He was wound up about the fact that Arness might turn up again. But he’d checked the diner and the livery when he’d lit the lamps and found no chestnut and white appaloosa—and no Arness.
The other reason Rowdy didn’t want to hurry home was a feeling that had begun to grow in his chest—an emotion. He was beginning to become attached to the folks in Meadowlark Lake. He’d found, of recent, that he was starting to feel amused in the company of the men at the mill. He liked talking to Sheriff Montrose and Judge Ipswich whenever his path crossed theirs. He enjoyed discussing horses with Lou Smith and hearing Mrs. Perry go on and on and on about the commodities she’d managed to procure for the general store—whether or not Mr. Perry agreed that they were necessary.
Rowdy was beginning to realize that more than just his stiff knee had healed over the past few months; his soul had begun to heal as well. Glancing back to the Ipswich house, standing in the dark with bright-lit windows and beckoning like the essence of heaven, Rowdy admitted to himself that Calliope Ipswich had a hand in his healing.
The moment Judge Ipswich had moved his family to town, Rowdy had started to feel like maybe life wasn’t so miserable and hopeless after all. Oh, the other Ipswich girls were pretty too, but there was something different about Calliope. It was as if a bright, radiant ray of sunshine had been sifted into her eyes—into her heart and soul. Her eyes were the color of the noonday sky but sparkled like stars had fallen into them.
Furthermore, there was a sincerity about Calliope that Rowdy had learned was a rare thing in a person. She meant it when she smiled and said she was happy; she meant it when she smiled at him.
“Are you just plum tuckered out tonight, Mr. Gates?”
Rowdy startled a bit at the sound of Shay Ipswich’s young voice.
He looked to his right to see her standing there, holding onto the handle of her cat’s leash. The old marmalade cat sat down on its haunches, blinking slowly as if being led on a leash to a streetlamp at night were the most normal thing in all the world for a feline.
He grinned at Shay, noting the sincere compassion in her expression.
“I am plum tuckered, darlin’,” he admitted. “And what are you and Molly doin’ out so late?”
Shay sighed and glanced to her cat. “Well, Molly saw you sittin’ out here all alone, and she figured we best come out and check up on you…you know, make sure you’re feelin’ all right and things.”
Rowdy’s smile broadened. “Well, thank you, Molly, for your kind concern,” he said, addressing the cat. The cat simply looked at him and produced another slow blink.
“I got my first kiss today, Mr. Gates,” Shay announced in a whisper.
“You did?” Rowdy exclaimed as the girl blushed and smiled with joy.
“Mm hmm,” she affirmed. “Warren Ackerman chased me around in his daddy’s barn ’til he caught me! Then he kissed me…right on the lips!”
“And did you like it?” Rowdy chuckled. “Is Warren Ackerman a good kisser?”
Shay shrugged, still blushing—still smiling. “Well, I don’t have anything to compare it with…but I liked the way he kissed me, so I guess so.”
Rowdy nodded. “Then I’d say ol’ Warren’s a good kisser all right.”
Shay Ipswich cocked her head to one side. “Are you a good kisser, Mr. Gates?”
Rowdy blushed a bit. He rubbed the whiskers on his chin and answered, “I ain’t never had any complaints…so I guess I am.”
“Hmm,” Shay hummed. “Well, it just so happens that my sister Calliope is about to go stargazin’ tonight out in the grassy space behind our house. Maybe you could sorta wander on out there and look at the stars with her. Then maybe you could give her a kiss like Warren gived me today. And then maybe Calliope can tell you for sure that you’re a good kisser.”
Rowdy took off his hat and raked a hand through his hair. He chuckled then and asked, “What kind of mischief are you up to exactly, Miss Shay Ipswich?”
Shay smiled. “I’m up to usin’ my gypsy magic to make people’s dreams come true, Mr. Gates. That’s all,” she answered plainly.
“Makin’ people’s dreams come true, huh?” Rowdy teased.
But Shay was undaunted. “Go on, Mr. Gates,” she told him. “Go on out there and look at the stars with Calliope.” She smiled at him, winked, and then turned and started to walk away. “Come on, Molly. We best be gettin’ inside before Mama starts to worry about us.”
