Lord, he prayed, heal my daughter!
***
Millie awoke with a start, the dim light provided by a lantern sitting on the dresser provided the only illumination to the room. She looked next to her where Josie finally slept peacefully. They doctor had come and gone a few times during the day and on into the night and finally, only a few hours ago now, the child’s fever had broken.
The girl’s condition had taken more than just a physical toll on Millie. Spending the day with Lloyd—an emotionally charged day—had cemented the fact that she was indeed falling in love with him. That fact had reminded her of what still lay between them. The truth needed to come out.
Slowly rolling off the bed so as not to disturb the small child, she walked to the kitchen just as the sun peeked over the mountains on the horizon. She picked up the water pitcher to pour herself a drink when movement startled her. It was Lloyd in a chair by the embers of the fire.
“Morning,” he said, his voice low and raspy.
“Good morning.” She took a sip of the water, feeling the cooling liquid rush down her throat.
“She’s still sleeping?”
Millie nodded, “Yes. I have a feeling she’ll sleep for a while.”
He stood, closing the gap between them. When he was close enough, he reached out and rested a hand on her arm. “How are you doing?”
The concern in her eyes made her stomach twist into knots. “I’m all right, but there’s something I must tell you.”
Her heart began to beat rapidly with the knowledge that the truth would soon be out. But she couldn’t go back now. She’s already let this go on long enough without being honest with him.
“You can tell me anything.” His kindness melted her and made her afraid all at the same time.
What would he say once he knew? Would he be angry? She wouldn’t blame him if he were.
“I—” her voice broke.
“Millie, what’s wrong? You’re as pale as a sheet. You aren’t getting sick are you?”
“No, no it’s not that.”
“Then what—”
“I was the one who wrote the letters to you.”
He blinked, a look of confusion coming over him. “Letters…I—I don’t understand.”
“I’m sorry,” she began, “I should have told you when we first met.”
“Told me what?”
“When you first started writing to Miss Hoff—that was me.” She held his gaze despite the urge to look anywhere but into his eyes. “You were corresponding with me that whole time. But then…well, we found out that Morgan was pregnant, she was assaulted,” she was quick to add, “and she needed a husband more than I did.
“By that time I admitted my name was Morgan to you but, because my sister never learned how to write, I continued our letters on her behalf. When she died…I just…I didn’t know what to say.”
He blinked. “You lied to me? You were going to trick me into marrying your sister? I can’t believe this. I—” he stopped, shaking his head in the silence.
“I’m sorry. I…I’ve been meaning to tell you but I didn’t know when. Then, seeing Josie sick, I knew that I cared for you both too much to keep the truth from you.”
“I can’t believe this. You’ve been lying this whole time. No wonder you knew so much about me. I feel like a fool.”
“Please, don’t, it was my fault completely.”
“How do I know you’re telling the truth now? Are you just trying to fool me so I’ll marry you? Is that what this is all about?”
She was surprised at the ferocity in his voice. “No!” Tears flooded her vision and she knew the whole truth had to come out then. “I wanted to tell you because…because I care for you. No matter what you think of me, you’ll always be Mr. D to me.”
Her use of his nickname made him flinch and he backed away from her. “I need time to think.” Then, without another word, he left the room, stepping out into the gray light of the morning leaving her alone and wondering if she’d done the right thing.
Chapter 6
Lloyd stood at the back of the parish house staring into the growing light of the morning. Cool air surrounded him but he didn’t move—wouldn’t acknowledge its effect on him. How could he have been so stupid?
Of course Millie had written those letters to him. It was clear now. The way she spoke, the things she laughed about, the times she’d slipped into teasing him. All of it added up to complete the picture of who she’d become to him. She’d always been Miss Hoff even if he hadn’t seen it at first.
“The sunset doesn’t hold the answers you’re seeking, son.” Peter’s voice broke through the silence around him.
“I suppose it doesn’t. Did you know?”
“Know what, Lloyd?”
“That she was the one who had written me the letters. How she and her sister conspired to trick me? That she’s been lying to me?”
“No, I didn’t know any of that. I’m not a mind reader, you know.” Peter laughed as he stepped up next to Lloyd, evaluating the morning with him. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems that everything has worked out in your favor. Aside from the death of that poor girl of course, God rest her soul.”
“But…” he searched for the words to express what he was feeling. “But she lied to me.”
“True, but can’t you see why?”
“That doesn’t make it all right?”
“Of course not, but she did tell you the truth. I think that has to count for something. Especially when you care for her.”
He shot Peter a sharp glance.
“It’s obvious, son,” the pastor said, his smile as bright as the sunlight now flooding over the mountains before them.
“I do care.” He admitted the truth out loud but allowed his heart to feel it as well. It was more than care—it was love. But with that feeling came fear. Fear to love again, fear to know what would happen in the future. How could he commit is life to her knowing that the sting of death was more painful than anything he’d experienced? Was he really willing to open himself up for that pain again?
