Chapter 12

For a day and a half, the crewmembers of the Northern Star repaired the gaping hole in the bottom of the boat. On Saturday night, the captain announced they would not resume their journey until Monday morning, after observing the Sabbath.

Josie’s insides wound up like a coil of rope, and for just a moment, she considered taking a lifeboat and rowing downriver by herself.

Alexandre spoke with the pilot, telling him of their need to arrive in St. Louis by Friday, and then he assured Josie that if the pilot pushed the steamboat hard, they would arrive in time, barring any other obstacles.

On Sunday morning, Captain Townsend escorted Josie to the front row of the Grand Salon, while Alexandre greeted the passengers who came to worship.

Captain Townsend indicated her chair and then sat next to her.

Alexandre strode to the front of the salon, in his best suit coat, and smiled at the congregation. The room was full of crew members, officers, stateroom guests, and deck passengers, many of them impatient from the recent delay.

“Welcome,” Alexandre said, his French accent more pronounced in the pulpit. “It is good to come together on the Sabbath to refresh our souls, especially after the past couple of days.” The calm look on his face put Josie at ease, and she felt the whole room take a deep breath. “Please bow your heads as I begin in prayer.” He closed his eyes and lifted his voice.

Josie forgot about everything else as she watched her husband, unhindered. He prayed as if he had an audience with a king, his words reverent and beseeching. Josie had been raised with rote prayers, and had come to cherish the times Alexandre petitioned the Lord. His earnest communion with God caressed her tender heart and offered her hope.

He said amen and then opened his eyes—and caught her looking at him. A slow, handsome smile spread across his face. She smiled back, surprised at how intimate the moment felt, even among all these people.

Next, he led them in singing “Rock of Ages,” and Josie was captivated by his melodic voice. It was deep and smooth, and as it rose to the roof of the salon, she could imagine it filling the very throne room of God.

After the hymn, the congregants sat on their chairs and Alexandre opened his Bible.

What followed was the most intriguing sermon Josie had ever heard. Alexandre was a naturally talented speaker, but it was the context of his sermon that drew her attention and made her heart pound. He spoke of the apostle Paul and how he sacrificed everything to run the race God had set out for him. His words were comforting yet compelling, drawing her to ponder the weight of the scriptures and the power of God’s Word.

Josie was mesmerized by his deep and abiding conviction, and she recalled the look of awe on his face when they’d arrived at Belle Prairie.

No wonder her husband felt God smiling on him.

How could she possibly ask him to stay in St. Louis to run LeBlanc Shipping, when he was clearly meant to preach?

As she sat in her chair, absorbing his words, the truth settled over her heart.

She would have to let him go back to Belle Prairie.

But even as she realized this truth, a new question took her by surprise.

How could she let Alexandre go, now that she was falling in love with him?

Alexandre loved the feel of Josette’s body pressed close to his as they waltzed. It was the last night on board the Northern Star, and she wore the pink dress he had come to think of as her wedding gown. Her hair was styled in a simple fashion, but it shone under the flicker of the chandeliers. She smelled of fine perfume, and he took a deep breath, savoring every moment with her.

Throughout the day, storm clouds had gathered in the sky, and now thunder reverberated throughout the Grand Salon, rattling the massive chandeliers overhead. The noise was masked by the orchestra as they played “Tales of the Ball,” by Johann Strauss II.

Alexandre leaned close to Josette’s ear as he led her about the dance floor. “You’re quiet this evening. Is everything all right?”

“I’m praying.”

“About what?”

“I’m praying we don’t encounter any more snags.”

He laughed and held her closer as they spun about the parquet floor. They had made good time and would arrive in St. Louis on Friday afternoon, if all went as planned.

The end of their week was in sight. Suddenly, he felt melancholy.

Neither one spoke of the impending separation, and Alexandre felt that maybe they both wanted to pretend it wasn’t going to happen. Josette had not spoken of going to Belle Prairie, and Alexandre had refused to ask her again.

Instead, he had spent the week wooing his wife.

They had danced and played games and walked along the promenade under the stars. Every night he read to her from the book of Proverbs, and they spent the last few hours of their day discussing the scriptures. Alexandre never tired of Josette’s company. He learned more about her in that week than he had learned about Isobel in years.

But in the process of wooing Josette, he had fallen in love, which he had tried so very hard not to do. He didn’t want to leave her in St. Louis. He had married her for better or for worse and had fully intended to take care of her for the rest of her life.

