Cora's Deception (9781476398280) (35 page)

Father’s salvation brought happiness and a
lightness to her step. The trees were full and green with their
tiny new leaves. Squirrels scampered through the dry leaves and ran
up the trees to hide at the top and scold her for invading their
domain. Wild rabbits and other small game fled before her. The
forest was cool, forcing her to draw her shawl closer about her
shoulders.

Her feet carried her to the hollow sycamore.
She peered through the opening, letting her eyes adjust to the
darkness within. It all looked familiar and dear. Everywhere in the
forest she saw Aaron, but she couldn’t leave without going to the
meadow.

Before she reached the flat rock
overshadowing the spring, the bubbling water called out a welcome.
She smiled and stepped onto the rock. At the edge, she gazed out
over the beautiful green meadow.

“Oh, no.” Her heart constricted.

Someone had started a
cabin in her meadow, hers and Aaron’s. This was where they’d wanted
to build their home. Aaron’s words came back to her.
There’s a perfect place for a cabin up in the
meadow where you can still see the spring.

He’d been right. The half-built cabin stood
in the very spot they’d picked for their home. The walls were
nearly as tall as a man. Movement behind the back wall caught her
attention. Someone was there now working. A new family moving into
the area, no doubt. Otherwise, they would’ve asked for help. A man
and woman alone couldn’t put a roof on a cabin. They’d still need
help.

Cora swallowed her disappointment and turned
toward the gentle slope that led down into the meadow. She would
ignore her hurt long enough to meet the new family and welcome them
to the community. Her feet moved through early wildflowers, setting
them waving in a colorful display. She rounded the cabin. The care
and expertise in fitting the logs together stood out. One thing was
certain. The man building this cabin was a craftsman. Even Aaron
couldn’t have done better.

With a deep breath for courage and a smile
of welcome on her face, Cora turned the corner and stopped. A soft
gasp escaped.

Aaron looked up with an ax lifted above his
shoulder, one foot on a log.

~*~

Cora. Aaron blinked. Either his dreams were
becoming more real, or Cora stood in front of him. Her name slipped
out with a rush of air. “Cora?”

“Aaron, is it really you?” She appeared as
stunned as he felt.

“How’d you know I was
here?” Aaron tossed his ax to the side and looked past her.
Where’s Merrill?
“I
never even told Ralph.”

She shook her head. “I didn’t know.”

“Where’s your husband? Are you visitin’ your
folks?”

“My husband?” Cora took a step toward him.
“What are you talking about? I’m not married, and I never will be.
The only man I could ever love deserted me nine months ago.” Her
eyes narrowed. “He didn’t even have the consideration to tell me he
was going.”

Aaron’s brows pulled together. So Merrill
left her high and dry, had he? What kind of man was that dandy,
anyhow?

“I suppose you have nothing to say about
that.” Cora crossed her arms.

“What’re you mad at me for?” Aaron frowned.
“Merrill’s the one you should be mad at. All I did was get out of
the way so’s you could marry him.”

“You—you ignorant man!” Cora rushed at him,
her fists raised and tears streaming down her cheeks. Both fists
smashed into his chest before she fell against him sobbing. “I h-h,
love you.”

Either his hearing was going bad, or she
said she loved him. Sounded like she wanted to say she hated him,
though. He put his arm around her and pulled a handkerchief from
his pocket. “Here, Cora, let’s dry your eyes then have us a talk.
We ain’t gettin’ our meanin’ to each other, it don’t seem.”

Cora wiped her eyes then stared at the
handkerchief. “It’s the one I gave you.”

He nodded. “I told you I always carry it
over my heart. I ain’t changed any, Cora.”

She stared at him as if looking for the
truth. Then she turned and sat on a low pile of logs beside the
cabin.

He sat beside her. “I thought you’d be
married by now and livin’ in the city.”

She shook her head. “How could I? You left
me, Aaron.”

“I never left you, Cora. I left for you.”
Pain from that time struck Aaron’s heart anew. “Merrill said you
wanted him. He had a letter from you. Said he’d come to take you
back home with him. He wasn’t much, but he could give you
everything you want. Things I never could. Why didn’t you marry
him?”

