The Rescue (20 page)

A special license was acquired the very week Weston asked Anne to marry him, which meant that the banns had to be read in church only one Sunday. Pastor Hurst took care of this the moment the service ended.

Friends of the future groom, and especially the bride, were shocked by this announcement—there had been no hint—but that swiftly gave way to their pleasure.

Pastor Hurst had suspected as much. For this reason he had left the reading until the end of the hour, knowing how exciting and distracting the news would be.

As would be expected, Anne and Weston, who were sitting quietly in the rear, were thronged. Hugs and well-wishes abounded, all warm and genuine. Some of Anne’s closer friends, such as Lydia, asked to see her soon, but Anne was unable to give an answer.

“When you can.” Lydia left her with those words, and in time Anne found herself alone with her intended.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes, but it’s all so sudden. I hope you weren’t embarrassed.”

Weston’s brows rose. “To be marrying the lady who dwells in the heart of every member of this church? I don’t know why I would be.”

Anne looked at him in surprise.

“Is that really how it seems to you?”

“Certainly. Name one family that doesn’t check on you and mother over you.”

The words could have been said in jealousy or as an accusation, but there was none of that. Anne saw that Mr Weston’s eyes were smiling and he looked very pleased.

“Maybe I’m not a charity case after all,” she said quietly, knowing that her pride was smarting a bit.

“Is that the way I’ve made you feel?”

“No, but I just can’t help but wonder—” Anne stopped, not certain she wanted to voice the words.

“You can tell me.”

Anne might have done just that, but Judith and Pastor Hurst were coming back inside the church—they had been seeing folks off—and Anne decided to keep her mouth closed on the subject.

“I’d best be going,” she said. “I still have things to do.”

“I’ll see you out,” Weston offered before both of them bid the Hursts goodbye.

“Thank you.”

“I do wish I could give you a ride home,” Weston said as they stepped into the warmth outdoors.

“Thank you again, but I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll come for you in the morning.”

Anne looked up at him.

“Since we’ll be married shortly after, I didn’t think it would matter.”

“I’m sure you’re right.”

She had agreed, but Weston heard the hesitancy in her voice.

“Would you rather I didn’t?”

“I was just thinking about the fact that it might do me good to walk one more time.”

Weston hated the very thought, but even more than his own feelings right now, he wanted to bow to her wishes.

“In that case, I’ll meet you here.”

“You don’t mind?”

“The fact that you won’t have to walk after tomorrow makes it tolerable.”

Anne’s head tipped to one side.

“Why does that bother you?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted honestly. “It’s not so bad when you’re only carrying your Bible to church, but when you’re laden down with things from town and have to make that long trek back to Levens Crossing, it doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Thank you,” she simply said.

“For what?”

“For being kind.”

Weston did little more than bow in acknowledgment to this, but his heart was thinking,
Being kind to you, Anne Gardiner, might be the easiest thing I’ve ever done.

The two parted, both a little in awe over the events of the last week. They both trusted their own ears and eyes, as well as the words of their pastor, but that didn’t alter the fact that life would soon change forever.

Thornton Hall

“Are you trying to put me into labor?” Marianne teased Jennings when he arrived home with the news.

“It’s true, Mari. They’re to be married at the manse tomorrow morning.”

Marianne’s mouth swung open.

“But how? When?”

“I didn’t get the minute details, but it seems that Weston approached the Hursts about offering for Anne, and Pastor supported the idea. The very day she came to visit here and went on to the manse was the day the Hursts spoke to her. At some point Weston asked and Anne accepted.”

“Oh, my,” Marianne managed before the youngest of the children found them, repeating Jennings’ news all over again.

“What shall I wear to the wedding?” Penny asked after the story spilled out.

“We’re not going, dear,” her guardian told her, and she looked to Jennings in surprise.

“But we love Anne,” she argued.

“Yes, we do, but the ceremony is private.”

“Who will be there?”

“I believe only Pastor and Mrs Hurst.”

The little girl looked confused and crestfallen over this.

“We’ll have them to dinner after the baby comes, Penny,” Marianne suggested. “You can wear a special dress then.”

The little girl was forced to be content with that, Marianne reassuring her with a few more words, but she was glad when Penny said she wanted to check on lunch, and Marianne could be alone with her husband again.

“How did Anne seem?”

