Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana (40 page)

The smell of freshly cut lumber greeted Isaac as he walked into the small building that would be used for both a school and a church. Julia stood by the paned window, the light from the spring sunshine bringing out touches of gold in her brown hair. Isaac felt the return of a smile that had frequented his face since last Fourth of July, and he hurried next to her. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he peered over her shoulder to see what she was looking at.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a prettier sight.” She leaned back against him, resting her head against his shoulder.

Isaac took in the view of Lonesome Lake and the small house not far from its shore. “Within a few weeks we’ll be living there as husband and wife.”

Julia stepped forward and turned around, her small hands resting in his gentle grip. “Speaking of which, I need to head over to Aponi’s house. I hear everyone’s there, including Mrs. Gaffin. I still can’t believe she and Mr. Gaffin made the trip for our wedding, but I’m so glad she did. It wouldn’t be right without her.”

Isaac fingered her cheek, soaking in the joy in her eyes. “It’ll be a perfect wedding.” He sent her a smile. “Because you will be the most beautiful bride. My most beautiful bride.”

Julia nuzzled her head against his chest. “All our friends will be there, too. That also makes it perfect.”

“Yes, very true.” He kissed her forehead. “I only hope Jim and Mabelina will make it back from Fort Benton in time.”

“I’m sure they will. Parson Jim wouldn’t miss his first time officiating a marriage, would he?” Julia glanced at a clock on the wall. “Anyway, the ladies are working on my dre…” Julia pressed her lips together and swatted his arm. “Never mind I said anything. It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

“What is?” He winked.

“Perfect. Thank you for forgetting so quickly. It’ll keep me out of trouble with the ladies.”

He placed her hands around his waist and moved his hands up her back to her shoulders.

She beamed up at him. “Can you believe school will start a week after the wedding? This has to be the best May I’ve ever had.”

“Better than last May when you first met a handsome but rude parson?”

Julia chuckled. “Just slightly.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek and then wiggled out of his hold and hurried to the door. “You going to be staying in here long?” she called back over her shoulder.

“Not too long. I promised Elizabeth we’d make it to dinner. I guess she was teaching Shelby how to make chicken pot pie today and we’re the first victims—er, I mean, tasters.”

Julia’s laughter followed her outside into the bright May morning. “I love you, Parson,” she called.

“And I love you, Julia.” She was already gone when he added, “with all my heart.”

Isaac strolled to the front of the room and sat on the first wooden pew, amazed things had come together as quickly as they had—even after he thought the idea of a school was gone forever.

The first step to making this building possible was Warren Boyle’s arrest in Big Sandy. Isaac heard it had happened not a week after Mabelina’s July fourth trial. Turned out that although he hadn’t mentioned it, Judge Booker had an inkling he’d seen Warren’s face before. After sorting through a stack of Wanted posters, he’d finally found it: Warren
James
wanted for bank robbery in Texas.

Isaac stood and walked to the pulpit, tracing his finger over the expertly carved wood. His brother-in-law Jefferson had labored on it for a month, wanting Isaac’s first real pulpit to have a “Godhonoring beauty.”

Isaac knew the love of family was a huge part of the happiness he felt. He only wished Warren would’ve accepted the love his own family offered. Instead, he sought worldly gain and had tried his best to secure it any way he could—first by stealing money in Texas, then by stealing Milo’s house from Aponi and her daughters.

But within days of Mabelina’s trail, Warren was sentenced to ten years in some hot Texas prison. Isaac mourned the loss of his best friend’s son and continued to write letters to him, always sharing the gospel. He hadn’t heard back from Warren, but he continued to pray for the man’s soul.

After Warren was taken away, the responsibility for the care of Aponi and the girls had fallen to Isaac, a position he was glad to assume. And his first task was to reunite the girls with their mother. The look of utter joy on Aponi’s face when the girls came running toward her after their months away at the boarding school—well, Isaac wouldn’t soon forget it.

“Parson Ike,” Aponi had told him later, “I need no house in town. I wish for one by the lake, close to my friends.”

Aponi’s new house had been completed by September.

The next order of business was for Isaac to cancel Warren’s order for a new tavern and transfer the shipment to its original order for school supplies. When the supplies arrived some weeks later, Isaac was shocked to discover that his good friend Milo had ordered not only supplies for the school, but also plans for a small parsonage for Isaac.

“A home,” Julia had told him the first time she looked over the plans. “A home for us, Isaac. What did we ever do to deserve it?”

“Nothing.” He shook his head. “That’s what grace is all about—getting what you don’t deserve.”

And now it was all reality—the school, Isaac’s position as permanent parson, Aponi’s house, and the parsonage, which he would soon share with Julia, close to the lake.

He leaned forward against the pulpit and bowed his head, again humbled by the showers of blessings. “Thank You, Lord.”

Isaac strode to the door. His family was waiting. He wouldn’t be late for dinner, and as much as he wanted to tease her, he’d refrain from sneaking in to catch a glimpse of Julia’s dress. He’d wait and see it next Sunday as she stood across from him here in this room, as two once-lonely souls were united as one.

Isaac again glanced out the window at the lake and beyond to the vast prairie.
You know
, he thought to himself,
perhaps Lonesome Prairie’s not the best name for this place anymore
. He smiled to himself.
No, I don’t think it is.

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Love Finds You
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The novels in the series—uniquely titled after American towns with unusual but intriguing names—inspire romance and fun. Each fictional story draws on the compelling history or the unique character of a real place. Stories center on romances kindled in small towns, old loves lost and found again on the high plains, and new loves discovered at exciting vacation getaways. Summerside Press plans to publish at least one novel set in each of the 50 states. Be sure to catch them all!

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