Tracie Peterson by Bridal Blessings Read Free Book Online Page A

can simply not bear to imagine that there is only so much time allotted to each person so mankind has created religion to support the idea of there being something more. The Hindu believe we are reincarnated. Incarnate is from the Latin
incarnates,
meaning made flesh. So they believe much as you Christians do that they will rise up to live a gain.”

    “I know what reincarnation means, and I am even familiar with the Hindu religion. But you’re completely wrong when you say they believe as Christians do. They don’t hold faith in what Jesus did to save us. They don’t believe in the need for salvation through Him in order to have that eternal life.”
    Amelia shrugged. “To each religion and culture comes a theory that will comfort them the most. In light of that, Mr. Reed, and considering the hundreds of different religions in the world, even the varied philosophies within your own Christian faith, how can you possibly ascertain that you and you alone have the one true faith?”
    “Are you saying that there is no need for faith
and
that there is no such thing as God?” Logan countered.
    “I am a woman of intellect and reason, Mr. Reed. Intellectually and reasonably, I assure you that faith and religion have no physical basis for belief.”
    “Faith in God is just that, Lady Amhurst. Faith.” Logan slammed down his coffee mug. “I am a man of intellect and reason, but it only makes it that much clearer to me that there is a need for God and something more than the contrivances of mankind.”
    Amelia looked at him for a moment.
Yes, I could believe this barbaric American might have some understanding of books and philosophies. But he is still of that mindset that uses religion as a crutch to ease his conscience and concerns.
Before Amelia could comment further, Logan got to his feet and stuffed two more biscuits into the pocket of his brown flannel shirt. Amelia appraised him silently as he thanked Emma for a great meal and pulled on his drifters coat.
    “We leave in ten minutes. I’ll bring the horses around to the front.” He stalked out of the room like a man with a great deal on his mind, leaving Amelia feeling as though she’d had a bit of a comeuppance, but for the life of her she couldn’t quite figure out just how he’d done it.
    Emma cleared Logan’s plate and mug from the table and returned to find Amelia staring silently at the void left by their guide.
    “I hate to be a busybody, Lady Amhurst,” Emma began, “but your family ain’t a bit concerned about Mr. Reed’s timetable and I can tell you from experience, Logan won’t wait.”
    This brought Amelia’s attention instantly. “I’ll tend to them. Are there more of these biscuits?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Good. Please pack whatever of this breakfast you can for us and we’ll take it along. As I recall, Mr. Reed said there would be a good six miles of prairie to cross to the canyon.”
    “I can wrap the biscuits and sausage into a cloth, but the rest of this won’t pack very good.”
    Amelia blotted her lips with a coarse napkin and got to her feet. “Do what you can, Emma, and I’ll retrieve my wayward family.”
    Ten minutes later, Amelia had managed to see her family to the front of the hotel. Penelope and Margaret were whining, still struggling to do something with their hair. Upon Amelia’s threat to shear them both, they grew instantly silent. Lady Gambett cried softly into a lace-edged handkerchief and bemoaned the fact that her nerves would never stand the jostling on horseback. Her daughters were awkward and consciously concerned about their lack of corseting, and Amelia had to laugh when she overheard Margaret tell Josephine that Mr. Reed was no doubt some kind of devious man who would do them all in once they were far enough away from the protection of town. A part of Amelia was beginning to understand Logan Reed’s misgivings about her people.
    Logan repacked the mules with the baggage and items brought to him by the