Chapter Six #2
Her breaths slowed a little, as did her racing heart.
“I don’t have to marry,” she repeated. “I can stay here as long as I need to.” Reassuring herself she was safe proved to calm her system even more.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Goddard, I …I haven’t had the best experience with most of the men in my life. Marrying isn’t in my plans.”
Micah nodded, his lips pressing into a line as he moved back to his chair, but he didn’t speak.
Mr. Goddard softened his gaze even further, clearly realizing this wouldn’t be a simple fix.
“Micah’s right. You don’t have to marry anyone, and you certainly don’t have to decide anything today.
If there’s someone you trust, you do have the option. ”
They discussed a few more particulars of the document while Ellie’s heart rate continued to slow to a pace less reminiscent of a hummingbird.
It didn’t hurt Micah had returned his hand to hers, his thumb gently stroking back and forth on the back of her hand.
By the time the meeting concluded, Ellie didn’t feel any more confident in her options, but at least she knew what they were.
The two of them waved goodbye to the Goddards and moved out into the bright blue January day.
The weather was chilly, but not so cold she could see her breath.
Micah still held her hand, and she made no move to pull away.
“How are you feeling about everything Mr. Goddard said?” The lawyer had committed to running the paperwork by the judge within the next week, but he felt confident the stipulation regarding a child was unenforceable.
There was still the weight of marriage hanging over her head.
Micah waited patiently for her to respond, his navy eyes kind and curious.
“I suppose we have to wait until Mr. Goddard hears from the judge, but I don’t really have much choice in the matter.
I don’t have a beau back in California, and I can barely speak to any of the men here.
Even if he does say I need to marry, I suppose I’ll have to forfeit the money.
” The words tasted sour in her mouth, not because the money itself was important to her, but because of all it represented.
Grandfather would win once again, as he always had.
Micah’s eyes narrowed, darting to their joined hands before coming back up to meet her gaze.
“You do have a choice here, El. I’d marry you, and I’d be honored to do so.
The money’s yours, and it’ll stay that way.
We wouldn’t be the first folks to marry out of convenience rather than a relationship.
” She didn’t speak, couldn’t with the way her mouth had fallen open, and he hurried to continue.
“I won’t put one lick of pressure on you about this, but I can promise you good treatment and protection if you take my name.
I’ll provide for us, and your money can sit in the bank for the rest of our lives if you want, but you can be sure no other scoundrel will get his hands on you even if we do have to go back to California. ”
His eyes held promise, but how could she possibly trust his words?
Sure, he’d been nothing but kind since she’d arrived, but other men in her life had acted the same way.
Even her father, the man her mother fancied herself in love with, had doted on her until she became pregnant.
“Don’t ever trust a man, my love,” Mama had said with every bit of conviction she had.
“They’ll show their true colors eventually, and it’s best you’re out of the firing line when they do. ”
The words spilled out before Micah even realized what he was saying, but he meant every word. “Like I said, I won’t put pressure on you, but you do have an option.”
Ellie didn’t speak for a moment, shutting her eyes tightly as though wading through the waters of her past and the mountain she’d have to climb to reach her future. Tears dampened her eyes when they opened, breaking Micah’s heart as one rolled over her cheek. “Micah,” she whispered. “I can’t.”
“That’s okay,” he hurried on. “It’s completely up to you, but know this.
I believe you deserve to have that money to do with what you want after all you’ve been through.
” He didn’t add he’d love the chance to plant his fist in the nose of all the men she’d ever come in contact with, but he felt it nonetheless.
“You’ve been trapped your whole life, and I’d never ask you to walk back into another prison cell, even if I’d pray everyday you wouldn’t feel that way about a life with me. ”
Prayer. Yet another word which spilled out without his consent, but he meant it too. It’d been a long time since he’d prayed with any conviction. Pastor Jim’s words over the past few weeks and the way his brothers had been growing in their faith had touched him somehow.
His relationship with the Lord had begun in rocky soil.
He liked to picture it as a bird dropping it on the ground, but still it grew.
Despite everything, it had started to grow and flourish like Pastor Jim said it could.
Would there come a time when he'd look up and realize he’d been transplanted by the water?
Jim assured him he would if he'd stay in the Word and ask God for guidance.
“Micah,” she said through tears. “You’re not a prison cell. I don’t know if I can do it, and you shouldn’t have to. Everything that happened, it’s not your fault. I know you blame yourself, but-”
“That’s not what this is about.” It wasn’t.
What had begun as Micah’s guilt over allowing Brent to recapture Ellie in the first place quickly turned into feelings he didn’t recognize and honestly didn’t know what to do with.
One thing he knew beyond doubt, he’d do anything for Ellie Cartwright.
“You deserve all the joy God can give in life, and if getting your inheritance means you can have it, I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen. ”
There wasn’t an ounce of fear in him as he spoke, though some part of his brain acknowledged there should be.
It was as though his path in front of him had never been clearer than it was in the moment, and it was as though he’d never been so sure of anything.
He could fall in love with Ellie Cartwright - he was already halfway there - but it was her decision.
Again, she didn’t speak, studying him for what felt like hours but could’ve only been a moment.
“All right,” she said with a trembling voice.
“Mr. Goddard was certain the marriage stipulation would be upheld, so let’s move forward.
” Her hand trembled in his, and he knew the courage it took her to make such a decision. “Let’s get married.”