Rowdy shook his head as mingled disbelief and curiosity rattled around in his head. The little Ipswich girl sure was something. Surely she didn’t expect him to just saunter out to the grassy expanse behind the Ipswich home, scoop Calliope Ipswich up in his arms, and get to sparking with her.
He sighed as he leaned back against the lamppost once more. But as his thoughts immediately turned to the possible impending trouble with Arness, an interesting idea washed over him.
“Why not?” he mumbled to himself. “If Arness tries to kill me again, he might just do it this time. So why not take a chance on a little girl’s fancy?”
Before he could think better of it, Rowdy was on his feet. Making sure Tucker was still tied up well enough to the hitching post nearby, Rowdy straightened his posture and headed for the grassy expanse behind the Ipswich home that separated the woods from the town.
The moment he rounded the corner of the Ipswich house, he could see the flicker of a lantern light a ways off in the grasses.
“Well, I guess that would be Calliope out there,” he muttered under his breath. His courage was wavering. But once again he remembered Arness and his brothers might well get the better of Rowdy Gates in the end. So why let fear of rejection stop him from seeing whether Shay Ipswich really was a little gypsy who was trying to make people’s dreams come true? After all, Rowdy had been dreaming of kissing Calliope Ipswich since the day he first saw her.
Calliope spread the blanket she’d brought with her out on a space of shorter grass. Setting the lamp to one side, she stretched out on the blanket.
She crossed her feet at her ankles, tucked her hands behind her head, and sighed, “Ahhh! Serenity…sweet serenity.”
“Evenin’, Miss Calliope.”
The sound of Rowdy’s voice startled her but only for a moment. As she looked up to see him approaching through the grass, she smiled, her heart swelling with such complete joy that she thought it might burst from her chest.
“Why, Mr. Gates!” she greeted. “What brings you out here tonight?”
Rowdy smiled at her and asked, “I’m not botherin’ you, am I?”
“Oh, my goodness, no!” she assured him.
“I just saw your little sister out by the last lamppost this side of town, and she told me you’d come out here to look at the stars tonight,” he explained. “And bein’ that I’m somewhat of a stargazer myself, I thought maybe you wouldn’t mind if I joined you.”
“Oh, I can’t think of anything more delightful,” Calliope chirped. She knew she was too obvious in her excitement, but she couldn’t help it! She was so overjoyed to see him—so surprised—so blissful in the fact that he meant to join her—that she could hardly contain her emotions.
She blushed as Rowdy stretched out on the blanket next to her. He tucked his arms beneath his head and sighed. “I hope I’m not spoilin’ your serenity.”
“Not at all, Mr. Gates,” she truthfully told him.
Calliope bit her lip to keep from squealing with elation. Rowdy Gates was right next to her! He was so close she could feel the warmth of him—smell the scent of leather and grasses and grain that was his.
“I do like to look at the stars,” he said. “I take a bit of time almost every night to look up at them—unless it’s cloudy and a body can’t see them at all, that is.”
“I love them too,” Calliope agreed. “I do know a few constellations, but I prefer just to watch them wink at me individually or as a whole. It’s too much work to try and chart out the constellations.”
“Yeah, it kind
of takes the relaxation out of lookin’ at the stars if a body spends the whole time tryin’ to be smart about it,” he concurred. “I do like the Big Dipper though. It just sorta jumps out at you. You don’t have to work at seein’ it.”
Calliope smiled. “Me too.” She looked over to Rowdy. “I didn’t know you liked the stars, Mr. Gates.”
He looked over to her, and when he did, Calliope was fairly certain she’d begun to melt. Even for the darkness of the night, the green of his eyes was apparent—apparent for they captured the light of the stars perfectly.
“I expect there’s a lot of things I like that you don’t know about, Miss Calliope,” he said in a low, enthralling tone.
He grinned at her then—an alluring, seductive sort of grin—and Calliope held her breath for a moment. She sensed something emanating from him, but she wasn’t quite certain what it was. She did know, however, that she felt breathless, overly thrilled somehow.
