Fireblossom

by Wright, Cynthia

  "You let them talk you into wearing all this stuff, too, Mr.Pym?" the boy exclaimed in disbelief, tugging at his small paper collar as if it were choking him. His wheat-colored hair had been parted in the center, oiled down, and coaxed into fashionable curls at the temples. The suit, which had traveled with the family from Philadelphia, bore witness to Benjamin's growing body, for it pulled across the shoulders and the pants gapped above his side-buttoned shoes. "I hate this! When I grow up, I'm gonna be a pony express rider or a gambler an' I'm never gonna wear a paper collar!"

  "Benjamin, dear, do try to remember that 'gonna' is not a word." Susan O'Hara spoke in tones of mild resignation as she walked up behind her grandson. "Your mother would faint if she could hear what comes out of your mouth these days."

  Introductions were exchanged then, overseen by Titus Pym. Susan had dressed with care for this afternoon. She had brought one especially fine gown with her, just in case an occasion of this nature arose, and now she proudly wore a full-trained skirt and a basque made by the famous Parisian Worth. The dress was of sapphire blue silk, richly decorated with velvet, and its high ruched collar set off her timeless good looks. Sapphire combs adorned her neatly dressed white hair, and she carried a blue foulard parasol lined with white silk to protect herself against the midday heat.

  Showered with compliments by the men, Susan felt herself flush with pleasure. "How kind you are. I thank you. And, Reverend Smith, how good you were to come today and preside over this wedding."

  "It's a pleasure, ma'am, and a welcome change," Henry Weston Smith said. "Are there any other guests we should wait for?"

  "Only the mother of the groom," Susan said, with a telling glance toward Titus Pym. "She ought to be here. I know that Madeleine and her father are ready to make their entrance from the house whenever Mrs. Matthews, and Fox, of course, are in place."

  "When I left Fox, he was buttoning his coat," Titus supplied.

  "I'm to wave through the trees when we're ready for him." He bent over just in time to catch hold of Benjamin, who was preparing to kneel on the grass and seize a baby snake. When he straightened up, he saw that the others were staring, silent with shock, toward the pine trees that separated the houses.

  Coming around the far side of the Avery house was Annie Sunday Matthews, regal in a polonaise and skirt of rose taffeta silk trimmed in cream velvet. A pearl choker gleamed at her throat, and her chestnut hair was carefully coiffed. Her appearance was no surprise, of course, but her companion was, for walking beside Annie Sunday was Sun Smile.

  "Good God," Gramma Susan pronounced, squinting through her spectacles in disbelief. "Pardon me, Reverend," she hastened to add, still staring.

  "Well, pickle me liver," Titus muttered, "will you look at her."

  "Who is she?" Charley Utter asked.

  "My Injin sister," came Benjamin's dark reply." She gives me the willies."

  Sun Smile was nearly unrecognizable. Somehow she had endured a thorough bath, which included her hair, and was now dressed up like a parody of a white woman in a simple corseted gown of myrtle green silk, gathered in back over a gingham underskirt. She walked slowly and awkwardly in a pair of narrow slippers with one-inch heels, and her clean hair shone in the sunlight, pinned into a coil at the nape of her neck and decorated with a white felt princess hat, its brim turned up on one side and trimmed with a green feather and ribbon. Only her shadowed eyes, so mournfully gray, and the downturned corners of her mouth, betrayed the farce that she was enacting.

  "I hope you will forgive us for being a few minutes late," Annie Sunday was saying as she drew Sun Smile into the circle of guests. Fox's mother wore a proud smile. "I think that our tardiness must be overlooked, however. Doesn't Sun Smile look simply lovely? It took some doing, but I'm not one to give up easily, and I knew that Sun Smile's presence here today of all days would mean so very much, not only to Daniel and Madeleine, who brought her to Deadwood in the hope of giving her a more civilized life, but also to dear Stephen, who has agonized so over her welfare." Annie Sunday gave her charge a bracing squeeze that was meant to impart courage. "I'm so proud of her that I can scarcely contain myself!"

  There was a pause, followed by a lot of nodding in response to Annie Sunday's speech. At last Susan took pity on the girl and gave her a warm smile. "We're happy to have you with us today, Sun Smile."

