Clean Inspirational Romance: Escape to Paradise (Inspirational Happy Sweet First Love Second Chance Romance) (Contemporary New Adult Love Inspired Holiday Short Stories) (8 page)

“If you don’t mind my asking. What took your mother?”

“My mother died of yellow fever near New Orleans. It was the last big epidemic of the disease. After she passed, my father sort of shut down for a while. He was accounted for, but to say he was present was a stretch. Most days I entertained myself with word games I made up, trying to teach myself to be a good girl. ”

Mercy smiled and her eyes brightened slightly, with unshed tears as she continued. “My father hired a nanny to show me how to act like a lady. She stayed with me until I was ten. That’s when my father remarried. Charlotte, my stepmother, never liked me. I was less than a flea on a mangy dog in her eyes. When my father passed, his inheritance, some of it anyways, should have passed to me. I learned later on that she’d had his will changed. She took everything and kicked me out the day after his funeral.”

Impossibly moved by her harrowing childhood, Kale placed a hand over hers. “I’m so very sorry that life has been so difficult for you. It’s remarkable and a testament to your upbringing, what little you had, that you turned into such a lovely and beautiful woman.”

“I give all the glory to God for guiding me to the right people,” Mercy smiled. “When I was thrown out I didn’t know what to do. I was penniless and didn’t even have a place to sleep. Then I met Rosita Romero. She was the woman who ran the shelter that I lived at. She needed a full-time helper and I needed a place to stay. She promised me I’d always have shelter if I worked for her, so I did. She paid me what little she could afford and I used it to buy only my necessities.”

“What did you do with the rest?”

“I bought items that others needed, especially the children. It was heartbreaking to see so many people pass through the shelter. Some got back on their feet, but not all of them unfortunately.”

“I imagine those who knew you would attest to what a blessing you are. I’ve only known you a few days and you’ve already blessed my life.”

“Thank you,” Mercy smiled. “You’ve been a tremendous blessing to me. You offered me an opportunity to get out of the mess I was in. I never would have imagined what God had in store for me here.”

“So tell me,” Kale asked. “What is your vision, should we continue to court and turn this into a marriage?”

“I don’t want to change anything,” Mercy said. “I love your home and the ranch! You know your business inside and out. I would hope that someday I’d be as efficient as you in my manner with the animals and that I’d be a help to you as well. Do you want children?”

The question caught him off guard and made him chuckle. “Eventually,” he smiled. “I’d like at least a couple years with you first, if we decide to marry.”

“I can understand that,” Mercy grinned. “It may take me that long to get used to the animals and how your ranch runs.”

“No way,” Kale smiled. “I give you less than six months before you’ve got it all down. You’re a smart, talented woman. There’s no way you won’t have all this figured out before then.”

“Your vote of confidence is reassuring,” Mercy said, her eyes twinkling. Nearly as soon as they pulled up Mercy was begging to see the twins. Mercy neared the gate where the two calves rested with their mother nearby. As she opened the pen and headed toward them, she was swamped by a love for this place. A love for the animals, the land, and an inkling of love for the man who watched over all of it. “Look at you two! You’ve already grown so much.”

“Like all babies, it doesn’t take them long.”

*****

Life’s Blessings

Kale couldn’t explain the wave of emotion that passed through him when Mercy went all soft for the two little additions to his ranch. Every time she was around them, it was like watching a flower blossom. While he truly hoped that Alicia found the happiness and settled life she was looking for in St. Louis; he was evermore glad he’d chosen Mercy.

Thank you Lord for bringing Mercy to me. Thank you for her heart and strength, for the integrity she has. I’m so grateful that you guided my steps and hers as well. Watch over Alicia as she embarks on a new life in St. Louis. Help Mercy and I honor you in our courtship. Help up to build the solid foundation of friendship that an impending marriage will need to last. Continue to guide both of us in your perfect will as we seek to glorify you.

Having spent time in prayer alone, Kale broached the subject with Mercy. “What do you think about praying together?”

