“Thank you, everyone. You’re all so very kind. But I’m not going to stand up here and give another speech. There’s something that we really need to do first. If we can get every single woman to stand here on the dance floor in front of the brides, it’s time for the brides to toss their bouquets. So if you’re single and a female, no matter what age, you all can have a chance at catching one of the brides’ bouquets.
As a very large crowd of single women started to line up on the dance floor in front of the table where the brides were seated, Katie and Melissa stood up with their bouquets in their hands. Katie told Melissa to go first. So Melissa turned her back to the crowd, and as she closed her eyes, she tossed the large bouquet over her head and out into the crowd. It was a very good toss, and the bouquet soared high up into air—well, into the crowd just about twenty or so feet back. Now, there’s no way of telling just how many hands touched it before it landed into the open arms of the final woman that would lay claim to it. Melissa turned around to see who had caught her bouquet. To much of her surprise Susie Barnes stepped forward holding the bouquet in her hands. Katie and Melissa started clapping, and the entire crowd soon joined them. Now it was Katie’s turn.
Katie turned her back to the crowd. She closed her eyes and concentrated on throwing her bouquet far into the crowd of waiting and wanting hands. As she tossed her bouquet high above her head, everyone watched as it soared through the air. And just as it was about to make its descent into the crowd, a single hand reached up and, in an attempt to grab it, swatted the bouquet down into the waiting arms of her little cousin Katie.
Katie’s mouth opened in astonishment. She couldn’t believe that she had been lucky enough to have caught her cousin’s bouquet. Katie turned around to see who had caught hers. She was shocked to see her cousin clenching the bouquet in her hands.
And from the sidelines a voice rang out where everyone could hear it. “Yes!” was all that it said. Everyone turned to see Bobby standing there celebrating Katie’s feat. He looked up to see everyone staring at him.
“What? I’m just happy for her, that’s all,” Bobby told the crowd of onlookers. Everyone started clapping. Now whether they were clapping for Katie or at Bobby, that would never be known for certain. But little Katie didn’t care. She had her cousin’s bouquet, and to her, nothing else mattered.
The two brides and the two bouquet catchers posed for pictures, and they all hugged each other.
Paul walked up to the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, if I could please ask for everyone to clear the dance floor, and if I could please get all of the newlyweds to step out onto the dance floor, I would appreciate it,” he said as the crowd started to clear the dance floor.
The two couples of newlyweds stood out on the dance floor as Paul approached them.
“Life is a series of dances. Some will be a waltz while others will require a lot more. So I ask that all of you join with us in celebrating the union of love between these two couples as they dance their very first dance as husband and wife. May your lives together be as smooth as your very first dance,” He told them as he signaled for the music to begin.
Everyone on that dance floor knew what song they would be dancing to. Everyone except for Katie, that is. And as the musicians started playing, Katie could feel her heart grow by leaps and bounds as she recognized the song. They were all dancing to the song that Michael had played for her in that jukebox back in the soda shop. Michael looked at Katie.
“Hey, they’re playing our song,” he told her.
“I know. God, how I love you, Michael,” she told him as she buried her face against his chest.
“I love you too, dear. After all, you are indeed truly ‘Unforgettable,’” he told her as he pulled her into him.
And the two couples danced their way across the dance floor as the crowd looked on. There wasn’t a dry eye in the entire crowd or on the dance floor.
As their first dance finished, the musicians went right into the second song. It too was a slow-moving ballet. Bobby took little Katie by the hand and led her out onto the dance floor. As they started dancing, Katie saw them and signaled over to Melissa. Both couples slowly made their way to the sidelines and yielded the dance floor to Bobby and Katie. And neither of them ever knew that they were the focus of everyone’s attention. That was until the music slowly ended, and the crowd started cheering. Katie and Bobby just looked around as they realized that they were the only couple out on the dance floor. Bobby’s face turned beet-red, but Katie just gave everyone a curtsy before she and Bobby left the dance floor.
As the music started again, everyone started dancing. Katie and Melissa danced the next dance with their fathers as Mike and Rick danced theirs with their mothers. After that, it was an open dance floor. And for the next several hours, Katie and Melissa danced with what would appear to be every man in Mattersonville. Just as Mike and Rick danced with several of the town’s women.
But out of all the dances that Katie danced, none could be any more important or rewarding than the dances that she enjoyed with the three guys from the cave. It meant a lot to Katie, just knowing that her little bit of kindness had inspired these guys to make such a drastic change in their lives. It would prove to be one of her greatest acts of kindness.
