“Oh?” Do you want me to be a bridesmaid? Feeling a twinge of conscience, Tarah sent up a hasty prayer of repentance.
“Yes, I’ve decided Anthony is not the man for me, after all. So you can have him.”
Tarah felt her mouth drop at the sudden revelation. “What do you mean?”
With her gaze fixed on the dancers, Louisa inclined her head toward a young man Tarah had danced with earlier in the evening. “That’s Tom Kirkpatrick, a friend of my brother’s from the university.” She cut her gaze to Tarah, apparently expecting a response.
“Handsome,” Tarah obliged.
“Yes, isn’t he?” Twin spots of pink dotted Louisa’s cheeks. “We have discovered we have ever so much in common, and Mother and Father agree Tom is more suited to me than Anthony could possibly ever be.”
Poor Anthony! “But what about your betrothal?” Tarah asked indignantly. “You can’t just throw Anthony over for another man. It isn’t right.”
Louisa shrugged as she caught Tom’s eye. The two shared a smile. “Better I find out now than after we’re married. Don’t you think?”
Tarah’s temper flared. “I don’t see how you can do this to Anthony after all this time of making him believe you would welcome a proposal.”
Giving Tarah her full attention, Louisa lifted a delicate brow and regarded her reflectively. “I rather thought the news would please you. It’s no secret how you feel about Anthony.”
Heat rushed to Tarah’s cheeks, but she met Louisa’s gaze head on. “How I feel isn’t the point,” she said, not caring that she had just made an admission. “Anthony’s feelings are all that matter right now. And he’ll be so hurt.”
An amused smile played at the corners of Louisa’s lips. “A bright girl like you should be able to find a way to help him feel better.” She let out a short, mirthless laugh. “In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns to you before the evening is over.”
A retort fell short of Tarah’s lips as her pa stood on the rough-hewn platform at the front of the room and held up his arms. “Ladies and gentleman, may I have your attention, please?”
The room stirred for a moment, then quiet ensued as all eyes turned with interest toward Pa.
“You all know how long we’ve been praying and searching for a preacher. It seemed like God raised one up right in our midst when Reverend Greene came back to Harper.”
Tarah’s gaze darted to Anthony. His face glowed red and a look of dread covered his features.
“Now, the Reverend’s the first to admit things started off a mite rough, but I think we all agree God has made quite a turnaround in our church in the past few weeks.”
Heads nodded in approval. Mr. Tucker slapped Anthony on the back. “Doin’ a fine job, Preacher.”
Tarah’s heart soared as she realized her pa was about to confirm Anthony’s position as pastor. She glanced at Louisa, whose gaze was fixed on her new beau, her face glowing with the joy of newfound love.
Tarah bristled. Anthony should be sharing this moment with the person he loved. Instead he was about to be given the boot right out of Louisa’s life. Lord, it just isn’t right. I know Anthony doesn’t love me, but please don’t let him be too hurt over Louisa.
Without thought, she nudged Louisa. “Can’t you wait until tomorrow, at least? Give Anthony this night to enjoy getting the permanent position.”
“Too late,” Louisa replied without averting her gaze from Tom Kirkpatrick. “I told Anthony during our last dance together.”
Pa again lifted his arms to quiet the commotion brought on by his last statement. “I guess you’ve pretty much figured out what I’m going to say next. Come on up here, Reverend Greene, and let everyone have a good look at Harper’s new pastor.”
A wide grin split Anthony’s achingly handsome face as he strode forward and stood before his friends, family, and congregation. Pa shook his hand vigorously. “Congratulations, Reverend. I pray you’ll shepherd this flock with the compassion of David, the wisdom of Solomon, and the love and sacrifice of the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ.”
Tears sprang to Tarah’s eyes even as Anthony smiled, his own eyes glistening in the lamplit room. “I thank you all for the trust you’ve placed in me. I ask that you pray for me as often as you will.”
