by Lynn Donovan
They shook their heads, transfixed on her next words. Even the adults paused from their conversations to listen.
"He saved my life… and he told me that he has loved me a really long time. That impressed me so much that I fell in love with him. I love my daddy and my momma, and I think the world of them. But I have never been as happy as I am now, up here on this mountain."
Timothy moved to stand beside her. He put his arm around her shoulder as she continued. "Your Uncle Timothy has taught me a lot of things. The most important of which is: The mountain provides." The children nodded. Obviously they had heard this a lot.
Nellie smiled as she snuggled against Timothy. "We have everything we need here and that makes us even richer than my daddy. Because" —a sob hitched in her throat— "He's always looking for that next big investment. Momma's always striving to impress people in town. But up here on this mountain, we have everything we need and want. It's so peaceful here. And quiet. I love living here. And now that your aunts have brought me some mountain-woman clothes,” she chuckled and shot a sweet glance to the two. “I feel like I belong here, too."
Silence filled the cabin as Nellie put her arms around Timothy's chest and buried her face into his shoulder. He squeezed her a little tighter.
"And belong here, you do. Welcome to the family."
It was Mary's voice. Nellie jerked her head up and looked the woman in the eyes. She had tears. And she looked sincere.
"Here, here!" Maude held up a jug of moonshine. The others cheered and someone whipped out tumblers into which the homemade whiskey was poured. Nellie sniffed her glass and decided to pass, but kept the glass in her hand. She planned to casually slip it to Timothy when she had the chance.
The food was removed from the fire and spread out on the tables in Grey’s cabin. They ate their fill and then brought out their instruments. Voices were raised in rhythmic folk songs. Nellie closed her eyes and tapped her foot to the joyful music. Timothy held her closely on the porch, both wrapped warmly in a fur cape. The children had fallen asleep and were put down on the bed and on fur coats on the floor in Timothy's cabin.
Cots were set up in Grey's cabin. Nellie had never noticed them stretched across the rafters. And fur bedrolls were put on the floor in Timothy's cabin. The men bunked down on Grey's side and the women bedded down on Timothy's side. Nellie smiled as she looked across the wall to wall sleeping bodies on the floor. Thank goodness she had scrubbed it so well! She chuckled to herself. This was home. These were her family. And soon, she'd go into town with Timothy an ask Pastor Elkins to marry them.
She wondered how many of these folks would come down out of the mountain with them. She couldn't wait to let her daddy and momma know she was alive. And her girlfriends. Would she have time to go make good on her promise to apologize to May and Hoyt. She pursed her lips. She'd make time. Besides she needed to thank Mrs. Franklin for teaching her to cook and to tell her about the garlic and chicken soup and buttermilk pie.
Oh, she needed to ask Charlotte and Bobby Lou if it was alright to share that recipe.
She laid her head down on the fur and sighed. Tomorrow was the day. She'd return to Belle and show everyone how different she had become out here in paradise.
Epilogue
"That's Nellie Harris!” Henry Steward, the general store owner shouted.
"She's alive!" Mavis Pettigrew cried.
"Somebody go tell her father!” A woman called out.
A man jumped on a horse and tore out of town at a full gallop.
Roseline Johnson ran toward the wagon, halting the mules. Then ran to the buckboard and leapt on top to grab Nellie into a fierce hug. "Are you alright, Nellie?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Nellie grinned from ear to ear. "Timothy saved my life."
Roseline turned to the stranger. "Thank—" as if she suddenly realized he was a trapper from the mountain, she frowned. "Did he hurt you?"
"No. Roseline. He saved my life."
Another voice came from the street. "Who is that man with you?"
Tillie Pettigrew called out in answer. "That's Timothy Moses. I've seen him lurking outside our dress shop."
"I'm fine." Nellie stood from her seat and pumped her hands in an effort to calm everyone down. "This is Timothy Moses. He saved my life and now he has brought me back to Belle so I can let my parents… and all of you, know that I am alive and well."
"What happened?"
Nellie shook her head. "I did a stupid thing and ran out of the Sweetheart’s Dance over nothing! I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going. A snowstorm came on me, up there in the mountain, and I fell into a river. I nearly froze to death, but Timothy Moses found me and saved my life. I'm fine. I assure you!"
Grumbling rose to Nellie's hearing. It was Ol’ Mrs. Harding.
”If you spent all this time in the mountains with that boy, you better be planning a visit to Pastor Elkins!” Anger drew her face taut.
Nellie smiled down at the beloved woman. "As a matter of fact, Missus Harding, That's exactly where we are going, as soon as I can let Daddy and Momma know I'm alright."
Miss Tillie's eyebrows shot up high on her forehead. She nodded to her sister and the two of them seemed to relax.
Roseline gasped, still clinging to the side of the wagon. "You can't marry this… this mountain man!"
