finger under her chin and raised her eyes to meet his.

  With his eyes locked on hers, Cedric said, “Aye, and I love ye as well.”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Sarra woke early. Head against the wooden shutters, she peered out the window. Rain fell in a slow drizzle, making a soggy, muddy mess on the ground. Her mind whirled with intrusive thoughts. Would she be able to keep her dress out of the mud on her walk to the chapel?

  She ordered a bath, taking extra care today with her appearance. She fingered the blue dress Charism had brought. It matched Cedric’s eyes and Sarra had worn it at the wedding festivities the day before. The design of the dress had apparently sparked Cedric’s imagination. His eyes hadn’t left her the entire night. At several points she thought bloodshed would result if the other men kept looking at her.

  Sighing deeply, she continued to thumb through the clothes in the wardrobe. The emerald dress went much better with her eyes anyway. She would use it for the wedding.

  After the bath, she pulled on a dressing gown while a servant twisted and twirled her drying hair, piling it atop her head and weaving it with ribbons and pearls. Several ringlets of hair framed the sides of her oval face. Pearl ear bobs swung from her ears. She placed a pearl necklace around her slender throat, and studied herself in the looking glass, hoping she would suit.

  Today, of all days, she longed for her father. Sir Henry had agreed to give her away, but it wouldn’t be quite the same.

  Sarra waited in her chambers until she was sent for. Finally, Sir Henry arrived and escorted her to the front door of the chapel. Before they walked inside, he clasped her hands in his own and peered into her tear-filled eyes. “Your father would be proud of your choice.”

  “Do you think so?”

  “Aye, I do. Cedric will make a fine husband and a fine lord. I talked to him this morning and he has even made an acceptance of Christ in his life. He is willing to lead a life of faith right alongside of you.”

  She couldn’t help but hug Sir Henry. She gazed at his face, trying to hold back tears. “Thank you.”

  The faithful knight nodded. Then he squeezed her hand tightly and told her to wait there for just a moment while he went to tell the parson they were ready to begin. When he returned, he tucked her hand in his elbow. Pushing open the doors, he and Sarra stood still until Duncan began to play the bagpipes.

  The first thing she noticed was the scent of flowers. Charism had ordered several of the servants to go out into the garden and collect the fresh budding June roses. Pink and yellow rose petals lay on the runway beneath their feet as Sir Henry led Sarra up the aisle.

  Duncan played a sweet tune as she walked toward Cedric, where he waited at the altar.

  Cedric was striking. His hair was pulled back and secured and his blue eyes sparkled. A knowing smile lit his face. His family tartan was wrapped around his waist, over his shoulder and pinned in place. The polished leather of his sporran shone brightly in the light. As she walked forward to the music, Sarra kept her eyes on him the whole time.

  Finally, after what seemed a lifetime, she reached his side. Sir Henry placed her hand on Cedric’s arm and stepped back, taking a seat in the first row. Looking over her shoulder she saw Charism pat Sir Henry’s hands as tears formed in his eyes. Charism had moisture on her own cheeks as well. This was indeed a momentous occasion for the whole keep, for Sarra had never seen these two in such a state.

  The parson began. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here this day to join these two individuals in holy matrimony. If anyone sees a reason why these two should not wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

  Sarra’s eyes were drawn to Cedric’s glance at Duncan, who had removed his mouth from the bagpipe and seemed to be on the verge of making a comment until he spotted Cedric’s look.

  Duncan expressed a laugh behind his hand before reverting back to a more serious expression. After what seemed an eternity for the waiting couple, the parson began again in earnest. “Do you, Cedric MacNeil, take Sarra of Greenbriar to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, to cherish, and to worship, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance?”

  “I do,” answered Cedric.

  “And do you, Sarra of Greenbriar, take Cedric MacNeil to be your wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance?”

  “I do,” answered Sarra.

  “Now I believe Cedric wishes to give you something.”

  After the parson’s comment, Duncan handed Cedric his extra plaid. Cedric wrapped the plaid around Sarra’s waist and slung it over her shoulder, pinning it in place. Then he reached into his sporran and pulled out a shiny gold band.

  He held it between his thumb and forefinger so she could see it. She lifted her left hand and he slid the ring onto her third finger. Complete happiness covered her face.

