by Jill Maguire
Chapter Twelve
Philip heard the crash of the front door behind him and turned to see Nora, her petticoat filthy with mud, her face covered by Sara’s shawl, rushing to catch up to him. “Hurry!” he shouted, extending his hand to Nora. “Stay together,” he shouted, hoping Nora would be able to hear him.
He held Nora’s hand tightly and navigated his way toward the stream. Terrible, awful thoughts ran through his head as he slipped through the mud. He had already lost Sara; he couldn’t survive the loss of his daughter. She was the only thing that kept him going in his darkest days and even though they had suffered an unthinkable loss, through their grief they had formed a strong bond – one that he cherished every single day.
“Annie!” Philip called desperately for his child. “Annnnnnie!”
Nora shouted her name too, but neither heard a response.
Philip put his mouth close to Nora’s ear so she could hear him. “Where were you swimming? Show me.”
Nora pointed to the bend in the stream, now swollen with fast moving water. She tugged on his shirt, and he brought his ear close again.
“We got out of the water when we heard thunder. I think she might have gone into the prairie grass.”
Philip pulled away from Nora’s and she could see the terror-stricken expression on his face.
Philip knew how much Annie loved the grass and the way it danced in the breeze. Not long ago she told Philip that one day she was going to lie down in a field of it and let the tall, feathery stalks bend and sway around her. At the time Philip laughed at his daughter’s playful imagination but now he wished he had told her how dangerous prairie grass could be.
Philip looked at the field of grass, battered by the wind and thrashing violently in the storm. He knew going in alone to find Annie would be dangerous. Even a full grown man could easily lose his bearings once he was entangled in the maze of grass.
“Stay right here. Don’t move,” Philip instructed, pointing to Nora’s feet. He lifted the shawl from her shoulders and held it over her head. “Keep it like this; it’ll protect you from the rain.” Then he dashed off. Nora watched him run and prayed he would find Annie. She knew how much the youngster meant to him.
Moments later, Philip returned with a roll of thick twine looped over his shoulder.
“Come with me.” Philip grabbed Nora’s hand and the two stumbled their way to the edge of the prairie grass field. “Hold this end and don’t let go.”
Nora did as he said, holding tight to the end of the rope. Philip pressed his body into the wind, forcing himself towards the ominous field of lashing grass. The tall stalks dared him to enter and when he did, they punished him fiercely. But Philip was determined -- and nothing was going to stop him from finding his daughter.
Nora shielded her face with the shawl as Philip disappeared into the wind whipped field. She watched as the rope unwound itself from the pile at her feet until every inch vanished into the grass. Philip had gone as far as he could go. The rope in Nora’s hand pulled to the left and then quickly to the right, burning her cold skin as it swung heavily from side to side. Philip tugged hard on the rope and it was all Nora could do to hang on. He was frantically searching and Nora had never been so worried.
Then everything stopped. The rope lay limp in the puddles at Nora’s feet and she felt only the tiniest jerk on the other end. Nora’s eyes followed Philip’s water filled footprints in the mud to the opening of the field, praying that he would emerge with Annie in his arms. But there was no sign of Philip or his daughter.
Nora brought her hands to her chin; the rope still securely clutched between her fingers and folded them together in prayer. Please Lord; please let him find his little girl. He has already lost so much. Please give him the strength to find her. Nora squeezed her eyes closed tightly as she trembled, the rain continuing to punish her aching body.
“Nora!” Philip’s distraught and frightened voice echoed in her ear. She looked up to see Philip, soaked to the bone with Annie in his arms. By the time she saw them, Philip was already hurrying to the cabin, slipping in the mud under Annie’s weight. Nora raced to catch up.
****
Philip was only two feet inside the door and he had already stripped Annie’s wet clothes from her body and wrapped her in warm, dry blankets. He tore away his own drenched shirt and held his daughter close to his chest hoping his body heat would warm her.
Nora, feeling terribly guilty about Annie’s condition, quickly started a fire and put the kettle on the stove. This was all her fault -- because of her, Annie lay lifeless in her father’s arms.
