Where Love Dwells (33 page)

“Well before the baby is born,” Catherine added as she placed her hand atop her tummy.

“Catherine and I will need a place to stay, just temporarily, until we can get settled in a place of our own. We were hoping we could stay here at Hill House,” he said, turning toward his mother.

Emma swallowed hard and wondered if God's plan for her had been to stay right here, with her family, all along. “You're all welcome to stay here,” she assured him. “What are you going to do about Wryn?”

Mark swallowed hard and took his wife's hand. “I'm not certain her mother would quite believe the girl's reformed herself as much as she has. Not this quickly.”

Catherine nodded. “Mark and I will speak to my sister, of course, but if she's still not willing to have Wryn return home, then she can stay with us once we get settled.”

“Would she be able to stay here with you when we first go
back to Albany? I'd rather not have Wryn travel all that way, only to be disappointed again,” Mark said.

“Of course she can stay with me, but you'll have to talk to Wryn yourself so there aren't any misunderstandings like there were last time,” she replied. “You'll be staying here at Hill House for a while, won't you?” she said, turning to Warren.

“We probably need to stay for a few months, at least,” he replied.

“Naturally, I'll continue to help out, for as long as we're here at Hill House. I should probably say good night, though,” Anna said as she got to her feet. “Dawn comes earlier and earlier these days, and I'd like to finish a few chores before we go visiting tomorrow.”

“We're leaving right after breakfast, too,” Catherine added.

Betsy nodded and stood up. “Us too.”

Warren joined them, along with Mark. “We should probably all call it a day. What about you, Mother? Grams?”

Mother Garrett shook her head. “I still have a bit of energy left. You all go on to bed. Your mother will sit with me, won't you, Emma?”

Disappointed to have yet another day alone tomorrow, Emma managed a smile. “We won't be much longer, but you could save me some steps if someone could lock up for me.”

“I'll do that,” Anna volunteered and led the younger adults out of the parlor.

“We're very blessed, aren't we?” Emma murmured as she listened to the echo of their footsteps as they mounted the stairs.

“Having those boys home with their families. Knowing both Warren and Mark are back home again for good. You and Mr. Breckenwith getting married. Blessings all. Life always manages
to fall into place, one blessing at a time,” Mother Garrett replied and patted Emma's thigh.

Shaking her head, Emma drew in a long breath and turned to face her mother-in-law. “Life doesn't always fall into the place we've expected,” she said, unable to keep the burden she had been carrying secret any longer.

Mother Garrett cocked her head. “Having second thoughts about marrying that man, are you?”

Emma nodded. “A few more than that,” she admitted and slowly explained her situation, starting with her decision to live in town with Zachary and either sell Hill House or keep it as an investment and ending with the ultimatum she had given to Zachary.

“You never mentioned moving from Hill House to me before. Not seriously,” Mother Garrett murmured.

“I wasn't certain myself that I could leave. Not until just a few days ago. But since you'd said you knew you had a place with me wherever I lived, I didn't worry about it because—”

“Because you weren't sure that man wanted a woman with a real backbone or not, and he hasn't let you know that he's figured out that he does,” Mother Garrett offered.

“You don't know he's come to that conclusion.”

Softening her gaze, she took Emma's hands in her own. “He's a smart man. He'll come around to it, and when he does, I don't want you worrying yourself about me. I'm perfectly content right here with you, but if you do patch things up with him and want to sell out, you won't be able to do that right away. Not with Warren and Mark needing a place to stay for a while, which means . . . I'd like to stay.”

Emma's heart skipped a beat. “Here? You'd want to stay here at Hill House, rather than with me?”

“Anna can't run this boardinghouse, even with Liesel and Ditty's help, and take care of her husband and her little ones and have a new cook in the kitchen, too. My place is here, helping Anna, just like I've always helped you.”

Stunned, Emma struggled to keep herself sitting upright. “You . . . you wouldn't want to come live with me?”