“Overwhelmed and shy, but also somewhat pleased.”

The words did not comfort Marianne overly much. Part of her heart understood what a wonderful step this was for Anne—she would be cared for—but marriage was a serious issue, a permanent one. Would she and Mr Weston be happy together?

Marianne’s gaze dropped to her well-expanded waist. Were she in any other condition she would have gone to Anne on the spot. She was left with only one option: to pray and trust God to take care of her, something she would need to work at for the better part of the day.

Levens Crossing

“I couldn’t wait” were Lydia’s words when Anne opened the door to find her there. Church had been over for many hours, but Anne was still on Lydia’s mind.

“Come in, Lydia,” Anne invited with a smile, not all that surprised to see her.

“Are we alone?”

“Yes. Father is gallivanting. He actually remembered Mr Weston this week, and it’s made him a bit more agitated. He’s glad I’m finally going to live with him.”

Lydia looked surprised by this and then noticed the trunk in the living room.

“Tell me you didn’t carry this down on your own.”

“No,” Anne said on a laugh, “Father did. He just didn’t wait for me to finish. I’ve been dashing up and down the stairs all day.”

Lydia laughed at the idea and then offered to help. The women visited as they folded Anne’s wardrobe. Anne told her how it all came about and the reason they were moving swiftly.

“And you’re all right with this?”

“Since neither one of us is marrying for love, yes. I wouldn’t be in a hurry except that Mr Weston is right. My reputation will be rescued all the sooner if we don’t tarry.”

“Are you certain you know enough about one another?”

“We actually know a good deal about each other. For four days straight we met at the manse and spoke. It didn’t start out that way. I thought we would meet one time and one of us would see we were wrong, but we had more questions and kept coming back to continue our dialog. When we met the fourth day, he asked and I accepted.”

“And you’re sure?”

“Yes. We’ve always known that a man of some means would be the answer to most of Father’s and my problems, Liddy. I just didn’t know a believer who would have me. Now Mr Weston has come along. He doesn’t seem the least put out that we’re not in love, so I’m leading with my head and not my heart. I’m going through with this.”

Once the packing was complete, Lydia left to tell her sister-in-law just what Anne had said. She went directly to Thornton Hall, realizing that Jennings would have taken the word home and Marianne would be wondering.

Knowing that the judgment of the people involved could be trusted, she prayed and asked God to bless this marriage and everyone who would be affected.

Anne left her home with plenty of time to spare on Monday morning. She rather felt as if she was giving something up this day. She knew she was gaining much, but not until just then did she realize how much she cherished her freedom to walk where she pleased. Oh, there were times when it was arduous, but most of the time she enjoyed it. It gave her time to think and pray.

Today she did a lot of both. Nearly strolling on the road to the church, Anne prayed especially for her father. He always fared very well when she was away, but this time she was not coming back.

Please take care of him, heavenly Father. He needs You so. Help him to be well and somehow mindful of You. Help him not to be plagued with fears. Help him to find comfort in You.

Anne heard a carriage approaching and moved carefully off the road. She was getting ready to turn and wave when it slowed to a stop. Weston emerged in short order, a smile on his face.

“At this rate, you’re going to be late for your own wedding.”

“Is it late?” Anne asked, at first not seeing the teasing glint in his eyes.

“No, I’m early.” He smiled charmingly, and Anne smiled in return. “Are you certain you won’t take a ride?”

Anne could not resist him.

“I believe I will ride the rest of the way. Thank you, Mr Weston.”

Once in the coach she was very aware of the man across from her but did her best not to let her thoughts roam.

They were at the church almost before she could settle in. Pastor and Judith were inside waiting, their smiles giving Anne just enough confidence to proceed.

It was all very neat and swift. In a surprisingly short time, she was Mrs Robert Weston. Judith and Pastor both hugged her warmly and then asked if the new couple would come to the manse for a late breakfast. Anne looked to her spouse, who agreed without hesitation.

“The children are home,” Judith warned. “The girls are dying to see you, Anne.”

“I’m so glad. To visit so many times last week and take no time for them must have seemed uncaring.”

“You can make up for it today,” Weston told her.

“You’re not in a hurry to leave?”

“No. Take all the time you like.”

That time came over breakfast. Anne sat next to Margaret and John and listened to their activities of the week.