Lou sat next to the wounded dog, which they had named “Belle,” and watched the animal sleep. At Micah’s insistence, Lou had tied Belle to a stall just in case she rallied faster than any of them thought she would. No sense taking a chance the animal might hurt one of the horses or anyone else.
The bullet had come out easily enough, but the dog would need care for several days before she could be turned loose. Grateful for an excuse to hide out, Lou stayed with the animal. And she’d been staying with her for the better part of a week. The family assumed it was because of her love for any living creature, large or small. Only she and Trent were aware that she’d opened her heart for the first time in her life, only to be thwarted in the worst possible way. He’d opened his mouth and tried to let her down easily.
What a foolish girl she was! She’d let the emotions of the moment carry her away and force her to admit something she should never have admitted. Poor Trent.
A moan escaped her even as the barn door creaked open. Timmy entered. “How’s the dog?”
Pushing aside the unsettling emotions, she forced a smile for the boy. The boy who would never belong to her. She swallowed back tears. “I think she’ll be just fine. Just need to keep an eye on her for a few days.”
“Miss Lou?” Timmy kept his attention focused on the dog.
“What’s wrong?”
“I was just wondering if you’re mad at the parson.”
“Of course not. Where would you get such an idea?”
He shrugged. “I overheard him talking to Grandma Stafford. He said he offended you and didn’t quite know how to make things right.”
“He did, huh?”
Timmy nodded.
“Well, don’t worry, kiddo. It takes an awful lot to offend me. Besides, if the parson wants to make things right, he knows where I am.”
“I reckon he does.” Timmy turned. “You coming in for supper?”
“I’ll eat a bite later.”
He nodded and turned to go.
A sharp northern wind assaulted the plains and whipped around Trent like Indian arrows, shooting through his clothing straight to the skin underneath. Fat, gray clouds promised a white Christmas. He thought of the two hand-carved sleds Sam had crafted for the boys and smiled. He hoped it snowed a foot.
He gave a relieved sigh when the familiar white, two-story house came into view. He could use a hot cup of coffee to warm himself up. The morning had been long as he’d conferred with the newly elected, four-member council of Petunia. His heart had soared when Micah presented him with the offer he’d been waiting for: to be the permanent pastor of this flock. But just as quickly as his joy had risen, it fled, and in its place had come that now familiar sense of struggle associated with each offer over the past couple of months.
How could he leave all the other congregations and settle into one? What would the others do? They were all members of the flock God had appointed him to reside over. On the other hand, God had also called him to nurture two young boys who needed stability. During the ten-mile ride from town, his mind had traveled different possible trails. Now, drained and confused, all he could do was pray.
His heart warmed and a smiled tugged at his lips as he drew closer and spied Timmy and Davy running toward him, waving frantically.
Trent waved back, then frowned, nudging Mel into a trot.
“Parson! Come quick. Lou’s in trouble!”
“What’s happened?”
“That new dog. She’s in the barn. Hurry!”
Trent slid off his horse and ran toward the barn, his heart pounding in his ears.
“Lou!” he called as he opened the door.
He stopped short at the sight of her. She sat, her back against the barn wall. Trying to assess the situation, he stepped forward.
“You okay?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“The dog didn’t hurt you?”
She gave him a look that clearly indicated she thought him crazy. Belle’s head rested on Lou’s lap, and Lou’s long, slim fingers caressed the animal’s head. Clearly the boys had lied. He was about to turn around and demand an explanation when the door shut tight. With a sense of dread, he heard the slat fall into place. They were locked in.
“What’s going on, Trent?”
“I’m not sure.” He scratched his head, trying to make sense of it all.
Lou gently moved Belle and stood. She glared at him as though he’d planned the whole thing.
“For some reason, Timmy and Davy told me you’d been hurt and then locked us in.”
Lou gasped. “Those little double-crossers! Why would they do such a thing?”
Trent let out a chuckle. “I have a pretty good idea.”
“What’s that?”
“They want you to be their mother. They figure there are only a few more days before I leave again, and since you won’t come into the house, they had to bring me to you.”
Lou’s mouth made an O.
“I’m sorry they forced this on you.” He’d been trying to respect her desire to stay away from him over the last week, but in a way, he was glad the boys had contrived this forced meeting. He’d gotten her a Christmas gift that he prayed she would accept.
“What do you mean you’re leaving in a few days?” She frowned, obviously pushing aside the situation in which they found themselves. “Didn’t Micah and the rest of the men talk to you about staying on as the regular preacher?”
“Yes.” He took a step closer. “But I haven’t found a peace about doing it.”
“What about the boys, Trent?” Lou moved closer to him, further shrinking the distance between them. “They need a stable home.”
“They have one with you, don’t they?”
“Well, of course. They’re more than welcome to stay here for as long as necessary. But that’s not the same as spending time with their pa.”
“What about their ma?”
“O–oh.” Lou stopped and stared at the barn floor.
Trent took another step until he was close enough to reach out and snag her around the waist. But he held back.
“I know God gave me those boys to raise. But I also know that He called me to preach.”
“You’d be preaching if you stayed here full time.”
“Yes, but I wouldn’t be feeding the souls of all the sheep God has placed me over.”
“Have you considered that maybe God is settling you down? Changing your ministry?”
“The thought has crossed my mind several times over the past weeks.” Reaching out, he fingered a loose curl. She shuddered.
She cleared her throat. “Well, then?”
“I can’t leave four congregations without a minister just because I’d rather be here with you.”
