He knew Mr. Goddard had given them a discount on his fee, but he’d have paid far more to give Ellie the option to put this behind her. He wasn’t anywhere near as rich as her grandfather, but his stake in the ranch and relatively low overhead for years meant he had plenty to pay Mr. Goddard and work on the little cabin he’d begun over in his favorite grove of trees about a fifteen minute walk from the main house and cottage.
He’d not pressure Ellie to live in it with him, well aware it may be years before she was ready to share his bed, but it wouldbe there to provide them a roof and a safe home whenever she wanted. Mr. Goddard nodded, his smile soft and understanding as he studied them both. “I wish the best for the both of you, and I look forward to hearing how it went when you return. Truly and I will be praying for you everyday.”
Once he left, Micah could feel the anxiety rolling off his bride. Louisa had tried to return to talking about her painting, but the unfortunate reminder in the air of the trust and their impending travel had dampened the moment. Rather than try and manufacture it, Micah took Ellie’s hand. “Take a walk with me.”
She nodded, her hand still trembling as they waved goodbye to Isaac and Louisa. Micah led her down the path, feeling her relax as they moved. They were about halfway down the path when Ellie spoke, breaking the silence. “I don’t know what I’m hoping for in California, but I know what I’m afraid of.”
“What’s that?” Of course, she’d be afraid of coming in contact with the men who’d captured her with Brent, of speaking with her grandfather’s business partner - the one responsible person Micah might actually have the chance to confront.
“I…I’m afraid things are going to change between us.”
“What do you mean?” That hadn’t been in the vicinity of things he’d imagined her fearing. What could change between them?
Ellie continued to stare straight ahead, but her hand in his remained firm. “I guess I’m afraid you’re going to realize how much trouble it is if the judge sides with Grandfather’s estate. I know you keep saying the money’s mine and you’re here regardless, but how can you possibly mean that? Then, if we do get the money, what man could resist it?” She bit her bottom lip like she always did when she was anxious, and he could feel the tremble in her hand as she spoke.
No other words could’ve broken his heart further. Micah had known how little she trusted men, but he’d convinced himselfhe’d gained hers. Still, in this moment, she’d trusted him with her fears. That was something worth fighting for. “I can’t do anything to prove my honesty to you other than to keep moving forward as we have. I’ll pray you’ll one day trust me implicitly, but I understand it’ll take time.”
Breathing in the reality of her upbringing and doing his best to surrender his anger to God over the whole situation, Micah continued their walk down the long dirt path. When they’d finally reached the wood pile and beginnings of a cabin he’d started, they came to a stop. “Right here’s going to be the front porch,” he said as he led her toward the early stage structure. “It’ll be one room for now, but I’m planning to add another room this summer once we get our cut from the May cattle drive.
Ellie’s mouth opened into an ‘O’, and Micah continued. “I’ve ordered a woodstove from Dallas, but I figured you’d want to pick out your own linens and such. Abe’s building me a couple of pieces of furniture, and we’ll add to them over time.” He turned Ellie to face him, his earlier anger all but dissipated. It had never been directed at her, but he was thankful he’d had the ability to let it go before she thought it was. “I don’t care how long it takes for you to trust me, Ellie, but I can’t make it happen any faster. Instead, I’ll continue to prove myself, to prove I’m in this for the right reasons.”
Ellie’s eyes misted, a tear spilling over onto her cheek. “I’m sorry I’m not there yet.”
Micah’s thumb brushed over the tear, effectively drying it as he cupped her face the way he’d done in the cottage earlier. “I’m not normally a patient man, but you’re worth waiting for.”
Chapter Thirteen
Louisa pulled Ellie into a tight hug on the train platform in Lawrence Junction, tears in her eyes as she pulled back to stand beside Isaac. Beside her, Callie placed a hand on Ellie’s shoulder. “The Lord goes before you,” Callie said softly. “No matter how things go, remember that. He goes before you, and He won’t leave you.”
The verse she’d recently covered with Louisa from Deuteronomy promising as much cemented itself in her mind, giving her something to grab hold of in the hardest moments. "And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” It had brought her great comfort, and she’d immediately written it down to memorize.
“Thank you for coming to see us off.” She and Micah would be gone for ten days realistically, quite possibly more. It would take three days to get from Texas to California, then another day to get from Los Angeles to the mining town her grandfather more or less started. The thought of how deeply he and his wishes hadentrenched themselves into life there sent hawks flapping in her belly, but Micah’s hand at the small of her back brought her back to the present.
