“I feel the same way, but I figured it was just because I’m in love with Kenzie.” Micah felt his anger grow. “He’s done nothing but act out of selfishness, including coming here.”
“That’s just what troubles me. Why is he really here? Why is he so determined to marry Kenzie? And not just marry her, but marry her immediately before he even heads back to Kansas City.”
“What motive could he have but to impose his will? Kenzie isn’t wealthy. It’s not like he’ll gain a huge dowry or family connection.”
“Yet there’s something there,” Caleb said, looking at Micah. “And that’s why I must go see Kenzie’s father, as well as learn what I can about Morgan’s family and what happened last year to make them put an end to the wedding.”
“When will you go?”
“I’m not sure. I need to see what’s happening with the committee to oust Ruef and talk to Camri and Judith about our living accommodations. With Victoria as an addition in our house, it gives me new issues and problems to deal with. I need to make sure everything else is in order before I leave San Francisco. I’ll be gone at least ten days, maybe longer.”
“Well, I’ll certainly do whatever I can to help. You know that.”
Caleb nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate being able to count on you and Patrick. Who knows what our ladies might get up to.”
Micah laughed. “That’s for sure.”
That evening, after everything was set to rights and Judith had made them a delicious dinner, Kenzie sat with the others in the front room while Caleb played the piano and Judith sat on the bench beside him. Camri and Patrick held hands and talked at a small table in one corner of the room, while Micah took his place beside Kenzie on the sofa. Thankfully, Victoria had retired to Camri’s old room. She claimed she was feeling overly sad about her family, but Kenzie didn’t believe her, nor did she think the others believed it.
“What do you think about Caleb going to Missouri to meet with your father?” Micah asked as Caleb and Judith broke into song.
Kenzie smiled at the way they seemed always to have such fun together. “I hope I’m that happy one day.”
“If I have anything to say about it, you will be.”
She looked at him, and her smile waned. She was still so frustrated by Arthur’s reappearance. She didn’t want Micah to be hurt in any of this. “To answer your question, I’m glad Caleb is going. He feels certain there is more to Arthur’s arrival than meets the eye.”
“I’m convinced there is too. Not that I wouldn’t cross the entire world to find you if you’d gotten away from me.” He gave her a wink.
Kenzie’s heart skipped a beat. “Micah, I don’t ... I...” She couldn’t figure out what to say.
His expression sobered. “Will you speak honestly with me?”
“Haven’t I always?”
He gave a slow nod. “Yes, you’ve been brutally honest, and I trust you will be now. It’s important that you are, because what I have to say will greatly affect our future.”
She tensed. Was he going to propose again? She lowered her gaze and waited for him to continue. She knew she loved him, but her confusion and guilt over Arthur made it impossible to accept Micah’s offer of marriage. She had to sort through those matters first, and Micah would just need to understand that.
Micah took a breath. “I want the truth. Do you still love Arthur?”
Her head snapped up. “What?”
His expression left no doubt that what he was about to say was difficult. “I want to know if you still love Arthur. If you love him, truly love him, then I don’t want to cause you more pain and difficulty. I’ve thought about this a great deal. I don’t want to lose you, Kenzie, but if you love him and you’re convinced that he’ll make you happy, then I’ll walk away.”
She couldn’t hide her surprise. “Just like that?”
“I want you to be happy.” He gave a heavy sigh. “I talk about not letting you go and how deeply I love you, but love doesn’t demand its own way. If the only way for you to be truly happy is to be with Arthur, then I will have to trust that the Lord has someone else for me. Your happiness matters more to me than anything.”
If she hadn’t already realized her love for him, Micah’s words would have convinced her. That he was willing to put her feelings first touched her deeply.
“No one has ever offered me such a selfless act of love,” she admitted.
“No one has ever loved you as I do,” he promised. “It wouldn’t be easy for me to step aside, but if you tell me that you truly love him, that you want him for your husband, I will.”
He looked so miserable that Kenzie couldn’t keep him guessing. “I don’t ... I don’t think I love him.” She frowned. “Caleb spoke about true love bearing and enduring all things. If that’s the basis of real love, then I can’t say that I ever experienced that for Arthur. Still, with all the lies and deception his family used to separate us, I feel guilty for willingly complying and giving up so easily. I never bothered to seek him out or try to understand what had happened. I simply ran away.”
“You were hurt. It’s not unusual for a wounded person to want to get away from the cause of their misery.”