“You’re doing it again,” Peter said.
“What?”
“Trying to reason through every area of this and not leaving anything up to the Lord. What does your heart say, Lloyd?”
His heart? He hadn’t considered that in a long time—unless it was regarding his daughter. She was the only person who fully held his heart, and look at what had happened? She had been close to death. It reminded him that life was fragile. But it also reminded him that to live without love was pointless. If he didn’t have Josie in his life…he didn’t even want to think what it would mean. He’d rather have loved her well than to never have had her.
“It says to be reckless.”
“Then be reckless in love, dear boy.” Peter turned to him, resting a heavy hand on his shoulder. “Take every opportunity, forgive often, and enjoy your life. God will see you through—despite all of the things that may or may not happen.”
Peter turned to go but Lloyd stayed with is gaze fixed on the sunset. He wanted to believe that what the pastor said was true. In fact, he wanted to do more than believe it; he wanted to live it.
When he considered what Millie had done he could see clearly how, in the grand scheme of things, him holding it against her would do neither of them any good.
With resolution, he turned to go inside but stopped short when he saw her standing a few feet behind him, shawl pulled tightly against her shoulders and a look of nervous fear on her face.
Without thinking and without considering the future or even the present ramifications of what would happen between them, he went toward her and pulled her into his arms. The moment before their lips touched he felt her hand resting softly over his heart and peace flooded him.
***
Millie couldn't have been more shocked had Lloyd yelled at her. To be here in his arms kissing him was at once completely right and confusing all at the same time.
&nb
sp; When he pulled back just far enough to look down at her, he kept his grip—light and gentle—on her arms.
“Does this mean you forgive me?”
He cracked a smile. “There’s the humor I’ve been missing Miss Hoff.”
“Have you really Mr. D?”
He bent down and kissed her again. This time the passion nearly overwhelmed her and she leaned into his warm embrace, breaking away to tuck her head against his shoulder. They stayed like that for several minutes before he spoke again.
“I forgive you.”
They were the sweetest words—the ones she’d longed to hear but couldn’t have hoped to achieve had she not said anything. Her heart felt light after the weight of confession was lifted.
“I’m so sorry. I should have told and—”
“It’s all right. It’s in the past. We can move on and be Mr. D and Miss Hoff now. Or,” he held her gaze and a smile quirked the corners of his lips.
“Or what?” she asked, curious.
“Or we could Mr. D and Mrs. D.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
“I’d done it once before, if you remember, and I suppose it still stands—though I do remember asking you by another name.”
“Would you ask me again? The real me this time, please.”
He smiled, reaching up to push her hair back from her face. His hand stayed behind, resting there. “I finally understand why I felt so drawn to you before. I know you, Millie. You. Not your sister. And, though I’m sorry she’s gone, I am glad you are here. I want to face this life—it’s ups and downs—with you by my side. I want you to become a mother to my daughter. And I want to walk through the unknown of life with you. I can’t know the future, as much as I may try to plan for it, but I do know that I’d rather risk loving you than to not have you in my life.”
She knew she was crying, the tears falling gently down her cheeks, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t afraid for Lloyd to see her tears because, through their letters and now in real life, he’d seen the broken parts of her and accepted her just the same.
“How could I say no to such a beautiful proposal?”
“I’d hoped you wouldn’t be able to,” he admitted with a laugh.
She smiled, entwining her fingers with his. “Then my answer is yes.”
“I knew you’d see reason Miss Hoff.”
She grinned. “Of course Mr. D.”
They sealed their love with a sweet kiss. It symbolized the beginning of their lives together—not as two strangers getting to know one another, but as two hearts that had started to fall in love only to be interrupted.
Now that the interruption had been discovered and passed by, they were free to love in the way they had started at the beginning of their letter writing. Just to hearts, knitted together by the plans of the Lord.
THE END.
Finding My True Love
Mail Order Bride
CHRISTIAN MICHAEL
Chapter 1
Melissa Thomas woke to the day she had long dreaded; she could feel it as soon as she opened her eyes. Even as the sun shone and glittered through the glass of her bedroom window, she knew this was not going to be a good day.
At breakfast, her parents were quieter than normal, returning her greeting and not much more. She watched them for furtive glances or any sign that she might be right in her supposition. They didn't show any outward signs of the conspiracy they were part of.
When breakfast was over her father folded up his newspaper and turning to her said with a broad smile,
“We have good news.” Melissa’s stomach turned upside down and she felt like what she had eaten could make itself known in the room once more.
“For who?” she managed to splutter.
“For you of course darling,” her mother said laughing lightly.
