A Mail-Order Bride For Christmas, page 8
Her heart ceased to beat, her blood running cold. The telegram was short but plain, but its words transformative. GOD BLESS YOU L FAULKENBERG FOR RETURNING GWYNETH TO US STOP WE WILL ARRIVE THE EVENING OF THE 24TH STOP
“Laf-Lafayette,” she murmured. “You found my … my parents?”
“If you hate me, then I will understand it,” he blurted. “I promised not to ask you, but could not stop myself from asking others. I do confess Niles helped. He knew who to ask. I feared finding the right knowledge would be hard, but you and Pigeon were the only two women on the ferry. With her body found, days later, it was only a matter of knowing the other name.”
He all but curled in on himself when speaking, and seeing him thus, she rose and embraced him from behind. “I love you. It is the best gift.”
With her second statement, he revolved. “You are not angry?”
Gwyneth shook her head. “I am full of regrets. I sorrowed them with my willful behavior and have been melancholy over it. They are really coming?”
He nodded. “The Millfords are making room to house them. They should arrive in time for the Christmas Eve service, then will spend Christmas with us.”
She pressed her lips to his and pulled him down after her. Entangled in each other, they experienced true happiness and a glimpse of a future bright with promise, for God had used their folly to heal their minds and hearts.
“I love you,” Lafayette said, his lips hovering over hers.
“I would like to speak to you of gifts.” Lafayette, his heart full, scanned the gathered crowd. The turnout was much larger than he’d expected. “At this time of year,” he continued, “our hearts are full of giving. We delight in our secrecy and, on Christmas Day, of seeing the joy on our loved one’s face. But I look at you this evening and see a different kind of gift.”
He curled his hands over the edge of the wooden podium. “Not too long ago, I was a man, broken, full of sin and hate. I had no hope for tomorrow, much less this holiday. I never thought to speak from the pulpit again.”
A light murmur crossed the congregation.
“But God.” He paused. “So many stories in the Scriptures end that way. But God sent an army of angels, unseen by man. But God caused confusion in the enemy’s ranks so that the victory was easily obtained. But God used a boy with a sling to conquer a warring nation. But God forgave that boy of terrible things, adultery, murder, and raised from him the wisest of kings. But God used a harlot to save His servants. But God caused a donkey to speak a reprimand. And we cannot forget His parting the waters of the Red Sea or saving the prophet, Jonah, in a great fish. Who’s to tell of things our heavenly Father did that are not even recorded?”
Quiet had descended again.
“But God sent the Savior of the world through a girl, a virgin, and protected her through a man of great faith. He used a baby, an infant, to give light in the darkness, so that when I was low, I could see how much He loved me.”
Lafayette allowed his tears to fall. “This was the best gift, and that moment I realized it again is forever sealed in my heart. I urge you to think of God’s gift to you this day, to stop and consider what you’ve been given when you spend time with your family. But for God, we would all of us be lost, and I, worst of all.”
He caught eyes with Gwyneth, wrapped tight in her father’s arms and her mother clenching her hand, and he marveled that even at his darkest hour, even when he was a man vile and hateful, God had sent rescue. God saw in advance what he needed.
“Fine sermon,” Thomas Vail said afterward, shaking his hand.
Lafayette smiled wide. “Thank you, kind sir, and Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” Thomas replied.
THE END
FROM THE AUTHOR
This story moved me more than many I’ve written by the simple truth of the gospel presented in it. I write strictly by inspiration, so nothing penned here was preplanned or thought out. That makes the fullness of it that much more special to me, that God would use me to say anything profound at all.
God bless each of my readers. I hope the truth in it speaks to you as well. If you enjoy it, please leave a kind review. Those help build my spirits as well as encourage others to read as well.
If you enjoyed this story, won’t you leave me a review? Reviews help others know this story is worth their time and investment. Thank you!
Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.feelgoodromance.com
If you enjoyed this story, look for these other books:
Here were Virgil’s vows. Here, where she could see them. With every stitch, every seam, he’d poured out his pledge, and no, she didn’t deserve it. But this wasn’t solely about her. He deserved to see his wishes fulfilled. He wanted this marriage. He wanted her, and she could give him that.
-----
Caught stealing from the local grocery dressed as a boy, Genevieve Nichols thought her days running had come to an end.
But then, Virgil Moses, the man responsible, says he’ll keep her secret. She’ll go home with him for now until he figures things out.
Yet her sordid past has taught her a painful lesson. No man can be trusted, not even one that, as the days pass, proves to have gentle hands and a big heart.
Book 1 of 2 in the WESTERN WOMEN series.
“I cannot find my way alone,” Serefina said softly.
His arms came around her, his hands landing in the middle of her back, and he pulled her to him. She leaned there, her cheek on his shoulder, his strength solid beneath her hands. Her eyes burned with tears she refused to shed, the corners dampening, and deep within her heart a tiny speck of hope glowed. For once, she didn’t toss it aside, but fearful, clung with all her might.
-----
Penniless and alone, Serefina Aguilar has nowhere to go but south to an unknown uncle her recently deceased aunt only ever spoke unkindly about. It seems the downward spiral of her life really is the spiritual test she’s been told.
But, as long as she covers her greatest sin, the flaming red locks on her head, she can keep herself pure and make it to heaven. She hopes.
Except a horrible encounter with a bank robber and a handsome man named Matthew Todd seem destined to send her to hell … and worse, take along with her what might be her only chance at love.
Book 2 of 2 in the WESTERN WOMEN series.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Best-selling author, Suzanne D. Williams, is a native Floridian, wife, mother, and photographer. She is the author of both nonfiction and fiction books. She writes devotionals and instructional articles for various blogs. She also does graphic design for self-publishing authors. She is co-founder of THE EDGE.
To learn more about what she’s doing and check out her extensive catalog of stories, visit http://www.feelgoodromance.com or link with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/suzannedwilliamsauthor or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SDWAuthor.
If you have enjoyed this book, please support the author by leaving a book review. Thank you!
Suzanne D. Williams, A Mail-Order Bride For Christmas
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“Laf-Lafayette,” she murmured. “You found my … my parents?”
“If you hate me, then I will understand it,” he blurted. “I promised not to ask you, but could not stop myself from asking others. I do confess Niles helped. He knew who to ask. I feared finding the right knowledge would be hard, but you and Pigeon were the only two women on the ferry. With her body found, days later, it was only a matter of knowing the other name.”
He all but curled in on himself when speaking, and seeing him thus, she rose and embraced him from behind. “I love you. It is the best gift.”
With her second statement, he revolved. “You are not angry?”
Gwyneth shook her head. “I am full of regrets. I sorrowed them with my willful behavior and have been melancholy over it. They are really coming?”
He nodded. “The Millfords are making room to house them. They should arrive in time for the Christmas Eve service, then will spend Christmas with us.”
She pressed her lips to his and pulled him down after her. Entangled in each other, they experienced true happiness and a glimpse of a future bright with promise, for God had used their folly to heal their minds and hearts.
“I love you,” Lafayette said, his lips hovering over hers.
“I would like to speak to you of gifts.” Lafayette, his heart full, scanned the gathered crowd. The turnout was much larger than he’d expected. “At this time of year,” he continued, “our hearts are full of giving. We delight in our secrecy and, on Christmas Day, of seeing the joy on our loved one’s face. But I look at you this evening and see a different kind of gift.”
He curled his hands over the edge of the wooden podium. “Not too long ago, I was a man, broken, full of sin and hate. I had no hope for tomorrow, much less this holiday. I never thought to speak from the pulpit again.”
A light murmur crossed the congregation.
