His eyes never wavered from her face, but his expression was impossible to read. Maybe the dim light concealed his thoughts now that night had almost settled on them.
She forced herself to keep talking. “There’s a verse in the Bible that talks about when a man follows Christ, he becomes a new creation. I didn’t know you before, but I see the man you are now. A man seeking to honor God. A man I can respect.”
His gaze took on a shimmer, and his throat worked. Those had to be good reactions. Signs her words meant something to him. But his face was still so hard to read.
He moved his hand to hers, wrapping his warm grip around her tiny one. “I didn’t think I’d ever hear you say that.” His voice cracked on the last words, and he paused. “I’m so grateful.” He raised their joined hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
Tears sprang to her eyes at the emotion that now radiated from him. Could her forgiveness, her respect, truly mean this much to him?
He cleared his throat as he seemed to be gathering himself back together. “This might be too soon to ask, but I don’t think I can wait. Finding a wife has never been a focus for me. In truth, I never met a woman who I wanted to be more than a passing acquaintance.” His thumb brushed the back of her hand. “But all that changed these past weeks.”
She couldn’t breathe as his words soaked through her. Could she be hearing him right?
But he wasn’t finished. “The better I know you, the more I love you.” He raised his free hand to brush the pads of his fingers across her cheek. The sensation sent a tingle all the way down her back, and she leaned into his touch. “I want to be your husband. To be by your side through everything, the good and the bad. To provide for you and make your life better in every way I can. It won’t be a wealthy living, but between trapping and what the mountains give, I know God will provide what we need.”
His thumb stroked the back of her hand. “I want to take you and Samuel on journeys into the mountains, where we watch the beavers play in lakes and lie under the night sky to count the stars. I want to help teach Samuel how to become a man. A man who looks to his heavenly Father for guidance.” His eyes searched hers. “Will you marry me, and let me do those things?”
Tears fell in steady streams down her face. Joyful tears. A release of the emotion overflowing from her heart.
They must have worried Isaac, though, for he spoke again. “I know I can’t replace your husband who passed away. I can only be there for you now, to love you and Samuel with everything in me.”
She squeezed his hand that still cradled hers. “Yes. Of course, yes.” She sniffed, trying to stem the tears. “I’m only crying because I’m so happy. You’re a good man, Isaac Bowen. The best I know. I’d be honored to be your wife.”
He released her hand and slipped his arm behind her back, pulling her closer. Deliciously close, as he lowered his mouth to hover over hers. “I love you, Joanna Watson.” The husky gravel in his voice sent another tingle through her, but it was only a precursor to the power of his lips as they finally met hers.
Oh, Lord. You’ve blessed me more than I deserve. It was her final thought before Isaac’s kiss overtook every one of her senses.
Epilogue
Joanna stared into the oval mirror over the washstand in this room that would soon be hers. A nicer place than she’d lived in since leaving St. Louis a lifetime ago. She’d known love then, a youthful emotion. Maybe even infatuation.
Nothing like the fullness swelling inside her now. The absolute certainty—the peace in her spirit—every time she thought of the life she and Isaac were about to step into.
It helped that Samuel took to the man like a duckling to the water, following him through all of Isaac’s chores when she and the boy had come to visit the quiet farm outside of town these past weeks.
And Isaac didn’t even appear to mind Samuel’s constant chatter. She inhaled a deep breath, even as that same chatter sounded just on the other side of the wall. He was giving someone all the details of the kittens born in the barn earlier that week. The smile that hadn’t left her face all day widened a bit more. She could listen to that little-boy voice forever.
Even Isaac’s pa seemed to relish her son’s company. He’d already been taking him fishing and teaching him to whittle with an old, dull penknife—all the things a grandfather would do.
A burn crept up her throat, filling her eyes. It seemed too much for God to bless them with. After every loss she’d endured, every stripping away of the people and things she loved, to be blessed with this new family. She could scarcely believe it was real.
A knock sounded on the bedchamber door. She dabbed at her eyes and sniffed to clear the knot of emotion from her throat. “Enter.”
