Come to Me Free
Page 22
Then a lady at church shared Zephaniah 3:17, and it stuck with me. The words were so comforting and inspiring. To know what He loves us. That He is a victorious warrior. That He exults over us with joy. That he rejoices with us over shouts of joy. It gives me chills!
Do you have a verse that has helped you through a difficult time, or do you have a story of inspiration in your life that you would like to share? I invite you to submit it through email or LeahAtwood.com, for an upcoming segment on my site called, “From the Heart—true stories of inspiration to make your heart happy.” Any anecdote that you feel could encourage others is welcome. All accepted submissions will be posted on the From the Heart Blog. I look forward to hearing your responses!
Until next time,
Leah
“The Lord your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”
(Zephaniah 3:17)
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Other Titles by Leah
Contemporary Romance Novels
Come to Me Alive
Come to Me Free
Come to Me Again
Come to Me Joyful
Brides of Weatherton
After the Rain
Fire and Ice
Winds of Change
Mail-Order Short Stories and Novelettes
The Ultimatum Bride
A Man to Be Proud Of
Their First Noelle
The Not Quite Mail-Order Bride
The Mail-Order Bride’s Quilt
Riches of the Heart
Unlikely Substitute
The Most Wonderful Bride of the Year
Enjoy Historical Romance Also? Enjoy this excerpt from After the Rain
Baltimore- 1892
Pulling her cape tighter around her waist, Lettie Morgan huddled against a brick building in a futile attempt to ward off the bitter wind nipping at her worn-out body. The temperatures were much more frigid than normal for this time of year. Feeling a lull in the wind’s sweeping gusts, she stepped back out to the street’s edge, looking both ways through wary eyes for any sign of a familiar face. To her great relief, she saw no one, not even a stranger. Anyone with a hint of common sense would not be out today.
Unless they were on a mission.
Weary, tired, and still grieving, she knew what she must do. She had no choice except to leave Baltimore and not for her sake alone. There was a small life growing within her, depending on her for survival. More than survival. This small baby would be her last connection with Daniel. How she missed her husband. Barely a month had passed since his death, but it seemed like just yesterday she was kissing him goodbye before he left for the fields to gather the harvest.
Sweet, loving, honorable Daniel. He’d died, never knowing he would be a father. Lettie hadn’t known at the time that she was carrying. A tear fell down her cheek before the wind could dry the moisture from her face. She’d given up everything to marry Daniel and be his wife. Three years. That is all the time they’d been given to share their lives.
Not for a minute did she regret her decision to marry him. She had loved, still did, Daniel with her entire heart, despite her parents’ disapproval. Her father, a prominent lawyer, and her socialite mother had been horrified when Daniel, a poor farmer, approached them for Lettie’s hand in marriage, refusing to consider such a match. When they’d tried to force her into a marriage with Maxwell Donahue, Lettie had eloped. Neither parent had ever forgiven her actions. When her father had passed last year, her mother had seen to it that she was not informed.
Two weeks ago was the first time she’d seen her mother in two years. Word of Daniel’s death had reached Evelyn Montrose, and she came to the farm to see her daughter. Lettie snorted as she walked along the sidewalk. Her mother’s visit had nothing to do with consoling her daughter and everything to do with manipulating her into a marriage with Maxwell.
Lettie’s answer remained a resounding no.
She knew, all too well, the type of man Maxwell Donahue was. Three years ago, she had refused to marry him, not only because she was in love with Daniel, but because Maxwell had shown her a violent and uncouth temperament he’d kept well-hidden from her family and the public. On the few occasions she’d broached the subject with her mother, she’d been accused of creating falsehoods and being dramatic. Yet her wrists still bore the marks Maxwell had left when he’d come to the farm last week on the heels of Evelyn’s visit, believing he could sway her decision to his favor by using physical force.
After that visit, she concluded she was no longer safe living out there by herself. The bank would soon be taking possession anyway; she simply vacated earlier than expected. She hated giving up the farm, but she wasn’t naïve enough to believe she could manage it on her own. Instead of using the precious little money she had on trying to save the farm, she’d decided that finding a small room to rent in the city until she could figure out what to do next would be a better use of her money.
At least in the city, she’d have a certain amount of anonymity, or protection, even if not complete. After all, her mother remained a highly esteemed member of Baltimore society despite the scandal Lettie had caused by marrying Daniel and had many people who would jump at her beck and call. However, it was a large city and Lettie knew which areas the most reputed citizens would avoid. She was counting on that knowledge to bide her some time.
Resting in bed before falling asleep last night, she’d thought of a solution to her dilemma. While not ideal, it was viable. Several of the maids in her parents’ home had left their employment to travel west, becoming what was known as a mail-order bride. She’d never heard of the outcomes, but she had to assume the ventures had been successful, for the most part. To her knowledge, none of the women who left Baltimore had since returned, at least not up to the time she’d left her parents’ estate.
The idea required an inordinate amount of faith, but what were the alternatives? Remaining in Baltimore was no longer an option, not after the last encounter with Maxwell. Evelyn and he would never drop the notion of a marital match. Why they were so insistent, was beyond Lettie’s understanding. She’d honored her mother and father as long as she could, never desiring to go against their wishes, but there came a time when she had to put her life first. That’s what she’d done when she met and befriended Daniel, and that’s what she was doing now, except she had added the new life to protect, even above her own.
A few flurries floated down from the sky, swirling in the air as the wind sent them dancing in all directions. Lettie had the most childlike urge to stick out her tongue and catch a white powdery flake. She looked around. Several people had appeared on the streets. Pushing aside the urge, she continued walking forward. She couldn’t afford to draw attention to herself. It was a foolish impulse anyway. The days of her childhood were long behind her.
At long last, she came to the building for which she’d been searching. A wood shingle, advertising the business, was hung near the door on an exterior wall. The Mrs. Broadmoor Agency for Gentleman Seeking a Bride. This was where several of the maids had come to be matched with their future husbands. Mrs. Broadmoor had a reputation for having a compassionate soul and empathy for the plight of those in unpleasant circumstances.
The situation in which she found herself definitely qualified as unpleasant.
Drawing in a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and marched inside. This would be the start of her new beginning.
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