Excerpt from THE DEEPEST SIGH

Delia’s veiled hair was like a crown of glory in the sunlight. Lang admired her a moment longer and then looked back at Rilla. Her face was still turned to the crowd. Some wisps of hair had come loose from her chignon and feathered her cheek in the gentle breeze. The sleeves of her dress moved against her arms, and the hem of her skirt flirted with her legs. In a sudden flash, he saw it. She would never be the beauty Delia was, but she had grown. She’d changed in subtle ways.

“Aren’t you hungry?” She looked back at him.

He shrugged. “I guess. I’ll go over and eat in a minute.”

“I’m starved. I haven’t eaten a thing since breakfast.”

“Nervousness does that.”

“You think I was nervous?”

“Nervous excitement, I mean.”

“I have been excited for them. Well, for Delia mostly. She’s such a pretty bride.”

He couldn’t argue.

“I guess I’ll go eat now.” She turned away.

He spoke quickly to stop her. “When did you say your birthday is?”

“In thirteen days.”

“And you’re going to be fifteen?”

She scowled at him.

He laughed. She was a funny thing. “Oh, that’s right. It’s been three years. So that makes you…” he pretended to count on his fingers, puzzling over it. “Why you’re right! That makes you coming on eighteen.” He gave her a steady look. “I guess you really are old enough for a suitor.”

She surprised him by drilling him with her full gaze. “That’s right, Lang. I’m all grown up.”

That was one thing she had on Delia, her amazing ocean-colored eyes. Not quite blue and not quite green. Her eyes were beautiful. They stared at each other for a moment, and then he looked her up and down, testing her. “I guess you are.” She didn’t have the luscious curves Delia had, and she never would. She was a skinny thing, tall and smart. He had always thought she was smart, but she had filled out enough to show she wasn’t fourteen anymore.

She blushed. The color crept up her throat and sent a flush to her pale cheeks. Lang glanced toward the tables again where Delia leaned close to whisper something to Theo. So angelic. So fine. Was his last chance truly over?

Maybe not.

Might she tire of Theo after a time? Women did. Marriages grew stale. She’d be a happy new bride for a while, but someday the newness would wane, and once again she might wish to know someone hadn’t grown too used to her, and she was still desired. She would always be lovely. Always.

The thoughts came over him all at once in the brief instant he looked at her. I can still have Delia if I don’t give up. He would have to wait for her a while longer, but he had no plans to leave. He liked the work of the farm. In the meantime, he might save his money until the day he could convince her to go away with him. She’d be willing to leave Theo one day, but she wouldn’t want to stay so close to Theo’s family. Lang would take her far enough away so they could start their own life, but not so far she would never see her own family again. To Minnesota maybe or downstate.

How long would the waiting take? A year? Two? It didn’t matter. He would bide the time for her as long as it took. A spark of anger kindled inside him. He would have Delia. She would want to belong to him eventually. However… He glanced again at Rilla, young, fresh, and hoping for a passion like her sister had. Lang’s focus narrowed. There was no reason he should wait like a eunuch. Even Jacob in the Bible had Leah while he waited for her sister Rachel.