by Woods, Emily
When Alex gave him a puzzled look, he continued. “Single men, men of low self-worth, wouldn’t have dared cross through the door when she was alive. They would have felt humiliated, but now that I’m alone, I suppose that makes me more approachable. The stories I’ve heard wouldn’t be fit for female ears, but they don’t have to worry about that anymore. As difficult as her death was on me, I can see why God allowed it.”
“But it still doesn’t seem right. Why should you have to lose something? Weren’t you terribly angry with God?”
Preacher Howard chuckled a little. “Maybe for a little while, but He’s done so many amazing things in my life that I had to believe this would result in another. And I wasn’t wrong. Look, it’s like this. Do you think those trees out there like being pruned? Some people believe that it hurts them, but if I don’t do it, they won’t produce much fruit. You see, when you remove a few branches, it allows the sun to reach more of the tree, and the wind can move through it more easily, encouraging pollination. Also, pruning helps develop the structure so that the tree can support the crops. If you leave it alone, it won’t produce much next year.”
Alex understood the concept, but struggled to see how it applied to humans. “Are you trying to say that God prunes us? That we have things in our lives we need to get rid of?”
The big man nodded. “You’ve got it, young man. When we’re burdened with selfishness, pride, and all kinds of sin, we can’t see what He wants us to do. When He prunes us, we draw closer to Him and we can understand what He wants us to do.”
“I don’t think He has any work for me to do,” Alex grumbled.
Again, the preacher laughed. “Ah, but He will, if you let Him. Try to see your suffering from a different perspective. If it hadn’t happened, you might not be the person you are. Now tell me, did you make peace with your father after you left here yesterday?”
Alex shrugged. “In a way, but not entirely. He is clearly very sorry for having left me, but I can’t move past this. I feel like he needs to earn my forgiveness.”
Preacher Howard leaned back in his chair and sighed. “I see. And what have you done to earn God’s forgiveness for your sins?”
The question startled Alex. “What sins?”
“Oh, you’ve never done anything wrong then? Never twisted the truth, hated a person in your heart, had a wrong thought about a woman? Taken the Lord’s name in vain?”
Heat rose in Alex’s face. “I wouldn’t say that. But I’ve tried to do good to make up for it.”
“Ah, but you see, there will never be enough good deeds to wipe away all your sin. If there were, why did Jesus have to die for us? If we can earn our way into Heaven, then the crucifixion was completely unnecessary.”
Alex’s skin started to prickle in that moment, and he felt he was on the edge of understanding something important. “Because Jesus died, I’m forgiven. And if I’m forgiven, I need to forgive.”
A broad smile broke out over the preacher’s face and he folded his hands over his ample waist in satisfaction. “Now you’re getting it, son. And you know what? When you forgive someone, it releases you from the grip of anger and bitterness. If you don’t, those feelings will control you, and you’ll never fully enjoy your life.”
Alex nodded. He played with the condensation on the glass of lemonade. “So, I have to forgive him. But if I don’t feel like I can?”
“That’s a hard one. I’d say that forgiveness is more of a decision than a feeling. Realize that you’ve been forgiven, and then do your best to extend it to others.”
He took a swallow of the lemonade and stood, reaching out to shake the preacher’s hand. “Thank you for everything, the horse, the lemonade, your time.”
“Well, that’s what I’m here for,” he replied with a grin. “And you come back any time you can. I enjoyed talking to you.”
Alex nodded and thanked him once again before leaving.
Riding back to the ranch, he prayed and asked God to help him forgive Luke. He didn’t want to live with the bitterness anymore. And he found as he got closer to the ranch, the more he wanted to see Luke.
Starting today, he would have a father.
Chapter 13
Christina found herself humming the song she’d been singing with her niece just a few hours before. The words of the song felt real to her now. Jesus did love her and was her friend. He would share her sorrows and her burdens, as Valerie kept reminding her.
“I just feel so guilty for how I used to behave,” she’d told her earlier. “I want to ask forgiveness of everyone I’ve been nasty to in the past.”
“That will take a while,” Valerie joked, but when she saw the stricken look on her sister’s face, she gave her hand a little squeeze. “I’m sorry. I guess what I should have said is that you are responsible for your behavior from today forward. If you have the chance to apologize, do so, but don’t let guilt weigh you down. That’s a tool of the enemy.”
She understood that now too. God wanted her to be free from guilt and had sent His Son in order to ensure it. Still, she decided to go over to the Winstons’ house and ease her mind.
When she arrived, the first person she spotted was Alex. He was talking to Luke and they were laughing together. The scene filled her with joy. How wonderful that Alex was getting a chance to know his father.
He spotted her a moment later, said something to Luke, and walked towards her.
“How are you today, Miss Christina?” he asked with a grin.
Something was different about him today. “I’m very well, but I think I don’t even need to ask you.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, but he was smiling.
