“I’ll accept those terms. Although I can’t promise I won’t try and change your mind.”
“Hmph.” Faith crossed her arms at his impertinence.
“Please,” he said, more seriously. “Let me help you. It’s why I came here.”
Faith couldn’t fathom what she might have said in any of her letters that indicated she needed rescuing. But he was here, and for reasons she couldn’t comprehend, she trusted him. It would get Pastor Collins out of her business, and Beau could be a help . . .
“All right,” she said, against her better judgment. “Five o’clock. It’s barely enough time to alert my sister.”
“I’ll take care of that,” Beau said. “You go back to work, and I’ll ensure everything is ready.”
Faith looked at him skeptically.
“Go on.” He nodded toward the post and telegraph office.
She did need to get back. Young Nate Hallowell was watching the telegraph for her while she ran out to fetch some sundries—none of which she’d purchased given her untimely meeting with the pastor.
After another half moment of hesitation, she hurried back to work and let the day’s activities occupy her mind rather than her upcoming nuptials. When Celia slipped through the door at four o’clock, she found Faith diligently sweeping the floor.
“Is it true?” her sister demanded, pressing her back to the door as she watched Faith.
“Unfortunately, yes.” Faith couldn’t meet Celia’s eyes. It was far too embarrassing to admit she was doing exactly the thing she’d warned her sister against all those months ago—marrying a man she barely knew.
Although it had certainly worked out for Celia and Jack.
“Faith!” Celia ran to her and wrapped her arms around Faith’s shoulders. Her growing stomach pressed against Faith. “I’m so happy for you! You must have a good feeling about him, then, right? Is he here? Why didn’t you tell me you were writing to someone? How long have you been corresponding? Are you excited? Why aren’t you dressed?”
Faith clung to her broom through the barrage of questions. To most people, Faith was the outgoing, friendly sister while Celia, who was only a few years older, was the more reserved of the two. But Celia had never been quiet around Faith, and Faith always thought her sister saved up all her words for those she felt most comfortable around.
“I am dressed,” she finally said, pointedly ignoring the other questions. “How are you feeling?” Celia’s pregnancy hadn’t entirely agreed with her stomach.
Celia brushed off Faith’s question with a wave of her hand. “I’m fine. But you can’t wear an old work dress. Here—” Celia took the broom and laid it against the wall before dragging Faith back to her bedroom and throwing open her wardrobe. She presented Faith with a bodice and overskirt that went with a matching set of skirts in lovely shade of periwinkle. “This will be perfect. Put these on and I’ll fix your hair.”
“This is entirely unnecessary,” Faith said, although she took the clothing from Celia. “I’m only marrying him to keep Pastor Collins from taking my work and giving it to some undeserving man from the railroad.”
“Hmm.” Celia looked at Faith a moment. “Do you know what you need? Fresh flowers for your hair. I’ll go see if I can find some.”
“Did you hear me?” Faith called after Celia as she left the room.
Celia turned back to her from where she stood at the door to the front room. “I heard you. Now get dressed.”
Faith wanted to throw the clothing at Celia, but none of this was her sister’s fault. Celia hadn’t agreed to Beau’s proposal.
Proposal. Faith could have laughed as she began to pull off her work dress in her bedroom. That would have indicated something romantic. Aaron had asked Faith to marry him by a lake back in Mississippi. He’d handed her a rose cut from his mother’s garden, gotten down on one knee, and confessed he couldn’t live the rest of his life without her.
The memory was so vivid that Faith drew in a sharp breath. They’d loved each other so much. She would never forget him. And she certainly wouldn’t replace him so easily with another man.
She peered at her reflection in the glass on her dressing table as she buttoned the bodice. She would marry Beau Landry.
But she would never fall in love with him.
