Rebekah's Quilt (19 page)
Rebekah danced from foot to foot. Indeed, it was frosty out. Cupping her hands, she blew on her already-throbbing fingers. “Is everything alright?”
“Everything’s more than alright, Rebekah.” Drawing ever nearer, he took one hand from his pocket. Letting it brush the side of her face, he remained silent while the little puffs from their breath in the frozen air mingled between them.
Icy fingers grasped her stomach, sending a rash of nervous butterflies shuttering through her body. “Katie stopped me on the way out –”
Joseph laid a finger lightly on her lips. “I don’t want to talk about Katie. I want to talk about you. And us.”
With her knees threatening to give way, Rebekah dropped her voice to a whisper. “I don’t really want to talk about Katie either, even if she may be my sister-in-law someday.”
Joseph’s eyes glimmered as he stared into hers. “Maybe she’ll be mine, too.”
Rebekah paused as the weight of his words met her heart. “Yours …
too
?”
“There was one thing we didn’t talk about after the festival the other day.” Sinking down until he was balanced before her on one knee, Joseph drew the other hand out of his pocket. “My one regret from
rumspringa
.”
“What regret?”
“For not doing this.” On the end of Joseph’s finger glittered a thin band of gold. “It was my Grandma’s. She left it to me in hopes I would give it to my future wife. May I see your hand?”
Slowly as if in a dream, Rebekah lowered her hand into Joseph’s.
“Rebekah Elnora Stoll,” he began, slipping the delicate ring on the appropriate finger. “Will you join with me in creating a future?”
“Oh Joseph.” Rebekah’s words came out in a squeak. Dropping down onto both knees, she grasped both of his hands in hers. “Yes. Yes I will marry you!”
Slipping one hand behind her neck, Joseph pulled her close. His lips brushed hers as he spoke. “I love you, Rebekah, now and forever.”
Rebekah closed her eyes. “I love you, Joseph. You and no other. Forever.”
His cold fingertips on her neck sent shivers down her spine as their lips met, sealing the promise of their eternal love and devotion as the snowflakes began to fall again.
Standing, Joseph helped Rebekah to her feet, snow already swirling around them. He extended his hand. “Ready to go tell the families?”
She took his hand, twining her fingers through his and giving a little squeeze. “Ready.”
Placing his hand on the doorknob, Joseph turned his face toward her. “Well Miss Stoll, are you ready to start the next part of our lives together?” He winked, turning her stomach up in knots.
“I’m ready, Mr. Graber. Let’s do it.” She exhaled the breath she didn’t even realize she’d been holding. “Together.”
MEET THE AUTHOR
Sara Barnard, who was most likely born into the wrong century, is mother to four awesome children. In addition to Rebekah’s Quilt, she has authored the historical romance Everlasting Heart series, consisting of bestselling A Heart on Hold, which was also a 2012 RONE award finalist, A Heart Broken, A Heart at Home, and A Heart Forever Wild – all from 5 Prince Publishing. She also writes for the younger among us. Chunky Sugars is a picture book from 5 Prince Kids and her independently published children’s nonfiction titles, The ABC’s of Oklahoma Plants and The Big Bad Wolf Really Isn’t so Big and Bad, have hit bestseller lists several times. She and her family make their home in the far reaches of the west Texas desert with the Javalina, mesquite trees, and of course, lots and lots of oil.
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