The door opened, and Ingrid Bradley stepped in, the good friend who’d first brought her and Samuel to Settler’s Fort after Robert’s death. Ingrid’s face glowed with the smile lighting all her features. “I came to see how I can help.”
After closing the door, she took three long strides across the room and pulled Joanna into a hug. “I’m so happy for you, I can’t find the words.”
Joanna squeezed her friend, sinking into the warmth of the embrace. Even though they’d not had nearly enough time to spend together in the months since arriving in town, there was something about Ingrid that spoke to her soul, like the sister she’d loved and lost.
Having Ingrid here to help her on this most special of days was one more gift from her heavenly Father.
Ingrid pulled back, sliding her hands down to take in Joanna’s appearance.
Joanna’s face flushed under her friend’s scrutiny.
“You’re so beautiful, Joanna. You always have been, but today—” a happy sigh slipped through Ingrid’s lips—“you are perfect.”
Joanna turned away. She certainly wasn’t used to such attention. “Is the food set up? Anything I can do out there?”
Ingrid chuckled. “Laura has it all well in hand. And you’re not to step out of this door until I say.”
At their friend’s name, she turned around, her heart pinching. “How is Laura? I haven’t been able to check on her all week.”
A shadow passed over Ingrid’s face. “Her healing will be slow. Especially since she insists on helping tend to Aaron Long’s injuries. I’m glad to have her under our roof where we can help her, but I can’t imagine it’s easy to see the man who took part in her kidnapping every day. I’m not sure which is worse for her—memories from her time as a captive or guilt over shooting him when he was trying to save her life.”
Joanna nodded. She’d been so thankful when Ingrid and her doctor husband invited Laura to work for them in their clinic, room and board included. Having a safe place to heal from both her physical injuries and the emotional scars of her ordeal was such a blessing.
But Ingrid had a point. How helpful could it be for her to face Aaron during his convalescence? Nate, too, as he was a regular visitor at his brother’s bedside when he wasn’t working in his new job at the mines. He’d agreed to make restitution for any stolen goods not recovered at the hideout. He would likely be working off that debt for a long time to come.
Ingrid squeezed her hands. “Laura’s handling it remarkably well, and she doesn’t want you worrying over her on this of all days.” Her eyes twinkled, then she released her hold and reached for something in her pocket. “I wasn’t sure if you had gloves, so I brought these just in case.”
Joanna’s breath caught at the bright white of the delicate embroidered cloth. “Ingrid, they’re lovely.” With tiny flowers covering the fabric and seed pearls lining the hem, the pair was more beautiful than any bit of clothing she’d seen in this wilderness country. Certainly more expensive than anything she’d worn since St. Louis. The burn of tears crept up to her eyes again.
“If you’d rather not wear them, please don’t feel obligated. I only brought them in case you wanted a pair.”
She sniffed, willing the tears back once again, then found a smile f
or her friend. “I would love to wear them, Ingrid. Thank you.” She took the soft cloth and worked her fingers into each space. “A perfect fit.”
Another rap sounded on the door, this one the hurried drumming of a little boy who had no time to waste with niceties like knocking. “Mama, can I come in? I got something for you.”
Her smile spread wide. “Yes, honey. Come in.”
Samuel pushed open the door and darted in, both hands tucked behind his back. His little body couldn’t conceal the plethora of color that poked out from either side.
Ingrid pushed the door closed as Joanna bent down in front of her son. “What do you have?”
His face beamed from one ear to the other, highlighting the freckles that always brightened on his face when he’d been outside. “They’re actually from me and Isaac both. We picked ’em together, but he tied it so none would fall out.”
He pulled the bouquet from behind his back, hanging it upside down at first as he clutched the end of the leather tie. “I picked the pink ones ’cause I knew that was your favorite color.”
The bright variety of wildflowers filled her senses as she took the bouquet, another rush of joy washing over her. “They’re beautiful, Samuel. Every flower is perfect.” She reached for her son and pulled him into a one-armed hug. She barely had time to smell his mostly clean little-boy scent before he pulled away.
