McKenzie Read online

  McKenzie thought of how her father seemed to prefer spending his time at the Worthington law offices rather than at home with his family. An introvert, he found preparing for upcoming cases in the confines of a book-filled den preferable to actually trying the cases in court. He spent large sums of money to be sure his home was staffed with competent people who could handle any difficulties that arose so that he could devote more time to his work. He’d hired a butler, two maids, a gardener, and a business manager. He dressed in only the finest of linens from the most reputable of shops in Boston and made sure that his family was clothed in the same quality clothing as he wore. When his three daughters were young, he’d hired a nanny to care for them to relieve his wife of the demanding work of childcare and free her to do volunteer work with the Ladies’ Society of Boston. He’d suffered beside his socialite wife through many gatherings and events in order to bolster his reputation and solidify his presence within the community.

  Yes, while her father always gave self-assured presentations, inside he was a nervous, anxious man. McKenzie had seen stress get the best of her father during momentous legal cases. It was in those times that his eyes, which always appeared to be staring, became tired and weary. He was thin and tall, standing over six feet on long legs, which McKenzie had inherited. One thing she hadn’t inherited, however, was his serious, stoic demeanor, which found humor in few things.

  McKenzie was proud of her father for many reasons. He was well respected and highly regarded for his knowledge, prestige, and influence, and he quickly and generously gave donations to those organizations that he found worthy. Yet, although he was efficient in helping the less fortunate, he rarely found time to spend with his own daughters or helped them with the difficulties that arose in their privileged lives. For that reason, McKenzie had always felt an emptiness inside her heart. Even so, her father had made it clear that he thought highly of his spunky, feisty, determined middle daughter. McKenzie smiled. She would have liked to be an attorney. Instead, her father had been obliged to settle for Peyton’s husband, Maxwell Adams, a timid and unskilled attorney.

  Realizing that her leg had fallen asleep, McKenzie shifted herself into a more comfortable position within the confines of the train seat. Watching the passing scenery, she smiled to herself. The time had finally arrived for McKenzie Worthington to begin her adventure to Pine Haven, Montana Territory.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Zach sat down in his rocking chair on the front porch to spend the calm, crisp evening with the Lord. He looked forward to the summer evenings, when he could have his quiet time outside. Not that he didn’t enjoy such times by the fireplace during the winter months, but summer evenings in Pine Haven were as close to perfection as he’d ever experienced. On winter nights, he would read first to Davey before tucking him in and saying good night. He would then sit quietly, read from the Bible, and reflect on those verses. The light of the fire always reminded him of the warmth the Lord had placed in his heart—a warmth of knowing he was never alone, and that his future was secure in the arms of Christ. It didn’t matter where he spent his time with the Lord, whether outside on the porch or inside on cold, winter nights. The important part was that Zach yearned to know more about the God he loved.

  Zach continued his reading in the book of 1 Samuel. He found the entire Bible fascinating, but in the Old Testament, his favorite Scriptures were found in 1 and 2 Samuel and Psalms. He read about Samuel anointing David to be the next king of Israel. His eyes traveled through the text as he read of Samuel’s fear for his life at the hands of King Saul when the news was told of God’s decision for the next leader of His chosen nation. Zach stopped when he came to verse 7. Something about the words resonated within him. He paused to stare up at the moon and stars overhead. Then, he returned his gaze to the page and read the second half of the verse: “For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

  Zach fingered the stack of letters he’d received so far from McKenzie Worthington, which he had tucked safely in his Bible. It amazed him that she hadn’t sent a photograph, considering she seemed to be of higher class in Boston. Surely, photographs were commonly taken, not as they were in Pine Haven, where, every few years, a traveling photographer would take photos of eager residents for a modest fee.

  Zach opened one of the letters and glanced briefly at McKenzie’s perfect handwriting. What did she look like? In one letter, she’d mentioned she had a fair complexion and green eyes, but that had been the extent of her descriptions of her appearance. He wondered if she was tall and slender or short and plump. He wondered if her eyes brightened when she spoke about things that brought joy to her heart. He pondered whether she had dark or golden hair, if she smiled often or was of a more sullen nature.

