Lawfully Admired

by Ginny Sterling

  “Excuse me?” Melissa said, positive she misunderstood.

  “Take off your shoes, Melissa,” Gideon ordered.

  “You could say please you know,” she snapped. “If you’d just talk to me about things then mayb-“

  “Now isn’t the time or the place,” she heard Gideon say quietly, as he pulled off his worn boots, revealing his mended socks. Melissa quickly removed her button-down boots with a frown, as she realized that she would need to borrow a hook to button them once again. Placing her boots neatly together away from Jeremiah’s filthy boots outside, she saw the Pastor removed his own shoes as well. They all quickly filed back inside, taking their places silently in front of the fireplace in Ava’s front room.

  “You ready?” Jeremiah called out with a wide grin on his face.

  “Yes,” Ava called from the kitchen. She stepped into the living room and stopped, looking down at their feet. She stared at them in disbelief and shock. Glancing a look around, Melissa began to grin as she realized that they were all barefoot or in socks…and wiggling their toes. She felt perfectly mischievous at the expression on Ava’s face.

  Jeremiah stepped forward and quickly held out his hand towards Ava. ““I refuse to marry my lady love in vomit covered boots, so if you’ll have me barefoot? I am ready to go!” Melissa almost sighed aloud at the tender look they gave each other. It was obvious that he would do anything for Ava, causing Melissa a twinge of envy. Glancing at Gideon, she saw him watching her carefully.

  “Just a moment?” Ava exclaimed as she bent down carefully. She removed her beaded slippers and tossed them at the door. The shoes landed with a thud alongside several others. “Now I am ready,” she announced happily, wiggling her bare toes.

  “You look perfect.”

  “And you are crazy,” Ava retorted. She placed her hand in his and smiled happily at Jeremiah. “I can’t believe we are getting married barefoot.”

  “Life will never be boring with me,” he promised her tenderly.

  “I see that,” Ava whispered to Jeremiah, with a watery smile. “I love you so much, you shameless man.”

  Melissa felt tears rush to her eyes as she saw the love and devotion between the two of them. Yanking a folded handkerchief from her sleeve, she dabbed at her eyes and chanced a look at Gideon again. Instead of watching the couple, he stared at her intensely.

  Smiling tremulously, she was relieved to see him return her smile. In the background of her mind, she heard the two lovebirds bickering back and forth. It made her realize that none of it mattered so long as she had Gideon in her life. He meant the world to her and she had missed him terribly.

  “Absolutely I am. But I bet I love you more?”

  “You are on, sir,” Ava challenged with a grin. “And remember the pie eating contest? I don’t like to lose.”

  “Darling, this is one thing I will happily lose at if it means I can see that smile every day for the rest of my life.”

  “Pastor? I believe the man intends to marry me. Shall we?” Ava questioned, looking away from Jeremiah for the briefest moment.

  “Hmmph. Is it my turn now?” Pastor Smith joked. “I thought you were saying your vows already?” He cleared his throat and began the service quietly. Melissa watched the two of them holding each other’s hands. Both looked so happy and proud to be sharing that moment, regardless of who stood nearby. She was quite certain that neither was aware of anything else other than what the other said, just like she was having a hard time following the Pastor’s words as Gideon’s eyes burned towards her.

  “Does anyone object?” Pastor Smith asked aloud and Melissa was certain that you could have heard a pin drop at the silence. “Good, good. Then by the power vested in me by the Lord and the State of Texas. Mr. Ellington? You may kiss your bride.”

  Melissa grinned as Jeremiah let out a loud whoop of delight and swept Ava into his arms. She began laughing as he swung her around the room, kissing her. He quickly set Ava back down and kissed each of the ladies on the cheek emphatically, causing Melissa and Trudy to share an embarrassed glance at the display of happiness.

  “If you kiss me? I’ll blacken your eye, sir,” Gideon bit out loudly.

  This caused everyone to all laugh heartily as Jeremiah hugged the man instead. Pastor Smith clapped both men on the back and reminded them quickly to ‘love thy neighbor’, separating the two. Melissa watched as Gideon shook their hands and stepped back silently.

