Tracie Peterson (42 page)

Darlene sobered a bit. “She’s right though. I don’t fit into your world.”

Pierce laughed. “So what? I don’t fit into my world. I despise the rhetoric and snobbery. I’ve long planned to leave it, as you well know. There’s only been one thing stopping me.”

“What?”

“You,” he said softly.

Darlene looked up into his face and felt her protests melt away. His dark eyes seemed to drink her in and his face beckoned her touch. Denying herself no longer, Darlene reached a hand to his cheek and found his hand quickly covering hers to hold it in place.

“I love you,” he said.

Darlene knew her moment of truth had come. She lowered her gaze. “I love you,” she whispered in a barely audible tone.

“What was that?” He lifted her chin with his free hand. His eyes sparkled with amusement. “I couldn’t quite hear you.”

“I love you,” she stated quite frankly. “Although I’ve tried not to.”

“But why?” He sounded almost hurt.

Darlene shook her head. “Right now, I can’t think of one reason.”

“I’m serious. If there’s something I should know …”

She put her finger to his lips and felt a current of excitement coarse through her. “I thought you should marry someone of your own standing. I can never serve proper teas in proper parlors and I will never be accepted by your society friends. To them a Jew is a Jew is a Jew, whether he believes in Jesus or not.”

Pierce pulled her tightly into his arms. “I’m not marrying my society friends, nor do I care one whit what they think. God knows our hearts, Darlene. He has brought us together and brought you to an understanding of His Son Jesus. Do you suppose He would desert us now?”

Darlene melted against him, feeling such a strange sensation of emotion. She truly did love him, but she loved him enough that she couldn’t bear the thought of saddling him with an improper wife. “But what of Chicago?”

“What of it? I plan to go there and build us a new life. I will build you the finest house ever seen that far west and people will come from miles around and say, ‘Look what that man did out of love for his wife!’”

“Oh, Pierce, be serious.”

“I am. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you just how serious I am,” he said in a low, husky tone that put goosebumps on Darlene’s arms. “I want you for my wife. I’ve wanted it since last year when I came for my Valentine’s suit. Remember?”

“I couldn’t forget. I lost my valentine in the fire,” she said sadly. “It was quite precious to me because I knew, even though you’d not signed it, that it was from you.”

“Marry me,” Pierce whispered against her ear. He kissed her lightly upon her hair, then her cheek, and finally her lips. Hovering there, he whispered again. “Marry me and be my valentine forever.”

“But …”

He silenced her with his lips in a passionate kiss and when he pulled away, Darlene smiled. “I suppose I should give in on your ability to kiss alone, but I won’t.” Pierce frowned and she continued. “You must consider that people in Chicago might well not like you being married to a Jewess. You have to think about this because it might well ruin your reputation and end your prosperity.
Di libe iz zis—nor zi iz gut mit broyt.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Love is sweet—but it’s better with bread. In other words, love won’t put bread on the table and it won’t fill your belly when you’re hungry. If people in Chicago should act harshly toward you because of me, it won’t matter how much we love each other.”

“Nonsense,” Pierce said, holding her close. “You will be Mrs. Pierce Blackwell and your beauty and graciousness will win them all over. Now, stop putting me off and say yes.”

Darlene grinned and nodded with a sigh. “Yes.” It seemed so right and in her heart she knew that God had answered the prayer she’d pleaded only moments before.

I will bless the L
ORD
at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
P
SALM
34:1

D
arlene flushed at the passionate kiss Pierce placed upon her lips. The minister cleared his throat and both Dennison and Constance Blackwell could be heard to chuckle. When he pulled away, Darlene shook her head and smiled.

“I present the happy couple, Mr. and Mrs. Pierce Blackwell,” the minister announced.

“Oh, Pierce!” Constance said, coming to hug her big brother. “I’m so happy for you! How wonderful to get married on Valentine’s Day!”

