Love Profound by Kelly Elliott
I may have only been seventeen, but I knew how to stand up for myself. My mother always said life was harder for women. That the only reason we were not allowed to do everything men could do was because they knew we could do it better. And that scared them.
“I am truly sorry, Ms. Mills, if I have offended you. I find it very hard to be around you, if I am to be honest.”
My eyes widened in disbelief. The carriage turned, and we headed down a long driveway.
Edward sat up and looked out the window, excitement dancing across his face. This was thrilling for him. A new adventure. My brother was only eleven, and I knew my parents’ death had been hard on him. He was being brave and trying to pretend he was okay. I could hardly blame him. I did the same.
Mr. Night’s statement intrigued me, but so did my surroundings. I looked out the window and gasped at the beautifully manicured lawn.
“Uncle John grows cotton, Mr. Night?” Edward asked.
“That is the main crop, yes. He also grows wheat and barley.”
“How much land does he own?”
“Edward, that will be enough,” I said. “It does not matter how much land he owns.”
My eyes scanned the vast area out the window. I already knew how much Uncle John owned. He lived on the plantation my father grew up on. It was well over a thousand acres.
We continued down the drive for a few more minutes until I saw the grand house. I wanted to let out a gasp, but I held it in. Edward, on the other hand, let his feelings be known.
“Abby! Do you see that house? It’s like Pa always said, a grand fine house! It’s bigger than he described it.”
I smiled and bent my head to look out the window with him. “Indeed, it is a fine grand house. Much bigger than our simple home back in Louisiana.”
I glared at Mr. Night, and he moved about in his seat uncomfortably.
“We were here once before, Ed. You were too young to remember. Uncle John isn’t that much older than I am. Twenty-two is his age, and look at him, running this plantation all on his own since he was eighteen.”
“Ms. Mills, I’m only the messenger. My job was to go to Louisiana and deliver you and Mr. Mills safely back home.”
Squaring my shoulders, I looked into the eyes of Mr. Night. He was rather handsome, but I’d never admit that aloud.
“We were fine where we were. I could have looked after Edward myself.”
“All due respect, miss, you’re both in need of food and nearly out of money.”
“The crops were about to be harvested. We would have been fine.”
My chin trembled. It was a lie. We had not been fine in Louisiana. When my mother took ill, my father stopped doing everything so he could sit by her side. Edward and I tried our best to keep the farm up. A complete lack of rain for months caused the corn fields to dry up before they could even fully start to grow.
After our mother died, Father gave up. I truly believe he died of a broken heart.
A single tear escaped. I quickly wiped it away.
“I’m sorry to speak such truth, but you have to know you were not in the best circumstances, Abigale.”
It was the first time Mr. Night had spoken my name. I shook my head, defeated in the knowledge that he was right.
“No, I suppose we were not.”
Edward reached for my hand. “We are now, Abby. Uncle John stated in his letter he would make sure we want for nothing. Please be happy, Abby.”
I forced a smile and ruffled my brother’s hair. “I’m very pleased, Edward. We will live in a fine house, and I’m excited for our new adventure.”
“As am I!” Edward exclaimed.
The carriage pulled to a stop.
“We’re here!” The door to the carriage opened and a footman stood outside it.
“Exactly how wealthy is my uncle, Mr. Night?”
“One of the wealthiest men in Georgia, Ms. Mills.”
I raised a brow as Mr. Night slipped out of the carriage. His hand reached inside to assist me out.
With a deep inhale, I held it for a moment and said a prayer to my parents.
Please give me a sign this was your will, Daddy. Please.
I placed my hand in Mr. Night’s and stepped out of the carriage. Before I removed my hand, I looked directly in his eyes. Remembering his earlier statement, I couldn’t resist asking a question.
“Why do you find it difficult to be near me?”
He swallowed hard. “You’re one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen, Ms. Mills. Your beauty leaves me speechless.”
My mouth hung open in a very unladylike manner.
“Ed! Abby! You’re here!”
Mr. Night’s cheeks blushed as he dropped my hand and walked away.
I tried to contain my breathing, but I had been caught off guard by Mr. Night’s confession. My chest rose and fell as if I had just worked in the fields.
After pulling myself together, I took in the sight of a man who was not much older than I. He wrapped Ed up in an embrace. I shook my head and smiled. Uncle John was the image of my father, simply a younger version.
He was handsome and wealthy. He probably had a steady stream of young women fighting for his attention.
He paused to look me over. “Oh, Lord. Abigale Mills, you have grown up.”
My head high and my shoulders back, I nodded. “As have you…Uncle John.”
The last time I was here I had called my uncle ‘Johnnie,’ and he had called me ‘Gills’. I didn’t remember how he had come up with that name. I always figured it was a play on our last name and my first. I highly doubted we were going to keep up nicknames in public.
He kissed both of my cheeks. Leaning in so only I could hear, he said, “Jesus Christ, Gills. You’re as beautiful, if not more beautiful, than your mother. I’m going to have to beat the men off you with a stick.”
