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He kissed her cheek to no doubt ease the questions in her raised brows. I’ll explain later , he mouthed.

A new sensation of warmth filled her. There were no secrets between them anymore.

“Aren’t you going to take the first bite?” Tillie wore an expectant look, no doubt finding it hard to wait.

After breaking off a bite of cake with her fork, Rebekah looped her arm with Ed’s as they fed one another the first bite. A rousing cheer rose from the table while Tillie shoved in her first taste of the cake. It’d obviously taken every ounce of willpower for her to hold off eating.

Rebekah reached her napkin up to brush a crumb away from Ed’s cheek, and he caught her hand to kiss her fingers. She could get lost in his eyes. For years, she hadn’t given him a chance. God had known better. And brought them together.

As everyone finished their cake, the children hurried off to go play. A low conversation ensued among the adults, but little of it registered with Rebekah as she focused on Ed’s profile. He glanced over at her and smiled. A smile that spoke more than any words could say.

Scanning the other faces at the table, she noticed one person had gone missing.

“Did Isaac leave already?”

Kaitlyn frowned. “He left a while ago.”

Drew reached out for his wife’s hand. “Seems our plan to draw him back in didn’t work quite like we planned.”

A heaviness settled over the room. Kaitlyn had confided in Rebekah about their worries for Isaac. She shared in the feeling, a sisterly concern.

A gentle tug from Ed’s hand brought her hand to his mouth. He kissed the back of it, his eyes meeting hers as he did. “I’m not sorry the plan failed.”

He winked, and heat rose up her neck.

“He’s grieving.” Nick fiddled with his fork.

“I still say a woman’s presence in Isaac’s life could bring the softness he needs.” Kaitlyn shared a look with Drew.

“Too bad there weren’t any other letters,” Drew said absently.

“There were.” Ed’s voice broke the silence.

Rebekah’s eyes shot up to find Ed’s searching for hers. They locked, allowing unspoken words to pass between them. As if he were reassuring her that her secret was safe with him. The echo of Tillie’s and Jo’s murmurs could be heard from above, where they’d run off to play.

“I never answered any other letters. Rebekah’s were the only ones that mattered to me.” His eyes never left hers. “The last time I saw the letters, I shoved them at the bottom of the kindlin’ box in the kitchen. I’m done meddling in Isaac’s life.”

“I second that.” Nick frowned, a silent reminder he’d never agreed with the plan in the first place.

“I’ve no interest in answering any other letter now, but at least our plan worked to get one of my brothers a wife.” Drew winked at Ed.

Kaitlyn rose from the table, circling it to stand beside them. She bent to embrace Rebekah in a hug. “We are so glad you joined the family. I can’t think of a better sister to have.”

Drew slapped his knees, then rose from the table. “Let’s all move to the other room for some games and singing.”

It wasn’t long before the children rejoined them. As the evening wore on, Ed slipped beside Rebekah, weaving his arm around her waist. He leaned close to whisper in her ear.

“Are you ready to go home?”

She turned her face to his, so close she could kiss him, and the memory of their first kiss flashed across her mind. There would be many more. Her lips turned into a grin as she nodded. With the family engrossed in singing, he led her by the hand to the kitchen and out the back door.

Ed playfully bumped his shoulder against hers. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

Rebekah held back from asking what it was, relishing the secrecy of it.

With her hand looped in Ed’s as they cut across the field, she let their arms swing together in time with their steps, occasionally brushing up against one another. This was her husband. Joy bubbled up in her, mixed with a tingle of anticipation as he gave her hand a squeeze.

“Think you’ll be happy here?” He shot a questioning glance at her as they drew closer to his cabin, their steps slowing.

Butterflies danced in her stomach double time.

“I will.” A flush rose up her neck as she leaned closer to him, sliding her hand out of his and looping it around his arm. “I’m sorry about all the extra work with you caring for my aunt and uncle’s place until they return.”

He ducked his head closer. “It’s not a burden. You know I’d do anything for you.”

Rebekah lifted up her face in time to plant a quick kiss on his cheek. A gentle breeze swept over the surrounding field, bringing with it the promise of a summer shower.

As they neared the porch, Ed moved to walk backward in front of her. “Once we’re on the porch, I want you to close your eyes.”

“You what?” She couldn’t keep the grin off her face.