“He only did that so he could avoid going to the bachelor ball again,” Dennison teased then added, “My dear, you are a radiant bride. Welcome to our family.” He kissed her lightly on the cheek and hugged her gently.

“Thank you,” Darlene whispered. “Thank you for everything.”

Eugenia Blackwell Morgan’s absence from the wedding did nothing to spoil the fun. The house staff laid out a wonderful wedding breakfast and everyone gorged themselves until they could hold no more. Pierce had worried that Darlene would regret such a small wedding, but she assured him over and over that it was only important that he be there, whether the rest of the world showed up or not.

When evening came and the couple made their way to the privacy of their first bedroom as man and wife, Darlene felt an uneasy nervous flutter in her stomach and trembled when Pierce lifted her to carry her across the threshold.

“I love you,” he said, gently putting her down again. “I will always love only you.”

Darlene’s nerves instantly settled. She stared up into the face of her husband and smiled. “And I love you and so long as I live, you’ll be my only valentine.”

“That reminds me,” Pierce said. He went to the large bureau and pulled open a drawer. Fishing out an envelope, he brought it to her and grinned. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“But I didn’t get you anything,” she protested.

He nuzzled her neck with a kiss. “I’m sure we’ll work that out.”

She blushed, feeling her face grow hot. Concentrating on opening the card, she found it to be an identical replica of the one she’d lost in the fire. But this time it was signed as well.

“To Darlene, my darling wife, with all my love, Pierce,” she read and tears came instantly to her eyes. She looked up at him and saw the tenderness in his expression and knew that God had done a wonderful thing in her life. Stepping into his arms once again, she thought of the future and the hope that lay before them. It was good to know that they would face it together. It was good to know they’d have God to guide their way.

“Thank you for my Valentine,” she said, pulling away. “I’ll cherish it always.” She turned to place it on the bureau, but Pierce reached out and pulled her back with a deep, mischievous laugh.

“I’m not letting you get away,” he said. Then, grinning in a roguish manner, he pulled loose the ribbon from her hair and whispered, “Now, about my Valentine …”

Tracie Peterson, bestselling, award-winning author of over ninety fiction titles and three non-fiction books, lives and writes in Belgrade, Montana. As a Christian, wife, mother, writer, editor, and speaker (in that order), Tracie finds her slate quite full.

Published in magazines and Sunday school take home papers, as well as a columnist for a Christian newspaper, Tracie now focuses her attention on novels. After signing her first contract with Barbour Publishing in 1992, her novel,
A Place To Belong
, appeared in 1993 and the rest is history. She has over twenty-six titles with Heartsong Presents’ book club (many of which have been repackaged) and stories in six separate anthologies from Barbour. From Bethany House Publishing, Tracie has multiple historical three-book series as well as many stand-alone contemporary women’s fiction stories and two non-fiction titles. Other titles include two historical series co-written with Judith Pella, one historical series co-written with James Scott Bell, and multiple historical series co-written with Judith Miller.

Voted favorite author for 1995, 1996, and 1997 by the Heartsong Presents’ readership, and awarded Affaire de Coeur’s Inspirational Romance of the Year 1994, Romantic Times 2007 Career Achievement, American Christian Fiction Writers Lifetime Achievement 2011 and other awards, Tracie enjoys the pleasure of spinning stories for readers and thanks God for the imagination He’s given. She desires that the books would Entertain, Educate, and Encourage—Tracie’s three E’s.

“I find myself blessed to be able to work at a job I love. I get to travel, study history, spin yarns, spend time with my family and hopefully glorify God. I can’t imagine a more perfect arrangement.”

Tracie was the managing editor of Heartsong Presents for Barbour Publishing for over three years and helped with acquisitions prior to that. She co-founded the American Christian Fiction Writer’s organization in 2000 and continues to work with new authors, teaching at a variety of conferences, giving workshops on inspirational romance, historical research, and anything else that offers assistance to fellow writers. She often speaks at women’s retreats and church functions. Her website is
www.traciepeterson.com