“She should see the doctor,” Nora murmured as she wrapped another blanket around Philip and his daughter.
“We can’t take her out again in this storm. We’ll have to wait until morning.”
“Of course.” Nora pulled the wooden rocking chair in front of the now crackling fire and Philip sat down, his arms still firmly wrapped around his daughter. Nora knelt in front of them and peeled Annie’s filthy wet stockings from her legs and laid them on the hearth in front of the fireplace. The girl’s skin was ice cold so Nora tucked another blanket around her feet.
“You better get out of those clothes,” Philip said to Nora, looking away suddenly at what he had just implied. “Before you catch the death of cold, I mean. You’re shaking like a leaf.”
Nora had been so concerned about Annie that she had forgotten how cold she was. Every inch of her skin was soaked and her bones ached from the blowing wind. At Philip’s suggestion, she quickly changed her clothes and pinned up her drenched hair before returning to Philip’s side.
The three of them sat for hours, listening to the howling wind outside and waiting for Annie to regain her strength. The youngster was lethargic and weak and Nora could tell Philip was worried. With each gentle rock of the chair and every loving stroke of her hair, Philip was willing his daughter back to health.
“I’m so sorry Philip,” Nora whispered, unable to contain her guilt any longer. She held her breath and waited for his reply – waiting for him to tell her how careless and foolish she had been to take Annie out there in the first place. But his answer surprised her.
“There’s no need to be sorry Nora. In fact, I’m thankful. It’s been a very long time since Annie has been able to enjoy simple childhood pleasures like swimming in the creek and playing hide and seek. That’s what’s been missing in her life since her Ma died.”
Nora carefully placed another log on the fire and gave the embers a soft blow to bring the flames back to life. She looked up at Philip and he smiled gently at her. Nora wanted to look away, but something in his eyes held her stare. The flickering fire lit his face and for the first time, her heart thumped strangely in her chest.
Nora shuffled forward and crouched in front of the rocking chair, putting her hand on Philip’s knee. She knew it was very forward of her but he needed to know that she too was thankful. “I’ve been missing many things in my life too. You and Annie have helped me realize that.” Nora tucked the blanket around Annie’s shoulders and took the child’s hand in hers. “She’s going to be just fine. We all are.”
Nora folded her knees underneath her and sat at Philip side, never letting go of Annie’s hand. She gazed into the fireplace and began to sing. She sang sweet and soft as Philip swayed back and forth.
“You have the most beautiful voice,” Philip told her.
“Thank you, Mr. Cohen.”
Philip chuckled quietly. “Maybe since we’re going to be…..well, we might be……you know…...” he paused, unable to make his mouth say the word. “Perhaps you could start calling me Philip.”
“Married?” Annie’s tiny voice floated out from beneath the pile of wool blankets.
“Annie! Oh, darling. I’m so happy to hear your voice.” Philip gave his daughter a big squeeze and pecked at her cheek with a fatherly kiss. Then Philip pulled his head back and stared at Annie. “Wait, what did you say?”
“I said ‘marrie
d’ Pa. You and Nora are going to be ‘married’. Wasn’t that what you were tryin’ to say?” Annie’s voice was much quieter and weaker than normal, but just as sassy.
“What in the wilderness gave you that idea child?” Philip looked mortified but amused at the same time.
“You responded to Nora’s ad in the newsletter, for a bride. You two are going to get married.”
Philip was dumbfounded. Annie had known all along, just as he suspected after speaking with Mrs. Filbert. But before Philip could question the girl any further, she nuzzled her face into his warm chest and drifted back to sleep.
Nora tried to stifle a giggle and continued singing. Philip shook his head and whispered “Curious, curious child.”
As the darkness of night crept across the window and the storm began to subside, Nora, still seated next to Philip and Annie, felt her eyes grow tired. The exhaustion of the day took hold of her and before she could stop, her head began to nod. Her chin sunk to her chest and her ear fell gently to Philip’s knee. She wasn’t entirely sure, but as her body floated into reverie, Nora thought she felt Philip’s warm hand softly touch her long damp curls and gently caress the back of her neck. Her heart skipped one dreamy beat as she slowly fell asleep.