“The paper tied on there’s from Isaac. He said once I’m old enough to read, I can know what it says. He also told me to find out if you’re about ready. I’m supposed to report back. You better hurry, Mama. He’s already starting to melt, and the sun’s not even hot yet.”
Ingrid chuckled, then extended a hand to Samuel. “Come on, little man. Let’s go make sure everything’s in place, then I’ll bring your mama out.” As the boy turned to obey, Ingrid raised her eyebrows questioningly to Joanna.
She nodded. Yes, it was time. She was more than ready to become Mrs. Isaac Bowen.
Isaac had been pacing so much all morning, it was hard to hold himself still as he waited for Joanna to step from the house. Their house.
For so long, this had been merely the quiet farm where he and Pa lived. He’d never realized how lonely their existence was until these past three weeks since arriving back from their journey to rescue Samuel and Miss Hannon.
Whenever Joanna and Samuel came to visit, the yard echoed with chatter and laughter, the kitchen filling with aromas better than anything he’d thought possible. And her smile . . . when she looked at him the way she was looking now, as she stepped down the stairs, moving toward him with her graceful elegance . . . her smile lit everything around her. Righting his world in a way that made him never want to step away from her.
She was stunning as always, taking his breath and pushing away everyone else so there was only the two of them.
And Samuel. The boy walked beside his mother, holding her hand as he led her toward Isaac and the reverend. At least, that’s what the boy was supposed to be doing. Really, he marched slightly ahead of Joanna, almost pulling her forward, taking his job of escorting her quite seriously.
A smile tugged at Isaac’s lips. Helping to guide this lad through his growing-up years was going to be an adventure. One he was ready for, as long as Joanna was by his side.
She seemed to radiate joy as she reached him, and Isaac had trouble pulling his gaze from her face to accept her hand from her son—soon to be their son.
The thought brought his focus down to the lad. Samuel looked up at him with such a cute wrinkle to his freckled nose, it was all Isaac could do not to ruffle the boy’s hair. He clearly wanted to move along with the ceremony.
Isaac took Joanna’s hand in his, then reached his other hand out to shake Samuel’s. The boy’s face turned solemn as he performed the man-sized action. Then Isaac winked, just before the lad turned and trotted back to stand with Pa.
He took one more second to meet his father’s eyes, to soak in the love and pride there. He had to swallow down the lump in his throat as he nodded his thanks. Hopefully, his father knew how grateful Isaac was for him, for all his father had been to him throughout his life. But when he and Joanna returned from their overnight wedding trip into the mountains, he’d make sure he communicated his respect and gratitude for Pa with words.
But just now, it was time to turn his focus to his bride.
Joanna’s eyes shone with kindness as she looked at him, as though she knew what had just passed through his mind. He adjusted his grip on her hand so he could give her fingers a gentle squeeze. A silent thank-you.
Then together, they turned to face the minister.
It wasn’t hard to pledge his love, comfort, honor, and protection. Let any man try to stop him from fulfilling those promises and so many more. Joanna was the wife he never knew he wanted, but now that God had brought her to him, he would care for her and love her with his dying breath.
When the time came to seal their vows with a kiss, she turned to him, a bit of sheepishness touching her eyes. Maybe she didn’t want a display of their fiery kisses in front of an audience, and he would respect that.
He used his free hand to reach up and cradle her face, then leaned closer and brushed her lips with his, tasting the sweetness unique to her alone and leaving behind a promise of what was to come. The love he would share with her to the end of their days.
USA Today bestselling author Misty M. Beller writes romantic mountain stories set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.
She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to maintain those ties today. Her husband and children now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.
God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. Learn more and see Misty’s other books at www.MistyMBeller.com.
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Table of Contents
Cover
Half Title Page
Books by Misty M. Beller
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Epigraph
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Epilogue
About the Author
Back Ads
Back Cover
List of Pages
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Love's Mountain Quest Page 21