“I realised something after I left your house last week,” he said before she’d found the words to speak. “The verse I left on your car applies to me just as much as you. God is working His plan for me, as well. I used to resent Brodie. The need to help care for him. The things I had to give up on because of his illness. The way my parents had less time for the rest of us.”
His lips twisted, and he shook his head, a shock of dark hair falling into his eyes. “It’s why I avoided the special needs kids at school and here in the kirk, and why I wanted a sporty girlfriend. I didn’t want to feel I’d fail with them, the way I felt I’d failed my brother.”
Sarah held her breath. This was everything she’d guessed and feared. The reason she was the wrong girl for him. Her hands trembled in his, but she didn’t break eye contact.
Trust, trust.
“I’ve felt that about Mum. You don’t know how angry and discouraged I’ve been at times. If we were to be together, you’d feel that for me, too.”
He nodded and smiled. “I’ll get frustrated and tired and fed up. We’ll have moments when ‘grit your teeth and obey God’ is the only way to get through. I can’t pretend differently. But I won’t stop loving you because of it.” His grip on her hands tightened. “Growing up in the family I did was part of God’s plan. I understand how tough it can be. But I’m stronger, with His help, than I thought. Strong enough to take the risk of loving you, if you’re willing to take the risk of loving me.”
Tenderness fountained through her, filling every cell of her body. Her joy glowed rainbow bright. God kept His promises. She could trust in that. “It doesn’t feel like a risk.”
Fraser freed one hand to touch a gentle finger to her lips. “There’s always a risk. Like you told me, there are no guarantees. We’ll need to take things one day at a time just like any couple. With God’s help, a relationship based on trust, love, and commitment will see us through anything.”
Staring up at him, she slipped her hands to his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat beneath her touch. “You’ve shown me how good life can be if I admit my weakness and accept help, the way God means us to. I’ve chosen life. Light and colour and love. I love you, Fraser. Yes, we’ll take things slowly, but I’m more than willing to take the risk.”
Joy blazed in his face as if he was lit from within. “Sarah!”
Strong arms wrapped around her, drawing her close. His lips lowered to hers in a sweet and tender kiss that was a pledge and a promise and a new beginning for them both.
She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. All that mattered was Fraser and the song of thanksgiving in her heart. Her hands slipped from his chest to his back, flattening on the firm muscles and pulling him nearer.
His kiss felt like home, and she never wanted it to end.
Eventually, it did. He raised his head slowly, reluctantly. His lips seemed as unwilling to leave hers as hers were to let his go.
A gentle breeze fluttered falling petals of apple blossom around them like confetti. Fraser brushed them from her hair and laughed. His hands moved to gently cup her face.
“I love you, Sarah Browne. One day, I’ll ask you to marry me.”
She smiled up at him. “One day, I’ll say yes.”
“Good.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead, then his hands lowered to her shoulders.
He stood, simply gazing down at her, his loving smile warming her like sunshine. She’d never guessed her heart could hold so much love.
“Will you come home with us this evening? I want us to start spending more time together right away. Just for dinner, I won’t ask you to sleep over.” She grinned. “You can let Mum beat you at Ludo this time.”
He chuckled. “Nothing I like better than losing at Ludo. And since things have changed between us, me sleeping over isn’t wise. But you still need a night’s respite for a good sleep, now and then. I don’t want you getting so overtired again.”
“Me neither.” She loved hearing the protective, caring note in his voice. Accepting help wouldn’t be easy at first, but she wanted to learn.
“Once Brodie is well, Mum wants to meet you and Isabel, to ask if you’ll let her stay once a fortnight or so. She can even bring a folding bed. You’d be doing her a favour. I think now I’m the only one left at home, she’s bored.”
Sarah fought down her instinctive urge to refuse. Instead, she forced out the yes she knew both God and Fraser wanted her to say. “Thank you. I’d like that.”
He raised his eyebrows. “That sounded convincing.”
“You probably guessed I almost said ‘I can manage’.” She laughed, and then became serious, lifting her hands to either side of his face and gazing into his eyes. “Changing my old habits won’t happen all at once. I’ll need time. If you really want to be with me, you’d better pray for a hefty dose of patience.”
“You’re worth waiting for, Sarah Browne.” He smiled.
Their lips met in another deep satisfying kiss. When it ended, he took hold of her hand, lacing his fingers around hers in a strong grip infused with comfort and love.
Hand in hand, they walked into the garden, now only a shadow of what it would be in a year or two. With God-given sunshine, water, and care, the plants would grow and flourish, becoming all they could be.
Just like them and their love.
