by Annie Boone
The two of them finished lunch and decided to head back to the ranch. They made small talk on their journey but there was no more serious discussion that would help them get to know each other better.
When they arrived back at the ranch, Fiona dismounted on her own and looked up at Graham who was still sitting on his horse. “Thank you very much, Graham, for the lovely picnic. I enjoyed the fresh air and the time with you.” She handed the bouquet of flowers she had picked to him. “Please give these to your mother when you see her. I’m going to go rest for a few minutes before dinner. If you’ll excuse me,” her voice trailed off.
Graham jumped down and took the reins from her and watched her walk away. Her quiet demeanor on the ride home and her odd departure just now made him wonder what was on her mind to cause the change. He just shook his head and walked the two horses to the barn.
As Fiona walked away from Graham, she did so with remorse and uncertainty. She had a lot of thinking to do. She hoped Abby was elsewhere because she did not want to be interrupted or to have another serious conversation with anyone.
Chapter Nine
The next day Abigail was ready before Graham. She was eager to have her questions answered. He was surprised to find her waiting for him in the stable. “Hurry up, slowpoke,” Abby laughed, as he mounted his horse. “We have so much to talk about. And I am excited to get the day with you started!”
“Indeed we do have much to discuss,” he agreed, as they set out for the river. “And unless I am mistaken, today you tell me who Rosalie Collins really is.”
“I thought for sure Fiona would've told you already, but it’s no big secret really about how Rosalie came about. Here is the truth. I was Abigail Rosa Collins before I married Frank Witherspoon. And Fiona Leigh Dearing and I decided to put our names together when we wrote you. And that is how Rosalie was born.”
“You’re right, I suppose,” he responded. Riding side by side seemed different today, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on why. “The way you came up with her name is simple enough. I want to understand who Rosalie really is, though.”
“Yes, I know. I’m getting to that part,” Abby smiled at him affectionately. “After Frank's death, I was steeped in sadness. Writing you was Fiona's idea to brighten my days, to interest me in life again. She found your ad and wrote the first letter to you. When you responded, she involved me and we shared the writing after that.”
“I see,” he mused. “I was a diversion until you were on your feet again.”
“It wasn’t like that, Graham. Not at all. I won’t lie and say that there was no trickery on our part, but it was never meant to hurt you. And I came to care about you as I read your lovely heart felt letters,” Abigail pleaded. “That is the truth. If it weren’t I wouldn’t be here right now.”
“I believe you, Abigail,” he said. “I’m not exactly sure why yet, but I do.”
Abby smiled at him and reached a hand out to him. He returned her smile and took the hand she offered. They held hands as they rode together through the meadow.
“It is a great sorrow to me that my life long friendship with Fiona has gone awry. Now we are not speaking to each other. I know why it happened, I just wish I had anticipated that a dilemma such as this was possible. I would have done things differently.” Abby dropped Graham’s hand and trotted her horse a bit ahead of him. She turned back and spoke again. “Enough of this talk of broken friendships and trickery. I want to learn more about you, Graham.”
“What can I tell you, Abigail? Unlike you, I’m an open book,” he smiled a teasing grin and she wagged a finger at him in acknowledgement of his joke.
“Well, sir, I have noticed how you switch from being a country rustic to acting like the perfect gentleman. You seem to make the adjustment quite easily. What causes you to act this way, Graham?” Abigail brought her horse to a stop, determined to wait until he told her the truth. They had been joking together before, but she seriously wanted an answer to this question.
Graham winced. He hadn’t expected such a direct question since she had been the one to be caught in a deceitful scheme. Seeing the Rocky Mountains in the distance, he wished he was there. How he wanted to be out of this tangled mess!
“Since I was a boy I escaped the strain of life by imaging myself a famous lawman. I didn’t want to be the pampered, yet lonely, son of a barrister. I wanted to be a man wooly enough to handle life's cares with ease. It was a game I began after my older brother's death.”
He heard Abigail gasp and looked over to see her surprise and sadness.
“I had no idea, Graham,” she said. “I am so sorry you lost your brother. Would you like to tell me the story now or is it too difficult to talk about?”
“It’s fine, Abby. And I appreciate your concern. James was two years older than me and he had weak lungs. He was always smaller than me but he tried to prove that he was stronger. There was always some brotherly competition between us. I idolized him. He died of pneumonia and I was devastated.”
“I imagine it was a most difficult time for all of you, Graham. Losing someone you love is never, ever easy. It shouldn’t be. God puts people in our lives for different reasons and he takes them away for a reason, too. That’s what I remind myself of when I think of Frank,” responded Abigail.
“You’re right, Abby. There is always a reason, though we may not see or understand it. After James was gone it became easier to try to be the perfect son. I never showed my true emotions around my parents or anyone else. I was only finally able to become the man I wanted to be through the letters I wrote to Rosalie. Through her, through you, I have been able to escape the frozen emotions into a personality that is open and honest.” Graham sneaked a look at Abigail to see if he could read her thoughts.
