A Promise for Ellie (42 page)
“I finally know the answer. You weren’t ready yet.” Haakan stared without flinching into his son’s eyes.
“Are we now?”
Haakan nodded. “I believe so.”
“Thank you.”
Making his way to Dr. Elizabeth’s surgery, Andrew kept one arm around Ellie, keeping her safe, next to his heart.
She could hear his heart pounding when they neared the house. Perhaps Andrew wasn’t as sure of himself as he wanted her to believe.
Please, Lord, make this go right
.
“In there,” Elizabeth said after hugging him close, stepping back to look at him, and hugging him again.
Andrew stopped in the doorway. “May I come in?”
Toby nodded. “Yes, please do.”
Andrew took the offered hand and held it between both of his. “Toby, if you hate me forever, I’ll understand, but I have to ask you.” He leaned forward. “Will you forgive me?” The silence in the room quivered like an overused muscle.
The words came slowly, but they were all there. “Yes, I forgive you.”
“Thank you. I cannot tell you how relieved I am.” Since Toby was sitting in the chair, Andrew sat down on the bed as if all the strength had gone out of his legs. He paused, then asked the question he should have asked before flying off the handle and attacking Toby. “Do you know how the fire started?”
Toby nodded. “I think there must . . . have been a hot spot. I smelled smoke . . . came from the haymow.”
“But I checked it every day.” Andrew rubbed shaking fingers back and forth on his forehead. “We were sure the hay was dry enough.”
It
was my fault, not his. God forgive me.
“I’m sorry. Those things just happen sometimes.”
Andrew looked back at Toby. “Why were you there?”
“I was building nest boxes. Grace asked me to . . . for wedding presents.”
Oh, Lord, talk about heaping coals upon my fiery head.
“You’re a better man than I am, Toby.” Andrew sighed.
“Then this is over.”
The two men stared into each other’s eyes and nodded. It was indeed over.
“Right now Ellie and I are going out to see our house. I’ll come by later.”
Toby nodded and smiled. “Go.”
Ellie let Andrew lift her into Elizabeth’s buggy, and together they rode out to their house. With so much to be said, they just sat together, arms locked, and watched their house come closer.
He stopped the horse by the house. “Will you marry me, Ellie Wold?”
“Yes.” She gazed into the deep blue pools of his eyes. “As soon as the threshing crew returns.”
“I promise you, Ellie, that I will never lose my temper like that again. I will never strike anyone in anger.”
“Oh, Andrew, can you keep that promise?”
“I can and I will . . . by the grace of God.” He grinned at her. “And by chopping wood.”
He kissed her then, a kiss that made up for all the loss and longing, a kiss that promised new life to be built upon the old ashes.
“H
URRY, ELLIE!
”
“Rachel, you leave Ellie alone. This is one day she doesn’t have to hurry.” Goodie adjusted the sash to her daughter’s wedding dress and looked over her shoulder into the tall oval mirror. “You are just the prettiest bride there ever was.”
“I might be the longest waiting bride.” Here it was October, Indian summer, and she had planned to be married in June. To think of all that had gone on in the last five months. She shook her head. “But I think I must be the happiest.”
“I surely do hope so. You and Andrew did a heap of growing up this summer.” Goodie brushed a bit of lint off the shoulder of the white lawn dress that Ellie had sewn last May. “I was afraid it would be too big for you, much weight as you lost.”
“But I am fine now, Mor. If we don’t hurry, we will be late.”
“I told you so.” Rachel clapped her hands on her hips and huffed a pretend sigh.
Olaf helped her into the buggy that waited outside the house that she and Andrew would finally move into. “You look so lovely, my dear.” He kissed her cheek.
“I wish Hans could have come.”
“I do too, but . . . well, you will see him at Christmas.We’ll all be here for Christmas.” Goodie joined Ellie in the buggy, and Rachel squeezed in on the front seat beside Olaf and Arne, who laughed all the way to the church.
The music flowed out to greet them, and the last guest disappeared inside.
“You ready?” her father asked.
“Yes.”
Olaf helped her out and settled her hand through the crook of his arm. “Mother, lead the way.”
When Ellie walked through the door, the congregation breathed as one in delight. She floated down the aisle, her gaze locked on Andrew’s. They said their vows without a fault, accompanied by sniffs and tears at the beautiful words.
“Do you, Andrew Bjorklund, take Ellie Wold to be your lawful wedded wife . . . ?”
“I do. . . .”
Ellie’s voice broke, then cleared as she finished. “. . . to love and to cherish till death do us part.”
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Pastor Solberg beamed at them both. “Andrew, you may kiss your bride.”
“I love you, Ellie.”
She nodded. “From this day forward. Oh, Andrew, I pray us many days, weeks, and years forward.” They turned and smiled at all their loved ones gathered to celebrate this day. The day that almost never came.
Thank you, heavenly Father,
she whispered in her mind.
Only you
could have made all this possible. You honored your promises again.
I
MEET THE GREATEST PEOPLE
in all my travels, on-line, and at events. Several years ago I met Rae Lynn Schafer, who loves research, especially on-line, and she agreed to help me with mine. Thanks, my friend. Your assistance in invaluable.
It is impossible to recognize all the people who have shared their family stories with me, but I appreciate you all. Many of the details in my books come from your stories, memories, and experiences. What a treasure trove.
By the time I finish a book, I have picked friends’ brains, especially Woodeene’s and Kathleen’s, and rejoiced in editorial help from my so very capable assistant, Cecile, and Sharon Asmus from Bethany House Publishers. I am always grateful for the entire Bethany staff, who do their jobs so well to bring a book to life and out to the readers. Heaps of thanks to you all.
God is generous and gracious to give me forty-four years of teamwork with my husband, Wayne. I could never get all this done without him, and besides we have such fun, especially with all the travel we do. Who could have ever dreamed all this?
Another book is done. To God be the glory.
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Lauraine Snelling’s
Signature Series!
Faced with the forbidding prairies of Dakota Territory, the Bjorklund family must rely on their strength and faith to build a homestead in the untamed Red River Valley.
Laboring from dawn till dark, breaking and cutting sod, planting and harvesting what little they can, the family suffers tragedy and loss but also joy, hope, and a love that continues strong through the daunting challenges of making a home in this difficult land.
R
ED
R
IVER OF THE
N
ORTH
1. An Untamed Land
2. A New Day Rising
3. A Land to Call Home
4. The Reapers’ Song
5. Tender Mercies
6. Blessing in Disguise