Letting her instincts guide her, she asked, “Like what? What’s something else you like, besides the stars?”
Rowdy looked back up into the sky, exhaled, and said, “I like you. That’s somethin’ I like besides the stars, Miss Calliope. You.”
Calliope gulped and looked away from Rowdy and back up to the stars. “I expect you like most people in town, Mr. Gates.”
“I like some people in town, yes,” he admitted. “But not the way I like you.”
“Are…are you just teasing me, Mr. Gates?” she asked, rendered more breathless than ever by the hope suddenly flaming inside her.
“Not at all, Miss Calliope,” he answered without pause. “In fact, Fox Montrose told me that he went to see your daddy…asked him if he could come courtin’ you with serious intentions. When I heard your daddy said no, I was mighty relieved.”
Calliope squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. Was she dreaming? Opening her eyes, however, she turned her head to see that Rowdy Gates was indeed lying next to her on the blanket.
“Now tell me about this Tom Thumb weddin’ you ladies in town are plannin’ out,” he said.
Calliope giggled. “Oh, you don’t really want me to tell you all about that, do you?” she asked—still euphoric over his saying he liked her, that he was relieved when her father had denied Fox.
“I most certainly do,” he assured her. “From what I understand, it’s really gonna be somethin’ to behold.”
Calliope smiled and said, “I certainly hope so. Everyone is working so hard on getting everything ready. We’ve almost got the clothes all made for the boys. We finished up Warren Ackerman’s suit today. All the boys will have them—swallowtail suits, all matching—and bow ties for each boy too” she explained. “Naturally, the girls’ gowns are taking quite some time, but they’re going to be so lovely. Of course, Shay is pretending that she is quite disturbed about marrying Warren Ackerman. But I know that, in truth, she’s over the moon for him. I mean, imagine it—you’re sweeter than honey on somebody, and you get to pretend to marry him? I would’ve savored such a thing for years to come if I’d had that opportunity at her age.”
“It seems like a whole lotta work, just for a bit of fun,” Rowdy suggested.
Calliope sighed and nodded in agreement. Yet the smile never left her face. “It is a lot of work. But just imagine how everyone will enjoy it! Nothing like this has ever happened in Meadowlark Lake, I’m quite sure of that. And folks need something fun, entertaining, and carefree to look forward to. It helps make work, struggle, and disheartening events seem tolerable…if a body has something to look forward to.”
Rowdy nodded, for what she said was true.
“I mean, consider this,” she went on. “Even for all the terrible, frightening, tragic events of last All Hallow’s Eve…even for all of it, I can’t wait for the town gathering at the Ackermans’. And that jack-o’-lantern festival…I’m simply giddy with anticipation! And that’s why I thought we should have a Tom Thumb wedding here in Meadowlark Lake—to give us all something to look forward to.”
Rowdy glanced over to Calliope for a moment. He could’ve sworn there was a radiance about her—a light that encircled her beautiful blonde head like a halo. He thought then that Calliope Ipswich made everyone feel important, happy, and hopeful the way she made him feel.
“I’ve never been to a Tom Thumb weddin’,” he commented. “Is everythin’ just like a normal weddin’?”
Calliope answered, “Yes and no. The bridesmaids and groomsmen, the lavish clothing, the flowers, and the cake at the reception afterward are made to mimic a real wedding. But the vows…” She interrupted herself with a giggle. “The vows certainly are not!”
“They’re not?” he asked.
“Oh, heavens no!” she answered. “They’re quite ridiculous—things like making the bride promise to close her eyes to the groom’s faults and failings and only open her lips every moment of the day in praise of his virtues…or making the groom tell the bride her mother may only visit once every quarter of the year.” She paused a moment and then sighed. “Evangeline, Amoretta, and I have written darling little vows for the children to exchange. And of course, we are going to have the bride and groom kiss. That usually is omitted in many Tom Thumb weddings. But we want the kiss.” She giggled again, adding, “And Shay was not at all averse to the suggestion…which is only further evidence that she’s sweet on the Ackerman boy. Oh, it’s going to be so fun! You’ll enjoy it so much more than you think you will, Mr. Gates. I can promise you!” Calliope laughed wholeheartedly, adding, “Oh, I can’t wait to see the faces of everyone when Sallie Ackerman’s little sister performs ‘Oh, Promise Me’!”
