Kim Vogel Sawyer - In Every Heartbeat

IN EVERY
HEARTBEAT

Books by
Kim Vogel Sawyer

FROM BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS

Waiting for Summers Return
Where Willows Grow
My Heart Remembers
Where the Heart Leads
A Promise for Spring
Fields of Grace
A Hopeful Heart
In Every Heartbeat
Courting Miss Amsel

IN EVERY
HEARTBEAT

KimVogel Sawyer

In Every Heartbeat
Copyright 2010
Kim Vogel Sawyer

Cover design by Brand Navigation
Cover photography by Steve Gardner, PixelWorks Studio, Inc.

Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Sawyer, Kim Vogel.

In every heartbeat / Kim Vogel Sawyer.
p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-7642-0816-4 (alk. paper) ISBN 978-0-7642-0510-1 (pbk.) 1. Friends Fiction. I Title.

PS3619.A97I5 2010
813'.6dc22

2010014686

For my soul-sister, Sabra.
In many ways were different, but God made us friends,
and I, for one, am truly grateful.
Love you muchly!

... the foolishness of God is wiser than men;
and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Cor. 1:25 KJV

Contents

Chambers, Missouri
September 1914

D ont you dare cry.

Libby Conley snapped the wardrobe door shut on her scanty belongings and spun to face her mentor and friend. Well, I guess this is it. Her throat tightened, making her words come out an octave higher than normal. How she would miss Maelle!

She forced her lips into a quavering smile. Thanks so much for bringing the boys and me to college. It was wonderful to have your company on the train. But... She flipped her hands outward and angled her chin high. I guess youre rid of me now.

Maelle Harders stepped away from her husband and wrapped Libby in a tight hug. Libby closed her eyes and accepted the hug without contributing to it. If she took hold of Maelle, she might never let go.

Rid of you? Oh, bosh. Maelles husky voice carried a hint of humor. I think well be seeing you again. She released her hold and gave Libbys chin a light pinch, an affectionate gesture left over from Libbys childhood. After all, you, Pete, and Bennett will be coming back to Shays Ford for Matties wedding in less than six weeks. Mattie will need all of his groomsmen in attendance.

Libby nodded. Knowing she would soon return to the orphans school that had been her home for the past eight years had helped Libby say good-bye to the schools directors, Aaron and Isabelle Rowley, yesterday. Libby could bear temporary good-byes, but she never said the word when she thought the separation might be permanent. She didnt plan to say it to Maelle, her favorite person in the whole world, even if she knew it would be a short separation. She hated the word good-bye.

Ill be there for sure. Im excited about the dance after your brothers wedding. Libby caught hold of her brand-new skirt and quickstepped a jig, making the brown worsted swirl above the tops of her patent leather boots. She planned to dance with Bennett, and with Petey, too, even if he was a little clumsy on his peg leg.

Itll be a grand time. Maelles tawny brown eyes crinkled with her smile. She slipped her hand through Jacksons elbow and beamed up at him. As much fun as our after-wedding party was.

Libby admired the toes of her new shoes as the gaze passing between Maelle and Jackson heated. Although they were far from newlywedshaving married immediately upon Jacksons return from serving in the Missouri legislature five years agothe pair had eyes only for each other. Libby admitted to some jealousy when Jackson had returned to Shays Ford. Until hed shown up, shed had Maelles attention to herself. Closing her eyes, she allowed a familiar daydream to surface.

So youre really going to be my ma? The happiness exploding throughLibbys middle erupted in a joyous giggle.

Maelle smoothed Libbys tangled hair from her face. Why, of course.Ive always wanted a daughter, and I cant imagine a better one than you,Libby.

Libby threw herself into Maelles arms. Oh, Im so happy youreadopting me! Thank you!

No, let me thank you, dear one. Maelles cheek rested on the topof Libbys head, the contact warm and comforting. Youve made me thehappiest mother on earth....

The sound of a clearing throat chased the fanciful musing away. Libby looked up to find both Maelle and Jackson grinning at her. Jackson said, My apologies, Libby. He tucked his arm around Maelles waist. Sometimes I get lost in my beautiful wifes beguiling eyes and forget anyone else exists.

Maelle shook her head, her tumbling auburn locks swaying with the motion. Goodness, the things you say... But the tender look she gave Jackson contradicted her gentle reproach.

Libby clamped her lips tight as her anger swelled. Why hadnt Maelle and Jackson adopted her? When Libby was ten, shed asked Maelle to be her mother, and Maelle had lovingly explained she wanted Libby to have the privilege of both a mother and a father. But then Jackson had returned and he and Maelle had married, and even then they hadnt adopted Libby. Now it was too late. No one had wanted Libby at the age of ten; why would anyoneeven Maelle, who professed to love her dearlyadopt an eighteen-year-old? Shed never have the joy of calling Maelle Ma, the way her heart longed to.

Maelle shifted to face Libby. Should we go find the boys? I imagine Bennett is hungry by now.

Jackson held his hand toward the door, and Libby scurried past him. As she careened out the door, she nearly collided with two girls in the hallway. Isabelle Rowleys lessons on etiquette rose in her memory, and she automatically excused herself.

The pair looked Libby up and down before they exchanged a quick haughty look. The taller of the two said, You need to slow down.

Or at the very least, look before you leave your room, the second one added.

Libby folded her arms over her chest. I said, Excuse me. And it isnt as if I tried to run you down. It was just bad timing.

The taller one opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Maelle and Jackson stepped into the hallway. The girl snapped her mouth closed, took her companion by the elbow, and hustled toward the stairs.

Girls! Shed never gotten along well with other girls. They were too snooty or too prissy or too giggly. The condescending, scolding tones used by the girls in the hallway had sounded too much like the orphanages founder. How often had Mrs. Rowley berated Libby for escaping into a daydream or for unladylike tree-climbing or frog-catching? Libby had grown to love Mrs. Rowley, but shed never felt completely accepted by her. Girls were no fun. Except Maelle.

Libby clasped her hands beneath her chin and gave Maelle her best pleading look. Cant I go back to Shays Ford with you and Jackson?