Vow Unbroken (40 page)

“Jack-of-all-trades, master of none?”

Henry looked past the man to the bookcase that covered the wall behind his desk and then met his eyes again. “I wouldn't say that, exactly. Although I do make a good living through trade. And I hunt.”

“Been married before?”

“No, sir.”

“Engaged?”

“No, sir, I never asked a woman to wed, not until now.”

“Fathered any children?”

Henry shook his head; this was one tough old man. “No, sir. None.”

“Well, to your credit, you are here asking for my blessing. Why'd it take you so long if you've been smitten with her for four years now?”

“I wanted to have more to offer. I've been working hard, saving, and, of course, the vow.”

“The what?”

Henry explained Sue's promise to God, and her reasons for making it, then about the long line of suitors she'd rebuffed over the years. “I never should've waited so long to get to know her, but my mother took ill, and . . . plans change.” He grinned. “I knew one thing for sure, your daughter's vow would not be broken, and so, here I am.”

The judge looked away, then nodded ever so slightly. He faced Henry again. “Your mother, is she better now?”

“No, sir. She went home to her reward.”

“And are you a believer, Mister Buckmeyer?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Your father, is he alive?”

“Last I heard.”

The judge held his hand out. “You've seen my house; the one Susannah grew up in. I do not want to think of her out there living in that wild Texas territory in some drafty sod cabin. Of course, it's only natural that I want what is best for my daughter and for her to be happy.” He stood and held his hands out, palms up, as though showing Henry the opulence of his estate. “Can you build my Susannah such a house as she grew up in?”

He lifted a finger that silenced Henry, then paced. “Excuse me for speculating, but it appears that you're not of her station, Mister Buckmeyer. Even without my help, it seems that she's done well for herself financially, and now, as I see it, you might wish to capitalize on her hard-won success. What do you say to that?”

Henry stood, raised his shirt enough to undo his money belt, then went to pulling the gold coins out. “This is what I sold my bois d'arc seeds for this year, less what I spent on the way here.” After he'd stacked the money on the judge's desk, he retrieved the jewelry and jewels he'd acquired over the years and inherited, and laid those down as well. “My mother lived frugally, and I was her only heir. Some of these pieces I bought for her because she loved the sparkle, but I could hardly get her to wear any of it, though she did enjoy fingering them.” He smiled.

The judge looked at the pile of gold chains, rings, lockets, and sparkling pins. “Very impressive.”

“Sir, I want to give Sue and Rebecca the best of everything.”

“Commendable.”

“And you should know, even though she hired me to accompany her on the Jefferson Trace, I've not taken one cent from your daughter, sir.” He held his hands behind his back and nodded to the wealth. “And this doesn't even include our cotton money. That's in the safe back at the hotel.” He smiled. “Sir, I give you my word that I will build your daughter a home befitting the lady she is.”

The judge stared at him for many minutes.

Henry's heart beat against his chest, but he didn't say more.

The man walked over and flung his study's door open. “Susannah!”

SHE HEARD HIS CALL
from her room upstairs and immediately rose.

“Can I bring your dolly, Mama?”

“Of course, but hurry along.” Sue ran down the stairs, then slowed and caught her breath before rounding the corner. “Yes, Daddy?”

“Come in here, please.”

She walked into his study and sat down. A tall, fairly wide stack of gold coins sat on her father's desk flanked by an assortment of jewels. None of that had been there when she'd left, and their cotton money she knew to be in the safe at the hotel. Had her father bought Henry off? Or tried to? Henry wouldn't accept, would he?

The judge did seem in a better mood, and she certainly never expected that. Had the talk gone well? She glanced at Henry to discern any speck of an answer from his countenance. He stood beside her and only slightly grinned when she looked his way. Rebecca walked straight past to her grandfather and
climbed onto his knee. He lifted her and sat her back a bit, smiling broadly.

She laid her face on his chest. “I can hear your heart beating.”

“Well, that's a good thing. I see you have one of your mother's dolls there. Did you know I bought that for her when she was about your age?”

“No, sir. I never imagined that she grew up in such a fine house with so many dolls.” Rebecca played with a brass button on his vest. “Are you rich, Granddaddy?”

Sue cleared her throat. “Excuse me. I appreciate that you two need to get to know one another, but I'm a bit anxious here, Daddy.” She stared at her father. “Won't you please tell me what you had to say to my Henry?”

The judge raised one eyebrow and turned to Rebecca. “Her Henry?”

The girl smiled. “Actually, truth be known, sir, he was my Henry first. Did he tell you that he's a friend of President Jackson?”

The judge looked at Henry with raised eyebrows, then stuck out his bottom lip. “No, he did not.”

“Well, he is. And did he tell you he was a hero at the Battle of New Orleans with Old Hickory himself?”

Her grandfather smiled now. “Didn't mention that either.”

Sue cleared her throat again.

“Oh, Susannah, you were always too impatient. I've heard your mother tell you a hundred times that patience was a virtue.”

“Daddy!”

“I need to know something.” He leaned toward her. “Do you truly love this man, Daughter?”

She turned and looked into Henry's face. “Yes, I do, Daddy,
with all my heart and soul and mind. I know I said I loved Andrew all those years ago, and I did, but I also wanted to show you, prove that I was grown. That love doesn't even compare to the love I hold in my heart for this man. Daddy, I know that God made me to be his wife, and him to be my husband.”

Rebecca took her grandfather's face in her hands. “And I love him, too, and the sweet Lord sent him to be my daddy. I want him to stay with us forever and ever, so please, Granddaddy, tell me and tell me now that you are going to give us your blessing!”

