Miss Callie did not even protest when Charles walked beside her, steadying her arm with his sturdy one. Rachael stabilized her from the other side, smiling as the pair of chefs exchanged happy glances with one another and small talk. Amber and Cousin Emery arrived at John’s, as the group was entering the house on the veranda side. Crane let the two guests in the front door and ushered them into the dining room. Next, he went to carefully help his mother to her room. Miss Mariah handed Rachael Lily and also went to attend the cook. When John explained the new plans about Black Woods Castle and surprising their grandparents with a newly opened home and renovated garden, Cousin Emery and Amber Worthington were more than eager to help. After all, it was a kind gesture for Emery’s grandparents, too. “We’ll bring plenty of flowers over tomorrow,” he offered. “How about pink, yellow, and white ones?”
John quickly accepted his cousin and friend’s kind offer, thanking them both. “I appreciate it.”
“I’ll bring some food and floral arrangements for inside that afternoon, John,” Amber suggested.
“Thank you, Amber and Emery. That’s wonderful. I can hardly wait to see our grandparents’ faces when we tell them of this surprise. It was Rachael’s idea and she and the other ladies offered to help. Soon, the gardens will be renovated, too. I’m amazed by this sudden turn of events.” But, when he gazed around the room for Rachael, he couldn’t find her. “Miss Hathaway may be with Miss Callie or Lily, since Miss Callie injured her back today,” he informed the pair, bringing them up to date on recent events.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Rachael did have a good idea in doing this, though, John,” Amber responded.
“We’ll concentrate on the gardens and get out of the sun early tomorrow,” his cousin suggested. “They’ll be beautiful for Grandfather and Grandmother’s return. I can hardly wait for it. I’ll tell Dad.”
“I’ll bring a couple of dishes for lunch tomorrow, since Miss Callie should rest,” Amber insisted.
“Perfect,” was all that John could say. He had forgotten that Charles Earl had stayed to help, also, because his mind was really on Miss Rachael Hathaway’s whereabouts, his faithful nanny and secretary, who was now paying his staff and other expenses. He would be lost without her. He was right now.
That afternoon, the choir asked if they could practice a song they’d sing for the party, plus their Sunday songs. John eagerly agreed. Rachael returned from checking on Lily, who was again with Miss Mariah, to join the group in song. Their hearts were light. Yet, her employer did not see this, since Pastor Albert had another plan in mind for him, and it was not listening to the choir’s sweet symphony just now. Instead, he took John for a ride. They did not return for some time, and Rachael would not learn of that trip’s true purpose for a few days.
In the meantime, she wondered about him, yet was not overly concerned. Trying to concentrate on the music was enough for her at this particular time. Laughter filled the air between songs. She was thankful for this lively, friendly bunch and could hardly wait to visit with them on Sunday and at the upcoming social at Black Woods Castle. She and Phoebe had finally learned its location and they both loved it. In fact, Rachael hoped that they both could spend the night there, on the eve of the enchanted ball.
As the singers were departing Magnolia Gardens for the evening, Emma reminded Rachael not to worry at all about Monty and Phoebe going to Fernhaven. “They’ll be fine, dear,” she told the young nanny, with a nod and a smile. “Don’t worry about those two.” But, that’s exactly what Rachael did.
When John returned that evening, he was in a jovial mood. Perhaps it was because Monty and Phoebe were gone and he would have Rachael all to himself tonight. He didn’t say as much, though. Instead, he tried to study her. She seemed unusually quiet. Charles had prepared a wonderful dinner for them, with some help from Miss Callie. John wondered to himself if there was a new springtime romance budding between those two chefs. So, at the fireside gathering that evening, with his staff and Charles present, he did a poetry reading, which he thought Rachael and the pair would love. Choosing a rather romantic one, which he wished he’d written, did not even have the intended happy affect on Rachael, however, as he had hoped it would. For some reason, she excused herself early and went to her room without taking dessert with them. He soon excused himself, feigning fatigue, so he could present Rachael with her new sewing machine. He explained that such a device would easily sew the exquisite, Swiss lace they would purchase for her wedding gown. She was not interested in the idea or the item at this time, however, and explained that she was tired. He understood. In parting, he blew her a kiss and asked if she still had the dress.