  He thought again about 1 Samuel 16. It was clear that God had chosen David not because he was the tallest or oldest in his family, but because of his heart. God had chosen David because he was “a man after mine own heart,” as God had called him in Acts 13:22.

  What if McKenzie was stunted in growth, plump, and exceedingly homely? What if her plain features left nothing to stand out against the other women in her city and left nothing to be desired by the men of Boston—or anywhere else, for that matter? What if she was missing teeth and had a nose large enough to fill the faces of two women?

  Zach felt convicted for his focus on outer appearances. “Yes, Lord,” he whispered. “Even if McKenzie Worthington is all of those uncomely and unattractive things I just thought of, I will still love her. I will love her for her heart and for what is on the inside, just as You do. I strive to be more like You, Father, so that is what I will do. If my mail-order bride is ugly and hard on the eyes, I will still love her as Christ loves the church. This I promise to do.”

  Zach again thought of McKenzie’s letters. He’d been unsure she’d accept his proposal after learning about Davey, but it hadn’t mattered to her. For that, he was grateful. It had also improved his esteem of her character. For a woman to take on a child who wasn’t her own and love him as though he were spoke volumes about her integrity. “Thank You, Lord, for letting her be willing to be my wife,” Zach prayed aloud. “She easily could have refused.”

  Four-year-old Davey William Mitchell Sawyer was sweet yet mischievous, boisterous yet shy. Zach thought of his young son, and how he rarely even recalled that he was adopted. Davey had become so much a part of his life, much like an appendage, and Zach couldn’t imagine life without him. Zach’s mother had been right when she’d told him he would never truly know how much she loved him until he himself had a child of his own.

  Rosemary had even remarked once that Davey resembled Zach. While Zach knew that there was no way Davey could have directly inherited any of his traits, he knew that Davey had a similar personality, and that was one of the things that made Davey a Sawyer. Folks had often remarked that Davey’s biological father, Will, and Zach looked enough alike to be brothers. As close as they had become, Zach had considered them brothers. Now, Zach prayed daily that he would be able to raise Davey in a way that would please the Lord. He prayed that he would raise Davey in a way that would have made Will and Bess proud of the choice they’d made to leave their son in Zach’s care.

  Zach closed his Bible and sat for a moment longer, his fingers intertwined in prayer. His own mother had been a beautiful woman, both on the inside and on the outside. Anytime she’d giggled, which had been often, everyone around her would laugh, too, for her happiness had been contagious. Hers had been a laugh that began low and throaty and then rose to a higher pitch as her jollity mounted. She’d been barely five feet tall, and, based on her roundness, no one ever could have said that she lacked for decent meals. Yet, her stature had been unimportant. Her face had been lovely and smooth, despite the harsh life she’d endured as the child of unloving, neglectful parents. Her eyes had been a deep brown, like rich chocolate, and her hands had always been warm, ever quick to give a touch o
f love to anyone who needed it. She’d prayed continually for Zach’s future bride, and Zach remembered hearing those prayers as a young child. He only wished she could have lived long enough to see whom God had chosen for him. She would have giggled, for sure, at the unconventional way in which Zach was pursuing his bride.

  The most difficult part of this pursuit was waiting—waiting to meet McKenzie.

  As Zach sat, reflecting, McKenzie was traveling at that very moment by train across the United States. Was she as excited at the prospect of meeting him as he was at meeting her? Did she look forward in anticipation at the thought of a new life as Mrs. Zachary Sawyer? After meeting him, would she be pleased she’d accepted his proposal? Or, would she take one look at him and climb back aboard the stagecoach bound for Boston? Would she find his appearance and personality agreeable, or would she find them offensive in some way? Zach’s own modest disposition had never allowed him to accept himself as the fine, handsome man others often said he’d become.

