A Quiet Strength by Janette Oke Read Free Book Online

was continuing.
    “The rain, the storm, the chilliness … it … Well, I think the gloominess of it all represented our moods while we were apart. So in a way it … sort of drew us together, knowing that if we were together again, it wouldn’t matter about … about other things. Rain. Hail. Snow. Life itself. We need to be together. Even the rain is okay if we’re together.”
    He put his free hand over hers on his arm. Virginia could feel the lump in her throat. Her eyes threatened to add salty tears to the moisture that ran down her cheeks.
    “Do you know what I’m trying to say, Virginia?”
    She tried to answer, but her throat was so tight words would not come. She nodded her head in agreement. Then Jonathan stopped walking and turned her to face him. He lifted her face with a hand under her trembling chin and looked deeply into her eyes. “Before I left I knew that I loved you, but I had no idea how hard it would be to be away from you. I don’t want to be apart again. Not ever.” He hesitated for a moment, studying her face. “Do you understand, Virginia?”
    Virginia managed a nod in spite of the hand supporting her chin.
    “I love you. I want to marry you. And it might be selfish of me, but I don’t want to wait. It’s been too long already. Will you marry me, Virginia?”
    The rain continued to caress Virginia’s upturned face. She blinked the moisture from her eyelids, knowing that more warm tears were joining the cold splashes of raindrops. She swallowed hard to get control of her voice and her emotions. How she had longed to hear those words from Jonathan. “Yes,” she answered, and her voice was surprisingly strong in spite of her trembling. “Yes.”
    “Soon?”
    “Yes.” There was absolutely no doubt in her mind.
    And then Jonathan was kissing her. Not on her rain-wet hair but on her lips. And Virginia had one ridiculous thought that almost brought a chuckle: So much for long months of traditional parlor calling .

    In a small wedding with little fuss or flourish, they were married in just two weeks on a Saturday. Virginia could not help but think back to the glorious event that had launched her brother Rodney’s marriage to Grace, even though that wedding was still simple by society’s standards. But her own wedding’s lack of frills and finery did not dampen Virginia’s spirits. And, yes, neither did the rain.
    She borrowed Clara’s gown, thankful that it did not need alterations. She wore her mother’s veil and carried flowers from Mrs. Withers’ garden. The church, too, was graced with large bouquets. Virginia was sure Mr. Adamson would have been pleased to see his flowers standing tall and proud in the two milk white vases.
    Jonathan told Virginia that he had talked about her with his parents before he left the West. Had explained his intentions to ask her to marry him. They wanted to be at the wedding, but of course the time and distance made that impossible. Damaris Lewis wrote to welcome Virginia to their family and noted that she was glad to have had the opportunity to meet Virginia, even briefly, when settling her mother into the Adam? son house.
    With no one to care for Jonathan’s horses, there would be no wedding trip. But Virginia had assured him that she did not mind. Perhaps one day, after they were established, they could take an anniversary trip instead.
    And they would have no home of their own. Virginia had also tried to reassure Jonathan on that account. She loved his grandmother. Enjoyed the woman’s company. She would be pleased to share the older woman’s home until Jonathan was able to build their own at the farm. It would be no hardship at all. At least they would be together. That was what mattered.
    After some discussion, they decided that Virginia would continue her job. The income would assist them greatly in saving for the house Jonathan planned to build. Getting his start as a breeder of fine horses would require both time and energy. It could be