June

HeartQuest brings you romantic fiction with a foundation of biblical truth. Adventure, mystery, intrigue, and suspense mingle in these heartwarming stories of men and women of faith striving to build a love that will last a lifetime.

May HeartQuest books sweep you into the arms of God, who longs for you and pursues you always.

A Note from the Author

Dear Reader,

Thank you for the overwhelming response to book 1 in my Brides of the West series, Faith. I hope you will enjoy June Kallahan's story as she travels all the way to Seattle to marry her husband-to-be-whoever that turns out to be! Life can sometimes be unpredictable, but by keeping our eyes on Jesus Christ our Savior, we can rest in the assurance that he works all things together for our good and his glory.

Prologue

Cold Water, Michigan, late 1800s

Billows of white smoke rolled from the train's stack as a shrill whistle announced its imminent arrival. Turning to give Aunt Thalia a final hug, June Kallahan blinked back tears.

"I'll write you the moment I get settled, Aunt Thalia."

The old woman's arms tightened around June's neck, holding on longer than necessary. "I'm going to miss you, child."

"Don't worry about me," June said softly. "It's you I worry about."

"I'll be going to a better place someday very soon. No need for anyone to worry about me. But of course I'll worry about you. My age ought to afford me some rights. And I'll worry about your sisters. Faith gone off to Texas, Hope to Kentucky." Thalia Grayson shook her head. "Sakes alive. You've all taken leave of your senses."

June lovingly patted her old aunt's back. "God will take care of us, Auntie."

The engine came to a halt amid a whoosh of steam and squealing brakes. Passengers got off while others hurried to board. The stopover in Cold Water was brief. Smiling, June blew Aunt Thalia a final kiss as she reached for her bag. "Don't worry! I'll be fine!"

Running toward the coach, June determined to keep up her brave facade. Auntie would worry enough without sending her off in a flurry of tears. The conductor caught her hand and lifted her aboard as the train slowly pulled out of the station. Standing on the car's platform, June smiled and waved until Aunt Thalia's stooped frame faded into the distance.

Fighting her tears, June made her way into the coach, wondering if Faith and Hope had felt the same insecurities when they left, two weeks earlier.

A gentleman got up and offered his seat. Murmuring her thanks, June sat down, then buried her face in her handkerchief and bawled. Was she doing the right thing? Should she stay and take care of Auntie-let Faith and Hope be the mail-order brides? Aunt Thalia was old. Who would look after her?

The gentleman leaned forward. "Are you all right, miss?"

June wiped her tears, sitting up straighter. "Yes, thank you. I'm fine."

The enormity of what she was about to do overwhelmed her. She was off to Seattle-hundreds and hundreds of miles from Cold Water, about to marry a man she knew only by the few letters they'd exchanged.

She was about to marry Eli Messenger, and she didn't even know him.

The idea had made so much sense a few weeks ago. With their father, Thomas Kallahan, dead and Aunt Thalia unable to bear the financial responsibility of three additional mouths to feed, she and her sisters knew they must be keepers of their own fates. The decision to become mail-order brides had not been made easily, nor without a great deal of prayer.

June stared out the window, listening to the wheels clacking against the metal rails, wheels carrying her away from Cold Water to a brand-new life. She thought about her soon-to-be husband, Eli Messenger, and the unfamiliar world that awaited her in Seattle. Eli was a man of God, associate pastor to the famed Isaac Inman, of the Isaac Inman Evangelistic Crusade. Everyone had heard of Isaac Inman-of his unflagging dedication to God, his charismatic personality, how he led hundreds of thousands of lost souls to find salvation. Goose bumps rose on her arms when she thought about meeting the world-renowned minister in person. Not only would she meet Isaac Inman, but she would work beside him! Papa would be so proud of her, were he still alive.

Removing Eli's letter from her purse, she scanned the last paragraph.

Together, we will work for God's kingdom. Our he will be good, June. I know you must experience moments of doubts about your venture, but I believe God has destined us to be together, to work together for his glory. I eagerly anticipate your arrival and the beginning of what surely promises to be our wonderful he together.

She refolded the letter and tucked it safely back in her purse. Resting her head on the back of the seat, she willed herself to relax. Everything was as it should be.