Mother Garrett cupped the side of her face. “I love you dearly, Emma, but I couldn't move into town with you. Not now. Warren and Anna both need me much more than you do,” she whispered, then wrapped Emma in her arms and held her close.

They cried together, and Emma knew this very precious, precious woman was more than the rock that had held her life steady for over thirty years. She was the one true cornerstone of Hill House, too.

And one day soon, when Zachary finally gave Emma his decision, Emma prayed her mother-in-law would be there to support her—either way her life unfolded in the days and months and years ahead.

31

A
T FIRST LIGHT,
Emma stood with her back to the kitchen door and glared at her mother-in-law. “Everyone else seems to have plans today that don't include me. Why shouldn't I ride to Bounty? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't. Just one.”

“What if Mr. Breckenwith is planning to come see you today?” Mother Garrett argued.

“I said a good reason. Moping about hoping the man might come isn't good enough,” Emma countered. “Besides, if I leave now, I can be at the courthouse practically when it opens and ride back well before late afternoon.”

“If I were hoping for a visit from my future husband, I'd want to be here and be gussied up a bit when he got here, too.”

Emma lowered her voice. “But I don't know if he's coming today or not, and I don't know if he's going to be my future husband or just . . . just a man who used to be my betrothed. And neither do you.”

“Suit yourself. You usually do anyway,” her mother-in-law quipped. “I hope you've got a few extra coins in that reticule of yours. He's not in Bounty this time to come to your rescue.”

Emma tilted up her chin and jiggled her reticule until the coins rattled. “I don't need him to rescue me. Not today. Not ever.”

“At least take this with you,” Mother Garrett insisted, pressing a small canvas bag into her hands. “Since you won't stay to eat some breakfast before you leave, take this snack to eat along the way.”

When Emma's stomach growled, she frowned.

Mother Garrett chuckled. “It's the last of that bread you brought home from Mrs. Fellows. I slathered it good with butter for you,” she said and pressed a kiss to Emma's cheek. “You take care of yourself today.”

“I will, but if I'm not back by supper, please don't worry about me. If need be, I'll spend the night in Bounty and be back sometime tomorrow,” she replied and headed for the livery to get Mercy.

Armed with a copy of Mr. Burns' will, which provided very nicely for his aged sister, Emma arrived back in Candlewood the next day fully confident she would be able to convince Miss Burns' sister-in-law to abide by the terms of her husband's will without involving a lawyer.

She arrived at the livery and dismounted just as the town clock struck four o'clock, a good hour later than she had planned. Hopeful she would have enough time to at least get rid of the road dust she was wearing before supper was ready, she handed Mr. Adams the reins. “Mercy gave me quite a comfortable ride again today. I think she deserves some extra oats, if you wouldn't mind.”

Frowning, he took the reins for a moment and handed them back to her. “Didn't Mr. Breckenwith tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“He came by just about noon today. He told my son he's not boarding this horse of yours here anymore.”

Emma felt the blood drain from her face and tightened her hold on the reins. “No, he didn't. Did he . . . did he say why?”

“I couldn't say. My son's right out back in the corral. You want me to ask him?”

“No, I-I'll stop on my way home and ask Mr. Breckenwith myself,” she replied, wondering why Zachary did not have the decency to wait until he spoke with her before changing the arrangements he had made for Mercy—unless he no longer felt responsible for the gift he had given her.

“I could keep her here for you, rub her down, and feed her while you're gone.”

She handed him the reins again. “That's a good idea. After I talk to Mr. Breckenwith, would I be able to board her with you if I need to?”

“Sure thing,” he said and led the horse around the livery to the corral.

Too piqued to care about her vow not to return to Zachary's home until he had told her of his decision, she avoided Main Street and took a shortcut through several side streets to get to Coulter Lane. Every step she took only increased her determination to get an explanation for what he had done.

