Tears flooded her eyes. “Garrett? You did this?”
He’d stepped back to give her some privacy. “You needed to know.”
Gratitude swelled until she thought she couldn’t bear it. “Thank you.” The words were so inadequate in the face of what Garrett had done. He’d set aside everything, even his fear of the river, to bring her brother to her on Christmas Day.
If this man was her brother. She’d long thought she would recognize Jacob at first sight. That wasn’t the case. Too many years had passed. This man was about the right age and had the right colored hair and eyes, but she couldn’t be certain he was her brother.
The man dug into his coat pocket and held out his hand. Slowly he uncurled his fingers, revealing the other half of the locket.
“Jacob!” She flung her arms around him. “It really is you.”
“And it’s you, little sis.”
In a flash she recalled that he used to call her that all those years ago. She held him at arm’s length. “We have so much to talk about.”
He nodded. “We will this afternoon at Christmas dinner. Roland and Garrett invited me to stay.”
“That’s wonderful.” Her heart swelled toward Garrett and his brother. “And then tomorrow is Roland and Pearl’s wedding, if Brother John arrives. Do stay.”
He shook his head. “I have to head back upriver to get to the camps. They’re expecting me. If I don’t go, they’ll replace me on the crew. I wouldn’t have come at all if this man hadn’t insisted.” He grinned at Garrett, an expression that made him look young again and so much like the brother she remembered. “He can be stubborn.”
Amanda laughed. “Bullheaded.” Still, the tears rose to her eyes. “I hate to say farewell so soon.”
“We have the day, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
That would have to do. At least she knew Jacob was alive and well.
He winked at Garrett. “I’d better get myself a room at the boardinghouse. See you later, sis.” He grinned at her before ducking out the door.
Amanda wobbled, overcome by emotion, and Garrett was instantly at her side, an arm around her waist to support her. “Take a deep breath.”
She did as he suggested and was struck again by all that he’d done. “You found Jacob.” Tears welled anew.
“It was the least I could do.” He took her hand. “Amanda, I have treated you poorly, and you have every right to spurn me.” He held her hand now between both of us, oh so close to his heart.
“I could never spurn—”
“Please,” he interrupted. “Allow me to finish. This must be said. I listened to gossip when I should have paid more attention to all I know about you. Your actions and love for my children speak louder than anything another person could say. I should never have listened. It was wrong. Very wrong.”
“It’s all right,” she whispered, thrilling at the gentle way he held her hand and the even gentler way he gazed into her eyes. Direct. Unencumbered by the grief that had weighed him down since they first met. Had the trip upriver done all that?
“No, it’s not all right. You see, I love you.”
The declaration hit with the impact of a tree crashing to the ground. “You do?” Her head spun. It was more than she could have imagined just minutes earlier, and more than she could take in after the reunion with her brother.
“I’m sorry it took me so long. I was clinging to the hurts of the past. Then I saw that letter.”
Her heart sank. Had Mrs. Chatsworth’s words irrevocably ruined her future? Yet protests meant nothing. Only truth could bridge the chasm between them. “I’m sorry. You deserve the full truth.”
She took a deep breath, prepared to confess every painful detail.
He put a finger to her lips. “I don’t deserve it, and I don’t need to hear it, not after the way I treated you. When I heard people repeating the falsehoods in that letter, I got angry at them, but didn’t think to forgive you. That was doubly wrong.”
Then rumors had spread. She didn’t need to know how. They had, and now she had to live with that. At least Garrett had called them falsehoods.
“I don’t deserve your love, yet you have still given it,” he continued.
Her heart began to pound.
“You’ve shown nothing but love to my children and me.”
She flushed. Hadn’t she believed Garrett guilty of spreading the rumors around town? Clearly, he was not. “I bear some of the guilt, too.”
“No. Don’t explain. Mary didn’t explain to Joseph. It took God’s messenger to change his mind about her. I hope it doesn’t take that much for me. I love you, Amanda, and I promise to always love you.” Garrett halted and swallowed.
Her head began to spin again, but in the most delightful way. Dare she ask? She must. “Will you let me work as your housekeeper?”
“No.”
The blunt reply tore a hole in her heart. She pulled her hand away and turned her head to hide the gathering tears. That he might ask the unimaginably marvelous one moment and the next roundly dismiss her hurt more than she could bear.
She stumbled two steps forward.
His hand cupped her shoulder. “Stop, Amanda. Look at me. Please?”
She dared a glance and saw not the usual scowl and furrowed brow but an openness and hope that buoyed her spirits.
He took her hand again. “I don’t want a housekeeper. I want a wife.”