“W–with me?”
His heart nearly burst with love for her. But he knew what he was asking wasn’t necessarily fair. Dread gripped him at the thought that she might say no.
Taking her hands in his, he looked into her sweet, heart-shaped face. “I’m sorry I was such an idiot when you told me how you feel. To be honest, I’ve been struggling with that same emotion toward you.”
Her wide eyes glistened. “I don’t understand what you mean. Why struggle? Am I that repulsive?”
“Repulsive?” In a flash, he released her hands and slipped his arm around her waist. She didn’t resist as he pulled her close and kissed her trembling lips. She melted against him and returned his fervor. When he pulled away slightly, he whispered, “Do you still think I find you repulsive?”
Smiling, she shook her head. “Then why the struggle?”
“Because if you marry me, you’ll have to understand that I’m not going to be around all the time. We can pray that God will provide ministers for the rest of the congregations in my circuit, but until that time, I am the one responsible for ministering to them.”
“Marry?”
Trent chuckled. “Is that the only word you heard?”
She slipped her arms around his neck, shaking her head. “I heard every word you spoke. And I admire you more than you know.”
“You wouldn’t mind marrying me and raising the boys even while I’m away?”
“I’m not saying it won’t be a challenge and that I won’t miss you while you’re gone, but I have my family to help me.”
Trent nodded. Lou was a smart, capable woman, able to be tough when she needed to be, yet also soften into a beautiful woman when the occasion called for it. He could trust the safety of his boys to her until God saw fit to allow him to stay in one place. For the first time in weeks, peace settled over his heart.
He pushed her slightly away from him and reached into his pocket. He felt the cold metal and smiled as he pulled it out. “This was my mother’s. I’d like to give it to you as a token of our engagement.”
Lou drew in a cold breath and lifted the diamond-studded lady’s watch. “Oh, Trent, are you sure you want me to have this? It’s so … elegant.”
“I’m sure. My mother wore it as a brooch, but if you prefer, we can get a ribbon and you can wear it on your wrist like those society ladies in the cities.”
“I love it as a brooch.” She threw her arms around the man she adored and hugged him tight.
“Is that a ‘yes, Trent, I’ll marry you’?”
“You know it is. Of course I’ll marry you and raise those wonderful boys.” Her eyes filled with tears, blurring her vision. “Thank you, Trent.”
“For what?” The tenderness shining in his eyes filled her with warmth and contentment.
“For loving me and wanting to marry me.”
He dipped his head and kissed her. “Thank you, back. For loving me and wanting to marry me even though it means you won’t have a normal life.”
Lou laughed. “Normal? I’ve never had normal in my life.”
“Then I suppose God brought us together for a reason.”
“Shall we go and tell the family?”
“The door’s locked, remember?”
A sheepish grin curved her lips, and she took his hand. “There’s a side door. Come on.”
An inch of snow had fallen in the amount of time they’d been locked in the barn.
Lou squealed. “We’re going to have a white Christmas!” She grabbed his arm in her excitement. “The boys can sled.”
Trent threw back his head and laughed. “Do you really think those two double-crossers deserve those sleds after the stunt they pulled?”
A grin tipped her lips. “If you hadn’t asked me to marry you, I’d be the first one in line to throttle them. But considering how it all worked out, maybe we could just tell them not to pull anything like that again and let it go?”
He dropped a kiss to her nose and smiled. “If that’s what their new ma thinks is best, then I guess I’ll go along with it … this time.”
They laughed as they opened the door. The heavenly smells of pies baking and corn popping greeted them, and Lou realized she was famished for the sight of her family all together at once.
“Oh, Lou!” Deborah hurried to greet her. “It’s so good to see you. I thought you’d never leave that barn again.”
“Hey, how’d you get out?”
Davy’s outraged face grew red as all eyes turned to him.
“What do you mean, David?” Grandma asked, a stern frown creasing her brow.
“N–nothing.” He gulped and cast a guilty look at Lou. She winked and lifted the watch slightly, for his eyes only. His countenance changed from worry to surprise to joy as obvious understanding dawned.
Micah stood. “Now that everyone is here, Deborah and I have an announcement to make.”
Lou glanced at Deborah. Her sister-in-law glowed. A smile lit her eyes as she clung to Micah’s arm.
No one moved.
“It appears that God is about to bless us with a new addition to the family.”
As understanding sank in, Lou couldn’t hold back her delight. She went to her brother and Deborah and hugged them both tightly.
She moved out of the way so the rest of the family could congratulate the parents-to-be.
Trent took her hand. “Shall we share our news as well?” he whispered against her ear. Lou smiled but shook her head. “Not yet. Let’s give this moment to Deborah and Micah. We’ll tell them tomorrow on Christmas morning. Okay?”
“Sounds wonderful. Mind if I tell the boys tonight after we go to the cottage?”
“I think you should.”
Trent squeezed her hand, his heart of love shining from his eyes. Lou felt more content than she had in years. And Grandma was right. As she thought ahead to her wedding day, Lou was glad for the pair of stitched pillowcases folded neatly in her trunk. The irony of the double-cross stitch struck her, and she laughed aloud, thinking of Davy and Timmy’s ploy to lock them together in the barn.
At the sound of her laughter, everyone stared, but she shook her head and waved them back to the joy of Micah and Deborah’s news. It was enough for her to know that Trent loved her and that the years ahead would be filled with love and family. Closing her eyes, she breathed a silent prayer of thanks.