“M Turner has come to ask for your hand and I have accepted his proposal,” her father said, and then as if that was the end of the matter he stood up, pulled straight his waistcoat and was about to walk away when Melissa said,
“You said yes, without even discussing it with me?” She was incredulous. Though she had suspected this was long coming she had not expected that it would all be decided without so much as a word of input from her.
“I don’t need to discuss anything with you dear,” he answered her dismissively. She looked to her mother for some support but there was none coming from that quarter.
“But I dislike that man immensely,” she whined.
“You do not even know that man,” her father said.
“All the more reason why I shouldn’t be marrying him!”
“I know him well; he is a decent man and he will provide for you. All that will be asked of you is to keep his house and cook for him.”
“What about love?” she said.
“This is not some fairytale,” he scoffed and this time, before she could say anything else, he did leave the room. Melissa looked to her mother for support,
“This is the furthest thing from a fairytale,” Melissa said imploringly.
“It is time for you to grow up Melissa,” her mother said. “You need to start a family of your own and Mr. Turner is very well thought of in town.”
“Very wealthy you mean,” Melissa sulked. Her mother walked around the table and put a hand on Melissa’s shoulder.
“I know this can be a scary time, but you will spend some time with him now and you will see what he is really like,” she said.
“What if I still don’t like him after that?”
“You will,” her mother assured her. “Now you run along after your breakfast and put on a lovely dress. Mr. Turner will be here to see you this afternoon.”
“Today?” Melissa asked; it was all starting so soon, just like that.
“Yes, you are courting now,” her mother said smiling.
In her room after breakfast, Melissa looked through all of her clothes. She was trying to see which one looked the worst on her, gave her the most unflattering figure or showed up her pale coloring. She wanted to look as unappealing as possible for Mr. Turner in the hope that he would be turned off her and change his mind.
Her mother arrived in her room at about midday and looked at the disarray of the bed and floor.
“Have you still not dressed?” she asked seeing her daughter in a hideous dress that no longer fitted her.
“I am dressed,” Melissa smiled back at her.
“You are not wearing that horrid thing!” her mother said coldly.
“Why not?” Melissa asked innocently.
“I know what you are trying to do Melissa, and it will not work.”
“Wha…”
“Mr. Turner has seen you plenty of times before, he knows how you normally look, and I will remark in his presence today, if I must, that you have dressed poorly on purpose,” her mother said. Melissa conceded defeat and put on one of her nicer dresses and her mother tied up her hair and soon it was announced that Mr. Turner had arrived.
They came down the stairs and into the drawing room where her father and Mr. Turner were waiting. Turner stood up smiled at the two women as they came in, but even in this Melissa could see nothing pleasant. She had always hated the habit Turner had of ordering the help in this house around as if it were his own and she saw his smiles more as sneers that anything benevolent.
“Ms. Thomas,” Mr. Turner said, “You look splendid!” Melissa nodded but then felt a sharp jab in her back from her mother. It was so hard she took a step forward,
“Thank you, Mr. Turner,” she said turning and scowling at her mother.
“Why don’t we leave these two alone for a few moments, I’m sure they have much to discuss,” her father said. Melissa looked at both him and her mother as they smiled blandly and left the room. She turned back to Mr. Turner, who was still standing.
“Why don’t you come and sit, dear?” he said indicating the seat her father had just vacated. She came over slowly and sat down not loo
king at him. “I dare say this came as something of a shock to you?” Turner said smiling.
“Yes, sir,” she answered timidly.
“You don’t have to be frightened of me,” he said.
“I’m not,” she said looking at him. He was taken aback by her answer; it was clear he had not expected it. His face changed, he was not a man for surprises,
“Perhaps you should be,” he said meanly. She blushed and looked at the floor again. “This is not an ideal match for me either,” he went on, “But, you are young and healthy and your father is not a poor man. You will do well around the house and I can have some boys to pass my business on to.” Melissa was horrified at the way he was talking to her, and how he viewed her as no more than a means to an end, and as some house servant. Again, she wondered how her father could have gone along with this ludicrous idea. At least, she thought, Mr. Turner seemed to acknowledge that this was not a good match for her.
“Surely there is someone else who would suit you better than I?” she asked. He glared at her but this time, she held his gaze.
“How dare you,” he said, “Questioning me is one thing I will not permit, do you understand me?” His voice was level but his cheeks were glowing red and she could see the fury in him. She nodded meekly, she knew that there was no hope of finding any happiness with this man. If no one was going to help her, she was going to have to come up with a way out herself.
Chapter 2
Roger Fulton lived in California; he had been out west for seven years now and he worked on a large ranch south of San Francisco. He had worked hard and set himself up in a nice house on the main street of town. He had been unlucky in love and now with barely any unattached women in town, he was in something of a pickle. He did not want to have to leave town as he liked the place here. He liked the people and the life and especially the climate.
One day while he was in the saloon a man he knew called Jackson came up to him,
“Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”
[2015] Cowboy Saves a Widow Page 11