She was taking it all in and her heart was invested. He could see her feelings in her sparkling dark blue eyes.
“I knew I had never written you about James,” he continued. “I may have been unfair to Fiona to test her in this way, but I led her to believe that I had shared the story of James in my letters. I wanted to see if Fiona would tell me the truth. She didn't, and I was disappointed but not surprised. I have known for some time that you are the woman I poured my heart out to for all those months. It was you who trusted me with your real feelings as well.”
They began a slow cantor towards the river, Abigail searching his face for any sign of his feelings towards her. Then she heard the words she had hoped to hear.
“The only person to ever call me out for my changeable behavior is you. You saw through all that and you didn’t shy away from asking the questions. You are the woman I want to marry, Abigail.”
“See,” Abigail began, as he took her hand, “I would be happy to marry you, but I want the complete package. I won’t accept only the parts you allow me to have. I love you, Graham. All parts of you, the good, and the bad. The man in your lovely letters and the man in front of me now. In return, you have to love me the same way. I have a past. There is deep sorrow there. I have loved another man and I hope you can accept that about me. Only with patience and God's help can any marriage survive, but we may have a few challenges to get His extra special help for.”
As they stopped at the river Graham swung Abigail off her horse, wrapping his arms around her. “It will be my utmost pleasure to accept you for who you are today and appreciate you because of what you have been through. I will love you, tease you, and be the best man I can for you. I promise to share all of me with you for the rest of my days.”
Graham settled on one knee, producing a small, delicate parcel. Extracting a simple golden band he placed it on her finger. She looked at the ring in awe.
“Mama Brioche wanted you to have this. It was her wedding band and she was happily married until the day she became a widow. She said she knew right away we were meant to be together, but she kept her own counsel from me until this morning. She is the only person I told about the situation with you and Fiona. And how do you feel about bein
g a Sheriff's wife, you haven't told me yet,” he finished, as she laid her head on his shoulder.
“If being the sheriff of Crystal Lake is what you truly long to do, then I will be by your side. There are aspects that frighten me because it can be dangerous,” she admitted, “but I place my faith in Christ. He knows our needs, and He brought us together for a reason. So if you win the election next year I will support you. I know you will be good at it. And feisty Mama Brioche let me know we will have many children so that will be great incentive for you to stay alive.”
Graham looked into her wide blue eyes as he placed a kiss on her soft lips. He boldly unpinned her hair, letting the dark golden strands flow through his fingers. “You are so beautiful, Abigail, one day our children will look like you. I am blessed beyond measure.”
Abby gave a strangled, embarrassed laugh. “You don't find me too dark? I know my skin isn't as pretty and fair as Fiona's,” she confessed, as he placed little kisses on her nose, on each eyelid, and all over her face.
“Why would you think that you are not beautiful, Abby? You are beautiful. I love your golden skin and your hair with a little golden kiss of the sun.” He caressed her cheek lovingly, showing her by his touch how he felt.
“Where I grew up it was more desirable to have snow white skin. To have darker coloring like the Indians in the area was considered disgraceful. Society there was unforgiving on that point.” Abby walked to the river's edge, loving the fresh, clean smell of the water.
“It doesn't matter to me if you have Indian blood, your heritage helps determine who you are. And there are so many Spanish families living in Cheyenne and Crystal Lake I admire. Even Philippe is darker toned and he is French. I defy anyone to argue his worth to me.” Graham shook his head as he gathered Abby close. “It makes no sense to me to value a person on the color of their skin. I adore your personality, your mind, and your wit. And as I have already stated, you are stunningly beautiful. Hopefully, you feel the same for me,” he hinted, as she mock frowned, walking away from him on the river bank.
“If I’m to be honest with you, I had concern for your vocabulary when we first met,” she confessed. “I thought this man is so attractive until he opens his mouth, then he sounds like a country cousin. A dumb one at that,” she shrieked, as he began to chase her, until, breathless, she fell into his arms.
As they began the short trek back to the Singing River some hours later, Abigail felt a contentment washing over her. She would always miss Frank but the gift of love was precious, and she knew he would be happy for her. Tugging on Graham' hand as they rode slowly, she shared her apprehension at telling Fiona their good news. “She is like my sister, and I hers. We have treated each other so poorly, though. I cannot imagine how she will take this.”
Graham kissed her fingers, before reassuring her. “She loves you and is wiser than you credit her for. After our talk yesterday, she knew we were not suited.” He did not mention her attempts to cast doubt on Abby's character, knowing that was best broached by Fiona if it even needed to be shared at all.
When they reached the artfully arranged front lawn, Tallulah greeted them with a large straw hat shielding her from the sun. “Come see my roses,” she offered, as Graham turned the horses over to a stable boy. This was the first time Abby had seen her so informal, and she was intrigued by the difference. “These are beautiful,” she admired the velvety scarlet petals, running her finger along the blooms.
