Faith Read Online Free

stepped out, grasping the animal's bridle as it
approached. "Whoa, Jenny!" His eyes centered on the
childlike waif riding behind the hermit. She was youngmuch younger than he'd expected. A knot gripped his midsection. A tomboy to boot. Straddling that mule, wearing men's boots. The young girl met his anxious gaze, smiling.
Her perky hat was askew, the pins from the mass of raven
hair strung somewhere along the road.

    "You must be Nicholas Shepherd."
    "Yes, ma'am." His eyes took in the thick layers of dust
obliterating her gingham gown. The only thing that saved
the girl from being plain was her remarkable violet-colored
eyes.
    Jeremiah slid off the back of the mule, offering a hand of
greeting to Nicholas. Nicholas winced at the stench of
wood smoke and donkey sweat. A riotous array of matted
salt-and-pepper hair crowned the old man's head. When he
smiled, deep dimples appeared in his cheeks. Doe-colored
eyes twinkled back at him as Nicholas accepted Jeremiah's
hand and shook it. "Seems I have something that belongs to
you.
    Nicholas traced the hermit's gaze as he turned to smile at
his passenger.
    Offering a timid smile, she adjusted her hat. "Sorry about
my appearance, Mr. Shepherd. The stage encountered a bit
of trouble."
    "Lost a wheel, it did, and tipped over!" The hermit
knocked dust off his battered hat. "Driver suffered a broken
leg. Fortunate I came along when I did, or this poor little
mite would've scorched in the blistering sun."
    Nicholas reached up to lift his bride from the saddle. For a
split moment, something stirred inside him, something long
dormant. His eyes met hers. His reaction surprised and
annoyed him. The hermit cleared his throat, prompting Nicholas to set the woman lightly on her feet. He finally
found his voice. "Where are the other passengers?"

    "Sitting alongside the road. Stubborn as old Jenny, they
are. I informed them jenny could carry two more but they
told me to be on my way." Jeremiah laughed, knocking dirt
off his worn britches. "They'll be waiting a while. The stage
sheared an axle."
    "I'll send Ben and Doc to help."
    "They're going to need more than a blacksmith and a
doctor." Jeremiah took a deep breath, batting his chest.
Dust flew. "You better send a big wagon to haul them all to
town."
    The Reverend caught up, followed by a breathless Liza
and Vera. "Welcome to Deliverance!" Reverend effusively
pumped the young woman's hand, grinning.
    Faith smiled and returned the greeting. The band broke
into a spirited piece as the crowd gathered round, vying for
introductions. The donkey shied, loping to the side to distance itself from the commotion.
    "Nicholas, introduce your bride!" someone shouted.
    "Yeah, Nicholas! What's her name?" others chorused.
    Reaching for the young lady's hand, Nicholas leaned
closer, his mind temporarily blank. "Sorry. Your last name
is...?"
    She leaned closer and he caught a whiff of donkey. "Kallahan."
    Clearing his throat, he called for order. "Quiet down,
please."

    Tubas and drums fell silent as the crowd looked on expectantly.
    "Ladies and gentlemen." Nicholas cleared his throat again.
He wasn't good at this sort of thing, and the sooner it was
over the better. "I'd like you to meet the woman who's
consented to be my wife, Miss Faith ... ?"
    "Kallahan."
    "Yes ... Miss Faith Kallahan."
    Sporadic clapping broke out. A couple of single, heartbroken young women turned into their mothers' arms for
comfort.
    Faith nodded above the boisterous clapping. "Thank
you-thank you all very much. It is a pleasure to be here!"
    "Anything you ever need, you just let me know," Oren
Stokes's wife called.
    "Same for me, dearie," the mayor's wife seconded as
other friendly voices chimed in.
    "Quilting bee every Saturday!"
    "Bible study at Lahoma Wilson's Thursday mornings!"
    Liza stepped forward, openly assessing her new daughterin-law-to-be. "Well, at least you're not skin and bone." She
cupped her hands at Faith's hips and measured