Blessed With a New Beginning: An Inspirational Historical Romance Book

by Lilah Rivers

  “Tabitha, are you the one who sent me that threatening note?” the Reverend asked.

  She looked at him with wild eyes.

  “I had to! I had to get you to leave him alone,” she said.

  “Tabitha, please calm down,” David said. “Everything is going to be okay. I know you’re scared. I know you’re angry, but this is going to help you.”

  “It’s not going to help me. You’re ruining my life,” she cried.

  David took a deep breath and rested a hand on her shoulder.

  “I know that you think that right now, but I promise you, this is for the best. I want everybody to be safe but I also want you to be all right. We aren’t abandoning you, we just want to make sure that you don’t hurt anybody,” he told her with a great deal of patience.

  Tabitha looked at him with her sad eyes and nodded, as if she understood that something really was wrong, that she really did need the help of people who were willing to care for her.

  Some of the people in town looked terribly frightened, as if Tabitha was out to get them as well. Clementine felt bad for her.

  “Tabitha’s had a rough time of it and it has caused her to act out like this. She needs help,” David said.

  The sheriff looked stunned, but he called for his deputy and the two of them worked to calm Tabitha and get her inside.

  Clementine saw the sadness in David’s eyes as the sheriff and deputy took her. She saw how he regretted that it had come to this.

  “Do you think she will be okay?” Clementine asked.

  “I think so. The people in this town are good people. I think they will take care of her and help her to realize that, although her husband was a bad man, her actions were unwarranted and bad,” he said.

  “Yeah, I think so too. I hope, anyway,” Clementine said.

  “I think that it would be good if we both try to help her, even after everything,” David said.

  “We could visit her sometimes. Pray with her, talk to her, try to get her to understand that she has value in God’s eyes. Maybe then she would understand that she doesn’t have to live under the sadness of her husband’s betrayal,” Clementine said.

  “Yeah, maybe so,” David agreed.

  Clementine appreciated that he still cared about Tabitha’s well-being. It was another sign of his kindness and integrity. It was one of the many attributes that she truly found lovely about him.

  “Miss Clementine?” David began.

  “Yes?” she asked in reply.

  “I think we should get back to the ranch, don’t you?” he suggested.

  Clementine nodded. He was right. It was time they went home.

  Chapter 28

  The ride back to the ranch was a blend of quiet moments and talking about what they hoped would help Tabitha to get through the difficulties that she was facing and the anger that she felt.

  David told Clementine how he and her Aunt had been so worried about her and he had decided to come out and try to find her. But now, it was late and dark and Clementine told him that she hoped that they would get home quickly as it was starting to get cold.

  “I should have brought something warm for you,” David said.

  “It’s okay. It’s not as if you could have known that I was being…well, threatened or maybe abducted, or whatever it was that was happening,” Clementine said.

  David could see that she was still somewhat shaken, but Clementine was brave. She was doing her best to be strong in the midst of all that had taken place.

  He wanted to get her back to the house before laying out his heart for her, but it was difficult and, once more, he wondered if now was the right time or not.

  But it had to be. He couldn’t put it off any longer. They were safe now and Clementine was with him and there was nothing that could stop them now.

  They arrived at the ranch and saw that all the lights were still on in the main house. Rushing inside as quickly as they could, after leaving the horses in the barn, they found Mrs. Roberta seated as Hank paced back and forth.

  Mrs. Roberta stood immediately and let out a cry of happiness as she threw her arms around Clementine.

  “You’re all right!” she exclaimed.

  “Yes, we are all right, Aunt Roberta,” Clementine said with happy tears.

  David leaned into the arm that Hank threw around his shoulder.

  “What happened?” Aunt Roberta asked, sniffing and wiping her eyes.

  David looked at Clementine and she looked back at him and gave a nod, which he took to mean that she preferred it if he did the explaining.

  “It was Tabitha,” he said with a sigh.

  Mrs. Roberta gasped and put a hand to her mouth. Hank’s eyes widened in shock.