  Fox appeared then, and the focus shifted from the young Lakota widow to the bridegroom. It seemed that everyone could feel his energy as he strode toward his wedding.

  He wore his Civil War major's uniform which Annie Sunday had brought in the bottom of her trunk. Surprised at the sight of it, Fox had initially resisted the idea of putting it on for this occasion but slowly warmed to the idea. Now he stood tall and broad-shouldered in the navy blue dress coat with its double row of brass buttons and epaulettes trimmed with gold oak leaves. The edge of his white shirt showed above the high blue collar, setting off his tanned face. His dark hair was neatly trimmed and he had pinned a boutonniere of Maddie's red and orange zinnias to his uniform.

  "Finally!" He gave the guests a distracted smile and shook Preacher Smith's hand. "Let's begin."

  Benjamin was dispatched to signal the bride and her father, who came slowly out of the house's back door and crossed the yard toward the little group assembled in front of Maddie's garden.

  Maddie and Gramma Susan had had less than three days to concoct a proper wedding dress, and they'd done their best. The gown, of white Victorian lawn with Belgian lace trim and long slim lace sleeves, featured a fitted bodice with a low, square neckline. She wore no jewelry beyond the locket with her parents' pictures, and under a gossamer veil, her face was radiant, her unswept curls undimmed.

  Her heart drummed madly as they drew up next to Fox. Stephen gave her a loving kiss, patted her hand, and then placed it in the brown fingers of her bridegroom. Oddly enough, Maddie felt very close to Fox, even though he had yet to reassure her of his love and the reasons for this sudden marriage... even though they had scarcely spoken for days. She loved him so much that she could take the leap into marriage even without romantic promises from him.

  Her heart swelled at the sight of him in his major's uniform, for she had an idea of how difficult it must be for him to assume his true identity and wear this symbol of his past. Maddie thought he had never looked more dashing and irresistible.

  Preacher Smith read a simple wedding ceremony, pausing only to interject one original touch: "The groom has asked that I read a few lines written by a poet enjoyed by him and Miss Avery." Clearing his throat, he recited,

  "Camerado, I give you my hand!

  I give you my love more precious than money,

  I give you myself before preaching or law;

  Will you give me yourself?

  Will you come travel with me?

  Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?"

  Preacher Smith seemed taken aback by what he had read, but forged onward. "Those lines were written by the poet Walt Whitman."

  Wild and glorious emotions swelled Maddie's heart. Her eyes stung; her vision blurred. But still she saw Fox, so handsome that it made her giddy to look at him. For an instant his hand tightened around her own and she knew that everything would be just as she had dreamed between them.

  Vows were murmured, followed by Preacher Smith's solemn intonation, "I now pronounce you man and wife. Whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder!"

  Fox lifted Maddie's veil and gave her a secret smile. Then, tipping up her chin, he kissed her sweet, petal-soft lips and drew her body against his own with his free hand. When Susan began to clap, the others joined in.

  Only Sun Smile stood apart. In the excitement, no one noticed the tear that slipped down her powdered cheek.

  Chapter 25

  August 19-20, 1876

  After the bride cake and several bottles of champagne were consumed, and the gifts were opened, and Susan O'Hara had told everyone the story of her parents' wedding—distinguis
hed by the fact that George Washington had given away the bride—Fox managed to announce that he and the new Mrs. Matthews would have to be on their way. This led to another flurry of hugs and congratulations, then everyone began to move toward the kitchen doorway. Only Annie Sunday and Sun Smile were absent. Sun Smile had returned to the wagon after watching the others eat cake, and when Annie Sunday noticed her absence, she hurried out of the house.

  "My mother loves a cause," Fox remarked to his new father-in-law. "Don't hesitate to speak up if you feel she's meddling where Sun Smile is concerned. I confess I have my doubts, but on the other hand, there was a great deal of room for improvement and maybe Sun Smile has needed a nudge back into the world." He shrugged, adding, "Ma's a great crusader. I predict that she'll soon go after the badlands."

  This elicited a laugh from Charley Utter. "I'd like to see the look on Al Swearingen's face when your ma marches into the Gem Theatre!"