Thank You for Reading
I hope you enjoyed reading A Lesson in Love! If you did, you might also enjoy the other books published so far in The Macleans series.
Mac’s story – A Model Bride
Catriona’s story – More than Friends
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British English & Scottish Glossary
As some of the British English or Scottish terms the characters use may be new to readers, here are meanings for those most likely to be unfamiliar.
Please let me know if there are other British-isms in the book that you’d like defined!
Bairn – baby, young child
Bonny – beautiful, healthy looking
Braw – brave, good, handsome
Bungalow – a one-level home, with no internal stairs
Buttie/ butty – sandwich
Chocolate digestive – wheatmeal cookie coated with chocolate on one side. An old fashioned comfort food.
Council house – low income rent assisted housing
Daughter/ son of the manse – pastor’s child
Duvet – comforter, continental quilt
Fairy Liquid – popular brand of dishwashing detergent
Fash – fuss, bother, trouble, eg “Dinnae fash yeself” = “Don’t go to any trouble.”
Fortnight – fourteen days, two weeks
Gap year – a year off between finishing high school and starting university studies or a first job, often spent travelling or doing voluntary work
Hogmanay – Scottish New Year’s Eve, traditionally a bigger celebration than Christmas Day
Intranet – a private computer network like the internet, but only available to an organisation’s staff
Kirk – church
Lad/ laddie – boy, young man
Lass/ lassie – girl, young woman
Manse – a church minister’s house in some denominations, especially Church of Scotland
Messy Church – a way of doing church for children and adults that involves creativity, celebration and hospitality, aimed at including those who may not normally attend church or feel they belong in church. May feel more accessible for physically or mentally disabled people
than regular church services.
Och – Scots or Irish word used at the start of sentences as a delaying mechanism, or to express emotions, typically surprise, regret, or disbelief
Sister (nurse) – title given to the nurse in charge of a ward or hospital unit in Britain, dating from the days when nurses were often part of a religious order of nuns. In medieval times, hospitals were parts of convents and monasteries, so those in charge of care would be the brothers and sisters, monks and nuns, supervising lay staff. The modern revival of nursing began in the 1800’s with a group of Protestant nuns, and use of the term “Sister” for senior nurses returned to England. In Australia, when I qualified as a nurse in the early 1980’s, ALL registered nurses were known as Sister (male nurses were Mr Sister!). It was a huge and proud day when we completed our training, first wore a veil rather than a cap, and were called Sister.
Stramash – noisy uproar
Wee – small
Bible Verses
Chapter 5 –
“Today I am giving you a choice of two ways… You can choose life or death. The first choice will bring a blessing. The other choice will bring a curse. So choose life! Then you and your children will live. You must love the Lord your God and obey him. Never leave him, because he is your life.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 ERV
Chapter 6 –
The Lord says, “My thoughts are not like yours.
Your ways are not like mine.
Just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways,
and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 ERV
Chapter 9 –
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35 NIV
“Today I am giving you a choice of two ways… You can choose life or death. The first choice will bring a blessing. The other choice will bring a curse. So choose life! Then you and your children will live. You must love the Lord your God and obey him. Never leave him, because he is your life.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 ERV
Chapter 10 –
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Chapter 11 –
I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29:11 MSG
Relax, everything’s going to be all right.
Rest, everything’s coming together.
Open your heart, love is on its way. Jude 2 MSG
Chapter 12 –
Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own through what Christ would do for us; he decided then to make us holy in his eyes, without a single fault—we who stand before him covered with his love. Ephesians 1:4 TLB
“Today I am giving you a choice of two ways… You can choose life or death. The first choice will bring a blessing. The other choice will bring a curse. So choose life! Then you and your children will live. You must love the Lord your God and obey him. Never leave him, because he is your life.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 ERV
Acknowledgments
Thanks to my fabulous writing buddy Shannon Marie, for making this story all it could be, and not throwing things at the wall with my constant “get back in the boat” moments. God gave me a huge blessing when He brought you into my life. I am soooooo glad I finally figured out that eHarlequin had a PM system. Redheads rock!
Thanks to Deidre of Brilliant Cut for insightful editing and support. A wonderful editor, and a true sister in Christ.
Thanks to my dear husband, who teaches me more and more each day about what true love really means.
Thanks to my parents. Mum and Dad, I love you.
Thanks above all else to God, who’s spent the past year teaching me so much about the joy and peace that comes from surrendering more fully to Him. Without His grace, mercy, and endless love, this book could never have been written.
And thanks to you, the reader of this book, for reading this far! I hope Sarah and Fraser’s story touched your heart.
