Shadow of Hope: Book 4 - Shadow Series

by Barbara Goss

  “It’s true. Gavin has made two physical attacks on me, and both times Miles rescued me.” Violet took out her handkerchief and dabbed at her tearing eyes.

  Julia stood and put her arm around her shoulders. “You still love Miles, don’t you?”

  Violet nodded and began to cry in earnest.

  “Come into the house, Violet. Let’s talk over a nice cup of tea. Things always look better over tea, don’t they?” She winked at Caleb.

  Caleb gave his wife a knowing smile.

  “I’ll get you a derringer, Violet. Stop back to see us on Monday, and I’ll have it for you and give you shooting lessons.”

  Violet dried her eyes while Julia poured tea for them both, and then took a seat at the table with her.

  “I think Miles still loves you, too, Violet, but he’s afraid.”

  “And I don’t blame him,” Violet said. “When I broke off the betrothal, he acted like he was all right with it, but I heard from others that he was shattered. Yet…” she started to cry again. “Yet, all I thought about was myself and my new teaching job—and Gavin McKenzie, who was only a friend at the time.”

  “We all make mistakes, Violet,” Julia said.

  “But this one is not fixable.” She dabbed at more tears. “I admit to being somewhat attracted to Gavin because I thought he reminded me of my father, who I miss more than anything.”

  “It’s understandable, Violet. Why don’t you tell all this to Miles.”

  “I can’t. He treats me like an old friend. He’s friendly, cordial, and polite, but I can see how he works hard at keeping his distance from me without actually being rude.”

  “Violet, I’d like nothing better than to have you for a sister-in-law, and an aunt to my children—if I should be lucky enough to have any.” She laughed. “Let me help you.”

  “How can you help? I understand Miles’s feelings completely. He won’t risk taking a chance with me again, and I can’t really blame him.”

  “What if you two skipped the courting altogether and just got married? Then he’d know you wouldn’t ever leave him again,” Julia said.

  “I can’t just go up to him and ask him to marry me,” Violet said.

  “Why not? You’re the one who broke off the betrothal, so it would have to be you that makes the first move. Don’t wait for him to make it, because I know he won’t. He’s afraid he’ll lose his heart again.”

  “I couldn’t—”

  “So are you telling me that you still aren’t sure if you love my brother?” Julia asked.

  “I do love him. If I had any doubts before the camp, I don’t have any now. I watched him with the children, and he was wonderful. I saw him first thing in the morning with sleepy eyes and messy hair and his protectiveness saved me twice. I love him with all my heart, Julia. I don’t have a single doubt. And I know now that there is no replacement for my father, not ever. That was my only attraction to Mr. McKenzie.”

  “Then do it, Violet. It’s the only way.”

  “I’ll think about it, Julia. It’s not that I don’t want to—because I do—I just don’t think I’d have the nerve, and what if he rejects me?”

  “He won’t, I guarantee it. If you really mean what you said, I have an idea, I’m going to throw a small party, and…” Julia whispered the rest of her idea.

  Julia invited everyone to her house on Saturday night for a formal dinner party. She told them it was a formal affair, which surprised all those who’d received invitations. She then proceeded to put her plan into action.

  She paid a visit to Miles one evening when she knew he’d be home from work.

  She laid a legal paper on his kitchen table. “Caleb and I have made our will out in case we both die, and we’d like for you to be our executor. I just need a quick signature where I've put the X.”

  “Me?” Miles asked. “I thought you’d ask Jonas—he and Caleb are so close.”

  “For personal reasons we’ve decided on you,” Julia urged. She pushed the paper at him.

  “I’m on my way to Pete’s for dinner. Can I read it later and sign?” he asked.

  “You don’t need to read it. It just says you agree to be our executor. Just sign! Trust me—I’m your sister.”

  Miles sighed, and signed where she’d indicated. “All right. Can I go eat now? Would you care to join me?”

  “No, thank you, Caleb’s waiting for me. Can I just ask you one question?”

  “Sure, but hurry, please, I’m starving. I missed lunch today because I had another meeting.”

