Rebecca's Heart (20 page)
Authors: Lisa Harris
He’s not out there because he’s trying to prove something to you. Samuel made a bad decision and unfortunately paid for it with his life. I don’t think that’s what Luke’s doing.”
“I’m still scared.” Rebecca gnawed on her bottom lip. “They’ve been gone so long.”
“Love makes you vulnerable, and it even hurts sometimes; but when you find the right person, it’s worth the risk.” Michaela pushed back the edge of the red-checkered curtain and looked out the window. “And I’d say your prayers have been answered, Rebecca. Your father and Luke have just arrived with Adam.”
“They’re here?” Rebecca looked down at her stained dress and moaned, wishing she had time to change. “I’m an absolute mess.”
Michaela smiled and reached out to take Rebecca by the hand. “You look fine.”
Rebecca stepped onto the porch, a clatter of footsteps behind her. The girls must have been watching from their upstairs bedroom window, because Sarah, Ruby, and Anna ran ahead of Rebecca to welcome the men home.
She watched as her father got off his horse then reached down to toss Anna into the air. Even Adam looked glad to be home. For the first time in weeks, a smile covered his face. Rebecca’s shoes crunched against the snow as she walked toward Luke. For the moment he was the only person she wanted to see. The scene faded around her until only she and Luke existed. All that mattered now was that he was here with her—and safe.
He slid off the horse, wincing as his boots struck the ground.
She reached out to grasp the edge of his sleeve. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s just a flesh wound—”
“What?”
The wind whipped against them as Luke pulled his coat back to reveal the bandaged shoulder. “I’m going to be fine. “
Anger welled within her. “You should never have gone—”
“Luke saved my life, Rebecca.” Adam stepped up beside her. “I found Samuel’s murderer. Before he escaped he took a shot at me, and Luke pushed me out of the way.”
“I’ll be fine.” Luke grasped her hand, his eyes pleading with her to believe him.
Blinking rapidly to stop the flow of tears, she watched as her father pulled Michaela into an embrace and nuzzled his face in her hair. The look of love in her father’s eyes was unmistakable. Rebecca had always longed for a love like theirs. They faced life with God as the center of their relationship. And they trusted each other completely.
This was what she wanted in a relationship with Luke. He spent his life facing danger. It was a part of who he was and a reality he had learned to cope with. But his risk taking wasn’t based on pride or even revenge. Her parents had been right all along. If she wanted her relationship with Luke to blossom into what they had, she would have to trust him.
Rebecca finished scrubbing the last kitchen counter and listened to the happy chatter coming from the parlor. Thanksgiving dinner had been wonderful, but the biggest blessing was that they were all together. The girls had worked hard at setting the table with their homemade decorations, as well as helping her clean up after the meal so Michaela could rest. The one thing she’d had little opportunity to do, though, was speak to Luke. While his wound was healing, the trip had worn him out, and he’d spent the past twenty-four hours resting.
Adam strode into the kitchen and kissed Rebecca on the top of her head. “Dinner was fantastic, Sis.”
“I’m glad you approve.” She flicked her rag at him and chuckled, thankful for the subtle changes in his attitude since his arrival home. She wasn’t sure what had happened to put the smile back on his face, but whatever the cause, she was grateful.
“And I have to tell you another thing.” Adam leaned back against the counter and crossed his legs. “I really like Luke. Promise me you’ll marry him.”
“That’s none of your business.” Her brother reached for another piece of pumpkin pie, and she slapped the top of his hand. “How many have you had?”
“It’s Thanksgiving. I’m not counting.” He swiped a piece of the dessert. “So are you going to say yes?”
“He hasn’t asked me to marry him.”
“He will.”
“How do you know?”
“If ever I’ve seen a man in love, it’s Luke.” He popped a bite of pie into his mouth and grinned. “Remember—I spent a lot of time with him the past couple of days.”
The reminder of that ill-fated quest sent a shiver down her spine. “You almost got him killed.”
“I know. And I’m sorry.” All signs of teasing vanished as Adam leaned back against the counter again. “On the way home Luke said some things that made a lot of sense. He shared with me his feelings of guilt when the
Liberty
went down.”
“You still feel guilty over Samuel’s death?”
