“Sam, how bad has Mother’s illness affected Amanda?” Maggie leaned on the railing of the porch next to her brother.
“I suppose as bad as it would have the rest of us if we hadn’t known. It was quite a shock to her, but she suspected something was wrong for a while now. She is blaming Victoria and me for not telling her. She doesn’t know all of us kids knew.” He gazed across the gardens.
“During the war, Mother used to come out here and watch the road. She was waiting, almost daring you men to walk up to her,” Grace said as she stood behind their father.
Maggie’s sister, Grace, was one of a kind. She abhorred politics with a passion. Grace always stood back and watched as the others participated in lengthy conversations. But one mention of politics and she didn’t mind making her stance on the matter clear to everyone within hearing distance. She married an admirable man when she sunk her claws into Josiah Fuller.
“She did the same thing when each of you kids married and moved to your own house.” Lewis glanced at the faces as they turned to his voice. “Her nurturing style never left. She would get up in the morning and insist on making my breakfast. I didn’t have the heart to stop her. I guess I should have.”
“No, Pa. She wanted it that way. She never wanted any one to fret over her, that’s why she made us take that silly oath to act as if nothing were wrong.” Mittie’s voice cracked.
The youngest of all Maggie’s siblings was Mittie. She had allowed Amanda to climb trees when she thought the other women weren’t looking. They would pick peaches and wander further from the house than they were supposed to. She shook her head and wondered how many times Mittie had caught her own daughter perched in a tree and climbed up to spend a little girl time with her.
Mittie’s husband, Earl Ingraham, proposed a challenge for Mittie when he ignored her flirtations until she won his heart. One day his head snapped her way and it hadn’t swayed since.
“I know it was the hardest thing I ever had to promise. Even when we left for the war, I felt I was abandoning you women. But, when she made us swear not to pamper her, it ripped my heart out.” Tom shook his head as he spoke.
Maggie’s brother Tom was the youngest of her brothers. He had been a youngster when he left for the war. It just about tore her mother’s heart out when her baby boy left to do his duty for the South. Her mother would have sworn Tom would stay at the plantation had it not been for his shy little bride, Priscilla. Her outlook on life brought his lifeless eyes back to sparkle and shine as if he had never went to war.
Lewis chuckled. “I endured a lot of those promises over the years. You kids don’t know how many squabbles that woman and me had because of y’all. William’s staying on with the cavalry was the first major argument. She wanted me to go fetch him home. Maggie taking Amanda to their home, why that woman wanted me to kidnap Amanda and bring her back. Samuel moving to town to open his practice set her off. I had to remind her it was the day for you kids and not about her for a change. She went into a fitful rage when Grace said she was planning to wed here on the plantation instead of the church. Thomas informing her he didn’t want part of the plantation set her tears to flowing and Mittie running off to get married.”
They all stared at him in disbelief. He smiled. “She loves you kids. I reckon she had reason to become protective of us all after the war. We piled a lot on that woman’s shoulders during that time.”
The family on the porch fell silent. All had faded into their own memories of their mother. “Maggie, Amanda wants to stay and help me until the wedding. I don’t mind her staying, but if you need her, I will be all right taking care of your mother by myself.”
“I think she wants to be here to ease her mind you will be all right.” Sam pointed to his dad.
“She acts more like Mama every day.” Mittie closed in on Maggie.
“Yes she does.” Robert spoke softly. “That she does.”
Nick stood in the corner of the porch and listened to the discussion. “She’s a vibrant and enchanting woman. Any man who catches her heart will be a lucky man.”
All eyes turned to him. “Do you have anyone particular in mind, son?” Sam was the first one to speak.
“Are you discarding our little angel already?” William’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
William was Maggie’s oldest brother. She’d adored him when they were young. Everything he did she’d tried to copy. He joined the cavalry when the men went to war. He stayed in for a while. Two years earlier, he’d met Arletta at one of the forts, finished his time and married her. They’d settled down out west, and he had joined the ranks of a farmer there.
“You know Cody has his sights on her. Many others would like to get in on the quest. They’re too afraid to step up. I hope they don’t swoop down on her while she is dealing with all this. She needs her time to sort out her feelings before dealing with a new man who isn’t willing to wait until she is ready.” Nick turned his gaze to Cody who had taken a stance by Amanda’s side in the garden.
“Are you willing to wait?” Robert neared the young man.
“No sir, Mr. Gentry. I already have a date with her for the rest of our lives.” Nick set his glass of lemonade on the table. “I’m going to rescue my future bride from the vulture. I’m sorry for your troubles, Mr. Sanders. If you need anything at all, supplies delivered, anything you can think of, let me know. I pray Mrs. Sanders wakes up soon.”
He sauntered to Amanda’s side. Cody tossed his hand across her shoulders and pulled her close to him. “What do you want, Nick?”
Amanda shoved Cody’s arm from her shoulders and linked elbows with Nick. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“I came to speak to my future wife. You were invited to the wedding, weren’t you?” He narrowed his eyes at Cody.
Maggie held her breath. She didn’t know Nick had it in him to face down a rival. She watched with amazement at how much he was like Robert.
“Thank you for coming to my rescue. You have been a great comfort for me today. You were my strength…”
“It was my pleasure. If you or your grandfather need anything, you can send someone to our future home. I’ll be here to help any way I can.”
“One thing before you leave, will you walk with me to the cross?” He nodded. “Grandmother’s maiden name was Cross. She had Grandfather make this and put it here when they first moved in. She told me how a gallery of angels watched over the place and they would guide our men home at the end of the war.”
“She was a smart woman who held to her faith.” He stopped and gazed at the cross. From the porch it looked small but significant with its angel hanging in front. Standing next to it pronounced the love of a family who believed in one another. The simple white cross greeted every soul that entered the plantation with the sincerity of an angel.
“One day I hope to share her stories with my own children.” Nick watched the heat rise across her face.
“You will, I’m sure of it. I’d best be going. It’s getting late, and I want to check things out at our place. I’ll stay the night there and head back here in the morning. I have a few things left undone at the store. If you need to, send for me.” He linked her arm in his and walked her to the porch to leave her with her family.