Love Finds You in Calico, California by Elizabeth Ludwig

Author:Elizabeth Ludwig
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Love Finds You in Calico, California
ISBN: 9781609360016
Publisher: Guideposts
Published: 2011-05-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Abigail’s heart fluttered as Nathan sank to one knee. Pain carved itself on his face and twisted the handsomeness of his features into something broken and sad. She almost said no. Would have said no, were it not for the tiny flicker of hope that accompanied the grief in his eyes. She clasped her hands and drew a deep breath.

“Yes, Nathan. I’ll marry you.”

The words were out before she had time to think. Nathan blinked in surprise then rose to his feet. He stood awkwardly, as though unsure what should come next. Finally, he drew close and wrapped her in a stiff hug.

Too quickly, he let her go. “I’ll see to the arrangements.”

“All right.”

“I think the sooner we see to it, the better.”

“I agree.”

A muscle in his jaw ticked. “Will Sunday give you enough time to prepare?”

For the day she’d been dreaming about since she was a little girl? Sorrow tore at her heart, but she lifted her chin and steadied her voice. “Yes.”

“All right, then. I’ll go speak to the preacher now.” At the door, he paused with his hand on the knob. “Is there—anything you need—for the ceremony, I mean?”

She had no dress, no father to give her away, no family to gather around and wish her well. What else was there? She started to shake her head but then stopped. “I’d like Caroline to stand with me, if you don’t mind.”

He gave a gentle smile that chased away a bit of the doubt crowding her heart. “Of course.”

“And maybe Lizzie could serve as the flower girl?”

“She’d like that.”

“Good.” Her gaze skittered around her sparsely furnished cabin and finally settled on the toes of her red boots. “Well, then, I suppose that’s all.”

Instead of leaving as she expected, Nathan crossed to her, pressed a quick kiss to the top of her head, then whirled and went out the door before she could see what had compelled him.

Her knees shaking, she sank onto a chair at the table. So that was it, then. In less than three days she’d be a bride. She took no joy in the thought. The future loomed as forbidding and uncertain as before.

No, that wasn’t true. As she lay with her head on her arms, listening to the minutes tick past on the clock above the fireplace mantel, she realized that one thing had changed. Her future now included someone other than herself. Though she still had no idea what that meant, a strange peace settled over her soul.

She wasn’t alone any longer. She had Lizzie—and Nathan.

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