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Chapter One
Lauren needed to leave Alabama. She had known this for quite some time, but her sister’s death had made the feeling even more urgent.
She stood in the doorway to her sister’s room. She hadn’t stepped foot inside it since Katrina died a month ago, but her mother had asked her to go through her belongings and collect anything she wanted to keep as a memory.
Lauren thought it strange that her parents had told her to collect her own memories when they seemed so set on burying their own. After Lauren finished, her parents planned to pack up the rest of Katrina’s things and give them to the less fortunate or hide them away in the basement where they’d never be seen again.
She took a deep breath and stepped through the door into the bedroom. It felt so big and empty, even though nothing had moved since the accident. She moved to the bed and slowly sat down. Katrina had always been tidier than her. The covers were tucked in perfectly. Although both the sisters were grown, Katrina had always held on to an affection for her childhood doll, and Lauren picked it up and held it to her chest. She closed her eyes and lay back on the pristine bedding.
Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on my parents. I can understand why they’d want to forget. Remembering is painful.
She opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling, the doll still clutched tight to her chest. She had never had someone close to her die before. There was no way she could have prepared herself for how all-encompassing the grief was.
Katrina had died a month ago, but her death still felt as fresh as if it had happened yesterday. This was probably because, the first few days after the accident, Lauren couldn’t even remember what had happened. Those days had all passed by in a blur.
Lauren had been in her own bed when she heard a pounding on the door. At first, she hadn’t been able to distinguish it from the sound of the torrential rain that had been pouring since earlier in the day. She opened the door to find her father and was given the news that had changed her life forever.
Katrina and her parents had gone to visit the neighboring town. Lauren was supposed to go with them, but she had come down with a headache just before they left and stayed home instead. At the time, she had been grateful for the peace and quiet.
A storm rolled in shortly after they left. Their carriage had gotten stuck in mud just before they hit a bridge, and all of them had gotten out to try to free the wheel from the muddy ground.
What no one had realized was how close they were to the edge of the embankment. The river wasn’t high, but it was a steep drop to the bottom, and the riverbed was filled with rocks.
It had happened in a split second. Katrina had stepped out of the carriage, and then she was gone. Apparently, the ground had been so unstable that she never stood a chance.
The only comfort was that they had been able to bring Katrina home for a proper burial. A pretty depressing comfort, thought Lauren.
After the funeral, the silence in the house had been deafening. Lauren had always been louder than her sister, but for the first time in her life, she’d had nothing to say. She and her parents let many days go by without speaking.
Lauren knew her parents had always preferred her older sister. Everyone had always preferred Katrina. Katrina had been beautiful and accomplished and had always seemed to know the exact right thing to say to everyone she met. Every boy she met fell in love with her, and Lauren knew their parents had had high hopes for Katrina’s prospects in marriage. Lauren’s family wasn’t poor, but with no brothers, it was crucial that at least one of them marry well, and Lauren knew her chances of finding a desirable husband were slim.
There had only ever been one man that had caught Lauren’s eye: Eric Johnson. She and Eric had gone to school together. He’d even proposed to her with a ring made out of daisies when they were in the fifth grade.
As the two of them got older, Eric had started courting her, and Lauren had begun to imagine what life with him would look like. She thought about keeping a home and having children who could play outside in the garden. But sadly, those dreams didn’t last long.
Eric had grown up in a different church than Lauren did. To Lauren, she had seen that as something navigable. Of course, she had wished that they worshiped together, but she could see a life where they appreciated both of their churches. She even suggested they visit two different services each week as an offer of compromise.
Unfortunately, Eric didn’t have the same vision. When the topic of their future together finally came up, he gave Lauren an ultimatum: leave the church and everything her family believed, or leave him.
Lauren had pleaded with him to find a solution, but he would not be moved. She couldn’t bring herself to end their courtship, so eventually, he left her. It wasn’t long before he began courting someone else. A beautiful girl with fashionable clothes and perfectly styled hair. She was elegant and graceful and everything that Lauren wasn’t. Eric had been the only person who had ever truly seemed to accept her wild tomboyishness. Now, she felt certain she would never find a husband who could love her just as she was.