She turned that pretty face on him and made his heart kick in his chest. “I love that idea Kale. I’m a stickler, of course, for having my own time with God, but I’d love to pray with you. Is there anything you need to pray about right now?”

“I was just thanking God for bringing you to me. I asked him to continue to guide us as we build our friendship toward a possible marriage.” She smiled and as it always did, that smile reached deep into her pretty green eyes. In that moment Kale knew for certain that before the year was out he’d ask Mercy to marry him. Working toward that end, he began to show her the inside workings of his ranch.

“This is the milking parlor, where we hook the cows up to pumps that milk them. It’s not as nostalgic as doing it by hand, but it’s much faster and as they say, time is money.”

“Do you miss the old days, when things were slower?”

“Some,” Kale said, with a shake of his head. “I miss the simple and mundane sometimes, but there’s still plenty of that to be had so I try not to complain often.”

“I like that. Complainers never make for good company.”

“What do you miss, about days gone by?”

“My parents mostly. I never had siblings so I don’t know what that’s like, but I imagine if I had been blessed with a brother or sister, it would have been quite the experience.”

“Siblings are quite the blessing, most days.”

“I’d like to meet your family someday.”

“I’m sure you will,” Kale smiled.

***

Kale and Mercy spent the rest of the summer and fall growing in their friendship and love for one another. They nurtured their individual relationships with God and worked to build common ground and time together with Him as well.

“I can’t believe my family will be here in less than a week,” Kale said as he and Mercy worked with the cattle. He was always impressed with how easily she picked up new things on the ranch. Her love for him and his ranch showed every time and he knew without a doubt that he wanted to marry her. Now, it was just down to planning and praying she’d say yes.

His parents and brothers arrived early the Monday before Thanksgiving and instantly took to Mercy. She, in turn, seemed to love them as well, even taking his mother shopping in McKinney for Christmas. He meanwhile, got the house ready for the festivities that would happen later in the week for the coming holiday.

“So,” Marc, Kale’s younger brother said. “You seem pretty sure about Mercy.”

“I am,” Kale said, unable to keep the love he felt for her off his face. “I’ve known for a while now that I want to marry her.”

“Have you told her you love her yet?”

“Not yet,” Kale returned. “I figured words that serious should wait until I could propose.”

“You buy a ring yet?”

“I have great-grandma Johnson’s, as you know.”

“What if she doesn’t like it?”

“She will. She’s that sort of woman. She has a deep and abiding love of family and I think she’ll respect me and that gift enough to cherish it.”

“Maybe,” Marc sighed. “Don’t mind me. I’m just sore that Janice couldn’t come with me.”

“She stay home with her family?”

“Yeah. Her dad asked that she stay home for Thanksgiving. She’s coming to mom and dad’s house for Christmas though.”

“You serious about her?”

“I’m getting there,” Marc grinned. “Not as fast as you, but fast enough.”

“Well, I do have some years on you. Maybe by the time you get to be my age, you’ll see the wisdom in making a strong, beautiful woman your wife.”

“Probably not,” Marc joked. They finished the chores earlier than usual and Kale took his brother out for a ride. They exercised the horses, gave them a good rub down, and fed them before heading back to the house.

“Mom and Mercy back yet?”

“Haven’t seen them yet,” Josiah Preston said. He returned to the book he was reading and waited patiently. Something Kale hoped he’d learn during his marriage as well. How his dad could just sit there, he didn’t know. He was already about to crawl out of his skin. After a while his father looked over at him and asked, “You gonna ask that woman to marry you?”

He smiled and nodded. “I’m planning on it.”

“About time son,” his father said, his mouth turning up in a grin. “We’ll be more than happy to welcome her to the family. Just don’t let your mother hound you too much about grandbabies. You take some time to spend with Mercy as your wife, babies will come along when they should.”

“We both want a family. It will happen when it should.”

His father nodded in agreement. “Good. It’s important to be on the same page about decisions that crucial.”

