He had several reports waiting for his attention back in his office at the company store, and some papers to sign for the new corporation—but all of those things could wait until he went home and discovered what Andrew had brought him.
Abram walked down Main Street, past the church next to Susanne’s grave, and then turned right on the old wagon road. His home sat at the bottom of the gentle slope, with the sawmill and gristmill just beyond on the banks of the Mississippi. The wing dam had been fixed, and as soon as the corporation was finalized, and the shares were sold, they would begin work on the expanded dam, stretching it all the way across the east channel and connecting it to the island dividing the river.
The house stood quiet, just as it had since Charlotte and the boys had left. There were no sheets fluttering on the line or children running about the yard collecting eggs, and bugs, and mosquito bites.
Where would Charlotte and the boys be today? He calculated the trip and figured they should be arriving in Iowa City tomorrow. Would Charlotte write to tell him they arrived safely? Would she update him on the boys’ achievements and milestones? He had instructed her to find out when Robert could start attending the school for the deaf and how much it would cost.
He looked forward to her letters more than anything.
Abram stopped walking and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
He must stop thinking about Charlotte and the boys so much. It only made their departure more difficult to bear.
A bald eagle dipped from a tree near the river and flew low over the water, looking for its supper. Evening had arrived and Abram would have to decide if he would stay home and face the deafening silence or go to the store and work until he couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer.
He continued down the road and looked around his yard to see if Andrew had left his packages outside.
Nothing looked amiss.
With a glance toward the barn, he opened the lean-to door and stopped short at the sound of voices inside the kitchen.
Martin and Robert sat at the table, the wooden toys Abram had given them for Christmas in their hands, while George sat in his high chair, banging a spoon.
Abram blinked several times—and then he heard the sound of Charlotte humming while the scent of fried bacon and coffee filled the lean-to.
He took two wide steps and then he was in the kitchen—and there she was, her left hand on her hip, her right toe tapping. She still wore her green traveling gown, but her bonnet had been discarded and he had a view of her beautiful brown curls.
“Papa!” Martin jumped off his chair and rounded the corner of the table—and then all at once everyone noticed him.
George threw his spoon to the floor in his excitement and Robert began signing about the coach ride and sleeping in a hotel all week.
But it was Charlotte who arrested his undivided attention. She had turned from the stove, with a fork in hand and an apron tied about her slender waist, uncertainty and joy mingling in her gaze.
Martin continued to talk, and Robert signed, but Abram could only focus on Charlotte. “What are you doing here?”
She nibbled on her bottom lip. “That’s exactly what you asked me the last time I showed up unexpectedly.”
“Last time you came, it was to take the boys away from here.” He took a step toward her, wanting nothing more than to take her into his arms and assure himself that she was real. “That can’t be why you’ve come this time.”
She blinked and a stray tear slipped down her soft cheek. “This time I came to bring the boys back.”
“Charlotte—” His voice caught with emotion. Did she plan to return to Iowa City or had she come to stay, too? “Why?”
She studied him for a moment, as if trying to gauge how he would react to her admission. “I realized I never gave you a fair chance.”
“A fair chance to do what?” Hadn’t she given him ten months to prove he could build a town?
“A chance to show me who you really are—and not who I perceived you to be.”
Her words felt like a balm to his aching heart. He moved toward her, until he was so close she had to look up into his face. “Charlotte.”
“I assumed you were just like my father and Thomas,” she said. “And because of that assumption, I never fully discovered the real Abram Cooper.”
“What if you don’t like what you find?”
Another tear slipped from her eye. “I’m certain I’ll love what I find.”
“Love?” he said softly.
She nodded and this time a beautiful smile spread across her lips. “I knew I was risking everything to come back, but I had to tell you... I love you, Abram.”
He needed no other invitation. He slipped his arms around Charlotte and pulled her into his embrace, loving the feel of her in his arms. “I’m so happy you did, because I love you, too.” He lowered his lips to hers and kissed Charlotte Lee for the first time.
* * *
The Hubbard home was filled with dozens of people. All of them were busy downstairs moving furniture, preparing food and filling vases with wildflowers. Charlotte stood upstairs in the room she had shared with Helen Palmer since their arrival in Little Falls just over a week ago. Helen helped slip Charlotte’s wedding dress over her corset covers and then stood back as Charlotte secured the etched-brass buttons up the bodice.
“It’s lovely, Charlotte.” Helen glanced over Charlotte’s shoulder and looked at Charlotte’s reflection. “I can’t believe you had time to sew it.”
“You and Pearl and Rachel have been so helpful, I hardly had anything else to do this week.”
