by Jill Maguire
“Thank you Faith, I know I can trust you. I can’t promise that my heart will accept your assurances right away, but I will try.” Grace smiled wanly and squeezed Faith’s hand.
“It will take time. Be gentle with yourself, but don’t be afraid to trust Emmett. You’ll grow to love him, with time.” Faith gave Grace a knowing smile and Grace regarded her friend thoughtfully.
“How long did it take before you knew you loved Hayes?” Grace asked in an attempt to distract her own anxious thoughts. Faith tilted her head to the side, considering the question.
“Like any courtship, it happened gradually. I was immensely grateful to him for bringing me in and taking care of me when I knew no one. That gratitude grew into respect as I got to know him better and when we finally got married, I was very happy, and I could see that Hayes loved me. It didn’t take long for me to return that love.”
Grace felt hope in hearing these words and seeing the love that Faith clearly had for her husband. She decided it was time to push the disturbing memories from her mind before they could deny her a chance at love and happiness.
“I know your situation is different. You lived for a long time with an angry, oppressive man, I saw it Grace. But I also know that God will bless you with happiness and many good things when you marry Emmett.” Faith looked away and grinned softly. “You know, Hayes has been praying for Emmett to find the right woman for a while now. In fact, he was the man we had in mind when we offered to help you find a suitable husband in Whistle Stop. I think God is answering all our prayers.”
“Thank you, Faith. You give me hope,” Grace told her friend.
“Well, good. So, when is the wedding going to be?”
“Emmett wants to do it on Saturday, the day after tomorrow.” Grace gave Faith a worried look.
“Perfect! That gives me some time,” Faith said mysteriously.
“Time for what, Faith?” Grace questioned with one eyebrow raised.
“Never you mind, missy. I had better go now, but I will be back tomorrow!” Grace walked Faith to the door and stood in the door frame thoughtfully watching her friend walk down the lane into town. Noah’s cries came faintly to her ears and Grace closed the door and went to feed her baby.
Grace spent the rest of the afternoon playing with Noah and contemplating prayer. Faith had mentioned prayer several times to her already and good things really did seem to come from her prayers. Grace decided to try it and sent up a few fumbling, but heartfelt prayers to God. She wanted to believe that God was there, providing for her, and she realized that it was no less than God who sent Emmett to rescue her and Noah.
As Grace prayed and went about her day, a peace came over her that she hadn’t experienced since childhood, and by the time Emmett came home from another day of guardianship over the town, Grace was a picture of calm. But as they interacted gently that afternoon, Grace could sense that Emmett was uncomfortable and tense with her. Grace wondered if something strange or unfortunate had happened during work.
“What is the matter Emmett? Something is clearly troubling you,” Grace asked cautiously. Emmett sighed and looked at her with a pained expression that pierced Grace’s heart.
“I just don’t know if I can do this, Grace. I don’t know if I can marry you after all.”
Chapter 12
Emmett looked down at the floor, unable to meet Grace’s eyes. In that moment he felt what a coward he was. He was the one to propose, to offer this girl protection and a home, and he was now going to take that away from her? Yes, he was a coward.
Emmett heard Grace take in a breath sharply. He glanced up and saw tears pooling in her eyes causing them to look larger and even more incandescent. Emmett felt more miserable than ever.
“Why, what do you mean?” Grace managed to say. Emmett could tell it was as if he had taken the breath right out of her.
“It’s just that,” Emmett’s words broke off and he ran his fingers through his hair. He collected his courage and met Grace’s eyes. Amidst the tears, her countenance held a proud resilience that made Emmett sad. He didn’t want her to feel the need to be so guarded around him.
“Grace, I was married before. And I had a daughter. I lost them both in an accident on the trail,” Emmett stopped again as his voice broke. Dropping his face in his hands, Emmett fought the threatening tears. It had been a long day of battling the doubt he harbored and his emotions had exhausted him. Emmett felt a light touch on his arm. He gazed up to see Grace’s face, now softened to compassion, and streaked with her own silently falling tears.