Lauren sat up and looked around the room. It was so organized, just as her sister had been. The decorations were modest and feminine, and there was a faint smell of roses in the air—Katrina’s favorite scent. Even in death, she was the perfect child.
She wandered over to the window and looked out at the sweeping fields that surrounded the property. Lauren loved being outside. She spent countless hours wandering through the woods, daydreaming, and collecting flowers. In contrast, Katrina had often stayed at home, practicing the pianoforte. Their parents were always praising Katrina’s accomplishments while shaking their heads at their wild and unruly younger child.
A sigh escaped Lauren’s chest. She couldn’t help but feel the wrong sister had died that day. She knew her parents would never admit it, but she felt certain they thought it. After all, she had had the thought herself many times over the past four weeks.
She saw the sun touch the horizon and watched as the sky began to turn a brilliant orange and purple.
“I need to get out there. Away from all of this. I can’t stay in this small town and live a life that’s constantly haunted by my past.”
She turned back to her sister’s things. She needed to leave, but first, she needed to complete this task.
***
Leroy brushed the wood shavings to the floor and stepped back to admire his handiwork. His little brothers had long been requesting a shelf where they could display their most prized possessions, and today it was finally finished.
He knelt and examined every inch of the small piece of furniture. He thought it might be his best work yet, and he couldn’t wait to show it to his seven-year-old twin brothers, Ruben and Alexander. They had been asking to see it every day, but he had kept it hidden, wanting the finished product to be a surprise. He couldn’t wait to see the look on their faces when they saw it.
Leroy heard the door open behind him, and he stiffened. He knew his father wouldn’t approve of how much time he had spent on this project. His father approved of very little of what Leroy did with his life.
“Hello, Father.”
Mr. Finley eyed his son and glanced down at the finished shelf. Leroy swore he could see his father’s nose crinkle up in disgust.
“Now I know what you were running off to do every night these past few weeks.”
“I have always finished my work, Father. You can’t say I don’t fulfill all my duties.” Leroy knew he sounded like he was making an excuse, but he knew an argument was coming, and he wanted to make sure his side had a good head start.
Mr. Finley walked over to the shelf and tugged at it gently, testing its construction. He gave a look that Leroy felt for a fleeting second was something like pride, but it was quickly replaced with the familiar annoyance.
“It’s a handsome shelf, I’ll give you that.”
Leroy looked at him in surprise. It was rare for his father to ever hand out compliments.
Mr. Finley sighed and looked at his son. “I think you’re an excellent carpenter, Leroy. I just wish you would apply yourself to the company like you apply yourself to woodwork. Just think of what you could accomplish if you really committed.”
His father gestured at the finished shelf and looked up at Leroy expectantly.
Leroy took a moment to steady his breath. He felt like he had had this conversation with his father a hundred times before. He knew his father meant well. For all his coldness, he wasn’t a bad man, and he showed love in the ways he knew how.
“Are you unhappy with the work I do for you, Father?” Leroy had been working for his father’s company as soon as he had come of age. Mr. Finley managed the estates of several families in Corpus Christi. He took care of their books, wills, and acquisitions. It was a lucrative profession, but Leroy found it exceedingly dull. The work involved lots of numbers and paperwork. It often required Leroy to be stuck behind his desk for the entire day.
Mr. Finley shook his head. “Your work is always excellent, as you know. But I am getting old. My health is not the best. I want you to be ready to take over my business when the time comes. I need you to be ready to take care of your twin brothers. But you never seem to show any interest. You always do the work required but never a morsel more. You never show any interest.”
Leroy clenched his jaw. He wanted to yell, but he kept his tone calm and steady. “Because I’m not interested, Father. You know that. This is no disrespect to you and what has been a very honorable career, but I want to forge my own path. I want to do something I am passionate about.”
Mr. Finley looked at his son despairingly. “But you must face reality, Leroy! You can’t follow your passion just because you don’t like the alternative. You need to support yourself, and I’m sorry, but you can’t do that by selling a few pieces of wood you’ve cobbled together!”