She tilted her head and held his gaze. There was something in his eyes that hadn’t bee there before. He was always attractive, even though she wouldn’t have admitted it, but now he was practically magnetic.
“You look as though you’re lit from the inside,” she commented, a smile blooming on her face. “Can I ask you why?”
The smile he gave her back was as bright as the sun. “I guess I finally learned an important lesson today. And I’m beginning to understand why God gave me the life I have.”
His words stirred something deep inside her. “I think I can say the same. When I first arrived here, I wanted nothing more than to go back home, but now I wonder if I even want to. I loved my life in New York, but I don’t think I would anymore.”
“I understand,” he replied. “My home isn’t in Philadelphia. I think it’s here. In any case, I plan to learn how to be a rancher. My father is happy to teach me how.”
“And you won’t go away to university?” Her heart jumped a little and she realized how much he hoped that he wouldn’t.
“I don’t think so. Business was never my passion. I suppose my education won’t be completely wasted, though. I already have many ideas on how to improve the ranch. There are many modern techniques that my father has never heard of.”
She noticed how his face changed each time he said the word ‘father.’
“I really hope you don’t return to New York,” he said suddenly, giving her a shy but intense look. “We didn’t really get off to a good beginning, but am I wrong to think that perhaps we might spend some more time together?”
Now she blushed a little and lowered her head. “I don’t think you’re wrong,” she murmured. The initial attraction she’d felt for him had increased by leaps and bounds. He was on her mind more often than she would admit.
“You can’t know how happy that makes me to hear,” he replied softly. When she looked up, she could the truth in his face.
“I hope I won’t disappoint you. I was actually coming over to apologize to everyone for my behavior when I first arrived. I was terrible to you, both on the train and when we first met here. I’m very sorry for that. I hope you can forgive me.”
A grin split his face. “It would give me great pleasure to forgive you, Miss Christina,” he declared. “And I hope you will do me the favor
of doing the same. I judged you before I knew you. I never gave you a fair chance.”
“Of course I will.”
There was a moment of silence then, not uncomfortable, but filled with the hopeful expectation of good things to come.
Epilogue
Less than two months later, it was known throughout the area that Alex and Christina were officially courting.
“I received a letter today,” Alex told her as they went for a walk by the Falls Creek, her arm through his. Even though the weather was starting to turn cold, this was their favorite spot because it was where they first realized the attraction they had for one another.
“Oh? Who from?”
He pulled out the envelope and showed her. “My grandparents. They received both my letters and replied. Of course they weren’t happy that I didn’t go to university, and even though they don’t clearly apologize for keeping my father and me apart, they seem to understand.”
“So you forgive them?”
He nodded. “I’m finding forgiveness so much easier these days, even when the other person doesn’t explicitly ask for it.”
With a sigh, she looked up at the waterfall that was just starting to freeze in places and smiled. “Can you believe how different our lives are now? Here’s me, practically a country girl and you a rancher. Who would have thought that even a year ago?”
“Not my grandparents,” he replied with a laugh.
They reached their favorite spot. Alex spread out the blanket they’d brought and helped her sit.
“I still say it’s too cold for a picnic.”
“I’ll keep you warm,” he said mischievously, a comment which earned him a light slap on the arm.
“None of that, please. I’m a proper lady, you know.”
He laughed and nodded. “Yes, I know. I apologize.”
“That’s more like it. Now, I hope you’re hungry,” she remarked, opening up the basket she’d prepared.
Watching her unpack the food, he replied, “I’ll let you know after the first bite.”
Her cooking lessons with Valerie had started to pay off, but there had been more than one time when the majority of the food had gone uneaten.
Instead of taking offense, Christina laughed and handed him a sandwich. “It’s rather hard to mess up chicken sandwiches.”
He took it warily and peeked inside. “Did you butter them yourself?” he joked, referring to the story she’d told him about the first time she’d helped her sister.
“Be careful,” she teased. “Or you might not get to try any of the cookies I made.”
“Well, since I know that’s one thing you can do very well, I’ll try to be a good sport.”
He took a large bit and chewed thoughtfully. “Very good,” he commented after swallowing. “But maybe a little too much butter.”
“Oh, you!” she said with a laugh, throwing a napkin at him.
He caught her hand and kissed it, his sandwich forgotten.
“It means the world to me that you want to stay. Have I told you that lately?”
The teasing faded away and she blinked a few times. “I don’t tire of hearing it.”
With a small tug, he pulled her closer and they both seemed to stop breathing. Although he’d kissed her hand several times, he’d never done anything more than that. However, she sensed that today was special.
“I know it’s early days, but I wanted to tell you something that’s been on my mind for many, many weeks now.”
“Go on then,” she replied, barely breathing.
