The Most Eligible Bachelor Romance Collection: Nine Historical Romances Celebrate Marrying for All the Right Reasons (43 page)

“What does your father think of you coming west?”

She ran her slender finger over the frayed edge of the cuff. “I didn’t tell him I was leaving, but my conscience got the better of me by the time I reached St. Paul, so I sent him a letter then. I don’t know what he thinks.”

Luke frowned. “Why didn’t you tell him?”

“If I told him, he wouldn’t have let me come.”

“Why not?”

She was quiet for a moment before she answered. “He was never a believer, but he tolerated Mother bringing us to church. She was sick for a long time, and just before she died, she made me promise to fulfill my dream to serve in mission work. So I promised.”

She plucked a loose thread from the cuff. “After Mother died, Father forbade me to go to church again. He said he wouldn’t allow me to be corrupted by false hope and hollow teaching. So I had to disobey him and sneak away to church. It was the only place I felt truly at peace during those hard months.”

Another broken rule—for another noble cause.

She lifted her eyes to the river, her gaze resting on a distant point. “I taught school to raise enough money to go to Mount Holyoke, and my brother helped as much as he could. My father only allowed it because he wanted me to get a better job to help financially. When Mrs. Greenfield came to Mount Holyoke, it was my opportunity to fulfill my promise to Mother. But I knew Father wouldn’t allow me to come… so I didn’t tell him.”

“Does Mrs. Greenfield know he didn’t give his blessing?”

She was quiet for a long time.

“Didn’t you tell her?”

She worried her bottom lip for a moment. “She didn’t ask, so I didn’t tell her.”

A ladybug landed on Luke’s hand and he watched it crawl to the tip of his thumb before it flew away. “Is being a missionary everything you’d hoped?”

“I’ve never felt more fulfilled in my life.” She looked at him with an earnest face. “I love doing this work, and I especially love knowing I’m making my mother proud. For the first time in my life, I feel truly alive.”

Their eyes found each other, and he felt their hearts had, too. “You’ve just summed up exactly how I feel.”

They sat in silence for a moment, and a sense of contentment flooded Luke.

Finally, he stood and offered his hand. “Do you know how to fly fish, Miss Ellis?”

She shook her head.

“Would you like me to teach you?”

A smile as bright as the sunshine tilted her lips. She reached out and slipped her delicate fingers inside his hand. “I’d love to learn.”

“Come with me.” He helped her to her feet, and then he grabbed his fly rod.

He led her to the banks of the river, her hand still in his. “You’ll need to take off your shoes and stockings, and tie up your dress.”

She didn’t hesitate or ask why, but sat on a large rock and did as he instructed. He took off his socks and shoes and rolled up his pant legs. She stood, pulled the back of her dress up to the front, and then secured it in the belt around her small waist.

“Mrs. Greenfield would be shocked if she saw me. There has to be a rule against wearing my dress this way.”

He laughed and offered his hand again while they stepped out into the river. Cool water pooled around their ankles, and hard pebbles jabbed at his feet. “We’ll need to go out a bit farther. Are you all right?”

Her eyes were large with delight. “The water feels amazing.”

Standing there with her felt amazing, too.

He gave her a quick lesson, showing her how to hold the rod in her right hand and the line in her left, and how to cast the artificial fly into the water to attract the smallmouth bass.

“Now it’s your turn.” He stood back to watch.

She pulled the rod back and tossed the fly into the water. Her movements were a bit clumsy, but he admired her for trying. And when she laughed, he laughed with her.

“I’m completely helpless,” she said.

He reached his arms around her and gently put her hand where it belonged on the rod. Together, they pulled it back and tossed the fly out into the water. “Just like that,” he said.

She smelled of wind and wildflowers, and when she turned, her bare feet rubbed against his in the water.

Suddenly, he became aware of every inch of her body close to his. Her warm breath brushed his mouth, and he wanted nothing more than to taste her sweet lips.

By the look in her eyes, she wanted the same thing.

For the briefest moment, it felt as if the world held its breath, waiting to see what he would do.

“Miss Ellis…”

“It’s Sarah.”

The wind played with the curls about her cheeks, and he lifted his hand to touch one of the tendrils—

A tug on the line brought both their gazes back to the water.