  "For Pete's sake, can I take this durned collar off?" Benjamin asked for the dozenth time.

  Susan shushed him, then whispered to Maddie, "Darling, you'll see my gift when you get to your new home. And don't worry about supper. I'll set a tray outside the door at seven o'clock." She gave her granddaughter a wink.

  "Thank you, Gramma." Maddie hugged her, then went into Stephen's arms.

  "I don't know what I'm getting so choked up about," Avery muttered. "You're just going next door, for pity's sake!" He looked at Fox over his daughter's head. "I don't have to tell you that I couldn't wish for a better husband for my darling girl than you. I already think of you as my son."

  "I appreciate that, sir." Fox extended his hand again to Preacher Smith. "And I appreciate your coming up here and giving my bride a proper wedding, Preacher. She's used to certain formalities being observed!"

  "My pleasure, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews." Henry Weston Smith smiled behind his thick, dark beard. "I know that you will have a long and joyous life together."

  "Amen," Fox said, then arched a brow and gave Maddie a wicked grin. "And I for one am ready to start this marriage in earnest!"

  She blushed, clasped his arm, and they ran from the little house in a shower of rice. With her free hand, Maddie lifted her skirts and tried not to stumble. The little group behind them was cheering gaily, and Fox and Maddie laughed at the silliness of taking a wedding trip to the other side of the row of pine trees. As soon as they were out of sight, he swept her into his arms.

  "At last." Before his breathless bride could reply, he covered her mouth with his own in a kiss so fiery that they both lost their bearings. When at length Fox lifted his head, he gazed into her eyes and said hoarsely, "I wanted to do that earlier, as soon as Preacher Smith pronounced us man and wife. Lord, how I wanted you then."

  Another pretty flush stained her cheeks. "I don't think your mother would have approved, not to mention Preacher Smith."

  Fox continued on toward the house, still holding Maddie lightly in his arms. "I can assure you, Mrs. Matthews, that my mother's approval is the farthest thing from my mind."

  She snuggled against his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck, beaming. Then, a bothersome thought intruded. "Fox... we haven't spoken since you delivered that decidedly unorthodox proposal, and this wedding happened so quickly, that there are a lot of matters I'm not quite clear on—"

  "There's only one matter that needs to be clear as far as I'm concerned," he interjected. "We're married, which means we are going to get in bed together and not come out until—"

  "You'll scare me, talking like that!" Maddie struggled to look anxious, but frolicsome laughter bubbled up inside her and spilled forth. "Just tell me now what we're going to do about your mother. Is she going to live with us? I mean, I know that she must be going to, after tonight, that is, and I understand..."

  Still carrying his new bride, Fox passed the front door of his log house and continued on around the corner. Maddie's eyes widened at the sight of a miniature version of his house situated just a few yards north. He gestured with his handsome head and explained, "Ma's going to live there. You're crazy if you think I'd have her in the same house with us!"

  Maddie was agog. "I—For heaven's sake, when on earth did you build that cabin?"

  "Titus and I built it, with some help from Charley and Wang Chee these past couple days. That's why you haven't seen me, my darling." He was smiling to himself now, pleased by the expression of shocked wonderment on her face. Carrying her back to the front door of his house, Fox said, "Now then, Mrs. Matthews, if you're satisfied that you won't have to share your home with the Dowager Queen, I'd like to go inside and set you down. It's not that my arms are getting tired, mind you, but I do have other plans for the afternoon." Eyes sparkling with devilment, he added, "Not to mention the evening, the night, and that magical hour around dawn...."

  Maddie nestled her face in the starched edge of his shirt and the warm, wonderful-smelling skin just below his ear.

  "I'd be glad to go inside with you, Mr. Matthews." That name still sounded rather odd to her ears; it was odder still to realize that it was her name now, too.

  Pausing with one hand on the knob, Fox kissed her ear, then whispered, "You may have noticed that I didn't give you a present yet. It's inside, along with the gift from your grandmother."

  "Have you two been planning something behind my back?"

