Hometown Cinderella: Hometown Cinderella\The Inn at Hope Springs (24 page)

Gideon took more time with his, and she cringed. The few handkerchiefs she’d embroidered him did not merit such attention. He glanced at her and nodded. “Thank you very much. I can always use these.” His thumb traced over the monogram. “You even got my initials right.”

GTJ—Gideon Tyler Jakeman. “I…I asked Lizzie.”

Lizzie scrunched up her face. “I remember! But I didn’t know it was for this! Oh, how pretty. Your work is so much finer than mine.”

Finally, they waited for her to open her gifts. First, she opened Dietrich’s. It was a watercolor seascape of what she took to be the view from their house. “It’s beautiful, sweetheart.” She leaned over to where he stood and hugged him.

His thin arms came around her neck and she felt her throat thicken with emotion that her child was no longer angry at her.

“I painted it here and Lizzie helped me wrap it.” He smiled proudly at her. “She let me keep it here till Christmas.”

Mara looked over his head and met Lizzie’s smiling face. She mouthed the words thank you.

“This one’s from me.” Lizzie handed her another package.

It held a scarf and pair of mittens knitted in a sapphire-blue wool. Mara drew in her breath. “They’re gorgeous.”

“I thought the shade would bring out your blue eyes,” Lizzie said shyly, her hands folded in front of her.

Mara stood from the sofa and hugged her. “That was very thoughtful of you. I shall wear them to church on Sunday.”

“But they’re for every day, too.”

Mara smiled. “Then I shall wear them whenever I go out into the cold.”

When she sat back down, there was only one gift left. She didn’t have to ask who it was from. Without looking at Gideon, she took the small, square box on her lap. It reminded her of the box which had held the replacement teacup he’d brought her from Bangor. Oh, dear, she hoped he hadn’t gone to the effort and expense of another one. She must tell him that it really didn’t matter anymore.

She lifted the lid of the cardboard box then peeled away the tissue paper and gasped. Lifting out the teacup, she gazed in wonder. It was an exact replica. Her eyes lifted to Gideon’s. “Where on earth did you find this?”

He grinned sheepishly. “I wrote to a firm in Boston. The store clerk in Bangor had given me the address. They were able to find one. It isn’t new,” he hastened to add, his brow furrowing. “I guess the factory no longer exists.”

“It’s an antique.” How much it must have cost him. Mara felt doubly ashamed. She gazed down at the cup and saucer, shaking her head. “You shouldn’t have.”

He shrugged. “I disagree.”

“It’s beautiful, but so was the other one. I’m afraid this has cost you much more than it should have.”

“We’ll have no talk of cost today.” His gray-blue eyes smiled into hers, displaying no resentment for her coldness to him yesterday.

Suddenly, her heart overflowed with emotion. That someone cared enough about her to go to such trouble and expense. Her eyes filled with tears and she brought a finger up to the corner of one to halt them.

But she found she couldn’t control them. Too long she’d held her feelings in check. A sob escaped her.

“There now, it’s no cause for tears,” Gideon began, showing the first signs of distress.

Mara covered her mouth, but she was unable to stop crying. Lizzie tried to comfort her, but Gideon approached the settee and told his daughter in a low voice, “Why don’t you take Dietrich out to make a snowman? I’ll see to Mrs. Keller.”

“All right, Papa.” She rose. “Come along, Dietrich.”

“Is Mama all right?”

“I’ll be fine,” she gasped.

The settee sank as Gideon sat down beside her. The next second his arm came around her and he pulled her against his chest. “If I’d known it would set you to crying, I would have waited till after Christmas to give it to you.”

A laugh erupted between sobs. “I—I’m s-sorry, I don’t know why I’m crying so much.”

His large hand stroked her hair. Gradually her sobs subsided and she sniffed. He handed her his handkerchief. “I should give you one of my new ones,” he said with a chuckle, “but they’re too dear to me.”

She gave a watery laugh. Feeling she ought to move, she remained instead in the warm circle of his arm, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose. A stillness settled between them.

“You know, Mrs. Keller, as I told you yesterday, I never thought I’d ever want to marry anyone again. My Elsie, she was a special woman. But you have a way of making a man forget his resolve.”