Clickety-clack, clickety-clack.

Every turn of the wheel carried her farther and farther away from the only life she had ever known.

Biting down hard on her lower lip, she prayed that Eli Messenger was right and that God did, indeed, intend them for each other.

Otherwise, she was heading straight for the pits of-

She caught her wayward thoughts. She would surely, at best, be heading straight for trouble.

Chapter One

RAINING again?" June Kallahan stood on tiptoe to look out the ship porthole. "Doesn't it ever let up?"

Samantha Harris pressed closer, elbowing a larger peephole in the dirty pane. "Can't allow a bit o' rain to spoil your day, lovey. Do you see your intended?"

June anxiously searched the landing area. Eli had said to look for a man, five foot ten, fair skinned, with sandy brown hair and hazel eyes. As she scanned the milling crowd, her heartbeat quickened. Where could he be?

"Do you think he'll like me, Sam?"

"Oh, 'ow could 'e not like you?" Sam gave June's arm a jaunty squeeze. "You bein' so comely and all."

"Comely?" June laughed. She'd struck up an instant friendship with this charming English waif the moment they boarded ship in San Francisco. Sam was en route to Seattle to assist her ailing aunt, who ran a small orphanage. Sam's accent was pure delight-a touch of cockney and Irish brogue amid the English, with Sam's own particular manners of speech thrown in for color.

"Goodness, Sam. There isn't a comely thing about me. My nose is too long, my eyes are too close-set, and this hair! Just look at it, Sam! It's a bundle of frizz."

"Shame on ya! It's beautiful! So dark and curly. Truly, lovey, it is. And those big brown eyes o' yours are sure to melt his heart."

June gave a quick shake of her head. "The only comely daughter my papa sired was my sister Hope, although Faith had her share of gentleman admirers." June patted her hair. "I'd give my Aunt Thalia's prize setting hen for a hot bath and clean clothes before I meet Eli."

Sam jumped up and down. "Is that him?"

Flattening her nose against the pane, June squinted. "I don't think so-" Disappointment flooded her. The short, portly man standing at the railing looked nothing like Eli's description. Did Eli neglect to mention his true age? His letters said that he was twenty-three, but the man standing at the side of the railing, his gaze eagerly skimming debarking passengers, looked older than her papa had been.

Sam pressed closer. "Oh dear. He's a bit older than I 'spected."

"Yes ... he is-a bit." A good twenty years older, but it wasn't the age that mattered so much. What mattered was the trickery. She didn't approve of trickery-not in any form. Eli was an old man!

She clamped her eyes shut, then quickly reopened them. The man on the dock was still there. Closing her eyes again, she silently prayed. Please, please, please don't let that be Eli.

Again opening her eyes, she sighed. Well, perhaps Eli thought himself young. What did Aunt Thalia say? Age was a state of mind; if you didn't mind, it didn't matter. But then, Aunt Thalia wasn't marrying Eli!

"You say he's an assistant pastor?"

"Yes, to Isaac Inman, the evangelist."

Mustering a stiff upper lip, she gathered her belongings and prepared to meet Eli Messenger.

Sam trailed behind as June descended the gangplank. June dreaded parting company with the young cockney girl. Sam had been a comfort during the seven-day voyage, and June had grown very fond of her. She hoped they would see each other from time to time.

"I'll miss our teatime talks," Sam confided as she hurried to keep up.

"As will I." June smiled. "Once you're settled, perhaps you can attend services one evening. You can go with Eli and me. You'll be our guest."

"Oh, I'd not be knowing lots about godly men. Met more of the other kind, I have. But Auntie's written of Mr. Inman's Evangelistic Crusade and the wonderful work he's doin'."

June was awash with pride. "Eli is proud to be working with Reverend Inman. He raves about the man's dedication."

"Well, I'll not be in church often. Me mum says me old auntie is a good woman but a very sick one. I suspect I'll have me work cut out, taking care of orphaned tykes. There'll be no time for churchin'."

"There's always time for churching, Sam."

June returned Eli's smile as she stepped off the gangplank. He had kind eyes-dare she hope he had a youngish heart, too? The man extended his hand with a warm smile. "June Kallahan?"