Mark chuckled. “He’s right about that. You people keep reminding me how much I need a woman in my life.”
“We’ve got to find someone for you, Mark,” Alice laughed. “It really is good to be in love with someone and to be happy and secure with them.”
“I don’t think it’s gonna happen for me.”
“Do either of you want some coffee or some sweetened tea? I made both fresh not long ago.”
“I’d love some coffee,” Adam said, squeezing his wife’s hand as she made to stand up.
“I would, too, thank you, Alice.”
She smiled at them both and shooed the kids from her path. “Go on upstairs and play, children. We adults need to talk down here.”
“But you found Becky!” Max, the oldest of their children at 12, had heard the entire conversation. “I didn’t know she was even missing.”
“That’s because you’re a child and you don’t need to know,” Adam said gently, smiling at his son.
“But I could have helped look.”
Adam shook his head. “The man we are dealing with is very violent and mean. He drinks a lot and would not hesitate to hurt you just because you are small. He would do it as vengeance against me for something I didn’t even know I did.”
Max looked confused. “But I heard you say that Becky is safe now.”
“She is.”
“Then how can the man who took her be like that? She wouldn’t be safe with someone like that.”
The irony of what Max was saying was not lost on Adam or Mark. They looked at each other.
“The man we are talking about is Becky’s brother. Not the man who took her. If you heard everything we said, we did say that she is happy. She is not with the violent one anymore. She is safe and secure with a man who truly loves her.”
“I guess I’m not supposed to tell anybody, huh?” Max said, a grin covering his face. “I guess you adults have to handle it, huh?”
Adam smiled at him. “You are a smart boy.”
Max shrugged. “I won’t tell anyone, Papa. Nobody would listen to me anyway. I’m just a kid.” He turned and sauntered off to his room to play, leaving two smiling men behind.
“Your children are smart,” Mark said. “Are you sure they’re yours?”
Adam laughed. “Be careful. Those two are from my first wife, Alice’s sister. You can’t say that in front of her. All right?”
Mark laughed. “I won’t. I promise. It’s not like I’ve forgotten.”
Alice came back from the kitchen with the coffee. “So, when do I get to go see her?”
“We have been invited to go back up there in two days, on Saturday. They want us to bring the children and have a day with them at the cabin. There will be a chance for the kids to run around and enjoy the woods around there and to swim in the creek. I’m sure they will have a wonderful time. We’ll take a picnic basket and sit near the pond.”
“I hope it’s a lovely day for it,” Alice set the tray down and handed each of them a cup. “Isn’t it supposed to start raining soon?”
“That’s not due for another few weeks, Alice,” Mark said. “I check my almanac nearly every day to make sure I know when the storms are going to hit. I rely on that thing like it’s the Bible.”
“You should never compare a book to the Bible,” a small voice from above said teasingly.
The adults looked up and saw Riley poking her head over the side of the loft, staring down at them.
“God doesn’t like it when little girls' eavesdrop, Riley. Go play,”
Riley stuck out her bottom lip. “But I’m right, Mama Alice. It’s not right to say any book is like the Bible because the Bible was written by God and it has all the stuff in it we’re supposed to do to get to Heaven.”
“That’s true but I really don’t think Mark meant to be taken literally. So just hush up and go play, will you? Or you will go to bed with no supper.”
Riley’s head disappeared and the adults looked at each other amused.
“You have the best children, Adam. I hope I have some one day and they turn out just like yours.”
“You can’t have my wife to do that with,” Adam said.
Mark’s cheeks flooded with red and he couldn’t bring himself to look at Alice. “I would never, Adam. I would never betray you like that.”
Adam laughed. “I know you wouldn’t. Don’t worry about it. I was more trying to embarrass Alice.”
“Now why would you want to do that to me?” Alice slapped him lightly on the arm. “I don’t tease you like that.”
“I guess that’s because we aren’t the same person and we have our own senses of humor,” Adam tried to make his voice sound defensive but ended up sounding more like he was making a desperate attempt at humor.
Alice laughed, looking at Mark. “You see how he treats me? It’s shameful, isn’t it?”
Mark rolled his eyes, sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s shameful, all right. It’s shameful that I have to be subjected to this kind of frivolous love-making in public.”
Alice gasped. “Mark!”
Mark laughed. “You know what I mean, dear lady Alice.”
She looked at the loft and then down the short hallway to Max’s door. “The baby might not understand what you are saying but I don’t want the others to hear such a thing.”
“It’s not unhealthy for them to know what’s going on.”
“I don’t think of it that way,” Alice objected.
“I am sorry then, my friend. I did not mean to offend you.”
She smiled at him. “You didn’t offend me. I just want to be careful what the children hear before it is time for them to understand such things.”
“They’re going to end up falling in love anyway.”
“Yes, I know but that’s not for a long time. So, let’s not ponder it. It seems like the only reason we are even talking about it is because Becky has found a man who truly loves her. This Kenny, you say you know him, Mark?”
