Everlasting Light - A Civil War Romance Novella by Andrea Boeshaar Page B

did know to make a mistake. I thought Christians were holier than God Almighty.”
    “Hardly. God is our standard, true, but we fall far short of His grace and glory.”
    “You mean you’re not perfect?”
    “Did I ever claim to be?” Alaina wiped the tear drizzling down her cheek.
    “Well, no …” Jennifer blushed slightly. “It’s just that you’re always so … so good. My cousin Braeden is the same way. He’s genuinely good. Why, he’s the only one on my mother’s side of the family who’s ever cared about me.”
    Alaina dabbed at more of the gathering moisture in her eyes. “He will never ask me to marry him, seeing what I’ve done.”
    “He’d be a fool to let a little thing like this—”
    “Laina? Laina, it’s me.” Braeden knocked. “Come out here and speak with me.”
    Jennifer Marie smiled. “See I told you.”
    Alaina reached for the doorknob.
    “No.” Jennifer Marie’s gloved hand halted her. “I’ll handle the brute.” She sashayed to the door and opened it very slowly. “Go away, Braeden.”
    “I want to talk to Alaina.”
    “She’s … well, she can’t talk.”
    “Why not?”
    “She’s crying her eyes out, that’s why. Shame on you. You’re a veritable beast!”
    “Jennifer Marie—” There was warning in his tone. “—I insist that you step aside and let me see Alaina.”
    “You have no right to insist. Are you engaged? No. Married? No. As for Alaina and Michael … well, I don’t know why you’re so upset. It isn’t as if you’ve proposed marriage .”
    Behind the door, Alaina could practically hear Braeden seething.
    “I want to speak with her.”
    Jennifer Marie looked her way and winked. “There, there, honey, don’t sob like that. Your sweet face will get all red and blotchy.” She turned back to her cousin. “Excuse me. I must tend to Alaina. She’s distraught.”
    “Then I ought to be the one doing the tending.”
    Jennifer Marie moved to shut him out, but Braeden stuck his booted foot in the doorframe.
    “I want to speak to Alaina.”
    “But you’re the cause of her suffering.”
    “Laina?” he called despite the feminine blockade of white silk and ruffles between them. “Laina-honey, now I didn’t mean to make you cry. I was just … well, I was jealous! Now come out here and talk to me where I can see you.”
    Jennifer Marie donned a winning smile. She turned and, taking Alaina’s wrist, hauled her toward the threshold. “I think you two ought to kiss and make up this instant. You’re splendid together, can’t you see that?”
    Alaina brought her chin up and chanced a peek at Braeden from beneath damp lashes. Her handsome, blond Confederate soldier stared back at her with thoughtful, questioning brown eyes.
    “Is that true, Laina?” he asked softly. “Are we splendid together?”
    She managed a weak nod, feeling her chin quiver ever so slightly. “I’m so sorry about tonight. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Truly, I didn’t.”
    “No, no … and I was wrong to say what I did. I guess some things between Michael and me haven’t changed since we were twelve years old.” Braeden held out his hand to her. When Alaina took it, he drew her into his arms. “I love you, Laina. I’ve loved you since the first night we met.”
    “I love you, too.”
    A dreamy sigh came from Jennifer Marie.
    “Will you marry me?” Braeden searched her face beneath the soft glow of the wall sconce. “Will you be my wife?”
    “Yes … yes, of course I will.” The surge of joy inside of Alaina made her feel giddy.
    Lowering his head, Braeden kissed her with promise.
    “I’m so happy for you two.” Jennifer Marie clapped her gloved hands. “In fact, this is the happiest day of my life!”
    Mine too! Alaina clung to her new fiancé. She couldn’t wait to become Mrs. Braeden McKenna.
     
     
     
     

Chapter 8
     
     
     
    Alaina scanned the deserted dirt road and distinctly remembered the last time she’d seen her husband. It was going on