The words hung in the air. “So that’s what you think about my work? This isn’t just a hobby, Father. This is what I want to do with my life. Carpentry is what I actually care about. And I’m good at it! If I had the proper time to devote to it, I know I could make a proper living out of it.”
“But you can make a proper living with what you’re doing now, Leroy! I don’t understand. Why are you unhappy? So many would give anything to be in your shoes and take over a family business. Are you ashamed of what I do?”
Leroy looked sharply at his father. He looked into his questioning green eyes and watched as he ran an exasperated hand through his dark brown hair. There had always been a disconnect between the two of them. Sometimes Leroy had wondered if it was because they looked nothing alike. Leroy’s younger brothers were duplicates of their father, but Leroy’s blonde hair and striking blue eyes had always made him feel like an outsider.
He knew there was nothing to it. Once, when Leroy had asked about their differences, his father had told him that his own father had had features just like his. Sadly, Leroy’s grandfather had passed away before he was born, so he never got the chance to meet the one member of the family that had actually looked like him. Of course, looks didn’t really matter, but when Leroy already felt like such an outcast, it was hard to also look like one too.
Leroy’s father was waiting for his response. Despite the two of them rarely seeing eye-to-eye, he had never been in doubt of his father’s love, and right now, he saw concern and fear etched all over his face.
“No, of course, I’m not ashamed of what you do. I’m proud to be able to work alongside you, and I would be honored to take over the family business.”
His father looked hopeful.
“But I also want to be able to pursue work that I care about. After all, you started your business yourself. You got to build it into what it is today. Can’t you understand me wanting to do the same thing?”
Mr. Finley considered his son and then strode over to look out the window. He put his hand over his eyes and took a few deep breaths before turning around to face him again.
“I can’t pretend to understand your dreams. I was raised in a different way. Yes, I built this business myself, but I modeled it on the work my own father had done. I chose this profession because it’s reliable and predictable, and it has allowed me to provide for my family.”
He peered down his nose at Leroy.
“I don’t trust that you yet grasp exactly what that entails.”
Leroy began to protest, but his father held up his hand to silence him.
“However, I am willing to make you a deal.”
Leroy straightened his posture. He had never heard his father talk like this before.
“If you can demonstrate that you truly understand what it means to care for a family and are willing to still commit time to my business, at least on a part-time basis, then I am willing to fund your carpentry shop.”
Leroy breathed in sharply. His father kept his hand up to let him know he wasn’t finished speaking.
“That doesn’t just mean taking care of the boys. That means finding a wife and settling down.”
Leroy furrowed his brow. He had always wanted to get married, but one couldn’t simply find a wife.
“Within six months.”
“What?” Leroy could hardly get the question out of his mouth, he was so taken aback.
“I need you to find a wife and get married within six months to prove to me that you are taking your life and the idea of a family seriously. Only then will I fund your shop.”
Leroy studied his father. His eyes looked determined, and his mouth was set into a thin line. There was no hint of a joke in his expression. His father was being completely serious.
“Why would you do that?” he asked him finally.
Mr. Finley sighed. “I have seen how unhappy you’ve been these past few months. You never really smile anymore, except when you’re with your brothers or working on one of your projects.” He gestured towards the shelf. “I may not understand what you’re going through, but I don’t want you to feel that I don’t care about you or don’t support you.”
Leroy felt his heart grow heavy. He had never heard his father talk like this before. He was usually such a stoic man. But for the first time, Leroy found himself wondering whether or not his father had ever had dreams he had never gotten the chance to pursue. His father had always been a rock for the family, especially since the death of Leroy’s mother after the twins were born. He must have had his dark days, but he certainly never showed it.
“I have never thought you didn’t care about me, Father,” said Leroy sincerely. “I just want you to see me for who I am and allow me to forge my own path.”
His father gave a small smile. “Well, here is your opportunity then, Son. I know six months isn’t a long time, but it’s enough time to find someone with the same morals as you, and that’s all that matters, really. All the rest, the love and the getting to know one another, that can come later. All that matters is you find a woman of God who shares your same values.”