“But God.” He paused. “So many stories in the Scriptures end that way. But God sent an army of angels, unseen by man. But God caused confusion in the enemy’s ranks so that the victory was easily obtained. But God used a boy with a sling to conquer a warring nation. But God forgave that boy of terrible things, adultery, murder, and raised from him the wisest of kings. But God used a harlot to save His servants. But God caused a donkey to speak a reprimand. And we cannot forget His parting the waters of the Red Sea or saving the prophet, Jonah, in a great fish. Who’s to tell of things our heavenly Father did that are not even recorded?”
Quiet had descended again.
“But God sent the Savior of the world through a girl, a virgin, and protected her through a man of great faith. He used a baby, an infant, to give light in the darkness, so that when I was low, I could see how much He loved me.”
Lafayette allowed his tears to fall. “This was the best gift, and that moment I realized it again is forever sealed in my heart. I urge you to think of God’s gift to you this day, to stop and consider what you’ve been given when you spend time with your family. But for God, we would all of us be lost, and I, worst of all.”
He caught eyes with Gwyneth, wrapped tight in her father’s arms and her mother clenching her hand, and he marveled that even at his darkest hour, even when he was a man vile and hateful, God had sent rescue. God saw in advance what he needed.
“Fine sermon,” Thomas Vail said afterward, shaking his hand.
Lafayette smiled wide. “Thank you, kind sir, and Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” Thomas replied.
THE END
FROM THE AUTHOR
This story moved me more than many I’ve written by the simple truth of the gospel presented in it. I write strictly by inspiration, so nothing penned here was preplanned or thought out. That makes the fullness of it that much more special to me, that God would use me to say anything profound at all.
God bless each of my readers. I hope the truth in it speaks to you as well. If you enjoy it, please leave a kind review. Those help build my spirits as well as encourage others to read as well.
If you enjoyed this story, won’t you leave me a review? Reviews help others know this story is worth their time and investment. Thank you!
Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.feelgoodromance.com
If you enjoyed this story, look for these other books:
Here were Virgil’s vows. Here, where she could see them. With every stitch, every seam, he’d poured out his pledge, and no, she didn’t deserve it. But this wasn’t solely about her. He deserved to see his wishes fulfilled. He wanted this marriage. He wanted her, and she could give him that.
-----
Caught stealing from the local grocery dressed as a boy, Genevieve Nichols thought her days running had come to an end.
But then, Virgil Moses, the man responsible, says he’ll keep her secret. She’ll go home with him for now until he figures things out.
Yet her sordid past has taught her a painful lesson. No man can be trusted, not even one that, as the days pass, proves to have gentle hands and a big heart.
Book 1 of 2 in the WESTERN WOMEN series.
“I cannot find my way alone,” Serefina said softly.
His arms came around her, his hands landing in the middle of her back, and he pulled her to him. She leaned there, her cheek on his shoulder, his strength solid beneath her hands. Her eyes burned with tears she refused to shed, the corners dampening, and deep within her heart a tiny speck of hope glowed. For once, she didn’t toss it aside, but fearful, clung with all her might.
-----
Penniless and alone, Serefina Aguilar has nowhere to go but south to an unknown uncle her recently deceased aunt only ever spoke unkindly about. It seems the downward spiral of her life really is the spiritual test she’s been told.
But, as long as she covers her greatest sin, the flaming red locks on her head, she can keep herself pure and make it to heaven. She hopes.
Except a horrible encounter with a bank robber and a handsome man named Matthew Todd seem destined to send her to hell … and worse, take along with her what might be her only chance at love.
Book 2 of 2 in the WESTERN WOMEN series.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Best-selling author, Suzanne D. Williams, is a native Floridian, wife, mother, and photographer. She is the author of both nonfiction and fiction books. She writes devotionals and instructional articles for various blogs. She also does graphic design for self-publishing authors. She is co-founder of THE EDGE.
To learn more about what she’s doing and check out her extensive catalog of stories, visit http://www.feelgoodromance.com or link with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/suzannedwilliamsauthor or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SDWAuthor.
If you have enjoyed this book, please support the author by leaving a book review. Thank you!
Suzanne D. Williams, A Mail-Order Bride For Christmas