“I do. And you will know him soon, too. We will have fun at his cabin. The children will truly have a good time.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
HOST A DINNER
HOST A DINNER
Only three days later, Becky and Alice sat together on the couch in Kenny’s cabin, talking excitedly to each other. The men were gathered in the kitchen watching them. The children were outside, roaming around and could be heard laughing and screaming as they chased each other around.
“How did things go in town?” Kenny asked. “Did anyone get wind of what has happened?”
Mark shrugged. “We told Bruce we weren’t going to look anymore and that Becky obviously didn’t want to be found. Most of the people I’ve spoken to think he got rid of her. I don’t encourage them to think that. I just don’t say otherwise.”
“And how is he doing since you told him that?”
“He stays a lot to himself, really,” Adam responded. “He doesn’t come to town as much. I don’t know if he’s getting’ his liquor and taking it to his house to drink, but he don’t come in the Horse N Saddle much anymore.”
“There must have been some curiosity about that, I imagine.”
“Not really.” This time it was Adam who shrugged. “It just became something of the past. The mysterious disappearance of Becky Dupont. People might be talking about it for years to come.”
“Did you two see the beer barrel I bought from Sam?” A sly grin passed over Kenny’s face.
The two men stared at him. “What? You bought an entire barrel of beer from Sam?” Adam looked at Mark. “What’s he gonna sell at the saloon?”
“He said he ordered an extra one and had nowhere to store it. I bought it from him. You want some?”
“Is it the same as the beer we had the last time we were there?”
Kenny laughed. “How am I supposed to know that?”
He turned and pulled a burlap cover off a large barrel sitting in the corner. He had built a sawhorse to hold it on in just
the right position so that beer would come out of the spigot when he turned the knob.
He filled up three tall glasses and turned to hand one to each of them.
“Before we drink, can I just thank you two for what you’ve done for me and for Becky? I appreciate the way you handled things. I hope that Becky and I can find some peace with each other.”
“The two of you are perfect for each other,” Adam lifted his glass and clinked it against the other two. “Many happy years to you both. You are going to get married?”
“We plan to visit Louisville and get married there. I would love to have you two as my guests. I know Alice will be invited by Becky. I don’t know of any other women Becky will invite, but she definitely wants Alice to be there on her special day. Alice had helped her so much.”
“You have been instrumental in her life, too, Kenny, don’t forget that,” Adam said. “I have to give credit where it is due.”
Kenny nodded. “I did help change her life but my reasons were different. I know Alice loves Becky. But I am in love with her and would lay down my life for her happiness. I’ve already decided that if Bruce finds out about this and where we are and comes to try to take her back, I will fight till my death to make sure it doesn’t happen.”
“We don’t want that,” Mark said, shaking his head.
Kenny laughed. “I don’t want it either, but I’m telling you, I would end my life to protect hers. That’s just the way I feel. I love her. She’s a wonderful woman. I don’t want to live without her another day of my life.”
“We are glad you’ve found her, Kenny. We’re really glad.”
Kenny took a long drink from his beer mug and set it down on the table hard. He looked over at Becky, who glanced at him and smiled at her. “Do you want some beer, Becky?”
Becky laughed and Kenny looked at Adam and Mark. “She hates beer. Doesn’t like the taste.”
Adam and Mark glanced at Becky, who had resumed talking to Alice. They were laughing about something. It was nice to see the woman so happy. “She’s missing out on something good,” Mark said.
“But it does leave more for us, doesn’t it?” Kenny laughed and turned back to the barrel to refill his mug. “Anyone else need some more?”
“I’ve taken about three sips from mine, Kenny,” Adam said. Mark laughed at his friend.
“I’ve only got about three sips left. This is the good stuff from Sam, Adam. Drink up.”
“I’ll drink at my own pace, thanks.”
The men continued to talk as they drank their beer and waited for the meat to heat up. Kenny had killed a deer and had enough meat to last for at least two weeks. He was proud of it.
“An eight pointer, I’m telling you,” he said excitedly, telling them all about the hunt and exactly how it had happened.
“Come see how I’ve set up my room, Alice,” Becky took her friend's hand and lifted her from the couch. “I was so pleased when Kenny brought my things. So very pleased.”
“I’m sure you were!” Alice followed Becky into the room and looked around. It looked almost identical to the one she had decorated in her parent’s home. The animals were now lined up on a shelf, however, that apparently Kenny had carved from wood and placed on the wall for her. Her dresser and the bed were covered with her things and the comforter looked familiar.
“That’s the quilt from your room! Isn’t that the one your grandmother made for you when you were little?”
“Yes,” Becky nodded. “It was the only thing I had left of her and even though it’s quite warm these days, I use it as decoration and just take it down to the end of the bed while I sleep. If I sleep under it, I will die from the heat.”
“Don’t do that.”
The women laughed.
“There was only one problem, though,” Becky sat on her bed, glancing at the door to see if it was open. “I looked all through the bag and my favorite animal isn’t there. I used to sleep with it every night. I loved my little stuffed tiger. I’m thinking Bruce must have done something to it. He knows how much I treasured it. He’s been hurt by animals before… what is it? Why are you looking at me that way?”
Alice felt a mixture of regret and delight flood through her. “I know where your tiger is.”