About Autumn Macarthur
Autumn Macarthur is an Australian writer of Christian romance living near London with her very English husband, and three or four spoiled rescue cats. She loves reading, growing food, and writing deeply emotional stories to make you smile and remind you how big and wide and deep God’s love and forgiveness can be.
Faith, hope, & heartwarming –
inspirational romance to make you smile.
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For more information:
@autumnmacarthur
autumn.macarthur
www.autumnmacarthur.com
Books by Autumn Macarthur
The Macleans series:
Mac’s story – A Model Bride
Catriona’s story – More than Friends
Fraser’s story – A Lesson in Love
Brodie’s story – due later in 2016
The Love in Store Series:
Book 1 – The Wedding List
Book 2 – Believe In Me
Book 3– A Model Bride
Book 4– Forget Paris
Books 5 & 6 – due later in 2016
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For more about new releases, special offers, and reader only contests, sign up for my email newsletter here: www.autumnmacarthur.com
SPRING AT THE BARNCASTLE
Lynette Sowell
Sadie Barncastle believes her time in rural Castlebury, Vermont, is but a temporary exile after losing her job near Boston. She’s going stay in Castlebury long enough to get the gift shop opened at her cousin’s family inn. She then meets up with an old friend she suddenly remembered from childhood summers in Vermont. Sadie also remembers how badly she’d teased him.
Peter Appleman is the widower next door with a precocious daughter and the past year has been very hard for both of them after the death of his wife. Yet when he comes to Sadie’s rescue while she’s out for a jog on the wooded trails between their properties, she piques his interest. All signs though, come from his daughter that while she likes Sadie Barncastle, she’s not sure if she’s ready for Sadie to become a regular—and possibly someday permanent—part of their lives. In the meantime, Peter can’t deny his growing feelings for Sadie.
But Sadie’s not sure if life in the Green Mountains is for her and feels the call of Boston drawing her again. As Easter approaches, a time of forgiveness, restoration, and joy, the two realize that it’s also a time for new beginnings, but does that include with each other?
Spring at the Barncastle
Copyright © 2015 by Lynette Sowell
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Cover Image: Amy McSweeney
Cover Design: Lynette Sowell
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
— Isaiah 43:18-19
Chapter One
Sadie Barncastle’s lungs burned from the chilly March air, her breath making puffs as she jogged along. The cross-country ski trail that snaked through the wooded property and fields behind Barncastle Inn was a tad muddy, but not quite enough to make her slip—a big difference from the paved and lit city trail she used near her home just outside Boston.
Former home, she corrected herself.
She fought off a sigh, but it came out anyway. Then her foot slipped on a mushy patch of trail and something
went pop inside her ankle. The bolt of pain made her gasp and stop short. She limped to the nearest maple tree and leaned against its trunk.
It served her right for not paying better attention to the trail. She tested her ankle, wincing as she rotated it. She’d passed the small pond, once ideal for ice skating, on her way back to the main house that lay around the next corner of trail. Because of the bare branches and sparse foliage, she could glimpse the rear of the building, even from here, more than one hundred yards away. That was home now, and work too, thanks to her cousin Jayne and family.
The aroma of burning woodsmoke drifted on the light breeze. That would be from the neighbor’s sugar house, with its fire burning as its owner boiled sap to transform it into maple syrup.
Sadie licked her lips at the thought. Pure Vermont maple syrup, just next door. Drizzle some of that on a stack of buttered pancakes and the taste was pure heaven, although not good for the diet. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her of the choice she’d made to go for a quick two-mile run before breakfast.
A gust of wind made her shiver. She ought to see if her ankle would cooperate, and get herself moving back to the house. Slivers of sunlight peeked through the bare branches. Early spring in New England couldn’t come soon enough. Sadie wanted to put her snow scraper away for good, along with her boots and hat, and get ready for sunnier, longer days.
She took a few first limping steps to continue her journey back to the house. Crashing noises, sounds of dry twigs snapping and popping underfoot, made her glance over her shoulder.
A man approached. His unruly sandy blond hair stuck out rebelliously from under his black woolen cap. A light shadow of beard on his face contrasted with his blue eyes. The collar of his red-and-black buffalo plaid jacket was tucked close to his neck.
“Are you all right?”
Sadie whirled to face him as she realized her mistake. No phone, nothing with her except her fists and a gimpy ankle. Well, she’d run on it if she had to. Encountering a stranger in the woods wasn’t what she’d expected out here. In the city, yes, she’d prepared herself.
“Just out for a morning jog. On my way back to the house now, thank you.”
“But you twisted your ankle.”
“You were watching me?” The idea made her shiver.
Love Blossoms: 7 Spring-Fresh Christian Romances Page 30