She let the curtain fall back into place. She wasn’t going to let Mr. Carson nor Lake Superior ruin her mood. She needed to focus on the good things that were about to happen. She needed to dwell on her love for Luke and the life they would have together.

I love him so much.

The words were still foreign on her lips. The love had developed in such a subtle way. There hadn’t been any fanfare or time for romantic strolls or courtship. It was a relationship that was matter-of-fact yet extraordinary.

How could she not have seen its development? With each kindness, each gentle encouragement, love grew between them. Mama had once said that she knew she was in love with Gloriana’s father when he had stopped to calm a young boy who sat by the road crying.

“He knelt beside the child and asked what the trouble was, and when the boy told him that he couldn’t find his favorite marble, your father didn’t chide him or laugh at him. Instead, he took the boy’s hand, and together they searched until the lost marble was found. I could not have loved him more for that act of kindness.”

Luke was kind like that. He had such a gentle spirit and tenderness that amazed Gloriana. When he was dealing with JT and the boy was in a particularly bad mood, Luke seemed to have endless patience. Yet when speaking of his father’s threats, Luke was all strength and deliberate refuge. He would not see his family harmed. He would protect them.

It was how her father had been—how her heavenly Father was. Fierce and powerful on one hand, but loving and gentle on the other. If she’d ever had any doubts about Luke being the right person for her, this thought completely dissolved them. Luke was a godly man—a man her father would have respected and loved.

“You look deep in thought,” Luke said from the hallway.

“I am.” She smiled. “I was just thinking of how tomorrow we’ll be married.”

“I still want to give you a big church wedding if you want one.”

She shook her head. “No. That’s never really been my desire. I always thought of a small intimate ceremony with my family and friends. Now my family is gone, and so are many of my friends. Sally was my best friend of all.”

“I know we’ve had so little time to talk and consider what this means.” He came to stand directly in front of her and put his palm against her cheek. “I never thought it would be like this either.”

Gloriana smiled. “Papa would have said it was just what he expected from me. I was always doing things different from everyone else.”

“Some people will probably talk. Their curiosity will be stirred by us marrying quickly and quietly.”