“Lia aimed, shifted and waited, watching one man peek out time and time again. She let her arrow fly anticipating his next peek at us and it pierced his eye.“Okay that’s just going to make ’em mad ” I said.“Three hundred and ninety-two ” she said to Luca tossing her braid over her shoulder and taking aim again.“Saints in heaven ” he said to me rolling his eyes “how much deeper in love can I yet fall?”

“Lia let out a low growl and moved her arrow to the base of his fat throat. "What do you think, Gabi? Would you like to see these nuptials through?""Not this day," I said"How about on the morrow?" Marcello asked, smiling and lifting my hand to his lips. "If I am your groom?""Hold that eHarmony thought," Lia whispered in English. "We gotta get out of here.”

“They shall never believe that a young lord of Siena would march directly into their camp.""And if they do?"He gave me another small smile. "Then my beloved lady shall have to come and rescue me.""Us," Luca corrected him, slurring his words now. "Have to rescue us."He adjusted Luca across his shoulders. "Stay with me, Luca," he said sternly."Can't get much closer m'lord," Luca mumbled.”

“God," she said, her tone gently reproving, "brought Mr.Kensington to you, and with him, a world of potential. As I see it, each of our lives is a journey, Miss Cora. A path that takes us over the mountain or down through a dark valley. But He never abandons us. Never. That is how He cares for us - walking with us every step of the way.”

“His eyes opened, and he stared at me. The morning light was streaming through the window,and my hair rolled in waves over either shoulder.“God has smiled upon me. I have the most beautiful wife in all the land.”

“My eyes shifted to the trickling river. Come spring, it would be ten times as wide and just as deep. On and on it went, rushing toward the distant horizon. Like time. Like life. Sometimes gently falling from one pool into the other, other times fast and cascading, and still other times narrowing into a funnel, a torrent of knots and waves.”

“How dare you - ""How dare I offer you more than you could've ever dreamed?""How dare you waltz in here and presume - ""Presume to prescribe a future with hope and promise?"I shut my mouth abruptly, glaring at him. Then, "Are you quite finished?""Are you?" he asked."I am a free woman, Mr.Kensington. Grown. I can do as I wish.I may be blood kin to you, but I am not your employee." My eyes cut to Mama, but hers remained on the barn."Regardless, you shall do as I say."I let out a sputtering, exasperated laugh. "And if I do not?"He traced the edge of his chipped china saucer. "That would be ill advised.”