She stared, not believing what she was hearing.
“You, Amanda.”
“Me?” It came out in a breathless squeak.
“Yes, you. There’s never been another woman.”
“There was Eva.”
He cringed, and Amanda regretted her foolish words.
“No, there wasn’t,” he said. “Not really. I loved her, but in a different way. Possessive. Competitive. Wrong. Not the way a husband should love his wife. No wonder she turned from me. No wonder our marriage turned out the way it did. No wonder Eva—” His voice broke.
Amanda cradled his chin in her other hand. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
He shook his head. “That’s in the past, and I’m resolved to leave it there.”
“It must be dealt with.”
“It will. Eva was Isaac and Sadie’s mother, after all. She will always be with us. But my son and daughter need a new mother, one who loves them. You.”
Amanda’s mouth went dry. For the second time she questioned if she’d heard correctly.
Garrett confirmed it. “And I need a wife. Desperately. I can’t promise not to make mistakes, but I do promise to love you until the day I die.”
“Forever,” she whispered, through a constricted throat. Tears welled. She let them fall.
“Yes, forever.”
The tears streamed down her cheek uncontrolled.
He looked aghast. “Did I say something wrong?”
“Nothing wrong. Everything right.”
“Then you agree?”
She nodded through the tears. “Yes, yes. Oh, yes.”
“Yes?” He looked like he didn’t believe her.
“How many times do I have to say it? I will be your wife and mother to your children. It’s everything I’ve hoped for from the moment I first met you.”
“You will.” He seemed unable to digest that.
She feared he would change his mind, but then he let out an uncharacteristic whoop and kissed her. Right there in church. With everyone watching. Not a brief brush of the lips but a kiss so deep and filled with commitment that it warmed her clear to her toes. He did love her. Truly. He would love her always. No question. She felt it deep in her bones.
Every bit of heartache melted away. Amanda Porter was going to marry a good man and have a family at last.
&
nbsp; Epilogue
“Are you sure?” Amanda repinned Pearl’s wedding bonnet. “I don’t want to intrude on your special day.”
Pearl laughed. “Our special day. If you ask me, Brother John’s delay in Allegan gave us the perfect solution.” She squeezed Amanda’s hand. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
The moment Garrett announced his engagement to her, Pearl had insisted they marry at the very same time.
“I can wait.” Amanda had repeated that halfheartedly the past week. “Perhaps when Jacob returns from logging.”
“That will be months and months away. The children need a mother now. After all, that’s what Sadie asked for in her Christmas letter.”
“But she didn’t receive her wish by Christmas.”
“Close enough.” Pearl straightened the ribbons on Amanda’s bridal bonnet. “God’s timing is always perfect.”
Amanda touched the locket at her throat. Garrett had reattached Jacob’s half so it was now whole. At least she would carry this tie to her brother with her into the ceremony. “God keeps His promises. He was always with me, even in the dark times.”
That knowledge had helped her forgive Hugh and even to thank God for guiding her away from that mistake to a wonderful future with Garrett and the children she loved.
“It’s almost more joy than I can bear,” she exclaimed.
Pearl hugged her as the sound of a harmonica filtered out of the church building into the brilliant winter air. Garrett was playing again, filling his house with joy, but today Sawyer Evans manned the instrument. Fiona would later sing, while Mrs. Calloway and Louise stood by as bridesmaids.
Pearl took her hand. “Are you ready?”
Amanda straightened her skirts, which the breeze and the walk from the boardinghouse had gotten a bit askew. She wore her periwinkle-blue Sunday gown, while Pearl wore the dress that Amanda made for her. The delay had given Amanda just enough time to add the overskirt to hide the stain. To her surprise, Pearl hadn’t raised one objection, but had blinked back a tear when the ladies presented the gift. Still, it wasn’t the wedding gown it was supposed to be.
“I’m sorry about your dress,” Amanda said for the umpteenth time. “It was supposed to be a beautiful white.”
“Blue is much better.”
“Even with the stain?”
Pearl lifted the overskirt. “Especially with the stain. It’s the perfect reminder that life has its messes, but love covers all offenses.”
“Thank you.” Amanda squeezed her friend’s hands yet again. “Let’s go then. The men must be getting anxious.”
Pearl laughed again. “Nervous as choirboys, I expect.” Her eyes gleamed. “Perhaps we should make them wait.”
“Not on your life!” Amanda tugged her friend toward the church door. “I’m not going to let Garrett Decker slip away.”
