A Tale of Two Hearts by Michelle Griep

Author:Michelle Griep [Griep, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781683229124
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2018-11-06T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Why, on this day, the great battle was fought on this ground.

The Battle of Life

Will stared at the man stomping away down the corridor. Judging by the pound of his steps, if the fellow had been clutching a gun, Will would be bleeding out on the floor right now. Why such animosity? And why had he allowed that animosity to goad him into such a defense? Declaring to be Mina’s beau. Of all things. Not that he hadn’t intended to speak to her father about the possibility, but what would this unfavorable start lead to? He’d gone about things the right way with Elizabeth, and that had ended horribly. But this? There was nothing even remotely right about the muddle he’d made of things with Mina.

He turned to where she stood deathly still, her fingers pressed against her mouth.

“Mina?” Closing the distance between them, he gently lowered her hand. Her skin was cold to the touch. “Who was that man?”

Cavernous eyes sought his. “Mr. Grimlock. He manages the inn when my father travels. And if Father has returned—oh, Will!” A little cry caught in her throat. “I am afraid of what kinds of fabrications he’ll tell Father.”

A surge of protectiveness tightened his gut, and he wrapped his fingers around hers. “Then we must reach your father before he does. Lead the way.”

She needed no more encouragement. His legs stretched to keep up with her furious pace. She led him along one passageway, cut through a storage closet with two facing doors, then scurried down a short flight of stairs and turned left, stopping breathless in front of a door—

Where the striped coattails of Mr. Grimlock disappeared.

“I think it best if I go in first.” He squeezed her hand then released his hold. “Wait here.”

“But—”

“Mina.” He pressed his finger to her lips. “All will be well. I vow I shall make things right. Will you trust me in this?”

Her blue gaze held on to his, and slowly, she nodded. The fear, the hope, the shimmer of tears all did strange things to his heart.

“Good girl.” He wheeled about. Now, if only he believed his own brave words.

Lord, though I don’t deserve it… For a moment, his silent prayer faltered along with his step as the truth of his words slapped him. Of course he didn’t deserve the ear of God or His help. The Creator of all shouldn’t even listen to him after not only being involved in such a great deception but dragging Mina into it as well.

Yet was God not the author of mercy? Of grace? Of second chances?

“Will you trust Me in this?”

The same question he’d asked Mina circled back and punched him in the gut. Either he believed all he’d heard and read of God, or he didn’t. He wasn’t merely standing in front of an innkeeper’s office door, but at a crossroads. One that would make or break his faith.

He sucked in a breath, and blew out another prayer. “I need Your help, Lord. Make me the man Mina expects me to be—and the man You want me to be.

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