Luke's First Bride Read online

  "Poppy cock!" her mother exclaimed "You must! Why wouldn't you want to?" Mary Rose paused, and Rosa could only imagine the dozens of horrid scenarios swirling though her head. "Is it someone awful? Do you not want to marry him? You don't have to do anything you don't want to do, daughter. The ways of the community are in place to protect us."

  Rosa laughed at her mother's habit of jumping to conclusions. "It's not anyone horrible, Mother. It's somebody wonderful."

  "Well, who is it then? Why won't you tell me?"

  "I'll tell you! I'll tell you!" Rosa doubled over with laughter at her mother's franticness. "Let's finish up the dishes, I'll brew a pot of tea, and we can sit down at the table, and I'll tell you."

  * * * * *

  Luke hadn't known what to expect from seminary school, but he knew he had gotten everything he had hoped for and more. He was weeks away from graduating, and he had been called into the Dean's office, but he wasn't worried. He had done nothing wrong, therefore it could be nothing bad.

  Dean Mitchell was a serious sort, and could be very formidable when he wanted, but today wasn't one of those times it seemed. The man was in an unusually jovial mood as he clapped Lucas on the back and invited him to sit.

  "Lucas, my boy! I have some news I think you will be very interested to hear."

  Lucas sat, and waited for the dean to continue.

  "You've been very successful during your time here. You're well liked by all your peers and teachers, and I understand you'll be graduating at the top of your class. Which is why, when a colleague of mine called, and asked me to recommend someone for a temporary position he has open, you were the first person that came to mind."

  "Well, I'm very flattered Sir, but, I have a job when I graduate. I'll be going back to Green Valley and taking over for my father so that he can retire."

  "Now, hold on, just hear me out before you say no."

  Lucas waved for him to continue.

  "It's short term, just two months. The acting Bishop has become ill, and his replacement isn't available until August. They really need someone like you, someone who knows the ins and outs of that kind of community. And it's a chance for you to see something new, and spread your wings a bit, before you take over for your father."

  "I appreciate the offer, Dean Mitchell, I really do, but… wait, where did you say it was?"

  "I hadn't yet, actually, but it's at a small polygamous sect in Southern Georgia. Fillmore, I believe is the name of the town."

  Fillmore, Georgia. Luke mulled the name over in his mind. It sounded oddly familiar. "I'll do it."

  He stayed in the dean's office a bit longer, taking down details and getting contact information, and Dean Mitchell promised to get him his plane ticket in the next few days. As Luke walked out of the office, he could hardly believe he had agreed to such a thing, even for a short time. He knew his dad was counting on him to take over when he returned, but Green Valley would survive without him for a few more months.

  Right now, he was needed in Fillmore, Georgia. He wasn't sure why, but he was really excited about the prospect of a few more months of learning and experience. And he was looking forward to visiting the south. Dean Mitchell had it all but handled, as far as the details went, but there was one little detail Luke had to handle himself.

  He had to tell his father.

  * * * * *

  Rosa sat in Bishop Miller's office with her mother, as was custom. Her mother had woken her early and all but dragged her down before church. Mary Rose had been beside herself with excitement ever since Rosa had revealed her secret the night before. She doubted her mother had gotten a wink of sleep. She probably had the wedding all but planned already, and the groom didn't know a thing.

  It was Mary Rose, and not Rosa, who made the announcement to Bishop Miller. Rosa sat slumped in a chair in the corner with her arms crossed. She was a bit angry at her mother for taking over, even though she knew she should have expected it. She also knew she could have stood up to her mother. If her mother hadn't listened to her, Rosa could have dragged her father into it, and she knew that would have worked.

  But Rosa didn't want to get her mother into trouble. She knew that like many adults in the church, her parents had a loving, domestic discipline marriage. Complaining to her Father would have gotten her mother a serious punishment for interfering. After all, Rosa was now officially an adult.

