his earthy honesty, she dipped her head. “What other elements?”
Todd cupped her cheek and tilted her face back to his. “Faith. It is vital. Hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easy. Honesty and forgiveness – they are the soil of trust and cleansing rain. If you think on it, those things are what it takes for love to blossom in a sound marriage – for God to be the head, for the husband and wife to work hard and honor one another, and for them to appreciate the special gift of unity marriage brings. From all this, love and a family grow. On these things do you agree with me?”
“They seem . . .”
Don’t say reasonable. It would be the same as saying no.
“Sensible.”
“What is not sensible is that I want to kiss you silly. So now I ask you two questions. Miss Rose, will you marry me tomorrow, and – ”
“Tomorrow!”
“My farm – I must get back to it.” Todd didn’t pause to take a breath. “Will you marry me tomorrow and permit me the joy of a first kiss now?”
“Now?” Tension sang through her, but Miss Rose didn’t blurt out a refusal.
“Come here.” Drawing her into a loose embrace, he sighed. She failed to hug back, turned her face to the side, and rapid breaths warned a firm denial was still a heartbeat away. “Shhh. Quiet your heart. Under normal circumstances, such questions deserve consideration.”
“Then why ask me for an answer now?” A plaintive quality ached in her voice.
Resting his cheek against her soft, fragrant hair, he murmured, “In this situation, there is no luxury of time. I’m not proud to push so fast. Neither am I ashamed.”
“You ought to be,” she muttered. “You didn’t take my no for an answer and are debating like a Yankee senator.”
At least she’d gone from tears to being disgruntled. He could handle anything but tears . . . or a refusal. “On my tenth birthday, my father directed me to pray for the woman who was to become my wife. Each day for a whole decade I’ve lifted that girl in prayer.” Gently tipping her chin so their faces were inches apart, he said, “You are the one. Of this I am sure.”
She pulled away. “Anyone could claim that. A woman would be a fool to act on a man’s say-so.”
“You have time today to think and pray. Deep in your heart and soul, you will see God’s will.”
“What I need,” she sighed, “is a burning bush like God provided for Moses.”
“Moses hesitated at first. Still he set out on the journey.”
She arched a brow. “He was concerned because he couldn’t speak well. I, on the other hand, more than make up for that lack.”
“Then you can come with great confidence.” Todd stepped to the side and kept his arm about her waist. “You promised me another ride. I’m claiming it.” Of all songs, the fiddler started to play “Johnny Todd.” Todd sang along,
“If you’ll wed with me tomorrow
I will kind and constant be.
I will buy you sheets and blankets
I’ll buy you a wedding ring.
You shall have a silver cradle
For to rock the baby in.”
Pushing free, she went whiter than the snow. “Mr. Valmer, Uncle Bo takes notions at times. If he’s put you up to this, you didn’t have to go through with it. For true, you didn’t. I’ve a happy life here. Their bothersome nagging to make a strange mountain girl your wife is scarcely reason to ask.”
“You have it wrong.” Pulling her into the lee of his body, he stared into her wide eyes. “This is all my idea.”
Mr. Valmer’s proposal set off a cavalcade of emotions. He wanted her? It wasn’t at Uncle Bo’s urging? For true? They’d scarcely met, yet she felt . . . tingly. Confused. Undeniably impressed by his strong presence and protective ways. His thoughtfulness. And, she admitted, his deep voice and warm looks disturbed her in a thrilling way. Yet fear gripped Maggie. How could she ever leave Uncle Bo? And Carver’s Holler? Jerlund and Paw-Paw? Her uncles?
She shouldn’t pass more time with Mr. Valmer,
Todd cupped her cheek and tilted her face back to his. “Faith. It is vital. Hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easy. Honesty and forgiveness – they are the soil of trust and cleansing rain. If you think on it, those things are what it takes for love to blossom in a sound marriage – for God to be the head, for the husband and wife to work hard and honor one another, and for them to appreciate the special gift of unity marriage brings. From all this, love and a family grow. On these things do you agree with me?”
“They seem . . .”
Don’t say reasonable. It would be the same as saying no.
“Sensible.”
“What is not sensible is that I want to kiss you silly. So now I ask you two questions. Miss Rose, will you marry me tomorrow, and – ”
“Tomorrow!”
“My farm – I must get back to it.” Todd didn’t pause to take a breath. “Will you marry me tomorrow and permit me the joy of a first kiss now?”
“Now?” Tension sang through her, but Miss Rose didn’t blurt out a refusal.
“Come here.” Drawing her into a loose embrace, he sighed. She failed to hug back, turned her face to the side, and rapid breaths warned a firm denial was still a heartbeat away. “Shhh. Quiet your heart. Under normal circumstances, such questions deserve consideration.”
“Then why ask me for an answer now?” A plaintive quality ached in her voice.
Resting his cheek against her soft, fragrant hair, he murmured, “In this situation, there is no luxury of time. I’m not proud to push so fast. Neither am I ashamed.”
“You ought to be,” she muttered. “You didn’t take my no for an answer and are debating like a Yankee senator.”
At least she’d gone from tears to being disgruntled. He could handle anything but tears . . . or a refusal. “On my tenth birthday, my father directed me to pray for the woman who was to become my wife. Each day for a whole decade I’ve lifted that girl in prayer.” Gently tipping her chin so their faces were inches apart, he said, “You are the one. Of this I am sure.”
She pulled away. “Anyone could claim that. A woman would be a fool to act on a man’s say-so.”
“You have time today to think and pray. Deep in your heart and soul, you will see God’s will.”
“What I need,” she sighed, “is a burning bush like God provided for Moses.”
“Moses hesitated at first. Still he set out on the journey.”
She arched a brow. “He was concerned because he couldn’t speak well. I, on the other hand, more than make up for that lack.”
“Then you can come with great confidence.” Todd stepped to the side and kept his arm about her waist. “You promised me another ride. I’m claiming it.” Of all songs, the fiddler started to play “Johnny Todd.” Todd sang along,
“If you’ll wed with me tomorrow
I will kind and constant be.
I will buy you sheets and blankets
I’ll buy you a wedding ring.
You shall have a silver cradle
For to rock the baby in.”
Pushing free, she went whiter than the snow. “Mr. Valmer, Uncle Bo takes notions at times. If he’s put you up to this, you didn’t have to go through with it. For true, you didn’t. I’ve a happy life here. Their bothersome nagging to make a strange mountain girl your wife is scarcely reason to ask.”
“You have it wrong.” Pulling her into the lee of his body, he stared into her wide eyes. “This is all my idea.”
Mr. Valmer’s proposal set off a cavalcade of emotions. He wanted her? It wasn’t at Uncle Bo’s urging? For true? They’d scarcely met, yet she felt . . . tingly. Confused. Undeniably impressed by his strong presence and protective ways. His thoughtfulness. And, she admitted, his deep voice and warm looks disturbed her in a thrilling way. Yet fear gripped Maggie. How could she ever leave Uncle Bo? And Carver’s Holler? Jerlund and Paw-Paw? Her uncles?
She shouldn’t pass more time with Mr. Valmer,
Similar Books
