Meg checked herself again in the mirror. Below her window she could hear the buzz of voices mingling with music. She really did look like a golden autumn leaf lit up with sunlight. That was Jonathan’s description of her and it never seemed to get old. She spun around, admiring the play between the bronze and goldenrod colored satin. Rose had given her silk stockings with a mischievous wink and told her that no matter what society proclaimed, they always brought her good luck.
Spinning around, Meg screamed when she turned around and knocked into the hard figure of a man. “For crying out loud, Jonathan. Don’t you know I am a little jumpy since Charles showed up here? Between you and Rose popping out of thin air, I’m lucky I haven’t died from a heart attack.”
He paled at the reminder. “Sorry, I should have announced myself. I was just so eager to see you.”
“Indeed,” she said more crossly than she meant to.
She turned around again, but Jonathan twirled her and pulled her into his arms. “Do I have to spend my whole life convincing you that I love you?”
Meg smiled shyly. “I wouldn’t mind.”
Jonathan grinned. “You know why it took me a while to make my way over here?”
Meg feigned to get away, but quickly relaxed when Jonathan still held her. “You enjoy being fashionably late to dances?” she queried.
“Because,” Jonathan let go of her and pulled from his pocket a square of silk wrapped smoothly around a small object. He began to unfold the silk. “When I first met you, I thought you were an angel of gold. Everything about you was warm and reminded me of autumn.” He pulled back the last flap of silk to reveal a gold ring carved in a circle of leaves and flowers with a small emerald drop in the center. “Anything prosaic would drown your presence. I knew if I were to ask you to be my wife I would need something that could handle the beautiful woman you are with the vibrant spirit I so love.”
Meg prayed that her heart would not split as Jonathan knelt to the ground.
“My last proposal was rushed and not as I imagined, so—” he pulled out a simple ring and held it up.
“Yes!” she cried out, falling to her own knees. Meg wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his face, his cheeks, his lips, his temples. “A million times yes. Ring or no ring … though I will take the ring. House or no house. I want to be yours, and I want you to be mine.”
She did not know if the tears on her chest were her own or Jonathan’s as he pulled her tightly against him, wrapping his arms around her waist and whispering sweet words in ear.
“I love you, Meg. I love you so much,” he whispered.
Meg smiled and closed her eyes, savoring the moment. She saw before her a world that promised more joyful memories to come, a world that was safe, that was full of love, and that was her own.
“I love you, too,” she whispered. Meg looked down at the ring on her finger. Not long ago she was cowering in a corner while Charles beat her. She was cooking for ungrateful men and women. She was lonely, and angry at God, at herself, at everyone.
Now there was so much joy in her heart she wondered how it could all be contained.
/
“Ooh,” Anna gasped, taking Meg’s hand in her own to examine the ring. “Oh, Meg, it is beautiful.”
“I always did say Jonathan had perfect taste,” Rose added. She looked breathtaking in a pink gown with Cade bathing her in a smoldering gaze. “Congratulations to you both.”
“Jonathan has agreed to the idea of building a home for us near the dairy. He knows I need to see the twins, and it would be closer to his own parents,” Meg said, grinning. She’d finally met his parents that night at the party when Jonathan introduced them by the punch bowl. Mrs. McPherson was a robust woman with shiny eyes and a smile that never seemed to go away. Mr. McPherson was a tall man with a demanding presence and proud chin. Neither had made any comment of her being a cook or having no parents around. They had embraced her, kissed her, and welcomed her into their family.
“A toast,” Clark said loudly over the crowd, pausing until the music quieted for a moment. “To the newly engaged couple. Meg, it will be a sad day when you leave us. I am hoping we can convince you and Jonathan to build a house as close to ours as possible.”
The twins began talking at once about how that would be a good idea, but Clark tapped a spoon against his cup.
“Hold on, hold on,” he grinned at the two young men. “I want to point out how blessed we are. Meg, Anna, and I always wanted one more daughter and a sister for Rose. We found her in you. Jonathan you were always like a son and now you are family.” His eyes rested on Daisy. “We always wanted to be close to Nell, and we mourn her death. I am just so grateful that she sent to us the most wonderful gift we could have, our little Daisy Walker.” He lifted his glass higher, “To blessings.”
Rose raised her glass in agreement, until a burst of giggles caught her attention. The twins were playing a clapping game with Daisy who thought it the funniest thing in the world.
“I need to join that fun,” Anna said walking over to Daisy who upon seeing her held up her round little arms. “Did you see that?” Anna nearly squeaked. “She wanted me. She knows I am her grandma.”
“She’s a smart girl,” Cade came up behind Rose and smiled proudly at Daisy. “You can’t get a whole lot past her.” He looked around. “Is Jeffries showing up?”
Anna shrugged. “He’s out back with Ben roasting the pig. I don’t know whether he’ll join in the celebrations or not. He has been a bit down since the murders. I don’t blame him if he wants some space.” Rose looked over at her husband to see him looking at Daisy, his eyes misted over as he scowled in contemplation at the round face with eyes so green and blue they glowed in her caramel face.
“Cade,” Rose whispered, “are you alright?”
He nodded stiffly. “Can she have some potatoes? She’s been lunging at solid food this whole week.”
Rose frowned, knowing he was holding back something. “Yes, if you mash them good and make sure there are no skins.”
He nodded and headed for the table; when Jeffries appeared by him, the two men talked quietly.