  Although, apparently, she thought bitterly to herself, she wasn't a very good one. Which was why she was sitting here, sulking, as her well-meaning mother continued to plan her life out for her.

  Rosa swallowed back the tears of frustration that threatened to spill as Bishop Miller listened to her mother go on and on about possible dates for the wedding. It wasn't that this wasn't exactly what she wanted, it very much was. The past two years had crawled by, giving her more than ample time to adjust to the idea. Now she could hardly wait to become Mrs. Lucas Miller. The idea of marrying Luke shortly before he became bishop was still a daunting one, but she had made peace with it long ago.

  So why were her emotions so out of control? Rosa let out a growl of frustration and both her mother and Bishop Miller turned to stare at her as if she had sprouted another head. Un-freaking-believable. It was like they had forgotten she was even there.

  Finally Bishop Miller cleared his throat. "Er, Mrs. Collins, I wonder if I might speak to Rosa alone for a moment?" He spoke to her mother, but his kind eyes never left her face.

  "Oh!" Mary Rose exclaimed, her eyes growing wide as she stared at her daughter's tear streaked face, as if she were just now realizing that her excitement might have railroaded her daughter into doing something she wasn't quite ready for. "Yes. Yes, of course Bishop. I'll just… you know what, I'm feeling a little parched. I'm going to head across the street for some iced tea. So if you need anything, uh, that's just where I'll be. Goodbye!"

  Rosa gave a weak laugh at her mother's hasty exit.

  Bishop Miller was a kind man, with kind eyes. He was a good bishop, and very caring towards his parishioners. He watched Mary Rose out his office window, and as soon as they saw that she was safely ensconced at the café, he turned to Rosa, pulling his chair so that he sat almost knee to knee with her.

  "Rosa darling, what's wrong? You do not wish to marry my Luke?"

  "Oh no, Sir, that's not it at all!" Rosa hurried to reassure him, wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands. "It's just… it's so silly of me, really, but this is not how I imagined this going! I wasn't ready and—" Rosa stopped abruptly taking note of the bishop's raised eyebrows and clamped her lips shut. She didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings or worse, get anyone in trouble.

  Bishop Miller heaved a deep sigh. "Rosa, I need you to be honest with me. The rules and beliefs of the community are in place to protect and empower young women like yourself. But I can't help you if you aren't willing to be completely honest with me. Now, do you, or do you not, wish to marry Luke. And do you believe this is of God's will?"

  Rosa smiled radiantly. "I absolutely wish to marry Luke, and after years of prayer, I know without a waiver of uncertainty that it is His will for my life."

  Bishop Miller beamed and clapped his hands together with gusto. "Now, we're getting somewhere! Okay, now tell me what had you so upset a little bit ago, child, and whatever it is, I promise you, I can help you work it out."

  "It's silly, Bishop, and I'm sure I can get over it, really. This is what I wanted, no matter how it happens, this is his ultimate plan."

  "Maybe so, but whatever it was, it had you pretty darn upset by the looks of it. It might just be best to get it off your chest."

  Rosa knew Bishop Miller made a good point, and she knew it was time to start sticking up for herself. She took a deep cleansing breath and wiped her eyes once more for good measure. "I want to marry Luke. I am so blessed to have been chosen for a good man like him, and I've known about this, and prayed about it, for a good time. But, bishop, I'm not ready. I don't want to start courting and make it official
. I just turned eighteen yesterday! And I still have three more weeks of high school left. I don't have time to court or plan a wedding. All I wanted to do was share my secret happiness with my mother. I have hidden it for a long time, just as we are asked to do, and all I wanted to do was have her be happy with me and finally talk to someone about it. I had no idea that she would drag me down here at first light to make it official."

  Rosa's words all ran together because she was so nervous, but it felt so good to say what she felt, and ask for what she wanted.

