Read An Inconvenient Match Online
Authors: Janet Dean
An Inconvenient Match (34 page)
Oscar hooted. “Now that’s more like it! The second time Wade Cummings’s bid would curl a pig’s tail.”
Abby raised trusting, love-filled eyes to Wade, walloping him in the heart. “Abby, you know I’m in love with you. Are you willing to spend your life loving me?”
“Oh, Wade, I can’t imagine life without you.” She threw her arms around him. “I’m in love with you! I always have been.”
Oscar cupped his ear. “Is that a yes I hear?”
“Yes! I’ll marry you, Wade Cummings!”
Cecil whistled. “A Cummings marrying a Wilson—folks will talk.”
“Let them,” Abby said. “I’ve never been surer of anything.”
“Well, then, I think there’s only one thing to say.” Oscar slapped his hands together. “Sold! Sold to Mr. Wade Cummings for the price of a lifetime of love!”
The entire Wilson clan rushed to them, hugging and talking at once. As the hubbub died down, Pastor Ted strolled to the table. Again Oscar whistled for quiet.
“Let’s pray.” Ted bowed his blond head along with the congregation. “Father in Heaven, we thank You for working in our midst and for the blessing of this newly promised couple. We give You all the glory. Bless the food for our use and for Your service. In His name, amen.”
Everyone lined up to fill their plates, then returned to their blankets to eat. The sun shone, the birds sang, the aroma of fried chicken and meat loaf drifted on the breeze, a perfect day for a picnic.
Her heart overflowing with love, Abigail couldn’t stop smiling. Elizabeth bustled over. “Once you set a date, the Ladies’ Club is available for the party. We’ll help with decorations, cake, whatever you need.”
Abigail gave her a hug. “Thank you.”
“You’ve got a good man. Ted thinks highly of Wade.”
Abby turned to her future husband, not one bit frightened by all the talk about the wedding ceremony and party. She couldn’t wait to be Wade’s wife. She knew with deep certainty that she could trust Wade with her heart, with her life.
As Elizabeth joined Ted and the children, Rachel took Abigail’s arm. Eyes swimming with tears, Rachel gave her a fierce hug that made her squeak. “I’m thrilled for you and Wade!”
“You knew I loved him before I’d admitted it to myself.”
Rachel leaned closer. “And you knew I’d love teaching before I did.”
“You’ve decided to attend Normal School!” Abigail sobered. “Was your father okay with it?”
“He’s unsure, but he agreed.”
“Your dad wants to see you happy.”
Wade tugged Abigail close. “If I have my way, Abby will continue teaching. Denying a married woman a contract is archaic. I intend to talk to the school board.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“You’re a born teacher. You should teach.”
“Until the babies start coming,” Rachel said.
Wade looked dumbstruck, then grinned. “I’d like a big family.”
Babies. The idea slid through Abigail. She glanced at the children, the families around them and imagined the future. “I hope we have little boys with brown hair and indigo eyes, exact replicas of their father.”
“No, I want little girls with blond hair and forget-me-not-blue eyes exactly like their mother,” Wade protested.
Boys or girls, Abigail wanted Wade’s children with every fiber of her being.
George strolled over and clapped Wade on the back. “Abby will make you a wonderful wife. And a sassy second daughter to me.” He chuckled. “My favorite kind.”
Abigail hugged Wade’s father. George had opened his heart to others, to his son, maybe even to Cora, if those furtive glances between them meant anything. And to her. If he considered her a second daughter, she saw him as a second father. Nothing like the first, but a man she now respected.
“Will you walk me down the aisle?” she asked.
Wade’s father blinked. His eyes welled with tears. “I’d be proud to.”
Beaming, Cora gave Wade a big hug. “My boy’s getting married.” Then she turned to Abigail. “I knew you’d make the difference in this family.” She tossed a grin to George. “I love being right.”
“Cora, a man doesn’t like hearing he’s wrong.”
“I’d think you’d be used to it by now.”
George chuckled. “If you can behave yourself, Ethel asked us to join them for the meal to give these two some privacy,” he said, offering Cora his arm.
Wade shrugged out of his jacket, grabbed the deed out of the pocket and handed it to George. “Why don’t you tell the Wilsons the good news, Dad?”
