Free Grace in Thine Eyes by Liz Curtis Higgs Page B

handsome young man with love in his eyes and a melody in his heart.”
    Beneath her freckles, Davina’s skin turned pink.
    Leana peered at her more intently. Had some gentleman caught her daughter’s eye? She’d noted Graham Webster’s attentiveness on more than one Sabbath. Might the widower be to her daughter’s liking? “You are seventeen,” she reminded her, “and bonny as they come. Is there a man in the parish who hopes to court you?”
    When Davina immediately shook her head, Leana wondered if shemight simply be embarrassed and not know how to go about confessing such a thing. Intending only to draw her out, Leana reached for the sketchbook, which her daughter often shared with her. “Perhaps if I search these pages, I will find a gentleman’s name—”
    Davina snatched the book from her grasp.
    “Oh! Pardon me, Davina. I only meant to help you.”
    She clasped the book to her breast, her face brighter still.
    “Dearest, what is it?”
    Davina was already on her feet and running toward the hills, the ribbons of her gown waving an unspoken good-bye.
    Leana hastened after her, calling her name. “Davina, please! Davina! ” Not until she ran out of breath did she realize someone was shouting her name as well.
    She spun about at the sound of her husband’s voice. Too winded to answer, Leana waved her handkerchief so he would realize she’d heard him, then started in his direction, unhappy with herself for agitating their daughter.
    Jamie was running by the time he reached her. “Are you hurt, Leana? Whatever has happened?”
    She sank into his arms, feeling a little faint. “Davina … ran off, and …”
    “Shall I find her, then?”
    “Nae, she’s not gone far.” Leana straightened, finally able to take a full breath. “I’m afraid I upset her.” She turned to gaze across the hills and spotted her daughter amid the heather. “I pray she’ll not be long.”
    “Having one of her moody spells, I’ll wager. She’ll come back when she’s ready.” Jamie tugged on Leana’s sleeve, recapturing her attention and drawing her into his embrace. “As for me, Mrs. McKie, I am quite ready to be home.”
    Though his face was lined with dust from his travels, his smile was as potent as ever. When he kissed her, she blushed like a maid. “Jamie! ’Tis midday, and there are servants round the garden.”
    “ Our servants,” he reminded her. “In our garden. And you are my wife.”
    “I am and gladly so.” Leana slipped her hand through the crook of his arm, grateful for his support. And for the Lord’s provision. He giveth power to the faint . Leana drank in the remembered verse like cool water from the loch. To them that have no might he increaseth strength .
    They continued toward the house, then stopped to greet Robert, hard at work among the coleworts.
    “ Walcome hame, sir.” The lanky gardener straightened, then doffed his cap. “We’ve had rain ilka day syne ye left. Did ye have a plumpshower in Embrough as weel ?”
    “Several heavy rains, aye.” Jamie nodded toward the tidy rows of plants. “I see your lettuces drank every drop.”
    “A gairden needs water,” Robert agreed, wiping the sweat from his brow with his shirt sleeve. “What it doesna need are mowdieworts , which I’m plannin’ tae catch come the morn’s morn. ”
    Leana’s gaze was drawn to a patch of bindweed that needed pulling, but Jamie tugged her away.
    “I see that look in your eye,” Jamie chided her. “No more gardening. We have important matters to discuss regarding our daughter.”
    “You’re not worried because she’s taken off for the hills? I feel certain she’ll return—”
    “Oh, within the hour,” he quickly agreed, opening the door for her. “ ’Tis not Davina’s present circumstances I wish to consider but her future.”

Eleven
Imagination frames events unknown.
H ANNAH M ORE
    H er future? Leana felt a strange fluttering inside her, like a small heath butterfly on the wing. Surely