Faith (32 page)

Liza blushed. "Oh, as good as an old woman can look."

"Liza, have you been pinching your cheeks?" Faith teased.

"No, but I suppose we should."

Liza and Faith turned to face the mirror in unison and
gave themselves a quick pinch.

"Ouch!" They laughed simultaneously.

The sound of a wagon pulling to a stop outside Faith's
window broke the moment.

"There's yet another surprise awaiting you!" Liza took
Faith by the hand.

Faith followed Mother Shepherd to the front porch. The
driver stepped down from the buggy, tipping his Stetson at
the ladies.

"Oh, my goodness!" Faith cried.

"Do you like it?"

"Like it?" She stammered like a schoolgirl, looking at the
elegant buggy with its fixed roof and curtains. "I love it!"

"I thought you might, so I had Nicholas send for Rusty to
fetch it from the barn. It's been stored there since Abe-"

"Liza, it's lovely. But are you sure? We could always take
the buckboard."

"No buckboard for my daughter-in-law!" Liza's eyes
glowed. "It's too special a day not to bring out the jenny
Lind. Abe wouldn't have it any other way. And neither
would I."

Hand in hand the women walked to their waiting buggy.
Rusty opened the door. Liza introduced Faith to Rusty as
he helped them onto the fine leather-upholstered seats.

Drawing back the curtains, Liza leaned her head out the
window. "Thank you, Rusty."

"My pleasure, ma'am."

"Are the rest of the boys coming?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world!"

As the buggy pulled up in front of the church, Liza reached
for Faith's hand and held it tightly. "I know how fond you
are of Jeremiah. I've taken the liberty of asking him to walk
you down the aisle today."

Faith had been silently wishing her father were here to
give her away. Mother Shepherd's last gift was truly the
nicest of all.

Tears glistened as she tried to speak.

Liza nodded knowingly. "The next time we meet, we
will officially be family. But in my heart, we already are."

Moments later Jeremiah came for Faith. His kindly face
glowed with pride. "Hello, my dearest. Are you ready?"

"Oh yes, Jeremiah."

Jeremiah helped Faith from the buggy. Sissy was standing
beside him with a basketful of yellow rose petals.

"Hi, Faith! Were gettin' marrwid!"

"Yeah," Adam said. "And I get to see you get married!"

Faith hugged the two children. She looked over to see
Dan and his mail-order bride smiling. Forming an 0 with
thumb and forefinger, Dan winked.

Vera, Molly, and Etta were waiting for Faith on the
church steps.

"You look beautiful, dear." Vera beamed.

"Yes, you do," Etta added, handing Faith a flowing
bouquet of yellow roses and ivy. "These are from my
garden, for you."

Faith was speechless at the generosity.

"Thank you," she murmured, overcome with emotion.
God had truly given her a new home.

The church doors swung open, and heavenly music
poured from the foyer. Sissy walked ahead of Faith, sprinkling rose petals. Jeremiah placed Faith's arm through his,
and they started down the aisle. The church was packed.
Some folks had to stand. But the only thing Faith saw was
her handsome groom, waiting for her at the altar.

Twenty minutes later Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Shepherd
sealed their union with a kiss, lingering perhaps just a little
too long as guests began to giggle. The next thing Faith
knew, they were headed out the door, rice being thrown
from every direction.

Rusty had the jenny Lind waiting. The bride and groom were escorted to their reception in grand style as children
ran alongside the buggy.

Nicholas had made the arrangements for their reception to
be held on the church grounds. The brush arbor was elegantly decorated; every kind of food imaginable filled the
long tables, in addition to a four-tiered wedding cake and
bowls of bright red sparkling punch.

"How did you do all this so quickly?" Faith exclaimed.

Nicholas winked. "You'd be surprised what money can buy."

As the townsfolk and Shepherd hired hands gathered
around the reception table, Nicholas turned to thank them
for coming.

When the crowd quieted, he spoke. "I want to thank
each of you for coming to help me share the happiest day
of my life." He gazed at Faith, and she blushed.

The guests applauded the newlyweds.

"Faith and I thank God for his presence in our lives and
for the miracle of bringing us together." Grinning, he
handed Faith a gaily wrapped box.

"For me?" she asked.

"For you. Open it."

Faith glowed as she slipped the ribbon off the package and
opened the deep blue velvet box to find a key.

"Oh, by the way," Nicholas handed her an importantlooking piece of paper. "This goes with it."

She looked up. "I don't understand...."

"Read the piece of paper; it will explain."

Faith unfolded the document. It was a deed, and as she
quickly scanned the legal writings, she realized it was to the Smith place. She squealed with joy, hugging her husband
around the neck. "Does this mean what I think it means?"

Nicholas held her tightly. "If you're talking about a school
for the blind, it does."

Faith was speechless for a moment. "Oh, Nick."

"But," Jeremiah stepped forward. "What good is a blind
school without Braille slates?"

"Oh, yes." Faith's face fell.

"But then, I just happen to have a few crates on hand."

"Jeremiah! However on earth did you get Braille slates?"

"Young lady, I used to be a schoolteacher at an exclusive
boarding school for boys. But I got real tired of seeing parents dump their kids off and go on to pursue their own
pleasures. It hurt to see bright young boys neglected while
their parents stockpiled earthly treasures and neglected their
most important treasure-their children. I tried to make a
difference, but nothing I did seemed to do any good. So I
came here, asking for nothing more than to be left alone.

