Captured by Love (Michigan Brides #3)(92)

Even so, he would never be able to manage the farm by himself. How would he do the hard physical labor of plowing and sowing and harvesting alone?

Jean smiled hesitantly. “I didn’t think you would turn me away and refuse to marry me because I’m a cripple now. But I wasn’t sure. I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”

“Of course I wouldn’t refuse to marry you for that.” What was she saying? Her mind stumbled over the words that could explain how she really felt.

“Let’s get married as soon as possible,” he said, his face flushed and his eyes bright. “Today. After I have the chance to clean up.”

Could she really marry him, especially when she didn’t love him?

She hadn’t loved him before the war either. He’d told her it hadn’t mattered, that his love would be enough. But would it? After all she’d experienced with Pierre, would a loveless marriage ever be truly enough?

“Please say yes.” His eyes regarded her with all the adoration he’d always had.

She didn’t want him to believe she was refusing him because of his injury. But if she told him no, he’d think that she didn’t care for him anymore because of his condition.

How could she do that to him? And if she didn’t marry him, who would help him with the farm? He would need her now more than ever to work the land and help take care of Miriam.

“Please, Angelique . . .” He limped across the cabin. The swish of his dragging foot and the tap of his cane pressured her, shouted at her to give in.

Miriam didn’t say anything more. And Angelique wanted to yell out in frustration. She wished her friend would voice her opinion for once, share her wisdom and reveal God’s will in the matter.

But Miriam’s lips moved in silent prayer, her answer to every problem.

Angelique stifled a sigh. Couldn’t her friend try something else today?

Behind her, Angelique sensed Yellow Beaver’s confusion. He’d watched her with Pierre. He’d seen the love they’d shared. Would he step in and help her?

Jean reached for her hand. “I promise I’ll always love you and give you everything you’ve ever wanted.” His eyes pleaded with her. There was a desperation there she hadn’t seen before. It tore at her.

She couldn’t refuse Jean. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she did. There was no reason to put off marrying Jean. No reason at all. Not now that Pierre was dead.

Jean, Miriam, and the farm all meant too much for her to just turn her back on them and walk away. Where would she go anyway? Now that she’d been free from Ebenezer, she would never be able to return.

She swallowed hard, then nodded at Jean. Yes, she would marry him. She would have to put her love for Pierre behind her and pray that God would help her care about Jean, help her be the kind of wife he deserved.

And at some point she would have to break the news to Miriam that Pierre was dead.





Chapter

26



Pierre crunched through the woods. The branches swung back and swatted him, and the vines snagged his feet and tripped him. “Even you are telling me I shouldn’t have come home,” he said to the island.

When he’d stared at Michilimackinac earlier that morning from the mainland, every nerve in his body had keened with the longing to jump in his canoe and go to Angelique. But he’d told himself that he wouldn’t, that it would be too hard to see her again and know he couldn’t have her.

All winter long he’d held fast to his decision to sacrifice his own selfish need to be with her and do what was best for both her and Jean. And if he had any hope of keeping his vow, he knew he couldn’t return to the island. He didn’t trust himself. Even though he’d grown a great deal through his trials over the past year, he was far from being a perfect man. Some days he lost his battle with his sinful nature. He was afraid if he saw her, he’d resort to his old selfish ways.

But Red Fox had prodded him all morning while he’d shaven and cleaned himself up, until finally he’d given in to his friend’s pressure.

Now that the Americans were back on the island, he supposed he was relatively safe, as long as he kept away from the British, especially Lieutenant Steele. He didn’t want to risk the lieutenant seeing him, to discover that he was still alive. There was no telling what the man might do, even if the war was over.

Now that he’d paddled to the island, he hadn’t worked up the courage to return to the farm. He had a strong feeling Jean would be there. Could he really face Jean and Angelique and then walk away and let them be happy together?

“You’ll have to help me through this one,” he prayed with a sigh. “Even with your help, I’m still going to have a rough time.”

His feet had veered from the path that led to the farm, and he found himself heading to the spot where he could always find solace. He knew he was putting off the inevitable, but a cold swim would steel his muscles to fight the coming temptation.

The splash of water and a flash of white through the brush halted him. He crouched and peered through the branches, past the long grass and boulders surrounding the swimming hole.

There, kneeling at the water’s edge, was Angelique. She was dressed in a shift that outlined every curve of her body. Her beautiful red hair hung in a wet mass about her, and she was lathering some soap into it.