Again Nellie smiled. "I can and I will.” She reached over and took Timothy’s hand. “I love him, Roseline. And he asked me to marry him. We are here in town to take care of that and a few other issues I need to clear up before we go back up the mountain.”
Roseline's mouth hung open as she eased down from the wagon and staggered backward. "You can't be serious!"
"Oh, I'm quite serious." Nellie continued. "Coming so close to death has changed me, Rosey. I'm a new person."
Roseline shook her head, not accepting the words Nellie was saying. "I just can't believe this." She ran down the boardwalk and disappeared in a store.
Timothy looked at Nellie. "Which way? The chapel or your family's estate?"
Well, Daddy will be here soon. So we probably ought to go let Pastor Elkins know what we have in mind."
"How do you know your pa's on his way?"
"That was one of his men that took off like a scalded dog."
Timothy nodded with a slight smile and reined the mule to turn toward the little chapel on the hill. Nellie waited to let Timothy help her down and casually walked across the grassy knoll and entered the chapel.
When they came out, she heard her father's voice. "Where is she? Where's my baby girl?"
Tears sprang into her eyes to hear his anguish. "I'm here, Daddy!" she hollered.
He turned. Their eyes met. She ran to him. He ran toward her. They met across the street from the chapel. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into an embrace she'd never experienced from her father. He cried against her hair. "My baby girl. We thought you were dead!"
"I'm not. I'm alive, Daddy. And this is Timothy Moses." She gestured toward him as he walked quickly, catching up to her. "He saved my life."
Evan lifted his head and looked, confused, at Timothy. "You… saved my baby girl's life?"
"Yes sir." Timothy put out his hand.
Evan jumped away from Nellie, grabbing Timothy's hand, and yanked him into an embrace. "Thank you. Thank you, for saving my daughter. Who are you again?" He shoved Timothy back to take a good long look at him.
"My name is Timothy Moses, sir. And I wan—"
Evan considered his name. "Moses. You're one of those mountain people?"
"Yes sir. And I wan—"
"Well." Even smiled a curious smile. Nellie didn't like the look on her daddy's face. "Here," he reached into his breast pocket and pulled out his wallet. "Let me pay you! I'm so grateful you brought her home. What seems fair…?" He pulled bills from the leather wallet, his eyes remained on Timothy's, as if he were waiting for the man to indicate when he had taken enough money out to satisfy his need for the service.
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"Daddy! Put your money away! Timothy doesn't want to be paid!"
"No sir. I don't want your money. I want to ask for your permission to marry your daughter."
"You want what!" Even's eyes went wide. "I should think not!"
"But Daddy!"
"Evan, stop!" Her mother rushed up behind him. Lowering her voice to a growl, she spoke through a fake smile, for appearances' sake. "If what has happened is what I believe to have happened, our daughter's reputation is ruined. Now, stop this nonsense and give your bloody blessing so she can get married."
Nellie and Evan turned to Louise Harris with identical shock on their faces. Nellie spoke first. "Good to see you are well, too, Mother."
Even spoke through gritted teeth. ”I don't care if her reputation is ruined, I will not allow her to marry… this… heathen."
Louise continued to smile beautifully. "Heathen or not, we will be shunned from every social event in the Wyoming Territory. Now give them your blessing!"
"Is that truly all that you care about? Your place in society?" He glared at his wife.
Nellie stepped between them. Her mother's attitude was no different than it had ever been, although it was shocking that she had not exhibited relief, or joy, to find Nellie was still alive. That hurt, a lot. But the real issue at hand was marrying Timothy. "Daddy. Timothy has been a perfect gentleman this whole time. We couldn't come back sooner because the snowstorm had sealed us in up there on the mountain. But, while I was there, I fell in love with Timothy… and his family."
As if on cue, the Moses's entered town. Two wagons and two mules trailed the other. Timothy's brothers shouted and wave their arms. “Yahoo! Our little brother's getting married today!"
Evan's jaw muscles bulged as he clenched his teeth. "This… is what you want to marry into?"
Nellie stepped closer to her daddy. "Yes. I love Timothy. I love his life on the mountain. And I love his brothers and their wives. The children are precious and they already call me Aunt Nellie." She smiled her sweetest smile that she used to manipulate her father. But then she straightened her back and lost the smile. "Daddy, I don't want to manipulate you. I'm asking you, as a grown woman who loves a man. Will you please give us your blessing to be married?” She glanced at Timothy. "I have to be honest with you. We are getting married with or without your permission. I'm not a child. But I'd rather have your blessing than not."
She stepped back from her father and took Timothy's hands. “Daddy, I want you to walk me down the aisle."
Evan's eyes burned with anger. He stared at Nellie, then Timothy. Her mother clung to Evan’s arm, pleading in silence to let this happen. He turned to his wife, and pulled his arm out of her grip. Then addressed Nellie again. "You're sure this is what you want?"