  Bishop Miller stroked his chin thoughtfully as he turned to gaze out the window towards the café. "So, Rosa, what you're saying is, you wished to tell your mother simply because you had kept the secret a long time and you wanted to share it, now that you were of age to do so. Correct?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "I see, and you didn't ask or wish for your mother to come down here with you today? You would have rather waited at least until you were out of school in a few weeks?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Well, then, your mother was very wrong in the actions she chose to take. I understand that you are her first daughter to go through this and she probably got caught up in her excitement, but nevertheless, our customs and rules are in place for a reason. Potentially rushing someone to take this step when they aren't ready could have a very unpleasant outcome. Maybe not so much in this case, but, it could be potentially disastrous. For that reason, I'm going to have to talk to your father, and let him know what has transpired here today."

  Rosa gasped in alarm, and began to argue, but Bishop Miller simply waved a hand, as if to brush the topic away. "That should be of no worry to you, my dear. Nobody knows this yet, not even Nancy, but I've actually just had a call from Luke this morning." Bishop Miller crossed the room to sit on the edge of his desk facing her. "Lucas has taken a temporary position helping out at a sect in Georgia after he graduates next week. He will not return until August, so there would be no possibility of a courtship before then anyway. Is August acceptable for you, or do you wish to wait longer?"

  Rosa thought about it. August was still a few months away, and she felt she could be ready by then. And an August courtship would mean a wedding in September or October. Rosa had always dreamed of having a fall wedding. She nodded. "I think I shall be ready by then."

  "Very well, but just to be certain, I shall not say anything until you come in to make it official on your own and of your own free will," he said, giving her a gentle smile. "Whenever you are ready, understand? When you are ready."

  "Yes, sir. I understand. And thank you so much."

  "Don't worry about it. I am just doing my job."

  Rosa gathered her purse and turned to leave. She knew the bishop needed to get ready for services. She had her hand on the doorknob, and was about to walk through the door when he called her name.

  She turned expectantly, just in time to see him wink at her. "I look forward to having you as a daughter-in- law. But don't worry, it will be our secret for now, just between us."

  Rosa beamed all the way home and back to church later that morning. She was feeling a hundred times better about everything than she had earlier. She had stood up for herself and it had gone exceptionally well. Come autumn, she would be a married woman, and a bishop's wife to boot.

  Chapter 4

  It had taken Luke all of ten minutes in Fillmore to figure out why it had sounded so familiar to him. It was the town that Carolyn Atwood's family had moved from. He had even met some of her extended family, and he could certainly see where Carolyn had gotten her bristly attitude from.

  He learned that while the south was endearing with its soulful food, southern belles, and outlandish expressions, Fillmore, Georgia, and the religious sect it was home to, was not. Their ways and customs were nothing like the ones he had grown up with, and nothing he wanted to subscribe too. He had always been told of the darker side of polygamy, but he had never experienced it firsthand. The sad part was that the people of Fillmore neither wanted nor felt the need for his help. To them, he was a prop, simply there to fill up the empty spot. The people of Fillmore were not accepting of strangers, and Luke could see why the Atwoods had taken their daughters to Green Valley. Truthfully, the only thing he gained during his two month stay there was a deeper respect and understanding for Carolyn and her family.

  However, since Fillmore wasn't open to accepting his help in any way, what he really got was a paid vacation to the south, and he was perfectly fine with that aspect of the trip. For the first time in his life, he had minimal responsibilities and lots of free time. After the highly disciplined rigor of seminary school, it was a welcome break.

  Nevertheless, when the new bishop arrived in early August, Luke was ready to go home to Green Valley and begin taking over for his father. Even though the transition wouldn't be official until the New Year, there would be a lot to do during that time.

  Still, he hadn't been expecting to jump in with both feet as soon as he got home. He had figured on taking at least a few days to settle in first. So he was surprised when on his first morning back, his father seemed to have other plans for him.

  Luke was sitting at the breakfast table nursing his morning decaf, willing his bleary eyes to open when his father addressed him.

  "Lucas, after you've eaten and dressed, I really need to see you down at my office this morning. I've got a lot to do this afternoon, so the sooner the better, okay son?"