He burst out laughing. “You are so much like your mother when she was your age, young lady.” He looked to Susannah and studied her face, then to Henry, and, last, back to his granddaughter. He nodded. “All right then, yes. I will give my blessing on this union. But on one condition.”

Sue held her breath. “Condition? But, Daddy—”

“Wait, Susannah.” He held up his hand with his palm toward her. “My stipulation is that you'll allow me the honor of marrying you while you're here. You don't have to leave right away, do you?”

Sue jumped up and hugged Henry's neck, then ran around and hugged her daddy and Rebecca together. “Of course! Of course, you can marry us! I'd love that! How soon can you get to it?”

“My goodness, were you thinking to get married before supper, Susannah?”

She laughed and ran back around to Henry. “Could we?”

“Mama! We didn't bring our dresses!”

She looked at her daughter. “I was only teasing, silly. Would tomorrow night be too soon?”

Her daddy laughed the way Sue remembered him laughing
before her mother passed. “Tomorrow evening works for me. I'd like to book you and Henry a suite at the fanciest place I can find for your honeymoon weekend. Consider it a wedding gift.” He lifted Rebecca and sat her on his desk. It made Sue smile. He used to sit her up on that very same desk. “And that way, my granddaughter and I can have a little time as well. We'll get to know one another better.”

Henry dropped to one knee, and the room stilled. He retrieved the special gold and emerald ring from his vest pocket—the one Rebecca had chosen at Titus's Trading Post—then held it up toward her. “Susannah, now that your father has given his blessing.”

She held out her left hand, and he took it.

“I love you and pledge all that I am and all that is mine to you. I promise to protect you and love you all the days of my life before God, your father, and our daughter. Will you make me the happiest man in the world? Will you be my wife?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” He stood, and she threw her arms around his neck. “I love you, Henry Buckmeyer!” She lifted her shoulders and shivered with delight, smiling so big she could hardly talk through it. “And this means we get Blue Dog, too!”

Rebecca clapped. “Yay! And for free!”

F
OR THIS BOOK,
I prayed; starting with chapter one and throughout the writing to typing “The End,” then mailing it off, and I continue praying for God's anointing on it. For the gifts He has given—my dear husband Ron, fifteen years at the DFW Writers' Workshop where mentors took newbie writers and patiently taught and advised; for a creative vein, a way with—and love for—words, I first acknowledge and give all the glory to He who sits on the throne. I love and adore You, Abba. Thank You for setting the story of
Vow Unbroken
on course and for every blessing!

Among those blessings, besides my four children and fourteen grandsugars, I count my family and so many friends who He's given me to love and polish my life. Some old, some new, but to each one who offered an encouraging word along my writing way, I thank you.

Then the Lord crossed my path with the perfect agent, Mary Sue Seymour of The Seymour Agency. I'll never forget her stepping off the elevator in Mount Pleasant, Texas, and hugging my neck. “You're the first McAdoo I've met who wasn't family!”

Doesn't our Father have such a wonderful sense of humor?
Mary Sue's maiden name was McAdoo! I have no idea what the odds are, but with God, all things are possible. He definitely got our attention. No one can say He didn't orchestrate this wonderful journey every step of the way!

After that North East Texas Writers' Conference in April, on the trip back to DFW Airport, Mary Sue said, “Write me a historical Christian romance set in the 1800s, and I'll sell it.” I did, and she did. Sent it to her in July, contracted for representation in August, then on October 10, shy of six months since meeting, she forwarded the offer from Howard Books. It's a joy to work with a woman who so loves the Lord. Thank you, Mary Sue!

Knowing she was sending the manuscript out to editors, again, I prayed, this time for God's divine choice, who turned out to be Beth Adams. God touched her heart with
Vow Unbroken
and called her to be a part of this Kingdom project. She found my story worthy, and so honored me when Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, became my publisher. Beth's insightful suggestions truly improved Sue and Henry's story and helped make it even more of a tool in the Carpenter's hand to draw folks unto Him and His great love. Beth, you are a Texas-size blessing, and I thank you! How great it is to work with all the folks at Howard Books; that they all love Christ makes it an absolutely amazing experience.

Last, but oh so important, I want to acknowledge you, my reader. I pray
Vow Unbroken
makes you laugh and cry and that the Father sends His favor and personally speaks to you through these pages. I'd love to hear your testimony! If it blesses you, please tell your friends or buy an extra copy to give them! I'm grateful for each and every one of you. A big Texas thank-you for reading my novel.

READING GROUP GUIDE

W
idowed and a single parent to her daughter and nephew, Susannah Baylor refused to be swindled out of a fair price for her cotton harvest. She also refused to entertain the thought of marrying another man without the blessing of her estranged father. With the wise counsel of her best friend and relentless grit and determination, Susannah embarks on a journey across dangerous terrain that transforms her heart and changes her life forever.

1. Which character in the story do you identify with or enjoy the most? What were some of the character's strengths? How did the character change or grow throughout the story? Was there a fatal flaw?

2. As chapter one opens, Susannah Baylor is talking with the man she had made an agreement with to purchase her cotton, and the conversation doesn't go as she expected. If you had been in her shoes, what would you have done? What words would you use to describe her in this first scene?

3. Why do you think Sue gets so irritated when Henry assumes leadership for deciding where to stop for the day or when to unhitch the animals on the initial leg of their journey on the trace? Have you ever been in a similar situation where you didn't fully know the best options, but you wanted to maintain control? How did you respond?