An Inconvenient Match (33 page)

“I know.”

“Wade, I haven’t put my trust in God. I’ve tried to fix everything. Some of those things aren’t my business or even in my power to fix.” Her smile wobbled. “I’ve come from talking with God, really talking to Him, listening too.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I confessed my sin, asked for His forgiveness and turned my life over to Him.” She sighed. “Knowing me, I’ll be tempted to snatch it back, but the only thing I’m to manage, with God’s help, is me and my classroom.”

Wade lifted a hand to her hair, touching her, wanting to pull her to him with a desperation that left him shaken. “Oh, Abby, I love you.”

At his declaration she stiffened, silencing him as effectively as a muzzle. He’d let her have her say.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Wade, but trusting God isn’t the same as trusting you.” She looked away, then back. “Why did you toss me aside in high school? Were you only pretending to care?”

“No! Please believe me. You were the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“Then why?”

The owl hooted again. Time ticked to the beat of his racing heart. “Some things are better left in the past.”

“Nothing stays in the past, Wade,” she said gently. “Those things creep into the future. I have to understand.” She swallowed hard. “Be honest and tell me why.”

She was right. If they had any chance for happiness, they had to face facts and share their feelings. The reality—he hadn’t been honest with her or with himself. He’d convinced himself he had to protect Abby from the ugly truth. But another reason kept him silent. Mistrust. Underneath, he’d feared telling her the truth would shatter the last hope of a future with Abby. Yet that fear revealed a lack of confidence in Abby and God to work it out.

He took her hand and led her to the bale of straw, tugging her down beside him. “The reason I broke up with you…” he inhaled, exhaled, breathing a silent prayer “…involves your father.”

“My father? How?”

“Frank found out we were spending time together. You know small towns—everything’s public knowledge.” She nodded, so he went on. “On the way to school one morning he stopped me. Livid at me for what he called sneaking around behind his back. He…warned me to stop seeing you.”

On her face surprise changed to shock then shock to horror. If only he could take back his words, but he couldn’t. The truth stood between them, stark and cold.

She bit her lower lip, then sighed. “Go on.”

“He said that if I didn’t stop seeing you, he’d send you back East to live with relatives.”

“To Aunt Gertrude’s?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

That question had sat on his chest for a long time. “I grew up without a mother. I knew how much you loved yours. I couldn’t take the risk that your father was bluffing. Or be the wedge between you. Lest one day you’d hate me for what I’d cost you.”

Her eyes turned distant, focusing over his left shoulder. “Pa died three years ago. Why didn’t you explain this then?”

“You loved him. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

The tears welling in her eyes spilled down her cheeks. “He would’ve done it. He would’ve sent me away.” She shivered.

He drew her close, wanting to ease her pain.

She pulled away from his arms and scrambled to her feet. “I have to go.”

“Abby—”

“If I don’t get home to help with the picnic preparations, Ma will send a posse to look for me.” She laughed but the sound held no humor. “We’ll…talk about this later.”

With that flimsy excuse she shot out the door.

He wasn’t fooled. Abby was running from the information, from him, from the future they could have.

Despite all she’d said, she still didn’t trust him. Like a blow to the chest, that truth walloped him hard, shattering the hope he’d clung to. As he’d feared, the truth about the breakup had cost him Abby. Frank Wilson had won, even from the grave.

Wade had his father’s answer. Now he needed Abby’s. And he would get it today.

After he’d had time to think and pray about Abby’s reaction last night, he’d realized he shouldn’t have expected her to fall into his arms when she’d just been told the tough truth about her father. She needed time to digest the facts. To see how she felt about her father’s actions, how she felt about Wade keeping the truth from her.

The congregation of New Harmony First Christian spilled out of church, carrying picnic baskets and blankets, abuzz with speculation about what had happened to end the long-standing feud between the Wilsons and Cummingses. The two families had sat in the middle of the church, not shoulder to shoulder, but separated by only a few pews.

Oscar Moore sidled up beside Wade and his father, grinning like a Cheshire cat with a secret. Tugging on his suspenders, he leaned in. “Glad to help you out today,” he said in a stage whisper then with a wink, he ambled on.

“What’s that about?” his father asked.

“A plan. A plan for my future.”

George grinned. “I hope that plan includes Abigail.”

Wade hoped the same. But where was Abby? She hadn’t come out of the church.

Before he could go inside to look for her, Joe stopped in front of his father, both men leaning on canes.

With a wide smile on his face, Joe shook George’s hand. “I’m beholden to you for saving my life, Mr. Cummings.”

“The Lord put me there at the right time and the right place for that very purpose.”

“I’m mighty grateful for His care and for yours. If I can do anything for you, ask.”

Across the way families carried baskets to tables constructed from sawhorses and boards, dropping off dishes, then spread out, searching for shade. He needed to set his plan in motion before the picnic began.

“Excuse me, gentlemen, I have a lady to see,” Wade said then took the church steps two at a time.

With Wade’s assertion that he loved her roiling inside, Abigail sat beside Ma. Her hand sought her neck, then she remembered she’d removed the baby ring she’d worn on a chain all these years. She still loved her father but she saw him and herself more clearly. She wasn’t Pa’s baby girl anymore. She was a grown woman at a crossroads. She fiddled with her skirt, pleating the folds with shaky fingers.

Ethel covered Abigail’s hand with her own. “Tell me what’s on your mind before you ruin your Sunday best.”

Would what she had to say hurt Ma as it had hurt her? Her breath caught. Or did Ma already know? “Wade said Pa threatened to send me to Aunt Gertrude’s if he didn’t stop seeing me.” Her eyes filled with sudden tears. “I can’t believe Pa would have been so cruel as to send me away.”

