She processed all these things and realized it was more fear than pride. She had to be sure. And how could she be certain? They’d only known each other a year’s time. And none of that time had been fruitful until he’d seen his first love. Did he actually care for her or was he infatuated with her because she looked like Darby?
Likely he had stopped at Haw and Elsa’s place, maybe even told them of their first disagreement. And only a few hours after his declaration of love.
Rose was sick at heart.
Chapter 80
William Ashton Wyatt did stop at Haw and Elsa’s to ask them to watch out for Ireland Rose. She had only recently lost Carolina Jane and he worried that his proposal had been made at an inoportune time. He was headed back to the America’s and could not put off the voyage. But he would be back.
“Send word if she needs me.” He left his address. “I will be back as soon as I can.”
Haw and Elsa watched him walk out their door.
“He loves her.” Elsa said quietly. “But I don’t think Rose knows that for certain. She’s had too much to think about in such a short time. Her husband passes, she loses a child she loves. And a man she knows only as an acquaintance proposes marriage. She doesn’t believe him.”
Haw smiled. “In time, she’ll see.”
“You’re right. Providence works in ways we don’t understand.” Elsa reluctantly turned to finish clearing the breakfast dishes off the table. “I’m going over there.”
Haw smiled. He knew she would.
* * *
Rose heard someone coming. She ran to the door, ready to throw herself in his arms and tell him she would be his wife. When she saw Elsa, she sobbed. First because it wasn’t Captain Wyatt, second, because she needed a woman to sort out all her misgivings.
“I came as soon as I heard.” Elsa said and Rose threw herself into her arms.
“He told you? Is he coming back? I’m so foolish…” she blubbered.
“There now.” Elsa soothed. “Let’s go for a walk. We can talk much better that way. And besides you need to decide what you want in your life. A body can do that well enough out of doors walking these hills. Get your shawl. The morning mist is cool.”
Rose cast her eyes about and obeyed, covering her shoulders.
Wisely Elsa did not say anything. They followed the footpath upward into the hills.
“I don’t know why I acted like I did.” Rose said quietly.
Elsa nodded.
“I believe Captain Wyatt was sincere, but I cannot be sure, Elsa. I found recently that he could not abide me because I looked so much like the woman he lost. Can he separate me from her? I don’t know. Does he want me because I look like her? And I’m so…so distraught…am I acting foolish because I lost Carolina Jane? I just don’t know….”
“Lass, you’ve lost a husband, lost your home, lost your good friends, Portia and Emmanuel, and now your child. It is no wonder you are questioning. It is not bad to question. God knows all these things about you. He knows you need time to be sure. Making a marriage is not a small affair.”
Rose nodded, but her heart felt broken and unsure.
“Captain Wyatt said he would return as soon as he could and asked us to watch out for you.”
“He did?” Rose felt awful. “And he has so many troubles of his own and I’m just adding to them.”
“Loving someone is not trouble, Rose.”
“I found he was forced into dealing Darby’s dreadful father, because he had to take care of my affairs. And all this time I never knew.”
“That tells me the man honored your husband’s wishes, even when it cost him personally to do so.”
Rose snatched her handerchief from her wrist sleeve and wiped her eyes.
“And that he never mentioned it, tells me he didn’t want you to know.” Else finished.
“Ummmmm…..hmmmm.” Rose started to cry again. “And look how I acted this morning. Do you think he will come back?”
Elsa looked at her friend. She had just told her Captain Wyatt would be back. She didn’t think herself worthy.
“Rose, you must measure yourself, not the losses you have experienced, but the real reason you are here. When you worked at the orphanages during the time your husband was gone, did you find fulfillment?”
“Oh yes, I did. I loved the work.”
“Then you must be about finding yourself work like that again. You are not here to just survive you are here to help others. I see that in you.”
Rose sniffled. “You are right. I need to find something to do that will matter, Elsa.”
“Indeed you do. There is a family of six. Four children under the age of ten. The mother is very ill. She is an hour’s ride from here. Would you like to go visit her?”
“Yes. Yes. Could we go tomorrow? I’m in no condition to visit today.”
Elsa took her arm. “Let’s head back. I’ve work to do at home too. We’ll take some vittles over to the family. But I warn you, they are a lively bunch. The father is a fun sort of man and will play tricks on you, so you must watch your back. But he keeps his wife and children smiling.”
