Cora's Deception (9781476398280)

by Colvin, Mildred

  “I suppose you have nothing to say about that.” Cora crossed her arms.

  “What’re you mad at me for?” Aaron frowned. “Merrill’s the one you should be mad at. All I did was get out of the way so’s you could marry him.”

  “You—you ignorant man!” Cora rushed at him, her fists raised and tears streaming down her cheeks. Both fists smashed into his chest before she fell against him sobbing. “I h-h, love you.”

  Either his hearing was going bad, or she said she loved him. Sounded like she wanted to say she hated him, though. He put his arm around her and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. “Here, Cora, let’s dry your eyes then have us a talk. We ain’t gettin’ our meanin’ to each other, it don’t seem.”

  Cora wiped her eyes then stared at the handkerchief. “It’s the one I gave you.”

  He nodded. “I told you I always carry it over my heart. I ain’t changed any, Cora.”

  She stared at him as if looking for the truth. Then she turned and sat on a low pile of logs beside the cabin.

  He sat beside her. “I thought you’d be married by now and livin’ in the city.”

  She shook her head. “How could I? You left me, Aaron.”

  “I never left you, Cora. I left for you.” Pain from that time struck Aaron’s heart anew. “Merrill said you wanted him. He had a letter from you. Said he’d come to take you back home with him. He wasn’t much, but he could give you everything you want. Things I never could. Why didn’t you marry him?”

  “I don’t love him.” She jumped up and paced away then back. “George became a nuisance, so Father ran him off. He left the day after you did, and we haven’t seen him since. Last I heard, he married a girl from St. Louis. Alice someone from a fine family with money and influence. It’s the sort of thing George found necessary in a wife. Love and kindness doesn’t matter to him. I feel sorry for Alice.”

  “You don’t sound heartbroken.” Aaron searched her eyes for the truth. Had George broken her heart?

  Cora’s lips turned up the slightest bit. “My heart’s broken, but not by George. How could you hurt me like this?”

  Moisture filled her perfect blue eyes as her lips turned down. Her words and tears were like rocks striking his insides. His breathing paused. “I don’t—I only stepped out of your way.”

  “You didn’t have faith in me or in our love.” She folded her arms and turned around as if she might walk away.

  He started to rise when she turned back, her shoulders squared and her chin lifted. “This isn’t fair, Aaron.”

  What did she want? He didn’t understand. Before he could think, she kicked the logs he sat on, scattering them and him. “Where’s your wife?”

  Aaron jumped to his feet. “My wife? Where’d you get such an idea? I ain’t married.”

  “Then why are you building this cabin in my meadow?” Cora’s chin jutted out, and she motioned toward his building.

  “To live in.”

  “Ivy said you were never coming back.”

  “I didn’t plan to, but I couldn’t stay away. Did Ivy get married?”

  Cora’s hands landed on her hips. “Aaron Stark. How dare you tell me you’ve been here long enough to start building, but haven’t been to see your sister. She’s going to be a mother in a couple of months. Did you know that? Ralph gave her away at her wedding. That was your job. But no, you weren’t here. My mother died, and I needed you, but you weren’t here then, either, were you?” Tears again trailed down her cheeks, and she brushed at them.

  “Cora, Darlin’, I’m sorry.” Aaron moved forward and pulled her into his arms. “I didn’t know about your mother.”

  He held her close, talking in a soft voice. “I wouldn’t hurt you for the world. I love you, Cora. With all my heart I love you. It near killed me seein’ you with that dandy. I didn’t figure you’d want me anymore after he come for you.”

  “You didn’t trust me. God put us together, Aaron, but you couldn’t . . .” She wiped her eyes then leaned into his shoulder “Why’d you come back now?” Her voice was muffled against his shirt.

  “You wasn’t in Springfield. Here’s where you were livin’ in my remembrances. I can see you spinnin’ around in our meadow, standin’ up there above the spring, or walkin’ in the woods. I hear your voice when the wind whispers through the trees. I couldn’t be with you any other way, so I came here. Can you give me another chance, Cora? I’ll never doubt your love again.”

  “Oh, Aaron, I love you.”

  “I love you with every beat of my heart, Cora. I always will.” Aaron brushed his lips across the top of her head. “Will you forgive me for bein’ so stupid?”

  Cora nodded. “I did that a long time ago. I even forgave George the day God forgave me.”

  Aaron stepped back and looked into Cora’s eyes. His heart leapt at her confession. “Does that mean you got—”

  Cora’s smile spread, and she nodded. “Yes, I’ve been born again. Oh, Aaron, Father prayed before I left home today, so he’s a Christian too. And Eliza did, too, not long after Mother died.”

  Aaron grinned. “So you found the way. I reckon I can quit prayin’ for that.”

  “I’ve prayed for you every day, Aaron. I didn’t know where you were or what had happened to you.” Cora clung to his hand.

  He shrugged. “I got a job in the stockyards. Didn’t take much to live on for just me, so I saved most of what I made and used it to buy our spring meadow. I couldn’t forget it or you, Cora. I only been back a couple of weeks, but I got a lot done.” He chuckled. “And a lot more to do.”

