Free Groom Wanted by Debra Ullrick Page B

someone else’s. She couldn’t bear to hurt her mother like that, even if it was killing her from the inside out. “No. Of course not, Mother. No need to get the surrey. It was kind of Mr. Barker to offer to take us.”
    The sound of wagon wheels crunching on the gravel and a horse whinnying drew their attention outside.
    Wraps and gloves gathered and put on, they headed out the door.
    God, please help me to overcome this discontentment and to be happy for Mother. Please.
    The ride to the church seemed endless, and Leah sent up many more prayers the whole way there. At the church, Mr. Barker pulled his landau alongside the others. He hopped out and helped her and Abby down, then her mother. Mother looped her arm through his and they strolled toward the church door together. As if they were a couple.
    Bile rose up Leah’s throat. Everyone was watching. Everyone could see. And they appeared to not even care about that.
    Leah wanted to yank her mother’s arm from Mr. Barker’s, but it was not her place to do so. Her mother had every right to do what she wanted and to be with whomever she wanted. Father had been gone a long time now, and this war raging inside of her was her problem, not her mother’s. Still. It hurt. She closed her eyes and fought to keep the tears and frustrations down. The pain, however, was too much to bear.
    “It’s hard for you to see your mother on the arm of another man, isn’t it?” Jake’s voice, while low, reached her ears with ease as he stepped up beside her.
    She stared up at him, blinking and searching for the answer to her silent question: How did you know? She’d told no one.
    Without another word, Jake cupped her elbow and led her out of the earshot of others. This time she didn’t care what anyone thought. Right now she needed a friend more than ever. And not just any friend. She needed Jake. He had a way of comforting her. Of making her feel better when no one else could or did.
    It wasn’t until they’d made it around the corner of the building that she looked up into his face. “Whatever do you mean?”
    “I saw the hurt on your face just now when you watched your mother walk away with Mr. Barker, Leah. And I have to say, I know exactly how you feel.”
    “You—you do?” She searched his eyes for the truth.
    “Yep.”
    “How can you possibly know?”
    “I know because when my mama decided to get remarried, I had a terrible time with it. Hated seeing her with someone other than Papa. But the truth is, it didn’t take long to get over it.”
    “Why’s that?” Leah needed to hear his answer. She needed the selfish feelings she harbored about this over, too. Those same feelings that now had her head lowering in guilt and shame.
    “Because I saw how happy Mama was, that’s why. And I realized how selfish I’d been by not considering how lonely she was without Papa around.” He tilted her chin upward with his forefinger. “It gets easier. Honest. And Mr. Barker’s a good man.”
    Tears blurred her vision and coated her heart. “But he’s not Father.”
    “No. He isn’t. And no one can take your father’s place. But your father’s gone, Leah. You’re mother isn’t. Life goes on whether we like it or not. You have a big heart. Open it up and let Mr. Barker in. If you can’t do it for you, then do it for your mother. She needs you to.” He released her chin.
    After a brief moment, Leah shifted her attention over to the small flock of people heading into the church. “I know you’re right,” she said not looking at him. “I need to. For Mother’s sake, if nothing else. It’s just so hard sometimes. And it hurts so badly. My father was a wonderful man.” Her throat constricted. “And he and Mother were so happy.” She closed her eyes, fighting back the flood of unshed tears.
    Jake gently turned her face toward him and held it just long enough, until her eyes opened and their gazes locked. The compassion in those soft gray eyes of his revealed just how