A Love For Keeps (Truly Yours Digital Editions)

by Janet Lee Barton

  Meagan couldn’t contain her joy any longer. “Nate asked me to marry him, Mama. And I told him yes.”

  “Oh, my dears. That is wonderful news. But what about—”

  “We’ll tell you later,” Meagan said.

  Her mother nodded, and Meagan knew she understood that there was quite a bit left unsaid. “My, we do have much to celebrate!”

  It was a while later before Meagan and Nate could discuss wedding plans. By the time her family had left, with Nate promising to bring her home once Natalie was asleep and his housekeeper could watch her, Meagan had begun to believe it was all true and not part of her dreams.

  After a light supper, Meagan had helped Natalie get ready for bed, and the child was so sweet even with her pain, that she knew Natalie truly loved her. It felt very natural to kiss the child good night and wait for Nate to do the same. They didn’t go far in case she called out. Instead of going downstairs, they took a seat on a settee in the wide hallway. There was so much to talk about as she told him how Abigail had gone about convincing her that Nate and she were going to be married.

  “I can’t help but feel sorry for her,” Meagan said.

  “I know. I never realized how guilty she felt about Rose’s death. I was too busy blaming myself for not getting there in time, I suppose. I should never have asked her to marry me when I didn’t love her like I do you.”

  “You need to talk to her, Nate. She’s devastated that Natalie is upset with her. I saw her face when Natalie told her she wanted you to marry me.”

  Nate rubbed a hand over his face and shook his head. “I still can’t believe this day. I was so afraid I was going to lose my daughter and to end it with her all right and knowing I have you … I have so much to thank the Lord for!” He bent his head and captured her lips with his own.

  Meagan wondered if there would ever be a sweeter kiss between them. But when he raised his head for only a second and then kissed her again, she knew there could be.

  “When are you going to become my wife? I don’t want to wait long. I don’t want to take a chance on anything going wrong again.”

  She kissed his cheek. “Nothing is going to go wrong—not now. We’ll get married as soon as I can get my wedding gown made and you can talk to Abigail and let her know that she will always be part of Natalie’s life. I would never want Rose’s family to think that they couldn’t come around or be as much a part of her life as they always have been. Please, Nate, let them know.”

  Nate cupped his hand around her chin and looked down at her. If she’d ever doubted his love for her, she no longer did. It was shining from his eyes.

  “I’ll let them know,” he promised … just before he kissed her, telling her in his own way just how very much he loved her.

  Nate didn’t see Abigail or her parents for the next several days, but Jacob and Georgette came to see Natalie often, bringing her a toy or some other treat. He’d talked to them briefly, but he didn’t feel any animosity from them about the broken engagement to Abigail. Georgette stayed most of the day while Nate was at work, but she usually left just before he got home, and he hadn’t been able to really talk to them about their daughter. Abigail hadn’t come to see Natalie at all. Natalie didn’t seem too concerned about it. Nate tried to tell her that her aunt Abigail loved her, but Natalie didn’t want to talk about it just yet.

  By the end of the week, Nate was determined to keep his promise to Meagan. He left work on Friday and went to Abigail’s home. She did need reassurance that Natalie still loved her, and he’d promised to let her know that she would be a part of Natalie’s life always. But Abigail wasn’t at her home, or at least that’s what her housekeeper told him. Nate sought her out at her parents’ home. He was shown into the study where Mr. Connors seemed to be waiting for him.

  “Good evening, Nate. Please, take a seat. I suppose you’ve come to talk about my daughter.”

  “I’ve come to see her, sir.”

  “She’s had a hard time. I had no idea she blamed herself for so much.” Jacob sighed deeply.

  Nate nodded. “I … know. Neither did I. I want to assure her that Natalie will come around. I know she didn’t mean to make Rose fall down the stairs that day. And I should have told you earlier that as much as I wanted to save Rose, I didn’t get there in time. The house was engulfed in flames when I got there.”

  “I know that, son.”

  “You do?”

  “I know most people in this town, Nate. They tell me things. But I also know how much you loved Rose. I know you would have gone in there and dragged her out if there were any way you could have.”

  Nate blinked against the tears that threatened. “I would have.”

  Jacob nodded. “Abigail isn’t the woman for you. I know it, and you know it. You never had to marry her to stay part of this family, Nate.”