Pa stepped forward again and clapped Anthony on the shoulder. “I have one more announcement to make, then the band will play the last waltz of the night.” He grinned at Anthony. “God has blessed our town with new folks moving in all the time, and we don’t want it said we don’t take good care of our preacher. So the town council has approved the building of a new church. And not a sod building, either.”
A cheer rose up from the crowd. Pa waited for quiet to resume before continuing. “Mr. Thomas, our distinguished banker, has approved a loan and donated the first fifty dollars for shipping in enough wood for the church and a small parsonage.”
Anthony’s mouth dropped at the news, and everyone turned to the banker in a mix of disbelief and astonishment. Mrs. Thomas stood beside her husband, her chin lifted with pride, shoulders straight with the dignity this effort afforded them.
“You see what a generous man my father is?” Louisa asked smugly. “Now maybe the town will vote him onto the council.”
“I hope so, Louisa.” And Tarah was surprised to discover that she really did. Mr. Thomas was in a position to help the townsfolk, and a little mutual respect might be called for now that Harper was becoming a real town.
Anthony cleared his throat and inclined his head. “Again, I thank you folks and you, Mr. Thomas, for your generosity. I will try to earn your faith in me.” With that, he shook Pa’s hand again and stepped off the little platform as the band began to play a reel to start off the last waltz of the night.
Tarah found her gaze fixed on Anthony, her heart beating time to the reel. Unable to look away, she watched as he stopped to speak to well-wishers. Then in an instant, he found her. Tarah’s breath caught in her throat at the intensity of his gaze, and she couldn’t have looked away if she had wanted to. He strode toward her and smiled. “Will you give me the honor of the last dance, Miss St. John?”
Heart pounding, Tarah nodded and placed her hand in his. He pulled her as close as propriety allowed, but Tarah was sure he could feel her heartbeat as he swept her around the dance floor.
“Congratulations, Anthony,” she said when she found her voice. “I’m so happy for you.”
He grinned. “I was a little worried when your pa started off talking about how rough the first few weeks were. You don’t know how relieved I was when he went on.”
Tarah let out a giggle. “You should have seen your face.”
“You were watching me?” His gaze searched her face.
She tried to think of a flippant answer, but nothing came, so she simply nodded. He drew a quick breath, his eyes serious. “Tarah,” he said hesitantly, “now that my future is secure in Harper and we’re building a parsonage, I’ll be in a position to marry and settle down.”
Tarah’s heart plummeted. Maybe he didn’t understand Louisa’s change in affections, after all. “Oh, Anthony—”
“Now wait. Before you say anything, I know you’re planning to go to Starling in another month or so, and I wouldn’t try to stop you if that’s really what you want to do.”
A frown furrowed Tarah’s brow as Louisa’s words came back to taunt her. I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns to you before the evening is over.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Anthony asked. “All I’m asking for is a chance to court you like a gentleman.” He sent her a heart-stopping grin, which only fueled Tarah’s anger.
She stopped midstep, then winced as Anthony stumbled and ground his boot into her slipper-clad foot.
Suddenly, the air in the room was stifling, and Tarah’s chest heaved, her palms growing moist. Without a word, she glared at Anthony and stomped as best she could with a limp toward the door. She snatched her coat from a peg on the wall, and b
rushing past Pa and Cassidy, she hurried out the door, desperate for a private spot where she could spill the threatening tears.
“Tarah, wait.” At Anthony’s voice, she spun around to find not only Anthony staring at her, but Pa and Cassidy and Mrs. Greene.
“What happened, Tarah?” Cassidy asked. “Is something wrong with your foot?”
“What? Oh, Anthony stepped on it. But I’m fine.”
“Then why are you so upset, Honey?” Pa asked.
Heaving a frustrated sigh, Tarah glanced at Anthony to see if he would speak up and admit what he had done. The look of bewilderment on his face boiled her blood.
She knit her brows together and took a step closer to him. “Ask him!” she said, never taking her gaze from Anthony’s face.
“Anthony, what have you done?” Mrs. Greene’s voice trembled.
“Is there something we should discuss in private, Son?” Pa asked, a hard edge to his voice that Tarah had rarely heard.
