October 1844
Knott’s Valley, GA
Luella Alexander rushed up the steps of Doc’s house and knocked on the door. She pulled her brother’s coat tighter as the frigid wind chilled her bones.
The door opened, and she rushed forward into her request. “Doc, I—”
But the man standing in the doorway wasn’t Doc.
“Elias?” Her eyes drank him in. He’d filled out some since the last time she saw him. His dark hair was a bit longer, curling at the ends. And he wasn’t as clean-shaven as he was the day he walked away from her.
“Luella.” The corners of his lips quirked slightly.
She swallowed past the emotion trying to claw its way upward. “Where’s Doc?”
Elias straightened as if he’d been prodded with a needle. “He stepped out to help a patient. But if you need something, I…Is your mother unwell?” The concern on his face pinched her fragile heart. He still cared about Mama. Too bad he didn’t still care about her.
“She passed. Last month.”
His brow puckered. “Why didn’t you write me?”
“I didn’t think you wanted me to.”
He winced. “Luella, I–”
She waved away whatever he was trying to say. “Vincent cut his hand. It looks pretty awful.”
His brow furrowed. “Let me get my bag.”
She went back outside and mounted her mare, nudging the horse into a trot. Elias and his chestnut bay caught up easily, and silence settled between them, tense and painful.
“Why are you back? You said that after you finished your education, you’d never set foot here again. That you’d work under the finest doctors in the country.” Her voice took on a bitter edge.
“Do you blame me for wanting an education? Doc Wilson is fine and good, but he’s self-taught. I wanted to work under doctors who’d went to–”
“Fine medical institutions. Yes, I remember.” Luella’s fingers tightened around the reins. “But that didn’t have to stop you from wanting to come back.”
Silence stretched between them again, and memories tortured her. Memories of laughter and secrets. A vise settled around her heart, squeezing until it was hard for her to breathe.
They finally reached the farm, and as he rode up to the small cabin’s front porch, she stopped at the barn and dismounted. He glanced back at her, and their last conversation three years ago came rushing back.
“You’ll come back, won’t you, Elias? You’ll come back and marry me?”
“Luella, I’m not coming back. Don’t wait for me.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she led her horse into the barn. After the mare was settled in its stall, she climbed into the hayloft, her favorite hiding spot as a child, and huddled in a corner as the sobs scraped past her throat.
A noise brought her head up. Elias climbed into the hayloft, his face softening as he met her gaze.
“Oh, Lu.”
He gathered her in his arms, and her instinct to push him away died the moment he pressed his lips to her hair. She melted into him, and the truth smacked her in the face. Even after three long years, she still loved Elias Coleson. Loved him fiercely and fervently.
“Why did you leave me?” Grabbing fistfuls of his shirt, she was sorely tempted to shake him but couldn’t find the energy.
“I shouldn’t have, sweetheart. I should’ve stayed. Or promised to come back for you.” He smoothed a hand down her hair. “You don’t know how often I regretted that conversation. How many letters I started just to throw them away. We were so young and I thought…I thought it’d fade away, but it didn’t.”
She pulled away and studied his face. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.
“How’s Vincent?” she asked as she wiped the tears away.
“I stitched him up and made a poultice. He didn’t even seem to notice the pain because he was too angry with Jonathan.”
“I don’t know why Jonathan’s got it in his head to sell the farm. Shouldn’t be surprised, though. He never did want to work it.”
“Not everyone’s a farmer, I suppose.”
She wiped her nose before staring at the soggy cloth in her hands. “I’ll wash this before I give it back.”
“Luella.”
His whisper had her head snapping up, meeting his gray eyes.
“I came back for you. Is…is it too late?”
“It would serve you right if I said yes.”
He nodded solemnly. “Yes, it would.”
“But I could never do that.” Sighing, she leaned forward to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head at the last moment, capturing her lips with his. His hand slid around the nape of her neck, drawing her closer. Her heart thrummed.
“You two ready to come down?” Vincent’s voice had her scowling as she pulled away from Elias.
Elias kissed her nose and took her hand in his, gently tugging her up. But instead of leading her to the ladder, he leaned closer. “I love you, Luella. I understand if you want to wait for a time, but I aim to marry you if you’ll have me.”
“I waited three years, Elias. You ain’t gonna make me wait much more.”
He chuckled and captured her lips again.
“I’m coming up!” Vincent hollered.
Luella pulled away. “Oh, hush up!” She shook her head as she stomped toward the ladder. “I’ve been forced to put up with you all these years and I can’t even get ten minutes. I tell you what…”
Elias chuckled as she began to climb down, and she looked up and met his gaze. “I missed you,” he said simply.
She smiled. “Good. Serves you right.” As she made her way down the ladder, his laughter warmed her heart.
