by Annie Boone
Then, finally, Blake inquired in a strange, almost defeated fashion, "Is that how you honestly feel, Uncle?"
"Yes, Blake. That is how I feel. You spend your days running around and doing what you want. There comes a time when a boy must grow up. Become a man. Part of being a man is taking responsibility and raising a family. This can be a happy time in your life if you will allow it," he replied in a calm, but steady voice.
Blake then sighed loudly and the women heard the sound of chair legs scraping on the floor. Someone was sitting down.
Bart continued so that his feelings were evident in his tone and his words. "Your aunt and I have loved being a part of your growing up years, Son. We love you. We did this as a gift for you. Maybe you feel like it was misguided, but we did it because we want you to be happy with a wonderful woman. Viola is that woman."
Again they heard a heavy sigh that had to have come from Blake. "I trust that you did what you thought was right. I'm not sure I agree. I will agree to not have her go away and I will open up to the possibilities. What will happen if I can't find happiness in this?"
"Then, we will accommodate her to the best of our abilities, but this is in no way an arrangement. I did this so that you would be happy, Blake; not to make you miserable despite what you might think."
Anna grabbed Viola's hand and pulled her into the room with her. The men looked over at them with surprise. Bart quickly recovered and smiled a big smile.
"Let's try this again," said the uncle. "Blake, this is Viola. She has traveled a very long way to meet you."
Blake smiled at Viola and took her hand gently in his. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it politely. She smiled back at him and blushed at his attempt to be a gentleman.
"It is nice to meet you, Blake." She beamed as her heart began to slow down from beating at extreme speeds through her nervousness.
"The pleasure is all mine," He answered, looking into her eyes in a way that told Viola that he was actually considering her, instead of just appeasing his aunt and uncle. Of course, she couldn't be sure, but when a trace of a smile crossed his lips, she seemed as though things might be looking up.
Oh, I hope, I hope, I hope! She thought as her heart began to flutter again.
Chapter Six
Blake was whistling a light hearted ditty when he walked into the kitchen. The other three were enjoying a hearty breakfast.
"Where's my plate, Auntie?" he asked.
Anna smiled at her nephew and replied, "It's over beside the stove waiting for you to put what you want on it. Just like every morning, Blake."
"Good morning, Viola." he said. "I'm assuming you are well rested after your long travels?"
Viola felt a bit of color rise in her cheeks that he was speaking to her. She was going to have to get over the nervousness she felt around him. She couldn't be blushing every time he looked her way or he would never get to know the real her.
"Oh, yes. I slept very well. The quiet of the area is wonderful for sleeping. In New York there was always racket – even in the middle of the night!"
Viola noticed Bart and Anna glance casually at each other. Bart raised an eyebrow and that made Anna smile. She knew they wanted she and Blake to end up happy together. She wanted that, too, and she was comforted by their support.
"What have you got planned for the day, Son?" asked Bart.
"Well, I was hoping to talk Miss Viola here into spending the day with me," replied Blake. He looked over at Viola as he sat down at the table to eat his breakfast. He winked at her and then took a big bite of eggs and country ham.
Viola was feeling confident since his wink seemed to indicate he had changed his attitude about her at some point since last night. "Start talking, then, sir. I haven't heard an invitation, yet," she joked.
"Did you bring any attire suitable for hiking?" Blake asked. "Before I ask you to join me, it's probably wise to find out if you'll even be able to dress appropriately to go with me."
"I supposed I can find something that will work," replied Viola. "So where are we going to go hiking? Is it a long way to go? Will our hike start from here? What will we see?"
"You're really full of questions. Just go and change. I'll finish breakfast and when you get back we'll get going. You'll like it, I promise."
The need for comfortable clothing was an understatement. She hadn't expected to be climbing a mountain. In her lack of understanding of the area, she'd assumed that a hike would be a stroll up a hill. That wasn't exactly what Blake meant.
They took a wagon to the edge of the clearing which was on the far side of the property. Blake tied the horse to a tree and looked around. There was a faint trail that led off into the woods and immediately started up an incline.
"Here's the beginning of our first adventure together," he said. He seemed reticent as he spoke and she didn't want to make a big deal out of anything yet so she just nodded her agreement. She took a small basket that contained some snacks for lunch out of the wagon and took a few steps toward the trail.
Blake took the lead and they started their hike up the mountain that could be seen from the front porch of the house. She didn't realize it at the time, but this was the kind of adventure she had longed for. She knew something had been missing in her life, she just hadn't known about this.
