“Away,” she whispered.
Strong hands closed around her waist, and suddenly she was airborne, lifted off the wagon seat and then set gently on the ground. Her eyes flew open.
“You’re not going anywhere, Miss Kristoffersen. Not until I’ve done this.”
His lips claimed hers in the kiss she’d longed for, even when she hadn’t known it. The kiss was gentle, yet it sent her senses reeling. She felt turned upside down and wrong side out. His arms gathered her closer, and she felt their hearts beating as one. Oh, if they could only stay like this forever. If they didn’t have to face the world.
His lips parted from hers but moved only an inch or two away. “Kathleen sends her best.”
She opened her eyes, wondering how he could say such a thing.
He watched her closely. “She said to tell you that she and Oscar got married and are very happy.”
“Oscar? Married?” She frowned, confused. “But she … and you …
“We were never engaged, Felicia. Not ever.”
“Truly? It wasn’t just a secret?”
“Truly.”
Kathleen had tried to tell her but she hadn’t believed her. She’d believed … Mrs. Summerville.
“But there are still her accusations,” she said. “Mrs. Summerville’s. People still might think—”
“The parents are rallying. You’ll be teaching again in no time. No one believes her.”
Hope blossomed in her heart, yet it still seemed too good to be true. “It would be better if I go. There wouldn’t be any more gossip. And I’ve had a letter. It’s possible I might be able to find my sister.”
“Don’t go. If you want to find your sister, I’ll help you. We can look for her together.”
“Together?”
Once again he drew her close. Once again he captured her mouth with his. How could she have lived to be twenty-six years old without knowing how wonderful a kiss could be? It stole her breath and turned her mind to mush. And it drained the very last of her weak resistance.
He must have felt it go, for he lifted his head a few inches and said, “Come back, Felicia. Don’t leave Frenchman’s Bluff. Don’t leave the children.” He brushed his lips against hers, and his voice lowered. “Don’t leave me. You’ve taught me so much already, but I have so much more to learn.”
She smiled a little. “What have I taught you, Mr. Murphy?”
“More than you could imagine, my love. But it’ll take me a lifetime to find the words to tell you.”
EPILOGUE
FRENCHMAN’S BLUFF, IDAHO, NOVEMBER 1898
A cold wind buffeted Felicia’s back as she locked the door to the schoolhouse. When she went down the steps, she had to hold on to her hat to keep it from blowing away.
“Mrs. Murphy!”
She smiled as she stopped and turned. She never tired of hearing someone call her that. Sometimes, even after three months as Colin’s wife, she needed to pinch herself, just to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
“Glad I caught you, Mrs. Murphy.” Joe Reynolds hurried toward her. “Got a letter for you. I figured you’d want to see it right away.” He waved the envelope in the air. “It’s from that orphanage place in Chicago. Dr. Cray’s.”
Her heart skipped a beat, and a flutter of excitement erupted in her stomach.
“Maybe they’ve got news about your brother or sister,” he finished.
It was difficult to keep much private in this town, Felicia had come to know. Especially when the townsfolk considered her one of their own. “Thank you, Mr. Reynolds.” She took the letter from the postmaster. “It was kind of you to deliver it.”
“Don’t mind a bit. Knew you’d want it right away, and your husband was already by for the mail today.” He grinned. “Well, best not keep you out here jawin’ in this wind. You take care now.”
She thanked him again and hurried on her way home, grateful that she didn’t have far to go.
When she entered the kitchen of the Murphy living quarters, warm air greeted her along with the delicious smells of dinner cooking in the oven. Colin liked to spoil her this way, dear man.
She set her books and papers on the table, the envelope from Dr. Cray’s on top of her lesson plan.
It wasn’t often that a married woman was allowed to teach school. Society said a wife belonged in the home, caring for her family. But Colin had been prepared to battle the school board for her right to continue teaching, calling the common requirement by school districts for female teachers to resign upon marriage archaic and anachronistic.
Remembering that made her smile. As Colin’s ability to read had improved, so had his vocabulary. He delighted in using new words whenever he could, and she delighted in hearing him use them.
But he hadn’t needed to use those particular two words to convince the board. To Felicia’s great surprise, they’d voted unanimously to let her continue teaching after their wedding. Of course, it wouldn’t have been unanimous if Mrs. Summerville had remained on the board, but she’d resigned in a huff a year ago, soon after Felicia was reinstated.
Poor Mrs. Summerville.
But Felicia had learned circumstances rarely stayed the same for long. Life was about change. A time to sow, a time to reap, a time to laugh, a time to cry. And if she wasn’t mistaken, her life was about to change again. God willing, another Murphy would be born in this house in another six or seven months.
Colin appeared in the doorway. “Hey there. You’re home.” Three strides carried him across the room, where he drew her close and kissed her, slow and deep.