“The surprise is inside.” He took her hand to lead her up the familiar steps to his front porch, leaving tingles flowing through her fingertips. Then he placed his broad shoulders between her and the door. “Ready?”

She closed her eyes as she tilted her head, letting out a giggle. “I’d follow you anywhere you lead, Ed McGraw.”

His shirt rustled as he brushed past her and stepped behind, placing one hand over her eyes. She could make out a bit of what was in front of her as he reached around to open the door, but her attempts at peeking were cut short when his other hand fell over her eyes as well.

His warm breath tickled her ear as he moved closer to her. “Take a step. Another.”

She shifted her feet in time with his commands, completely trusting him to guide her. Inside the cabin, he spun her back toward the fading light in the doorway. It was all she could do not to turn back around and look. What could he be planning to surprise her with?

“Don’t turn around while I light the lamp.”

The sounds of him lighting up the lamp were followed by the whiff of burning kerosene.

“Can I look?” Her own voice sounded giddy as it hitched up an octave.

His hands covered her eyes again as he spun her around, then lifted. “Now.”

In the middle of his freshly swept cabin stood a bookcase. Her breath caught. She’d never seen such fine workmanship.

“How did you ever find time for this?” The words tumbled out of her as she took a step forward. The light from the lamp glowed across the newly sealed wood. With slow steps, she wound her way around the bookcase, her hand running along its smooth surface.

“I’ve never seen anything so fine before.” Her words were threatening to clog in her throat. “It’s perfect.”

A tear meandered down her cheek as she tried to choke out more words. She quickly swiped it away, not willing to miss a second of this moment. “My father’s books are on the bottom shelves. That’s what you were hiding in that crate in the wagon.”

Ed stepped near, slipping his strong arms around her waist to pull her closer. “Mm-hmm.”

“But why is the top shelf empty?”

“That shelf is for your books.” The warmth of his breath mingled with the depth of his belief in her.

“Mine?”

He’d saved a shelf for her books.

“You’re a good writer. I believe in you. I’ve no doubt your book will be published. And many more.” Ed turned her around in his arms to face him.

She had no words. This man…her husband…being so close to him, the joy inside her threatened to explode. His slight movement forward drew her like a magnet. Their lips met in a sweet kiss. Breathless, she yielded to his movement as he pulled back from their kiss to touch his forehead to hers.

“Whatever made you want a guy like me, anyway?”

Rebekah slid her hand down to reach into the pocket she’d sewn into her skirt. There she held a precious reminder of their love. She slipped the two metal letters from the printing press into his hand and closed it.

A question spread across his face as he shifted to uncurl his hand and reveal the letters. XO. His eyes lifted to meet hers as she clasped her hand over his.

“Don’t you know? You won me with your letters.”

* * *

“Jo, this is your worst idea yet,” David whispered. At fourteen, he didn’t want any part of whatever plan Jo had concocted.

She kneeled on his bed as murmurs from the adults, still visiting, filtered through the closed door. Anyone could amble into his bedroom next to the kitchen and catch them.

This letter business had already caused enough trouble.

Jo’s braid swung over her shoulder as she riffled through the handful of letters on the bed between them.

She must have been listening from the top of the stairs as the adults had talked about the letters.

It was the only way she would have known where to find that bundle. He’d heard every word from his room.

“You do this and I swear I’ll never tell Pa what really happened to his best knife.”

She was blackmailing him?

Jo squinted her eyes at him, cementing the threat.

Staring right back, his stomach knotted as he weighed the consequences. Pa had been looking for that knife for a week. David didn’t feel good about lying to him, but he’d taken the knife without permission.

And lost it somewhere in the barn.

Would she really tell? Most likely. The knife incident was too much to let out in the open. He broke the stare-down. He had no intention of testing her on this one. Even if he did have a few secrets of his own she might not want him to share. Jo always did get her way.

“What do you mean to do with these silly letters, anyway?” He shrugged at her, trying another tactic. Maybe she’d change her mind about this. “And why do you need me?”

“You know good and well what I want you to do. My handwriting is too bad to pass for a man’s.” Jo pursed her lips as she squinted again. Must be her latest trick for getting her way with Tillie.

But he wasn’t Tillie. And he didn’t like being bossed around by his younger sister. He’d had enough of that. He crossed his arms over his chest and waited.

She pulled a face. “You heard Pa. Uncle Isaac is still sad.”