It was true. Charlotte had moved into the Hubbard home, sleeping there at night, but she had spent her days at Abram’s taking care of the boys. Her three friends, and many other neighbors, had helped with chores so she could complete her dress on time.
“It’s the prettiest gown I’ve ever seen,” Helen said. “Now I know who to ask when I need a dress for my wedding.”
“Oh? Is there someone you have in mind?”
Helen laughed. “Several, actually.” She took another step back from Charlotte and her eyes glowed with approval. “You’ll be the most beautiful bride this town has ever seen.”
“I’m the only bride this town has ever seen!” Charlotte looked at her reflection and had to agree the dress was stunning. There hadn’t been much fabric to choose from at the company store, so she had gone with a chocolate-brown silk with small, gold-floral brocade and buttons down the front. The dress hugged and accentuated her in all the right places and belled out in a wide skirt.
Helen had helped style her hair with ringlets coming down the sides of her temples, drawing out the deep brown of her eyes. Her cheeks glowed pink from excitement and she couldn’t stop smiling.
“It’s almost time to go to the church.” Helen gathered up Charlotte’s shawl and handed her a pair of long white gloves. “Are you ready?”
Charlotte took a steadying breath and nodded. She was more than ready to embark on marriage with Abram. She could hardly believe how happy and content she felt knowing he would be standing at the front of the church when she arrived.
In the week since her return they’d had several moments together, and she marveled at the depth of character and commitment she’d found once she started looking for it. As Abram shared his heart and his dreams, Charlotte had come to realize that dreaming wasn’t wrong. On the contrary, dreams gave hope and meaning to so many aspects of life.
And for the first time since she was a child, she had dreams of her own. A home, a family, a husband and maybe more children to add to their already busy household. She planned to sell her building in Iowa City and purchase a lot on Main Street. One day, when the children were a bit older, she could open a dress shop if she liked. But for now, she would be content to sew
for her family and friends.
Helen opened the bedroom door and Charlotte moved past her into the long hall. The smell of spice cake filled the air and Charlotte’s stomach growled, though she was too nervous to eat.
They descended the stairs just as Rachel passed with a stack of plates, on the way to the dining room. She paused and smiled. “You look lovely, Charlotte.”
“Thank you for all your hard work.” Charlotte glanced into the dining room and found the table ready to receive their guests. The Hubbards were hosting a meal after the ceremony and everyone had pitched in to help.
“We’re so happy for you and Mr. Cooper.”
“Time to stop work,” Pearl said, coming into the front hall as she removed her apron. “We’d better hurry over to the church or we’ll be late.”
Butterflies filled Charlotte’s stomach and she swallowed down the rush of nerves.
Someone opened the front door and Charlotte was guided out by Mr. Hubbard, who would walk her down the aisle. She nestled her hand inside his elbow and allowed him to lead her through town.
They rounded the corner onto Main Street and Charlotte’s mouth slipped open in amazement. Standing outside the church, people—mostly men—had lined up on the steps and down the sidewalk, two or three deep.
When she appeared, a great shout filled the air and dozens of men threw their hats above their heads.
“Oh, my.”
Mr. Hubbard squeezed her hand. “They’re all very excited for you and Abram.”
“Congratulations, Miss Charlotte,” several of them called out.
“Thank you,” Charlotte said as she smiled at familiar faces.
“Are you ready, my dear?” Mr. Hubbard asked.
Charlotte nodded, though everything was happening so fast, how would she recall all these little details in the days to come?
The doors were pushed open and the inside of the church was just as full as the outside.
A violinist played the “Wedding March” and all the people inside stood and turned for a glimpse of her.
Charlotte recognized more dear faces. Mr. and Mrs. Perry, along with Maude. Mr. and Mrs. Ayers from the mission. Mr. Cheney and his wife. Nathan Richardson and Pierre LaForce. Josiah, Milt and Caleb—and one person she didn’t expect to see: Harry. He stood with the others, his face turned toward her. When she caught his eye, he offered her a simple nod.
She nodded back and then her attention was captured by the man standing at the front of the church, his two older sons on either side of him and his youngest in his arms.
Tears gathered in Charlotte’s eyes and joy flooded her soul. Abram, Robert, Martin and even George all smiled at her as if she was the most important person in the room—and for the first time in her life, she believed she was enough.
Ben stood at the front, next to Abram, his long braids lying on his chest. He smiled at Charlotte and nodded his approval. “Who gives this woman away in marriage?”
“The citizens of Little Falls,” Mr. Hubbard said with great pride.
