Hearts Made Whole (31 page)

Besides, if he'd missed her so much, why hadn't he come back sooner?

“I worked laying railroad track all winter,” he said, as if she'd spoken her question aloud. “I earned good money. And once I'd saved up enough earnings, I quit and rode east to Virginia.”

He stood straight, without hiding his injured hand in his pocket. Had he made peace with his injury? She tried to keep her hope in check and not barrage him with a hundred questions and instead let him tell her what he wanted in his own time.

“I went back to the farm in Virginia, to the place of the murder,” he said somberly. “The mother and her three other children still live there. But her husband hadn't made it out of the war alive. He was killed at Vicksburg.”

She expected Ryan's shoulders to slump, for the horror of the event to weigh him down. But his eyes remained bright. “I apologized for not doing anything to try to save her son from getting shot—for being a coward that night with my comrades.”

The light streaming in from the window accentuated a peace and a confidence in his demeanor she'd never noticed before,
making her realize that as hard as their separation had been, it had taken him more courage and strength to leave than it would have to stay with her.

“She forgave me. And when I gave them everything I'd earned from working on the railroad, they accepted it with gratitude.”

“You really surprised them, then.”

He nodded. “It was the last thing they expected. Yet it was the thing they needed the most.”

“I'm so glad, Ryan,” she said with a joyful leap in her chest. She could see that he was better off for having done it. It was as if he'd thrown off the shackles that had bound him and was now free.

He took another step toward her but halted at the bed. He looked at her then with a forthrightness that tugged at her heart. “I've been free of drink and opium since I left here.”

The joy within her expanded. “I'm proud of you.”

“Not one drink in all these months. And, Lord willing, I'll not have another sip for the rest of my life.”

“I knew you could do it.”

“Not in my own strength, or in yours,” he said gently, “but by learning to cry out my need for God every day, every hour.”

She nodded, marveling at the new man before her. Maybe he was still maimed physically, but God had indeed healed his heart and mind.

“And I may have found a surgeon who's willing to take another look and see if he can remove the remaining shrapnel.”

“That would be wonderful,” she said.

“Even if he can't, the months of labor have strengthened my arm and hand.” He flexed his arm playfully. The slight wince told her that maybe he'd never be completely free of pain, but he was learning to live with his wounds.

He dropped his arm and shook his head. “I can't believe how much I missed you. I thought I would die if I had to wait another day to see you.”

She gave a soft laugh of delight at his admission.

“I'm serious.” He grinned. “I about killed my poor horse on the trip back.”

“I missed you too.”

“Then I guess that means you won't object when I tell you I have a new job here.”

“A job?”

“Aye.” He started to walk slowly around the bed toward her. “Before I rode to Virginia, I met with the Lighthouse Board. I explained the mix-up with Tessa. And then I petitioned the Board to create another position here at Windmill Point.”

She started in surprise.

“Don't worry,” he said, drawing nearer. “They had nothing but the highest praise for you.”

“I've worked hard. The inspector told me yesterday that I've done an excellent job.”

“And you have. It was good for them to see you working independently these past months, to know you're just as capable as any man.”

She nodded in agreement. If Ryan hadn't left, she wasn't sure the Board would have truly seen her capability like they did now. As hard as the separation from Ryan had been, it was clear that God had known it was exactly what each of them needed at the time.

“Even so, Windmill Point is a big job for one person.” Ryan continued around the bed and didn't stop until he was standing directly before her. She was comforted by the strength of his presence.

“It may be a big job, but I've managed,” she said, hardly able to think clearly now.

He leaned closer, lifted his hand, and stroked a strand of her hair. “Would you object to having an assistant?” he asked softly.

Again she started. “Do you want to be my assistant?”

“Would you mind?” He fingered her hair again.

“Could you be happy working under a woman head keeper?”

“Of course I could be happy. You'd be the best boss a man could ever ask for.” He grinned. “And the prettiest.”

“Are you sure?” She almost couldn't believe he'd be staying, that he wanted to work here alongside her. It seemed too good to be true.

“I'm certain,” he said, and his expression turned serious again.

Her heart hitched a little as the humor evaporated from his face. Maybe everything had been too good to be true.

“There is one thing that would make me even happier,” he whispered, and this time he grazed his knuckles along her jaw to her chin. He caressed her bottom lip with his thumb.

A breeze rippled through her, like the wind through a field of flowers. “We can't have you being an unhappy employee,” she teased. “So tell me what you want, and I'll do my best to rectify the situation.”

“I'd like another kiss.” He traced her upper lip this time. “But only after you agree to marry me.”

She sucked in a breath.

He grew motionless, his eyes fixed on her face, watching her reaction, waiting for her response. “I know I don't have the right to walk back into your life after all this time and ask you to marry me. Maybe you've found someone else . . .”

She started to shake her head, but he cut her off. “All I know is
that I've wanted to marry you since I met you last fall. I haven't stopped thinking about you or loving you or praying that you'd wait for me, even though you had no obligation to do so. And I'd be the happiest man on earth if you'd marry me.”

She reached up and cupped his cheek. “Yes. To both.”