“I’m so sorry, Emmett,” Grace whispered in a wavering voice.
“Yes, well, the pain has lessened over the years, but since I found you and Noah out there, I have been afraid that I will fail you both and I don’t think I could survive that again. I keep remembering how helpless I felt when they died. Grace, I’ve grown to care deeply for you, that much is true, but I’m not sure I’m the man to take care of you and Noah.” The look on Emmett’s face was tortured and pleading.
“Emmett, listen to me,” Grace said softly. “I know now, more than ever, that you are perfectly suited to care for me and Noah. We will get married and you will be a wonderful husband and father. You have already done more than necessary to care for us by taking us in and providing everything we have needed,” Grace squeezed Emmett’s arm and lifted his chin, his brows still knitted in concern. Emmett slowly nodded his head.
“I do want to marry you, Grace. I have been praying all day that God would handle these fears and rid me of them. I know God will take care of all of us and I shouldn’t worry.” Emmett hung his head. Grace’s kind words reassured him that she did in fact want to marry him and she didn’t just agree to it because she had no other option.
“We’re both scared, Emmett. I have been praying all day too,” Grace dipped her head bashfully in a way Emmett found to be adorable. “We can figure it out together.”
“Thank you, Grace. You’re right. We’ll figure this out. Mr. Baker assured me of the same thing today.” Emmett thought back to earlier in the day when he had stopped by to visit with Mr. Baker at the church. He had been agitated and distracted all day from his duties and finally decided that taking a break to talk with the minister was necessary if he wanted to get anything done. The man knew about Emmett’s previous wife and daughter and would surely have some wise advice.
“What’s on your mind Emmett?” Mr. Baker had asked after inviting Emmett to have a seat across the desk from him.
“I asked Grace to marry me last night, and she has agreed,” Emmett began without any preamble.
“That’s great, Emmett. You will do well for her,” Mr. Baker congratulated.
“Yes, I thought it was a good idea as well. I do care for her, and her son, but today I’ve been plagued with fears and second thoughts,” Emmett sighed heavily, “I’m not sure I can do this again.” Emmett dropped his head in his hands and Mr. Baker looked at him thoughtfully for a moment.
“I know this must be hard for you, Emmett, but this situation with Grace is different. You need not fear that the same thing will happen again. God has all of you in his hands,” Mr. Baker said gently.
“You’re right, I know. I have been praying, and God has been reminding me of that all day. I’m just afraid I don’t have what it takes to protect her and provide for her.”
“Emmett McCabe, I have seen several Sheriff’s come and go in this town over the years and I can assure you that no one has been more diligent or devoted to the safety and protection of the people than you have. You will make an ideal husband to this woman. What’s more, you were a wonderful husband and provider to Mary and Lucy, they were in a very unfortunate accident and you could not have helped, Emmett.” Mr. Baker held Emmett’s gaze until the younger man looked down and nodded reluctantly.
“Thank you, Mr. Baker,” Emmett stood to leave and stretched out his hand.
“It was my pleasure, Emmett. Continue to ask God for guidance.”
Despite the elderly man’s kind and wise words, Emmett continued to wrestle with his thoughts through the rest of the afternoon until he felt defeated and tired. He trudged home to tell Grace of his concerns.
Emmett looked across the table at Grace now as they ate supper together. The golden sunlight of evening was coming through the kitchen window and setting her hair ablaze like a halo. Emmett admired Grace as she ate quietly. His heart felt lighter than it had all day and he heaved a sigh of relief.
“I don’t know what to wear for the wedding,” Grace blurted. “My arms are still covered in scars from the accident. I don’t want to be seen like this on my wedding day,” Grace took a heavy, choking breath. Emmett’s heart sank for her and he looked at her with tender sympathy.
“We’ll work something out. Don’t worry about it anymore. You’ll look beautiful no matter what you wear. Just think of your scars as reminders of how you were brought here to start a new life.”
