Authors: Samantha Forest
As for Owen, the estate where he lived sold quickly, and he never bothered the couple again. Calvin kept tabs on him, and he hoped that one day, Owen would quit trying to swindle money and eventually settle down.
A year after the wedding, Christine gave birth to the Earle’s heir. She realized that love did not mean giving up her independence, and if there was anyone that she loved more than Calvin, it was their son.
She only wished that it hadn’t taken Calvin so long to finally make a move on her. Christine teased him all his life that it took nearly marrying his cousin to finally get him to admit his feelings. He just told her that he was simply waiting for the right moment.
She had to admit that it worked out absolutely perfectly.
*****
THE END
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The Expectin
g Widow
by Samantha Forest
Emily stood on the front stoop of her family’s small farmhouse and stared at the large covered wagon across the street. It wasn’t happening…it couldn’t be happening, for she had prayed that it wouldn’t.
Perhaps if she prayed again it would stop. Maybe if she begged and pleaded with God, he would create a miracle. Maybe he would strike the horrible canvassed wagon with lightening. Maybe one of the ox’s strapped to the wagon would get sick and unable to move.
Or, maybe, just maybe, God would do something simpler. Emily watched as the tall man stepped out of the home across the road. Though she knew that this man could not see her, she squinted her eyes at him none the less and prayed to God.
She prayed that God would make this man change his mind. She prayed that God would make him realize that he and his family belonged here, in this little Kentucky community. Here, where his children had friends and a school. Here where his son, Elijah, could continue to meet Emily every day by the creek just up the road.
But, no matter how hard she started, and no matter how fervently she prayed… it seemed nothing could stop Elijah’s father from packing all of his family’s belongings in the wagon.
Her mother said she shouldn’t think too harshly of Elijah’s father. After all, plenty of families were heading west. There was more land there. More opportunity. Deep down, Emily knew her mother was right.
Still, she could not help but feel a surge of anger as she watched the tall man smile while he loaded two large trunks into the wagon. He was happy to be dragging his sons halfway across the country. And, he did not seem to care what they or his wife or anyone else thought.
She was still mentally berating Elijah’s father when another figure emerged from the doorway of the house across the street.
This figure, though clearly younger, was every bit as tall as his father. He had wild black hair that contrasted with his light complexion, and even though Emily couldn’t see them from this distance, she knew his eyes to be the color of the summer sky on a cloudless day.
She watched as Elijah carried a small pack to his father and handed it forward to be put in the wagon. Tears suddenly sprung to her eyes as she realized suddenly, that this could very well be the last time she would ever see this figure.
If her miracle didn’t come, if God allowed Elijah’s father to pack up his family and run away, Emily would never see Elijah again. They would never again meet at the creek after school. They would never again pass notes to each other in class. He would never again send her a secret mischievous smile just before he pulled a brilliant prank.
Unable to bear that thought, Emily moved from the front door and tore across the street. She had to speak to Elijah one last time. Even if it wasn’t at their secret place by the creek, even if it was only for a moment. She had to say goodbye or she would never forgive herself.
When she reached the wagon, Elijah saw her first. He gave her his bright smile. The one that told her he was more than happy to see her. Despite her frustration and sorrow, she still felt her mouth curving into a smile as well.
“Miss Emily!” she jumped at the greeting which had come, not from Elijah, but from his father, “what can we do for you on this fine morning?”
Emily’s smile faded as she looked to Elijah’s father. He was clearly in a good mood. Pa said he had been wanting to move west for a long time. It was only a matter of talking his wife into it. Now that he had, he was positively giddy.
Emily’s heart sank and she realized, suddenly, that she had no legitimate reason for visiting Elijah’s family. She might even be shooed away because she could not possibly do anything to help.
That’s when she came up with an idea of how best to answer Elijah’s father, who was still watching her curiously.
“Pa...wanted me to ask if you needed any help loading your belongings,” she said timidly. She had never been good at lying and hoped that this had seemed genuine.
Luckily, Elijah’s father did not seem to notice anything amiss.
“Well, tell your Pa that’s very kind of him to offer,” he said. “But, I think we’re nearly set here. We plan to head out in about an hour.”
“Well, in that case,” Emily said reluctantly, realizing that she now had no logical reason to stay. “I’ll let Pa know. Have a safe journey.”
She looked to Elijah one last time. The smile had faded from his face and he was now looking at her intently. She prayed one more time that he would speak to her. That he would say something, anything before she walked away forever.
He opened his mouth several times but did not seem able to speak. She gave him a sad smile and turned away.
As she walked down the road, she tried not to think about how that was the last interaction she would ever have with Elijah. They had not even spoken and, most likely, never would again.
“Emily!” she heard a voice call softly to her as she neared her house. She turned and felt the smile return to her face as she saw Elijah rushing towards her.
He stopped for a moment then moved forward and touched her arm. Emily could not help but feel butterflies gather and flutter inside her stomach as heat raced through her entire body. He leaned in to whisper to her.
“Meet me by the creek,” he said. “Our usual spot.”
