Montana Mail Order Bride

Richmond, VA 1870

"Mama, please," Deanna begged, "Please don't make me go." Tears streamed down her face as she held her mother's hand to her chin. "What if my betrothed is a rogue or a scoundrel, what if he is a brute....what if I detest him?" she pleaded.

Her mother's face was pale, and her body weak, but with tears brimming her eyelids, she spoke with strong confident faith. "My child, do not fear. I have placed you in God's care. He shall take every measure to ensure your safety and your provision. Trust in Him and He will give you more than you can ever ask for." As she spoke softly to her only daughter, she promised, "Trust in Him and He will give you the desires of your heart." Deanna believed in God, and she knew that He does answer prayer, but she was not sure everything her mother said would come to pass for her. Afterall, their lives had not been easy, her life had not been a bed of roses so far, despite all the faith her mother had, and no matter how many scriptures she quoted. Deanna's mother never failed to surprise her at just how strong and faithful she could be in the most distressing of times. But this was her life, and she didn't know if she could be the woman her mother had always been. Rosealie Abshur was a solid rock, that could not be denied.

"But Mama," Deanna protested, "You are ill, how can I leave you here in this place?" With tears flowing freely now, she bent her head to her mother's frail hand that rested on the bed. "I fear I shall never see you again," she quietly admitted, her big brown eyes full of emotion. "Daughter," spoke her mother's loving voice that in itself was like a soft caress, "You shall see me again, if not in this life, then in the next," she promised, stroking her silken auburn mane. "You go now before you miss your train," she said, shooing her away from the bed. "You go, and have a happy life, and have many beautiful children, and raise them up with love, and faith, and gentle discipline. Raise them as I have raised you, to believe and trust in God in all things," she instructed, cupping her daughter's chin in her hand.

"I love you, Mama," Deanna said, softly laying a kiss on her mother's cheek. "And I you, my darling daughter," Rosealie said with a single tear flowing down her cheek. Deanna took one last look at the mother who had meant the world to her, committing her face to memory. She was still a beautiful woman, even as pale and weak as she had become, Deanna thought to herself.

2

"Wait!" Rosealie called out to Deanna before she got away from the door. "I want you to have this," she said, taking off her broche and handing it to her daughter. Deanna looked at the lovely antique broche with a heart shaped gold base and a beautiful white cameo of a motherholding her child set upon a black onyx heart. "Oh Mother, its so beautiful!" Deanna exclaimed, holding her treasure in her palm. "It was your grandmother's, she gave it to me when I married your Father," her mother explained. "And now, I tell you the same thing she told me that day, 'No matter where you may go, my heart is ever with you, this you shall know', she said as a tear slid down her cheek and she gave her daughter a loving smile. "Oh Mama, thank you, I shall always treasure it and wear it close to my heart," Deanna said, pulling her mother into a warm embrace.