  “Oh, that’s right, you’re in training for being head manager of the bank. Congratulations!”

  “Thanks. It’s more responsibility, but the pay is double what I’ve been making. Now what was the question?”

  “Do you still love Violet?”

  Miles grimaced. “That’s the worst question you could possibly ask me. Let’s put it this way—I’m over it—well, I’m getting over it. Falling out of love isn’t easy, but I’ve prayed, and God is helping me to move on with my life. I’ve gotten to the point where I can now fall asleep without crying or feeling that empty, hollow feeling. I can actually talk to her now without the urge to shake her and let her know how much she hurt me. I can actually go for hours without thinking once about her. I’m healing, Julia. Slow but surely.”

  “What if she still loved you? What then?” Julia asked.

  “You said one question,” Miles reminded her. “But I’ll answer, anyway; I don’t think Violet knows what she wants. I can’t trust that she won’t do it a second time, and I can’t go through that kind of hurt ever again.”

  “Will you look for someone else to marry, then?” she asked.

  “I could never love anyone as deeply as I loved Violet. The love I had for her is something that I think only comes around once in lifetime. I’ve tried being with other women and it’s hopeless. I have no problem with staying single. I’ve enjoyed working with the kids, I enjoy my job—there are other things in the world besides love,” he said. “Can I go now?”

  “Yes,” Julia said, pocketing the signed marriage license.

  Violet arrived at Julia and Caleb’s dressed in the pink dress that Miles had always liked. Julia fixed Violet’s hair, braiding it, winding it around her head, and then weaving real flowers around it.

  “Something borrowed and something blue—the flowers are blue, and I want you to borrow this handkerchief. And I’m giving you these earrings, so now you have something new,” Julia said, stepping back to appreciate her handiwork.

  “Thank you, Julia. I’m not sure about this, though. I still have this feeling your brother will be less than thrilled about this. He never was fond of surprises.”

  “I know.” She bit her lower lip. “But it’s done. I doubt he’ll refuse you the way you look tonight. I think you should stay from sight until the time is right. Do you mind sitting here in the bedroom for a while?”

  “No. I hope it isn’t for too long—the anticipation and unpredictability is nerve-wracking. I’m starting to wonder why I ever agreed to this,” Violet said, as she sat in an armchair.

  “Someone’s here—I have to go.” Julia backed from the room, with a wink.

  Violet heard voices. She tried to ease her nervousness by trying to guess who was speaking. She knew she heard Ivy’s voice, so she knew one of the male voices had to be Jonas’s, although he and Caleb had similar voices. Then she heard a voice that she knew all too well, that of Miles. It made her heart flutter in her chest.

  How would he react to a surprise wedding?

  As Miles approached the door to his sister and Caleb’s house, he wondered what the dinner was all about, and why it was a formal affair. Even though he couldn't figure out the reason for it, he'd worn a suit, anyway. Perhaps she was about to announce that she was increasing—but why the formality? He could only think it was just an idea in order to break the monotony of their dinners—something different.

  Julia swung open the door and invited him in.
“Oh,” she said, “a new suit? I love it.”

  “Yes, the bank manager must always look the part,” he said. “So what’s the occasion, anyway?”

  “It’s a surprise,” she said.

  “When is it due?” he asked.

  “Any minute,” she said with a snicker.

  Jonas, Caleb, Quinn, and their wives, Ivy and Rose, greeted Miles warmly.

  Mrs. Jeffries wasn’t there, but strangely, Reverend Martin was, even though his wife wasn’t. Then he remembered that Mrs. Martin had just delivered a baby, so naturally, she’d not be attending. He looked around. Another strange thing, was that Violet wasn’t there, either. It seemed to be all couples, except for him and Martin. Well, he supposed, he’d be happy to be Martin’s dinner partner.

  Everyone had been comfortably seated in the formal parlor, not in the sitting room, which was another abnormality. Now everyone seemed to be looking at Julia, wondering, as he was, what the occasion might be, and what might be coming next. Julia and Caleb were off whispering in the corner. So far this was shaping up to be the oddest dinner party he’d ever attended.

