by Lisa Harris
He wrapped the lines in front of him so the horses could continue their leisurely pace down the road without a driver; then he caressed the back of her hand with his thumb. “You know my motivation was never to take a risk. I’ve always wanted a brother, and with all the stories you’ve told me about your family, I feel like I know them. I want to be a part of that. I want to be a part of your life.”
A tear trailed down her cheek, but her mouth curved into a wide smile. “For so long I was afraid of the risk of loving you. I’ve realized now, though, that I’m more afraid of the risk of losing you.”
“That’s why I came—because I love you.” Luke cupped her face in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. “I promised I’d wait for you as long as it took. I just couldn’t go any longer without seeing you.” He leaned over and kissed her gently, silent assurances of what was to come. “And there’s one more thing.”
“What is it?”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a thin gold band, his heart beating with anticipation. “Rebecca Ann Johnson, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
She nodded, wrapping her fingers around his hands and pulling them toward her heart. “I’ve found what I’ve always been looking for, Luke.”
“What’s that?”
“A man who could capture my heart completely.”
The beauty of the snow-covered fields surrounded him. Towering pines reached to the heavens beside apple orchards and maple sugar farms. But at the moment he concentrated his attention on only one thing. The woman he loved.
“And your heart, Rebecca, is something I’ll never let go of.”
To Mariah Lauren, my precious daughter. May you always seek Him first in everything you do. And to my fantastic critique partners. Thank you for taking this journey with me.
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Lisa Harris
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PO Box 719
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
LISA HARRIS is a wife, mother, and author. She and her husband, Scott, along with their three children, live in northern South Africa as missionaries. After graduating from Harding University with degrees in Bible and Family and Consumer Sciences, Lisa spent several years living in Europe and West Africa with her husband as church-planting missionaries. They have traveled to more than twenty countries, including France, Kenya, Japan, and Zimbabwe. Lisa has had over fifty articles, short stories, and devotionals published as well as two novellas and one novel. You can contact her at http://www.lisaharriswrites.com/.