“I don’t love him.” She jumped up and paced
away then back. “George became a nuisance, so Father ran him off.
He left the day after you did, and we haven’t seen him since. Last
I heard, he married a girl from St. Louis. Alice someone from a
fine family with money and influence. It’s the sort of thing George
found necessary in a wife. Love and kindness doesn’t matter to him.
I feel sorry for Alice.”

“You don’t sound heartbroken.” Aaron
searched her eyes for the truth. Had George broken her heart?

Cora’s lips turned up the slightest bit. “My
heart’s broken, but not by George. How could you hurt me like
this?”

Moisture filled her perfect blue eyes as her
lips turned down. Her words and tears were like rocks striking his
insides. His breathing paused. “I don’t—I only stepped out of your
way.”

“You didn’t have faith in me or in our
love.” She folded her arms and turned around as if she might walk
away.

He started to rise when she turned back, her
shoulders squared and her chin lifted. “This isn’t fair,
Aaron.”

What did she want? He didn’t understand.
Before he could think, she kicked the logs he sat on, scattering
them and him. “Where’s your wife?”

Aaron jumped to his feet. “My wife? Where’d
you get such an idea? I ain’t married.”

“Then why are you building this cabin in my
meadow?” Cora’s chin jutted out, and she motioned toward his
building.

“To live in.”

“Ivy said you were never coming back.”

“I didn’t plan to, but I couldn’t stay away.
Did Ivy get married?”

Cora’s hands landed on her hips. “Aaron
Stark. How dare you tell me you’ve been here long enough to start
building, but haven’t been to see your sister. She’s going to be a
mother in a couple of months. Did you know that? Ralph gave her
away at her wedding. That was your job. But no, you weren’t here.
My mother died, and I needed you, but you weren’t here then,
either, were you?” Tears again trailed down her cheeks, and she
brushed at them.

“Cora, Darlin’, I’m sorry.” Aaron moved
forward and pulled her into his arms. “I didn’t know about your
mother.”

He held her close, talking in a soft voice.
“I wouldn’t hurt you for the world. I love you, Cora. With all my
heart I love you. It near killed me seein’ you with that dandy. I
didn’t figure you’d want me anymore after he come for you.”

“You didn’t trust me. God put us together,
Aaron, but you couldn’t . . .” She wiped her eyes then leaned into
his shoulder “Why’d you come back now?” Her voice was muffled
against his shirt.

“You wasn’t in Springfield. Here’s where you
were livin’ in my remembrances. I can see you spinnin’ around in
our meadow, standin’ up there above the spring, or walkin’ in the
woods. I hear your voice when the wind whispers through the trees.
I couldn’t be with you any other way, so I came here. Can you give
me another chance, Cora? I’ll never doubt your love again.”

“Oh, Aaron, I love you.”

“I love you with every beat of my heart,
Cora. I always will.” Aaron brushed his lips across the top of her
head. “Will you forgive me for bein’ so stupid?”

Cora nodded. “I did that a long time ago. I
even forgave George the day God forgave me.”

Aaron stepped back and looked into Cora’s
eyes. His heart leapt at her confession. “Does that mean you
got—”

Cora’s smile spread, and she nodded. “Yes,
I’ve been born again. Oh, Aaron, Father prayed before I left home
today, so he’s a Christian too. And Eliza did, too, not long after
Mother died.”

Aaron grinned. “So you found the way. I
reckon I can quit prayin’ for that.”

“I’ve prayed for you every day, Aaron. I
didn’t know where you were or what had happened to you.” Cora clung
to his hand.

He shrugged. “I got a job in the stockyards.
Didn’t take much to live on for just me, so I saved most of what I
made and used it to buy our spring meadow. I couldn’t forget it or
you, Cora. I only been back a couple of weeks, but I got a lot
done.” He chuckled. “And a lot more to do.”

“Why don’t you ask for help?”

Aaron’s heart began a rapid, but steady,
pound. “Maybe if I had a reason to hurry, I would.” He pinned her
with his eyes. “Can you give me a reason, Cora?”

Her lashes lowered. “What do you mean?”

“Will you marry me? Will you live here in
this cabin as soon as it’s finished?” He took her hand and touched
her cheek to bring her gaze to his. “I love you, Cora. This is
where we talked about livin’ and raisin’ a family. It isn’t too
late for us to do that, is it?”