“Yes, and I even showed it to Phoebe. She loved it and may borrow it, someday.”
“Good.” John was pleased, but he left without giving her his gift hidden down the hallway under the table, since she was exhausted. He didn’t mind turning in early either, since he had a bank board meeting in the morning and did not want to let Mr. Cunningham down.
“Did he kiss you?” Rachael asked Phoebe about Monty Graham, upon her return from Fernhaven.
“Why?” Phoebe was most curious about why her sister was asking. “Are you interested in Monty?”
“Did you have a good time?” There was an apparent edge to Rachael’s usually pleasant voice as she avoided the question.
“Yes, and we only kissed goodnight once. I don’t believe he has feelings for me, Rachael.”
Magically, though, the Hathaway sisters’ moods would change dramatically at church on Sunday, after John rose to join a men’s quartet to sing a special song. The sisters hadn’t been paying particular attention until the music started. But, an old familiar tune touched their hearts. Soon, they began to quietly hum it, swaying slightly in their seats, while glancing at each other. It wasn’t until Phoebe looked up and gasped, that Rachael glanced toward the singers. The group had somehow grown by one man to become a sensational men’s quintet. All eyes in the congregation were now upon that harmonious five.
“Did you see a fisherman in Black Woods?” Phoebe asked, still eyeing the vocal group in front.
“Yes. Did you?” Rachael answered in a whisper, while staring at the singers surrounding John.
“I did during a carriage ride,” was Phoebe’s quiet reply, as she leaned forward to get a better look.
“Was it our brother, Phoebe?” A hopeful Rachael seemed to plead for her sister’s honest opinion.
“Yes, and there he is.” Phoebe hugged Rachael, sharing happy tears at the joyous sight of Robert.
“The day I went with Albert, we planned this happy Hathaway siblings’ reunion,” John explained later to Robert’s sisters.
In the cool of the evening, after most guests had gone, Phoebe, Monty, and Charles were strolling in the gardens. Miss Mariah and Crane were in the Shade Garden doing what those in love do when planning their wedding, kissing, hugging, and whispering. John thought it was a good idea. So, he went in search of Rachael, yet couldn’t find her anywhere. So, he knocked upon Miss Callie’s door to ask her.
“She’s at the pond. Lily is with Emma, as you agreed upon,” his cook explained, before he could speak.
“That’s strange that Rachael would go there, after the alligator scare recently. But I came to see about you, Miss Callie.”
“Yes, and I understand there’s a sewing machine in hiding somewhere, which sews wedding lace.”
“How did you know?” John took her hand and kissed it, happy he had this woman’s friendship.
“A little birdie named Monty told me. Now, let’s go. I have a guest to find in the garden and you have one at Dragonfly Pond.”
“You can’t walk out there with your back pain, Miss Callie,” he protested.
“Yes, I can if you help me on your way to the pond. I put ice on it. Give Rachael her sewing machine. Crickets are singing. So are the frogs. It could be a very spec
ial evening when we join our friends, John.”
“Well, let’s go see if you are correct.” He grinned and offered his arm.
This warm evening was perfect, as far as John was concerned. A gorgeous sunset was coloring the evening sky, waiting for viewers, and there she was, gorgeous, just like it, just like always. “Everything is going so well at Black Woods Castle,” he first said, as he approached. She turned to smile at him, easing his mind somewhat.
“It is. Oh, I forgot to give you this, with Miss Callie’s fall and all.” Rachael reached into her pocket and retrieved a ruby ring. Handing it to him, she explained, “I found this near the urn at the front door of your grandparents’ home. I believe someone lost it there.” She waited for John’s reaction.