She paused for a moment on his front stoop and removed her riding gloves and her bonnet to freshen her hair a bit, pleased that only a few hairs had escaped the braid she had fashioned that morning. After moistening her lips, she knocked firmly on the door, waited no more than a heartbeat, and knocked again.

“The least you can do is be home so I can get an explanation,” she grumbled.

The door swung open, unleashing luscious smells of supper cooking in the kitchen, before the echo of her words had faded.
Zachary had not answered the door, but she recognized the woman who did. “M-Mrs. Fellows?”

“Indeed it is. Come in, Widow Garrett. We've been expecting you.”

“You have?” Emma asked, dumbfounded.

“Let me take your things and hang them up,” she insisted, waiting for Emma to slip out of her cape, as well. “I'll let Mr. Breckenwith know you're here.”

“That won't be necessary,” Zachary said as he stepped out of his office. “I heard a knock, but Mrs. Fellows answered before I could.”

Mrs. Fellows disappeared down the hallway without saying another word, leaving Emma alone with him.

She took a deep breath, surprised at how her heart started to beat a little faster the moment he looked at her. “I see you have a new housekeeper.”

“And a groundskeeper, as well,” he said. “The Fellows are good people.”

“Unlike a certain gentleman I know who gives a lady a gift, then doesn't bother to tell her he's decided to change the arrangements he made for her to keep that gift.”

His eyes started to twinkle. “I thought that might get your feathers ruffled enough to make you stop here on your way home. Apparently I succeeded.”

She dismissed wondering how he knew she had been riding in favor of why he was so intent on annoying her. “Indeed you did, although you might at least have the courtesy to tell me why it was so important to you to annoy me.”

“Truthfully? If I had asked you to come here instead of meeting with me at Hill House, I didn't think you'd come for the simple reason you told me you wouldn't.”

She tilted up her chin, reluctant to admit he was right. “Is there a reason why you felt it was so necessary for me to come here instead of your coming to see me at Hill House?”

“No,” he whispered. “Not a single reason. There are several, actually, but the most important reason is that I knew I didn't have a prayer of convincing you to forgive me for being such a lout during this entire courtship of ours unless I showed you proof that I want you to be my wife. Because I love you, Emma. I love the woman of faith and character and substance you've been since we met, and I love you for the woman you'll be as my helpmate and companion in whatever time we are given together as husband and wife. I want you, Emma. Only you.”

She blinked back tears, unable to think past the notion that he loved her for the woman she was.

“Here, let me show you. I've made a number of changes to the house that I think will convince you,” he said and gently guided her into his office.

She looked around, but had to blink hard several times until her blurred vision cleared. The last time she had taken a peek into this room, only days ago, stacks of magazines and journals had littered the entire room, leaving only a narrow aisle that led to his cluttered desk.

Now, only half the room remained cluttered; the other half, which held a lady's desk positioned close to his, was as neat as her office at Hill House. No magazines. No journals. No law books were scattered about; rather, even the library of law books on the shelves alongside the lady's desk stood neat and tall.

“You may not be able to practice law, per se, but there's nothing in the law that prevents you from studying the law. You proved your ability to be discreet when you were operating the General Store, and you've always protected the privacy of your guests at
Hill House. I'd be a very foolish man indeed if I didn't trust you to be equally discreet about my clients or to take advantage of the help and the insight my very bright, very intelligent wife could give me,” he said.

“Truly?” Emma managed, afraid she might wake up to find this was all a dream. “You'd want me to study the law and work right here alongside you?” she asked, overwhelmed he would help her to fulfill a dream to choose law as her domain and use what she learned to help other women.

“I'd be honored to teach you and work with you and live with you here, if that's what you really want to do,” he said, turning her toward him and gazing into her eyes. “If not, if you think you'd rather stay at Hill House, then that's where we'll live and my clients will simply have to get used to the idea. Or you can sell the place or keep it as an investment, and we can live here. It's entirely up to you. All I know is that I can't imagine living anywhere . . . not without you.”