  Zach’s thoughts again turned to his future bride. Yes, if it was God’s will for him to marry McKenzie Worthington, it wouldn’t matter what her stature was or if she would never turn the heads of those in Pine Haven. What did matter was the heart that beat within her, and, based on the letters he’d received, Zach was sure that she was a sweet, kind woman. That was enough for him.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  McKenzie gazed absently out the train window, thinking about Boston, the place she had called home for all twenty-four years of her life. She stifled the tears that threatened to fall and instead kept her focus on the future.

  After a time, she settled back in her seat. The commotion around her helped to take her mind off missing her family, and she began to daydream about the day when she’d bring Kaydie back to Boston. She felt confident that her hopeful daydreams and fond memories would carry her through the long miles and months ahead.

  ***

  “We’re almost there, Kaydie,” McKenzie said, reaching over to hug her sister. They were in their seats on the train, eagerly anticipating their arrival at Boston & Lowell Station.

  “Thank you again for coming all the way out to Montana to rescue me, McKenzie. I don’t know how I would have made it home, had it not been for your bravery.” Kaydie sniffled, and McKenzie offered her a handkerchief.

  “You would have done the same for me, Kaydie. Now, we’ll be together and never have to be separated again. We can put the entire Darius Kraemer episode behind us, and it will be just as if you never left Boston.”

  “What a treat that will be,” Kaydie said with a wistful sigh. “I was so foolish to fall in love with him.”

  “Never mind that—you’re almost home now. Wait until Mother and Father see you.”

  “If it had not been for your sacrifice, McKenzie, this moment would not be happening. How I have missed our parents!”

  “Wait until you see our nephew! Nate has grown so much since the last time you saw him. I’m sure he’s grown even more since I left Boston. He’s such a sweet child.”

  “I can’t wait to see him,” said Kaydie. “Tell me, McKenzie, how did you become brave enough to venture so many miles all by yourself?”

  McKenzie giggled. “It wasn’t easy, I’ll grant you that. Of course, the most difficult part was keeping my plans from Mother and Father. To my knowledge, at first, they were none the wiser about my decision to rescue you. Had they discovered what I’d decided to do, there is no way they would have allowed me to follow through with my intentions.” McKenzie glanced out the window. “Look, Kaydie, there it is! The train station!” She pointed and found it difficult to remain seated.

  Kaydie’s eyes followed where McKenzie was pointing. “Oh, please, McKenzie, say this is real and not just a dream.”

  The train slowed to a stop, and the passengers began to shuffle down the aisles to the exits. “I see Mother and Father on the platform!” Kaydie exclaimed.

  McKenzie looked and saw her parents, along with Peyton, Maxwell, Nate, her dear friend, Helen, and Lawrence, waiting patiently as other passengers disembarked.

  “Kaydie!” their mother exclaimed when the two sisters finally stepped off the train, flinging herself with open arms at her long-lost daughter. “I never thought I’d see you again!”

  Kaydie returned her mother’s embrace. “Nor did I, Mother.”

  “Save some hugging for me,” their father said as he wrapped Kaydie in his arms, then turned to face McKenzie. “If it hadn’t been for you, McKenzie, this happy reunion would not be happening. Thank you for bringing our youngest daughter home.”

  “Yes, you were the missing piece of our family puzzle, finally complete again,” their mother said, wiping her tears.

  Peyton stepped forward. “McKenzie, I must admit, I was so very wrong about you. Please accept my profound apologies for my behavior. You are to be commended for the courage you exhibited in rescuing Kaydie and returning her to us. I could never be as brave as you.”

  “Of course, I accept your apology,” McKenzie said, attempting to hide her surprise. Never had Peyton apologized for anything, especially not to McKenzie. Maybe this would be the start of a new relationship between them. No more would they argue and harbor blatant dislike for each other. No, now they would be the best of friends, just as McKenzie and Kaydie were….