  Luke just stared at him blankly for a moment before grunting his assent into his coffee cup.

  His dad just chuckled and headed out the door to work. "I'll see you soon!" he called as he left.

  Luke finished his coffee and fixed a plate of eggs and toast, then shook his head, and went upstairs to get ready. His dad must really need the help, so no sense letting the grass grow under his feet.

  * * * * *

  It was just less than an hour later he was sitting in his father's office stunned and annoyed. "What do you mean you don't need my help? What was the point of rushing me down here so quickly on my first morning back? I'm exhausted, and I wanted to take it easy today."

  His dad blinked, taken aback by Luke's outburst.

  "Aw heck, I'm sorry, son. I'm just so excited and it's been so tough keeping this secret from you all this time, and now you're back, and she's finally made it official."

  "She who? Made what official? Dad, what are you talking about?"

  "You've been called to marriage!"

  Luke stared at his father in silence for several seconds as the proclamation settled in. "I've been what? Marriage? Who?" Luke was flustered by the unexpected news and more than a little irritated by the way his dad was dragging it out.

  "Rosa Collins."

  "Rosa?" Luke's heart leapt in his chest. He was filled with joy. He had thought of Rosa many times over the past two years, always with guilt over not being able to keep her image out of his head. Relief washed over him as he realized that the reason he had never been able to was because he had never been meant to.

  He rubbed his hands together in excitement. "When can I begin courting her," he asked immediately and then flushed with embarrassment at how eager he sounded.

  "Well, I would say immediately. She's come to see me officially now, and she's prayed on it for years, so I would say she's ready and waiting on you. It's my understanding that she has always wished for a fall wedding," his dad said with a sly smile.

  Images of Rosa in a wedding dress filled his mind, and it was all he could do not to run out of his dad's office straight to her house. He would have too, if it hadn't been just after nine in the morning, and not an acceptable time to go courting. Still, there were things he could do, and maybe he would call on her this evening. After double checking to make sure that his father didn't actually need his help with anything, he walked out humming.

  * * * * *

  Rosa had a bad case of nerves after her visit with Bishop Miller the morning Luke was set to arrive home. She almost felt terri
ble for not waiting a bit longer, but truthfully, she had been ready for weeks. She had been stuck waiting for Luke to actually be back in Green Valley. She had hardly slept the last two nights, nervous both before and after her visit to the bishop's office to make it official.

  She was trying so hard to act normal and unassuming as she did her chores that morning, but she couldn't keep her hands from shaking as she tried to dry and put away the dishes her sister Jean Marie was washing. After she dropped the second glass, which thankfully didn't break as the first one had, Jean Marie rolled her eyes and gave her a shove out of the kitchen.

  "I don't know what is with you, Rosa, but you are a mess! Your help is just making more work for me. Why don't you go do something safe where you can't break anything or hurt yourself! Go gather all the bedclothes and put them in the washer or something. I'm pretty sure you can't mess that up!"

  Rosa stalked off to the bedrooms to do as Jean suggested, wondering why she didn't just tell her sister the truth. She was completely useless today. She certainly could share her news, if she wanted, she just didn't. Not yet, anyway. She had gotten used to keeping her secret, and kind of enjoyed the fact that it was just hers. Well, mostly anyway. A few people knew by now, and everyone would know soon enough. But for today, she was enjoying being alone with her daydreams. There would be plenty of time for her sisters to tease and question her once she and Luke officially started courting.

  Later, after Rosa had finished her chores, she was in her bedroom trying to decide what to do with the rest of her day. Should she stay at home and wait to see if Luke came calling, or rang her at the very least? Or should she go out with her friends and have fun, just in case he didn't come by today. She didn't want to be some twitterpated woman, sitting around waiting for a man to call on her. And what if Luke didn't want to marry her? What if he was so disgusted by the idea that it took him days, or even weeks, to come see her? Then what would she do?