  “By the powers vested in me by the Holy Church, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride…”

  Epilogue

  “In just a minute I am going to roll yer legs back, girl, and I want ye to push,” said Charism.

  “Where is Cedric?”

  “He is hiding in the main hall.”

  “Send Ella to get him please.”

  “Now Sarra, I don’t think it is the best of ideas. I mean, a man canna be expected to handle birthing like a woman.”

  “I don’t care. I want him here. He is supposed to protect me!” Sarra last word ended on a scream as she breathed through the contraction.

  “All right, Ella, get Cedric up here. Now lass, listen to me and listen good. When this next painin’ comes at ye I want ye to push with all ye might, do ye hear?”

  “Aye.”

  Cedric entered the room. Sarra was on the bed with legs spread up in the air and opened wide. She was sweating profusely.

  “Did ye need something?” he asked, unable to remove his eyes from a bulge coming from her lower regions.

  “Aye, I believe I need your protection.”

  With his eyes still glued to the one section of her body, “What do ye need protecting from, my lady?”

  “Your child!” She screamed upon the last push.

  Charism caught the newborn babe. Just when Sarra was getting worried because of the lack of noise, a healthy wail filled the room.

  Cedric asked, “What is it?”

  “Well it sure ain’t much to look at, but this be yer son.”

  “My son,” said Cedric in amazement. Sarra had a contented smile, as she leaned back exhausted.

  ****

  After babe and mother were cleaned, and the newborn was put to his mother’s breast, Cedric was admitted back into the room to visit with his budding family. He sat in a rocking chair looking at the two most precious people in his life. He had lost his own family, but God had blessed him with another.

  As the babe’s belly become full, his little eyes drooped and he drifted off in a contented sleep. Sarra lifted her face, lips twitching at the corners.

  “He is beautiful, is he not?”

  “Aye, he is, just like his mother.”

  She beamed at the compliment and made little cooing noises as she gazed at her sleeping son. A sudden thought struck her. Her former captor, Wilt, had once been this innocent as well. She sighed loudly.

  “What?”

  “Forgive me. I was thinking about Wilt. You know, he was once this way. He too was once an innocent babe. I feel I played a part in the monster he became. I guess it is just as the Good Book tells us. We are all sinners and forgiven by God’s grace alone, but only if we ask. It is unfortunate Wilt chose to live his life for greed rather than for more Christian p
ursuits.”

  Leaning up from the chair, and taking her hand in his own, Cedric said, “Aye, his loss was my gain. For I have found my treasure and it is worth more to me than anything.”

  “Cedric,” she whispered with tears glistening in her eyes. “You’re right. Where you find your treasure is where your heart belongs. A man must not be overly interested in material objects, wealth or power, but rather in God and in those God gives us to love.”

  Also by Felicia Rogers

  She should be here any moment. Mabel had said ten o’clock and assured Caleb the lady was never late. Now here he sat, sipping hot coffee and watching Joshua make snow angels in the yard. His mind relaxed and drifted to his earlier conversation with Mabel.

  “You need help with that boy.”

  “I know I do. But not just anyone will work. Joshua is special.”

  “Yes, Caleb. I know all about his intelligence. And the lady I have in mind is perfect for him. Besides, she needs you as much as you need her.”

  “Tell me about her. Why would she be willing to work for me?”

  Since Kelly, his wife, had left him almost six years ago, Mabel a nosy friend from church, had been hounding him to find a housekeeper for his home. ‘A woman’s touch, that’s what it’s missing’—was her favorite thing to say. Her intentions good, Mabel was an old biddy to some but like a second mother to others.

  When Mabel mentioned Ariel to him, Caleb knew she had his best interest at heart. She explained that Ariel worked with children in the church nursery and that she was different. When he pushed for more information, Mabel would only say it would be good for Ariel to be around Joshua during his birthday.

  Now he waited, in the freezing cold, on a woman he’d never seen and knew nothing about. Caleb Reed, ex-fitness trainer, turned writer was going to depend on a stranger to clean his home, cook meals, and care for his child. All the things Kelly should have done. But he wasn’t going down that road again.

  Caleb sighed as depression threatened to hit again when Joshua ran toward him with a huge grin. He fell into Caleb’s lap, hugged him, and galloped off inside.