Her favorite place to be—in his arms.
“I started dinner,” he said when the kiss ended.
“I know. It smells wonderful.”
“Charity’s doing her homework. I was helping her.”
Felicia loved the way he said those words.
“Want to join us?’
She shook her head. “Not yet.” Stepping back from Colin, she picked up the letter Mr. Reynolds had delivered to her. “It’s from Dr. Cray’s. They must have learned some new information since their last letter.” There was that flutter of excitement in her stomach again.
“Go on. Open it. See what it says.”
She held the envelope toward him. “I’m too nervous. Will you open it, please?”
His gaze was tender as he leaned close to kiss her forehead. Then he took the envelope and broke the seal. Seconds later, he was reading the letter. A frown furrowed his brow.
Felicia clenched her hands, waiting, wondering, anxious, hoping.
Colin looked up. “It seems that when your brother left Nebraska, he returned to Chicago to live with your father.”
“With my father?” She shook her head. “He … Dad was gone. He left before Mum died.”
“Apparently he came back.” Colin looked at the letter again. “It says they may know Hugh’s last place of residence and will advise you upon confirmation.”
God’s goodness and lovingkindness overwhelmed her, and tears of joy filled her eyes. Fifteen months ago, she’d had no one in her life who loved her and no one for her to love. She’d been alone and had thought she would remain alone. But the Lord had other plans for her. Today she had a beloved husband, a cherished daughter, a wide circle of good friends—and now the possibility of a brother restored.
Once her life had seemed bitter but now it was sweet, and thanksgiving welled in her soul.
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
Smiling through her tears, she stepped back into her husband’s embrace.
About the Author
ROBIN LEE HATCHER is the bestselling author of over sixty books. Her well-drawn characters and heartwarming stories of faith, courage, and love have earned her both critical acclaim and the devotion of readers. Her numerous awards include the Christy
Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, two RITA Awards for Best Inspirational Romance, and the Romance Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award. Robin is a lifelong resident of Idaho.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
ALSO BY ROBIN LEE HATCHER
THE SISTERS OF BETHLEHEM SPRINGS SERIES
A Vote of Confidence
Fit to Be Tied
A Matter of Character
THE COMING TO AMERICA SERIES
Dear Lady
Patterns of Love,
In His Arms
Promised to Me
WHERE THE HEART LIVES SERIES
Belonging
When Love Blooms
A Carol for Christmas
Return to Me
Loving Libby
Wagered Heart
The Perfect Life
Home to Hart’s Crossing
The Victory Club
Beyond the Shadows
Catching Katie
The Forgiving Hour
Whispers from Yesterday
The Shepherd’s Voice
Ribbon of Years
Firstborn
Preview
The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs
A Vote of Confidence
Robin Lee Hatcher,
Bestselling Author of
When Love Blooms
In A Vote of Confidence, the stage is set for some intriguing insight into what it was like during 1915 to be a woman in a “man’s world.”
Guinevere Arlington is a beautiful young woman determined to remain in charge of her own life. For seven years, Gwen has carved out a full life in the bustling town of Bethlehem Springs, Idaho, where she teaches piano and writes for the local newspaper. Her passion for the town, its people, and the surrounding land prompt Gwen to run for mayor. After all, who says a woman can’t do a man’s job?
But stepping outside the boundaries of convention can get messy. A shady lawyer backs Gwen, believing he can control her once she’s in office. A wealthy newcomer throws his hat into the ring in an effort to overcome opposition to the health resort he’s building north of town. When the opponents fall in love, everything changes, forcing Gwen to face what she may have to lose in order to win.
Available in stores and online!
The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs
Fit to Be Tied
Robin Lee Hatcher,
Bestselling Author of
A Vote of Confidence
It’s 1916, and Idaho rancher Cleo Arlington knows everything about horses but nothing about men. So when charged with transforming English aristocrat Sherwood Statham from playboy to cowboy, she’s totally disconcerted. So is Statham, who’s never encountered a woman succeeding in a “man’s world.” Their bumpy trot into romance is frustrating, exhilarating, and ultimately heartwarming.
Available in stores and online!
The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs
A Matter of Character
Robin Lee Hatcher,
Bestselling Author of
A Vote of Confidence
The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series delivers exactly what readers have been waiting for—smart, confident women who are not afraid to defy convention, live their own dreams, and share their lives if the right man comes along.
In A Matter of Character, book three in the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series, it’s 1918, and Daphne McKinley, heiress to a small fortune, has found contentment in the town of Bethlehem Springs. But Daphne has a secret.
A series of dime novels loosely based on local lore and featuring a nefarious villain known as Rawhide Rick has enjoyed modest popularity among readers. Nobody in Bethlehem Springs knows the man behind the stories … except Daphne.