I laughed. My cheeks heated. Two men had given me compliments in less than five minutes. “You certainly know how to make a girl feel good, Johnnie.”
He gave me a brilliant smile. “Yes, well, I’m going to have to have a talk with your chaperone… Warn her to keep the boys away.”
“My chaperone?”
“Yes.”
I let out a gruff laugh. “Why would I need a chaperone?”
John grinned from ear to ear. “Let’s get you settled, dear niece, and then we can talk.”
With a nod, I followed my uncle into the house. His servants were lined up on either side of us. I smiled and nodded as I made my way up the steps into the house.
The house was just as I remembered, but for some reason, it felt bigger. My eyes were wide as I looked around the grand circular foyer. The large fireplace before us roared with a fire that made this fine home feel so welcoming. Edward stood next to me, pulling on my arm.
“Look at the stairs, Abby.”
My eyes landed on the grand staircase, carpeted in red, that wound into the foyer. I smiled at the fond memory of telling my mother I wanted to walk down those steps the day I got married.
My eyes lifted to the second-floor balcony, all the way to the stained-glass window on the ceiling.
“You can see all the way up!” Ed exclaimed.
John smiled at me, then said, “Scarlet will take your things to your room. Why don’t we head into the drawing room? Ed, do you play the piano?”
“Yes, sir. A little.”
“Our mother was teaching him,” I added as I made my way into the drawing room. It was nothing like the drawing room we had in our house. Of course, we also didn’t have twenty-two fireplaces.
“Well, there is a piano in the room. I’d love for you both to play at least once a day. Abby, especially you. If I remember right, you’ve already come out?”
“Come out of what?” Ed asked.
Laughing, I said, “Yes, I have.” I looked up at the murals on the wall. “I’d forgotten how truly grand this home is.”
“Why are there rugs hanging on the wall, Uncle John?” Ed ask
“Those are tapestries, young man.” John turned to me. “I’ve arranged to have a teacher come and school you both on the proper way to behave.”
I spun around. “Excuse me?”
Lifting his hand, John said, “Don’t get all up in arms, Gills. But if you are going to be living in this house as the heirs to the estate, you’ll be expected to act a certain way.”
Ed sat down at the piano and played the only song he knew. “Like how, Uncle John?”
Pouring himself a glass of whiskey, Uncle John smiled. “Properly, my dear boy. You’re going to have to act like you’ve grown up in this world. With this money.”
I removed my gloves and held them in my hand as I took a seat in the chair across from John.
“Why did my father give this all up?” I asked.
With a smirk, John replied, “Love. He went to Louisiana to meet with one of our father’s business partners and to look at buying land. He met your mother and fell head over heels in love with her. He gave it all up for her.”
I smiled. “A love like that only comes along once in a lifetime.”
“If that,” he added. The smile on his face did not reach his blue eyes.
“Do you not believe in love, Johnnie?”
Tossing his head back, he let out a roar of laughter.
He finished his drink and set it on the table. Standing, he made his way over to me. He bent down and looked me in the eyes.
“There is no such thing as love, Abigale. Learn that now. There is greed. I have women falling at my feet, but all they want is my money.”
My eyes widened in shock. “Surely you don’t believe that all women out there are only interested in your wealth.”
“I do.”
“That’s a rather bleak way to look at things.”
“It’s the truth. The one woman I thought loved me was only attracted to my money. She ruined me.”
We talked in hushed voices as Ed continued to play the piano.
With a smirk, I asked, “And what proof of that did you have?”
His smile faded. “When I walked into her room and saw my best friend buried deep inside her.”
I gasped at his bluntness, and at the idea that he had given his heart to a woman who proved unfaithful. “Oh, my goodness.”
He stood, then looked down at me and winked. “Good thing I didn’t marry her the next day.”
My heart ached for my uncle. I could not imagine such a thing.
I stood. “Is that the only reason you do not believe in love?”
“Yes.” His eyes roamed over me and then captured my gaze. “Abigale, you’ve grown into a stunningly beautiful woman.”
My cheeks heated. “I disagree.”
He chuckled. “Regardless of what you think, you are now the richest woman in Georgia, and trust me when I say men will flock to you. Do not trust them. Guard your heart, for what they want is not what lies in your chest, but what lies between your legs and the folds of your wallet.”
Gasping, I took a step back. “John Mills, you are a beast to speak to me in such a way.”
This time he smiled so widely I could see his dimples. “Abigale Rose, do not play innocent with me. If I remember correctly, the last time you were here you had the boys lining up to be on your team for a game of Annie Over. You were only fifteen, and I’ll never forget what you said to Miles Russel when he didn’t catch the ball.”
“I have no idea to what you are referring and I wish to change the subject.”
He smiled and put his ear next to me. “You told him if he missed one more you would kick him in the balls, and he’d never be able to use his tool again.”
My face heated as he pulled back and gave me a smirk.