“I–I’m not sure, Sir. All I said was—”
Tarah had had all she could take. After months of dreaming about him, she’d had to watch Louisa hook him, then throw him back. After the heartbreak of releasing him to God, now he asked her for permission to come calling!
She took another step closer to Anthony until they were close enough to touch. “All he said was that he wanted to court me! Can you believe that, Ma? After all this time? Now, he wants to court me!”
A look of faint amusement covered Cassidy’s features. She opened her mouth, then closed it again and shook her head as Tarah continued to rant.
“After mooning over Louisa Thomas for as long as I’ve known him, he suddenly wants to court me. And do you know why, Mrs. Greene?”
“You’re a very pretty girl, Tarah,” she replied, the same look of amusement on her face. “Anthony has always thought very highly of you.”
“Ha!” Tarah let out an unladylike snort and turned to Pa, knowing she could count on him to understand. “The reason he suddenly wants to court me is because Louisa threw him over for that university fellow tonight.”
“That’s not exactly—”
“Oh, Anthony,” Tarah said, her energy suddenly drained, “you’re not going to deny it?”
“Tarah, please.” Louisa’s voice broke through the silence that had suddenly permeated the tension-filled air. “Keep your voice down before the whole town hears you make fools of all of us.”
Tarah spun around and glared at Louisa. “What are you doing out here?”
“Tom and I came out to get a breath of air.”
“And you decided to eavesdrop?” Sarcasm dripped from Tarah’s lips.
Louisa scowled. “It isn’t as though I had to struggle to hear you hollering at poor Anthony.”
“Poor Anthony? As if you care about his feelings,” Tarah snapped, her gaze darting to the young man holding protectively to Louisa’s elbow.
“Dell, perhaps we should leave these young people to work all this out between them,” Cassidy suggested quietly.
“No!” Tarah said, keeping her gaze fixed to Louisa. “I want you to stay.”
Louisa glanced nervously about the little gathering. “I’m afraid this misunderstanding is all my fault.”
Tarah’s mouth dropped open as she stared at the contrite face that only a moment before she would have loved to slap. Louisa gave a resigned sigh and continued. “It’s true I cared for Anthony a great deal—or thought I did,” she added, smiling at Tom. “But as kind as he has always been, he never felt the same way about me.”
“But I thought—”
“You thought what I led you to believe,” Louisa said, a wry grin twisting her lips. “But Anthony had nothing to do with it. I’m sure you remember the night we both had dinner at the Greenes’?”
Tarah nodded, reliving the humiliation.
“Anthony told me that night that he is not in love with me and never could be because he’s in love with someone else—you. He only brought me to the dance instead of you because I begged him not to humiliate me in front of the whole town.”
Eyes widening, Tarah’s gaze darted to Anthony, who stared at Louisa in astonishment.
“And Anthony,” Louisa said. “I think you’ll find the feeling is returned.”
Pa snickered behind them, adding to Tarah’s humiliation. So much for understanding.
“Dell,” Cassidy admonished.
Tarah planted her hands on her hips and struggled to maintain her composure. “Now, hold on, Louisa Thomas. Who do you think you are to speak for me?”
Completely unintimidated, Louisa lifted a brow and smirked. “Come now, Tarah. We’re all being honest here. If I can humiliate myself with the truth, why can’t you? And if the truth be told, all this is your fault to begin with.”
Tarah gasped. “Mine? You just admitted it was yours.”
Her slim shoulders lifted. “I’ve changed my mind. If you had let Anthony know how you feel about him in the first place, you would have been the one to go with him on all the picnics and horseback rides. And you would have come with him to the dance instead of me. Then all of this could have been avoided. But you have your pride, don’t you?” She smiled up at her escort. “Shall we go, Tom? I think I’ve done all I can do here.”
Tarah watched them leave arm in arm. Her mind whirled, trying to absorb the shocking revelations of the past few minutes. Anthony loved her? But what about the lessons she had learned about letting God direct her life? Was it even possible that Anthony was hers all along? Then it struck her. She had let him go, and God had given him back. It had been a hard lesson to learn, but she knew she was stronger spiritually as a result than she ever could have been without learning to surrender her will to God’s.