Emily looked up into his eyes. Those light blue eyes were as earnest as she had ever seen them and his face was pressed closer to hers than it had ever been before.
She knew she would not be able to speak. Not when his hand was still on her arm. Not when she could feel his warm breath on her face. She simply nodded and he smiled at her, relieved.
“Ten minutes,” he told her before letting go of her arm and walking back towards his home. Emily stood looking after him until he disappeared inside the wood lodging.
Ten minutes later, Emily was sitting on their rock by the spot where they always met. Not one minute passed before she saw Elijah moving towards her.
She stood as soon as she saw him. Those blue eyes, once again, looked straight into hers and gave a sad, half smile.
She wanted to run to him. To throw her arms around him and beg him not to go, but she didn’t dare. Even though she might never see him again, it still wouldn’t be proper.
He walked silently towards her and after a moment sat down on the rock just beside where she was standing. He looked out to the creek and heaved a heavy sigh.
“I’m going to miss this,” he said. She didn’t know if he meant the creek or her and, once again, didn’t dare ask. Instead, she slumped down on the rock next to him and released her frustrations.
“I still don’t understand why you’re leaving,” she said sounding petulant, even to her own ears.
“Pa says we have to,” Elijah answered.
“But why?” Emily asked. “You’re not being forced out of your home. The farming has been good enough this year. Your family has been as successful as all of us.”
“I know,” Elijah said with a hint of sullenness all his own. “But, Pa heard that the land in Oregon is better and there’s more of it.”
“It’s so far away,” Emily said quietly. “I may never see you again.”
Emily was embarrassed to feel tears beginning to well in her eyes. She fiercely raised a hand to wipe them away. Just as she did, she saw Elijah turn towards her.
Her heart stopped when he placed a hand on hers. Everything from that spot through her entire body seemed to grow warm at his touch. She looked into his eyes and was surprised to see a kind of longing written there.
“Emily, I promise you,” he said urgently. “We will see each other again.”
“Elijah, you can’t know that,” she said reluctantly.
“I can,” he said. “No matter what my pa does, no matter where he takes us, God will find a way for us to be together again.”
“You’re sure?” she asked hesitantly.
“I am,” he said.
She looked into his eyes and wanted to be as certain as he seemed to be. She wanted to reach out and touch him, to hold him close to her heart and never let him go. She wanted…
“Elijah!”
They both jumped apart at the sound of Elijah’s Pa’s voice.
“Get back up here. We need to head out before sundown!”
“Coming Pa,” Elijah said though his eyes never left Emily’s.
“I promise,” he said again quietly giving her hand a gentle squeeze. And with one more flash of his bright blue eyes, he tore up the hill and out of sight.
***
Kentucky, 12 years later
Emily Gordon walked towards the little farm house that she shared with her husband, Bill as though she were walking on air. She had just come from the doctor’s office in town, and he had given her the most exciting news a woman could hope for.
“Afternoon, Missus,” Jeff, one of their farm hands called out to her from the side of the house, a bundle of wood cradled in his arms.
“Did you have a good trip into town?” he asked this with a casual air. He couldn’t know what she knew. None the less, the simple question caused a beaming smile to spread out over Emily’s face.
“It was wonderful,” she answered. “Do you happen to know if Bill is in the house?”
“He is Ma’am,” Jeff answered. “But he won’t be there for long. Just dropped into get some tools. We’re still working on the roof in the barn.”
That meant that the conversation between her and her husband would have to be brief. Far too brief for her to say what she needed to say to him. That meant her news would have to wait until dinner.
All the same, she thanked Jeff and hurried through the front door. She was immediately met with the tall sturdy frame of her husband bustling through their old tool box.
When the door opened, he turned towards her. As soon as he caught sight of her, his winning smile spread across his face and his bright, Hazel eyes sparkled.
“There’s my girl,” he said happily walking towards her and embracing her before she could even move fully into the house.
“So, what did the doctor say?” he asked. She had been having stomach complaints all week. Finally, Bill had insisted that she see the town physician.
“Well, luckily for you, it’s nothing contagious,” she teased.
“That’s good to hear,” he answered.
“It’s actually something I’ll need to speak to you about,” she said slowly. Suddenly unsure of how best to reveal her condition to her husband.
“Emily,” he said looking concerned. “Is it anything serious?”
“Nothing like that,” she said. “And it’s nothing that can’t wait ‘till supper. You go ahead and get that roof fixed.”
“You’re sure?” he asked still hesitant to leave her.
“I am,” she answered.
“Alright then,” he said. He walked towards her and pulled her into him again, this time kissing her full on the mouth. As Emily opened herself to him, she wondered how on earth she had gotten lucky enough to be wedded to this man.
He pulled away with a smile on his face that Emily knew matched her own.
“I love you,” he said simply.
“I love you too,” she answered.
With another flash of his grin, he disappeared from the house.
Still beaming, Emily put on the apron that hung near the stove and began to prepare supper.
As she put the ingredients for the stew she was to serve that night into her pot, she wondered, for the first time how Bill would take the news of a baby.
Of course, they had always wanted to start a family. They’d decided that even before they were married.