He gasped. “Oh, you darling, it’s Grandmother Hattie’s. I can’t believe it. After all this time, it’s found. She loves red. That’s why Grandfather gave her a ruby. Monty and I did our part. We planted red flowers for her in the urn,” he laughed. “Thank you, love.” John studied her lips, planning to kiss her.
“John, I’m not staying.” She shook her head ‘no,’ as if she had positively made up her mind.
“Come, I have something to show you.” Taking her hand, he started to lead her down the path from the pond to her sewing machine in the upper hallway. Then, he stopped suddenly, as a better idea came to mind. “Oh, wait!”
“What is it?” she quickly asked, with her resolve to leave fading as quickly as the pastel sunset, after he took her hand.
“There’s something here, your ancient fossil. I found one for you. See that pail of water?”
“Yes. But what does it have to do with a fossil, John? Is there one in the bucket?”
He laughed. “No. Come here. Let’s discover a Magnolia Gardens secret together.” He hurried to the pail of water he had conveniently left behind on his last visit here, just for this purpose. Carefully pouring the water over some disturbed soil, he freed a delicate relic. Ancient clay from Dragonfly Pond gave them a sign, a gift ~ a dragonfly fossil.
Ancient clay from Dragonfly Pond gave them a sign, a gift ~ a dragonfly fossil.
Chapter Twenty
“It’s a beautiful specimen, and so perfect,” Rachael raved. “See the wings? I can hardly believe you found one,” she declared, when she got a better look at the ancient, preserved dragonfly unearthed at his pond.
“Tomorrow, before we leave, we’ll bring a shovel to lift it. I’ll knock on your door. We must do this to save it, Rachael. I don’t want to leave this fossil exposed while we are gone and have a torrential downpour send it back into the pond forevermore. Where shall we store it?” John excitedly asked his love, as he gazed upon her sweet face.
“Let’s think on that question later,” she whispered, just before she kissed him tenderly.
“Your kiss makes me feel as if I’m in paradise. Our embrace is rapture. We must plan our wedding soon, Rachael.” For some unknown reason, his mind went elsewhere. “I wish for us to have a museum, someday, too,” he confided. “That way, these fossils can be seen by others. I also must say I’m relieved. Not having seen that much of you lately, I was beginning to worry about us, although I do realize you’re tired. Please remember my promise. I haven’t seen you wearing our locket lately.”
“I’m saving it for special occasions.” She placed her hand upon her neck where it would lay.
“Why? You need not save it. I want you to wear it with pleasure every day. The photo will be ready soon.”
“Well, any time I go out of the house, perhaps I’ll wear it.”
“Wear it to the ball, please, darling. That will be a very special occasion. So many we love will be in attendance. What a celebration it will be. I am so looking forward to it. Stay for the ball.”
He was changing her mind about going home. “I will.” They kissed again. “Thank you for inviting my brother to it.” They kissed again. “I can hardly wait.” They kissed again. “I hope he’ll come.” They kissed again. “I’ll wear my wedding dress.” They kissed again.
“You’re staying and wearing your wedding dress. That sounds promising.” So, they lingered at the pond for awhile longer, listening to the symphony of crickets and frogs, while watching a group of dragonflies dart, dip, and dance until dusk.
The next morning, after they lifted the fossil dragonfly, the pair placed the delicate object onto a newspaper and took it into John’s library for safekeeping. “This way it won’t be lost in a downpour or mudslide while we’re away,” he explained excitedly, as she unlocked his desk drawer. Carefully, he placed it inside. She replaced the key in its hiding place as he had taught her to do, but when she turned from the task, he was grimacing in pain.
“Is it your leg?” she asked in a whisper, turning pale at the very thought of it.
“Yes.” He leaned against his desk to remove weight from his leg and alleviate some of his agony.
Still, she could not dissuade him from their planned journey. “You should rest,” she cautioned. But he kissed her instead. They enjoyed the rapture of young love and common purposes ~ keeping the ancient insect treasure safe, taking Phoebe home, and enjoying a visit at Bower Farm.