  The corners of his eyes crinkled as he pushed open the door, lifted her over the threshold, and set her down on the pine floor. The sunshine outside had been dazzling and it took her a moment to adjust to the more shadowed interior of Fox's home.

  For a few moments, Maddie was confused. Had she forgotten so much since her last visit here? Surely this house had been empty of real furnishings. But now, on one side of the open staircase, there was a pine table and four stick-back chairs in place of the assortment of planks and barrels. Near the stone fireplace stood a beautiful new stove and shelves stocked with some cooking implements, a few tin plates and cups, and some food staples.

  Fox followed a few steps behind her as she wandered around. "I knew that you would want to choose your own dishes and linens, and things to make a parlor, but I wanted to have enough here to make us comfortable until you're ready to make other purchases. I even got us our own bathtub. It occurred to me that you might not want to go with me to the bathhouse," he added, with a wry smile.

  Swallowing hard, Maddie struggled to find her voice as she turned to face him. The tentative, hopeful tone of his speech had touched her deeply. How much trouble he had gone to in three short days! "Oh, Fox, this is just wonderful. Perfect! There's just enough here so that I can feel as if we have our own little home, but it was excessively thoughtful of you to allow me to choose the rest." She brushed away a tear and gave a shaky laugh. "I must warn you that I'm very tiresome these days. I cry at all the wrong moments."

  Wrapping her in his arms, Fox loosened the pins in her glorious hair and murmured, "And why is that, Maddie?"

  "Because I am so supremely happy." She whispered the confession into his uniform coat, an eagle-engraved brass button pressed to her cheek. "It's pointless for me to pretend to be above it all. I love you quite desperately. If you wanted to, you could break my heart."

  "My foolish darling, why would I do that? You're safe with me, for the rest of your life."

  His voice, low and incredibly intoxicating, set off another tide of emotion and more tears of joy. "Fox, why did you do this? Marry me, I mean. You told me—"

  "Please, don't remind me of every stupid word I've spoken to you over the past weeks," he said, with a self-deprecating laugh, hugging her tighter. "From the moment we reached Deadwood and our separate and crowded houses, I've missed you so much that it became a pain inside me, gnawing at me night and day. Maybe it wouldn't have demanded such an immediate and radical solution if Ma hadn't been waiting here." He ran his fingers through her silky hair, smiling. "God, but she drove me mad. I couldn't be alone with you anywhere as long as she was here, and then she decided to
make me her project. She had gone off to order furnishings for this house the same day I commanded you to marry me. I knew that I had to do something fast or she would take over and it would be too late for this house, and maybe for us, too. Once Ma gets started, she's like a snowball that turns into an avalanche."

  "I still cannot get over the fact that you built her her own cabin—and so quickly!"

  He chuckled. "I started planning it the very day we got home. Which reminds me... I started planning something else that night, too. Close your eyes and I'll show you my wedding present to you."

  She squeezed her eyes shut while protesting, "But I didn't have a chance to get a present for you—"

  "You're all the present I'll ever need," Fox replied in a voice rich with meaning. He took her hand then and led her under the back of the stairway to the other side of the house. "All right. You can look now."

  Opening her eyes, she beheld a dreamlike four-poster bed reposing on the floor in front of them. A wide ray of sunlight streamed through the window and bathed the simple pencil-post creation in a golden haze. Attached to the posts was a tester frame; yards of white lawn fabric were draped high and swirled down at the corners. The rope spring was covered with a deep, inviting feather bed and two puffy down pillows, and the crowning touch was an exquisitely stitched quilt in a multicolored wedding-ring pattern.

  After a few moments, Fox produced a handkerchief and watched fondly as Maddie blotted a fresh shower of tears. "Do you like it?" he ventured at length, not without a trace of laughter. When she managed a mute nod, he wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed the side of her neck. "I thought that you might. And of course, you've recognized your grandmother's gift to us...."

  "That quilt was a gift to Gramma Susan and Grandpa Patrick on their wedding day... sixty years ago. Gramma's mother, Meagan, made it for her at a quilting party with a lot of other senators' wives in Washington." Maddie shook her head, dazed with pleasure. "How wonderful of her to give it to us... and—Fox, did you make this bed as well as that little cottage for your mother?"