“I have something!” She yanked on the line, her face beaming.

He’d barely helped her land the fish before she breathlessly asked, “May I try again?”

He nodded and then stood behind her. He helped her cast once again, taking more pleasure in helping her than he had ever taken in fishing alone.

Chapter 13

S
arah had never enjoyed herself more. For hours she and Mr. Longley stood in the river, catching a string of smallmouth bass. She would never tire of fishing, especially with him by her side.

As they fished, they spoke of anything that came to mind. Some things were trivial, but other things reached deep inside both of them.

The sun continued to sink in the sky, but Sarah wasn’t ready to go back to the mission, and it didn’t appear that Luke was either.

Finally, they stepped out of the river to dry their feet in the tall grass. When their feet were dry, they put on their socks and shoes and picked up their things. Luke took Sam’s reins in his hand, and they walked slowly back to the mission, leading the horse behind them.

The first star pricked the purple and orange sky as they unsaddled Sam and rubbed him down for the night.

Their conversation had not stopped, and as they walked from the barn to the house, they didn’t notice Mrs. Greenfield in the doorway until they were almost upon her.

“Good evening, Mrs. Greenfield,” Sarah said.

“May I have a word with both of you?”

Sarah glanced at Luke, a slither of apprehension snaking up from her stomach and into her throat. “Of course.”

They followed her through the foyer and into the back office where Mr. Greenfield sat waiting. He rose when they entered the room.

No one said a word until Mrs. Greenfield closed the door.

“I’m surprised at you, Mr. Longley.” Mr. Greenfield came around his desk to stand in front of Luke. “Everyone must be in the house by sunset—and not a minute later. It’s much too dangerous to be out of the house at night. Were you aware of the curfew?”

Luke dropped his gaze. “I was aware of it.”

“Sarah.” Mrs. Greenfield clasped her hands in front of her waist. “How could you break yet another rule?”

Sarah swallowed the shame. “I’m very sorry. The evening ran away from us, and we weren’t aware of the time.”

“It was very careless of you.”

Sarah closed her eyes briefly, wishing she could be
careful
for once in her life.

“Where were you?” Mrs. Greenfield asked. “I was worried sick. You left the house over three hours ago. I was about to send out a search party.”

“I brought Mr. Longley a sandwich, and he showed me how to fish.”

“It’s my fault,” Luke said. “Please don’t blame Miss Ellis.”

Mrs. Greenfield sighed. “Sarah, I’m afraid we cannot tolerate your disobedience any longer. You not only put yourself at risk, but you’ve endangered Mr. Longley as well. We need to uphold our punishment, or others may do the same.”

“I’m to be suspended?” Sarah’s tone was laced with disbelief. How could she come so far, just to be suspended?

“Not suspended.” Mrs. Greenfield’s face lined with regret. “Terminated.”

“But she’s not to blame,” Luke said. “I was with her, and I should have made sure we were back in time.”

Mrs. Greenfield reached for an envelope on the desk. “We received a letter today that has solidified our decision.”

She handed the letter to Sarah.

With a trembling hand, Sarah took the letter and looked at the handwriting.

Father.

Mr. Greenfield sat on the edge of his desk, his arms crossed. “You can imagine our surprise at discovering he didn’t know you were in Minnesota until you had already arrived.”

“Why didn’t you tell me, Sarah?” Mrs. Greenfield asked.

Humiliation and disappointment coursed through Sarah. “If you knew, you wouldn’t have let me come.”

“Your father is coming to take you home.” Mrs. Greenfield’s voice held her sorrow. “He should be here any day.”

Father was coming all this way to take her home? The letter trembled so violently in her hands Luke reached out and took it from her.

“I know you are of an age to make up your own mind, Miss Ellis,” said Mr. Greenfield. “But I’m afraid we cannot allow you to disobey your father. We will expect you to be ready to leave as soon as he arrives.”

“But—”

“Good night, Sarah,” said Mrs. Greenfield. “We’ll see you in the morning.”

Sarah wanted to stay and fight for her dream—for her promise to Mother—but there was no point. There was nothing she could do.

She opened the door and slipped out into the shadowed foyer, unable to look at Luke.

