Page 74 of A Secret Heart
His smile softened as he leaned in. She felt the pull of his arms around her waist, drawing her closer. She slid her hands around his neck and wove her fingers into his hair, enjoying its softness. The scent of him filled her nose. All sweat and sawdust and everything Ed.
His lips met hers. Fireworks erupted inside her. Her left foot lifted back in a little kick while their kiss deepened.
Another contented sigh filled the space when his lips left hers.
She tilted her head as his forehead rested against hers. She never wanted him to stop kissing her this way.
A shrill whistle echoed out from the top of the rise where Isaac now stood.
“Drew’s up here. David too. You guys coming?”
Rebekah let her hand slide down Ed’s arm as she stepped in the direction of the hill, but Ed tugged her back.
“You’ve taught me the importance of asking for what I want. What I need.” He spoke with an urgency. “Rebekah, I need you in my life. Will you marry me?”
While all her dreams for the paper were teetering, this dream was unfolding before her anew. The best dream of all.
“Yes, Ed McGraw. I will.”
Chapter20
“We thank you, Lord, for family and friends, especially for Ed’s new wife.”
Ed’s head bobbed up unbidden at the phrase rolling off Drew’s tongue.
Ed’s new wife.
He squeezed Rebekah’s hand, and she squeezed his right back, sending an overwhelming wave of anticipation through him. It’d only been three weeks since he’d popped the question. And now they were sitting together at the table, surrounded by family.
“Bless this marriage and this food. Amen.”
Ed kept hold of Rebekah’s hand as he opened his eyes to look at her. She smiled as she sat there in that delicate-looking blouse she’d sewn to go with her navy skirt. One with those puffy sleeves he didn’t usually care for on women but loved on her as she lifted a shoulder with a twinkle in her eye.
Rebekah leaned close. “I haven’t told you yet how handsome you look.”
He cleared his throat, hoping the heat he felt in his cheeks didn’t show. Not much into fashion, he’d nevertheless donned his best Sunday shirt and pants along with the boots purchased after the sale of another table to the bakery.
If all the family weren’t sitting around the table, he’d lean over and wrap her in his arms for another kiss. But there would be time enough for that later tonight, after they finished their celebration with the family at the main house.
“When do we get cake and raspberries?” Tillie fidgeted in her seat, her grin rivaling Rebekah’s as chuckles erupted around the table at her outburst.
“As soon as you finish with your dinner, little lady.” Drew winked at her as he passed a plate to Kaitlyn.
Nick leaned close to David, holding up a hand to get Jo to stop chattering long enough for him to hear her brother. All while Isaac stared off, barely breaking a smile at Tillie’s antics. No doubt remained for Ed that Isaac wished him and Rebekah the very best. He’d been more relaxed around Rebekah since the whole letter mix-up had ended. But the old Isaac still lay hidden under the depths of whatever plagued him.
Ed could only guess what had happened to make Isaac so withdrawn. If he couldn’t shoot at a man, it was no wonder he’d left the marshals. But it hadn’t affected his ability to manage his tasks around the homestead since he’d come down from his cabin. Drew and Nick didn’t need to know that Isaac couldn’t shoot until he saw fit to tell them.
“What kind of cake is it?” Rebekah leaned forward to tease Tillie, as if she hadn’t helped Kaitlyn with the baking yesterday. If her aunt and uncle had been back, Opal would no doubt have had that honor. Her aunt’s latest letter held not only the good news that Vess’s treatments were working but also that they hoped to return in the fall. Rebekah couldn’t wait to see them both.
The conversations echoed over the table as everyone laughed and smiled while passing plates of carrots, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, and fried chicken.
“I haven’t had this much food since a certain picnic.” Ed wiggled his brows at Rebekah.
She blushed before scooping up another mouthful of potatoes. The picnic she’d been planning to surprise him with had taken place after they’d seen the bandit safely locked away in the Calvin jailhouse. In fact, she’d brought food out nearly every day he’d been working on his cabin the last few weeks. So much that he’d had to loosen his belt a notch for the wedding.
“Now that Ed’s lean-to is done…” Nick’s words faded as Tillie and Jo squabbled across the table.
His brothers had been eager to help him add a lean-to onto his cabin for his carpentry. Once done, he’d managed to move his work out there and scrub away all the sawdust just in time for the bright yellow curtains Rebekah had brought over to hang in the front windows.