  “She was the one who did all of it. The threatening note, the fire, all of it. She was keeping Clementine trapped along the path to town and threatening her, telling her that she had to leave,” he explained.

  Clementine nodded along, as if she didn’t wish to share the story herself.

  “Oh, my dear Clementine. What would I have done if she had harmed you?” Mrs. Roberta asked.

  “I am fine,” Clementine responded, sounding a little bit sad and shaken even with all of her bravery.

  “She was very strong. And she managed to keep Tabitha busy with many thoughts. We had no idea that Tabitha had been married before. Did you know that?” he asked Hank.

  Hank was flabbergasted and his look said it all. He’d obviously had no idea that Tabitha had been married.

  “Her husband left her for another woman. That’s why she is always seeking a man who will stay,” he said.

  “That poor child,” tutted Mrs. Roberta.

  “It is very sad. But she is with the sheriff now and plenty of people from around the town have seen her get taken in. She won’t be harming anyone now,” he said.

  “I am just glad that everyone is safe now,” Hank said.

  “Reverend St. Claire was there and I’m sure that he will inform Chelsea. She’s going to be all right and so are you. Tabitha is not going to be presenting a problem for any of us anymore,” David said.

  Clementine was still very quiet. He was anxious that she might remain terrified.

  “Mrs. Roberta, may I have a word?” he asked, sheepishly.

  Mrs. Roberta nodded and the two slipped into the kitchen where David spoke in a whisper.

  “I think she is very upset,” he said.

  “Yes, and with every right,” she replied.

  “Do you think I still ought to make my feelings known? Or would it be more respectful to wait and give her time to find some peace?” David asked.

  Mrs. Roberta put her hands on his shoulders and squared off form him.

  “I’ll get Hank out of there. If you do not tell her this evening how you feel, I am going to lose all faith in you,” she said.

  David smiled and she grinned in reply, her warning born of amusement and sincerity.

  “Then I had best get it done,” he said.

  “Hank!” called Mrs. Roberta, leaning towards the living room area.

  In an instant, Hank was coming through the door.

  “Yes, ma’am?” he offered.

  “I need your help,” she said, giving him a wink.

  Hank looked at David and immediately understood.

  “Um, if you don’t mind, ma’am, I would really like to go and check on Chelsea,” Hank said.

  “This late?” she asked.

  Hank shrugged, his face clearly filled with concern for the woman that he loved.

  “All right, you go on ahead. But be safe and if you need to stay in town tonight, please do so. I’m sure that even the Reverend would give you refuge,” she said.

  With that, Hank left, Mrs. Roberta took a seat in the kitchen, and David made his way to the living room.

  There she was. Sitting, staring at her hands, a sad look on her face rather than one of triumph.

  “Are you all right?” David asked Clementine softly.

&nb
sp; “I can’t rightly say,” she replied. “I know that we are all safe now. I know that I should feel grand and be happy. But how can I appreciate our victory when I know that Tabitha is struggling? How can I be happy when she doesn’t have a right understanding of the love of Christ?”

  David was moved by Clementine’s compassion. It was amazing that, after all that had taken place, she was mourning over Tabitha’s soul more than anything else.

  “There is still more than enough time for her. We will go and visit, we will make sure that she knows that we care. I believe that the Lord will heal her soul and help her through the confusion that she is feeling,” David said.

  “She just wants so badly to believe that she is loved,” Clementine said with a sniff. It really did appear as though she felt a great deal of concern over this woman who had threatened to harm her. It was the sort of mercy that David had longed to see more of in the world.

  “I didn’t say anything to her yet, but I probably will, about Georgia. She should know that I went through something similar. I mean, I know that Georgia and I never married, but I was still awfully heartbroken to be abandoned by a woman that I cared about,” David said, realizing that talking about another woman was probably not the best way to begin to tell Clementine of his love.

  “She will appreciate that. I’m sure she needs to hear from someone who understands, from someone else who has had a broken heart,” she said.