  “Why don’t you ask for help?”

  Aaron’s heart began a rapid, but steady, pound. “Maybe if I had a reason to hurry, I would.” He pinned her with his eyes. “Can you give me a reason, Cora?”

  Her lashes lowered. “What do you mean?”

  “Will you marry me? Will you live here in this cabin as soon as it’s finished?” He took her hand and touched her cheek to bring her gaze to his. “I love you, Cora. This is where we talked about livin’ and raisin’ a family. It isn’t too late for us to do that, is it?”

  Cora shook her head and smiled at him. “No, it isn’t too late.”

  His breath rushed out before he knew he was holding it. “Can you tell me straight out. Will you marry me for sure?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  Aaron’s grin grew. “We’ll get the neighbors in here to help us. Did I tell you I love you, Cora?”

  His head lowered for a kiss he’d only dreamed of for far too long. A kiss even sweeter than he remembered.

  “I’ll walk you home so’s I can talk to your father. Then I’ll go on to Bill Reid’s and see my baby sister. Can’t believe Ivy’s gonna be a mama.”

  “Oh, you don’t know Ralph’s married, too, do you?” Cora fell into step with him.

  “You don’t say!” Aaron grinned. “To Eliza?”

  Cora shook her head. “No, he married Anna Hanson. Seems they’re expecting too.”

  “Oh.” Didn’t take a smart man to know what Cora didn’t say. “Reckon my brother needs some praying done in his behalf.”

  “We’ll pray together.”

  Aaron stopped and slipped his arms around Cora. “You don’t know how much I love hearin’ you say that. Last summer you wouldn’ta even thought it. I didn’t want to admit it then, but when I went forward at that brush arbor meetin’, something stood between us. Like I was on one side and you on the other.”

  Cora nodded. “I crossed over to your side, Aaron. This is where I belong—with you and with God.”

  Aaron grinned and pulled her close for another kiss.

  Epilogue

  Cora stood at the entrance of their little log church with Eliza and Father. Eliza began the walk down the aisle. She stopped across from Ben, who stood up with Aaron. Cora took her father’s arm and gave him a smile. Her heart raced toward Aaron. Her gaze locked with his, and she saw no other until she stood beside him.

  Brother Ti
mothy held his Bible open in his hands. “Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and man to join this man and this woman together in the holy estate of matrimony.”

  His words blurred as Aaron’s hand held hers in a warm clasp. Her love for him had only grown with their separation.

  “Will you, Aaron James Stark, take this woman, whom you hold by the hand to be your wedded wife, promising to keep, cherish, and defend her and to be her faithful and true husband so long as you both shall live?” Brother Timothy looked at Aaron.

  Aaron smiled into Cora’s eyes. “Yes, I will.”

  “Will you, Cordella Jane Jackson, take this man whom you hold by the hand to be your wedded husband, promising to adhere unchangeably to him in all life’s changes, and to be his loving and true wife till death divide you?”

  “I will.” Cora breathed the words. This was no dream. Somehow, while Aaron finished the house and she’d prepared for their wedding, the past two weeks passed in a happy blur. Now here they stood together before church, minister, and God vowing their love and commitment to each other.

  “What, therefore, God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Brother Timothy grinned from Cora to Aaron and gave a slight nod. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

  Cora looked up into Aaron’s wonderful face from the unruly curls in his dark hair, his bright, blue eyes, to his strong jaw, and the dimple in his chin. She would never stop loving him. She moved forward as he took her in his arms. His kiss was sweet with the promise of his love. They were married. She’d heard and answered love’s tender call—Aaron’s and her Heavenly Father’s—although she’d fought against both. Without one, would she have the other? Cora’s heart soared. She’d believed so many lies, but the truth shone through each.

  Together she walked beside her husband into the sunshine outside. There she looked toward heaven. Are you watching, Mother?

  “She knows, Darlin’.” Aaron held her close and dipped his head for a quick kiss before the church emptied.

  ~*~*~*~

  More Brides of Cedar Creek Coming Soon:

  Eliza’s Mistake—Book Two

  Eliza Jackson is mistaken about so many things, and the choices she makes because of it threaten to ruin everything she holds most dear. Sometimes plans go wrong.

  Rewritten from Eliza, previously published by Barbour Publishing. Available in e-book now. Also in paperback.

  Rebekah’s Scorn—Book Three

  When Rebekah Newkirk is jilted within a week of her wedding, she decides to marry the first decent, God-fearing man who asks. After all, true love is only an illusion, right?

  We don’t always see what’s in front of us.

  Scheduled for release in Fall 2012.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Mildred Colvin is an award-winning author of seventeen romance novels in both historical and contemporary themes, two compilations, and one audio book.

  She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and is active in two critique groups. If you would like to keep up with her writing and activities, please visit Romantic Reflections at http://mildredcolvin.blogspot.com and Infinite Characters http://infinitecharacters.com

  Other Books by Mildred Colvin:

  Learning to Lean

  A New Life

  Love Returned

  E-book:

  Lesson of the Poinsettia

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