She eased away enough to be able to see his features. He looked at her calmly, speaking in a conversational tone. “I know most folks around here wonder why I haven’t married before now, if only to give Lizzie a stepmother. But I haven’t met anyone good enough to replace the mother she had. Not until now, that is.”

He brought his other hand to her face and ran his forefinger down the length of her chin. “I’ve been pretty content with just keeping things the way they were. Until I met you.”

He paused and she lost herself in the tenderness in his eyes. “Everything seemed brighter when you were around.” His lips curled upward. “You even made food taste sharper, and my Lizzie’s a pretty good cook, as you know.”

Slowly her own lips curved upward.

“I know you’re much too fine a lady for someone like me—”

Her fingertips went to his mouth, stilling the words. “Shush. You are a prince among men, Mr. Jakeman—Gideon,” she added, gauging his reaction to his name on her lips.

The warmth in his gaze deepened. “Mrs. Kell—”

“Mara.”

“Mara,” he repeated. “You’re a brave, strong, beautiful woman who’s put up with I don’t know how much from your stepmother, and I’d like to offer you, again, a home, and a way out.”

A sharp stab of disappointment sliced through her. She didn’t realize how much she still wanted to hear his avowal of love. She chided herself for being greedy, telling herself he was not a man of flowery speeches. She swallowed. “Is that all you think I need?”

He didn’t answer right away, his fingertip continuing to caress her cheek, his gaze roving over her features. Finally, it returned to her eyes and with a deep breath he began, “No. I think you need a man who can love you as his very self, who can shelter you, provide for you and your son, honor you, be a partner with you, and face whatever needs facing in this life…and finally, grow old together with.”

For a man of few words, he had given her all she’d dreamed of and more. “Are you offering those things to me?” she whispered.

“I know I’m not worthy of you, but, yes, I am.” His forthright gaze never left hers. Before she could accept him, he took her chin between his fingertips and tilted it upward.

She held her breath as he leaned closer until the tip of his nose grazed her. Then he shifted, his lips meeting hers. Mara sighed, leaning toward him, her arms coming up to grasp the wide breadth of his shoulders.

It was as if all constraints between them fell away. His brawny arms wrapped around her, drawing her closer. This shy, gentle man revealed a depth of emotion she’d hardly imagined him capable of, yet it was a controlled power. He showed a restraint that proved she could trust him never to hurt her or abuse her.

“I’d never dared hope,” he murmured against her lips, “that you could feel anything for me.”

She brought her fingers up to his face, feeling the dear, rough skin of his jaw. “I’m sorry I kept you at arm’s length. I was so afraid of trusting a man ever again. And I didn’t want you to think I was ‘setting my cap’ for you as Carina accused.”

A look of annoyance crossed his features. “Carina’s just a bitter old woman.” Then he touched a finger to her cheek, saying soberly, “I’ll never do anything to hurt you, Mara.”

She looked into his eyes. “I know you won’t. And I promise to be a good mother to Lizzie.”

“Do you?” He kissed the palm of her hand, his eyes watching her. “Does that mean you’ll marry me?” The corners of his eyes crinkled, their gray-blue depths twinkling. At her nod, he drew her once more into his embrace.

“When will we tell the children?” she asked when they drew apart again.

“I guess Lizzie has a good notion already. We can tell Dietrich whenever you’d like.” He frowned. “I hope you don’t plan on going back to that rooming house this afternoon.”

She swallowed, dreading returning to town. “I did.”

He shook his head. “I think you should go back to Mrs. Blackstone’s. After all, you own half that house. It was your father’s. If you are afraid to stand up to her, I’ll do it with you.”

She felt a thrill go through her at the thought of having someone to defend her. “Thank you.”

He tilted his chin in acknowledgment then smiled. “In any case, you shouldn’t have to stay there long. It’s your son’s heritage, but there’s no reason to live under the same roof with her if she treats you so disagreeably.” He brought his thumb up to her eye and wiped away the last hint of tears. “I won’t have anyone making you cry. The sooner we’re married, the sooner you can move in here.”

Her gaze roamed over the cozy room, a room that had known three generations, a room that already felt like home. She squeezed Gideon’s hand, smiling, then reached up and kissed him softly on the lips. “Thank you for the honor of being your wife.”

