Mail Order Bride: A Bride for the Doctor (Bozeman Brides Book 4) by Emily Woods Page B
Authors: Emily Woods
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with the intention of reading in the soft evening light. She had heard from a previous friend that if she ever did read the Bible, she should begin in the book of John.
After locating the book past the middle of the Bible, she began to read. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and Word was God.” The words didn’t make much sense, but she persevered. Over the course of the next few hours, she read about Jesus, the miracles He did and how He’d taken compassion on the weak. She was outraged at how the Pharisees tried to trick Him, and cried when he was killed even though he’d never sinned. She read about His resurrection and how He’d come back to His disciples and reassured them.
As she finished the book of John, the sun began to set and her eyes felt heavy, but her heart felt light. Despite the tears that stained her face, for the first time in her life, she felt that God was real and present. And she then she did something she’d never done in her entire life.
She prayed.
Chapter 8
G eoff arrived early at the surgery the next morning with a speech that he’d spent all night rehearsing. He knew beyond any doubt that God had brought Kate to Bozeman to be with him. He would spend his time wooing her and convincing her, for the rest of his days if need be.
However, when she pushed the door open, his heart constricted in his chest. Kate’s eyes bore shadows of sleeplessness, and they were slightly swollen as though she’d cried the whole night through. All his fine words of love froze in his mouth. How could he burden her further? She was still aching over her past.
And yet, as his eyes met hers, he saw something there, something that he hadn’t seen before. There was a light shining that radiated peace.
“Geoff,” she began hesitantly, “I have something to tell you. I—I was reading the Bible you gave me last night. I read the book of John and I felt God’s presence. It was like a warm blanket, wrapping me up and comforting me from the inside out. I know that He’s real now, Geoff, just like you said.”
A feeling of joy so strong welled up in his chest that he couldn’t help smiling broadly. “And now…you feel released from your past?”
Her eyes dimmed slightly. “In one sense, yes, but I’m still not sure when or if I can move on. I think I need to time to find out for myself what God’s plans are for my life.”
He wanted to argue with her, to plead and beg, but he knew that she was right. He couldn’t force her. She did have to find out for herself. He’d just prayed that the time would come before too long.
They worked together peacefully throughout the rest of the day. In tandem, they met the needs of the citizens who were now coming in easily and frequently. But he was careful to keep his distance from her, and only approach her as a friend.
At the end of the day, when they exited the surgery, he asked if he could walk her home.
She hesitated. “I don’t want to lead you on, Geoff,” she said softly. “My heart is changing, and I can see that God’s love makes things different, but it will take time. I still don’t know if marriage is for me. My scars run so deep and so wide that I don’t know if I’m even capable of being a good wife. There is too much of my parents in me.”
“But what’s holding you back, do you think?” He chose his words carefully. The fear of scaring her off was very strong.
She shook her head. “I just don’t know if I can be strong enough in a marriage to prevent the bitterness from arising if something were to go very wrong. I would hate to ruin your…a man’s life with the poison that runs in my veins.”
“But you can change your legacy,” he insisted gently, taking her hand in his. “You are not your mother.”
“Yes, but…” She didn’t finish her sentence. Two people came rushing down the street, the taller one was carrying someone small.
As the couple came closer, he saw that they were Theo and
After locating the book past the middle of the Bible, she began to read. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and Word was God.” The words didn’t make much sense, but she persevered. Over the course of the next few hours, she read about Jesus, the miracles He did and how He’d taken compassion on the weak. She was outraged at how the Pharisees tried to trick Him, and cried when he was killed even though he’d never sinned. She read about His resurrection and how He’d come back to His disciples and reassured them.
As she finished the book of John, the sun began to set and her eyes felt heavy, but her heart felt light. Despite the tears that stained her face, for the first time in her life, she felt that God was real and present. And she then she did something she’d never done in her entire life.
She prayed.
Chapter 8
G eoff arrived early at the surgery the next morning with a speech that he’d spent all night rehearsing. He knew beyond any doubt that God had brought Kate to Bozeman to be with him. He would spend his time wooing her and convincing her, for the rest of his days if need be.
However, when she pushed the door open, his heart constricted in his chest. Kate’s eyes bore shadows of sleeplessness, and they were slightly swollen as though she’d cried the whole night through. All his fine words of love froze in his mouth. How could he burden her further? She was still aching over her past.
And yet, as his eyes met hers, he saw something there, something that he hadn’t seen before. There was a light shining that radiated peace.
“Geoff,” she began hesitantly, “I have something to tell you. I—I was reading the Bible you gave me last night. I read the book of John and I felt God’s presence. It was like a warm blanket, wrapping me up and comforting me from the inside out. I know that He’s real now, Geoff, just like you said.”
A feeling of joy so strong welled up in his chest that he couldn’t help smiling broadly. “And now…you feel released from your past?”
Her eyes dimmed slightly. “In one sense, yes, but I’m still not sure when or if I can move on. I think I need to time to find out for myself what God’s plans are for my life.”
He wanted to argue with her, to plead and beg, but he knew that she was right. He couldn’t force her. She did have to find out for herself. He’d just prayed that the time would come before too long.
They worked together peacefully throughout the rest of the day. In tandem, they met the needs of the citizens who were now coming in easily and frequently. But he was careful to keep his distance from her, and only approach her as a friend.
At the end of the day, when they exited the surgery, he asked if he could walk her home.
She hesitated. “I don’t want to lead you on, Geoff,” she said softly. “My heart is changing, and I can see that God’s love makes things different, but it will take time. I still don’t know if marriage is for me. My scars run so deep and so wide that I don’t know if I’m even capable of being a good wife. There is too much of my parents in me.”
“But what’s holding you back, do you think?” He chose his words carefully. The fear of scaring her off was very strong.
She shook her head. “I just don’t know if I can be strong enough in a marriage to prevent the bitterness from arising if something were to go very wrong. I would hate to ruin your…a man’s life with the poison that runs in my veins.”
“But you can change your legacy,” he insisted gently, taking her hand in his. “You are not your mother.”
“Yes, but…” She didn’t finish her sentence. Two people came rushing down the street, the taller one was carrying someone small.
As the couple came closer, he saw that they were Theo and
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