She smiled, but not to manipulate him. She knew he was coming around and it made her happy. "Yes. I'm very sure."
He stiffened, then drew in a long deep breath and let it out. "Alright. But we need to sit down and write up something, legally, to protect you, just in case."
Nellie closed her eyes and shook her head. "Alright, Daddy. If that will make you feel better."
"It will."
"So, will you walk me down the aisle?"
He cut his eyes to his wife. Pursing his lips with disgust he nodded. "I will."
"Thank you, Daddy."
Timothy turned to his family, who had halted near them to hear what was being said. Timothy raised his arms straight into the air. "He's giving us his blessing! Let's go have a wedding!"
Cheers and hats rose in the air and the entourage moved to the chapel.
The newlyweds stayed in Belle, Wyoming three days before returning to their paradise on the mountain. She and Timothy made a trip out to the Cole's ranch where she had a heartfelt conversation with May and Hoyt, sincerely wishing them well and begging for their forgiveness, which they gave willingly. May promised to write when the baby came, and Nellie promised to let them know when she and Timothy were in town.
The townsfolk scrambled to give the happy couple wedding gifts that they would treasure the rest of their lives. Ordinary necessities such as dish towels and bath towels. But the most endearing gift was from Mrs. Franklin, Olivia Stewart and others who put together a handwritten collection of all their favorite recipes along with helpful advice for cleaning and other household chore shortcuts. The Pettigrew sisters took Nellie into their shop and spent a half a day teaching her how to sew on buttons and mend garments, especially hide.
At the end of their lesson, they walked Nellie over to the diner, supposedly for a quick lunch, only to surprise her with a bridal shower where a Wedding Ring quilt was given to her from the woman's church auxiliary who had put it together in record time.
Mr. Stewart gave Timothy top dollar for the furs he had brought with him. Especially after Timothy told the mercantile owner how Nellie had gathered those furs while he was down with the fever. Timothy spent the money on matching wedding bands and a vanity table with an oval mirror for the cabin. A little something Bobby Lou and Charlotte had insisted he get for his new bride before they went back to the mountain after the wedding celebration.
Nellie and Timothy loaded everything into the wagon and said their goodbyes. Audrey, Roseline, and Eden all came to wish her well. They hugged and cried. Then, just as they pulled away the girls threw rice, screaming, "Congratulations!"
Nearly the whole town stood outside the livery as Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Moses pulled away. Shoes and tin cans rattled behind their wagon as it rolled forward. The couple laughed and waved one more time. Their wagon and their hearts were filled with treasures they would keep forever.
Nellie turned on the bench and waved once more. With Nellie’s new attitude she found the happy ever after she was looking for all along.
THE END
Personal Note from the Author
I researched the song, “Away in the Manger” and found all sorts of information that varied from it originating in the United Sates in 1800, to originating in Germany in 1885. So I am standing on my interpretation that Nellie knew the song from the Christmas they had celebrated in 1881 and she sang it while caught in the blizzard in February 1882.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
The Trapper’s set gun that Timothy gave Nellie before she went out to check his traps came from this blog post. “Set guns have been used for hunting since the 1700s, but these guns were mostly home-built jobs and were usually built using damaged or obsolete firearms. In the 1800s and early 1900s, when fur trapping was at its zenith, well-known companies started to get into the business of building custom trapper guns. Some of these companies include Getsem Gun Company of Lincoln, Nebraska and FC Taylor Fur Company of St. Louis, Missouri.”
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for buying my book. The Belles of Wyoming Series is so much fun to write and we authors hope that you are enjoying reading it as much as we enjoyed planning and writing it for you. I especially hope you enjoyed Nellies and Timothy’s tale. Love conquers all, doesn’t it?
The next book in this Series is Book 38, The Trouble with Lucy by Julia Ridgmont. Preorder by clicking here.
Enjoy! God bless you and yours!
Lynn Donovan
About the Author
Lynn Donovan is an author, playwright, and director who spends her days chasing after her muses trying to get them to behave long enough to write their stories. The results are numerous novels, multi-author series, anthologies, dramatizations, and short stories.
Lynn is a co-host on a local AM radio show, KRLN 1400, called Write Time Radio where she and her co-host air old-time-radio dramas, narrations, excerpts and poems written by local writers, including herself.
Lynn enjoys reading and writing all kinds of fiction, paranormal, speculative, contemporary romance, and time travel. But you never know what her muses will come up with for a story, so you could see a novel under any given genre. All that can be said is keep your eyes open, because these
muses are not sitting still for long!
Oops, there they go again…
You can learn more about Lynn on her blog, follow her on Twitter @MLynnDonovan, Facebook Author page at LynnDonovanFGG and her website LynnDonovanAuthor.com.
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For more publications by Lynn Donovan go to:
Amazon.com/author/ldonovan
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~Lynn Donovan
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