Chapter Thirteen
“What’s this I hear about you gettin’ hitched?” Typical Doc McGrath – not exactly one to mince words. The white-haired man waited patiently for an answer.
“Well, we’re still kinda tryin’ to figure that out Doc,” Philip mumbled.
“What in the devil do ‘ya mean, boy? Either you asked the lady to marry ‘ya or ‘ya didn’t. Which one is it?” Doc’s big blue eyes widened, puzzled by Philip Cohen’s lack of certainty.
Philip didn’t even know how to explain the situation to his own conscience let alone clarify it for someone else. And the last thing he wanted was to be the subject of the town’s merciless gossip so he tried to change the subject.
“What about Annie, Doc? Is she going to be okay?”
“I don’t see why not. I’m guessin’ she was slightly hypothermic last night after spending time out in that dreaded storm. But you did the right thing. You got her warm and dry and thanks to you, this little whippersnapper will be good as gold in a few days.” Doc ruffled Annie’s curly locks and patted her on the knee. “She’ll need lots of rest and plenty of fluids ‘till then though.”
“Yes, sir. We’ll be sure to follow doctor’s orders. Isn’t that right Annie?” Philip raised his eye at his daughter and peered at her from under his brow.
“Yes, Pa. Thank you Doc McGrath.” Annie held her Pa’s hand and hopped down from the doctor’s examination table. She glanced up at Philip and immediately he recognized the mischievous twinkle in his little girl’s eye. “And yes, they’re getting married,” Annie announced to Doc McGrath. “Hopefully by the end of the week. Bye Doc.” With that, Annie spun on her heel and skipped out the door.
Philip stuttered and spit, trying to think of what to say to explain his daughter’s outburst. “Children,” he shrugged. “They say the darndest things.”
“So I’ll be expectin’ a wedding invitation? You know Myrtle will want to see you get married.”
“We’re still tryin’ to figure that out Doc,” Philip repeated, tipping his hat and excusing himself from the office.
“Just don’t plan the wedding for Saturday. Reverend Harrigan and I are judging the Blue Ribbon Pie Contest. Can’t miss that,” Doc hollered at Philip.
Philip didn’t answer; he just smiled politely and firmly snapped the reigns, urging Ernest the horse to get him the heck out of there.
Nora almost flew out of her seat when the wagon lurched forward. She tried to wave goodbye to the friendly doctor, but she needed both hands to hold on.
“Why the rush?” Nora asked Philip once they reached the outskirts of town and the wagon slowed to a more leisurely pace.
“Townsfolk, that’s all. They like bein’ nosey. I don’t have much patience for that.”
“Was Doc McGrath asking you about me?”
“Annie told him we would be getting married by the end of the week,” Philip admitted.
Nora kept her eyes focused on the gravel roadway in front of them. The ground was still wet from the wicked storm and very little dust was blowing, much to her liking. She remained silent, unsure how to respond to Annie’s prophecy – laugh, deny, agree, or ignore what the youngster had said. Philip didn’t say anything more either.
“Pa?” Annie’s voice interrupted the uncomfortable silence. “May we stop for a few minutes? It’s a beautiful sunny day and I want to look for butterflies.”
Philip only pondered his daughter’s request for a split second before pulling the reigns to his chest and yelling for Ernest to halt. He was so incredibly thankful that his daughter was going to be okay that he couldn’t possibly deny her this simple wish.
“We’ll only stay a few minutes,” he explained to Nora.
“I’m not in any hurry,” she replied. “I love butterflies.”
Philip helped Nora down from the wagon as Annie ran off to a nearby tree stump, eagerly searching for her favorite winged creatures.
“Take it easy Annie,” Philip reminded her. “Lots of rest remember.”
“I know Pa, but I feel fine. Fit as a fiddle,” Annie called over her shoulder.
Nora smiled as she lifted her long skirt, the hem hovering only inches from the wet ground. “She is quite a young lady.”
