The Unexpected Bride by Debra Ullrick

Author:Debra Ullrick
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Retail
ISBN: 9781459202580
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2011-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

The ultimate blow came when she told him she wasn’t a Christian and she didn’t believe in God or Christ. She’d faked faith because she knew Haydon wouldn’t marry her otherwise.

Haydon’s heart ached afresh, knowing Melanie had possibly died not knowing Jesus. He could only hope before she’d drawn her last breath, she had asked Christ into her heart. After all, Melanie had heard the salvation message plenty of times.

The sound of people singing splintered his mind from its painful memories.

Haydon closed his eyes and sang the words that meant so much to him. A few choruses later, his concentration switched to the sweet but slightly out-of-tune voice next to him. Only it wasn’t Rainee’s off-key singing that had hooked his attention, it was the conviction in her tone. She sang as if the words meant something to her.

He stole a sideways glance, and what he saw mesmerized him—Rainee’s face raised toward heaven, shiny drops sliding down her sun-bronzed cheeks and glowing face. Gone was the snobbish image he had engraved in his mind from their first encounter.

Reverend James said the closing prayer. The women excused themselves and started setting out the generous fare.

Haydon stood back and watched Rainee as she jumped right in and helped. She draped tablecloths over the makeshift tables and made several trips to the well, filling bucket after bucket with water and carrying them to the table. She made numerous trips in and out of the house, her arms loaded with homemade desserts.

Melanie would have never done any of that. In fact, Melanie did nothing but read her dime novels, sit in front of a mirror or bark orders at his sisters. When he had found out she had been ordering them about, he had immediately put a stop to it.

Abby’s cry snapped his attention in that direction. His little sister was sitting on the ground, looking at her knee, crying loud enough to alert everyone within a 30-mile radius to her plight. He started toward her but stopped when he saw Rainee hurrying toward Abby. Haydon watched as she dropped to her knees in front of the child, never once giving heed to what the dirt was doing to her dress.

“What happened, Abby?” The kindness and genuine compassion in her voice touched a chord deep inside him. A chord he would rather not have strummed.

“I hurted my knee,” Abby cried.

“Oh, sweetie. I am so sorry. Come. We will make it feel all better.” She scooped Abby up and carried her into the house.

Minutes later, they stepped outside together. Abby held Rainee’s hand, smiling and skipping happily at her side.

Haydon picked up another bench and carried it over to one of the tables, eyeing his neighbors as they too watched Rainee’s every move. They had to be wondering who this woman was. So far, his mother had offered no other information other than her name. It wouldn’t be long, though, before someone asked how she came to be here.

From yards away, Haydon’s gaze zoned in on nineteen-year-old Jake Lure strutting up to Rainee like a bull on the hunt.

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