Her anger drained away as she turned slowly and caught her breath at the intensity of Anthony’s gaze. He stepped forward and took her hands, and everything and everyone present faded away.
Pa cleared his throat, making them both jump. “I still expect you to court my daughter properly, young man.”
“Yes, Sir,” Anthony said, without removing his gaze from Tarah’s.
“Then I suppose we can go now. Unless you want us to stay, Tarah?”
“No, Pa. You can go.”
“Ladies?” he said, turning to Cassidy and Mrs. Greene. “Shall we return to the dance?”
Tarah could hear them laughing as they strolled away, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was knowing Anthony shared her feelings and that her love for him was part of God’s plan all along.
She stared at him, not daring to speak for fear it had all been a dream that would float away if she broke the silence.
Anthony searched her face, his warm hands still enclosing hers. He drew a ragged breath and tightened his grip. “Do you love me?”
“Do you love me?” Tarah whispered.
Anthony’s lips curved into a wry grin. “I’ve been trying to tell you for weeks how much I care about you.”
“You have?”
He nodded. “Remember me telling you I’d do anything for you? I even offered to marry you, but you didn’t think I was serious. I love you. Now you. Was Louisa speaking the truth?”
Heat rushed to Tarah’s cheeks. She dropped her chin and nodded. “Yes, it’s true.”
Releasing a sigh, Anthony pulled her closer.
Tarah met his gaze head on and held her breath.
“I want to ask you to marry me. Do you think your pa would give his blessing without a courtship? Because I’m willing to wait however long it takes, but I’d prefer to be married as soon as the parsonage is built.”
Amusement washed over Tarah, and she tilted her head to one side, a grin tugging at the corners of her lips. “Have I ever told you how Pa and Cassidy met?”
A frown furrowed Anthony’s brow. “No. Do you want to tell me right now?”
Tarah giggled and nodded. “My pa placed an advertisement for a wife. Cassidy answered, and they married less than three weeks later with no cou
rting whatsoever. And I’ve never seen two people more in love. Have you?”
His lips twitched. “Now that you mention it, I haven’t.”
“So you see. I don’t think my pa or Cassidy will raise any objections to our marriage.”
“Are you saying yes?”
“Yes, Anthony.” Tarah closed her eyes as his head descended, and she knew this time she was going to be kissed. At the first touch of his lips on hers, Tarah wrapped her arms about his neck. The gentle caress sent shivers down her spine as she gave herself over to the heady sensations filling her for the first time.
Just as Anthony drew her closer and deepened the kiss, a sudden thought popped into her mind. She gasped, tearing her mouth away. He drew back immediately as her eyes flew open.
“What is it?” He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I should never have been so forward.”
“No, Anthony. Of course, I welcomed your kiss. It isn’t that.”
“Then what is it, Sweetheart?”
Tarah drew a steadying breath and regarded him frankly, feeling her heart racing within her chest. “When I marry, Laney and Ben come with me. And I don’t want a man who puts up with them but secretly resents them. They need a good man in their life—someone who will love them. Otherwise, they’d be better off with no man at all.”
Relief washed over Anthony’s face, and he smiled, pulling her close once again. “I know those children are part of the deal. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. But do you think they’ll want me in their lives?”
“I think so. Ben idolizes you already, and Laney’s coming around.”
“That’s a good thing,” Anthony said, with a teasing smile. “ ’Cause I don’t stay where I ain’t wanted.”
Anthony’s head descended once again, and his lips captured Tarah’s, muffling the sound of their laughter.
About Author
Tracey Victoria Bateman lives in Missouri with her family that includes a husband who is a prison guard, one daughter, three sons, a Husky dog who would like to believe he is human, and a guinea pig who seems to think he is a dog. When not focusing on the enjoyable role of wife and mother, Tracey loves to read, cook, and play piano. She is also very involved in the music department at her church. Darling Cassidy was her first published work of fiction—the fulfillment of a long-held dream.
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