His heart swelled with emotion.
Dear Lord, thank You for this lady’s love. I will cherish her as long as I have breath in this body.

Without saying anything more, he joined his lips with hers once more.

Epilogue

June 1885

G
ideon drew the carryall up to the front of the large brick high school building.

“Where is Lizzie?” Dietrich asked from the backseat.

“Oh, I expect she'll be along as soon as we hear the school bell ring.” Gideon turned to Mara and smiled.

She reached over and squeezed his hand. “I'm sure she's looking forward to coming back to the hamlet for the summer. She'll probably be one of the first ones to race out of the building.”

Gideon returned the pressure on her hand. “She wouldn't have attended the academy if you hadn't encouraged her.”

“I'm glad she has made new friends in town. But it will be nice to have her back home full-time and not just on the weekends.”

Gideon stroked his thumb over the top of her hand. “When shall we tell her?”

“Tell her what?” Dietrich piped up from the back.

Mara blushed, not needing her husband to explain what he meant. Her glance couldn't help going to her waistline. Only Gideon knew her news. She'd just broken it to him a few days ago, when she had been sure herself.

She'd never thought she would be blessed with a second child. In the past year, the Lord had not only blessed her with a prince among men, as she'd told Gideon on more than one occasion, but with a ready-made family of his child and hers.

Now, they could look forward to a child of their union.

Thankfully, Gideon spoke to Dietrich, saving her from having to think of how to answer. Her son's new father distracted him by offering to take him for a walk around the school building while they were waiting for Lizzie.

She watched her two men, the seven-year-old boy with his hand in the large man's. As always, she admired her husband, his tall, broad form, his sure stride. But most of all she admired the patient, kind way he had with Dietrich and with her.

At that moment the school bell rang. Young men and women rushed out the double front doors. She scanned each face until, at last, she saw the bright red hair of a tall girl on the threshold of womanhood.

Instead of racing out, she walked sedately, carrying herself straight. But then, seeing her father and Dietrich, her mouth broke into a wide smile and she waved.

Looking toward the street, she spotted Mara and waved some more. Mara smiled and returned the gesture.

As the three dearest people in the world to her walked back to the carryall, she whispered, “Dear Jesus, thank You for Your unaccountable grace and blessings.”

* * * * *

Dear Reader,

I often hear veteran Love Inspired Books authors talk about the “pioneer days” in the late ’90s, when the line first started. There were some growing pains and struggles to be accepted as Christian fiction in the mainstream market, but no one envisioned the amazing popularity of this type of book with the general public.

But readers were hungry for a story of love in a faith-filled setting, where the romance was not watered down, but still left plenty to the imagination in a time when most mass-market romances pushed the limits of propriety further and further.

I was honored when my editor asked me to be part of the debut of the Love Inspired Historical line. Even though I had published some longer novels under Steeple Hill Books, with my first Love Inspired title,
Hearts in the Highlands,
I was able to join the ranks of Love Inspired Books authors, a great bunch of talented and resourceful women from all parts of the U.S. and Canada, whose Christian faith is evident in their stories
and
lives.

I’m just as honored today to be publishing Hometown Cinderella, my fifth Love Inspired Historical title, during their special month celebrating the line’s fifteen-year anniversary. With this book, I’m returning to one of my favorite settings, Down East Maine, the location of some of my earlier books (
Wild Rose, Lilac Spring
).

Down East Maine is the last stretch of coastline, beyond scenic, touristy southern and mid-coast Maine. Once you leave Bar Harbor behind, you enter a place of wild, rugged, breathtakingly beautiful rocky coast few tourists discover. It’s a place where living is tough. Lobster fishing, clamming, logging and seasonal harvesting of blueberries, cranberries and apples offer some of the few ways to earn a living.

What fascinated me in my reading of nineteenth century coastal Maine was how it was the end of the era of the small, self-sustaining farm. These farmers worked hard, but lived well. They were people of independent spirit, self-reliance and thrift.

Gideon Jakeman is such a person. I hope you enjoy his and Mara’s journey as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Be blessed in the reading,

Ruth Axtell Morren

General Delivery

Cutler, ME 04626

[email protected]