Bartered Bride Romance Collection (71 page)

“Then there’s no problem. You need someone to love and care for you and your child.” He smiled. “And I’ve been praying that God would send me a wife who I could love forever.”

She met his gaze for an instant before staring down at her swollen belly again. “But I wouldn’t be your wife … really.”

He felt the back of his neck grow hot at the thought of it. He couldn’t deny that he wanted her to be his wife in the fullest sense of the word, but until she was ready for that … “Look at me, Abby,” he commanded gently.

He waited until she lifted uncertain eyes to his. “I promise you that I will take care of you and your baby to the best of my ability. I will honor you, and I promise you that I will never take advantage of you.”

She swallowed hard. “Why?”

Why? Because I love you already
, he thought, wishing he could take her in his arms and show her. “Because I asked God for a wife and He sent you, Abby.”

“I don’t deserve someone like you.”

Her words were whispered, but the force of them nearly took his breath away.

God, please shine your grace on Abby
, he prayed silently.
She’s like a lost little girl
. “We all deserve to be loved, Abby.”

“Are you sure?” A tiny spark of hope glinted in her eyes. “A lifetime is a long time, you know.”

Long enough to convince you of my love. And long enough for you to return my love
. He squeezed her hand. “I’m sure.”

She gave him a small smile. “I hope you like my cooking.”

An hour later, they stood in front of the justice of the peace. Iris had picked a huge bouquet of wildflowers, and Abby held them tightly now in her shaking hands. James stood beside her, his hand warm on the small of her back. “Just a few more minutes, Abby. Then we can go home,” he whispered in her ear. She looked like she was about ready to keel over in exhaustion. Yet to James, she was the most beautiful bride he had ever seen. A shaft of late afternoon sunlight found its way into the dim parlor, illuminating her delicate face. Though some might say he was getting a bad deal, he confidently believed that this woman would hold his heart for eternity.

Chapter 3

W
ell, this is the old homestead,” James said. Abby allowed him to help her down from the wagon then gazed at the farmhouse appreciatively. It wasn’t very big, but the place looked tidy and snug. Newly whitewashed and the wide front porch swept clean, her new home was a welcoming sight. She smiled up at him. “It’s very nice, James.” It still felt awkward to call him James instead of Mr. Parrish, but he was her husband, after all.

Could it have been only yesterday that she had arrived on the train from New York? Now, here she was—a newlywed. She still felt slightly stunned at the events of the last few hours. Yet somehow, she was at peace.

It wouldn’t be hard to live with James, she decided, watching as he hefted her trunk out of the back of the wagon. She had never met a more caring, gentle man. Before she could pull her satchel from the wagon seat, James took the bag then led her down the well-worn path toward the house. In pleasant surprise, Abby stopped by the front porch. The sweet-spicy fragrance of a beautiful pink rose in full bloom enchanted her.

“Do you like roses?”

James’s low voice broke into her thoughts as she bent slightly to sniff a large blossom.

“This is exquisite.” She glanced up at him then swept the arid landscape with questioning eyes. “Wherever did you get a rosebush way out here?”

He shrugged. “I have friends who just made a trip back East. Had them bring it back for me.” He smiled down at her. “I thought my new wife might like something pretty to welcome her.”

Her eyes widened. What a thoughtful man! “How very kind…. I don’t know what to—” Her sentence ended in a shriek as something cold and wet pressed into her hand. She whirled around, her heart pounding as she came nose to nose with the largest dog she had ever seen. She backed up a step, her legs shaking.

Where had the dreadful creature come from? She cast a pleading glance at James. “Can you get it away from me?”

He chuckled, reaching for the dog’s collar. “Sit, Frank,” he commanded.

Abby sighed in relief, sinking down onto the porch steps. “Is that yours?” she asked.

James grinned. “Now, that’s no way to talk about a family member, Abby,” he drawled. “This is Frank. He’s quite a feller.”

“I’ll say.” Abby eyed the panting animal distrustfully. “So, he’s a male dog?”

“Yep.”

She swallowed hard, almost afraid to ask. “Does it … live in the house?”

James appeared to be trying not to laugh. “No. Frank is a farm dog.” He scratched the dog’s floppy ears. “Though he does sneak in at night every once in a while when it’s cold out.”

“Oh.” Abby peered at the dog again. Was he smirking at her? She didn’t like the look in his eye. “I haven’t been around dogs very much,” she said.

“I kind of figured that.” James plunked down next to her on the step. “But Frank won’t hurt you. He likes you. See, just let him sniff your hand, like this.” He reached out a hand, which Frank obligingly covered with dog kisses.

Be brave, Abby
, she told herself. She reached her hand out toward the dog, stopping midway. “Why is it thumping its tail?” she whispered to James nervously. Maybe dogs thumped their tails right before they pounced on their prey.

James sighed, but she could still see the laughter in his eyes. “Frank is a he, not an it. And he’s thumping his tail because he’s happy.”