"You, however, have helped restore my faith in humanity. I think you'll do real well with Adam Walters, and with
others God will bring your way.

"Now, about those Braille slates.... I suppose I could
donate them if a certain woman in the crowd would agree
to let me court her."

Liza's head shot up.

Jeremiah grinned, stepping over to take Liza's hand. "How
about it, young lady? Want to squire around with me?"

A smile spread over Nicholas's face. "Professor Montgomery is a good catch, Mother. The two of you could spend the rest of your lives helping Faith teach the blind to read at
the Faith Shepherd School for the Blind."

"Oh, Jeremiah." Liza blushed, squeezing his hand. "You
old ... sweet-talker, you."

Nicholas leaned over and stole another kiss from Faith.

Jeremiah frowned at Liza. "I take that as a yes?"

"It's an `I'll give it some thought."'

"Well, don't hem and haw too long. At our age-"

"At our age, Jeremiah, you're only as old as you feel!"
Liza winked at her new daughter-in-law.

"I think `The Liza Shepherd School for the Blind' sounds
better." Faith smiled at Nicholas.

"No, Faith." Liza said. "The school should bear your
name. After all, you are the one who envisioned it-"

"I insist, Mother Shepherd. It's my gift to you."

"I don't know what to say."

"That's a first." Jeremiah playfully yanked a lock of her hair.

"Say yes!" Little Adam shouted from the crowd.

Liza turned to look at the precocious boy. "Yes!"

"Does that go for my proposal, too?" Jeremiah teased.

"I'd be right proud to `squire around' with you, Jeremiah
Montgomery," Liza said.

Nicholas cleared his throat. "I think Mother has something she wants to say."

"Oh, yes. I almost forgot." Liza faced the guests. "With
this day being such a joyous occasion, and one with many
gifts, I feel the Lord should share in our offerings. I would
like to announce that the Shepherds will pay the full
amount to have a new steeple erected."

For a moment, a stunned hush fell over the crowd.

"Faith and Dan repaired the steeple," someone in the
crowd reminded.

"Repaired, yes, but the steeple's not good enough for
Deliverance." She looked at Reverend Hicks. "It's going to
fall on somebody's head one of these days. A new steeple,
the finest money can buy, will be in place for Thanksgiving
services." Liza glanced at Faith. "If there's one thing I've
learned, money can't buy happiness."

Suddenly everyone was cheering and applauding.

Cake was cut and punch served. Children played on the
church grounds, and laughter filled the air.

It was late afternoon when the guests began departing.
Night would be upon them soon. It was a long drive home
for most, and many of the guests still had chores to do.

Best wishes and hugs were exchanged. Faith and Nicholas
met Dan's mail-order bride. Her name was Ruth. Faith
decided they were meant for each other. When she saw the
way Dan looked at Ruth, she was reminded of one of Papa's
favorite sayings: "If you want to make God laugh, tell him
your plans."

Most important, Dan's children adored Ruth as much as
she did them. Faith had a very good feeling about Dan and
Ruth. And Liza and Jeremiah as well.

But most especially about Nicholas and Faith.

The moon was rising as the newlyweds were driven
home. Soon a full "Shepherd's Moon" hung suspended in
the sky. Faith glanced out the carriage window.

"Look at that moon. It has to be the brightest moon I've
ever seen.

Nicholas's head touched hers as he bent to look out. "It's
a beauty."

"Yes, tonight it seems extra special. The way it lights up
the road reminds me of the light that the school for the
blind will bring to so many children."

Drawing her back in his arms, Nicholas said softly, "God
has brought us together to be more than just man and wife.
This light you talk about, it's as though God has turned a
light on in all of us, especially me. I thought I was walking
close with the Lord, but I realize now that my light was dim
until you came along." Nicholas gently kissed her.

Snuggling closer, she sighed. "Do they really call it Shepherd's Moon?"

"Most do," Nicholas said. "But I plan to change that."

"Why is that?"

"Well, before, I guess I never quite understood the full
meaning behind it."

"You mean being known as the richest man around?"

"Exactly."

Faith remained silent.

"I think I would like to be known for something more
important than money."

Faith grinned, wiggling closer to her husband. "And how
would you most like to be remembered, my darling?"

Nicholas answered softly and without a moment's hesitation. "For a Shepherd's faith."

Dear Reader,

What a joy it is to see my first Inspirational book in print! It
certainly isn't my first book. God has so richly blessed me
over the years; I've published more than fifty novels, both
historical and contemporary, in the general market. But in
many ways, Faith is my proudest achievement-if you will,
my personal best for my Savior. In the story of Faith and
Nicholas, I have drawn from the humor God has given me,
my conviction of his unfailing love, and my own
sometimes-shaky, sometimes-steady faith walk. I hope you
have enjoyed this lighthearted novel and will look forward
to June and Hope, the other Kallahan sisters' stories in my
Brides of the West series.

Zephaniah 3:17 says that God "will rejoice over you with
great gladness," that "he will exult over you by singing a
happy song." God rejoices over us, and he says that his joy
is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). God rejoices in our laughter. In a troubled world, what better way to celebrate his
love?