The Preacher's Wife by Cheryl St.john

Author:Cheryl St.john [St.john, Cheryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Romance, Religious, Historical, Christian, Man-Woman Relationships, Widows, Clergy, Widowers, Marriage
ISBN: 9780373828135
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2009-06-09T05:00:00+00:00

Anticipation hummed through the congregation seated in the small wooden church. Josie held the bouquet of daisies James had thoughtfully picked for her, and tried not to crush the stems and stain her white gloves.

“Are you ready for this?” Henry asked her with a smile.

They stood at the front of the church. The noon sunlight shone through the tall, narrow windows, creating long arrows of light across the worn oak floors.

“I’m ready,” she answered confidently.

Josie hadn’t seen Reverend Martin in his suit for months. He’d lost weight, so the black coat didn’t quite fit his frame the way it once had.

A couple of years ago she’d given away the satin dress she’d worn to marry Bram. This time she’d chosen a pastel yellow confection from the dressmaker and had lace inserted around the collar and cuffs.

She wore a strand of pearls and matching earbobs that had belonged to her mother and had donned the wispy hat the girls helped her make, with tiny paper roses and Battenburg lace—not a veil, because that would have been inappropriate for her second wedding.

She was more than ready for this day and everything it brought.

Sam entered the church from the side door and caught sight of Josie. She turned, and a jolt of surprise shot through him. She was beautiful! Sunlight illuminated her pale yellow dress. A tiny lace hat showed off her lustrous dark hair. Thick lashes fringed her lovely eyes, and her smile was as warm and welcoming as the woman herself.

He’d made this arrangement for purely practical reasons, but he was taking a lovely young woman as his wife. He glanced to where Elisabeth, Abigail and Anna sat on the front bench in their best Sunday dresses, their shining pale hair braided. Anna beamed from ear to ear. Abigail gave him a hesitant smile. Elisabeth refused to look up and meet his eyes.

She would come around.

Sam felt good about marrying Josie. Even the day and the weather were perfect. This marriage was the best choice he’d made in a long time. He looked at Henry and nodded.

Reverend Martin performed the ceremony, reading from the book of Corinthians and encouraging them to keep God at the center of their marriage.

“And now, by the power given to me by God and the state of Nebraska, I pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Hart.”

Josie had anticipated the words, but they still gave her a tingle of pleasure. Sam’s hand was large and warm as it enveloped hers.

“You may kiss the bride.”

She looked up. Sam’s expression didn’t reveal his thoughts. He had never kissed her. Without hesitation, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the corner of her lips—sort of a half kiss, half peck on the cheek that, however unsatisfactory, sealed their vows.

They were man and wife. Her new life had begun.

She smiled hesitantly and together they turned to face the approving congregation. Anna, a vision in the pale dress that nearly matched the color of Josie’s, ran forward to hug her father around the waist.

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