The One Who Waits for Me (34 page)

The enormity of what he was suggesting, or at least hinting at, began to sink in. “We will stay here forever?”

“Not forever.” His smile was warm and tender. “We have an eternal home, and it's not here.”

“What are you suggesting?” Was he proposing?

Scooting closer, he reached for her hand. “Will you wait for me? I mean, when I return, will you—”

Grasping his hand, Joanie's heart felt as though it would come through her chest. “Yes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes. I will marry you when you return.”

Smiling, he drew her face closer and whispered, “I will only be gone for a short while. You will stay here, soak in the springs, and get better.”

“What about Beth and Pierce? I so long to tell Beth about the hot springs. She wonders about my improvement, and I feel dishonest not telling her how the waters have helped me.”

“I know it is hard to keep silent about this wonderful thing, but you must for just a little while longer. Until the new town is formed. Then you will be able to share the news with your sister. It is my belief that the Father will use these pools to help many.”

“Is Pierce staying too? Beth would be heartbroken if he didn't.”

“Pierce's feelings are apparent in his eyes; he will stay. There are responsibilities we must fulfill, but I sense that both he and Preach will answer the call.”

The news was shocking and exciting. Joanie was trying to take it all in at once. “The Indians…how will they feel having a new community so nearby?”

“Reverend Mother has discussed her dream at great length with the chief. He is resigned.”

Gray Eagle briefly explained the nun's strange request as Joanie shook her head. “She must feel strongly about this idea of Sanctuary.”

“She does. The Cherokee prefers his space, but this is a summer camp. In the fall, the Indians will move south where the temperatures are warmer and the buffalo are many. At first the community that the sister envisions will be small: Pierce and his wife, Preach and his wife, and me and my wife.”

Wife
. The word sounded so wonderful to her ears. “What about Trella and Beth?”

Giving her a patient look, he said, “I somehow think they will be accounted for. Reverend Mother wants the community to be small. A refuge for weary travelers.”

Shaking her head, Joanie said, “What travelers?”

“The ones God sends our way.”

“That's sounds crazy.”

“Do you feel it was crazy that God led us here, to this place?”

“No. I prayed for a miracle and God answered.”

To her way of thinking, God sent her here, to these springs, to these sisters, and to the Cherokee, and it seemed He had another grand plan—one of those special things He did that appeared to have no basis in logic. “I would love to make this land my home.”

His eyes lit with joy.

Leaning up, she kissed him. His lips were warm, strong. Amazing.

“Forever, if God wishes,” she whispered.

“I'll only be gone a few short weeks.”

“They will feel like a hundred, but I will wait,” she said before fully surrendering to his kiss.

M
iss Trella?” Preach parted the thick hide that was the doorway and stepped inside the tent.

Trella glanced up and smiled when she saw her visitor. “Preach. Good morning.”

“Good morning.” Squatting beside her, his eyes took in the sleeping baby. “How's our little Esther this morning?”

“Good. Very good. We switched to cow's milk at the last feeding, and she's handling it well.”

Preach made a few cooing sounds before his eyes grew serious. “I came to tell you I'll be leaving tomorrow.”

“I figured as much. I'll…miss you.”

“I'm going to miss you too. And the baby.”

Blinking back tears, the young black woman averted her eyes.

“Trella? What are you going to do when you leave here?”

She didn't look at him but gazed instead at the sleeping infant. “I've been giving the matter much thought and prayer. I can't afford to raise Esther. It breaks my heart, but I've decided to leave her in a foundling home—”

“No!” Preach's deep baritone shook the tent.

She glanced up, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes. “Preach. I've never heard you speak so forcefully.”

“You've never said something so…” He bit back words.

“Wrong?” she supplied. Her eyes returned to the infant. “I've prayed and prayed about the matter, but the only answer that comes to my head is this: If I can't care for Esther properly, then I should give her to someone who will.”

“I won't let you give your baby away, Trella.”

“Preach, I…I don't have a choice.”

“Yes, ma'am. You do.” He got to his feet, hat in hand. “Now, I got something to ask you, and I don't want you saying a word until I finish. You hear?”

“I hear.”

“Well now, seems God has a funny way of taking care of business, but here's what's happened.” He explained the nun's offer to provide land if the men would oversee the formation of a new community. “Don't rightly know why anyone would make such a suggestion, but appears to me that the good Lord must want this place called Sanctuary.” His eyes met hers. “It sure will be a godsend for us.”

“Yes, sir. And your point?”

“Ma'am…” Preach kept his eyes straight ahead. Bending to his knees, hat in hand, he went on. “Miss Trella, would you do me the honor of marrying me?”

Trella's jaw dropped. “Preach!”

He met her stunned gaze. “Yes, ma'am?”

“You…can't mean it. I'm…soiled. I'm nothing—”

“You're wrong about that. You're a good woman, Trella Jones. You're sensible, and loving, God-fearing, and the best mother on earth, and that's what I want in a woman I'm going to spend the rest of my life with. You're everything I want in a wife.”