The moment she entered the church and saw Garrett’s face, she knew he would never leave. Neither would she walk away from him again. He beamed, his gaze only on her. The two Decker men were flanked by the children, all with the widest smiles imaginable. Amanda linked arms with Pearl, and they walked up the aisle together, to the approval of their friends gathered in the pews.
Together they would step toward the future.
* * * * *
If you enjoyed MAIL ORDER MOMMY,
look for the first book in the BOOM TOWN BRIDES series from Love Inspired Historical:
MAIL ORDER MIX-UP
And keep an eye out for Fiona’s and Louise’s stories coming soon.
Keep reading for an excerpt from THE NEGOTIATED MARRIAGE by Christina Rich.
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Dear Reader,
What fun it has been to follow Amanda and Garrett’s story! I’m so glad you joined me for their fitful journey toward a long-lasting relationship.
During childhood, I loved winter. My siblings and I would dig in the snow, ice-skate and go sledding. I even attempted cross-country skiing, but after one spectacular face-first fall into deep powder, I’ve taken steep hills on my backside. I can certainly understand Amanda’s trepidation when facing the slope on a sled. While researching for the story, I learned that the Flexible Flyer sled with the metal runners and steering bar wasn’t patented until 1889. That means Garrett and Amanda probably had to steer their sled by shifting their body weight. In my childhood I bailed off a lot of sleds that wouldn’t steer. Anyone remember the flying saucers?
Of course the best part of winter is Christmas. In 1870, Americans didn’t celebrate Christmas the way we do now. It was more of a solemn holiday, focused on the birth of Christ. Small, inexpensive gifts might be exchanged. Christmas trees were a German tradition, but weren’t found in every home. Ornaments were mainly handmade and were often food, like gingerbread, fruit and nuts. It must have been great fun for the family to decorate the tree.
I wish you a blessed Christmas with family and friends.
Christine
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The Negotiated Marriage
by Christina Rich
Chapter One
Rusa Valley, Kansas
Spring 1867
“Hold it right there!” Camy Sims drew a bead on the man lying down at the bank of the creek, his feet dipped in the water. She eased the bucket to the ground. How dare anyone trespass on their land? Her land, given that Uncle Hamish disappeared with the wind and her sisters Ellie and Mara seemed to have other things in mind like carriage rides and frilly dresses. Not Camy. She didn’t have aspirations for anything other than staying right here on Sim’s Creek and enjoying the solitude of country life. A solitude sorely interrupted by a man who refused to acknowledge her presence. “I said, don’t move.”
He didn’t. Not a single muscle. Tilting her head away from the rifle resting against her shoulder, Camy squinted through the dappling of grey morning light filtering through the thick canopy of leaves until the man came into focus. His bare feet ebbed and flowed with the current of the river. Perhaps he’d fallen asleep. She couldn’t blame him for succumbing to the beauty here. Wisps of smoke rose from the charred firewood, telling her he’d camped the night in her favorite place of solitude, a place away from Mara’s continuous chatter of prospective husbands and Ellie’
s melancholy, a state she’d been in since she returned home last August after months with a distant cousin. Anger sparked and burned through her veins at the intrusion.
After all the railroad’s attempts at acquiring their land before the winter, Camy should have known they’d come creeping through the woods once the weather warmed. She only wished she knew why they wanted the Simses’ land. It was far from ideal, at least to her way of thinking. There were places closer to town where the land lay flat and the banks were more even, places where the river wouldn’t wash the railroad’s bridge downstream. If only this man were a simple passerby who had been lured by the languorous song of the water trickling over the rocks and the serenade of the birds. Given that a wayward stranger hadn’t passed by here since she could remember, his presence meant one thing: he was trying to gain access to her land. And that just wouldn’t do. Did he come expecting their gratefulness at a measly offer, or did he come ready to make threats and burn their home down?
She intended to find out even though her sisters would complain at her dallying too long as Mara, no doubt, would be anxious to complete morning chores so they could go to town. Camy’s younger sister loved the social blur of town life, whereas Ellie and Camy only wanted to discreetly discover details about any strangers who might be a threat to them. The latest gossip from Mrs. Smith, Rusa Valley’s socialite, was about a man. Tall, handsome and more important, according to Mara, richer than King Solomon. As if those things were all that mattered in a prospective husband.
But from the looks of this man, he wasn’t rich or handsome, at least not in the sense her sisters claimed. No doubt they’d thank her for taking the time to scoot the scallywag right off their land once they got over their anger at her dealing with him on her own. Besides, if Ellie knew about the stranger, she’d demand they all move into town as she’d threatened to do after the last incident with a group of ruffians. No amount of money, bluff and bluster could entice Camy to leave her home.
Mail Order Mommy Page 25