  “Yes, and I think it will help her to know that a heart can be mended,” David said.

  “Of course. The Lord can heal all things,” Clementine said, absent-mindedly.

  “He can and does. But this is something very specific that he has healed in me,” David said.

  Clementine looked at him and David held her gaze long enough that he could sense her understanding.

  “Miss Clementine…”

  “Yes?”

  “I think you should know…”

  Her face was filled with expectation. Expectation and longing.

  David took a deep breath.

  “I think you should know that I am in love with you. I have never loved a woman the way that I love you and I never will again. It is important for you to know that,” he said.

  The corners of her mouth switched upward and David could see that she was relieved to hear his words, after all this time.

  “I want you to know that I love you because I have to ask if you will give me permission to court you. Properly,” he said, letting out the rest of the breath that he had been holding.

  “Mr. David,” she replied, “I should like nothing better in all the world than to be courted by you.”

  “You mean it?” he asked.

  “I mean it with all my heart. A heart that is filled with love for you in return. A heart that longs to be your wife and has since nearly the moment that I met you,” she said.

  “Your aunt has given her approval,” he said, just to ensure that she was aware.

  “Oh, I know. Aunt Roberta has wanted this for a while,” she said with a laugh.

  “She told you that?” David asked.

  “Of course she did,” Clementine replied.

  “Did she tell you that she and I spoke about it?” he asked.

  “You spoke about it with her?” Clementine asked in surprise.

  The two began to laugh, neither one having known that Mrs. Roberta had done her best to encourage the other to make their feelings known.

  “Aunt Roberta really is a wise one,” Clementine said with a laugh again.

  “She is. But you are the one I am most concerned with. And I have to ask if I may go one step further,” David said.

  “What do you mean?” Clementine asked.

  “I mean that courting you is a dream, but it is not the same as being married to you,” David said.

  Clementine’s lips parted in surprise, as if she had certainly not expected this part.

  “You mean…”

  “That I have to now ask if you will be my wife,” David said, finishing her sentence.

  Clementine’s smile was as brilliant and beautiful as he had ever seen. She was clearly in shock, but not unhappy.

  “If I could be your wife in this very instant, I would be. So yes, David. Yes, I will marry you,” she said.

  They were the sweetest words that David had ever heard in all his life.

  ***

  It was difficult to wake up in the morning. After the strangeness of the evening and then the wonderful news that Clementine was going to marry him, Mrs. Roberta threw a small celebration for the two.

  But David and Clementine had agreed that in the morning they would ride into town to tell Hank and Chelsea their news.

  David reached the house and there she was, in that same beautiful dress that she had gotten just a week or so before.

  Clementine Rogers, soon to be Clementine Brown.

  “Good morning,” she said with a grin.

  “Good morning,” he replied.

  There was something about their exchange now, something that felt like even their simple greetings were code for I love you.

  David led her out to where he had already saddled the horses and the sun was up in the sky as they rode into town without fear or alarm. Everything was quiet and peaceful, with just the sounds of birds and other critters against the hooves of their horses.

  But just as they were nearing town, they saw something they did not expect.

  Two horses were coming towards them. Horses bearing none other than Hank and Chelsea.

  “What are they doing? Do you think Chelsea has come to check on us while Hank is on his way back to the ranch?” Clementine asked.

  “I guess so,” David replied.

  As they closed the distance, David could see the smiles on their friends’ faces.

  “Where are you two off to?” Chelsea asked.

  “On our way to see the likes of you! We have grand news!” David exclaimed.

  “So do we!” Hank replied with equal excitement.

  In the exact same moment, the two men shouted with all the joy in their hearts, “We’re engaged!”

  David’s eyes widened and he looked from Hank to Chelsea and then to Clementine.

  It was all true and it was all good. The Lord had truly blessed each of them.

  Chapter 29

  Clementine tried to be patient. She tried to be calm. But there was nothing that could truly set her at ease, not when she was so antsy to get to the church.