Becky’s eyes opened wide. Alice could tell she was expecting to hear the worst. Instead, Alice reached into her large handbag and pulled out the tiger. “I’m so sorry, my dear. I didn’t mean to steal from you. I didn’t know, frankly, if you were still with us on earth and I wanted a keepsake, a memory of a dear friend. I put it in my bag so that I would remember you always and here it is, you can have it back!”
Becky grabbed the tiger and squeezed it to her. “Oh Alice, you kept him safe! What a good friend you are! It is amazing this is the one you chose when you didn’t know it was my favorite.”
“I thought since it had your scent on it, I would remember you for a while.”
Becky was quiet for a moment, hugging the stuffed animal. She looked at its face when she pulled away and gave it a kiss on the nose. “Hello, Mr. Tiger. I’ve missed you.”
She turned her eyes to look at Alice. “I have missed all my animals. I did until Kenny brought them to me. Now, since I have him and we are going to start a family, I might not need them anymore. I hope they don’t feel neglected and unwanted. I would never want them to think that.”
Alice giggled. “Don’t be silly. Once you start having children, they will become their beloved toys, too, and will be able to say their mama made them. I bet you can make some wonderful stuffed animals and other toys for children. I wonder if you and Kenny could open a toy shop for the kids. He is so good with carving, I know he could make small horses and wagons with real rolling wheels and you could make stuffed dolls for the little girls and all kinds of other toys.”
“We could. I bet we could do that.” A spark of interest was in Becky’s eyes. Alice jumped on it and began to encourage her to talk to Kenny about it.
Becky laughed. “Alice, I can only do one thing at a time. In the future, I reckon we’ll be a lot better off than we are right now. We have too many decisions to make while we are trying to keep everything out of the spotlight. I don’t want Bruce finding me. It’s been too soon. I think I will stay here in the cabin for the next sixth months before I venture out.”
“But you can always go to Louisville. Hardly anyone knows you there and Bruce never goes there.”
Becky nodded. “He doesn’t, does he?”
“No,” Alice shook her head. “He doesn’t.”
“Well, it’s an idea. I might talk to Kenny about it. It would be so much fun, providing fun toys for kids. I’d like that.”
“And you can generate some money of your own. I do that by baking cakes and other goods and selling them around town or at the bazaar at church. People will pay a nickel for my cakes! And two pennies for every cookie. It’s amazing what the people of this town will do for each other.”
Becky was quiet for a moment and Alice tilted her head. “What are you thinking, Becky?”
“I was just wondering if I am able to handle all of this. I have been away from Bruce for almost a month. It seems like it’s been an eternity.”
“When big changes come around like this, especially one involving falling in love, time does seem to slow down. Or is it fly by? Either way, if you are supposed to be with someone, time won’t mean a thing. You can be together for the rest of your lives and it will seem like only a moment has passed.”
“You will come to Louisville when we get married, won’t you?” Becky sounded like she was begging. Alice raised her eyebrows.
“Was there ever any doubt?”
Becky laughed. “I should have known better.”
The door to the bedroom was pushed open and the men stepped in.
“Is it all right if we come in your room?” Kenny asked.
Becky grinned. “Of course. Though I don’t know why my room would make a good meeting place.”
“Are we having a meeting?” Adam looked from one person to another with a look of confusion and surprise on his face. When he broke into a grin, the rest of them chuckled.
“We are having a meeting to decide what kind of decorations and flowers and food we’ll have at our wedding.” Becky said.
Mark turned and pushed Adam out of his way in an attempt to get past him. “I’m not involved in this lady stuff,” he laughed. “Lemme outta here.”
When the rest of them laughed, he stopped and shook his head. “Only teasing. I guess I’ll have to be involved too, since Kenny has asked me to stand up for him alongside Adam.”
“We are all going to be involved,” Alice clapped her hands. “How exciting. I can’t wait. It’s going to be a lovely ceremony.”
“Yes, it is,” Kenny responded. “With the most beautiful bride on the face of the planet.”
Becky’s cheeks were ablaze and she stood up to give her man a hug. “You are so sweet to me, Kenny. Thank you.”
“I might have to dispute the most beautiful bride thing,” Adam said. “But if you cut the most part out, you know, in deference to my wife since she is clearly the most beautiful bride on the planet, then I will agree with you.”
Kenny mock-frowned at Adam. “You want to take this outside?”
All of the adults laughed uproariously and herded themselves out of Becky’s small room. They sat in various chairs in the living room and Kenny continued to fill up the beer mugs the men were drinking from for the rest of the night. They drank somewhat slowly and eventually had a large dinner with the children sitting on the floor in the living room using the long table with short legs there to keep their food stable. The adults sat around the square table with four chairs (they pulled out a fifth one and squeezed Mark in) and ate a delicious venison dinner with potatoes and vegetables.
The family left the cabin with full stomachs and smiles on their faces.
Becky and Kenny watched them ride away in the wagon, feeling content. They stood at the door, Kenny’s arm around Becky’s shoulders. He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. “I’m so glad I found you, Becky.”
Snatching The Bride Page 18