“Oh.” Abby folded her hands safely under her watermelon-sized stomach. “I’m very pleased to meet you, Frank,” she said. “I’m sure we’ll be friends,” she added, fervently hoping that it would be so.

She glanced up at James, frowning. Why was the man making such strange noises?

The look on her face must have been the last straw, because his suppressed chuckles suddenly broke into hearty laughter.

“What is so funny?” she demanded. “All I said was—”

“I know!” James grinned. “I’ve just never heard such a polite speech to a dog!” He chuckled again. “I like you, Abby,” he said, taking her hand.

She smiled back at him, her heart warming at his sincerity. “I like you, too, James,” she said.

Frank gave a hearty woof, and Abby jumped. She would have to get used to the creature, she supposed.

James pulled her to her feet, keeping her hand in his. “Come on, Mrs. Parrish. I’ll show you through your new home.”

It didn’t take long for Abby to get settled. She hadn’t brought many things with her, since she had thought she was coming to be a hired housekeeper. A few dresses, her Bible, and a few items she had sewn for the baby.

James sat watching her one night as she hemmed yet another tiny garment. “Is it a boy or a girl?” he asked.

She glanced up at him. “Only the good Lord knows that,” she said. “But I like to think that my baby is a girl.” She studied his face in the flickering light of the fire. “Why do you ask?”

He shrugged. “Just curious, I guess.”

She smiled then turned her attention back to the soft white material.

He settled back in his rocker, watching her. She seemed happy enough, he thought, noticing the adorable way she held her lips in a slight pucker while she worked. He had memorized every line of her lovely face in the past few weeks, often watching her when she was unaware.

They had fallen into a comfortable routine. He would spend the days out in the wheat fields, while she tended the house and garden. She hadn’t been exaggerating when she said she was a good cook. It was comforting to know that when he finished with his chores, she would be waiting for him with a smile and a delicious meal.

Yet she had withdrawn from him since their wedding day. He had given her his bed, while he slept on a bedroll in front of the fire. She had seemed distressed that he had to sleep on the floor, he remembered with a smile. With such a kind and gentle spirit about her, how could anyone help but love her?

His eyes roamed to her stomach, and he watched in amusement as it moved with the baby’s antics. He wondered if Abby was afraid. He had heard so many terrible stories about the travails of childbirth. Even his own mama…. He sighed. They would simply have to face any problems should they come and trust the Lord to protect Abby when her time of delivery arrived. Stewing about tomorrow’s problems would do no good.

In the meantime, he wanted to get to know Abby a little better. She seemed so remote since that first day when they had talked and laughed so easily. Oh, she was friendly, but aloof. Distant. He had hoped that at least they could be friends, even if they couldn’t be lovers. He sighed again. Maybe he had been dreaming to think that this marriage, a marriage in name only, could really work.

Father, I was so sure I heard Your voice that day
, he prayed inwardly.
Please show me what to do. I want to love Abby and care for her, but I feel like she regrets marrying me
.

Show her the way to Me
. The still small voice echoed in his heart, reminding him of the first day they had met. Wasn’t that what God had told him that first day? But how could he accomplish the task?

He glanced over at her bowed head. Her dark hair glinted in the light of the oil lamp beside her.

“Abby.”

She looked up, her hands resting on her stomach. “Did you need something?”

Yes, I need you
, he thought, his heart suddenly pounding. What he wouldn’t give right now to have the right to take her in his arms. However, he must be patient. “I was wondering if you would like to have a time of prayer together in the evenings.”

She looked surprised, and his heart sank. “I’d like that very much, James,” she said quietly.

“You would?”

She nodded. “My mama and my sisters and I used to pray together every night. I’ve missed that since Charles and I … since … for a long time,” she finished quickly.

One of these days he would ask her to tell him the whole story, James decided. But not right now. Reaching for his Bible, he laid it on his knees. “Would you like me to read anything in particular?”

She thought for a moment, her head tilted to one side. “I guess my favorite has always been the psalms,” she said. “Maybe Psalm 91?”

“That’s one of my favorites, too,” he said, smiling into her eyes. In fact, he could have recited it from memory, but he lowered his gaze to the page, deciding it would be safer to read than to lose himself in her large, hazel eyes.

“ ‘He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord….’” Before he was halfway through, he heard her reciting it softly with him. Closing the Bible with a soft thud, he laid it back down on the hearth then scooted his chair closer to hers. He reached for her hand, gently kissing her work-roughened fingertips before enfolding them in his grasp.

“Father God, Abby and I come before you tonight as your humble children. Lord, You have searched us and known us. You know our downsitting and our uprising and are acquainted with all our ways. There is not a word in our tongue, but Thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset us behind and before and laid Thine hand upon us. Such knowledge is too wonderful for us. It is high, and we cannot attain unto it. For where shall we go from Your presence? Where can we flee from Your Spirit? Even if we take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost part of the sea, even there shall You be. When we awake, we are still with Thee. Thank You, Father God, that by Your Holy Spirit, You are present with us always. Please teach me how to be a good husband to Abby, Father. Bless her and the child abundantly. We thank You, Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.”