part0014

T he whole horror scene played out so quickly, Emmeline had no time to think. Coral could’ve been hurt, Linc and Griffin might’ve been wounded by, Tolbert, the ax wielding maniac, and poor Henry. Crikey!

She ran to Linc’s side, her heart pounding. He still lay on the ground, but as she neared him, he sat up slowly.

Kneeling by his side, she ran her hands over his arms and shoulders. “Linc, are you hurt?”

“I don’t think it’s too bad,” he assured her. “I probably just landed wrong is all.”

“I hope so. You could’ve been seriously injured, as could all of you. Whatever possessed him to grab Coral the way he did?”

“I’m not sure, except he has some major problems, which caused his reasoning to be flawed.”

The incident finally registered with her and she began to shake.

He pulled her over into his lap and held her tightly. Rocking her back and forth, he said, “Sweetheart, everything’s going to be all right.”

“I know, but so many emotions are racing through me at this moment.” She hugged him close, cherishing the feel of him next to her. It was just one more thing she loved about him.

He bracketed her face with his hands, kissed her, and asked, “Are you better? Shall we join the others and make sure they’re all right?”

Once on his feet, he slipped his arm around her shoulders, as he gave in to the discomfort of his right leg. She supported him around the waist, gripping his waistband tightly in her fist. Surely, they were a comical sight. She’d never thought herself small, by any stretch of the imagination, but his build dwarfed her. She was a token crutch at best.

When they reached the group, they found an empty spot on the blanket and sat down. Everyone talked at once and at different noise levels, each giving their version of what they had seen. Most seemed largely unaffected by the recent happenings, except for Laurel.

Griffin was talking to her, “Sweetheart, she doesn’t seem too worse for wear. Did you ask her what she wanted to do?”

“She doesn’t want to go home, she wants to stay and play.” Laurel held her step-daughter’s hand. She glanced down at the child and smiled. Whispering to Griffin, “I just want to be sure she’s all right.”

“Why don’t we let her go play with the other children, and watch her closely. I think she’ll be fine.”

With that Coral scampered off to join a group of other little girls her age.

Folks began to gravitate to the area close to the river. Adeline looked in that direction and asked, “Where is everyone going?”

“Oh, they must be going to watch the last competition,” Linc said. “Do you want to go watch it?”

“I’d like to see what it’s all about, yes.”

Both Thatcher and Markus appeared on either side of her. Thatcher spoke first, “I’d be happy, Miss Adeline, to escort you to the log rolling competition.”

Markus chimed in, “I’ll go, too, Miss Weidner, to make sure you get there.”

The rest of their group followed along, with Laurel walking beside their mother and father. Malcolm, leech that he was, couldn’t have gotten any closer to Peter Weidner, if they’d been joined at the hip.

Emmeline didn’t know anything about log rolling, but she could ask questions later. She wanted to be alone with Linc for a while.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked her again, when the hub-bub moved out of earshot.

“I am, but I want to tell you, I learned something today.”

“What’s that?”

“I’ve been thinking since we talked the other night in the kitchen. Working at the sawmill can be so dangerous, that I didn’t know if I was brave enough to make a commitment to you, if you asked me.”

“What happened today has made me realize you can be hurt by stepping into the path of an oncoming wagon, or being thrown from a horse.”

“That sounds painful.”

“You’re mocking me and I’m being serious,” she said.

“I’m sorry, I know you are.” He smiled, winked, and hauled himself off the ground. Taking hold of her hands, he pulled her into his arms. “What are you trying to say?”

“I’ve decided, I love you, Lincoln Bass, too much to let your job or society keep me from telling you so.” She’d realized life is too short to wait. So much could be missed or lost.

“I love you, too.” His voice cracked. “I don’t know if you’ll agree with me, but I propose we throw all caution and convention to the wind.”

“Will you marry me, Emmeline Weidner?”

“Oh, yes, I will.”

He let out a shout and started to sway back and forth. Somewhere in the distance, she heard a band playing. It wasn’t a tune she recognized, but it had a familiar tempo. Before she knew it, they were swaying to a waltz in the middle of the forest. It was the happiest she’d been in a long time.

“Are they back yet?” Emmeline asked as Laurel and Adeline came into her room.

“Not yet,” Adeline answered, “But Papa’s on the porch keeping a lookout for them.”

She sat on the stool, in front of the mirror, as Laurel put the finishing touches on her hair. “Why they had to go before the judge today, to make their statements, I’ll never know.”

“Yes, you do. The judge was leaving town this morning and, doing this now, may keep them from needing to travel to Little Rock later.” Laurel stepped back to assess her handiwork. “Now, stop fidgeting and let’s get this dress on, so we can get the veil anchored.”

Laurel and Adeline helped Emmeline slip the dress over her head, taking care not to muss her hair. Laurel fastened the tiny buttons down the back and on the sleeves.

“Oh, sister,” Adeline said with a sigh. “You look beautiful.”

“I do? I’m so fortunate one of the ladies loaned me her wedding dress, and that we’re so near the same size.”

Laurel turned her around to face the cheval mirror. “Here, look for yourself.”

Emmeline had no words. Where her other dress had been gaudy and tasteless, this one was simple but elegant.

The door opened and in walked Coral. “Mama? Papa said to tell you, they’re back and, Uncle Linc said to get this show on the road.”

“Go and tell him we’re almost ready.”

Emmeline shook her head. “He thinks he’s such a comedian.”

“Be still,” Laurel fussed. “I’m pinning on the veil and I want to get it straight.”

“Adeline, please go down to let everyone know to take their places. And, would you send Papa up here?”

“All right, dear,” Laurel said. “I’m going to go down and see about the girls. As soon as Papa gets up here, count to ten and come down.”

Emmeline gave her sister a quick kiss before she flew out of the room. She wondered if, when the time came, her feet would carry her downstairs. But, then, this was the happiest and most confident she’d been in a long time.

Malcolm had gone back to Philadelphia, with his tail between his legs, to face his father alone.

Adeline had the attention of two suitors. Laurel and Griffin had a beautiful, growing family. And it looked like she and Linc would be living close, as soon as he could get them a house built. So many things were happening, she could barely catch her breath.

A gentle knock sounded on the door. “Come in.”

Peter Weidner stepped into the room. “Are you ready, daughter?”

She placed her hand in Linc’s when she reached his side. The preacher stood before them with his bible open. Their family and friends were gathered behind them.

Linc looked to his left, then to his right, and grinned.

She smiled, staring him squarely in the eyes and, whispered, “Don’t even think about it. If you run, I will hunt you down and break both your legs.”