Philip grinned. “She’s one of a kind.” He looked shyly at his boots and cleared his throat. “Kinda like you Nora.”
Nora blushed and tucked a stray curl behind her ear as she and Philip walked side by side. The sun was warm on her face and she squinted to watch Annie frolic against the horizon.
“I guess this isn’t quite the life you expected when you placed your ad in that newsletter,” Philip hinted.
Nora decided this was the perfect time to confess to Philip about the advertisement. “To be truthful, I didn’t place the ad. My landlady at the time, Clarabell thought it would be best for me to move on with my life so she placed the ad. I hope that doesn’t anger you.”
Philip stopped and plucked a small white daisy from the ground. He spun it in his hand several times before he answered. “Did it anger you?”
“It did at the time. When I found out what Clara had done, I felt betrayed and hurt. But now that I’m here, I think she was right. I needed to move on and start a new life for myself. I never would have imagined that I could meet a complete stranger and …….” Nora paused.
“And?” Philip urged.
“And be happy. You and your daughter are very special and I’m happy to have met you both.”
One side of Philip’s handsome smile turned upward slightly and Nora stole another glance at the deep dimple in the center of his cheek. She had seen so many sides of Philip Cohen in her short time on the prairie – she had seen him uncomfortable, in pain, vulnerable and terrified. Even though she had only known him for a few days, she felt like they had already been through so much.
“Well I never expected the woman in that ad to be so beautiful and brave,” Philip said, still fidgeting with the daisy between his fingers. Nora could tell he was nervous and waited to see if he had more to say. “I don’t suppose you would be interested in staying here for awhile?”
“It’s a beautiful day. We can stay as long as Annie would like. As you’ve already learned, I am not the world’s best cook, so I’m not in any hurry to rush home to make dinner,” Nora giggled quietly at her own admission.
“I mean stay here, on the prairie with me and Annie. Permanently.”
“Are you asking what I think you’re asking Mr. Cohen? I mean, Philip.”
Philip stopped, his tattered boots no longer shuffling across the dampened ground and turned to face Nora. He tenderly lifted her hand and held it gently in his. He opened her palm and laid the small white daisy on her skin. “I would like very much for you to be my wife. N
othing would make Annie and me happier.”
Nora felt the wetness of tears building behind her eyes as she wrapped her fingers around the small flower, careful not to crush its delicate petals. “I would be honored,” she whispered.
Philip nodded and leaned closer to Nora. He could smell the subtle scent of lemon on her skin as his lips moved closer to her cheek. He kissed her lightly, lingering there for a moment before pulling away. He wanted to kiss her again, on her candy-floss colored lips, but thought better of it for now. If they were to be married, he would save that kiss for their wedding day.
As Philip took a step back, he watched one lonely tear slide down Nora’s cheek. Assuming his kiss had stirred her fragile emotions, he immediately apologized. “I’m sorry Nora. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“No Philip. I’m not upset. In fact, I’m very, very happy.”
Philip caressed Nora’s cheek and wiped her tear away with his thumb. “I understand.” And he did. He knew it wasn’t easy to move on – it wasn’t easy for either of them. But he also knew, in time, he and Nora would be very happy together.
Chapter Fourteen
Annie sat eagerly on the bed, waiting for Nora to say she could open her eyes. “Now? Can I open them Nora?”
“Not quite yet,” Nora told her. “Just a few minutes more.”
“But I can’t wait another second!”
“Okay, ready. Open your eyes.”
Annie’s eyes were wider than saucers when she saw Nora standing in front of her, wearing the same pale yellow dress as the first day they met with her long reddish curls cascading down her back. She was gloriously beautiful then, but even more so today on her wedding day.
“Oh, Nora. You look so pretty,” the child said with pure adoration in her voice.
“I’m not the surprise silly,” Nora laughed, her arms tucked behind her back. “The surprise you’ve been waiting for is hiding behind my back.”
“Oh, oh! What is it?” Annie was bouncing on her knees atop the bed and Nora thought she might explode if she didn’t show her the surprise right away.