Adam shrugged his shoulder. “Maybe I always will—I don’t know. But at least now I’ve decided to try to let go of the guilt. And let God in.”
Rebecca fiddled with the towel between her fingers. “The same way I’m realizing I need to let go of my fears and let God reign in my life.”
She’d begun seeking God with all her heart but had still allowed a web of fear to cover her. God didn’t want her to be a woman steeped in worry. He had called her to rely on Him.
Wrapping her arms around her brother’s waist, she squeezed him tightly. “I’m proud of you. I know this has been hard for you.”
“In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s someone waiting for you outside.”
Rebecca peeked out the window at the snow-covered terrain, where Luke was harnessing the horses to the sleigh. “What’s he doing?”
“What does it look like he’s doing? I’d say he’s taking you for a sleigh ride.”
Luke’s breath caught in his throat as Rebecca stepped out of the house. She’d put on a hooded brown cape that covered most of her head but didn’t hide her bright smile. Delicate flakes of snow had begun to fall, draping the countryside in their grandeur. She stopped in front of him, her breath leaving short vapors in the frosty afternoon air.
“You look lovely.” He smiled at her and wiped away the snowflake that had landed on her cheek before it melted.
“Thank you.” She took his hand and allowed him to help her into the sleigh. “How’s your shoulder?”
“Sore, but I’m on the mend.” The soft feel of her gloved hand left his senses spinning.
Once Rebecca was settled on the narrow seat, he joined her then wrapped a thick quilt around her. It had been too long since he’d been this close to her. The scent of her perfume tantalized him, and he longed to feel the sweet touch of her lips against his.
The horses started out at a slow pace away from the farmhouse and down the winding road through the valley. A cloudless sky hovered above them, and he could hear the muffled plodding of horse hooves as the snow crunched beneath them. Their sleigh bells jingled through the stillness of the day, a
clang-y
melody never to be written down.
He glanced at her profile. “Are you still angry at me for going after your brother?”
She shook her head and smiled. “But you did scare me. I’ve been so mad at Samuel for making a foolish choice that cost him his life. Then when Adam ran off, I couldn’t believe he was doing the same thing. Putting his life at risk unnecessarily. When I found out you’d been shot, it scared me. I was so afraid I’d lose someone else I love.”
He wrapped the lines in front of him so the horses could continue their leisurely pace down the road without a driver; then he caressed the back of her hand with his thumb. “You know my motivation was never to take a risk. I’ve always wanted a brother, and with all the stories you’ve told me about your family, I feel like I know them. I want to be a part of that. I want to be a part of your life.”
A tear trailed down her cheek, but her mouth curved into a wide smile. “For so long I was afraid of the risk of loving you. I’ve realized now, though, that I’m more afraid of the risk of losing you.”
“That’s why I came—because I love you.” Luke cupped her face in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. “I promised I’d wait for you as long as it took. I just couldn’t go any longer without seeing you.” He leaned over and kissed her gently, silent assurances of what was to come. “And there’s one more thing.”
“What is it?”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a thin gold band, his heart beating with anticipation. “Rebecca Ann Johnson, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
She nodded, wrapping her fingers around his hands and pulling them toward her heart. “I’ve found what I’ve always been looking for, Luke.”
“What’s that?”
“A man who could capture my heart completely.”
The beauty of the snow-covered fields surrounded him. Towering pines reached to the heavens beside apple orchards and maple sugar farms. But at the moment he concentrated his attention on only one thing. The woman he loved.
“And your heart, Rebecca, is something I’ll never let go of.”
To Mariah Lauren, my precious daughter. May you always seek Him first in everything you do. And to my fantastic critique partners. Thank you for taking this journey with me.
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Lisa Harris
Author Relations
PO Box 719
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
LISA HARRIS
is a wife, mother, and author. She and her husband, Scott, along with their three children, live in northern South Africa as missionaries. After graduating from Harding University with degrees in Bible and Family and Consumer Sciences, Lisa spent several years living in Europe and West Africa with her husband as church-planting missionaries. They have traveled to more than twenty countries, including France, Kenya, Japan, and Zimbabwe. Lisa has had over fifty articles, short stories, and devotionals published as well as two novellas and one novel. You can contact her at
http://www.lisaharriswrites.com/
.
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