Grace dropped her head to one side a grinned at him sweetly. “Thank you,” she whispered into the rays of sunlight, “thank you for everything, Emmett.”
Emmett’s heart felt as infused with light as the room around them and he knew he was doing the right thing.
Chapter 13
The day of the wedding dawned bright and beautiful. Grace woke to Noah’s cry and went about feeding him. When she thought of her imminent wedding later that day, a knot of nervousness began to form in Grace’s stomach. She focused on Noah to distract herself from any thoughts of fear and doubt. It was clear, when Grace emerged from the bedroom that Emmett had already left to put things in place. Grace went about preparing a small breakfast for herself as though it were any other day.
“Good morning sweet bride!” Voices sang from the front door and a moment later Faith and Patience were before her with their children in tow.
“Hello! This is a nice surprise,” Grace greeted her friends.
“This is a big day for you and we wanted to be a part of it,” Patience said with a chirp as she placed some blocks on the floor for Clay to play with. She laid little Jeremiah next to his older brother.
“Now, we’ve brought you some things to wear, Grace, and I don’t want to hear any refusals from your lips,” Faith set down the large box she had been carrying and opened the lid with a flourish. Grace’s stomach fluttered nervously. She didn’t know what sorts of things Faith had brought for her, but Grace was sure they wouldn’t be suitable. She crossed her arms, which were almost always covered in long sleeves, over her stomach self-consciously as Faith carefully lifted something from a nest of old tissue paper.
“This belonged to Patience’s grandmother.” Faith held out an exquisite and delicate comb.
“It’s one of the only things that survived my move west,” Patience chimed in, “I’d like you to wear it Grace, really.” Grace opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She was speechless. She laid a hand on Patience’s arm and squeezed it as Faith plunged a hand into the box again.
“And this, my dear, is the dress that Patience brought to me to wear at my wedding to Hayes.” Faith reverently lifted a beautiful, shimmery silver dress from the box. It was simple and adorned with few frills, but it was breathtaking. Grace noticed, to her delight, that it had long sleeves and let out her breath which she realized she had been holding with anxiety. She wondered if Emmett had anything to do with this, after her vulnerable confession about her scars last night. Grace looked from Faith to Patience, both of whom were staring at the dress, now hanging on the bedroom door, with tears of joy glistening in their eyes.
“This is too much, I can’t accept this.” Grace shook her head as she slid her fingers over the silky fabric of the dress.
“You see Patience, did I not tell you that Grace would refuse our gift?” Faith said with a twinkle in her dark eyes. Patience giggled like a schoolgirl and agreed.
“Yes, you do know her well Faith,” Patience decided. Patience and Faith faced Grace now, with the dress between them.
“We have both been in your situation, dear,” Faith said knowingly, reaching out for Grace’s hand. “Please let us do this for you and be a part of your special day.” Faith squeezed her hand, and Grace felt the love of true friends for the first time she could ever remember.
“We both wore this dress to our own hastened weddings, and we would be honored if you would wear it to yours,” Patience added with a wide smile.
“Maybe our weddings were hastened,” Faith pointed between Grace and herself, “but you had ages to know Warren and to fall in love with him on the trail. All you two were waiting for was a good town with a good minister in it.”
Patience looked horror-struck for a moment and then burst out laughing, bringing a curious Clay over from his game. Patience picked him up when he held his arms up to her.
“Alright, guilty as charged,” Patience lifted one hand as if in a courtroom confession, “I did love my husband when I married him, and I fully knew what I was getting into. So, you may say that my marriage of love to Warren blessed this dress for the other women who would wear it, don’t you think?” Patience looked to Faith with a sly grin. Finding nothing to entertain him, Clay squirmed out of his mother’s arms and ran back to his pile of blocks.
“Yes, I would say that’s true, Patience,” Faith agreed, laughing with her friend. Then she turned to Grace, “At any rate, you will look beautiful in it.”
Grace stifled her laughter and agreed to be fitted in the dress.