He smiled, the happiness brimming from his eyes and crinkling his tanned skin. “Both?”

“Yes, I'll marry you.” It was her turn to trace his jaw and run a finger across his bottom lip. “And yes, you may kiss me again.”

“Today?”

“Yes.”

He bent in, and his nose almost touched hers. “Marry you today? Or kiss you today?”

“Both. Today. Now.” She wound her fingers into his shirt and tugged him against her. “So long as it's a kiss like the one you gave me before you left.” His good-bye kiss had been filled with such passion and love that even as she stood in his arms, she could feel the memory of it as if he'd kissed her only yesterday.

His lips grazed hers, and her knees nearly buckled at the sweetness of it. “I can give you kisses like that every day.” His voice turned soft. “All day long.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him even closer. “Then what are you waiting for?”

They smiled at each other, and when their lips finally met, they both knew that the wait had been worth all the pain, that their hearts were made whole now, and they would be able to share a lifetime of pleasure. Together.

W
ith this second book in the B
EACONS
OF
H
OPE
series, I hope you've enjoyed learning about another Michigan lighthouse. Windmill Point really did exist on Lake St. Clair and was in operation for over a century. It served as an important guide for the whole commerce of the Great Lakes near the Detroit River.

Today, however, if you were to visit Windmill Point, the original lighthouse and keeper's cottage are no longer in existence. Instead you would find only a small and simple unmanned electric tower in bustling metropolitan Grosse Pointe Park, a suburb of Detroit.

Caroline Taylor wasn't a real woman keeper at Windmill Point Lighthouse, but she was inspired by Caroline Litogot Antaya, a lightkeeper heroine from Michigan's history. Caroline Antaya lived at the Mamajuda Lighthouse on the Detroit River a short distance away from Windmill Point Lighthouse. Incidentally, the Mamajuda Lighthouse is no longer in existence either.

Caroline Antaya's husband served with honor in the Union Army during the Civil War, losing several fingers on his hand at Gettysburg. After returning from the war, her husband was named keeper of the Mamajuda Lighthouse, but then he fell ill with tuberculosis and passed away.

Following her husband's death, the superintendent of Detroit Lighthouses appointed Caroline as acting keeper, most likely because he felt sorry for her loss. However, six months later, Caroline was removed from her position because the superintendent wanted to replace her with a man.

The community near Caroline rose to her defense. They even enlisted the assistance of a Michigan senator to help fight for her reappointment. I quoted the senator's actual words regarding Caroline when he said, “The vessel men all say that she keeps a very excellent light and I think it very hard to remove this woman, who is faithful and efficient, and throw her upon the world.”

Because of the support of her community, Caroline was reinstated as keeper with full duties. In those days, when women were regularly discriminated against because of gender, Caroline's story was inspirational and an encouragement to others to persevere in the face of injustice.

Stephen Simmons was also a real rogue from the pages of Michigan history. Though he lived in the early 1800s, in the decades before the Civil War, I used this villain as the basis for Mr. Simmons in the novel. He had a tavern outside of Detroit and was a Goliath of a man. At first he gave the impression of being cultured and educated, but once people got to know him, they realized what a brute he really was.

The community where Simmons lived grew to fear him, because when under the influence of alcohol he searched out his
enemies, picked fights, and inflicted painful beatings. He later killed his wife in a drunken rage. Because he was held in such low regard, during his trial the court had a difficult time finding jurors who would be impartial. So it came as no surprise when the jury found Simmons guilty of murdering his wife.

Simmons was sentenced to death by hanging. On the day of his execution, people from as far away as fifty miles lined the streets. The makeshift grandstands and rooftops filled to overflowing with everyone who had come to witness his death.

Simmons was composed as he walked to the gallows. With dignity he delivered a speech on the evils of alcohol, repented of his sins, and pleaded for mercy. But Simmons would find no mercy that day. In front of at least two thousand people, Simmons met eternity.

Many people left the hanging feeling the punishment had been both cruel and vindictive. As a result, public sentiment against the death penalty swelled. Eventually, Michigan became the first state in the nation to abolish the death penalty.

It's my hope that through this story, like Caroline and Ryan, you will learn to turn to God with every need you have. He's there waiting for you to come to Him, every day, every hour, every minute. He wants the cry of your heart to be,
“Lord, I
need you, how I need you. Every hour I need
you.”

May you overflow with strength and peace as you turn to Him.

Jody Hedlund
is the bestselling author of several novels, including
Love Unexpected
,
Captured by Love
,
Rebellious
Heart
, and
The Preacher's Bride
. She holds a bachelor's degree from Taylor University and a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin, both in social work. Jody lives in Michigan with her husband and five children. Learn more at
JodyHedlund.com
.

The Preacher's Bride

The Doctor's Lady

Unending Devotion

A Noble Groom

Rebellious Heart

Captured by Love

B
EACONS
OF
H
OPE

Out of the Storm: An ebook novella

Love Unexpected

Hearts Made Whole

Resources:
bethanyhouse.com/AnOpenBook

Website:
www.bethanyhouse.com

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