***

Mercy woke on Thursday morning and couldn’t get the smile off her face. She was having a fantastic time getting to know Kale’s family. Shopping the other day with his mother had been so much fun. She’d even bought a new dress, thanks to the salary Kale had given her. She showered and slipped on her petticoat layers. The she put the new dress on, braided her long, dark hair and coiled it neatly at the nape of her neck. After adding the only pair of earrings she owned, Mercy looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. Today was Thanksgiving and she felt amazing.

Oh Father! Thank you for the many blessings in my life. You’ve completely changed my life and without you I am nothing. Thank you for bringing Kale into my life. He is such a tremendous blessing. Thank you for his family, for giving me the one thing I’d given up the hope of having. Help me to be worthy of Kale’s love. Help me to see him through your eyes, to know even a pinch of the love you have for him. Especially today, I want to thank you for the gift you gave the world when your son came to save us. Amen.

Feeling lighter than she had in nearly a year, Mercy came downstairs to see Kale waiting. He wore a suit and Mercy caught her breath when those dreamy blue eyes met hers. Much more than an inkling now, love for this man flowed through her, spreading a huge smile across her face. “Happy Thanksgiving.” he smiled. When she took his arm, he pulled her close and whispered, “You look breathtaking.”

“Thank you,” Mercy blushed. She allowed Kale to lift her up to her seat and smiled when he sat next to her.

“There’s a lap blanket there if you need it. Now that winter is starting to set in, you’ll find the air can get quite chilly here.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” Mercy smiled her thanks. “In Florida we had a few chilly days during the winter, but nothing that would require a lap blanket, unless you were driving after dark perhaps.”

“Well regardless, I didn’t want to take a chance that you would get cold. Better safe than sorry.” Mercy smiled.

“I trust you’re still getting along well at Clara’s?”

“Oh yes,” she smiled. “I got a letter from my friends at the shelter yesterday. My boss said she misses me, but she’s so glad I’m happy out here. My friends wish me well and a Happy Thanksgiving.”

“Sounds like it was a good place for you.”

“l didn’t know it at the time, but I now believe that God was directing me and everything that happened in Florida. I don’t hold any grudges against my stepmother anymore. I pity her in fact. She is so miserable that she has to make everyone around her miserable.”

“Misery loves company?”

“Something like that.” mercy chuckled. Kale helped Mercy through the gate so she could see Butch and Cassidy before they headed into dinner. The calves were big enough now to stick their heads over the stall door where they were penned during inclement weather. Mercy smiled as they snorted and grunted as she pet their heads.

They left the barn and headed inside. Mercy stepped into Kale’s home and inhaled the scents of Thanksgiving. The turkey was still cooking away in the oven and it smelled divine, and made her mouth water.

“This is amazing.” Mercy beamed. “I’ve never seen so much food.”

“My mother always cooks for an army,” Kale teased. “Feeding a few growing boys, however, will do that to you I suppose.”

Mercy grinned. “Is there anything I can do to help you Cynthia?”

“Sure honey,” Cynthia Preston said with a smile. “I need this dressing mixed up. Then we can pop it into the second oven.”

Mercy dove into helping Mrs. Preston with the meal preparation. She eventually donned an apron and went to work slicing vegetables and other tasks. She was loving every minute of it. She approached Kale and stood beside him. When his arm wrapped around her waist, Mercy instinctively rested her head on his shoulder.

“Let’s say grace,” Josiah Preston said. “Kale I believe, since this is your home that it should be you who asks the blessing over the food.” Everyone around the table joined hands and bent their heads.

“Thanks Dad.” Kale agreed. “Heavenly Father, this family comes before you today to ask that you bless the food we’re about to partake of. Thank you always for abundance, for your constant provision. Thank you for helping us see the treasure we have right in front of us. Thank you, as always, for family, friendship, and the future. We’re forever in your debt and please help us to manage our time wiser so that we may better serve the less fortunate. May this coming year bring even more blessings.”