Page 89 of Inventions of the Heart

Zane leaned down and kissed her. “So you fed his arm into that waterwheel?”

Jilly rolled her eyes at the kiss and Zane’s question. “I’m going to go tell Annie and Beth Ellen what happened. To the extent I know.”

Jilly wandered off to leave Michelle alone with Zane.

Michelle shrugged. “I tried to reason with him first. I was preaching to him. Telling him he needed to admit he was a terrible sinner and repent.”

“Have any luck?” Zane asked as Benteen’s vile language continued even from a distance.

“What I had was inspiration. God made me hear a sound that had been going on all along. Suddenly, that waterwheel, turning behind me, was loud. Benteen’s sleeve was torn and dangling. I grabbed the fabric and shoved it into the waterwheel,and it sucked him right in. I believe it was a heavenly message.”

Zane wrapped both arms around her, lowered his head, and kissed her again. Longer this time. Deeper.

When the kiss ended, Michelle said, “When I was talking to Benteen, one of the things I said to him was that I had a husband, and I was in love with him.”

Their eyes met. Silence stretched between them.

“And did you mean it?”

“I meant every word.”

And this kiss lasted until Shad came and pounded on the workshop door to tell them he had their horses saddled.

“I DON’T KNOWWHY YOU WON’T MARRY JILLY.”Laura jammed her fists on her waist and glared at Nick. They were back in the mountain mansion. The worst of Edgar’s henchmen were fired, including that dreadful cook.

They’d hired more men, including a few to guard the house.

The logging business was running well.

But their troubles wouldn’t be over until Jilly was safely married.

Nick, who still spent most of his time around the house, not satisfied that anyone could guard Mama as well as he could, blinked those odd eyes at her. The three of them sat at the breakfast table. Mama had gone to the office to work on the account books.

“Uh, because, uh, well...” His face had a helpless look on it as he searched for words. “I don’t know her. Don’t love her. And ... uh, don’t want to.”

Laura didn’t think those were good enough reasons.

“Caleb barely knew me, hadn’t begun to love me.”

Caleb said quietly, “I’d begun to love you.”

“And honestly probably didn’t want to.”

“I wanted to marry you something fierce. Having known you for less than a month, I had my doubts that it was whatGodwanted. But, oh yes, I wanted to marry you.”

Laura’s eyes narrowed as she considered what they said. She knew her thinking went on for an uncomfortably long time, but the men remained quiet, giving her time. They’d gotten used to this. They’d gotten to know her.

“She needs a husband, and you might not know her, but you know Mama. Wouldn’t you like to have her for your own mama?”

Nick studied Laura. She realized this tough man, devoted to protecting Mama above all else, was smart. Not as educated as she was but plenty smart. Now he looked at her with kindness, maybe even pity.

“We’ll make sure everyone is safe,” Nick said. “Your mama, Jilly, you, everyone. Don’t carry around this fear, Laura. Do your best to hand it over to God.” He took a drink of his coffee, then wiped his mouth on a snow white napkin that lay beside his plate.

He looked at Caleb and solemnly said, “You need to pray with her more. Help her to ease this burden of fear she bears.”

Caleb took Laura’s hand and tugged until she looked at him.

He smiled.

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