He couldn’t stay in St. Louis, and he wouldn’t force her to go to Belle Prairie. That only left one option. They would have to live separate lives, as husband and wife.

Another clap of thunder boomed across the sky, and a gust of wind sent the boat listing to the side.

The orchestra came to a halt as Captain Townsend stepped onto the stage. “I must ask all of you to return to your staterooms as we navigate through these choppy waters. The storm is gaining in intensity, and we must continue on until we come to a proper landing.”

The boat rocked back the other way, and Josette lost her balance. Alexandre reached out to steady her.

“Will this delay us, again?” Her large brown eyes filled with anxiety.

“Don’t worry. Let’s do as the captain says.”

The rain pounded the roof of the Grand Salon, and the wind rocked the boat back and forth. The noise from the storm followed them into their stateroom.

Alexandre closed their door.

Josette lit the lantern on the wall and light flooded the small room, illuminating her solemn face.

Alexandre stood by the door and watched her. The boat continued to sway, but she held her footing as she blew out the match and set the chimney back on the lantern.

When she turned to him, their gazes collided, and it felt as if the air tingled with electricity.

“What shall we do to pass the time?” she asked, just above a whisper.

The room felt much smaller on this dark, stormy night, but the distance between them was still great.

“Shall we talk?” he asked.

She studied his face. “I feel as if maybe we’ve said all there is to say.”

He took a step closer to her. “We haven’t said everything.”

The lantern flickered as the boat tilted to one side and then rolled back to the other.

She braced her hand on the washbasin. “Our journey is about to end. What more is there to discuss?”

He took another step toward her, balancing with the sway of the boat. “Our journey doesn’t have to end tonight, Josette.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “You’re my wife.”

She swallowed. “In name only—not in any other way that truly matters.”

He traced the edge of her cheek. “Our marriage doesn’t have to be in name only. It can be much more.”

She drew her eyebrows together. “It can’t be anything more than it is right now. I cannot give my heart to a man I’ll never see again.”

Alexandre reached up and touched the other side of her face, searching her eyes. There was only one day left. One chance to convince her to go back with him. “I think you’ve already lost your heart.… I know I have.”

The lantern light flickered in her eyes, and all he knew was this moment in time. Before he had a chance to contemplate his actions, he bent down and placed his lips upon hers.

He sensed she was surprised, but she didn’t pull away. He drew her into his arms and kissed her deeply.

She responded to his kiss and allowed him to let the moment linger. The boat rocked under their feet and the rain pounded on the roof, but all he knew was her lips. She tasted as sweet as he imagined.

He finally pulled back, just as a tear escaped her eye.

The world came crashing back in all its agonizing reality as he wiped her cheek. “Why are you crying, ma chérie?”

“Oh, Alexandre.” She buried her face in his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. “It’s impossible.”

He rubbed her back. “What’s impossible?”

“Us.”

“But it doesn’t have to be. I know we could be very happy. God brought us together, non?”

“Through a misunderstanding.” She pulled back and met his gaze. “Had we known the plans of the other, we would never have married.”

“Maybe that was why He allowed the misunderstanding.” He tried to pull her close again, remembering Mrs. Greenfield’s words. “God doesn’t make mistakes.”

She resisted his comfort and separated herself from him completely, walking across the short distance of the room. “No, but humans do. And I believe we did. Neither one of us is willing to sacrifice for the other.”

“But weren’t you happy at Belle Prairie? You came alive there.”

Her face filled with a myriad of emotions. “You asked me once if I’ve ever felt God smiling on me—and my answer is no. I’ve never had the luxury of following a dream—until now.” Her eyes pleaded for him to understand. “Operating LeBlanc Shipping is my calling—I can’t ignore it, just as you can’t ignore your calling—it’s what God created you to do. Even if you wanted to, I wouldn’t let you.”

Her words sobered him. She had come to realize that preaching was a part of who he was, and she wouldn’t ask him to give it up.

Shouldn’t he be just as selfless for her?

“I’m sorry, Josette.” He stared at the cold floor, which would be his bed once again tonight. “It’s been wrong of me to hope you’d give up your father’s business.”

“It’s more than his business—it’s his legacy, the only one he left.” She sank onto the bed and lowered her head onto her hands, her voice forlorn. “Our marriage is impossible—isn’t it?”

Maybe it was, and maybe it was time they both admitted it. “Oui. After we present the marriage certificate to the judge and I help you get settled, I’ll return to Minnesota.”

Alone and miserable.

Unless the storm delayed them and they didn’t make it to the judge in time. Only an act of God would allow Josette to be his.