Before the Dawn (Truly Yours Digital Editions) by Erica Vetsch Page A

say, I’ve had enough of my family pushing me around. Mother can’t help herself, and I’d rather you were away from her influence as well. At least if we’re in Denver, she won’t be dreaming up any wild notions like having her own son sued.”
    Karen stared at her plate. “You know about that?”
    “I know about a lot of things. You’ve gotten your way about the wedding, you and my mother, but that’s as far as I’m willing to go. We’re leaving in two hours, so if you’re coming, you’d best gather your things.”
    She swallowed and took a staggering breath. Denver. Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad idea. They could be alone, just the two of them in the family’s town house. Maybe then some of the barriers to their happiness could begin to come down.
    ❧
    Karen boarded the railcar first, with David following, his hand on her shoulder.
    Jesse helped the porter with their bags and hovered in the doorway. “Wallace said to congratulate you on the wedding, and that he’s happy he could provide the private railcar for you, especially on such short notice.”
    Karen stood on tiptoe and kissed her father-in-law’s cheek. “Thank him for us. I’ve never traveled in such luxury before. And thank you for all you and Matilda have done. I’ll wire you when we reach Denver, and I’ll write every chance I get.”
    “Be sure you do.” Jesse hugged her, his voice gruff. The door slammed in his wake, and Karen stooped to look out the window at his tall frame striding across the platform.
    “Alone at last.” She unpinned her hat and set it on the table. “It will be nice not to be interrupted for a while. Here, there’s a chair just to your right.”
    David shrugged off her hand and found the back of the chair himself. He removed his overcoat and hat, and once seated, leaned his head back. “We won’t be in to Denver until well after dark. I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m going to nap.” With that he closed his eyes, shutting her out.
    She contemplated the transom windows in the high point of the roof. Every time she thought she might have found a way past the armor and walls he’d erected, he cut her off. She dropped onto a velvet upholstered davenport, and her hand fell on the Godey’s Lady’s Book Matilda had given her. Her mother-in-law had written a letter of introduction to her dressmaker in Denver and instructed Karen to purchase a trousseau and spare no expense. Karen leafed through the pages, but her mind hopped from one thought to another so she couldn’t concentrate. Finally she put the book aside to contemplate her husband.
    She studied his features, loving each plane and angle of his face. In sleep, his face looked younger, less careworn, relaxed. He had loosened his collar and tie. His watch and fob glinted in the lamplight from the wall sconce.
    Jesse had taken the crystal from the watch so David could feel the hands and know the time. His entire family had worked hard to show him they cared, that they loved him and wanted to help him, and yet he’d repelled them at every turn.
    “Oh, David,” she whispered, “where do we go from here? The more I try to fix what’s between us, the more snarled things become.”
    Conviction whispered through her soul, forcing her to own up to what she hadn’t wanted to face. She’d rushed into this marriage, scheming and plotting instead of praying and waiting. Now they were married, and there could be no turning back.
    Lord, please forgive me. I have been selfish and willful. Instead of asking for Your will and direction, I rushed ahead, grasping for what I wanted, taking it without waiting for You to give it to me. I’m like Jacob in the Old Testament, conniving to get the blessing rather than waiting for You to give it to me. How can a marriage based upon a scheming plot ever be happy? How can love grow, or how can we glorify You? I am broken, Lord. I beg Your forgiveness and ask You to show me Your will. Help me to love David. Help me to show