Rose felt bad that she was not more attentive to the engaged couple, though they were now in their own world. She found herself watching Cade, noticing how he squinted his eyes and gave a half smile when he found something amusing. Rose liked how he tugged at the collar of his shirt as if it were suffocating him. She remembered how Cade would often come home and take off his shirt as if it were in his nature to be bare chested.
Kyle did some fancy jig, and Rose burst into laughter, his mountainous body of muscle and fat shaking the ground. He swung his daughter Bless like she weighed no more than a penny, her chestnut hair swirling around her face while she laughed. Christabel at one point took his place and lifted Bless to her hip swaying with her as she ignored the admiring glances of the dairy workers.
Rose folded her arms as she watched the dark haired girl dance. Not long ago, Rose wanted to be single again. She wanted to be free of a tumultuous marriage and to once again be a young, single woman.
Tearing her eyes away from Christabel, she looked again at Cade laughing with Jeffries. She did marry a good man. No, he was not perfect and yes, he had a serious problem. But wasn’t God’s grace for the imperfect? Was not forgiveness for those who sinned both in their hearts and in the open? Rose had always wanted to marry a prince, but she was beginning to realize that there was no such thing. Even better, there were broken women who dusted themselves off every day and faced trials and heartache with perseverance. Men and women with tempers, addictions, sorrows, anger, pride, countless flaws. Cade was such a person, as was Rose, and everyone else.
Rose smiled as the insight washed over her. Thank goodness God did not give up on anyone even when others did. “You seem in a good mood.” Phillip Hugh was suddenly beside Rose. She froze, her heart turning to ice in her chest. He was here, standing beside her. Where was Cade? It was one thing having a rich young man flirt with her, having a potential murderer do so was quite another.
“I am,” she replied, smiling politely and realizing how much shorter he was than Cade. Shorter, softer, smaller.“I assume things between your husband and you are doing well?” he smiled tightly.
Rose nodded, praying that Cade would show up.
“How is the case coming along?” he asked, looking straight ahead.
Rose shifted on her feet. “Well, I believe they have a lead, and it looks very promising.”
“A lead?” Phillip looked over at her. “Please do tell.”
Rose saw Jessica hurrying over to them, no doubt wanting to be right beside her beloved Phillip. She looked over at Cade who was laughing with her father now. She could not shout for him to come over. Of course, she could leave.
“I am not sure what it is,” she smiled. “I probably should join my husband.” She took a step, but Phillip’s soft hand touched her elbow.
“Am I the lead? Is that why you are so eager to run away?”
Rose made a tsk sound with her tongue and forced a playful smile. “Of course not. However I am a married woman,” she pulled back her arm. “And I probably should be by my husband.”
Phillip raised an eyebrow. “He has you well trained I see.”
Rose stopped in her tracks and looked steadily at Phillip. “No one has me trained.”
Phillip chuckled. “Well it was not long ago that you seemed to thoroughly enjoy dancing with me. In fact, you seemed far too eager to dance with me than a married woman should be.”
Rose lifted her chin. “Yes, I was eager. Dancing with a respected man might make others respect me and through that respect Daisy.”
“So you used me?” he asked, his nostrils flaring and all facade of kindness falling away to reveal blank eyes deplete of compassion. “You’re not the first, you know? I’m used to women trying to use me, but being used to give a bastard girl respectability is a first.”
Rose bit her lip, holding back her rage, “You are a fool!” she spat.
“Am I a fool for speaking the truth?” he said a little too loudly, looking around. “Your husband is an addict and a violent man. And here I am an intelligent man of wealth, charm, and impeccable breeding who, out of the kindness of my heart, offers you my help. And you think that you used me? No, no,” he said, lowering his voice, his hand shooting out to grip her arm.
“Let go of me,” Rose growled, the scent of alcohol on his breath making her stomach churn.
“You want me, Rose,” he smiled, “I could tell the moment I saw you. Admit it, you wanted me then and still want me now. I know when a woman wants me. I can see it in her eyes. She may say she loves another, wants another, but the eyes never lie.”
Phillip was jerked around by a strong hand. He wobbled, nearly falling before Cade jerked him upright. “I would strongly advise you to keep your hands off my wife,” Cade said, his voice low. “I have sent you sprawling with my fist before, and I have no hesitation doing it again.”
Rose saw her father start to head over, but Anna stopped him and gave a subtle nod to Clark as if saying, “Let him handle this.”
“You think this is noble of you, defending that little bobble-headed apple?” Phillip shouted waving a hand at Daisy, “And hopelessly trying to win a woman who so obviously prefers me? You—”
Rose let out a small cry as Phillip was thrown back several yards and knocked into a table of punch that spilled to the ground.
Cade charged forward, pushing away two men who tried to help Phillip up. “You ever insult my daughter again with so much as a frown, and I will make sure it is more than your teeth missing.” He dropped Phillip and slowly faced the groups of onlookers. “That goes for everyone else,” his voice boomed. “Daisy Walker is my daughter, and if you insult her, you insult me. I will not allow anyone to hurt her, mock her, or make her feel anything other than loved and welcomed in this town.”
He walked over to Rose and took Daisy from her arms. He placed his left hand on Rose’s lower back. “We are leaving, Rose.”
She didn’t argue as they walked by the stunned faces, some frowning, others smiling. When she passed Jonathan, he gave her a proud nod and clapped. Once then twice, then three times before he was joined by Pastor Will and Abigail, then by Clark and Jeffries, Christabel and Eliza.
When Rose was close to their wagon she could hear the echo of dozens of clapping hands mixed with exclamations of approval.