Tears stung the back of her eyes as she thought of leaving. Father would be furious when he arrived, and he’d lash her with his tongue all the way home.

She pulled herself up the stairs, feeling weak and powerless. One lone lantern sat on a table in the foyer and sent light quivering on the stairway.

“Sarah.” Luke’s voice stopped her ascent.

He took the stairs two at a time until he stood before her. “I’m very sorry, for everything.”

She took a deep breath and found her voice. She spoke quietly, not wanting to disturb the others who were already in bed. “It’s not your fault. It was careless of me to keep you out so late.”

“Sarah.” His voice was gentle as he took her hand in his. “It wasn’t careless of you. I’ve never known anyone more thoughtful in my life.”

Sarah looked down at his strong hand holding hers, tears gathering in her eyes.

“There has to be something I can do.” He took one more step and was now eye to eye with her. The light flickered across his face as he studied her.

There was nothing he could do, short of marrying her. Father couldn’t demand she return if she was married. But she wouldn’t say this to Luke. He needed to make up his own mind.

She slipped her hand from his. “There’s nothing.”

She pulled away and ascended the steps, not looking back to see if he watched her go.

Chapter 14

L
uke watched Sarah climb the stairs, feeling helpless. She had been wrong to come without her father’s consent, and if Luke had been her father, he’d feel exactly as Mr. Ellis felt. He would move heaven and earth to rescue his daughter from the wild frontier.

But Sarah didn’t need rescuing. She was strong and determined, and would do well as a missionary. What she needed was a husband to fulfill the board’s wishes—and prevent her father from taking her away from the place she loved.

Luke headed toward Mr. Greenfield’s office, determination in his steps. In the days he’d come to know Sarah, he had developed respect and admiration for her. A spark had ignited that he knew would turn to love, given the time and commitment Sarah said love needed. And he was willing—desirous—to make that commitment to her.

She didn’t have the most experience on the mission field like Miss Smith, but her heart longed to serve and proclaim the Gospel, and she wasn’t afraid of hard work. Her eyes didn’t twinkle with uncontainable joy like Miss Cooper, but her joy was in serving the Lord, and when hard times came, her faith would be the rock she would stand on. And though she wasn’t stunning like Miss Pinet, her inner beauty came from a deep well that would never run dry, and as she aged and grew in wisdom, she would only become more beautiful.

Luke knocked on the office door.

Mrs. Greenfield opened the door and invited him to enter. Mr. Greenfield sat at his desk, his head bent and his hands clasped as if in prayer.

Suddenly, Luke was reminded of their advice to him about Sarah. What would they say when they found out he was going against their better judgment to marry her?

Mr. Greenfield looked up. “I was hoping you’d come back.”

Mrs. Greenfield sat by the desk. “Please sit down, Luke.”

Luke took the seat she indicated and met their grave faces.

Mr. Greenfield sighed. “Sarah’s father must be sick with worry.”

“I don’t know if he’s worried, so much as angry,” Luke said.

“He’s probably both,” said Mrs. Greenfield.

Luke had to make them understand. “Her father forbade her to go to church after her mother died, and Miss Ellis was forced to sneak away to attend services. She promised her mother she would serve the Lord on the mission field, so when Mrs. Greenfield came to Mount Holyoke, she felt it was the calling she had been waiting for. If her father knew, he would have never let her come.”

The Greenfields were silent for a long time, but finally Mrs. Greenfield sighed. “I admire Sarah’s passion and courage—but God placed her in her father’s home, and whether we like it or not, she is bound by his authority. She must return east.”

“But she’s a grown woman, with her own mind.”

“Sadly, that has little to do with this situation.” Mr. Greenfield’s eyes looked heavy and burdened. “We need to honor the Lord in this matter, and fully trust His will to be done. If Sarah is to return east, He must have a plan for her there. It is not for us to know.”

Mrs. Greenfield shook her head. “If we step in and prevent Mr. Ellis from taking Sarah, it will only anger him more and push him further from the Lord.”

Then there was only one other option. “What if I marry her?”

Mr. and Mrs. Greenfield stared at him.

Luke tried not to look uncomfortable. He hated to think they might be disappointed in his decision. But then Sarah’s earlier words returned to him. He only needed to be concerned about what God thought of him—not what others thought.