Beauty And The Beast (Love Everlasting) by Teresa Ives Lilly

Author:Teresa Ives Lilly [Lilly, Teresa Ives]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Forever Love, Christian, Faith, Inspirational, Love Inspired, Bachelor, Single Woman, Hearts Desire, Clean & Wholesome, Life-Changes, Second Chances, Honesty & Trust, Gold Miner Stealing, Store Property, Scarred Face or Disfigurement, Thief's Daughter, Lowers Defenses, Façade, Charade, Illness or Sickness, Novella, Short Story
Publisher: Forget Me Not Romances, a division of Winged Publications
Published: 2017-02-03T05:00:00+00:00

10

The next morning Izzy approached Griffin. “I wish you’d take me to your cabin once more before I leave.”

A look of surprise crossed his face. “I figured you’d be packed up and on the road this morning.”

She shook her head. “Tomorrow is soon enough. I brought an old sketchbook with me from the farm, and I want to make a picture of the view from the front porch of the cabin. It’s something I don’t want to ever forget.”

And I don’t ever want to forget you. Griffin’s mind screamed. “We can go now; the store can open a few hours late today.”

Izzy’s smile lit the whole room. “I’ll just run upstairs to get my coat and tell Pa.” She skipped lightly away.

Since Izzy had been here, Griffin had taken more interest in the cabin than usual. He’d spent much more time planning things, using the ideas she had given him. Now, knowing she was leaving and never coming back, the idea of even going to the cabin again made his heart ache.

Silly of me to feel like this. It’s not like Izzy was ever going to live in the cabin. Not with me. But it was wonderful to dream.

Izzy returned quickly and followed Griffin out to the wagon. She stood to the side while he harnessed the horses. When he looked up, she was chewing her bottom lip.

“Anything wrong? Changed your mind?”

“Not at all. I was just thinking about the farm. We lost our last crop, and Pa has no money. I’m not sure what he thinks we will do once we get there.”

“Maybe he plans to sell it.”

“No fool would buy it in the winter. We can probably survive with the canned goods I left behind, if no one’s moved in while we were gone, but there’s no money to plant the fields and try for a crop.”

Griffin turned with a scowl and offered to lift her onto the seat. She allowed him to grasp her waist and lift her up.

Once they were both settled on the wagon and heading out of town, Griffin spoke. “I could loan you some money.”

Izzy gasped. “No, never. We have already caused you enough problems. I’m sure I haven’t worked off that brooch yet.”

“Blast that brooch,” Griffin spat. “I wish I’d never gotten it. Well, at least, I wish I’d never forced you to work to pay it off.”

Izzy’s head dropped slightly. “Don’t you like me?”

“Like you? Like you!” Griffin almost shouted. “What does that have to do with anything? It wasn’t right to make you work off your father’s debt.”

“But it had to be paid.”

Griffin ran a hand through his shaggy hair in frustration. “I could have survived. But to answer your question: Yes, I like you. And because I like you, I should have treated you better. Never made you work.”

A trill of laughter came from her throat. “You didn’t make me work. I’ve enjoyed every minute.”

Griffin gave her a sidelong glance. He could see the sincerity in her eyes.

“I never liked living on the farm.

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