“I thought these would be perfect in your lovely golden hair,” she said. Seeing the confusion on their faces, she explained. “Well, for your wedding, of course.”
Graham looked suspiciously at his mother. “Has Mama Brioche been talking to you?”
“Yes, but we often talk. I have loved her dearly since I first came here to live as a young bride. In fact, everyone calls her Mama Brioche because of me. When I was pregnant with James I craved brioche, and she made it for me constantly. If I cried because I missed my family she would hold me and say, tell Mama Brioche all your sorrows. I would laugh until I forgot to be sad. We have helped each other through the loss of our children. She is my closest friend,” she finished simply.
Abigail went immediately to her and hugged Tallulah. She was deeply touched that this strong woman had revealed her feelings to them. She was very hopeful of a reconciliation between Graham and his parents.
Graham grabbed his mother in a bear hug. “Why didn't you talk to me about this? All these years I thought you blamed me for James' death. We could have shared the sorrow, instead of retreating from each other,” he said with deep emotion.
“For years I was numb, then it seemed as if you hated me, Graham. By the time, your father and I had Luke I was sure we had lost any chance of a real relationship with you. I was wrong and I haven’t known how to fix it. Talking to Fiona this morning opened my eyes. She came to see me before Gonzalo Mendez took her to Cheyenne for the stagecoach. I begged her to stay, but she said you would understand, Abigail. She left you this letter.” Tallulah pulled a creased and ragged bunch of papers from her apron, handing them to Abby.
Taking her son by the hand, they quietly went in the house. Graham looked over his shoulder while Abby settled in a rocking chair on the porch. The paper was marked with blotches, places the ink ran as Fiona sobbed over it. With shaking hands, Abby began to read.
Abigail, my dearest friend,
I have wronged you. Though I had to leave I will be back one day. I told Graham lies about you and I am ashamed of myself. We both know I never really loved him. My feelings were a passing fancy and that was all. You do love him.
All I can say is I let the material trappings of his station turn my head. Plus no matter what you say he is very good looking. He asked me what I wanted in life and I know it will be marriage one day, but not now. My own desires are far more important to me than those of anyone else. I realized this when I read the letters Graham wrote you after I returned from the river yesterday.
Leaving Pennsylvania was an adventure for me and Frank, yet you were so homesick when we got to Kansas City and I never knew. How I wish you had confided in me, with all of my heart I wish you had confided in me. As usual your first thought was to make me and Frank happy, and that is a wonderful love.
I believe Graham will be a good husband for you. And I know you will be a good wife to him. Don't be sad for me, though. After much thought, I realized what I want to do. Working in Mrs. Taylor's shop was enjoyable because I created dresses, made patterns, and chose fabrics. I am good at that. So I am going to open my own clothing store of affordable ready to wear dresses. First, though, I need money, so I am going to serve food in a Harvey House Restaurant. I will be something called a waitress, and save all my money because they provide a home with the other girls. I am so excited, I get to wear the most darling uniform. And as soon as my training is finished I will write you again.
One day soon I will live in Cheyenne, open Fiona's Dress Shop and our children will grow up together. I love you with all my heart, Abigail, and I hope you will forgive me for my mean spirited treatment of you.
Love Fiona!
p.s. I get all the credit for introducing you to each other, along with God, of course.
Chapter Ten
Abigail’s sweet spirit allowed her to forgive Fiona immediately. The truth is that she had already forgiven her before she knew Fiona was gone. She was sad that Fiona couldn’t see her today for she would love to be involved in the fashion and festivities.
About two weeks after Abby and Graham became engaged, a large parcel arrived for Abby. She opened it carefully even though she wanted to rip it open to see what was inside. What she found made her laugh out loud like a silly school girl.
The card inside simply said “Compliments of the Dandy Mr. Trevor Booker” and that was what set off Abigail’s belly laugh.
“What is this all about?” Graham asked. He was truly puzzled.
“Oh! Go away, Graham! It is bad luck for you to see my wedding dress b
efore you see me in it when I walk down the aisle!”
“But why are you laughing? I don’t understand what could be funny about receiving your wedding dress. I didn’t even know you’d ordered it.
“It’s from Fiona. The card is a joke that only the two of us understand. I’ll tell it to you one day, but today is not that day. Now scoot! I need to try this beautiful creation on!”
“Not until I get a kiss from my girl,” he drawled.
Abigail slammed the lid on the box so he wouldn’t get even a sliver of a glimpse at her dress. Then she wound her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss that curled his toes.
“Can we start having babies as soon as we’re married?” he asked between kisses.
“We can most definitely start trying. I think we’ll need to try often,” she responded with a wicked smile.
“Oh, Rosalie. You’re such a temptress. I can’t wait until you’re my wife.”
Rosalie laughed seductively. “What would Abigail think about that?”