Travis hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “It will be hard, Miss Callahan,” he said, his tone firm and serious. His arms fell stiff to his sides. “I’ll be honest with you—money is tight until the harvest comes in. Being a farmer’s wife and a mother isn’t the easiest profession. It’s demanding, not glamorous. I don’t want to mislead you into thinking it’s anything other than what it is.”
“I know,” Miss Callahan answered sharply. “I understand, and I won’t abandon these children because of the promise of hardship.” She raised her chin high, her shoulders rolled back. “I’m tougher than you think, Mr. Blythe. I’ve known war, loss, pain, and hunger.Iwas the one running my father’s plantation while the men were away at war. I know what hardships are. I’velivedthem.”
Travis stepped back, startled by the intensity of her words. “I . . . I didn’t mean to offend . . .” he stammered. “I just—”
Miss Callahan held up a hand, her voice softening a touch. “I understand your concerns, truly. I know I don’t look like much, but I amfarfrom delicate.”
“Josie! Come play tag!” Lillian called from the cabin.
Miss Callahan curtsied, surprising Travis with her sudden display of formality. “Until later, Mr. Blythe,” she said faintly before turning away.
Travis watched as Miss Callahan ran through the tall grass, her laughter mingling with that of the children. She seemed to embody a blend of grace and resilience that he couldn’t quite reconcile. Despite her upbringing as a Southern belle, she didn’t fit the mold in the slightest. Even after weeks of wondering—and getting his answers about her looks and age—the itch remained, stronger than ever. This woman was complex, full of surprises.
Who are you, Josephine Callahan?
Chapter Seven
Josieadjustedhercollarand straightened her mother’s cameo brooch pinned against her bosom before meeting Travis’s eyes. She took his hand, her bare palm fitting against his as he assisted her down from the wagon. The wooden church building stood before them, the small steeple reaching towards the heavens. The exterior that seemed to have once been painted white had mostly faded, leaving the natural wood exposed and weathered, as if no one had touched it with a brush in ages. A parsonage stood beside it, the exterior painted gray and the shutters a robin-egg blue. Rose and hydrangea bushes sprouted around the outside and potted ferns hung from the porch’s ceiling.
As Josie stepped onto the ground, her insides churned and breath hitched softly. Her limbs trembled as each moment passed. In a matter of minutes, she’d be a married woman again—and to another stranger.
Would this time be different?
Could she truly find contentment with Travis and his children?
Josie looked down at her plain button-down sage-green dress. It didn’t hold a candle to her first wedding gown, an ivory gown of English lace that once belonged to her mother. The sage green dress would have to do; she wasn’t expecting anything fancy for a ceremony, anyway.
She recalled her first wedding day, the dress—though breath-takingly beautiful—itching her skin like it were yesterday. After mourning her losses for months, looking in the mirror had given her a new feeling of confidence and beauty. Growing up, Josie always felt slightly awkward with her long legs, flat chest, and fair complexion, but seeing herself as a bride, she had never felt more beautiful.
Holding onto her father’s arm, she had been terrified with all the eyes on her. However, those eyes should have been the least of her worries. Nothing had been more frightening than the man standing before her. But what could one expect from an innocent sixteen-year-old? Her past self had been a sweet, naive girl, hardly knowing what to expect in a marriage, other than carrying on a man’s last name.
Josie closed her eyes and shook away the memory, exhaling softly. This marriage would be different—being only for the children’s benefits—but she couldn’t help but remember Aunt Tia’s advice when it came down to her own child. Just the thought sent a shiver crawling up her spine.Worry about it tonight. This moment is about these four children. Think of those poor, motherless dears.
“Josie!”
Josie opened her eyes, seeing the smiling Lillian holding a bouquet of pink, purple, and blue wildflowers.
“I made this for you.”
Josie grinned as she took the child’s precious gift. She brought the flowers close to her face, smelling the sweet fragrance. “Thank you, Lillian.”
Aunt Polly smiled and extended her free hand that wasn’t holding Gideon. “Come along, Lillian. Let’s go inside and get situated.”
Lillian started to follow her aunt but swiftly turned, wrapping her arms around Josie’s legs. Josie stiffened for a moment, caught off guard, before gently returning the embrace.
“I can’t wait for you to be my new ma.”
The words from Lillian’s mouth made Josie’s heart flutter. Knowing how excited the child was soothed her jittery nerves. Yet as Josie glanced up and met the eyes of her soon-to-be husband, a lump formed in her throat. She forced a smile, hoping Travis wouldn’t see through her facade. He couldn’t know how anxious she truly was; if he did, he might delay the wedding—or worse, send her back. Going back wasn’t an option. Her child’s future depended on this man.
“Are you ready?” Travis asked. The man’s hair was slicked back like it had been when they first met. Josie had noticed the day before how fast his dark stubble grew back, and his face was now smooth again.
Josie nodded, forcing herself to suppress the screams in her mind, begging her to run. As she walked beside Travis, she kept a careful distance, her grip tightening around the trembling bouquet in her hands. Each step seemed heavy, and she forced herself to breathe calmer as Travis opened the door. Inside, the children and Aunt Polly sat in the front pew, along with two boys around Ivy’s age. In the center aisle stood a man in a suit alongside a woman in a blue cotton dress.
The woman’s caramel-brown hair was pulled up with winglets framing her face, making Josie self-conscious about her hair that hung loose past her waist. Her hands couldn’t keep steady thatmorning, making it impossible to pull her hair back into a proper updo.
Travis pointed ahead. “Miss Callahan, meet Reverend Levingston and his wife.”
The woman smiled and embraced Josie. “It’s so nice to meet you, Miss Callahan.”
