Thomas wrestled with how to tell Valerie that he wanted to wait before rushing into the marriage without making it seem like he was trying to wiggle out of their engagement. Engagement. The word wrapped around him like a warm cocoon. When he’d heard Valerie refer to him as her fiancé upon arrival, the word had felt like a punch in the stomach, but now it filled him with excitement.

He only hoped she would be able to see his point. It would be better for them both to take things slow. After all, they'd been apart for years. There was so much to catch up on now. Yes. That was how he would explain it. Surely she'd be able to see reason if he said it like that.

“Where's Val?” he asked, rushing into the kitchen to find her. “I have to talk to her.”

Elise frowned a little. “She is looking for you in the barn. You did not see her when you came in?”

His mind was running so fast that he didn't have time to think beyond the moment. “No, but I'll find her. Thanks!” He dashed out again, taking the quickest way into the barn which meant hopping over the fence of the paddock. Too late, he realized that Duke was still in there, and the startled horse backed away at his sudden movement and then rose up in fear, kicking his front legs out in Thomas’s direction. In vain, he tried to calm the horse down by saying soft words, but his sudden entrance into the paddock had frightened Duke. The horse raced straight through him, hitting him in the chest and sending Thomas flying backward into the fence.

“Thomas!” He heard Valerie cry out his name. Her voice made the horse turn, giving him a chance to escape, but not before John came running out to see what was going on.

“What in the world...?”

Now out of the paddock, Thomas stumbled around, blood running into his eyes. “I...I didn't realize he was in there,” he muttered. “It was my fault. I thought... I...” The faces of Valerie and John swam before his eyes and then everything went black.

When he came to a few moments later, Valerie and John were kneeling over him, she with a wet cloth and he with a stern look on his face.

“You can't let your guard down with horses that are only half-broke,” he scolded. “No matter what else is on your mind.”

“Can't you see he's in pain?” Valerie retorted defensively. “You can save the lecture for later. Go get me another cold cloth.”

He would have laughed if he had the strength to do so, but it hurt to even move his head, so he just whispered, “He's right, Val. Don't be mad at him.”

John grumbled something about women, horses, and greenhorns, but took the cloth from her outstretched hand and went to wet it again. In the meantime, Valerie had pulled his head onto her lap and was stroking his cheek. “What in the world were you thinking, Thomas Wellington?” she murmured. “You could have been killed.”

Now he did chuckle a little, even though it pained him. “Nah, it's just a bump on the head. Men don't generally get killed by such a thing.”

“Oh, and you're a doctor now, I suppose,” she replied, her brow drawing low with concern. “I've heard of men being knocked unconscious and never waking up again. You don't know everything.”

Her concern for his well-being was more than endearing, but he couldn't let her worry too much. “Really, Val. I'm okay. I've seen lots of hands take a hard fall and get right back up again. I guess my head is just too soft.”

The corners of her mouth twitched a little before she allowed herself to smile. “You said it, Thomas.” Her eyes began to do that twinkling thing he liked so much. “I mean, I've always thought so, but I decided to love you anyway.”

When he realized that he'd called himself dimwitted, and that she could laugh about it, he allowed himself to relax and rest on her lap. The sun was behind him, so he had a full view of her beautiful face. She looked like an angel.

“I love you too,” he said softly, just out of hearing of John who was now returning with the sopping wet cloth, which he practically threw at Valerie.

“Dinner's near ready,” he grumbled. “Going up now. When you two lovebirds are ready, I'll see you up there.” There was no malice in his voice, but Thomas wasn't sure that Valerie knew him well enough to recognize that.

Abruptly, he left, and as Valerie wrung the cloth out a little, she muttered something unflattering about the older man.

“Aw, don't take it too hard. It's just his way.”

She made a low noise in her throat, a sound that signaled her disagreement, but didn't comment. Instead, she applied the cloth to his brow once again.

Although Thomas was feeling much better already, he decided to just enjoy the attention. Her face puckered in concern as she wiped the blood away and mumbled something else.

“What was that?”

“I said that if you ever do something so stupid again, I'm going to hit you myself, and there will be more than a little bloodshed. I won't be as kind as that horse.”

A bubble of laughter rose in his throat. “Ah, Val,” he said affectionately. “I do love you.” His gaze became soft. “I hope that's enough.” When she didn't answer right away, he panicked. “I am going to build us a house, you know. It won't be quite as fine as Luke's, but it will be sturdy and the two of us will make it a home, along with any young ones God blesses us with.”

Her eyes went round with astonishment. “That's the first time you mentioned God to me. I wasn't sure where your beliefs lay. I know it should have been the first thing on my mind, but I admit that I didn’t consider it until just now.”

“I didn't really know myself until today,” he admitted. “But God is bringing me around.”

“Good thing,” she replied, refolding the cloth and wiping again. “I wouldn't have been able to marry an unbeliever, you know. I can't believe it hasn't come up before. I guess I was so intent on pursuing you that it didn't enter my mind.” The frown on her face let him know she was not happy with herself about that fact.

“Well, it's not going to be an issue now. I think I'm beginning to understand a few things.” He'd been fussed over long enough, and now pushed himself into a sitting position facing her. “First off, God doesn't owe me any explanation for the way things are, and second, what does happen, happens for a reason. But, Val, I've been away from God for a long time. There's a lot I don't know.”

He watched her face crumple a little. “I thought I knew a lot, but I don't really. Maybe we can learn together.”

Thomas glanced in the direction of the house. “Seems to me we have a lot of willing teachers right here. Let’s ask for some help?”

The sorrow on her face disappeared as a smile touched her lips. “I'd like that,” she murmured, taking his hand in hers and bringing it to her lips. “Very much.”

* * *

From the moment she'd turned and seen Thomas get run over by the horse, Valerie's heart hadn't stopped hammering. In that very second, she'd seen her whole future pass by her eyes, a future without Thomas, and it had been dreary and empty. It no longer mattered that they'd be living in certain poverty or that she'd have to spend her days cooking, cleaning, and tending children. Without Thomas, her life lost color.

The boy she'd known had grown into a wonderful man. Her old life of balls and fancy gowns faded into a distant memory, and she couldn't even remember what she'd liked about it. Of course, the convenience of having servants do every menial task wasn't unpleasant, but she'd come to enjoy working with her hands and feeling useful. The doubt that had arisen in her mind was wiped out in an instant when she thought that he might have been killed by the powerful animal.

When she'd seen him fall to the ground, her only thought had been to get to him. Seeing him lying in the dirt had caused her greater panic than anything in her entire life. Now that he was conscious and smiling, she could see with greater clarity than ever before that God had brought her here for this man, to live and work together, and serve the Lord.

Valerie's heart finally began to return to its normal rate as the two of them sat in the dirt talking about their faith. Hope rose in her chest that they would have a fulfilling future, abounding in love, laughter, and joy.

“Thomas Wellington,” she said evenly, staring at him in what she hoped was a fearsome manner. “I will only agree to marry you if you promise never to do something so stupid again. I didn’t come all the way out here to lose you to a horse. Do you understand me?”

With a low chuckle, he nodded and reached for her. Slipping a hand behind her head, he drew her close and kissed her soundly. In that moment, they both saw the future, and it was bright indeed.