Cora shook her head and smiled at him. “No,
it isn’t too late.”

His breath rushed out before he knew he was
holding it. “Can you tell me straight out. Will you marry me for
sure?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

Aaron’s grin grew. “We’ll get the neighbors
in here to help us. Did I tell you I love you, Cora?”

His head lowered for a kiss he’d only
dreamed of for far too long. A kiss even sweeter than he
remembered.

“I’ll walk you home so’s I can talk to your
father. Then I’ll go on to Bill Reid’s and see my baby sister.
Can’t believe Ivy’s gonna be a mama.”

“Oh, you don’t know Ralph’s married, too, do
you?” Cora fell into step with him.

“You don’t say!” Aaron grinned. “To
Eliza?”

Cora shook her head. “No, he married Anna
Hanson. Seems they’re expecting too.”

“Oh.” Didn’t take a smart man to know what
Cora didn’t say. “Reckon my brother needs some praying done in his
behalf.”

“We’ll pray together.”

Aaron stopped and slipped his arms around
Cora. “You don’t know how much I love hearin’ you say that. Last
summer you wouldn’ta even thought it. I didn’t want to admit it
then, but when I went forward at that brush arbor meetin’,
something stood between us. Like I was on one side and you on the
other.”

Cora nodded. “I crossed over to your side,
Aaron. This is where I belong—with you and with God.”

Aaron grinned and pulled her close for
another kiss.

Epilogue

C
ora stood at the entrance of their little log church with
Eliza and Father. Eliza began the walk down the aisle. She stopped
across from Ben, who stood up with Aaron. Cora took her father’s
arm and gave him a smile. Her heart raced toward Aaron. Her gaze
locked with his, and she saw no other until she stood beside
him.

Brother Timothy held his Bible open in his
hands. “Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God
and man to join this man and this woman together in the holy estate
of matrimony.”

His words blurred as Aaron’s hand held hers
in a warm clasp. Her love for him had only grown with their
separation.

“Will you, Aaron James Stark, take this
woman, whom you hold by the hand to be your wedded wife, promising
to keep, cherish, and defend her and to be her faithful and true
husband so long as you both shall live?” Brother Timothy looked at
Aaron.

Aaron smiled into Cora’s eyes. “Yes, I
will.”

“Will you, Cordella Jane Jackson, take this
man whom you hold by the hand to be your wedded husband, promising
to adhere unchangeably to him in all life’s changes, and to be his
loving and true wife till death divide you?”

“I will.” Cora breathed the words. This was
no dream. Somehow, while Aaron finished the house and she’d
prepared for their wedding, the past two weeks passed in a happy
blur. Now here they stood together before church, minister, and God
vowing their love and commitment to each other.

“What, therefore, God hath joined together,
let not man put asunder.” Brother Timothy grinned from Cora to
Aaron and gave a slight nod. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss your bride.”

Cora looked up into Aaron’s wonderful face
from the unruly curls in his dark hair, his bright, blue eyes, to
his strong jaw, and the dimple in his chin. She would never stop
loving him. She moved forward as he took her in his arms. His kiss
was sweet with the promise of his love. They were married. She’d
heard and answered love’s tender call—Aaron’s and her Heavenly
Father’s—although she’d fought against both. Without one, would she
have the other? Cora’s heart soared. She’d believed so many lies,
but the truth shone through each.

Together she walked beside
her husband into the sunshine outside. There she looked toward
heaven.
Are you watching,
Mother?

“She knows, Darlin’.” Aaron held her close
and dipped his head for a quick kiss before the church emptied.

~*~*~*~

More
Brides of Cedar Creek
Coming
Soon:

Eliza’s Mistake—Book
Two

Eliza Jackson is mistaken about so many
things, and the choices she makes because of it threaten to ruin
everything she holds most dear. Sometimes plans go wrong.

Rewritten from
Eliza
, previously
published by Barbour Publishing. Available in e-book now. Also in
paperback.

Rebekah’s Scorn—Book
Three

When Rebekah Newkirk is jilted within a week
of her wedding, she decides to marry the first decent, God-fearing
man who asks. After all, true love is only an illusion, right?