“Yes,” Micah said to both Callie and Louisa, as well as Isaac, Jacob, Abe, Hal and Florence Day. “Thank you all for seeing us off. Your support means more than you know.” Pastor Jim had stayed back with the children since the ride to Lawrence Junction and back would take half a day, but he’d been sure to wrap her in one of his bear hugs and pray with her before they’d pulled out that morning.
Hal removed his hat and gestured for them all to gather in a group. “Let’s take a moment and pray over Micah and Ellie.” As he did so, Ellie felt the Lord’s peace wash over her once more. He and Florence had stepped in as guides in the Sutton boys’ lives over the years after their mother had died and their own father had proven himself worthless.
“Lord, we know You already know the outcome of all Micah and Ellie set to do in California. We ask You to protect Micah and Ellie no matter who or what they encounter, and bring them home safely. If it’s Your will Ellie should come back with her inheritance, then we give You the glory and ask You to guide her in how to use it. If not, then we glorify You for that as well, and ask You to give her peace in the disappointment. Either way, remind her of her home here regardless of the outcome.”
As he finished praying, specifically asking God to give Micah the wisdom and grace to be her strength and encouragement, Ellie felt some of the burden lift from her heart. He was right, and so were Callie and Louisa. The Lord already knew the outcome because He’d already gone before them. However it all ended, He would walk the road with them.
Micah wrapped his arm around her waist, and she allowed herself to sink into his side and draw on his strength as Hal finished praying. By the time the conductor began calling forboarding, she’d been given no fewer than five more hugs from Louisa and laughed at Abe’s attempts to diffuse any tension with humor.
Before they moved to get in the boarding line, Isaac approached her and smiled in the way only a man who’d all but raised four younger brothers and knew all about growing up too quickly could. “Not a day will go by we don’t pray for your journey, Ellie, but know your worth on our ranch will never be measured by money. Y’all hurry home so we can get on with the rest of our lives. Louisa and Callie have weddings to plan, and I heard a rumor you’ll be standing up with both of them.”
It was true. In the days prior, both Louisa and Callie had asked her to stand with them for the wedding. Louisa would also be standing with Callie and vice versa. It was something she’d never imagined for herself after life in California had been so lonely and devoid of friendship, but the Lord had given her truer friends than she could ever imagine. “We’ll be back as soon as we can.”
With that, Micah took their bags in one hand and her hand in the other and guided them toward where the conductor took tickets. He’d purchased a sleeper car for them so they wouldn’t have to sit on the uncomfortable benches for three days, but either option would’ve been better than the cargo car she’d arrived in.
As the conductor took their tickets and gestured to the right where the sleeper cars were numbered, Ellie followed Micah in a little bit of a daze. This was it. They were really going to California to see if the judge would forego the child stipulation for her trust. If he did, she and Micah would return far more wealthy than they’d left.
Micah held the door to car number four, the one labeled on their ticket, and gestured inside. “Your chariot, m’lady,” he said with a soft grin. Sobering a little, Micah placed their bags on theground and returned to her. He placed his hands on either side of her arms and ran them up and down, calming her once again. “How are you feeling about all this?”
The sleeper car wasn’t fancy, with a bench on one side and a bed large enough for two on the other. Micah had already told her he’d tried to get one with bunks but they were sold out. He’d offered to sleep on the bench, but there was no way Ellie would let him. No, she could swallow her fears of nights on the trail with Brent for a few nights so they’d both arrive well rested in California.
“I…I’m not sure. I never thought I’d return to California. I don’t really want to now, but it’s my only choice.” Still, while she had far more bad memories than good on the West Coast, she did have a few positive memories. Looking for seashells with Mama at the beach. Falling in love with art with Miss Lutken. Was there some way to redeem the bad memories by returning with Micah and somehow share the good ones with him?
Micah pulled her into his arms, his hand softly running up and down her back and leaving chills in its wake. “You are the strongest woman I’ve ever known, Ellie, and I’ve had the pleasure of knowing some strong women as my future sisters-in-law. You deserve the closure of trying, and I’m with you every step of the way.” He paused, pulling back enough to look her in the eye with the slightest mischievous twinkle there. “Besides, are you really going to deny me the pleasure of punching your grandfather’s business partner in the nose after they concocted this ridiculous scheme for the sole purpose of dangling it in front of your face before snatching it away?”
