Courting Holly by Lynn A. Coleman Read Free Book Online

concerned about my honor. You’re like my big brother.”
    He wondered if she would ever see him as a possible suitor. “But I am not. Holly, let’s do this right. There is no sense in giving tongues a chance to wag for no reason or purpose. Your father’s den is appropriate and private.”
    She blushed. “You are right, thank you. I shall be just a moment.” She slipped behind her bedroom door and Bryce turned to face the hallway. How many times had he run up and down these halls in the past? The second floor wrapped around the grand room with a walkway that encircled it. Each walkway had a hallway to the back of the building, where Holly’s room sat, facing east and overlooking the river below.
    The door clicked open. “Here, you hold them.” She passed the two letters into his hand. He placed the yellowed envelopes in his breast pocket and without a word followed her down the hall and stairs.
    He led her to the den and left the door ajar. Holly sat in the high-backed chair. He sat in the chair to her left. The room nearly mirrored that of his father’s den, with slightly different furnishing but the same layout. “Would you like me to read them out loud or do you wish to read them silently to yourself?”
    “Please give me Mother’s letter first. I’ll read it out loud.”
    He handed the open envelope that had Allison’s name on it and placed the other back in his pocket.
    “‘Dear Allie,’” she began, her voice cracking.

    “I am writing for you to understand my heart. I have decided to annul our marriage so that you can stay married to John Graham. My heart aches knowing that you believed I had died in the war. I was thoughtless in not sending you missives over the years. Perhaps one or two would have gotten through and let you know that I was still alive. I apologize. I love you with all my heart and soul.”

    Holly gasped. Her hands started to shake. Bryce wanted to cuddle her in his embrace but held back.
    Holly continued.

    “It is because of my love for you and Holly that I am doing this. I see your love for John Graham, and I see
    his love for you and Holly. I will miss you not being a part of my life, but I will miss not having the opportunity to be a part of our daughter’s life most of all.”

    Holly wiped a tear from her eye then took in a deep pull of air.

    “As you are well aware, I live in Tennessee. That is where our home is. I cannot take a child away from her mother so I will relinquish my rights for her sake. She calls John ‘Daddy.’ Oh how my heart ached when I heard that. I would not want to confuse her. I trust you will tell her when the time is right. She is the spitting image of you and oh so beautiful. My heart leaped in my chest just being able to embrace her for a moment.”

    Holly’s voice wavered.

    “I am giving you a letter to give to Holly. I may never see my daughter again in this life but I do want her to know that I love her.”

    Holly’s hands were shaking so much the letter seemed to blow in the wind, but she continued.

    “Please understand that if ever you need me, I will come. I will go on with my life and, if the good Lord allows, perhaps I shall find another wife. I am sorry I did not put you first. And I apologize for the pain you went through thinking I had been lost in the war. My heart aches for you, Allie. I love you and will love you forever. John is a good man, from what I’ve seen. God Bless you both.
    All my love,
    Emmett.”
    Bryce held his breath waiting for a response from Holly. She appeared to read the letter again. He could see himself in Emmett’s shoes. He gave the impression of an honorable man, admitting failure and giving up his wife and child. But why would he move back to Tennessee? What would keep him so far away from his daughter?
    Tears rolled down Holly’s cheeks. Bryce reached into his pocket and pulled out a clean handkerchief. He had come prepared with three. “Here.”
    Holly turned and gazed into his eyes. “I