Laura's Second Chance (Widows of Virginia Book #2)(11)

For a moment Laura wondered at their fates. Was this why God had brought them together once more? Because they needed each other?

“When was the last time you sought God’s guidance?” She asked after a moment of silence.

Robert glanced at her again, likely surprised by her question. He fell silent and a faint reddish color appeared on his cheeks.

“What good would it do?” he muttered. “I don’t deserve Heaven’s blessings.”

“Prayer is a powerful tool, Robert. Remember the poem you sent me after Anton’s death?” She closed her eyes as she pictured the words from the letter. “A grieving heart sees the skies gray...”

Laura looked pointedly at him, but when he didn’t respond, she went on to recite the beautiful string of words he webbed for her. Laura looked pointedly at him, but when he didn't respond, she went on to recite the beautiful string of words he webbed for her. Laura smiled. Finally. He looked at her with a renewed spark in his eyes. It reminded her of the young man she met so many years ago. The man who had seen the beauty of the world and had the words to show it to others.

A tear fell down her cheek.

He wiped the tear away with his thumb. “I had always wondered how you felt about my letters, the few poems I wrote for you.”

“They are what got me through the first few months,” she whispered. “I don’t think I could have gone on without your kind and wise words.”

She could clearly see him blush.

“Why don’t we visit the church today then?” she said. “We have so much to be thankful for. And a lot of guidance to ask.”

“Yes, let’s do that” he said standing up.

He helped her up without letting go of her hand. They walked back to the house and took the carriage to the nearby church – a simple wooden building stood beside a small cemetery.

She sat on the bench at the back and Robert followed. They both silently said their prayers. For the first time since her husband’s death, Laura truly thanked the Lord for his grace. She thanked him for Anton and the time the Lord gave them together. And she thanked Him for sending her Robert. Because since coming to Gables, she hadn’t thought about her loss, not the way she did back home.

“Thank you.” Robert said.

“What for?”

“For opening my mind and heart… and for staying.”

She smiled. “I’m just returning the favor. You once pulled me out of my grief. I was drowning and didn’t even know it.”

“We are a match, after all then. A cure for one another.”

“Oh, you and your words.” She giggled softly.





Chapter Six


The next day Robert left her in charge of the house and the farm as he left for the city. He would speak to his lawyers, try and extend the repayments, plead his case on account of the fire. She had time to think during the few days before his return.

With just one farm, devastated by the fire, their options seemed pretty limited. But Laura wasn’t one to give up easily. Surely there had to be something Robert could do. Early in the morning she asked Arthur to give her another tour of the farm. This time she wasn’t just admiring the sights. She asked questions about how things worked, what things were, who worked on what and how many people were involved in each activity.

On the second day a small barn at the edge of the property caught her attention.

“What’s in there?” She glanced at Arthur as she pointed to the building in the distance.

“Just storage, Ma’am. Supplies, leftover crops from last harvest.”

“Crops?” She sped up her step.

“Yes, Ma uses them for cooking, and in the winter some of the neighbors buy from us too.”

After reaching the barn Laura waited at the large door as Arthur fumbled through the many keys attached to his keyring. It took a moment to open the padlock, but finally the door creaked as he pulled it open.

Sunlight flooded inside and the dust in the air tickled her throat. Straw crinkled under her feet as she went from sack to sack, from crate to crate checking what was stored in the small barn. Most of the sacks including a large pile at the back were filled with sweet potatoes and cassava.

“I thought you grew corn here?” she asked.

“Oh, these are from the other farm. The one Mr. Smith had to sell to the neighbors.”

“Can these still be planted?” She pulled out one of the potatoes and weighed it in her hand.

“No,” he shook his head. “There’s not enough in here and even then it’s the wrong season.”

For a moment she felt disappointed, but then a new idea sparked in her mind. Arthur’s mother was a great cook, and she wasn’t too bad herself. They might not have the crops to sell in huge quantities, but these sacks were full of goods she could put to use.

“We can still use them though. Can you get a few of the men together and bring some of the sacks back to the house, please?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Laura ran back to the house to find Arthur’s mother. Gemma was thrilled with her idea and eager to help. All afternoon, with Arthur’s help, they peeled and boiled the root vegetables and then baked pies and tarts. Laura was determined, if she couldn’t help Robert with the paperwork and legal matters, she’d find a different way to support him.