  “Thank you, sir. I am sorry I hurt Abigail. I prayed that I was doing the right thing when I asked her to marry me. What I should have done was pray for the Lord to guide me in doing the right thing. I didn’t wait on Him. It would have been easier on Abigail if I’d done that.”

  “One day, she’ll get what she needs. A love all her own—not one that loved her sister first or who is in love with someone else, but one who loves her.”

  “I’ll pray she does. I would like to apologize to her. Do you think she’ll talk to me?”

  “Not now, Nate. She doesn’t want to talk to anyone—not even her friends.”

  Nate sighed, whether from frustration or relief he didn’t know, but at least he could tell Meagan that he had tried. “I understand. I—”

  “I’ll tell her you came by, Nate. She’ll be all right. We’re going to see to it that she is.”

  Nate couldn’t help but wonder whom Jacob was trying to convince … Nate or himself.

  “I like Miss Snow.” Jacob changed the subject, taking Nate by surprise. “Natalie told us about you asking her to marry you. We’ll be invited to the wedding?”

  “Oh yes, you will. Meagan wanted me to assure Abigail, and you and Georgette, that she wants you all to be as much a part of Natalie’s life as you always have been. She knows how deeply you love Natalie.”

  “That does my heart good to hear, Nate. Let her know she’ll be part of ours, too. I think Rose would have liked her.”

  Nate left the Connors’ home feeling blessed, indeed. Blessed that Natalie was all right, blessed that Jacob and Georgette would continue to be part of his life, and blessed to be in love with a woman who wanted it no other way.

  epilogue

  September 3, 1886

  Meagan’s wedding day dawned bright and sunny. She’d finished her dress only two days before, but it was just as she’d imagined it. She’d made it as different from Abigail’s as she possibly could. It was of white satin and lace, but it was much simpler than Abigail’s, and she loved it.

  Now as she waited to walk down the aisle toward her husband-to-be, Meagan felt completely blessed. Nate was the most wonderful man in the world. When she’d expressed a worry about her mother and sisters, he’d taken her in his arms.

  “Meagan, my love, don’t you know that I would never let them suffer because of our marriage? My home is large enough for you all. However, what I thought I might do is pay off your loan and give the title to your home back to your mother free and clear. She and the girls could continue to live in the home they love if that is what they wish.”

  “But I don’t want her to have to work—I mean I love the shop and … I don’t—”

  “Meagan. Your mother will never have to work outside the home again. And you have a talent. If you want to continue with the business you’ve worked so hard to get started, that is fine with me. I would hope that you wouldn’t feel you must work night and day, though. I’d like to spend time with you. Perhaps you could continue to teach Sarah to sew, if she’s interested, and she could help out. Then she would have a career until she finds some nice young man whom we approve of.”

  He di
d care about her family, and he’d been thinking about their future just as she had. Having answered all her worries, Meagan had reached up and pulled his dear face down to hers so that she could look him in the eye. “You are the dearest man in the world. Oh! How I love you.”

  Nate had taken advantage of their close proximity and claimed her lips in a kiss that more than convinced her he felt the same toward her. She had no complaints at all.

  Now, as the wedding march began, she slowly followed Natalie down the aisle to Nate, who was standing at the front of the church. Her eyes on him, she barely noticed who was there to witness the happiest day of her life. She did see her family on one side of the aisle and Mr. and Mrs. Conners on the other side. She felt additionally blessed to see Rose’s parents there to witness their vows. Those were the only people she was concerned with today—their loved ones witnessing her and Nate’s vow to love and honor each other for the rest of their lives.

  As the minister pronounced them man and wife, Meagan raised her face to Nate.

  “I love you, my wife,” he whispered just before his lips met hers. Meagan thanked the Lord above for all of her blessings and most especially that He had given her a love for keeps.

  To my Lord and Savior, for showing me the way. To Dan, who has encouraged me from the beginning; Nicole, who reads even when she doesn’t always feel like it; and Mariah and Paige, who give me a wealth of ideas.

  I love you all—with all my heart.

  A note from the Author:

  I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:

  Janet Lee Barton

  Author Relations

  PO Box 721

  Uhrichsville, OH 44683

  JANET LEE BARTON and her husband, Dan, have recently moved to Oklahoma and feel blessed to have at least one daughter and her family living nearby. Janet loves being able to share her faith and love of the Lord through her writing. She’s very happy that the kind of romances the Lord has called her to write can be read by and shared with women of all ages.