Still on his knees, he reached for her hand. “You understand what I'm saying? There's not a bad bone in you. You've been forced to do bad things, but that part of your life is over. Nobody is ever going to force you to do anything you don't like again. I'm asking you to be my wife. To help me start a church in this new town. It wasn't my idea when I rode off almost three weeks ago for home to marry and become a father all at once, but then it wasn't your idea to fall in with the likes of Walt Jornigan.”

Tears coursed down Trella's cheeks. “No, it wasn't.”

“Hush now.” His big, clumsy fingers wiped at her tears of joy. “We're not ever gonna speak of the past again. You hear? If you'll do me the honor of marrying me, and allowing me the privilege of being Esther's papa and your husband, you'll make me the happiest man on earth.”

“Oh, Preach. You deserve so much better than me.”

His hold tightened. “If you'll accept my proposal, you'll be giving me all I'll ever want or need.” He gently shook her clasped hands. “I love you, woman. I fell in love with both you and Esther. I don't see how I could go without either one of you in my life.”

Laughing through her tears, Trella admitted, “You do sound serious.”

He sobered. “Serious as drought. Marry me, Trella.”

Slowly rising, she met his adoring gaze. “I would be honored to marry you, Preach.”

He took her in his arms and kissed her soundly. Then he gently pulled away, meeting her gaze. “It's my honor, Trella. All mine.”

“Give you land?” Beth frowned. “Why would Reverend Mother want to do that?”

Pierce explained, and then added, “It does sound a little far-fetched.”

As they walked beside the stream, he reached for her hand to help her over a fallen log. Beth had sensed Pierce had something other than exercise on his mind when he'd shown up so early. Now she knew.

“Actually, you're not going to like this part.”

“Like what?” She stopped, facing him. “What's going on?”

He focused on her, his expression sheepish. “It seems, Miss Beth, that we may be co-owners of a turnip patch.”

“What?”

“The land you bought?”

“Yes.” Her heart thumped. Her and Joanie's future.

“I think you and I might have purchased the same plot from the same newspaper source.”

“That's impossible.”

He cocked a brow. “You think anything is impossible? After what we've been through?”

“You're not making a lick of sense.”

“The
Savannah Daily News and Herald
, six months ago, three dollars and a nickel an acre?”

Beth nodded hesitantly, her heart sinking.

“Sister Mary Margaret sold both of us land that wasn't hers to sell.”

Beth reeled. “Mary Margaret? She sold us—” Her hand moved involuntarily to cover her mouth. “We own the bean and turnip patch? Oh dear me!”

“Oh dear us. Truthfully, we don't own anything. Reverend Mother—or God—wants us to take that parcel of land and make it a town.”

“This can't be happening.”

“That's what I thought, but it is.”

“Reverend Mother offered us land anyway?”

“Twenty-five acres. For all of us to use. Me, Gray Eagle, Preach…and our mates.”

She wouldn't look at him now. “Then it wasn't offered to Joanie and me. It was offered to you.”

“I knew you'd say that.”

“It's the truth.”

“I reminded Reverend Mother of the fact that none of us are married, and of a more serious problem. You hate men.”

Smothering a chuckle, Beth kept her eyes fixed on the stream. “Well, maybe not
all
men.”

“Oh? You've had a change of attitude?”

Heat rose to her cheeks as she looked up at him. “You take such delight in teasing me.”

“I surely do.” Sighing, he winked. “If I couldn't tease you, Beth, my life wouldn't be worth a fig.”

“Well, Pierce, anything to make your life worthwhile.”

She sighed inwardly. She didn't own land. She'd bought turnips. She and Joanie and Trella would have to hope to make a new life elsewhere. No sweet tea for her.

They walked on in silence. He'd hadn't dropped her hand once they cleared the log, but she had to admit that she didn't mind.

“My brother can run the plantation back home.”

She glanced sideways. “What did you tell Reverend Mother?”

“Nothing, yet.” He turned to meet her eyes. “If you and Joanie won't stay, then I'll have to do some more praying about the matter.”

Her heart thrummed. What was he suggesting? After a moment of hesitancy, she said, “I think…we could be convinced to stay.”

That was as far as she would allow herself to commit. But then she said, “You
have
to do as Reverend Mother asks, Pierce. It's not such a bad idea—to provide a haven for hurting souls.” She, Joanie, and Trella could have used such a place. But then, God had already provided it. Here, in this lovely valley that surely must look a whole lot like heaven.

Squeezing her hand, he winked at her again. “Then it's settled. We stay. You, me, Joanie, Gray Eagle, Preach, and Trella.”

“I don't think it's proper for six unmarried men and women to form a community.”

“I've been giving that matter considerable thought,” he agreed, pausing to meet her gaze. “It wouldn't be proper.”

“There's always Bear to consider,” she reminded. “He's still around.”

“I eat bear for breakfast.”

He was teasing, but Beth knew this man had no fear of her kin. Since his father's death her cousin had changed. He seemed broken now. Contrite almost. He had gone home, promising to never come near them again, but maybe his old nature would spring back to life one day.