“You’re going to be a pistol, young lady, and I hope you can soon learn how to behave and follow the rules.”
“I’ll have you know you are only five years older than I am. I’m not a child.”
He slowly shook his head. “No, you are not.”
“I also don’t like rules.”
He nodded. “Therein lies the problem.”
Ed stopped playing the piano. “Where will I sleep, Uncle John?”
My uncle and I stood, staring at one another. I knew he had a social obligation to live up to, but if he honestly expected me to walk into this house and pretend this was the life I had always known, he was mad.
“Scarlet will show you to your rooms when you’re ready. Even though you have been here, if you’d like a tour of the house for Edward’s sake, she can do that as well.”
He turned to leave. “Wait. Where are you going?”
“I have a meeting. Dinner will be at five. I took the liberty of having clothes bought for each of you until you can both obtain a new wardrobe. One that is more in keeping with the Georgia elite.”
It had not been lost on me how quickly his voice edged coldly and went from Johnnie to Uncle John, the lord of the manor.
I watched as he left the room.
“Abby?” Ed asked as he pulled on my arm.
“Yes, Ed?”
“Are we rich now? Truly rich?”
“Where did you hear such nonsense?”
“Old Lady Wise was talking at the station before we left when you were at the ticket counter with Mr. Night. She told her sister that our wealthy uncle had summoned us, and that we were now rich. That we were almost royalty.”
I gazed down at my brother. “That was two old women gossiping because they have nothing better to do. You and I are exactly the same as we’ve always been. The first thing we will do tomorrow is tour the grounds and see what we can do to keep our idle hands busy.”
He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
An older woman walked into the room. “Mr. Edward, Ms. Abigale. I’m Scarlet. Let me show you to your rooms.”
As we made our way through the foyer and up the red stairs, my heart pounded.
Our lives were about to change, and I had no idea what that meant. The only thing I knew was I would not allow my uncle to change who we were.
My father had kept us away from this world for a reason.
Many reasons, as I would come to find out much sooner than I thought.
Guarded Hearts, a historical romance by Kelly Elliott, coming 2018.
Contains Spoilers
Caroline Jones – “Tough Guys”
Amelia and Waylynn in New York City.
Boyce Avenue – “Scared to Be Lonely”
Amelia and Liam’s time in New York City.
Miranda Lambert – “Well Rested”
Amelia and Waylynn on plane after Waylynn leaves Jack.
Frank Sinatra – “Isn’t She Lovely”
Wade dancing with Chloe the first time Amelia sees him.
Clint Black – “State of Mind”
Wade doing the cover of “State of Mind” at Aunt Vi’s party.
Rascal Flatts – “Banjo”
Wade dancing with Chloe.
Cole Swindell – “No One Left Behind”
Amelia and Wade dancing for the first time.
Brett Eldredge – “Somethin’ I’m Good At”
Wade and Amelia dancing.
Adam Sanders - “Thunder”
Wade in pasture when storm is rolling in.
Miranda Lambert – “To Learn Her”
Amelia and Wade dancing at Cord’s Place.
David Nail – “Nights on Fire”
Amelia after dancing with Wade at Cord’s Place.
Clint Black – “Nothing’s News”
Wade at Cord’s Place singing the cover of “Nothing’s News”.
Rascal Flatts – “I’m Moving On”
Wade at Cord’s Place singing the cover of “I’m Moving On”.
Liam Payne – “Strip That Down”
Trevor’s welcome home party for Waylynn.
Miranda Lambert – “Well Rested”
Amelia asking Wade to dance with her at Waylynn’s welcome home party.
Mi
Amelia and Wade kissing for the first time.
Michael W Smith – “Do You Dream of Me”
Amelia and Wade at the barn after the great goat incident.
Frank Sinatra – “Witchcraft” and “With Every Breath I Take”
Amelia and Wade dancing on the rooftop of his new house.
Frank Sinatra – “The Last Thing I Do”
Wade making Amelia orgasm for the first time on the roof of the old historical home.
Thank you to Darrin and Lauren for always being so supportive. This crazy dream called writing steals a lot of my time from the two of you, thank you for always being so understanding.
Thank you to everyone who had a hand in helping with this book. It takes a village and I have an amazing group of folks who help me do what I do! I love you all and couldn’t have done this without you.
A HUGE thank you to my readers. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be writing out this thank you. I hope that you are enjoying the Parker family!
Other Books by Kelly Elliott
Coming Soon
Tempting Love (Book three in the Cowboys and Angels Series) coming January 23, 2018
Coming 2018
Seduced (Book one in the Austin Singles Series)
Behind the Eyes (Standalone book)
Stand Alones
The Journey Home
Finding Forever (Co-written with Kristin Mayer)
Who We Were (Available on audio book)
The Playbook (Available on audio book)
Made for You (Available on audio book spring/summer 2017)
Wanted Series
Wanted
Saved
Faithful
Believe
Cherished
A Forever Love
The Wanted Short Stories