Travis had worked through the night quietly carrying out chickens and putting them back into the coop after fixing the door by lantern light. Neither Heaven nor Angel had put up much of a fight about sleeping in the loft once he said he wanted to clean up the mess made by the chickens. Angel thought it was good to sleep somewhere else besides a bed of hay, and Heaven was happy just to lie down with her sister.
Once the chickens were out of the house, he made quick work of scrubbing the floor by candlelight. Then he went outside and cut down a very small cedar to use as a Christmas tree. He set it up in the corner of the living room and wondered what he could use to decorate it. Scratching his head, he could not come up with any ideas. There might be decorations somewhere in the cabin, but he didn’t know where to look and probably shouldn’t. Instead, he folded up a sheet of paper and wrote Heaven’s name on the back and put it under the tree. He then went to the barn to retrieve from his saddlebag the new toy he had bought for Angel for Christmas. By then it was time to do the morning chores. When he came back inside, the two of them were still sleeping, which made his plan all that much better. He banked the fire, poking it until it blazed with warmth. Then he filled the coffeepot with water and ground the beans before placing the pot on the stove.
Upstairs he could hear Heaven and Angel waking up. There were some whispers and giggles, and finally he heard feet coming down the stairs. He turned to greet them, “Merry Christmas!”
They returned the greeting, both wearing huge smiles.
Heaven looked around the room with wonder. “Angel, there’s a tree. Travis put up a tree for us. And the chickens are gone.”
“I thought it smelled better.” Angel touched her sister’s hand, “Where is the tree?”
Heaven wound her fingers through her sister’s hand. “Come with me. It’s in the corner.” She led Angel to the tree. “Travis, this is the most special tree we’ve ever had.”
“What does it look like? What decorations are on it? Are there candles?” Angel reached out and brushed the branches in front of her.
“I’m sorry there aren’t any. I didn’t want to wake you up trying to find something to decorate the tree with. I thought maybe we could do it together today.” Travis stood behind the girls. “If we have it decorated by this afternoon, we could make a very special Christmas dinner with some of the things that I brought back from town.”
Angel popped a hand over her open mouth and squealed. “Did you bring back good food? Like candy?” “You will just have to wait and see.”
“I have a few things I want to put under the tree to open this evening, too.” Heaven’s nose crinkled up as she noticed there was something under the tree with her name on it. Her hand snaked out to reach for the paper. “Is this for me?”
“Yes it is, but you have to wait.” Travis loved this part of Christmas. He had missed the past few Christmases while he was away at war. Memories of teasing his sisters and his sisters teasing him about packages that were hidden and what they might contain filled him with happiness. As did this package he left under the tree. It would make Heaven smile.
Later that evening the three of them gathered around the tree. At Travis’s request they sang Christmas songs.
“Can we open the gifts now?” Angel bounced on tiptoes. He hadn’t told her about her friend yet. That sad news could wait a day. “Yes Angel, let’s open the presents.” He reached under the tree and withdrew the doll he’d bought for her at the general store and placed it in her waiting hands.
Carefully she pulled the paper away. Her hand moved over the porcelain face and the hair. “Heaven, it’s a doll! What does she look like? Are her eyes blue like mine?”
“Yes they are, and when you tip her as if you were putting her to bed, they close. Her hair is the color of sunshine on hay.”
Heaven’s voice seemed thick with emotion. Travis hoped he hadn’t made her sad. He reached over and withdrew the paper from under the tree. “This is for you.”
Her sapphire eyes gazed at him, questioning.
“Open it.”
She unfolded the paper and read it. “Travis, are you sure?”
“Yes I am. This place should belong to you and Angel, not me. I don’t know why your father gave it to me.”
“Because he knew you, Travis. He knew you would come here and find us and make sure we were okay.”
“That’s not all, Heaven. There’s something …” He gave a quick glance at Angel who seemed to be involved in figuring out how to unbutton her doll’s dress. “Can you step out on the porch with me?”
She nodded, but he noticed she kept a tight grip on the deed to the farm.
Outside he grasped her hand in his. “I never wanted to marry someone because it’s what people do. I wanted to fall in love and have a marriage like my parents. When your father gave you to me, it bothered me sorely.”
