Her head snapped up in surprise. “He never beat me, Thomas,” She said earnestly.
He let out a ragged breath and unclenched his jaw. Running his hands over his face he leaned back on the desk. “We will have to write to this Mr. Voss and tell him that you are a married woman now, and set him straight about his false accusations.”
Rosaline had tears in her eyes, not knowing how to respond to the grace of Thomas’ response.
“I believe you, Rosaline. Whatever my relationship with God might be at the moment, I believe that you were meant to be here, that you were meant to pick up the pieces of my broken family.”
Rosaline was quiet as Thomas opened up to her about his hurt and his dream that had eventually turned out to be her.
“That’s why I believe you were meant to be here.” The look in his eyes when he continued speaking took her breath away. “I will fight to keep you here in my family. Nobody is going to force you to leave against your will. No matter how much money and power they may possess.” He hesitated to mention his growing feelings for her, but thought he needed more time to examine them himself before discussing them with her.
Rosaline found her voice again after his earnest reply, and told him about everything that had happened between her and Arthur.
“There was no way that your father could have known that was my mother’s favorite verse, Thomas. It could only have come from God.”
Thomas smiled at her and then frowned again. “What I don’t understand is why Mr. Voss wants you back so badly. If he has all this power and money, is it not simply a case of hiring another maid?”
“My singing,” Rosaline said softly. “He wanted to make money off my voice.”
Thomas gently approached her and took her scarred hand before she had the chance to hide it behind her back. He took her hand and examined the scar.
She felt her pulse jump under the lightness of his touch. He gently traced the scar with his finger. “You must write him back at once, denying his claims. Tell him the truth. You are now a married woman. Sign your name as Mrs. Rosaline Stratton.”
Rosaline’s eyes were still on the hand that was holding hers. He gently lifted her chin so she would look at him. “I promise you this, Rosaline. I will protect you. You are a part of my family now.” He smiled reassuringly down at her. “You can sit at my desk and write your reply. I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Her heart was pounding in her chest as she noticed for the first time how beautiful the deep flecks of gold in Thomas’ deep brown eyes were.
He gently stroked her cheek. “It’s time this Mr. Voss lets you go, Rosaline. You are a married woman now, and you owe them no loyalty. You are worth far more than that.”
Chapter Seventeen
The cattle grazed in the hot afternoon sun. Thomas was tending the herd, making sure that none of them were suffering any lasting effects from their illness. He was still completely amazed at the speed of their recovery as he examined them closely. Rosaline had prayed for a miracle and it had happened.
He felt a fluttering in his chest at the thought of Rosaline twirling and laughing with Robbie in the barn. His feelings were getting away from him where Rosaline was concerned.Would that be the worst thing in the world?he heard a quiet voice ask in his heart. Had his wife not given him permission to love another? He didn’t need to feel guilty for loving someone else.
Rosaline was a kind, beautiful woman who had an inner light that shone just as bright as Mary’s had. He felt a release in his chest that brought a faint smile to his lips. Thoughts of his wife had usually sparked a rage in the past, but now he felt at ease. He couldn’t bring her back or change how he had reacted to her passing. He could only make peace with the past and attempt to mend fences.
“How is the herd doing, son?”
Thomas turned to see his father leaning against the corral fence. He picked up a cloth that had been laying in the pail where he had been examining the cattle and wiped his hands. “Doesn’t seem like we will have to worry about any residual damage.” He gestured towards the rest of the herd lazily grazing in the field. “They are all in fine fettle.”
“Thank you, Lord,” Arthur smiled, and turned his face towards the sun with his eyes shut.
Thomas finished wiping his hands and threw the dirty cloth back into the pail His father had stopped trying to work around his faith now that Rosaline was a member of the family. He strode over to his father and kicked his boots against the fence to dislodge some of the mud. “I owe you an apology, Pa,” he said when his father opened his eyes and looked at him.
Arthur folded his arms and shifted all of his weight onto the fence.
“You’ve been so patient with me.” He looked around at the cattle. “It’s my fault we are struggling the way we are. If I hadn’t turned to gambling and drinking we wouldn’t be in this mess,” he said apologetically.
“It’s true you went astray for a while, son, but I see the effort you’re putting in and I couldn’t be more proud of you. It takes a big man to stay on the right path in the face of trials.” He smiled warmly and looked earnestly at Thomas. “It takes an even bigger man to admit he was wrong and attempt to get back on the path.”
Thomas looked down in an attempt to hide his emotions. It was true that he was trying to do better and that he was coming to terms with the passing of his wife and mother, but he wasn’t certain if he could trust God again. There was still an inner turmoil that festered in his soul.
“Sometimes it helps to talk through your feelings and gain another perspective,” Arthur encouraged gently.
Thomas saw the understanding in his father’s eyes and decided to open his heart. “I don’t know if I can trust Him again, Pa. I prayed so hard for God not to take her away from me and then she died,” He sighed and kicked at the mud. “I can’t see why God took her.”
Arthur looked thoughtful for a moment. “I won’t pretend that I have all the answers and that I know the mind of God. I’m just a man like any other. I do know that we serve a God of love who makes all things work for the good of those who were called to His purposes, but I won’t say that I know why God took her away.”
