Love Is a Battlefield (27 page)

She started the engine. Her foot on the brake, she put the Jeep in reverse. As she looked behind her to make sure nothing was coming, she noticed the bumper sticker of the car parked directly behind her.
I love my firefighter husband.

Foot still on the brake, she stared at the bumper sticker. Tears swam in her eyes. Ainsley loved her firefighter husband. So much that even in the face of what seemed to Kristy like irrefutable evidence, her love never wavered. And in spite of the fact that Kristy had vowed to have that kind of faith in Ace, at the first test, she'd wavered. She slammed the car into park and jumped out. No more doubt.

She walked back into the exhibit hall, the heels of her boots digging into the carpeted floor. This time, she didn't pause for mirrors or directions. She walked straight to Ace's table and waited her turn.

“Who should I make the book out to?” he asked without looking up.

She took a breath. “Kristy.”

His eyes met hers. She'd always heard people talk about time standing still. And for a moment, she experienced it herself.

He rose from the table.

“Diana,” he said, “I need to take a break for a few minutes.”

The blond was at his side in a moment. “Sure thing.” she nodded toward his table. “I'll put a card up that says you've gone to lunch or something.”

He nodded. “Thanks.”

Diana gave Kristy a once-over then stepped around the table and stuck out her hand. “I'm Diana, Ace's editor.”

Kristy accepted her hand and shook it. “Kristy. A former coworker at Shiloh.”

“Of course.” Diana made a “get out of here” motion with her perfectly manicured hand. “Take your time.”

Kristy silently followed Ace out of the exhibit hall, her mind racing. His editor. If only she'd have asked him about the call, she could've saved herself a lot of anguish. But if she was being completely honest with herself, she knew she would've found another reason to end it with him. She just hadn't been ready.

Ace finally stopped in a secluded lobby area and turned to face her.

They both began speaking at once.

“How did you know...”

“I can't believe you wrote...”

They stopped and smiled at each other.

“You first,” he said.

“I had no idea you were writing a book.”

“Well, I wasn't sure how successful I'd be at it. It took a lot of research. I've known for a while that I wanted to leave the park service and give teaching a try, but a lot of universities like their history professors to be published.” He shrugged. “So I figured I'd spend some time at Shiloh researching and writing. Plus, the topic was important to me.”

“And your name. Does that mean you're...?”

“A descendant of W.H.L. And Ann Wallace. Yes.” He shrugged. “sorry for the secrets. I didn't want to make a big deal about it. I've heard you guys making fun of those visitors who come in and say they're descendants of Albert Sidney Johnston or Ulysses Grant. I didn't want to seem like one of those people.”

She shook her head. “I can't believe you didn't tell us.” she paused. “Not even Owen?”

“Not while I was working there. I filled him in after the fact, though. I would've told you then, too, but the last time we spoke, you made it pretty clear where I stood with you.”

She nodded. “About that,” she began. “You don't have to...”

She covered his mouth with her hand. “Stop. I do have to. I just need you to listen for a minute.”

He nodded, and she removed her hand from his mouth.

“I couldn't handle it then. It was all too much. My life had crashed around me to the point where I didn't recognize myself. I didn't know if I was coming or going. All I could see was heartache. It seemed like it was all around me. Especially after I went to Arizona for Brad's funeral. Once I wrongly got it in my head that he'd been unfaithful before his death, I gave up the little bit of hope I had that I could actually have happily ever after.”

She swallowed hard, fighting against the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. “But I was wrong. So wrong. There is a good bit of faith that has to go with love. Faith in the other person to do right by you, faith in yourself to trust them with your heart. And I wasn't ready for that. I had a journey to travel, and it had to be on my terms. I've made peace now. Peace with my dad. With Sarah. Even with Mark. But more importantly, I've made peace with myself. I'm leaving my lists behind, lists of what the perfect man will look like and lists of my expectations about love.

“And now I'm standing in front of you with a whole heart. It isn't pieced together anymore. I'm not a shell of a person. I'm just me. And I'm looking for the kind of love you find in history books. The kind that wars were fought over, and the kind that supports people through the worst times of their lives.”

He opened his mouth, and she once again clasped her hand over it. “Not yet,” she said.

“What I'm trying to say is that I love you. Wholly and completely. And I'm not afraid to say it out loud. Even though I know that there is a good chance that it's too late, that my window of opportunity has passed. I don't care. This is me leaping. With no net.”

She removed her hand and stepped back.

He looked at her in silence.

Her heart, which had been pumping at a surprisingly normal speed while she spoke, began to pound again.

Still silent, he handed her a copy of his book. “Open it and take a look at the dedication.”

With trembling hands, she took the book from him and opened to the dedication page. The tears blinded her as she read,
To Kristy, the Ann to my Will. Yours forever, Ace.

Without a word, he grabbed her and kissed her gently, then pulled her to his chest. “I love you, too,” he whispered.

“I'd like to make a toast to my beautiful bride,” Owen announced. “Please raise your glasses in honor of Dorothy, the woman who has brought a light back to my life.”

The crowd raised their punch glasses and shouted well wishes.

“It was a beautiful ceremony,” Kristy said to the handsome man holding her hand.

“I especially liked ‘Rocky Top' as the recessional.” Ace laughed and gave her hand a squeeze.

Arm in arm, Owen and Dorothy made their way over to where Ace and Kristy stood.