“Good. I’ll make a pot of soup.” Rose sniffed and swiped her nose again.
“I’ll make a cake and bake some bread.”
Rose waved as Elsa trotted down the worn path. She entered the house and knew she could now grieve losing Carolina Jane. She was alone with God. Prayers began and didn’t stop. She peeled vegetables, cried when she saw CJ’s doll, and prayed for her beloved Captain Wyatt. That he would not give up on her and that she could find a place in her heart for him that would be true and faithful. They had been at odds for so long, Rose knew now, she had not truly believed he cared for her. Until those kisses. How could she not know after that?
Back and forth, her heart swung. This way, then that way. She had to be sure, above all things, that she would make a good wife for him. He had lost his parents and she sensed that he wanted to settle down. She wanted the same thing. Could he live in that small cottage? Would he be happy with an unseaworthy wife? Would she be able to withstand all the weeks he would be gone captaining his ship?
Chapter 81
The weeks passed. No word came from Captain Wyatt. Some days she wondered if he would come back. Perhaps he would go for comfort to the other women she was sure waited for him. There was no lonelier feeling than regret.
She vowed that when he walked through the door, if he ever did again, and if he still wanted her, she would throw herself into his arms and declare her undying love. Smiling at her romantic foolishness, she kept busy. The new family was a godsend. Twice she and Elsa visited and twice Rose had come back more fulfilled than ever. The woman lost a three year old son and recently her newborn daughter. Rose saw the suffering of others and counted herself blessed to have had Carolina Jane for the time she did. At least her child was still alive.
Rose wondered if Will, she tried his name on her tongue, would bring a report from Ava and let her know how CJ was doing.
One rainy day about a month later, she heard someone coming. Probably Elsa or Haw. She set aside the bread she was kneading and waited for the knock. When she heard it, her heart jumped out of her chest. She knew that knock. And here she was bedraggled, working over a hot fire making stew for the large family.
She smoothed her skirts, wishing she had time to put on a pretty dress. Pressed her wayward curls behind her ears and heart beating, opened the door.
There he was standing in the pouring rain, water sluicing off his hat and wide shoulders.
“Come.” She took his hand and pulled him in.
Before she could say a word, he tossed off his hat and pulled her tight into his arms. Rose began to sob. He still loved her. His arms around her broke all her resolve. She needed this man.
After a moment, he pulled back, his beautiful dark eyes gazing into hers with love. She could see it. “I’m so sorry…Will…I didn’t….”
She couldn’t finish, because h
e was kissing her. Hard. She could feel the water soaking into her dress as he held her and branded her forever with that kiss. He knees began to buckle and he held her up, else she would have melted to the floor.
“Ireland Rose Lovell, will you be my wife?” He growled into her ear.
“I will. I will.” She sobbed again. “I’m so sorry for ever doubting you, Will.” She gushed.
“I’ll make sure you’ll never doubt me again, Rose.” He whispered back.
She laughed. Laughed with joy.
He swirled her around and set her on her feet.
“Sorry about your dress. You’re soaked.”
“It’ll dry. Hungry?”
“Famished.”
“Have you dry clothes.”
He laughed heartily. “No, I came straight from the ship as soon as I docked in Dublin. It rained all the way here.”
Rose loved the look on his face. He was happy. She had made him happy. And, she resolved that minute, on doing that every day of her life.
“Did Haw stop you?”
“Nobody was going to stop me.” He pulled her into his arms again. “Feed me woman.”
Rose disentangled herself from the big hunk of man and set the table for two. She watched from the corner of her eye as he grabbed the towel near the wash bowl and dried his hair and patted the water off his clothes. Her heart did pitter-patters.
“Elsa will be by this afternoon. We intended to take food to a family.”
“I’ll go with you.” He stated and pulled out a chair, putting the towel on the seat.
“But it’s an hour’s ride and you’ve just gotten off the ship . . . don’t you want to . . .”
He interrupted. “I’m going along.”
She smiled and served up a portion of that pot of stew she was making and cut two large slices from the first loaf.
Rose watched as he ate heartily, his black hair wet. “Did your trip go well?”
“What do you think?” He looked grumpy.
