A Harvest of Hope (36 page)
He raised one hand to his face and kissed her knuckles, first one, and then the next.
A thrill charged up her arm and straight into her heart. She wove her fingers through his.
“You are sure you want to live in Blessing, bring your family here, and start a new life? I know you have to graduate first, but . . .” His forehead wrinkled. “That is so far away.”
“Not really, not the way time flies.”
“Do you want to go for a walk?”
“Now?” Her voice squeaked.
“Yes. I have to kiss you, and I do not want to do that here.”
“It's cold out there.”
“I know, but I don't think that will be a problem. Get your coat.”
When they stepped out on the porch, he pointed to the east. “Look. The moon.”
“Ohh. How beautiful.”
The moon threw shadows across the snow and seemed to smile right at them. In perfect step they went down the three stairs and turned to look at the moon again, their breaths a puff
of mist in front of them. With her arm locked securely in his, she leaned her head against the wool of his coat.
“I want to shout for everyone to hear: She loves me! Miriam Hastings has promised to change her name to Knutson.” He laughed and pulled her closer to him, if that were possible. “December twenty-seventh, nineteen hundred and five, will go down in history, our history anyway, as the night she said yes.”
She shivered. “We need to walk.”
“Or.” He turned her around and led her back to the porch and up the steps. But instead of opening the door, he led her off to the side, wrapped her in his arms, and kissed her. Cupping her face in his hands, he whispered, “Are you warm?”
“I am now. Thank you.” Even through his thick coat, she could feel his heart beating against her cheek. Fall and graduation were so far away. Fall and graduation would be here before she knew it. Would she be sorry she'd not be nursing at the Morganstein Hospital in Chicago? She would always have a place to work here in Blessing.
An arrow thought struck! She pulled back to look up into his shadowed face. “Will you mind my nursing here in this hospital?”
“Do you mean, must you stay home?”
“Once we are married, yes.”
He dropped a kiss on her nose. “Not at first, but once we have children . . .”
“Good.” She looked up again. “We have a lot to talk about.”
“We have a lifetime.”
“Not really. My family will live with us.”
“Of course. I hope Tonio decides to go back to school, but I have a feeling he is a man now and will want to work instead.”
“He might decide to stay in Chicago.” The idea made her shudder. “Oh, I hope not.”
“Me too.” This time it was a shiver, not a shudder that jolted her.
“You are cold. Let's go in. We don't have to make all these decisions tonight.”
“True, but I want you to know what you are getting into.”
“Ah, Miriam, my love, you are worth any kind of difficulty. We will work these things out when we need to.” He held the door open for her. “Do you work tomorrow day again?”
“I do.”
“Then I will be here for supper again.”
“Good.”
She trailed a hand on the banister going up the stairs, hugging the secrets to her heart.
Trygve loves me. God loves me.
Was this one of the reasons she was brought to Blessing? And to think she'd almost refused to come.
This was indeed a harvest season of change, changes beyond her hopes and dreams. Her mother used to repeat Bible verses about that very thing:
a time to weep, and a time to
laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance
.
True, but love stayed around forever, in spite of the changing seasons. She had seen it, and now she believed it.
Lauraine Snelling
is the award-winning author of over 70 books, fiction and nonfiction, for adults and young adults. Her books have sold over 3 million copies. Besides writing books and articles, she teaches at writers' conferences across the country. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California.
S
ONG
OF
B
LESSING
To Everything a Season
A Harvest of Hope
An Untamed Heart
R
ED
R
IVER
OF
THE
N
ORTH
An Untamed Land
A New Day Rising
A Land to Call Home
The Reapers' Song
Tender Mercies
Blessing in Disguise
R
ETURN
TO
R
ED
R
IVER
A Dream to Follow
Believing the Dream
More Than a Dream
D
AUGHTERS
OF
B
LESSING
A Promise for Ellie
Sophie's Dilemma
A Touch of Grace
Rebecca's Reward
H
OME
TO
B
LESSING
A Measure of Mercy
No Distance Too Far
A Heart for Home
W
ILD
W
EST
W
IND
Valley of Dreams
Whispers in the Wind
A Place to Belong
D
AKOTAH
T
REASURES
Ruby
Pearl
Opal
Amethyst
S
ECRET
R
EFUGE
Daughter of Twin Oaks
Sisters of the Confederacy
The Long Way Home
A Secret Refuge 3-in-1
