Now, thanks to the earthquake, she didn’t have to worry about it. Her ridiculous father was dead, and her evil brother could no longer harm her with his schemes and nonsense. Better still, her overbearing grandmother was gone too. No longer could she order Victoria to wear obnoxiously childish fashions or dictate how she spent her days.
Reaching the confines of her room, Victoria closed the door behind her and leaned back against it. A smile curved her lips, and she fought back the laughter that threatened to bubble over. She was free. Truly free. She would return to San Francisco, lay claim to her inheritance, and leave that cursed town and all her memories behind. She was young and beautiful, and although she wouldn’t inherit as much money as she might have prior to Judith Whitley’s appearance, she would still have a decent amount to live on. More than enough to entice a handsome man to make her his wife.
“A handsomerichman. A man of my choosing.”
CHAPTER
9
Micah sat in his father’s study, waiting to speak to him alone. With the arrival of summer, the parsonage was a private home again, but there were always people about, and today was no exception, given his mother was hosting a tea.
The door finally opened, and his father stepped into the room. “Sorry. You know how hard it is to get away from your mother and the church ladies.”
“I do.” Micah laughed. “I don’t know how you do it. They always seem to want your attention.”
His father closed the door, then plopped down in the chair beside Micah. “I listen to their complaints and worries—something a great many husbands refuse to do. It’s important to a woman to listen to her, not merely talk to her. Sometimes we must put ourselves in their place but not be overtaken by their complaints or concerns. It’s the same for men, although their manner of complaining isn’t usually accompanied by tears.”
Micah nodded. “It’s the same for my patients. I have to have compassion for what they’re feeling without getting overwhelmed by it. If I let myself get carried away, then I’m of no use to them as a doctor.”
His father steepled his fingers and nodded. “It’s a fine line to walk. Pastors and doctors can easily become like mythological heroes of old, and that too is dangerous. If we allow praise and gratitude to turn our heads, we also become useless.”
Micah leaned forward. “I’ve always admired the way you handle yourself with the congregation.”
“It’s sometimes hard, especially with certain people....” He grinned. “Those who are irritatingly sure they know more than anyone else and those who simply want to argue no matter the topic.”
Many was the time Micah had seen his father deal with those people as well. “God’s definitely given you more self-control than He has me. I would no doubt tell them exactly what I thought.”
“Which is why it’s best you aren’t a preacher,” his father said, laughing. “So why do you want to talk to me?”
A sigh escaped Micah. “I’m in love.”
“I know.” His father sobered. “Kenzie Gifford.”
“She’s been hurt so badly, and she’s terrified to let herself fall in love again.” Micah eased back in his chair. “The thing is, I know she loves me.”
“I was surprised when she agreed to work with you.”
“As was I,” Micah admitted. “However, I think she did it more for herself than for me. I think she wanted to prove that working with me would have little or no effect on her. Maybe there was also the desire to learn. She’s found working with the sick and injured appeals to her, and she’s good at it.”
“But telling me this isn’t why you’re here today.” His father gave him a sympathetic smile.
“No. I suppose I’m hoping for wisdom. I want to ask her to marry me. I’ve told her I want to marry her, but I haven’t made a formal proposal.”
“And you think now is the time?”
Micah considered the question. “I don’t know. I would have married her six months ago. I fell for her almost the first time I laid eyes on her.” He shook his head. “Of course, she’d have nothing to do with me then, but now, well ... I’m certain of her feelings as well as mine.”
“Still, time is important for healing. As a doctor, you know that full well. If you try to rush using a broken bone, the results are disastrous.”
“True, but if a patient refuses to even try to use the injured limb after a proper time of healing, they create an entirely different problem. They can render themselves crippled for life.”
His father smiled in a knowing way. “Of course, each patient heals differently.”
Micah sighed. “Yes.”
After a long pause, his father spoke again. “Have you prayed about this?”
It was a question Micah had anticipated. “I pray about it all the time. I pray for her healing and for her to see the truth of her heart and mine. I pray for wisdom to do the right thing and for patience.”