“Abby girl, what your father did, he did out of love.”

Ma had known all along. The knowledge pressed against her lungs.

“He truly believed Wade Cummings would break your heart.” She lifted Abigail’s chin, forcing her to meet her eyes. “With all that happened, can you understand why he felt he had to do everything in his power to protect you?”

“Was that love? Or revenge?”

“Your pa never stopped loving you, Abigail Louise. He believed the Cummingses couldn’t be trusted.” Ethel squeezed her hand. “He laid his feelings about the father on the son.”

“But Wade was just a boy when Pa lost the farm and the railroad money.”

“I know. What Frank believed isn’t the gospel truth. Trust your heart, Abby girl.”

Abigail wasn’t sure what her heart was telling her. She only wanted to get through the picnic, to escape the anguish of seeing Wade.

Ethel motioned to the back door. Wade stood in the opening. “I’ll leave you two alone,” she said then marched up the aisle, said a word to Wade then left the church.

As Wade’s long strides ate up the distance between them, Abigail’s heart pounded in her chest with every step. She couldn’t take her eyes off him.

He sat beside her in the pew and took her hand. “Are you hiding from me?”

She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. “Maybe.”

“Why? You have nothing to fear from me.”

Desperate to make him understand, she said, “Love brought terrible heartache to my mother and sister. You and your dad were hurt by love too.”

“You’re afraid to love me.”

“The problem isn’t you. I believe with all my heart that you’re a good man. I’m the problem. I’ve spent my life half living, fretting. I’m not sure I’m ready.”

“I know what life is like without love. It’s empty, Abby. Lonely. Is that the life you want?”

Shaking her head, she studied her hand wrapped in his.

“I’ll risk pain over that awful emptiness.” He brushed his lips over her knuckles. “Love is stronger than fear. When we love God and each other fear is defeated.”

Hadn’t she seen that yesterday when she’d talked to God right here in this church? Felt the peace that truly loving God brought her. Rachel had suggested God might’ve brought Wade back to her, a man to his woman. Wasn’t giving herself permission to love part of trusting God’s plan for her life?

“Do you believe that?” he asked gently.

“Yes. Yes, I do.”

“I think you’ll appreciate this,” Wade said then reached inside his suit jacket.

Her heart tumbled. Was Wade going to give her a ring?

He pulled out a document. Not a ring.

She bit back a sigh laden with disappointment. Perhaps she wasn’t as afraid to love as she’d thought.

“Abby, this is the deed to the Wilson farm.” He handed it to her. “It’s legal, free and clear. Harrison looked it over.”

Had she heard him right? “You want us to have the farm?”

“The land rightfully belongs to your family.”

“Your father agreed to this? Why?”

His expression turned evasive.

“We’re going to be honest with each other, remember?”

“I told my father I’d work for him, give up my shop, if he’d return the farm.”

She shoved the deed away. “I won’t let you do that. You’re talented, a craftsman—”

“I didn’t have to.” His voice clogged. “Dad wouldn’t hear of my giving up the shop.”

Her jaw dropped.

“I can barely believe it myself. He says he’ll ask Regina’s husband to run the bank. I hope he agrees so they’ll move back.”

“I think he’ll agree once Lawrence sees your dad’s changed.”

“You’re a big part of the reason.” His fingers curved around her cheek. “Abby, don’t ever doubt I’d give up my dream. I’d give up anything on this earth for you.” His gaze darkened. “I saw what happened when my father put the success of business above my mother’s happiness. I won’t make that mistake.”

He took her hand. “Joe can work the Wilson land and provide for his family. For your mother.”

Momentarily unable to speak, Abigail squeezed Wade’s hand, fighting tears. “The farm is the perfect place for five boys to grow up. I see God’s provision in all of this. Your dad’s willingness to give us the farm isn’t the business decision he usually makes.”

“He feels guilty about the railroad deal. Returning the land to your family is his way of an apology.” He grinned. “Likely the only apology you’ll get.”

“As cantankerous as George can sometimes be, your father owns a piece of my heart.”

“I’m hoping I own the largest piece.” He gulped. “Do I?”

With a teasing grin, she cocked her head at him. “What do you think?”

“I think we’re missing the auction.”

“What auction?”

“Wait and see.” Eyes twinkling, he pulled her to her feet then tucked the deed back in his jacket. “I’ll keep this for now.”

Outside they walked to the Wilson blankets where he left her with a mischievous grin. What was going on?

It was time.

Wade threw up a hand, his signal to Oscar.

Oscar shuffled to the main food table, let out a shrill whistle. The crowd quieted, no doubt expecting Pastor Ted’s prayer.

“Been asked to hold a small auction, folks.” Oscar leaned back on the soles of his feet. “Way I hear it, Wade Cummings wants another chance to bid on Abigail Wilson’s basket. Not sure what he’s up to, but I’m curious to find out.”

A grin on his face, Oscar shuffled to the Wilson blanket. “Apparently, she’s already unloaded it.” He turned to Wade. “What’s my bid? What’s my bid on this empty basket?”

As folks moved closer to watch, heat climbed Abby’s neck and flooded into her cheeks. Her wary gaze bored into Wade.

“I’ll bid fifteen dollars,” Wade said.

“Not much of a bid from a man in love,” Oscar groused.

Grinning, Wade stepped forward. “In that case, let me change my offer.” He tugged the woman he adored to her feet.

Blue eyes flashed with alarm. “What are you doing?”

“Trust me,” he whispered.

Then he turned to the crowd. “You see, Oscar, I’ve discovered man doesn’t live by bread alone.” He took Abby’s fisted hands and knelt on one knee, gazing up at the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on. “I’ll bid everything I own, everything I am and a lifetime of love for Abigail Wilson’s hand in marriage.”