Chapter 14
Being much shorter than her friends, Grace was on the verge of refusing to wear the dress again, but Faith and Patience immediately went to work pinning the hem of the dress up and fixing the sleeves. Patience tucked the too-long sleeves under and created folds as she pinned that added an extra charm to the dress. The end result stunned Grace as she looked in the mirror that Faith had brought along.
Patience then worked quickly on Grace’s hair, finishing it with a flourish by fixing the comb in a becoming and fashionable way. For a woman who had not left the house in weeks except to go to church, and had only three dresses in her claim, Grace felt fresher and prettier than she had in years. She felt exquisite in fact. Grace laced her fingers together and pressed them to her neck in anxious excitement.
“Oh girls, how can I ever thank you for all of this? You have truly made today special. I don’t know what I would have done without you,” Grace gushed, blinking back tears.
“Well, you don’t even have to consider that now, dear. You’re going to have a lovely wedding,” Faith beamed at Grace affectionately.
“Speaking of which,” Patience said in a motherly way, “I believe we ought to be heading to the church now.”
At these words Grace went suddenly numb and clammy. When trying to recall it later, she found she could hardly remember how the ladies got her to the church. She only retained a memory of Patience and Faith walking on either side of her and one glance at Noah’s face cradled in Faith’s arms. Then she was on the church doorsteps.
Faith and Patience whispered their congratulations and good wishes, but Grace could hardly take in their words. Faith opened the door and Grace took a deep breath. She waited for her friends to find seats with their husbands before she slowly stepped through the door. When Grace looked up from her trembling hands her eyes immediately met with Emmett’s large brown ones staring back at her.
A pervading calm, which defied all reason, settled over Grace and she placed one foot in front of the other, her eyes not wavering from Emmett’s kind face. Finally, Grace reached Emmett’s side and noticed for the first time that Mr. Baker was there too, standing next to Emmett and waiting. Grace faced her groom and pressed her lips together to keep them from trembling.
She looked out upon the townspeople gathered to witness Sheriff McCabe’s wedding. Faith and Patience beamed up at her and Grace noticed that Noah was now nestled into Hayes’s arms. He looked so tiny in the large, strong arms of the blacksmith. There were so many people here to
support Emmett in his marriage that Grace was struck quite dumb. Mr. Baker’s words from a few weeks ago echoed back to Grace as she looked at her friends smiling up at her -- words from the Bible about community, and living together in love. At the time Grace had thought those words were foreign and couldn’t understand them.
Now, after being showered with love by two dear friends and seeing the people here, people who wished to love and support Emmett and his new wife, Grace saw the beautiful Truth of God in those ancient words and she felt suddenly blessed.
Grace returned her gaze to Emmett who stood somberly before her. While his face showed nothing of what was going on in his heart, Grace searched Emmett’s eyes and found anticipation and tenderness there, a tenderness for her. Emmett took both of Grace’s hands and leaned forward.
“You look very beautiful,” he whispered in her ear. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
Grace looked up at him with sudden concern. Was he really questioning her after all they had talked about? Then she noticed the mischief in his eyes and nodded with a grin that she would be shocked to know was irresistible to Emmett.
“Dearly beloved,” Mr. Baker began, “We are here today to celebrate the union of Emmett McCabe and ElizaGrace Knowles.
Grace began to tremble in earnest, and Emmett tightened his grasp on her hands.
“Marriage is best and reaches its full potential when supported by community, held accountable and nurtured by a surrounding family.”
Grace glanced at Mr. Baker in disbelief, wondering if he had been reading her thoughts. Mr. Baker went on to talk of the solemnity and importance of making and keeping of marriage vows. Grace looked timidly up at Emmett, then glanced at Mr. Baker again.
“In light of all this, I trust that you Emmett, and you Grace will enter into these promises you are making today with sincere love and the knowledge that your community is here to support you through it all. Now, without any more ado, please make this promise in front of God and these witnesses. Will you promise to love, cherish and serve one another for as long as you both shall live?”