“Why? Doesn’t she sing well?” Rowdy asked.
“Oh, but she does!” Calliope exclaimed. “Like an angel. But no one knows it because she’s never sung in front of anyone before…well, other than her parents and me and Evangeline. It’s bound to be one of the highlights of the event. I simply cannot wait for it all to come together and for everyone to smile for days and weeks afterward just thinking about it.”
Rowdy chuckled. The young woman was enchanting! It was, of course, the longest conversation he’d ever had with her—and he enjoyed the fact that it was about something she was so happy about.
“You will attend, won’t you, Mr. Gates?” she ventured. He looked over to see her staring at him with an expression of worry.
He smiled and answered, “Of course I’ll attend, Miss Calliope. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
He saw her visibly gulp, even for the fact that the only light around them was moonlight, starlight, and a little lantern’s flicker.
“W-will you be attending with anyone, Mr. Gates?” she ventured.
He smiled at her, wholeheartedly smiled. “Well, maybe if I can muster up the courage to ask the judge’s permission…maybe I could attend with you, Miss Calliope.”
Her face lit up with so much radiance and obvious pleasure, Rowdy’s heart warmed instantly.
“Really?” she asked in a whisper.
“Well, if you’d have me for your escort, I surely would like to be him,” he answered.
Calliope didn’t know whether to faint from bliss or scream with rapture. Rowdy Gates liked her—he did! She could see it in his eyes. All the weeks and months she’d spent dreaming about him, wishing she could capture his attention—could it be that she’d held it captive all along?
“I’d be honored if you’d be my escort, Mr. Gates,” she said breathlessly.
“Thank you, Miss Calliope,” he said. “Now all that’s left for me to do is see if your daddy will allow me to be your escort.”
“I’m certain he will!” she exclaimed.
But Rowdy looked back up into the sky then and mumbled, “Well…we’ll have to see.”
His smile faded, and Calliope wondered why on earth he would think her father would deny him permission to escort her to the Tom Thumb wedding.
He sighed then and said, “I suppose I should be headin’ home. Tomorrow comes faster than
I always think it will.”
Calliope felt sorry. She’d kept him far too long. He worked hard at the mill and didn’t have the luxury of sleeping in a bit longer if he had the mind to, as she did.
“Oh, I’m so sorry to have kept you!” she apologized, sitting up.
Rowdy rose to his feet, offering a hand to assist her to standing. She smiled, delighted at the thrilling sensation that traveled through her at the feel of his warm, callused palm as she placed her hand in his.
“I lose track of time when I’m out looking at the stars,” she said—even though they hadn’t been stargazing for very long in truth.
“Me too,” Rowdy said, grinning at her. She was disappointed when he released her hand—thought she felt more chilled than she had a moment before.
“Oh, I almost forgot the blanket,” she mumbled, turning and beginning to stoop to pick up the blanket she’d brought.
“I’ll get that,” Rowdy said, however. He swooped the blanket up with one hand, tossing it over his shoulder.
Calliope picked up the lantern, and it cast its bright light out over the grassy expanse. She gasped a little, astonished when Rowdy took the lamp from her, puffing into the top and extinguishing the flame inside.
“Oh, I don’t think we need that,” he said.
Calliope glanced up to him, awed at how well her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, for she could see him quite clearly. Naturally, the full moon overhead lent its silver mist of shimmering luminance to the night, and coupled with the twinkle of the stars, Calliope fancied it would be quite easy to walk back to the house without the lantern. After all, starlight was always preferable to lamplight when one was out for the purpose of admiring the stars.
“You might should take my arm,” he said, holding his crooked arm toward her. “Just in case you stumble on somethin’.”
A quiet giggle of delight escaped Calliope’s throat, even for all her efforts to keep it from doing so. Walking home arm in arm with Rowdy Gates? It was the stuff of fantasy! Taking his arm, she smiled up at him. He nodded and grinned at her.
The Secret Bliss of Calliope Ipswich Page 15