When newspaperman Joshua Crawford comes to town searching for the man who sullied the good name of his grandfather, Daphne finds herself at a crossroads, reassessing the power of her words, re-thinking how best to honor her gifts, and reconsidering what she wants out of life.
Available in stores and online!
Coming to America
Dear Lady
Robin Lee Hatcher,
Bestselling Author of
Firstborn
In the big-sky country of Montana, the past doesn’t always stay buried. Circumstances have a way of forcing secrets into the open, sometimes bringing hearts together in unlikely ways, and sometimes tearing them apart.
Dear Lady is book one in the Coming to America series about women who come to America to start new lives. Set in the late 1800s and early 1900s, these novels by bestselling author Robin Lee Hatcher craft intense chemistry and conflict between the characters, lit by a glowing faith and humanity that will win your heart. Look for other books in the series at your favorite Christian bookstore.
Available in stores and online!
Coming to America
Patterns of Love
Robin Lee Hatcher,
Bestselling Author of
Firstborn
In rural Iowa, life is both the planter and uprooter of dreams. As love, long delayed, springs to life in the heart of a young Swedish immigrant, one man struggles with his withered ambitions—and new blessings that could take their place if he would but allow them room.
Patterns of Love is book two in the Coming to America series about women who come to America to start new lives. Set in the late 1800s and early 1900s, these novels by bestselling author Robin Lee Hatcher craft intense chemistry and conflict between the characters, lit by a glowing faith and humanity that will win your heart. Look for other books in the series at your favorite Christian bookstore.
Available in stores and online!
Coming to America
In His Arms
Robin Lee Hatcher,
Bestselling Author of
Firstborn
Idaho: mountainous, rugged. Men go there to find their fortunes in the silver mines—and lose their pasts. But as Mary Malone discovers, sometimes the past is not so easily shaken. It will take a good man’s strong, persistent love to penetrate the young immigrant’s defenses and disarm the secret that makes a hostage of her heart.
In His Arms is book three in the Coming to America series about women who come to America to start new lives. Set in the late 1800s and early 1900s, these novels by bestselling author Robin Lee Hatcher craft intense chemistry and conflict between the characters, lit by a glowing faith and humanity that will win your heart. Look for other books in the series at your favorite Christian bookstore.
Available in stores and online!
Coming to America
Promised to Me
Robin Lee Hatcher,
Bestselling Author of
Firstborn
In Idaho, the land is good but life is hard for a German émigré whose dreams have turned to dust. Love found and lost can shatter a man’s faith. But it is about to strengthen that of the woman to whom he turns—and in the drought of summer, a withered promise springs to life.
Promised to Me is book four in the Coming to America series about women who come to America to start new lives. Set in the late 1800s and early 1900s, these novels by bestselling author Robin Lee Hatcher craft intense chemistry and conflict between the characters, lit by a glowing faith and humanity that will win your heart. Look for other books in the series at your favorite Christian bookstore.
Available in stores and online!
Wagered Heart
Robin Lee Hatcher,
Author of Return to Me
When Bethany Silverton left the genteel life of Miss Henderson’s School for Young Ladies back in Philadelphia for the raw frontier town of Sweetwater, Montana, she had no idea how much she would enjoy the freedom and danger of this wild country.
A conservative preacher’s daughter, Bethany can’t resist the challenge of charming the most attractive cowboy in town into attending her father’s new church. She never dreamed that the cowboy would charm the lady.
; But Hawk Chandler isn’t the only man vying for Bethany’s affections. Ruthlessly ambitious Vince Richards thinks Bethany is perfect for him: attractive, gracious, just the woman to help him become governor. And he is determined to get what he wants at any cost.
Drawn to one man, an obsession of another, Bethany’s quiet life is thrown into turmoil. She wagered her heart on love. Now she has gotten more than she bargained for—and the stakes are about to become life and death.
Available in stores and online!
When Love Blooms
Robin Lee Hatcher,
Author of Wagered Heart
From the moment Gavin Blake set eyes on Emily Harris he knew she would never make it in the rugged high country where backbreaking work and constant hardship were commonplace. She would wilt there like a rose without water. He’d be sending her back to Boise before the first snows. He’d be willing to bet on it.
She could say what she wanted. Emily Harris didn’t belong in the hard life of the Blakes. Beautiful and refined, she was accustomed to the best life had to offer. Heaven only knew why she wanted to leave Boise to teach two young girls on a ranch miles from nowhere. He’d wager it had to do with a man. It always did when a beautiful woman was involved.
Emily wanted to make some sort of mark on the world before marriage. She wanted to be more than just a society wife. Though she had plenty of opportunities back East, she had come to the Idaho high country looking to make a difference. Gavin’s resistance to her presence made her even more determined to prove herself. Perhaps changing the heart of one man might make the greatest difference of all.
Belonging Page 23