“Miss Christina, I think you are by far the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, inside and out. I didn’t want to let myself fall for you because I didn’t think that I deserved such a wonderful woman, but it’s beyond my control. I admire the woman of God that you’ve become, and how you’ve turned your whole life around. You have my heart. I am totally in love with you.”
She inhaled sharply and when she met his gaze, her mouth quivered. “I never knew what love was until I met you,” she whispered. “And I thank God every day that my parents sent me here.”
“As do I,” he murmured, leaning over to close the last few inches that separated them. “Every single day.”
When their lips finally met, the shock of it affected them both. It was the softest, most promising of kisses. It didn’t demand anything, but assured them that no matter what the past had held, the future was a beautiful place.
* * *
A Faithful Love
Chapter 1
Milan, Italy
1903
As her father's coffin was lowered into the ground, Rosalie Romano raised a handkerchief to her eyes and dabbed gently. Her siblings stood alongside her, but she still felt alone. They all had their spouses and children, but she had dedicated her life to taking care of her aging parents, never marrying or even entertaining the idea of a sweetheart.
“You will live with us now,” whispered Elenora. “I already spoke to Marco. He's willing to have you move into the guest room.”
The word 'willing' stood out to her. She knew that Marco wasn't eager to have her move into their home and only allowed it because he loved his wife. Rosa shook her head a little.
“I'll keep living in the house for now. I have so many things to organize. Thank you for the offer, sweet sister.”
A frown appeared on Elenora's face, but she quickly wiped it away. “Whatever you say, dear. You can move in whenever you are ready.”
As the second oldest sister, Elenora had stepped in as the responsible one when the eldest, Elizabetta, had moved away to America to help their cousin, Kate Winston. Rosa suspected that she would have taken on the role of caregiver for their parents if Rosa hadn't insisted that she marry Marco. He was a decent man and loved her sister ardently. His biggest flaw, however, was that he was fiercely devoted to his family at the exclusion of all others. He would see her presence as an intrusion, and that would cause a rift in their marriage. She could not allow that.
Her other siblings did not have enough room for her, so she needed to make a plan that would free them from any guilt regarding her situation.
The reception after the funeral was lively and somber in equal measures. The patriarch of the Romano family had left a legacy of joy and would be missed, but they were there to celebrate his life as much as to mourn his passing. Her oldest brother had said it best during the funeral.
“His death leaves a hole in our lives, but Heaven is rejoicing to welcome a saint. One day, we will stand and sing together before our King. What a day that will be.”
There hadn't been a dry eye in the church after that.
“Thank you for your speech, Lorenzo,” she said to him after. “It was beautiful and a tribute to our papa. He would be so proud of you.”
“Grazie, sister. I am grateful to hear you say so. I loved him dearly and...” His eyes became moist, and he could say no more. She pulled him into a warm embrace and kissed his cheek.
He'd expressed remorse that he could not offer her a place in his home, but she understood. The family restaurant had been passed down to him, but it was still just a shadow of what it had once been ten years before. The mafia boss, Mr. De Luca, had made sure that it was not popular. It was his way of punishing the family for shaming him in refusing his son the bride he'd wanted, their oldest sister who had since married a man she’d met in Montana. Although it was not an offense worthy of death, the man still took every opportunity to make their lives miserable.
“You should sell the restaurant,” she murmured. “Take the money and your family and move to Sicily or anywhere else.”
He shook his head. “I would hate to give it up and let him win. Papa loved the restaurant.”
“He loved it as it once was, not as it has become. Please consider my words.”
When everyone had finally left, Rosa felt both relieved and bereft. The house ached with loneliness, as did her heart. As hard as it was to be surrounded by her family, it was so much worse to
be alone.
“What now, Papa?” she whispered to the likeness they’d put on display. “What should I do?”
The restaurant was Lorenzo's inheritance, and each of the sisters had been given a portion of the remaining estate, but the bulk of their parents' remaining funds went to her as she'd given up any hope of a family to take care of them. None of the others begrudged her the money. In fact, many of her siblings even offered her their portion, but she had turned them down.
“I have enough,” she’d told them. “I will sell the house, of course. There is no way I could live here now, and the money from that along with what is in the bank will see me through.”
Now, as she walked around the large house, she touched the furniture and remembered the days when it had been full of life and laughter, the days before Mr. De Luca's son had set his sights on Elizabetta. All the family would forever define their lives as before and after this event. Her parents hadn't allowed the disaster to dampen their faith, but his threats were an ominous cloud that forever hung over them.
Sitting at her father's massive desk, she picked up the stack of letters that lay there. She smiled to see a letter from her sister. It was filled with news of her life and children, mostly joyous, but then Rosa detected something that she'd previously overlooked.
“Please pray for me, dear family. I don't have the same energy as I used to. I'm sure it's just the birth of so many children, and I'm trusting God to restore my good health in His time.”
The words jumped off the page now, and Rosa felt senses prickle. Was this a sign? Was God showing her something, a direction for her life?