  Finally, Julia stepped forward and silently clapped her hands together. “You are all probably wondering what the occasion is. Well, it’s a wedding! Caleb would you come up and stand here, and Miles here, next to Reverend Martin—there, by the fireplace. Ivy, would you stand on his right side? Miles wondered if Caleb and Julia were going to renew their vows. Then he noticed all eyes were on him.

  “What the deuce is this about?” Miles said.

  Caleb and Ivy shrugged, but did as they were told. Then Julia whispered something to Jonas, who then got up, slid onto the piano bench, and began to play the wedding march.

  Miles felt a definite feeling of foreboding. She wouldn’t! His dear sister wouldn’t dare—or would she?

  In walked Violet, looking like a wood nymph. His heart began to pound at the first sight of her—she looked lovelier than he’d ever seen her before. That was when the warning bells in his brain went off. Oh no!

  Violet came over and took his hand. “Will you marry me, Miles?”

  “No!” he yelled, loudly.

  Violet’s eyes widened and her cheeks turned pink.

  Miles swung around to face the shocked guests. “I have no idea whose idea this was, but it’s a cruel and heartless one.”

  Violet began to cry, which only served to drive Miles into a dither. He hated to see her cry. He yelled, “Everyone out. Give us some privacy, please!”

  He never saw people scatter for the door so quickly. Miles watched as everyone gathered to stand in the yard, counting to make sure that every single one of them was outside.

  He turned to Violet and said in his calmest voice, “What’s going on? Whose idea was this?”

  She stood there, quietly weeping. “Julia’s,” she said in a voice so soft he could barely hear it.

  “Why?” he asked.

  “I love you, that’s why.” She sniffed.

  Miles had to clench his hands behind his back to resist the temptation to grab her and hold her until she stopped her weeping. He held them so tightly; one hand had already gone numb

  “You love me—I’ve heard that before, Violet. Have you any idea what you did to me when you broke off our betrothal? Have you any idea what I’ve gone through for the past few months? Have you?”

  She nodded, still weeping silently. “I’m so sorry. Would you let me explain?”

  “I’ll give as long as you gave me to answer you when you broke off with me without any notice. Go on,” he said, “explain.”

  “I’d waited so long for my teaching certificate and it was something I’ve wanted since I was a child. I found myself loving the job and the children. The feeling I had in Salina, working and living independently, was so rewarding, but I never stopped loving you, Miles. I even told you that when I broke it off, that it wasn’t because I didn’t love you, it was because I thought I wanted more than that. I’ll say it: I was selfish, but I thought I wanted more out of life than just being someone's wife. The long distance relationship was hard on us both, and I thought it best, then, that each of us be free to explore and find ourselves.”

  She patted her eyes with the handkerchief again. “I met Gavin McKenzie, and we were just friends, but for some reason I imagined he reminded me of my father, and that was why I wanted to be with him so much—I do miss my father, so. Being with Gavin made me feel like I was with my father again. Toward the end, after he proposed without so much as a kiss or holding of hands, I knew I’d been fooled. Rose told me that our father can never be replaced and that I shouldn’t even try—she was right.

  “But by then it seemed Gavin wouldn’t take no for an answer. He claimed he had time and money invested in me, and I couldn’t refuse his proposal, but I didn’t want him anymore! I realized how much I missed you every time I saw you with Peggy. What really reinforced how much I loved you, was seeing you at the camp, and not just because of your gallant rescues, but because of you. I felt so safe knowing you were watching out for me at camp. I loved seeing you first thing in the mornings, I loved seeing how good you were with the children, and I realized that I’d foolishly thrown all of that away.

  “I’m sorry for everything, especially this horrible evening,” she started to weep again. Miles couldn’t control himself another moment. He held out his arms, and Violet flew into them and wept on his shoulder.

  Miles, pulled her tighter and tighter; how good she felt in his arms.

  “Please don’t let me go, Miles, not ever,” she cried.

