A Bride for Logan by Barbara Goss (free children's online books TXT) 📗

do while grooming the horses. His life had changed after going to church. As far as he could remember, it was the first time he’d ever gone without being prodded into it.

When he’d left Rachel and Tim’s he’d been angry and confused about his feelings. He’d hated his mother growing up, and now he hated her even more because she'd fooled him by pretending to be someone else. She'd nursed him, and he’d confided his most personal feelings to her—she’d abandoned him and then made a fool of him. He’d felt a strong need for something or to be with someone when he'd arrived home, but he didn’t know what or who.

He'd missed Emma and had gone into her room to feel closer to her. Her Bible was on the bedside table, and he'd picked it up and opened it. On the page he'd opened to, she—or someone—had underlined: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” He'd remembered Emma had lost her parents and her best friends to death. She must have found comfort in the verse.

He’d paged around until he’d found another underlined verse: “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” He’d read a few more, feeling the pain Emma must have harbored and the comfort she’d received from the verses.

That was when he’d realized he had nothing to soothe his sorrows. It had spurred him into attending the service that Sunday; he knew he needed God just as Emma had.

He’d always believed in God but had never felt moved to do anything about it. His father had stopped going to services when his mother had left. He'd only grown more bitter as time went on.

Logan finished with the horses and went inside. Irma had left them a plate of sandwiches before turning in. Emma sat at the table but she’d waited for him before eating. He sat across from her and they helped themselves to the snack.

Emma hesitated to bite into her sandwich. “In our home, we always said grace before eating.”

Logan had been poised to eat, but he stopped and set his sandwich down. “That sounds like something I’d like to do from now on. Will you say grace? I’m still new to all this.”

Emma said grace, and they ate in silence. When they’d finished, Emma gathered the plates. “I’m glad about your decision to follow God. It's something we now share.”

“You’ve had a good influence on me,” he said with a chuckle. “We also share our love of horses.”

“I’ll take these plates into the kitchen.”

“All right. I’ll wait and walk you upstairs.”

Logan walked Emma to her bedroom door. She turned to him before entering. “When will you tell me your plans?”

He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “Sit down.”

She took a seat and he sat in the other chair in the room.

“I plan to see the lawyer tomorrow and tell him what I did. I’m releasing myself from my father’s will. It will all go to Prudence.”

“No, Logan, don’t do that.”

“I have to. Next, I’ll have the lawyer draw up the annulment papers so you can be free.”

Logan noticed she seemed too stunned to speak, so he continued, “I’ll help you prepare the little cottage. It’s yours. I’m hoping we can still be friends.”

Finally, Emma spoke. “I think you should wait and think this through. Where will you live if Prudence takes over the ranch?”

“I’m hoping she’ll let me live here until I build a cottage for myself not far from yours. I don’t like the idea of you living in the woods all alone. I won’t be too close, but I'll stay within shouting distance. I’ll make sure you have your privacy, a horse, and an allowance.”

 “What will you do for a job?”

“Prudence will keep me on here as a worker, I’m sure.”

Emma shook her head sadly. “One other question: you said you loved me—if that’s true, why the annulment?”

“I don’t feel the marriage was fair to either of us. We did it for the wrong reasons. People should marry because they love each other and mean it when they vow to death do they part. It’s something Joshua Price and I talked about. You married me because you had nowhere to go, and I married you to gain my inheritance. Those aren't the right reasons to get married, so I’m ending it. It’s the only fair thing to do.”

“When you explain it that way, I supposed I agree.”

Logan stood. “I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. Goodnight, Emma.”

“Goodnight, Logan.”

~~~**~~~

Emma tossed and turned that night. Why did Logan’s plans bother her so? Wasn’t the cottage and an annulment what she’d wanted? At least she wouldn’t have to wait six months to get it. Maybe it was all too sudden.

It must've been late by the time she finally fell asleep because she overslept in the morning. When she came down to breakfast, Irma informed her that Logan had already gone into town.

After breakfast, Emma worked on her doilies and afghan. She’d need them sooner than she’d thought.

After lunch, she was preparing to take Lady for a run when Logan returned in the wagon. She wondered why he’d take the wagon to see his lawyer. She watched from the window as he lifted a large box from the back of the wagon.

Emma opened the door for him. Logan winked as he walked by her carrying the box. “Your sewing machine.”

She followed him into the room at the back of the house where Irma did the laundry. He set the machine up and told her, “Mrs. Grant will come over tomorrow to show you how it works.”

Emma looked up at him and smiled. “Thank you.”

He winked. “You’re welcome.”