It was well past two in the morning before the last of the guests finally left. Little Katie had long ago passed out, and Paul had taken her up to her room so Mary could put the very tired and worn-out little girl to bed. In her hand, was Katie’s bouquet. She refused to let it go.
Outside as everyone sat around a table, Grady poured each of them a glass of champagne. Katie and Melissa didn’t object, but they threw each other a cautious look.
“Here’s to a life of love, honor, and respect. May you always have plenty of each to carry you through,” Grady said as he held his glass out.
“Cheers,” they all said as they gently banged their glasses together before downing the bubbly beverage.
“Wow, what a day!” Elizabeth said as she looked at the mess before them.
“Yeah, no kidding. But I don’t think we’ve could have asked for a more perfect day,” Mary added.
“Yeah, I have to agree. And even when you consider the sheer number of people that showed up, everything worked out just fine,” Paul added.
Grady refilled their glasses again. Grady was about to make another toast as Katie interrupted him.
“Daddy, if I may?” she asked him.
“Why, certainly, Katie, by all means go ahead,” he responded.
Katie stood up with her glass in her hand. “Here’s to family, friends, and the people that mean the most to you, for without them, you have nothing,” Katie said as she held out her glass.
“Here, here, I’ll drink to that,” Michael said as he put his arm around Katie’s waist.
“Cheers,” they all said together as they downed the contents of their glasses.
“So have you all decided on a honeymoon spot yet?” Elizabeth asked them.
They all looked at Rick. “Go ahead, tell them. After all, it was your idea,” Mike told him.
Rick just looked at everyone at the table. “Well, I thought that we would take the advise of one of our friends and just go. Go see America. We have two weeks before Melissa has to be back at school, so we should be able to see a lot,” he told them.
“I think that’s a grand idea,” Grady replied.
“Where do you plan on going?” Paul asked.
“Well, California for starters, and then we’ll just work our way back. There’s a lot to see, and we want to see as much of it as possible,” Mike added.
Katie looked over at her daddy. She saw a tear run down his cheek.
“Daddy, are you crying?” she asked him.
“Naw, not me. But I just realized that this will be the very first time that we’ll be apart. It’s hard to believe that you’re all grown up now. You’ve got a great husband, and I suspect sooner or later, you’ll have a family of your own
too,” he told her.
“Yeah, but I’ll always be your little girl. Remember?” she asked.
“Yeah, and I’ll never forget it either,” he said as he hugged his daughter.
Katie and Michael turned and walked off toward the barn, hand in hand and heart in heart.
Michael looked at Katie. Love was in his eyes. “So how does my new bride feel now? I mean considerin’ the outpouring of support from our friends and family. I mean it was a spectacular ceremony, wasn’t it?” he asked her.
“Yes, it was at that, but it was a combination of everything that has happened in the past months or so. I mean, with the discovery of the treasure right down to those three guys in the cave. It all adds up to one beautiful story, doesn’t it?” she asked him.
“Yes, my dear Katie, it certainly does at that. The perfect love story that ends with us getting married,” he told her.
“Michael, while our wedding is the high point and the perfect ending to a perfect story, the story must go on. Every day that we wake up, we’ll find new challenges to face and new hurdles to get over. But if we haven’t learned anything else, we’ll have to remember everything that had to happen to bring us to where we are today,” she told him.
“I agree with you, dear. It was a combination of things that came together one piece at a time, and the finished puzzle was a picture of us falling in love,” he told her.
“Yeah, that is a pretty good ending, isn’t it? But think of all of the sacrifices that had to be endured along the way just so the story would all end up with us here. The Civil War, the slaves, the theft, the secrets, it all plays together. And I wonder what tomorrow will bring,” she told him.
“Katie, tomorrow will come, and it will go. We’ll learn from our mistakes and make new ones. That’s how life works. I’m just lucky enough to spend tomorrow and all of the days that will follow in love with you,” he told her.
“You’re so sweet, Michael. But I just have to wonder if in our lifetime, will we ever see the end of racism? Will little Katie grow up into a world where a person isn’t judged solely on the color of their skin. Will our kids, when we have them, learn that it’s so much better to give than it is to receive. Don’t get me wrong, sweetheart, I’m glad that I met you, and I love the way that you love me, but I wonder about the future,” she told him.
“Katie dear, you’re Katie Windslow despite the name change. You’ll always be Katie Windslow. I know that, and so do you. And that, my love, will give our kids and little Katie too an advantage over everyone else’s kids. Your faith in God and your faith in yourself is more than enough to see us through. And through your undying love, you’ll pass everything that makes you onto our kids. And who knows one of them just might make their mark in this world and maybe become the president or something,” he told her.