Rachael and Phoebe’s brother, Robert, had already gone home to ease his parents’ minds. He’d gone at his sisters’ requests. They knew Mother and Father were anxiously awaiting their son’s return. John, Rachael, Phoebe, and Monty would travel today to join him, and possibly bring back Viola in a few days, after helping to plant some of the gardens and crops. This trip was overdue because of Monty’s unexpected illness. So, Pastor Albert and Emma had Lily at their home, to be with the twins and alleviate John and Rachael of some responsibility, giving them a temporary respite from child care. John was grateful and knew she would be well cared for, and Lily loved being with Quinny and Minnie. He welcomed the idea, since he was not too sure about his own health at this point, and he was not about to discuss that with Rachael Hathaway. In fact, he tried to reassure her by saying, “I want to present a picture of good health and well-being to you and your parents, and appear the perfect suitor.”
“How did you find our brother for your quintet?” Phoebe asked John on the trip home. “I wish to know all of the details about one of the greatest surprises of my entire life.”
“Pastor Albert found him living with a local family, when he did a pastor’s home visit,” John recalled. “He invited Robert to sing with us after he learned that he loved music. That’s why we had an extra practice that I attended when the choir was at my home. We had a great practice and kept a great secret.”
“Oh,” the Hathaway sisters responded in unison. It all made sense to them now.
Monty now changed the subject. “You could put cattle in that pond pasture to dissuade the alligators, John.” The lieutenant had been studying cows in a nearby field when the idea suddenly occurred to him.
“I could. But I’d rather put my horses in there.” was John’s quick response to his friend’s suggestion. “I wonder when we’ll find them, or if we will.”
“I don’t blame you. We’ll search again when we return home,” the lieutenant assured him. “Buddy, Emery and Joe are doing just that while we are away. They wanted me to let you know that.”
“Oh, Rachael, do you think John’s cousin and Mrs. Worthington will become betrothed?” Phoebe asked excitedly, when they stopped for refreshments. “She has the perfect area for a summer wedding.”
“I think they may. Let’s see what happens at the cotillion,” Rachael suggested, with a big smile.
Phoebe then asked, “What are you wearing, sis?”
“I’m not sure. I may borrow your green,” referring to the dress Phoebe wore upon her arrival at the picnic on Easter Sunday. “Yet, John would prefer I wear the white dress with red lace. Would you like to borrow something?”
“Monty,” she whispered, and they both giggled. �
�No, I believe I’ll ask for your yellow dress and shawl, or ask you to create a dress for me, especially for the occasion. Yet, I don’t have funds for fabric yet, and I don’t really believe you have the time. I may wear an old favorite. I’ll check my closet.”
The color yellow reminded Rachael of her unusual gift to John, which she had almost completely forgotten about until now. It wasn’t much of a gift, except that she knew he liked rocks. Pulling him aside after lunch, she told John about the yellow rock she had added to his garden, with the help of Crane.
“I can’t wait to see it, dear one.” Thrilled, he kissed her hand, as they discussed its location.
The visit with the Hathaway family was wonderful. Yet, Rachael could tell her employer wasn’t feeling very well, due to his leg problem, although he did help with the planting. They finished sooner than expected and all took a drive early on the third day, as suggested by John. Surprisingly, when they stopped the carriages, Buddy Callahan, Cousin Emery, Sheriff Joe Turner, and some others arrived, also.
“Railroads were very important and instrumental during the war, and they will be in the future, too,” John began, addressing the crowd. “So, our infantry unit did this.” The group watched spellbound as he and the other men, including some railroad employees, began removing trees, branches, rocks, blankets, and tents from the hill before them. “With the trainmaster, we hid a gem to save it from destruction on this railway spur.” The unveiling revealed a beautiful locomotive, bringing enthusiastic cheers and whistles from the happy onlookers. “That’s what yesterday’s meeting was all about,” he later told Rachael.
After lunch, she took the liberty of cutting their visit short, insisting they return early to Magnolia Gardens. “That way, John can rest and make final preparations before the charity fundraiser, and I and my helpers can finish and send or deliver the botanically enhanced cotillion announcements.”
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