Cheers rose all around the church and Charlotte’s cheeks hurt from smiling.
Abram grinned and Martin clapped.
Charlotte looked at Robert and realized he didn’t know what had been said. She quickly signed the words for him and he clapped his hands and smiled.
Rachel came up from behind Charlotte, took George from Abram’s arms and then ushered the boys to a bench.
Abram extended his left hand to Charlotte, his brilliant blue eyes looking at nothing and no one else but her.
She took his offered hand and he entwined his fingers through hers, squeezing her hand ever so gently in his strong grip.
Ben began the ceremony but Charlotte hardly noticed what he said. All she was conscious of was Abram’s steady presence beside her. It wasn’t until it was time for the vows that she finally focused.
“Abram.” Ben spoke in a grave voice. “Do you take Charlotte to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and, forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, for as long as you both shall live?”
Abram grasped Charlotte’s hands and faced her with no hesitation or doubt. “I do.”
His simple vow filled Charlotte with a sense of awe. She didn’t know where life might take them, or if they would stay in one place for the rest of their days—but she did know that Abram would always love and honor her.
“And do you, Charlotte, take Abram to be your wedded husband, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and, forsaking all others, be faithful only to him, for as long as you both shall live?”
Every word—every promise—was filled with risk, but it was a risk she would gladly take for Abram. “I do.”
“Do either of you have a token of your commitment?”
Abram produced a simple gold band, which he placed in Ben’s hand.
“May this ring be blessed as the symbol of this affectionate union.” Ben smiled. “These two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. May these two find in each other the love for which all men and women yearn. May they grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home which they establish together be such a place that many will find there a friend, and may this ring on Charlotte’s finger symbolize the touch of the Holy Spirit in their hearts.”
Ben handed the ring back to Abram and said, “Put this ring on your bride’s finger and repeat after me, ‘Charlotte, with this ring you are now consecrated to me as my wife from this day forward.’”
Abram slipped the cool ring on her left ring finger and looked her in the eyes. “Charlotte, with this ring you are now consecrated to me as my wife from this day forward.”
Ben continued. “‘I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity, and with this ring, I thee wed.’”
“I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity.” Abram lifted her hand to his lips and placed a kiss over the ring. His eyes filled with tenderness. “And with this ring, Charlotte Lee, I thee wed.”
“Now, by the power vested in me by the Territory of Minnesota, and by Almighty God,” Ben said, closing his Bible, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Abram gently put his hand on her cheek and lowered his lips to hers. The kiss was sweet, yet passionate, and made Charlotte wish they were alone and not in a room with hundreds of well-wishers.
A great cheer arose from the congregation, followed by much back-slapping and congratulations all around.
Robert and Martin ran up to Charlotte and wrapped their arms around her legs, while Rachel handed George to Abram.
“Now you belong with us forever.” Abram put his free arm around her waist and pulled her close to his side. He looked down into her face, devotion shining from his beautiful eyes. “I’m never letting you go again, my love.”
Her heart was full of all that lay ahead. Evenings by the fireplace, early mornings with mugs of steaming coffee, late nights in each other’s arms, birthdays and holidays and Sundays. The good and the bad, the easy and the hard—life, in all its glory.
She looked up into his dear face, amazed at the depth and breadth of her love for him, and was reminded of Ruth’s promise to Naomi in the Book of Ruth. She stood on tiptoe and whispered for his ear alone. “‘Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for wither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.’”
She rested back on her feet and watched his eyes fill with affection just before he placed another kiss on her lips. “Those words are the greatest gif
t you could ever give me, Charlotte Cooper.”
She took his hand in hers and they were led away to celebrate their new union in the presence of their community.
Now Charlotte understood why her sister had risked everything to follow Abram to the wilds of Minnesota Territory. Wherever Abram went, Charlotte would follow all the days of her life.
* * * * *
If you liked this story,
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from Gabrielle Meyer
A MOTHER IN THE MAKING
Available now from Love Inspired Historical!
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Dear Reader,
Sixteen years ago, when I was a college intern at the Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum in Little Falls, MN, I discovered the incredible history of my hometown. I began to dream of writing stories that would follow the rise and fall of a unique American community on the banks of the Upper Mississippi River.
This story was born from that dream. It is a work of fiction, but it’s strongly influenced by true events. The cast of characters is closely related to the original founders, but these men and women are the work of my imagination. It is my hope that through this story you will be intrigued to learn more about the real people who sacrificed everything to build Little Falls. Please visit www.gabriellemeyer.com to discover more.
God Bless!
Gabrielle Meyer
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A Family Arrangement Page 23