She tried to pull her hand back, but he held tight.
“Wait, I’m not done.”
Her hand stilled in his, and he could feel her pulse in her fingertips.
“I’m sure by now you realize how much I care for you. I love you. I love Angel as well. And while I know your father gave you to me in his will, I want you to want me.” He bent down on one knee. “Miss Heaven Wharton, would you please do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Travis Logan?”
He watched her eyes widen, and tears pooled, creating a sapphire lake.
“I will.”
Travis hopped to his feet and gathered her in an embrace, kissed her like a man in love, and then let out a whoop of joy. “You must of told him about the gold,” Angel said.
“Gold?”
“No, not yet, Angel. He asked me to marry him, and I said yes. Travis, I discovered why there were so many green beans. Great-Uncle used them instead of the bank to deposit his gold. So I’d like to give you some of it for Christmas. With that you can achieve your dream of raising horses on the Logan Farm.”
“How about we call it the WL for Wharton and Logan?” Travis wanted to hug her again.
“I like it,” Angel said from the doorway. “I’m going back inside to play with my doll so you can kiss each other again.”
“Travis, don’t give up being a doctor. You can do both. This town needs you. God gave you the gift of healing and teaching. You taught me how to care for Angel, and I’m sure there are other things I—as well as the people of Friendship—can learn. I’d give you all of the money, but”—she looked to see if Angel was really inside—”I’d like to send Angel to school someday to learn to read Braille.”
Heaven stroked his arm, starting a fire the size of a barn. He backed away. “Honey, I’ll do what you ask if you will do this one thing for me.”
“What?” Her eyes narrowed as her head tilted.
“Ride into town with me right now and marry me so I don’t have to spend another night without you by my side.”
She smiled, and her eyes sparkled with joy. “I’d be honored. I’ll get Angel, and you get the wagon.”
“I’ll get the wagon”—he pulled her to him—”after I kiss you one last time as Miss Wharton.”
Angel stuck her head out the door. “Does that mean once she’s Mrs. Logan you won’t be wastin’ time kissin’ anymore?”
“No Little Miss, that’s never going to stop. You’ll have to get used to it.”
Discussion Questions
1. In the story, Heaven Wharton reaches for a rifle out of fear instead of using words. Can you think of a time when out of fear you reacted in the wrong way?
2. Heaven suffers from the burden of worry. She looks to the future and finds no easy answers. Why do you think she doesn’t turn to God immediately?
3. In the beginning, Heaven is overprotective of her sister, Angel. Is there someone in your life you’re trying to overprotect? If yes, what steps can you take to give them freedom to grow and trust God with their future?
4. Travis Logan no longer wants to use his gift of being a doctor, and yet time after time he is
called upon to help someone. What gift has God given you? Do you embrace it or fight against using it? Why?
5. Why do you think Heaven has problems believing God will take care of them?
6. What is your favorite scene in the book? What made it stand out for you?
7. Which character did you relate to the most? Why? Was this your favorite character?
8. How does Angel’s story parallel Annabelle’s?
9. Talk about a time you had to make a choice between two things that meant a lot to you.
10. Do you think Heaven made the right decision to tell Jake she wouldn’t marry him?
11. The rocking chair is where Heaven retreats to feel safe. Where do you go?
12. Do you feel any sympathy for Jake? Would you like to know if he is able to forgive himself?
DIANA LESIRE BRANDMEYER has a background in education and psychology. Her credits include My Devotions, The Metro East Family Gazette, Little Visits Family Devotions, and The Lutheran Witness. She received her degree from Webster University. She lives in southern Illinois where the corn grows at a rapid rate behind her home. She is married and has three grown sons, all on their own now, each of them bringing someone special to join the family.
If you enjoyed this book, be sure to read this from Barbour Publishing …
A Bride’s
SWEET SURPRISE
IN SAUERS, INDIANA
A HATED ARRANGEMENT BECOMES A DREAM COME TRUE.
Life isn’t fair. As a carefree, young American woman Regina Seitz shouldn’t have to submit to an arranged marriage. But when she finds her heart beguiled by her German fiancé, a cruel family secret threatens to take away the love of the man she once thought she could never want.
978-1-61626-572-4
Available wherever books are sold.
Bride's Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee Page 25