  “Come into the kitchen,” Ava coached happily. “There is cake and some homemade blackberry wine I made last year and saved for a special occasion. Melissa? May I call you Melissa?” she asked politely, “Would you mind helping me pour the drinks while I get the plates?”

  “Of course,” Melissa answered quickly, surprised and touched at being included. “I’d love to help; why don’t you sit with your new husband?”

  “I will hand out the plates, if you’ll instruct me as to where they are” she heard Gideon’s voice behind her, making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Ava glanced at the two of them and then practically skipped towards where Jeremiah had taken a chair. Melissa had never seen the two of them look so happy. She found herself staring for a moment as Jeremiah pulled Ava into his lap, kissing her once again.

  “Why don’t you have a seat and I will get this,” Gideon offered, whispering in her ear. “You look beautiful today.”

  “Thank you, but I will help so we can both have a seat and enjoy it together,” she said smiling, reaching up to cup his face, and noticed the whiskers. “You’ve been avoiding me, sir.”

  “I’ve missed your sweet smile,” he breathed, kissing her forehead. Melissa shut her eyes against the onslaught of feeling that washed over her at his words.

  “The pastor is still here if you two need him,” Ava teased happily from her perch on Jeremiah’s lap. Melissa’s breath hitched as she refused to look at Gideon’s face.

  “Her mother isn’t here, nor would I force anything on Melissa.”

  “It’s not forcing if you haven’t asked me,” she replied softly, chancing a glance at him. His dark eyes raked over her face. “You’ve never asked me to marry you, Gideon. If you’d but ask? Then perhaps I would say yes.”

  Melissa stared at him as he swallowed hard. She was halfway frightened that he might not do it. Her mother wasn’t here, nor did she want to distract from Ava and Jeremiah’s wedding. “It’s okay. I would never press you.”

  “You are too good for me,” he admitted thickly. “Give me a bit to get your mother, so I can do this right. There is no one else to send, save the Pastor, and I am not letting you leave.” Melissa nodded tearfully, as she heard several happy bursts behind them as they quickly realized there would be a second wedding shortly. Gideon took off barefoot like a pack of wolves were behind him.

  “I don’t think he took the time to put his boots back on,” Jeremiah exclaimed merrily, banging the table amused. Ava laughed heartily and kissed his forehead. Melissa was surprised that they would want to share their day with them.

  “I wouldn’t want to intrude,” she began, feeling a bit embarrassed by all of the attention.

  Ava smiled widely at her. “Actually, it was your Mr. Ashton who asked that we have the papers drawn up for both ourselves and you two. We had planned on having it at the church originally, but he was afraid that you’d never want something so lavish.”

  “But I thought this was planned?” Melissa said confused.

  “By him. He bought the cake and the flowers in hopes that you’d come,” Trudy interjected gently. “Mr. Ashton almost had your mother here waiting but was afraid you’d say no.”

  “Had you declined his offer of marriage before?” Ava asked Melissa, surprised.

  “No, he never really asked me. He would casually mention it in passing.” She sat down, stunned. Jeremiah and Ava glanced at each other.

  “You didn’t pick out that dress? He said you’d be wearing pink.”

  “He bought it and delivered it to
my mother’s while I wasn’t there.”

  “Sounds like the man is pretty excited to be taking you to wife?” Pastor Smith commented slyly, with a glance towards Melissa. “Is this what you were bothered about on Sunday?”

  Trudy stood up and grabbed the glass wine decanter. Pouring several glasses, she handed Melissa one. As she took it, Melissa noticed her hand was shaking. “I don’t understand, Gideon planned all of this?”

  Leaning down, Trudy whispered, “Did you not read his letter, dear?”

  “No, not yet,” Glancing up, she met her warm eyes. “I intended to, but never did.”

  “You’re Mr. Ashton is a tad bit insecure and you might have a long talk with him later. Drink up, dearie. You’ve caught yourself a truly good man.”

  “Melissa? Melissa! Are you alright?” Eleanor Miller’s voice carried across the room as she skidded into the kitchen in a panic. “Melissa! Are you hurt?”