Her eyes widened.
“I was miserable. I should never have left like that. I knew you needed to know about my past. And that you had just lost CJ.”
“I was miserable, too.”
He looked up and locked eyes with her, she knew reading them to see if she meant what she said.
“I know I didn’t give you much reason to even like me. I was hung up with the past, Rose. I’m sorry for that. It wasn’t your fault that …”
“That I reminded you of Darby?” She finished with a shy smile.
He stopped and put his spoon down. She thought for sure he was going to get up and pace. Instead he looked her in the eye.
“You are not Darby. You’re nothing like her. I was a fool. I’ll make it up to you, Rose.”
“You don’t need to.” She smiled. “It was because of her that I got to know the real you.”
He laughed out loud. Rose loved it.
Chapter 82
“William Ashton Wyatt do you take this woman Ireland Rose Lovell, to be your wedded wife?”
“I do.”
Rose heard the conviction in his deep voice. The pastor of the small kirk, Captain Wyatt wanted to be married in a church, smiled and asked Rose the same question. She heard her voice waver with emotion as she said “I do.”
She found the love she was waiting for. True and honest. Strong and faithful. God had been good to her.
The pronouncement that they were husband and wife felt surreal. Her new husband gave her a look and her heart thrilled. He was going to be a handful. Haw and Elsa and the good parishioners of the little kirk planned a small dinner. And they didn’t even know the bride and groom. Rose knew that in time her husband would understand that God was not cruel, like some fathers were, but loving to His children.
Their wedding day in the tiny church in County Clare, Ireland became the starting point for their marriage from that day forward.
Epilogue
Not a year later Rose knew what poor Matilda Jane knew. She was ready to scream and wondered how in the world she was going to survive childbirth. Her husband was ordered away from the house while she and Elsa did this thing only women know how to do. More than two hours later, hair tangled and finally relieved, she held a son. Black hair and dark eyes, he came quietly into the world. He lay now on his mother’s arm, eyes wide open.
Captain Wyatt said it would be a boy. But he wouldn’t know for a little while. Haw had hauled him down the road to keep the peace. The man had made both women crazy after pacing back and forth outside the door for hours. They had finally ordered him out of the house. And certainly out of hearing distance, because Rose, no matter how hard she tried could not keep the noises she made quiet. It was too hard.
And the child, Elsa said, was large for her. “No wonder ye had a hard time, lass. But the others that come will be easier after this lad.”
“Others?” Rose wanted to cry. “I don’t think I can do this again.”
“Lass, look what ye did. Brought a fine strapping man into the world. In a home where God is. Now tell me that isn’t a blessing.”
Rose knew the love of a man. One who wanted her, loved her, and would die for her. All the times she doubted whether God loved her slipped away. Little William Henry Wyatt was proof of that! This time no one would come and take her child away.
She heard her husband bellowing at the door and invited him in. The look on his face was enough for Rose.
“It be a big strapping lad.” Elsa said, smiling and joined her husband outside.
Ashton’s eyes met his wife’s with the question all men ask on this occasion. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. Look.” She pulled back the blanket.
The tall dark-haired man at her side gazed down at the babe and then back at her.
“You’re sure you’re all right?”
“Now I am.” And lifted her son to her husband’s arms. Immediately a loud bellow came out of that tiny mouth.
“Oh my, just like his father.” Rose sighed.
Two more sons and finally a lass joined the Wyatt family. Rose was forever grateful for every single loss she suffered, for it brought her to this place.
The End
Patricia Strefling, Patricia Strefling is the author of several inspirational romance stories both Historical and Contemporary. To find inspiration for these stories she loves to travel and crochet, always ready to explore historical sites and meet people wherever she goes. Mother of three grown sons, five grandsons and a granddaughter on the way, Patricia lives with her husband in SW lower Michigan.
Connect with Me Online:
https://www.patriciastrefling.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patricia.strefling.author
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Books by Patricia Strefling
Edwina
Cecelia
Beyond Forgiveness
Ireland Rose
Rose’s Legacy
Cadence
Wedgewick Woman
Stowaway Heart
Lacy’s Lane
Lacy’s Life
Lacy’s Legacy
Coming in 2015: New Historical Series
Hush Mama
Mama’s House
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