Tears pricked Annie’s eyes. She wanted to believe her friend’s words. Wanted to trust that they held the truth she’d sought for so long. Still … “Isn’t there such a thing as being punished for our wrongs?”
Mrs. Miller nodded. “If Robbie were to disobey, you’d give him consequences, right? God does the same. But it is not up to His children to choose those consequences. Doing so is putting ourselves in the Lord’s place. And we humans surely don’t belong there. Just keep that in mind as you go through the rest of your life.” Mrs. Miller smiled, a look of total peace giving her features a glow that not even Galveston’s most celebrated beauty could surpass.
“I’ll try.” Annie picked up the discarded knitting. The cranberry-colored wool was in the process of becoming … something. She couldn’t tell what. “What are you working on?”
“A blanket.” She gestured to a box in a corner of the room. “There are more in there. Just because I can no longer be the first one to hold those babies, doesn’t mean I can’t make lovely things to wrap them in. It’s a fine thing I did all those years, but that doesn’t make what I’m doing now any less fine. It’s all in how you look at the world. And I aim to do so through His eyes.
“Now, if you’ll step on out into the kitchen, there’s a plate of cookies just begging to be sampled. Nothing better this side of heaven than a cookie and a cup of coffee. Long as you’re sharing them with the right people, that is.”
Annie stood. But instead of moving toward the kitchen, she crossed the room and wrapped her arms around the frail old woman. “You don’t know how much I’ve missed you while I’ve been away,” she whispered.
“And I, you. God’s got a fine purpose for you, Annie child. I can’t wait to see how He’s going to work it all out.”
New beginnings could be made under these stars, the endless skies of Texas brimful with them tonight, crystals against black velvet.
Travis ran his hand down the front of his suit jacket. Thankfully, the Hartville Hotel was nearly empty tonight. He’d already chosen seats in the most secluded corner to be found. All that remained was for Annie to arrive.
The fresh, balmy scent of the night air wafted over him as he stood on the hotel steps. He drew in a long breath, accepting the calm it offered, as well as the fragrance.
Give me strength tonight, Lord. Help me to sort things out between us. I care for her so much. Let this not be a mistake.
As if in a glorious vision, he watched as she rode down the street—sidesaddle tonight. She stopped in front of the hotel and dismounted, tying her horse to a hitching post.
Sweet Texas thunder…
He’d thought her beautiful when she was younger, with those pretty eyes and that long, often unruly hair. She’d been a girl then. Was a woman now. A woman wearing a dark green dress that hugged her waist, revealing curves in all the right places. A woman with the faintest touch of sunburn on her nose and the smallest of smiles dancing across her cherry-hued lips.
How could he help but love her?
“I haven’t dined out since before the war, so I wasn’t sure what to wear.” She climbed the steps, skirts held daintily just above her ankles.
“You look perfect.” The words came easy. “Shall we go in?” He let her walk in front of him. The hand-on-arm gesture used by courting couples would only make her uneasy.
The elegance of the Hartville Hotel seemed a perfect backdrop for the evening of his dreams. The walls boasted walnut wainscoting and dark blue wallpaper. Linen and china adorned the circular tables.
Since he’d already made arrangements with the waiter, Travis led the way to his chosen table. He pulled out Annie’s chair. As she sank into it, he caught the scent of violets lingering in her hair. It was heady stuff, a fragrance he would have gladly inhaled the whole night long, until he became as unaware of the world as a man under the effects of ether.
“I don’t know how you did it, but ever since last night I’ve been dreaming about apple pie. Robbie got mad at me. Said I was starving him with all my talk.” She laughed.
“Where is Robbie tonight?”
“Playing with Josie. Apparently there was some grand plan to make a batch of fudge and eat it all before I returned.”
The waiter came and took their orders. Coffee for Travis. Tea for Annie. Apple pie for both.
Another couple took the table nearest. Travis scarcely noticed who they were. “You never used to be one for sweets. After school, when all the children ran to the store to splurge on penny candy, you and Josie always went straight home.”
“Father only occasionally gave us money for treats. He said it was a waste of hard-earned cash and would ruin our digestion. Considering how much some of those children consumed, he was probably right.” She rested her hand on the tablecloth, fingers toying with the folded napkin.
“Do you follow that principle with Robbie?”
She shook her head with another laugh. “No. Robbie has a sweet tooth the size of Texas. But I only let him eat Rhode Island quantities.”