All I know is, he and Ian were locked away in the front parlor for nearly half an hour last night,” Meredith said. “You and I both know those two don’t have that much to talk about.” She paused. “Unless he’s asking for your hand in marriage.”
Fiona fussed with the ribbons on her hat and tried not to let Meredith’s enthusiasm get her hopes up. “True, we have been getting along famously,” Fiona admitted, “but marriage? He hasn’t given so much as a hint.”
Meredith looked undaunted. “I know my brother, and he’s up to something. You two have been inseparable for the past month. I don’t think he’s going to hold off much longer.”
“Yes, he is, actually.” She leaned conspiratorially toward Meredith. “He’s asked me to teach him to drive.”
“No!”
“Yes. I’m taking him for a driving lesson today.” Fiona touched her sister-in-law’s arm. “Please don’t say a word. I’m sure it’s not easy for a man with Tucker’s ego to have to learn anything from a woman.”
“Then why bother?” Meredith snapped her fingers. “Of course. You own an automobile, and if he’s going to be your husband, he’s not going to sit still for his wife driving him around. See, I told you he’s about to pop the question.”
“Hush, here he comes.” Fiona waved at Tucker, then gave her sister-in-law a kiss on the cheek.
“I want all the details,” Meredith whispered.
“You’ve got to be joking.” Tucker stared down the length of Broadway, both hands on the steering wheel. “You expect me to learn how to drive by going down the middle of the street?”
“There’s nothing on this end of Broadway but empty land. By the time you get way down there, you’ll be a natural at driving.”
“You make it sound simple.”
Fiona nodded. “You’re a smart man, and we’ve been over this a dozen times. It’s only a motorcar, Tucker. Surely a man who’s worked on the railroad all these years can handle a simple Ford.”
His pride trampled, Tucker decided he must do this. The engine purred and rumbled, and the steering wheel vibrated under his fingers. He reached for the stick and followed Fiona’s directions. The car lurched forward and promptly died.
To her credit, Fiona didn’t laugh. Rather, she gently pointed him in the right direction, and eventually, he managed to get the car rolling forward at a consistent speed.
“Hey, look,” he said when he could manage to remain calm, “I’m driving.” Tucker began to think about the real reason for this drive, and he pressed a bit harder on the pedal that made the car go. “This isn’t hard at all.”
“Tucker, slow down.”
He looked over at Fiona. “Worried?”
“Tucker!”
Turning his attention to the road, he managed to miss a pair of wagons looming in his path. “How do I turn this thing?”
When she showed him, he tried it at the next opportunity. The vehicle promptly died.
“How about we go somewhere safer?” she offered. “Somewhere with fewer people.”
Tucker smiled. “I know exactly the road.” He saw it up ahead and turned right without having to start the Ford again. The vehicle sputtered and lurched but smoothed out as it headed over the hill.
Then came the part he wasn’t prepared for: downhill.
The Ford picked up speed. “How do I stop this thing?”
“The brake, Tucker!” Fiona shouted as trees whizzed by. “Hit the brake!”
But instead of the brake, Tucker hit the curb and managed a quick left-hand turn that caused the Ford to slide sideways. They rode like that for a full block before Tucker regained control. He straightened the automobile just in time to run up into the yard of the parsonage.
“Get back on the road, Tucker!” she called. “The church is up ahead!”
“I know,” he said as he found the brake and brought the Ford to a screeching halt inches from the back wall of the church. He jumped out and ran around to help a shaking Fiona out of the Ford.
“I was going to do this in a much grander manner, but considering we’re in the right place for it, will you marry me, Fiona?”
“Marry you?” She leaned against the Ford, and Tucker hoped the flush in her cheeks was excitement at his proposal rather than something to do with their wild ride.
“Say yes, Fiona. We’d like to come out and congratulate the bride and groom.” Braden called from around the corner of the church. “Is it safe to come out now, or is Tucker still driving?”
The rest of the Rafferty clan came pouring out of the church, surrounding them. Grace pressed forward to wrap her arms around Fiona before addressing her father.
“I hope you said it like we practiced last night.” She turned to Fiona. “How did he do?”
Fiona smiled. “I can honestly say his was the most memorable proposal I’ve ever had.”
“So,” Amy said, “he asked, but you didn’t tell us what the answer was.”
Tucker wrapped his arms around the most beautiful woman in Alaska—or was she the most exasperating? “That’s right, Fiona. You haven’t given me your answer. If you don’t want to go into the church and marry me, I can always drive you home.”
The wedding took place in the little chapel beside the tall trees with Grace as Fiona’s attendant and both brothers walking her down the aisle. Meredith, Amy, and Grace had managed to find Fiona a lovely dress and had even acquired an exquisite hat and the most lovely pair of bridal shoes a girl could wear.
Fiona floated through the ceremony, half expecting to wake up from the lovely dream. While Braden drove the car back to Fiona’s place, Tucker and Fiona were escorted by wagon to a lovely cabin on the other side of the hills from Goose Chase for a long-delayed honeymoon.
All winter the women planned Grace’s trip to medical school in Oregon. The night before Grace was to leave, Fiona slipped into her room with a long list of names of friends and colleagues for the girl to contact once she got settled at the school.
“And no matter what,” Fiona said, “you’re to return home for Christmas.”
“Maybe you and Papa should come to Oregon for Christmas,” she said. “You know I don’t plan to be there any longer than it takes for me to become a doctor.”
“Yes, dear, and I’d like to talk to you about that.”
Later that night, Fiona climbed under the thick stack of quilts to snuggle against her husband. “Are you asleep?” she whispered.
Tucker turned to gather Fiona in his arms. “No, I’m just lying here wondering how we’re going to fill all the empty hours we’ll have once Grace leaves.”
Fiona smiled and leaned up on one elbow. “Oh, I don’t think that will be a problem, Tucker. A little bird tells me that we’re going to be plenty busy come spring.”
“Spring?” Even in the dim light, Fiona could see Tucker’s broad grin. “Fiona? You’re not. Are you?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Isn’t God good?”
“Oh yes,” he said as he kissed her soundly. To her surprise, Tucker pulled away. “But if you’re indisposed, who will be the doctor around here?”
It was Fiona’s turn to smile. “Doc Killbone said he’d be sending a replacement in six months. I’m sure he will be willing to stay until Grace returns.”
“Grace?” He shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
“She told me tonight that she intends to return to Goose Chase and practice medicine. That means your daughter will be home in a few years.” Fiona stole a kiss from her surprised husband. “Are you happy, Tucker Smith?”
He answered, but not with words.