  ***

  The train slowed with a screeching of brakes, bringing McKenzie back to the present. Yes, the day when she returned to Boston with Kaydie would be marvelous, and, while she did hope for the happy ending that she’d just played out in her mind, she knew that two things would never be: the barrage of warm embraces from her parents, and Peyton’s humble apology and newfound kindness toward McKenzie.

  McKenzie had been so caught up in her daydream that she’d forgotten all regret about how her plan to return to Boston would affect the man she was going to marry. And he wasn’t the only one who would be affected—McKenzie now knew that he had a son.

  She opened her carpetbag and pulled out the second to the last letter she’d received from Zach. Her eyes were drawn to two paragraphs in the middle of the page:

  McKenzie, forgive me for not telling you sooner, but I have a four-year-old son named Davey. He is a sweet boy with a pleasant demeanor, ruffled blond hair, and the bluest eyes you ever saw. I love him more than life itself and can’t wait for you to meet him. I hope the fact that I didn’t inform you of this fact sooner doesn’t change your mind about accepting my proposal.

  Also, I wanted to say that I am more than willing to pay for your travel to Pine Haven. Please let me know the cost of your train and stagecoach tickets, and I will mail the amount to you right away.

  McKenzie folded the letter and returned it to her carpetbag with the rest of the letters from Zach. She hadn’t minded finding out that Zach had a son, although she had wished that he’d been honest with her from the beginning. But, the fact that there was a young Sawyer was of no consequence to her. Her main and only goal for this trip was not to become a wife or a mother, but to find her sister. McKenzie would make every attempt, no matter how difficult, to not become attached to the sweet boy with the creative imagination. However, she knew that might be difficult.

  Already, she’d found a great deal of pleasure in picking out some items for Davey and had packed them in one of her trunks. Perhaps, when she arrived in Pine Haven, she would give him the swirled lollipop she’d purchased from Holmes’ Candy Shop on Eighth Avenue. Later, if she were still in Pine Haven when the proper time arose, she would present him with the ball and the harmonica. Surely, such things weren’t easy to come by in remote, Western towns. McKenzie had chided herself for purchasing the items, but she hadn’t been able to resist doing so. She only hoped the gifts would not endear her to Davey too much.

  McKenzie scarcely noticed the changes in scenery as the train traveled west. She’d save the sightseeing for her return trip, when she and Kaydie could observe the landscape and marvel together at its variations.

  **
*

  Days later, McKenzie found herself aboard a stagecoach for the first time. The bumpy ride and uncomfortable quarters did nothing to impress her, and, as she had often done on the train, she lapsed into daydreams or reminiscences. Her heart broke once again as she relived the moment when she’d learned of Louis Clarence’s decision to marry Pearl.

  ***

  “Miss McKenzie?” Biddie called, tapping on McKenzie’s bedroom door. “Miss Pearl is here to see you.”

  “Thank you, Biddie. Tell Pearl I’ll meet her in the parlor. Would you please have Nellie prepare us some tea?”

  “Yes, miss,” Biddie said.

  McKenzie set down the novel she’d been reading, left her room, and walked down the winding staircase to the parlor. Pearl was seated on the blue sofa, wringing her hands. “Pearl? What a pleasant surprise!”

  Pearl practically jumped to her feet at the sight of McKenzie. “McKenzie! I need to talk to you.”

  “Surely, we can have some tea first. Nellie will be right in.”

  “Oh, I really haven’t the time for tea. I need to talk to you now—it’s important.”

  McKenzie looked intently at Pearl. Why was she acting so peculiarly? They always had tea when she came for a visit. And why did she seem so nervous and agitated? They’d been friends for eighteen years. Surely, nothing had arisen to cause dissension between them. McKenzie searched her memory. Had she said something to offend her best friend? Had she done something to hurt Pearl’s feelings? She was very sensitive.

  Pearl reached out and took McKenzie’s hands in her own. That was when McKenzie saw the large, diamond ring on her left ring finger. Don’t let yourself jump to conclusions, McKenzie chided herself silently. She had a habit of thinking the worst in situations.