  “No, no! Nothing like that,” she chided, feeling embarrassed as Trudy quickly pulled up a chair for her panicked mother.

  “Mr. Ashton said it was truly urgent and pulled me onto his horse like a sack of flour. I thought you were hurt! Did you know he is barefoot?” Her mother said aghast, placing her hand over her heart. “And here you all sit, having spirits?”

  “It’s not urgent,” Melissa said quickly, trying to calm her.

  “It is to me,” Gideon argued as he padded silently into the room. “It’s very important to me.” Kneeling down beside where her mother sat, he took her hands into his. “Mrs. Miller,” he began.

  “Boy?” she interrupted in her sternest voice. “You had best be asking my permission, and not for my hand!” she swatted as she pulled her hands free from his. “Kneeling like that? P-shaw! Get up, you rascal. You had my permission from the very beginning of your courtship of my Melissa. Mrs. Miller is a bit stuffy for your mother in law, don’t you think?”

  “I do, ma’am,” Gideon grinned at Melissa’s surprised face. “Entirely too formal, isn’t it?”

  “Mother, you are happy?”

  “Happy? Of course, I am! I’m a little surprised that it’s taken you two so long, with all the canoodling you two have done? I have to cross myself every time I see it and pray that the good pastor be put to use soon. Speaking of…” her mother trailed off with a pointed look at the Smith’s, who sat at the end of the long table.

  “Yes, yes. Let’s return back to the living room, if you please?” the pastor announced, getting to his feet.

  “Gideon, may I speak with you a moment?” Melissa said softly, staring at the floor. The room grew silent as he got to his feet. Without a word, he walked into the living room stiffly.

  “What is it?” his voice echoed hollowly.

  “Did you truly plan all of this?” she asked, surprised and touched. When he failed to respond or look at her, she stared at his profile. He was a proud man, almost arrogantly so, yet the slightest thing would stop him in his tracks. “You’ve yet to even ask me to marry you. You assume, but you never talk to me. Gideon, look at me,” she beseeched, lying her hand on his cheek.

  “You are too good for me. I don’t deserve you and never will,” he hesitated, swallowing hard. “I’m sick and will never shake it. You should have better than me, a whole, healthy man. I’m scarred from battle and have nightmares of being trapped in the coal mines back home. I feel like God has delivered an angel into my life but I’ve nothing to offer you other than my love,” he breathed, touching her face softly.

  “But you? You are everything I could have dreamt about. Hope, joy, peace is in your soul, and when I kiss you? I get a glimpse of heaven and swear the angels sing for us. I need you like the air I breathe, Melissa. Will you marry me?”

  She felt hot tears rolling down her cheeks as she stared at him. His dark eyes glistened as he poured out his emotions. “I’d be honored to be your wife, Mr. Ashton,” she whispered reverently. “Honored, and proud. I will love you and cherish you for as long as I live. I have missed you so much these last few days, that I never want another day to pass where you aren’t smiling at me.”

  Melissa laughed as he passionately grabbed her, swinging her around the room. “I love you, darling,” he breathed, stopping and kissing her deeply there in the middle of the living room.

  “Pastor Smith, could you please make this official. I swear I don’t know how much more time I can take on my knees praying for guidance for the two of them,” her mother’s voice carried, breaking through Melissa’s senses. Pulling back, she tucked her head under Gideon’s chin and looked at her mother sheepishly.

  “Sorry, mother.”

  “Don’t be. I’m rather glad you are happy with your young man. I’ll be wanting grandchildren, you two.”

  “Mr. Ashton, you may kiss your bride.” Pastor Smith interrupted them.

  Melissa and Gideon looked at each other surprised. “You said your vows and honestly I cannot think of better ones. You covered most of what I would have said. Love, honor and cherish. Other than asking Melissa to obey her husband? That pretty much summed it up. Kiss your bride, already!”

  Gideon grabbed Melissa yet again, curling her toes with the intensity of his kiss. “I love you, Mrs. Ashton,” he whispered with a wicked smile. “I can’t wait to give your mother grandbabies.”

