Free A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller Page A

who hated her, either. His soldier friends mumbled among themselves, but this was not a fight they knew how to wage.
    Her eyes fastened upon the gavel as it began to descend, almost in slow motion. Joshua bowed his head—whether in prayer or defeat, she did not know. Instinctively, she knew that if the children were wrested from him, it would destroy him. She also knew that if Virgie was as hateful to the children as she was to him, the girls would be permanently damaged by living with her. Ingrid was only a witness to this terrible thing, but it was tearing her apart.
    â€œStop!” She surprised everyone—including herself—by leaping to her feet amidst this room full of people she had originally hoped would not even notice her. “I take care of children!”
    There had been no conscious thought before she jumped up. It had felt almost as though an unseen hand had propelled her there.
    Her face burned as everyone swiveled to stare at her, but in spite of knowing she was probably making a fool of herself in front of dozens of witnesses, she lifted her head and squared her shoulders. Ingrid knew her own worth—even if no one else in the room did. She knew she could absolutely make a good home for those little girls—and their father—if given the chance.
    â€œI take care of children,” she repeated. “I marry him.”
    In spite of the fact that dozens of people were openly gaping at her, she had eyes only for Joshua.
    â€œI . . . marry you,” she said, praying that the Lord would open Mr. Hunter’s eyes and allow him to see into her heart. Praying that Mr. Hunter would see the woman she was.
    They were practically strangers, but she had never felt so sure of anything in her life than that she could build a good life with this man. She had seen the kindness in his eyes when he had stopped to inquire about her well-being this morning—when he had bigger things to worry about. She had seen the esteem in which his men held him. Most of all, she had watched him fight for his children when too many men would have gladly handed the responsibility over to their in-laws.
    Well, she would help him fight. Even if it meant making a fool of herself in front of all these people. She looked hard into his eyes, willing him to see past her ragged clothes and the whip marks on her face. Her heart hammered inside her chest, and she held her breath, waiting for his response.
    When she had awakened this morning, it had never occurred to her that before nightfall, she would propose marriage to a widowed stranger with five children.
    Someone sniggered on the front row. The judge cast a warning glance at them and they stopped, but Ingrid knew that if Joshua did not speak soon, the whole courtroom would burst into laughter.
    She had taken a desperate gamble.
    â€œThis is ridiculous!” Millicent stood and pointed at Ingrid. “That girl is my servant. She doesn’t even know the man!”
    â€œIs this true?” the judge asked.
    â€œNow, everybody just hold your horses.” Hazel shot to her feet and put a protective hand on Ingrid’s shoulder. “And I’m talking to you too, Judge. How about you just put that little wooden hammer down and give us a minute to sort this out.”
    The sight of an old woman might not have been enough to stop the proceedings, but the sight of an old woman with a wolf-dog the size of a small moose standing beside her, with its hackles raised and teeth bared, definitely captured the judge’s attention. He laid the gavel to one side.
    â€œHow are you involved in any of this, ma’am?”
    â€œMy name is Mrs. Samuel Smith, your honor.” Hazel drew herself up to her full height. “Me and my husband founded this town, and before I say anything else, I got a question to ask you.”
    â€œPlease make it brief.”
    â€œWere you serious when you said if these children get a new mama, they can stay with