Spending time with Matthias was nothing short of a dream come true. Aunt Lavinia and Uncle Phineas so rarely left town that when they had announced their trip to Knoxville, Annalise feared she hadn’t heard correctly.
Yet here she was in a buggy that Matthias had rented from the livery, traveling down the road toward a lovely picnic spot he had picked out just for them. While Annalise knew the time with Matthias would be short since there was no telling when her aunt and uncle would really return and no telling who might see them, Annalise planned to make the most of every moment.
“This is a lovely spot, Matthias.”
The location for the picnic was a plush spot near a river. “I had to have somewhere special to take someone special.”
Had it been only two days ago that Annalise had doubted her feelings for Matthias? Only two days ago that she had given thought to marrying Dale Hiram? Thank You, Lord, for reconciliation.
Matthias lifted her from the buggy. Setting her down, he held her at the waist, his eyes looking into hers. “Annalise…”
Would he kiss her? She hoped so! Was it scandalous that she hoped for that? They stood for what seemed like a lengthy time gazing into each other’s eyes. Matthias reached up with one hand and touched her cheek. “You’re beautiful.”
Annalise attempted to find words to respond, but couldn’t. Any response remained stuck in her throat. He leaned toward her, his lips pressing against her forehead and his arms finding their way around her waist once again. Annalise closed her eyes and relished the moment, feeling safe enfolded in the strong arms of the man she had come to care for. He smelled like a combination of pine trees and soap. Her pulse quickened, and she wondered if Matthias could hear her heartbeat.
Annalise could remain here forever.
Matthias whispered in her ear. “Shall we have our picnic?”
She leaned back and gazed up at him. “We shall.”
He smiled the crooked smile that showed all the more the dimple in his chin. “I’ll retrieve the basket.”
With the basket of food that Betsy had prepared in one hand, Matthias reached for Annalise’s hand with the other and led her to a spot by the river. “What a blessing to have your aunt and uncle out of town.”
“Indeed. Although who knows how long they will be gone.”
“We will make the most, then, of the time we are given.” They said grace before eating the fried chicken Betsy had prepared.
“It’s a frightening time with all that’s going on.”
“Yes, but let’s not speak of that right now. Instead, let’s speak of another pressing matter.”
“Another one?” Wasn’t all they had experienced enough?
“Yes, the pressing matter of falling in love with a beautiful woman named Annalise Van Houten.”
Of all the things Annalise thought Matthias would say, she hadn’t figured he would say that. Had she heard him correctly? “I beg your pardon?”
“I know you are accustomed to finery. I can’t offer you that. I’ve been a reverend and before that a farmer. I don’t have much to offer you. I don’t even own a home. I do, however, own a fine horse.” His mouth quirked to one side.
“I don’t care if you don’t own a fine home, Matthias.”
“Someday—and it’s looking like it might be sooner than I had expected—I will be leaving Ridge Gap. I will continue to do the work that the Lord has called me to—that of preaching and helping the runaways. Neither calling will amass a small fortune with which to support a wife and family.”
“The Lord’s work offers rewards much more important than money and possessions. A wise reverend once preached on that very topic.”
Matthias grinned. “So you were listening.”
“You didn’t think I’d dare sleep through your sermons?”
“There was that one time when it appeared your head was bobbing, and I figured you to be nearly asleep.”
“Well, if I remember correctly, that was a sermon on the book of Numbers.”
Matthias chuckled, a deep, throaty laugh that Annalise realized she didn’t want to go without hearing for even one day.
He stopped, and his face took on a serious demeanor. He reached for her hands and held them in his. “Annalise, life with me won’t be easy. It will be full of worry at times and the type of adventure that can cause stomach upsets.”
“Stomach upsets? Matthias, you are a romantic at heart. I know life with you won’t be easy. You are making a difference in the lives of countless people. Every day, you undertake assignments, most of which I am unaware of.”
“It’s for your safety and for the safety of the Faith Train that we don’t know the exact details, nor the others involved in the undertakings of freeing the slaves.”
Such secrecy was necessary should one of them be caught and questioned. What one didn’t know, one couldn’t share.
“Anyhow, I guess what I’m failing miserably at trying to say is that I wish to court you and, Lord willing, marry you someday.” He paused. “May I court you?”
“Yes, Matthias, yes, you may.”
“I can’t exactly ask your uncle for his blessing or permission, and I know he intends you to marry Dale Hiram.”
“I’ll not marry Dale Hiram. Ever.” Yet two days ago, you believed that to be your only option. Annalise pushed the rebuke aside.
“I’ve spent time with the Lord seeking His guidance as to whether courting in secret is acceptable. If you’ll have me, I’d like to make you my wife. Although, as I said, I can’t offer you anything.”
“You can offer me the most important things, Matthias. Your love and devotion.”
“You will have both of those. You’ll also have my orneriness at times.”
“And you shall have mine. Along with a bit of stubbornness thrown in for good measure.”
They laughed again, causing Annalise to forget that she must return to her life in short order.
“So it doesn’t bother you that I don’t have much? That we may have to live in a meager log cabin?”
“Will I be with you?”
“Yes.”
“Then a meager log cabin will do just fine. You see, Matthias, right now I am a prisoner in the home of Aunt Lavinia and Uncle Phineas. I would prefer living in a shack in freedom than living in a mansion in bondage. Unfortunately, I suspect my aunt and uncle have squandered my inheritance, so I may have nothing to offer either. We could have used that money for so much good.”
“I never loved you for your inheritance, Annalise. I fell in love with you for your benevolent heart and your willingness to sacrifice yourself for another. And, of course, your beauty.” He grinned.
“I am content just to have the honor of being your wife.”
“You’ve made me a happy man.” Matthias leaned forward. “May I kiss you?”
Before Annalise could answer, Matthias had leaned forward. Their newfound love was sealed when his lips found hers in a combination of gentleness and passion.