Second-Chance Bride (Dakota Brides Book 3)(48)

“You are.” He crossed his arms and studied her. “I guess I never doubted you would. But—”

“Does there always have to be a but?”

“I can’t say if there is always one, but in this case all I want to say is, I want more for you.”

She hoped the look in her eyes warned him to not say anything more.

But Lena jabbed him in the ribs. “Anker, I think it’s time for you to acknowledge your baby sister is all grown up and capable of making her own decisions regarding her future.”

Anker wrapped his arm about his wife’s shoulders and smiled. “I’ll try.”

On a somewhat happier note, they wandered back to the house where she served them more coffee and the cookies she’d baked yesterday.

“It’s time to go home,” Anker said.

“I’ll be on my way.” Nels strode out to his horse.

Freyda hurried after him. “Nels, I know how hard it is to wait. Any time you’re feeling lonely, come on over. Anytime.”

He nodded. “Thanks. I might do that.” He swung to the back of his horse and, shouting goodbye, rode away.

Lena persuaded Charlie it was okay to leave because he’d see Milo and Kit again, and then Anker and his family left.

Ward stood at Freyda’s side until the dust following their departure had settled. Then he draped an arm across her shoulders. “I didn’t expect a birthday cake.”

“I know you didn’t. But it’s your birthday and it should be celebrated.” She saw hope and guardedness flicker through his eyes. “Life can be different than your past, if you so desire.”

He nodded. “I’m beginning to see that.” His gaze went to the road the wagons had gone away on. “I think their visit went well, don’t you think?”

For some reason his comment struck her as funny and she burst out laughing. “Thanks for standing up for me when Anker asked you to show him around.”

Ward laughed. “I couldn’t believe he’d ask me as if this is my farm.”

“Perhaps he will someday see that I’m grown up.”

Ward looked down at her, a teasing light in his eyes. “Grown up and capable of doing anything you want.” His smile faded and the light fled his eyes. “Anything you set your mind to.”

“I’m also grown up enough to be willing to change my mind about what I want.”

He looked into her eyes. She opened her heart and soul to him, let him see what lay there for the taking. She hoped for understanding to spring to his eyes but instead, she saw uncertainty.

Someday, she would see that change.

He touched her cheek as he removed his arm. “It’s time to take the boys home. They’ve got their chores to take care of.”

“Chores? I didn’t know.” Though they had helped her whenever she was there.

“Yup. They have two hungry beasts to feed.”

“Storm and Skunk.” She laughed.

He gathered up the boys, had them say thank you and goodbye. She hugged both of them. Thought about hugging Ward too but decided he must make the first move. And praise God, he did. He caught her shoulder and pressed his forehead to hers.

“Thank you for a very good day.”

She enfolded the gesture to herself as he drove away. She watched until they reached their home. Ward waved his hat and she lifted her hand in acknowledgment then went inside to tidy the kitchen. Her heart filled with joy.

She knew what she wanted. And it wasn’t to prove she could run her own farm. A verse she had read as she searched for answers the last few days said it for her. I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house. Of course it wasn’t the house that the verse referred to. That was about Abraham’s servant seeking a wife for Isaac. But she had no doubt that God had led her to the right place for her.

Now she just had to trust Him to heal and change Ward’s heart. How long, O Lord?





12





Ward did not allow himself to think about the day’s events until the boys were asleep in their beds. Then he sat at the table and stared at his bunched-up fists.

Freyda had remembered his birthday. No one had ever done that before. It filled his heart with hope but not near as much as when she said she belonged here. She’d touched his chest. He pressed his palm to the place. Did she mean in his heart?

He wasn’t sure what to think or how to interpret her words. He only knew they gave him hope that warred with his fears.

Something Reverend Sorrow had said in his sermon tugged at Ward’s thoughts. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. The preacher had said it was in the Epistle to James.

Ward got his Bible from the bookshelf and found the passage. He read the words over and over. Desperate to understand how to deal with his fears, he continued reading the entire book. Finally, with a deep sigh, he put the Bible away. God had not answered his plea for wisdom. Not yet. That left him little choice but to continue as he had been. Finish Freyda’s seeding, then they would go their separate ways. With a self-mocking smile, he changed that to parallel ways. Both of them working within sight of each other. Both doing similar tasks except he had the boys to tend. He pictured the situation. Two teams of horses. Two fields. Two adults. Two little boys. Something in that scene seemed redundant. Or was he only wishing for things beyond his reach?