  Miles was silent this time. Should he trust her again? He wanted to—God knew how much he wanted to. He felt led to forgive her and give her that chance.

  Don’t we all make mistakes? Look what his sister had done to Caleb?

  He squeezed her tighter and then tried to push her away gently, just far enough to see her face to tell her, but she refused to be moved, and only held onto him tighter.

  “No! Don’t push me away. I love you, and in your arms is the only place I ever want to be,” she cried.

  On impulse, Miles held her tighter. He swayed back and forth with her.

  Finally he said into her ear, “I don’t want to push you away, Violet—ever! I love you so much it hurts inside, like I’ve been turned inside out. You have no idea, how much I love you—still.” He hugged her again. “I just wanted to push you away far enough to look into your eyes to see the truth there,”

  “No!” she cried. “Not yet. Just hold me for a while longer. It feels so good to be in your arms once again. You have no idea. I love you so much, Miles. I even went against my better judgment in going through with this tonight, because Julia made me see that since I broke off our betrothal, it had to be me that put us back together—forever.”

  “I need to see your face, Violet.”

  Reluctantly, slowly, she moved away enough for him to see her face. He wiped away a few tears from her cheeks, and then pulled her hair down so he could run his fingers through it, and in so doing undid all of the braids. “There is no one,” he murmured, “no one in all of the world like you, you know. I had to face that fact, and accept being alone for the rest of my life, because I knew there would never be another you.”

  He studied her face. “Tell me you love me, Violet.”

  Looking straight into his eyes she said, “I love you, Miles.”

  He bent to kiss her. She responded, and they ended up kissing in a tearful frenzy.

  “Oh, Miles,” she murmured. “Am I forgiven? Will you let Martin marry us tonight? Because my insides are burning to be loved all the way, with God’s blessing. I need to show you how much I love and desire you.”

  Miles looked deeply into her eyes. “Say it again,” Miles prompted. “Tell me you love me again.”

  “I love you, Miles Croft and I promise I will never hurt you again.”

  Miles smiled. “One more kiss and we’ll call everyone back in for the wedding,” he said.

&nb
sp; Chapter 13

  Miles broke off the most heated kiss that he and Violet had ever shared. He felt like the luckiest man in the world. He pulled her with him to the side door to call everyone back inside.

  With everyone standing in the parlor staring at them, Miles announced, “Let the service begin!”

  Everyone clapped their hands, and Julia was a mixture of smiles and tears. “We all prayed outside, and God delivered,” she said. “Thank you, Lord.”

  “Just let me freshen Violet up a bit.” Julia took Violet’s hand to pull her into the bedroom, but Miles fended his sister off.

  “No. She stays.” He put his arm around her protectively. “We aren’t ready to be parted again, even for a few minutes,” he said. Miles looked at his bride. “We have to make up for the three months we spent apart, and besides, she looks beautiful, just the way she is. Her pink eyes even match her dress.” He kissed her reddened nose.

  Violet soaked up Miles’s touch like a sponge soaks up water. She couldn’t get close enough to him. While they repeated their vows, instead of just holding hands, he held her in his arms.

  She refused to let him go. When she repeated her vows to him, she felt tears roll down her face, but they were tears of happiness. She hesitated before one part of the vows and she looked deep into his eyes and said emphatically, “Til Death do us part, Miles.” He hugged her even tighter.

  When Martin pronounced them man and wife, she couldn’t believe she was finally, Mrs. Croft, and she clung to Miles. Martin said, “You may kiss the bride,” and Miles did. Despite the gasps around them, they didn’t break the kiss off quickly. Finally, Julia cleared her throat, and Caleb said, “You can finish that kiss later; I’m hungry.”

  Julia had a sit-down, full course meal served in the dining room, but Miles and Violet couldn’t concentrate on eating. Violet was eagerly awaiting the consummation, even though she heard it could be painful the first time. It was the ultimate act of love, and she couldn’t wait to give to Miles what she’d almost lost at the camp, and that was her virtue. It belonged to Miles, and no one had to right to take that from her. She would give it to Miles as the most cherished gift a woman could ever give her husband.