“My pleasure, son,” he said.
Cecil sidled up. “Iffen you need music for a wedding party, Oscar and me are offering.”
“We’d have no one else.” Abigail laid a hand on his arm. “How’s that rheumatisn’t?”
“No rain. Never better. But don’t you fret. Ain’t no rheumatisn’t in my lips to keep me from playing harmonica at your wedding party.”
Finally the crowd of well-wishers dispensed. Wade pulled Abigail into his arms. “I love you, Abby.” He spoke near her ear. His eyes locked with hers, everything around them faded, leaving them aware of only the two of them. “You’ve made me the happiest man alive. I hope you don’t make me wait long to be your husband.”
“I don’t want to wait either,” she said, then leaned into him, lifting her lips to his before realizing what she was doing. She quickly stepped away. “We should eat.”
“Afraid you’ll shock some folks if you kiss your fiancé?” he teased as they made their way to the tables and gathered their food.
With all the giddiness swirling inside of her, Abigail could barely eat, while Wade wolfed his down. “Proposing must make a man hungry,” she said drily.
“I couldn’t eat last night or this morning, worried you’d turn me down.” He chucked her under the chin. “You’re not a woman a man takes for granted.”
“I like the sound of that.” She laid her fingers against his lips. “But never doubt you’ve made me the happiest woman alive.”
Wade set his plate aside. “After we’re married, how would you feel about living with Dad, giving us a chance to get closer and help Cora look after him?”
“I’ve come to love that grand house and its inhabitants. I’d live anywhere as long as I’m with you.”
“Where else would a princess live?”
Sudden moisture filled her eyes. “I had my life all mapped out, but God’s plan is far better than anything I could’ve imagined.” Abigail threw her arms around his neck. “I’ll live in a castle, married to Prince Charming—my dream as a little girl.”
“Aw, Abby, dreams do come true. Mine have in you.”
She laid a hand on his jaw. “Will you fill our room with your beautiful furniture?”
“I’ll build anything you want.”
She slipped into his arms and lifted her lips to his. “You already did, Wade. You already did.”
She thanked him with her kiss.
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
Today women—married or single—have a multitude of career options, but in Abigail Wilson’s day, teaching was one of the few accepted careers for single women. Marriage often terminated the teaching contract, since married women were expected to stay home to rear children. As Abigail came to realize in
An Inconvenient Match
, security rests with God, not with anything in this world, including intelligence and education.
Yet, education is very important and I hold teachers in high regard. Not surprising with three generations of teachers in my family. My father began teaching in a one-room schoolhouse, moved on to junior high and then spent most of his career teaching high school social studies and art. My daughter and I taught in the elementary grades. Since my days in the classroom, much has changed in society and in the schools. Problems are difficult to solve and require students, parents, teachers and administration to work together. A favorite Scripture of mine urges: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Colossians 3:23. Think how different our world would be if we all took that Scripture to heart.
Thank you for choosing
An Inconvenient Match
. I enjoy hearing from readers. Write me through my website, www.janetdean.net, or by mail at Love Inspired Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.
God bless you.
Janet Dean
Questions for Discussion
- The trouble between the Wilson and the Cummings families began over money. What other issues frequently cause trouble between families or individuals?
- What besides the feud stood between Abigail and Wade? Do you understand how the breakup could affect Abigail years later?
- Abigail valued honesty. Yet she was unable to examine her father’s part in the feud. Why? Do you understand this?
- George accused Frank Wilson of greed, yet was guilty of greed himself. He excused himself for profiting from the railroad deal by saying he’d done nothing illegal. Are Christians called to a high standard?
- Abigail resented George, but then came to understand him, feeling sympathy and finally affection for him. What changed? What did George admire about Abigail?
- Wade dreamed of opening a cabinetmaking shop, yet something held him back. How did both his father and mother impact his hesitancy? What did Wade fear?
- What did Seth Collier teach Abigail and Wade about love, about hope?
- What factors were involved in ending the feud?
- Though Abigail had faith, she struggled with trusting God with her life and the lives of those she loved. What did Cecil Moore teach Abigail?
- What ways did you see God at work in Abigail’s and Wade’s lives?
ISBN: 9781459219953
Copyright © 2012 by Janet Dean
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