Reluctant Bride by Linda Ford

Author:Linda Ford [Ford, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crocus Mountain Publishing
Published: 2018-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

8

Nels went to his little shack. He stood in the middle of the narrow floor and turned full circle. He grinned at the pictures and stared at his name above the window. Although the girls’ additions were pretty, they mocked his loneliness. He could not stay here with every wall providing a reminder of Agnes and the girls. He strode out and went to the barn. His small barn that would be more than adequate for a few years. He climbed the ladder to the loft. Tomorrow Anker would bring some oats and hay.

He could understand Agnes’s worry about Lena visiting and her fear that the community would judge their living arrangements. Based on her previous experience, her concern was that she might somehow lose the girls.

He sat with his back to the wall. There had been a few days after he received Inga’s letter that he felt his life was every bit as pointless as the flecks of dust drifting in the light slanting through the crack around the door. But like Agnes’s father said. There is always hope.

Hope of his own farm brought him back.

But he wanted more. His dream had always included family. As Anker said, he had a ready-made family with Agnes and the girls.

He had offered to marry her shortly after she arrived and she had refused. But today she had admitted to trusting him. It seemed a good enough basis to offer again. What’s more, he could give them the protection of his name. Would she agree? He couldn’t think why not.

“Uncle Nels, where are you?” Lila called. “Supper is ready.”

The afternoon had flown away as he mused over what he wanted to say.

“I’m coming.” He lowered himself from the loft and joined the girls outside the barn.

“We couldn’t find you.” Hettie’s voice trembled.

“I told you he wouldn’t go away.” Lila held her little sister’s hand tightly.

They had lost so much and were, naturally, afraid of it happening again. He lifted one in each arm. “I’m right here. All you need to do is call.”

The girls pressed their heads to his.

Was there anything better than to share his life and his home with Agnes and the family she had in her custody?

Smiling in anticipation of his plan, he jogged across the yard, earning him wild giggles from Lila and Hettie.

He set them down inside the house and looked across the room to Agnes.

She met his gaze for half a second than turned away.

He was quite sure she wouldn’t act so self-conscious if it had been Tex who stepped through the door. He grinned to know she was aware of him as more than someone to feed.

She served a cold meal she had prepared the day before.

He insisted on doing the dishes with the girls while she fed Merry. The last dish was dried, the pan of water emptied, and the towels hung. “Lila, Hettie, would you go out and play for a bit while I talk to your aunt Agnes?”

Lila studied him a moment, let out a big sigh, and took her sister’s hand.

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