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The following Sunday, the Griffiths gathered at the farmhouse as usual. For several months, Carolyn had been joining them as a member of the family. As Owen spilled his well-kept secret to his children, Daniel noticed the little woman was beaming with excitement. She talked to Annie about new curtains, a new, informal look for the store, and ways to use merchandise as decoration—the Navajo blankets and the trapper’s pelts could be hung from the walls, much as Daniel had done in their home. The baskets could hang from the ceiling, and they would buy some outright as displays for small articles. They’d add a table and chairs to encourage catalog browsing, and a children’s corner, where the little ones could play while their parents shopped. There would be a free sourball for any “patron” under fifteen years of age.
“I’ve always wanted to measure and cut and find things for someone else,” she said, telling them of the time she’d helped Jake to pick out a wedding present for Adam and Jesse, then adding, “I’ve never felt more useful and admired in my life!”
“What about the boardinghouse?” Annie asked. “The town needs that, too.”
“Well, I went to see Daisy Callendar yesterday and she’s going to run it. In fact, she’s going to buy it from me. She hasn’t really been able to run the farm since Jim died, so she’ll sell that. And her four girls will be all the staff she needs. They’re old enough to make the beds and do the dusting, and she won't need to serve meals.
“We don’t need the money right away,” Carolyn continued, “so Bill Thatcher’s putting together a... what did he call it?”
“Long-term lease-purchase agreement,” Owen answered.
“Yes, that. She can lease it for five years for a monthly payment that’s based on the money she makes—just like Tommy’s been leasing the livery from Ray Benson. If she stays for five years, half of the house is hers. If she stays for the whole ten years, she’ll own it outright. And,” she added, “Young Jim will be our stock boy.”
“That’s such a great idea.” Daniel measured every syllable. “Daisy’s had such a hard time of it this past year, and heaven knows that piece of land they’ve got takes a lot of work to farm.” He got up from the table and went to take Carolyn’s hand. “You,” he said, his admiration plain, “are a wonderful woman.” He bent to kiss her cheek.
She blushed becomingly and the woodsman suddenly understood why his father-in-law was so attracted to her.
“It was Owen’s idea, too,” she said.
“You can give her my kiss,” the bootmaker joked.
Daniel did so, kissing her other cheek gallantly. He looked over at his sister. “Pretty lucky, aren’t we?”
“Oh, yeah,” Evelyn said. She took Lowell’s hand and squeezed it as her brother returned to his seat by Annie.
“Oh, yeah,” the woodsman echoed.
***
DANIEL AND ANNIE STAYED at the farm until almost midnight, talking about the new enterprise. As he walked with her over the fields, he could see she was a bit tired, but the hour was unusually late for her. She’s doing so well. She’s so happy. I must remember to get a gift for Mother, to thank her for everything.
They strolled across their meadow, arms about each other’s waists. Annie had taken off her shoes and carried them in one hand. Her other hand was under his shirt. The night was warm, soft, lovely, the scent of the flowers sweet and strong. The moon peeked between the strings of clouds and told him the new day had begun. He walked more and more slowly, until he was hardly moving at all. She began to caress his side and he pulled her in against him.
“It was today,” he murmured into her hair. She looked up, her pale eyes shining like diamonds. He took the ribbon from her braid and unraveled it. She closed her eyes, lost in the gentleness of his touch, the magic of the memory.
“Aroon, do you remember?”
A little sound, something like a sigh and something like a laugh. “Yes.”
“You were so beautiful then. You are so much more beautiful now. Annie,” his voice was low and sweet, “I want to see you.”
She remembered the words. Remembered the sunlight and the warmth of his hands. Remembered the kisses he’d rained down upon her, and her whole body yearned for him. He felt the response, lifted her from her feet and sank to his knees, lay down with her among the flowers, kissed her forehead, her eyes, her lips. Her long white throat. Again her fingers worked with his—the buttons, the laces were undone. Again the deep intake of breath as he looked at her, the catch in her voice as she whispered his name.
The pale moon watched silently. It turned her creamy skin to gold, her bright hair to spun silver, her little noises into prayer. Then shifted suddenly in its orbit, rocked by the love they shared.
***
SHE SLEPT IN HIS ARMS, as she’d done before. When the first rosy streaks appeared in the sky, he carried her to the cabin and took her to their bed. Her eyes flickered open, closed then opened again, and her arms wrapped around his neck. She nuzzled into the hollow of his shoulder.
There was a fluttering deep in her belly and she turned her attention inward. Her body, so sensitive to every nuance, every fluctuation in temperature, every beating pulse of blood, had discovered a change in itself. A duplication of senses, a shifting of spirit.
“Daniel. Oh, Daniel...” She looked up at him.
“Yes, aroon?”
“Daniel.” Her voice was filled with awe. “A baby. Oh...”
His hand buried itself in her hair, pulled her head close to his shoulder. Could it be true? She’d wanted a baby for so long. He’d felt the magic of the night, felt something happen in her that had never happened before. But he hadn’t dreamed of this.
“Aroon...” He looked deeply into her eyes once more, found absolute certainty there. “Oh, Annie...”
He was overjoyed and terrified at once. Her baby—their baby. The miracle of it! But was she strong enough? Would her spirit, her joy carry them through?
“Oh, Annie, I love you.” He slipped down and kissed her smooth white belly, rested his head against her, as her fingers played in his hair. Her happiness was there in that touch. He’d told her once that happiness was the meaning, the goal of life. He’d hide his fear. He couldn’t be so selfish as to deny her joy now.
He kissed her again and offered a prayer. Dear mother, make her happy. Give me what you can, what you will. But please let her be happy.