  “I love you too,” she breathed, against his mouth.

  Epilogue

  Melissa wrapped a blanket around her shoulders as she sat in a rocker in the corner of her room. Her new husband slept peacefully and she marveled at the beauty of his soul and how good he was to her. It felt like sheer fate that he had fallen into her lap and thanked God that Gideon had crossed her path when the time was right for them to meet.

  Quietly opening the folded worn envelope, Melissa held the letter up to the moonlight in order to read the scrawling handwriting. He had beautiful penmanship, showing his education. It struck her the first time she had seen it when she opened the card from him on the dress she had worn earlier in the day. This was Gideon’s letter stating his intent in responding to the need for a Ranger in town.

  Dear Sir or Madam,

  As I write this, I feel I am without hope. Your town’s pleas have not fallen upon deaf ears. I am lost and desperately searching for where I belong. My world has crumbled and I do not recognize it. My family doesn’t understand my illnesses and will not harbor a man that is less than so. I find that the blasts in a coal mine, remind me too much of battle. I need open air and a chance to prove myself worthy as a man. I am looking for solace and a chance to be looked upon with happiness, not pity.

  Sincerely,

  Lt. Gideon Ashton, Texas Ranger

  Melissa felt tears rush forward at the pain in his letter. Such a shame that he felt like he was less of a man simply because he had lived through so much tragedy. There was nothing wrong with not wanting to feel buried alive in the dark mines, nor was there anything shameful with being struck with an illness. She understood why he was so upset at the chance that she might see him sick. He was afraid to look like less of a man in her eyes. Frankly, he was blessed to have lived through the war and was still valiantly fighting against injustices of the world in a different way.

  “I don’t want your pity, my love” she heard him say quietly, breaking the silence. Looking at him, she marveled again that she had found him. He sat up in their bed, his blankets around his hips. “That was a different life, a different me. I’ve found my reason for life: You.”

  “You’ll never have my pity, Gideon,” she whispered, thickly. “My sheer admiration and my love? Always. I am shocked that you have been through so much, yet remain so strong. I am so proud to be your wife.”

  “Come back to bed, love. I’ve a promise to keep to your mother and intend to make good on that, my sweet delectable little wife,” he smiled, his eyes alit with desire and happiness, extending his hand. Melissa walked over and placed hers in his. His warm, quiet strength made her feel like she could take on the world with him at her side.
The loneliness was gone, the bitterness she’d once felt washed away.

  “I love you,” she said truthfully with a smile as he pulled her across his lap. She kissed him tenderly. “You mean the world to me and I am glad you came here to Maypearl.”

  “I adore you, Mrs. Ashton. You have returned back to me everything I had felt I had lost. You’ve given me hope, home, and your love. I will forever be grateful and always adore you.”

  Thank you for taking the time to read Lawfully Admired. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Doesn’t have to be much, just a simple rating and a few kind words work wonders. Your thoughts, opinions and feedback are much appreciated.

  Sincerely,

  Ginny

  P.S. - Stay tuned! There is a brand new series I will be participating in coming in December 2018. Please sign up for email notifications below:

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  About the Author

  Ginny Sterling is a Texas transplant living in Kentucky. She spends her free time (Ha!) writing, quilting, and spending time with her husband and two children. Ginny can be reached on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or via email at GinnySterlingBooks@gmail.com

  Dear John…

  For teacher Lily Hogan, those words would come to mean so much. She knew that giving back to the community brought joy into people’s lives. When her fourth-grade class writes letters to the military overseas in Afghanistan, she takes up her own pen and leads her students by example – writing a letter to an unknown soldier.

  CPO John Griffin and his K-9 dog, Radar, have been through so much together over the last several years. Sniffing out bombs, searching the hills and mentoring his team, he feels so alone and unsure of his future- until a letter reminds him that there’s more to life in this world he’s protecting. Simple words, a kind gesture and feeling that he isn’t forgotten out there in the desert, compels him to write back. Before long, he finds himself looking forward to the care packages and letters from his pen-pal halfway across the world.