  The door banged shut and Caleb heard a car pulling into the driveway. Looking toward the driveway he realized, he’d formed assumptions about Ariel based on Mabel’s descriptions and they’d all been wrong. He’d thought she was sending him a little old lady, or perhaps a Mary Poppins character. But his expectations hadn’t been the girl stepping out of the small sedan.

  First of all, Ariel looked to be around twenty-five and around five foot seven in height with a slender frame. Light brown hair cascaded down her back in soft waves. She wore jeans and a sweat shirt that read, “Bona Fide Jesus Freak”. Her hands were stuffed in her pockets, as she approached the porch. A smile spread evenly across her face. When her sunglasses were removed, he saw a sparkle of emerald green eyes.

  Whistling low under his breath, he stood. Caleb was going to have to have a talk with Mabel. Was she trying to find him a housekeeper or a model? This young, wisp of a thing reminded him of a rare specimen, a rose in a garden that begged for a passerby to stop and smell it. With her beauty, the party scene was probably more her thing. There was no way this girl was going to want to stay at home and just play house.

  Holding out her hand, she spoke, “Hello. My name is Ariel Lauren. Mabel sent me.”

  Caleb felt goose bumps tingle down his spine at the sound of her voice.

  Ariel held an air of authority in her squared shoulders. She gazed at him, with a smile on her lips. Confidence exuded from her tone, but when Caleb looked deeper into the green depths of her eyes, he thought he saw a hidden sadness.

  A sudden urge to delve into her feelings and decipher what had caused such a look on her youthful face overcame him, but instead Caleb offered his hand in a formal greeting, enveloping her small, soft hand in his larger one. “Hello. I’m Caleb Reed. It’s nice to meet you. Mabel’s told me a lot about you.”

  “It’s nice to meet you as well, Mr. Reed. I hope everything Mabel said was good.”

  “Of course it was. You know Mabel. Oh, please call me Caleb. Mr. Reed makes me seem so old,” he answered, with a light hearted smile.

  “Okay,” she said, shyness overcoming her.

  The feeling of camaraderie passed and silence descended. Caleb was on the verge of talking, when she spoke again, “Mabel told me you needed someone to help around the house and to watch your son for a few months?”

  “I do.”

  “How much do you pay?”

  Direct and to the point, that was good. “I’ve taken the liberty of writing down a figure.” Caleb handed her a slip of paper. Ariel’s eyes rounded as her jaw went slack. He wasn’t sure from her reaction if she thought it was too little or too much. “Is there a problem with the figure?”

  “No, no problem,” she stuttered, still glancing down at the numbers. “When can I start?” she said, stiffening her spine and adjusting her purse on her shoulder.

  “Well, I thought I might take a few days to check your references, if you don’t mind.”

  “No, of course not. I understand.”

  “Do you have a resume?”

  “A resume?”

  Judging from her frown, he figured the answer was no. “Yes. Do you have a list of your previous places of employment? Is there anyone who can vouch for you and your skills?”

  Ariel’s head fell, her eyes facing downward. She looked around at the neighborhood, her brows furrowed as lines of worry appeared upon her face. After a few moments, she lifted her head with renewed optimism and smiled. “I don’t have a resume prepared. I’m sorry. I had the impression from Mabel this was more of an informal position. But what about a trial run? I’ll work free for a week. If you’re unsatisfied, then you can release me, no questions asked.”

  Caleb’s first instinct was to flat out refuse her offer, but something about her called to him. What was her story? There was no denying it; there was a story. Mabel was a sneaky one, no doubt about it. And she had a reason for recommending Ariel. Caleb hated to admit it, but he was curious.

  He found himself agreeing to her terms. He nodded. “One week.”

  “One week,” she agreed.

  About the Author

  Felicia Rogers, born and raised in the southern part of the United States, is a Christian wife and mother. She is just your average, ordinary woman, with a side interest-- writing. For eleven years, every waking moment of her life was consumed with changing diapers, wiping noses, and kissing scrapes. But now that her children have grown and she enjoys a modicum of freedom, in addition to taking care of hearth and home, she writes! She enjoys adding a flavor of realism and humor to her all too real romance stories. For what is love without a little laughter?

  Astraea Press

  Where Fiction Meets Virtue

  www.astraeapress.com

  Table of Contents

  There Your Heart Will Be Also

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Th
ree

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Epilogue

  Also by Felicia Rogers

  About the Author