Leroy put his hand on his hip. Six months felt like an absurdly short amount of time to meet and marry the person he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with, but if it allowed him to follow his dreams….
Before Leroy could complete the thoughts in his head, his father spoke again. “Leroy, you’re still young, but you’re old enough to know what responsibility is. If you can prove to me that you know your own heart and can find and marry a suitable lady within six months, then I will know you are ready for a true commitment, and I will help finance your dream. If you can’t settle down in that time, then I’ll be forced to conclude that you don’t really know what you want and that you’re not yet responsible enough to run a business on your own. The choice is yours.”
Leroy didn’t know what to say. On the one hand, he wanted to jump at the offer. After all, it would mean he could realize his dream. On the other, it could mean being stuck in a loveless marriage, something that wouldn’t be fair to him or the woman he married. He didn’t want to say no, but he couldn’t say yes, not yet.
“Thank you, Father, for the offer. It’s very generous of you. May I have some time to think about it? There is a lot that is appealing about the prospect, but I don’t want to be rash.”
“Take six months,” said his father. “If, at the end of that time, you are married, then I will fulfill my end of the bargain. If you don’t, then we can continue on as we have been up until this point, and we need not talk about it ever again.”
Leroy reached out to shake his father’s hand. “You have a deal.”
Mr. Finley shook his son’s hand and left the room, giving the shelf one more appraising glance as he did.
Leroy picked up a broom from the corner of the room and began to herd the wood shavings from the shelf into a dustpan. Once he had deposited them into the bin in the corner, he sat down beside the window. The sun had settled for the night, and he could see stars springing up across the sky. He had always loved how they seemed to appear out of nowhere, even though they were always there, just waiting to be seen.
He tapped his foot against the windowsill, his heart fluttering with excitement and worry. He had always looked forward to the idea of getting married. He had dreamed of falling in love and having a large family. He had hoped one day to move a little outside of town and have a farm where he and his wife could raise animals and spend lots of time walking outside. He could run his carpentry business from inside the barn. Would that dream be possible if he married someone he barely knew?
“Where would I even find someone to marry so quickly?” he said aloud.
Leroy shook his head and stood up. He picked up the oil lamp that was sitting on top of his desk, and as he did so, his eyes dropped down to the newspaper that had been sitting there since that morning. There, in the middle of the classifieds, an unusual advertisement caught his eye….
“Love Beyond Duty” is an Amazon Best-Selling novel, check it out here!
Growing up, Lauren Jacobs always felt overshadowed by her sister’s beauty and charm, but now, as she mourns her loss, the weight of the family’s expectations falls solely on her. Lauren finds herself thrown into an arranged marriage with a wealthy man, a union she is not eager to accept. When she travels west to meet her new husband though, she discovers that he is more than just a ticket to financial stability.
Will this man be only the possibility to a new life, or will he lead her into paths of the heart?
Leroy Finley’s dream has always been to open his own carpentry shop, but his father agrees to help him if he gets married within six months. Initially, an arranged marriage seems to be the only option for him to get what he wants, even though he doesn’t anticipate having anything in common with his new bride. However, as they start their new life together, he begins to realize that she may be the missing piece he needs to spark his interest in life.
He can’t deny that from the moment he locks eyes with Lauren, he feels an instant connection…
As they spend more time together, their attraction grows stronger, and they both realize that this is more than just a marriage of convenience. Will they ever be able to get past their own reservations and admit it? How will they overcome the mysterious stranger who arrives, threatening to shatter their newfound happiness?
“Love Beyond Duty” is a historical western romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Hearts of the Untamed West", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hello my dears, I hope you were intrigued by the preview of this lovely story and can’t wait for the rest of it! I will be waiting for your thoughts here! Thank you! ♥️
Hi, I just finished your book Love Beyond Duty and I absolutely loved every min of it. I tried to click on the extended epilogue but it went to a website that said it wasn’t working. Can you possibly send me the link via email? I’d really love to read it. I’m also hoping to read a story about Lauren’s new best friend. Thank you.
Kathy Breaux
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Sure, dear! Please tap here!