Searching for Anna, Jenifer Carll-Tong [cheapest way to read ebooks TXT] 📗

I'm sorry. I was so engrossed in my letter that I didn't see you."

He smiled and nodded toward the papers in her hand. "Good news, I hope?"

Phoebe smiled as she refolded it and placed it back in the envelope. "The best."

Jesse Moore smiled. "Glad to hear it. I was hoping I would get a chance to see you before I shipped out."

Phoebe had not noticed the bag on his shoulder before now. "Shipped out? Are you traveling somewhere?"

"Yes, ma'am. Detroit."

Detroit.

Will.

"Oh, how long will you be there?" she asked, trying to sound far more nonchalant than she felt.

"Well, forever, I hope. Detroit is my new assignment."

Jealousy swelled within her at the thought of this man being able to see Will on a daily basis. "This is sad news for Iron Falls, Officer Moore, but I do hope that it is happy news for you."

"It sure is, ma'am. I'm finally gonna take a swing at big city living."

Phoebe smiled. "Then I am very happy for you."

Moore's mouth opened, but any words he might have wanted to say would have been drowned out by the incoming train that screeched into the station. He nodded and smiled, then turned to the slowing train that would be his exit from the Upper Peninsula and the transport to his waiting future.

Since Will's departure, Jesse Moore had been Phoebe's only connection to the Michigan State Constabulary. Many of the officers she had become acquainted with had moved on, some returning home, some receiving promotions and new assignments in the wake of the Parker incident and ensuing arrests. Only Moore had remained, along with a slew of new officers that Phoebe did not know. With Moore's departure, so left any news of Will Phoebe could receive. Up until this point, she had been afraid to ask, but now it felt as if it were her last opportunity.

"Wait!" she yelled above the scream of iron scraping against iron as the train came to a stop.

Moore turned a questioning look to her. "Yes?"

Phoebe clasped her hands, willing them to stop shaking. "Officer Moore, have you —" the words caught in her throat.

"Have I what, ma'am?"

This was it. This was her last opportunity to ask for news of Will, and she couldn't form the words in her own mouth. How many nights had she sat at her window, wishing to see the silhouette form of a trooper on horseback ride by her parsonage? How many Sundays had she stood before her congregation, hoping to see Will standing in the back, offering his encouraging smile? How many times had she collected mail, begging God for a letter from him? She had lost count. But Will had not returned for her. He had sent no communication. He did not want her in his life. And she needed to respect that.

Phoebe forced a weak smile. "Never mind. It's nothing."

Moore's face softened as if reading her mind and Phoebe felt an all too familiar feeling of misery rising in her throat. She choked it back and offered him her best smile possible.

"Do write and let us all know how you are doing in Detroit."

"I sure will."

Phoebe nodded and turned to leave.

"One more thing,” Moore said, drawing her attention back. "I want you to know that I'm leaving you in good hands. When Caffey left, I promised him I'd keep an eye on you, make sure you were kept safe."

It was too much for Phoebe. Hearing the one name she so desperately wanted to ask Moore about and hearing that he had thought about her before leaving Iron Falls was too much to bear. She wiped in vain at the tear that fell down her cheek, only to find another following quickly behind.

"That's awfully kind of you," she said as she continued to wipe away the tears.

At the sight of her crying, Moore seemed to grow uncomfortable. "I have to get goin', but before I leave, I'll make sure the new Commanding Officer makes that same promise as well."

Panic seized her. "Oh, no. That isn’t necessary —"

"A promise is a promise. I can't leave 'til I know you'll be looked after." Moore looked over her shoulder. "There he is now, gettin' off the train. I'll introduce ya."

Before she could protest, Moore passed her and headed toward the train.

Grateful that her back was to the platform, Phoebe's swipes at her face became much more purposeful as the horror of meeting the new officer with a tear-soaked face brought her crying to an end. Never in her life had she been so thankful for the crisp, December winds of Michigan. She only hoped it would be enough to erase any evidence of her tears, because as quickly as he left, Jesse Moore returned.

"I can leave in good conscience now." Moore smiled and nodded joyfully at her. "Good luck to ya, Pastor Albright," he said before picking up his haversack and rushing back to the train.

"Wait! Aren't you going to introduce —" but he didn't hear her. He had already jumped onto the train as the whistle blew.

Phoebe took a deep breath then slowly turned.

The platform was empty save for the Michigan State police officer that stood there, knapsack in hand. He wore the familiar khaki uniform and khaki Montana campaign hat.

He also bore the mesmerizing blue eyes that had become so familiar to her as well.

"Will," she breathed.

Will Caffey dropped his haversack and slowly made his way to her.

Phoebe's hand started shaking and she felt her knees knocking beneath her. Was this real? He'd felt so real in the dreams that had haunted her since he'd left.

The closer he came, the more real it became. This was Will. And he'd come back.

"What — what are you doing here?" she asked, shakily.

"Iron Falls needed a new commanding officer."

He hadn't come back for her. He’d been assigned.

"I'm so sorry, I thought they were going to give you your pick of assignments. This must be very disappointing for you."

"I was given my pick. I chose Iron Falls."

Phoebe's heart began to beat rapidly. Will chose Iron Falls?

He dropped his bag and moved closer. "No more lies. No more deceptions, Phoebe. From now on, only the whole truth. I asked for this post. I asked to return to Iron Falls."

"But why?" She hoped that she knew the answer but didn't dare believe that it could actually be true.

"I think it rather obvious." He stepped closer to her. "These past two weeks have been torture."

Phoebe nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Will. I never meant to hurt you."

"I'm the one to apologize. You have been very clear where your heart stood. God had called me to wait for you, and I got impatient. And when your life was on the line, I lost my mind. All that time spent on the battlefield, my own life on the line, never once did I worry about my own safety. Then when I thought I would lose you? My whole world fell apart. And I didn't know how to handle that. I thought if I left, it would make not having you as mine easier to handle. What I've learned is that without you, Phoebe Albright, my life isn't worth living. So even if I can't have you, even if you never love me, just being near you will have to be enough."

"No," Phoebe said her voice quivering.

"Please don't argue with me Phoebe. I give you my word. I will respect your wishes. I will keep my distance. But please don't exclude me from your life entirely."

"No," she repeated. "That will never work."

Will exhaled and his shoulders dropped. "Don't tell me that. Please. I've come all this way. You have no idea the sacrifices I've made in my career in order to —"

"It will never work," Phoebe interrupted, "because I cannot be near you, day after day, and not love you."

Will's mouth opened and quivered, as if looking for words he could not find, until it finally decided to curl into one of the handsomest smiles Phoebe had ever seen.

"Really, Pheebs? Do you mean it?"

A laugh escaped her. "I've never meant anything more in my entire life."

Without hesitation, Will wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he buried his face in her hair.

"I am the most blessed man in the world," he whispered. "I only wish we weren't in the middle of town for all to see, because there is something I would like to do right now."

"Do you mean give me something that belongs to me?"

Will pulled back and looked at her quizzically. He lifted a brow. "I'd like to give you something. And, yes, I do suppose my lips have always belonged to you."

She swatted at him playfully. "What I'm talking about is hanging from your neck, not plastered on your face."

Will's face grew solemn as her words sunk in. He removed his hands from her waist and reached up to pull the necklace out from his shirt collar. As he unclasped the chain, he knelt in front of her, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Phoebe Renee Albright. You were my first love, and you will always be my forever love. Would you