“Glad you could make it,” Owen said, clapping Ace on the back.

“I wouldn't have missed it for the world.”

“And I hear you'll have a new job come August?”

He nodded. “That's right. I just accepted a position as part of the history faculty at Freed-Hardeman University. It's less than an hour from Shiloh.” He pulled Kristy to him. “Which was part of the requirement as I began job hunting.”

Owen chuckled. “We're glad to have you back in these parts, and especially happy to have you back this summer. But what I really want to know is have you talked her into letting you share the yellow office?”

Kristy shook her head. “Nope. The yellow office is all mine. He'll be perfectly happy sharing an office with the other seasonals.” she winked. “Matthew and Mason might even let you claim the biggest desk.” she patted Ace on the shoulder. “But it's only until August. Then you'll have your very own office at the university.”

“There's Hank. We'd better go thank him for allowing me the extra time off.” Owen squeezed Dorothy's hand. “We're going to Disney World!”

They walked off laughing.

Just as Kristy was about to go get more punch, Ace pulled her out of earshot of the crowd.

“I have a surprise for you,” he said, his eyes gleaming.

“You do?”

“Yes, but your full cooperation is in order.”

She gave him a mock salute. “Yes, sir.”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her outside to his truck. Opening the passenger door, he helped her inside then went around and climbed in the driver's seat.

“Where are we going?”

“You'll find out soon enough.” He grinned, his eyes on the road.

She sank back against the seat, wondering what he had up his sleeve.

Five minutes later, they were entering the main entrance of the park.

“Are we going to my house?”

“Patience, my dear.”

Rather than driving to the residential area, he began to drive along the tour route.

They passed the Confederate Monument.

“There's where you played the hero.” she laughed, pointing to the spot where Ace had tackled the monument vandal.

“I'd never have known he was there if it weren't for your brilliant detective work, though. We make a pretty good team, don't you think?”

She nodded.

He turned left before they got to tour stop three.

“We're going to the center of the Hornet's nest?” she asked. “I'm not dressed for a hike.” she gestured toward her dress and heels.

“Stop worrying.”

He slowed down as they passed the center of the Hornet's nest and turned left onto the gravel road. They passed a row of cannons and a series of monuments. Suddenly Ace stopped the truck and turned off the ignition.

She looked at him curiously. “You know, my favorite monument is right near here.”

“I know.” He smiled.

Ace helped Kristy climb out of the truck and grabbed her hand. “We're almost there.”

They walked the few steps it took to get to the Wisconsin Monument. It had always been Kristy's favorite spot in the park. The isolated statue was, in her opinion, the most beautiful one housed at Shiloh. And since it was off the beaten path, not many people ever saw it.

Before she could ask what they were doing there, she saw it.

A quilt on the ground beside the monument. In the center of the quilt was a picnic basket.

She turned toward Ace and smiled. “What a wonderful surprise. It's perfect.” she slipped her heels off and stepped onto the quilt, sitting down beside the basket.

Ace stood by the monument, watching her.

“Aren't you going to join me?” she asked.

“Yes. But first, I was thinking we should rekindle an old game.”

She laughed. “Whose turn is it to ask? Yours or mine?”

“I'm pretty sure it's mine.”

“Ask away. I'm an open book.” she smiled.

“Come here.” He motioned to the edge of the quilt where he stood.

She rose from the quilt and went over to stand in front of him.

He took both of her hands in his. “I've been planning on asking you this question for quite some time now. But I had to think of the perfect way to ask it.

“Let me preface it by saying that you make me happier than I even knew was possible. Every day is an adventure with you. I love your stories. I love that your hair gets big when it's humid. I love that you talk to dogs like they're people.” He took a breath. “You have a strength that amazes me and a relationship with the Lord that teaches me how I should strive to be. In short, you make me want to be a better man.”

The tears flowed freely down Kristy's face, but she didn't let go of his hands to wipe them away.

Ace knelt down on one knee. “So the way I see it, there is only one question that remains to be asked. Kristy O'Neal, will you marry me?”

She dropped to her knees in front of him and threw her arms around his neck. “Yes,” she said. “A thousand times yes.”

ANNALISA DAUGHETY,
an Arkansas native, won first place in the Contemporary Romance category at the 2008 ACFW Genesis Awards. After graduating from Freed-Hardeman University, she worked as a park ranger for the national Park service. She now resides in Memphis, Tennessee. Read more at www.annalisadaughety.com.(Image I)

Image I

ALL RELATIONSHIPS ARE DOOMED TO FAIL—

AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT HISTORY HAS TAUGHT KRISTY O'NEAL

Left at the altar, Kristy returns from her solo-honeymoon to ask for her old job back as a park ranger at Shiloh National Military Park in Tennessee. But the position's already been filled. So she takes a seasonal position, prying something will open up before the job ends on Labor Day.

Ace Kennedy gets off on the wring foot with beautiful, spunky Kristy—not only does he have her job, but apparently she doesn't always like the way he does it. But he has a secret: He's really there to write a history of his family, who can be traced to the Shiloh battlefield.

Ace is appalled to learn Kristy doesn't believe in true love. Using the story of his ancestors as proof, Ace begins the battle to win Kristy's heart.

But when Kristy learns he's keeping secrets from her, her skepticism seems justified. Can she risk her heart on the battlefield of love one more time?

Annalisa Daughety lives in Memphis, where she works as an event planner, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.