“That would be nice I suppose. But if they just grew up and believed in their fellow man and in God above, I would be grateful for that.
“Well, so much for pondering on the things that we can’t control. What do you say we wander on over to the barn, and say, check the horses?” she asked him.
He looked at her and smiled. “But what about your dress?” he asked her.
“What about it? All you have to be concerned about, my dear sir, is the fact that there’s no hoop skirt under there. In fact, the only thing you’ll find under this dress is me—your friend, your lover, and your wife. And I can’t think of anything else that I’d rather be doing right about now,” she told him.
“Well then, since you put it that way,” he answered as he led her off to the barn.
The End Or Is It just the Beginning?
Time would pass slowly at Matterson House. There was a lot of good times as well as a few bad times. Elizabeth, despite what the doctors had told her, lived for another eleven years. And even though her cancer made her weak at times, she was there to see her daughter graduate high school and go on to become Bobby’s wife. She died in her sleep in late August 1966. She was buried next to her husband, Jack, at Matterson House. Little Katie still talks to her mom and father often.
Bobby joined the United States Marine Corps after graduating high school. He served three complete tours of duty in Vietnam. But while in his final week of his fourth tour, he was killed by a sniper’s bullet in the summer of ’73. He was laid to rest at Matterson House with full military honors. Everyone cried.
Susie Barnes went on to marry the manager of the movie house. She’s the proud mother of three and is still Katie and Melissa’s friend.
Paul and Mary remained as everyone’s aunt and uncle. Neither of them have ever married.
Grady is still running Matterson House. Over fifty thousand people visit the national park every year. One month after the wedding, Grady received a large crate that he wasn’t expecting. After opening it, he was shocked and surprised to find a large bust of his brother, Jack. It was centered between the busts of two horse heads. One horse was looking to the right while the other looked to the left. It was done in solid brass. Below the three figures was affixed a bronze plaque that read,
“We shall never forget how he lived here nor shall we ever forget how they died here.”
Jack “Rings” Windslow, Proud Sponsor of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
This is what they had used the reward money that they had received for finding the Lost Treasure of the South. Grady put the statue next to the growing cemetery at Matterson House. It was a fitting tribute to his brother.
Melissa finished her last year of college before taking the job with the government. To her credit, over ten thousand pieces of American history have been recovered so far. And Rick was at her side every step of the way.
Katie and Mike stayed on at Matterson House where Katie soon became a favorite tour guide. Through thick and thin, Mike and Katie never left each other’s side. In the spring of ’62, Katie gave birth to their only child. They named him Jack.
Life goes on . . . one day at a time. So whenever you see something that looks out of place or something that you just can’t explain, it might prove to be worth checking out. Especially something as simple as a gopher hole. It may very well prove to be the treasure of a lifetime . . . or maybe you’ll just find gophers.
Hey, you’ll never know . . . Or will ya?
THE END
Table of Contents
Cover Page
Hearts of Grey
Copyright
Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Introduction
Girl Problems
A Chance Encounter
First Church Sunday
For Your First Love
In Her Face
A Leap of Faith
Hurt and Brokenhearted
A Promise Is a Promise
Susie’s Dirty Little Scheme
Melissa’s Homecoming
Something Not Right
Susie’s Dirty Tricks Revealed
The Plot Is Fully Explained
Melissa Learns Their Secrets
Saturday, Melissa’s Party
Party of Her Own
Katie Sings Solo before God
The Abduction of Katie
Trouble Believing
Exploring Katie’s Cave
Squares Turned to Diamonds
The Lord’s Prayer
Reading the Signs
The Discovery of a Lifetime
Golden Double Eagles and Skeletons Too
The Gold of the South
The Things that Dreams Are Made Of
The Best-Laid Plans of Mice and Men
The Dream of Every Woman
Weasels and Riffraff
The Faith to Believe
Shotguns not Required
Everything Gets Explained
Wedding Dresses Made-to-Order
Jack Finally Comes Home
A Ten-Year-Old Mystery
A Hero’s Welcome
Reserved for Preside
nts and Soldiers
A Little Bit of Shakin’ Going On
Four Days and a Wake-Up
The Dresses
Katie and Melissa All Grown Up
At the Movie House
Mattersonville’s Surprise
Whiskey Shots
Everything that They Caused
Bobby Meets His Dream Girl
Katie Talks to Her Mom and Dad
The Morning of the Big Day
The Wedding of All Weddings
The End Or Is It just the Beginning?
Hearts of Grey Page 54