Blake explained as they walked that there were dangers in the wilderness that they had to be careful of. Snakes, wolves, and black bears were the main wild critters to be watching for. Poison oak was found twining through many of the trees and it would cause a very unpleasant and itchy rash. There were also stragglers from outlaw groups known to hide in the wooded mountains from time to time. They typically would avoid other people for fear of being caught and turned in to the law so they were of little threat but it was smart to pay attention.
They kept a steady pace and despite her wardrobe constraints, Viola kept up very well. Viola wondered if Blake was purposefully trying to test her limits, but she wasn't going to be an easy mark. She was a woman, but not a prissy one. Every steep climb was a challenge and she gained his respect when she didn't back down. This feeling of success, at doing everything she could to win him over, was what helped Viola to continue.
She couldn't picture herself with a man who worked indoors every day. When she thought back to the men she knew in New York, they all seemed dull and drab compared to Blake. She was pleased he had included her in this small adventure even if it was probably a bit of a test for her. Viola was sure this day would prove to be one of the most physically challenging days she had ever experienced before.
Throughout the hike together, they did little talking. Blake did take a few opportunities to explain things that they saw along the way. She was focused on keeping her skirt from getting caught on something, not falling down, and not being bitten by a snake. She did hate snakes. It took most of her attention to pay attention so she could keep from falling behind. Blake's eyes were always aware of what was around them and he was doing the best he could to keep them out of harm's way.
Being that Viola was from the city and not being used to constant dangers, this was certainly unsettling. She trusted him to protect her, but she was determined to prove she could go anywhere with him and hold her own. She moved forward as though none of this bothered her.
After a few hours of climbing through trees and a bit of underbrush, the two of them stopped on a rock shelf of the burnt orange surroundings and gazed out over the west. There was green and yellow prairie for miles below them and it was absolutely breathtaking.
Viola sat next to Blake and beamed at him. She was unable to speak. The beauty of the country was new to her and she was filled with awe.
"I love this place," he spoke quietly. "I'm in awe every time I come up here. I can tell by the look on your face that you feel the same way."
She finally found her tongue and spoke in the same hushed tone. "It's beautiful. I can see why you love it. I already do, too."
> The mood lightened when Blake chuckled and said, "I'm surprised you're still here. I expected you to beg me to take you back, but you didn't complain once."
"You're right. I didn't," she replied. "This is worth the climb and shortness of breath!"
"How did you expect it to be here?" he asked, genuinely interested in her answer.
He took the basket of food and offered her an apple and took one for himself. Viola squinted her eyes into the sun as she took a bite of the juicy apple. "I don't know what I expected to see, to be honest. I knew that there was a lot of space, but I didn't expect there to be so many colors and textures. The patches of wild flowers in the fields fill me with joy. I had no idea I'd find anything like that. The animals, friendly and fierce, are lovely. But the colors are the best part of it all."
"Well, you know that only the photographs are in black and white, right? The world is actually done up in color. Is there some rumor that has gotten back to New York, that everything west of the Louisiana Purchase is grey?"
Viola laughed at him and replied, "No. That's not what I mean, Blake. I know that photographs can't do justice to the real view but I just had no idea how vibrant it would all be. I also thought that things would be boring since the conveniences of the city would be far away. I'm learning that there is much to explore and that takes away any boredom I might have feared."
"If you thought it would be boring here, then why did you come?"
"Are you wondering if I was only hoping for some kind of adventure?" she eyed him in a teasing manner.
He shrugged and answered, "Aren't we all? That's the only reason I could imagine that a woman would leave her family and friends behind to court a man with whom she has never spoken." His eyes looked, almost admiringly at her and he added, "There has got to be some fire in your heart to make you do something like that." Then, after a pause, he asked her, "So, what is it? What made you come out here?"
Viola thought about this for a moment before she answered. It was important that she tell the truth and also let him see some of what drove her. "It felt like the right thing to do. I answered your uncle's ad and then I came to love him. I trust him. My parents want me to marry a man back home. I don't love him and I never will. He has no fire in his heart, as you put it. He wasn't for me but I was being pushed to him. That's why I answered Bart's ad. I was looking for a way out of my situation."
"So, you left out of resentment?"
Viola then shook her head with fervor as she insisted, "No! Not in the least. I don't hate him or my parents. I'm not angry at them, either. It's how things are done where I'm from and I just didn't want that. He has promised to wait for me for two years, however."
"So he's not for you, but I am?" He asked, almost snidely.
She stared at him for a long moment until she finally answered, "I don't know yet. I believe it's too early to tell."
This was the truth. Even though she could easily see the two of them together, she knew that ultimately, it was too early to be hearing wedding bells. Although, she knew that she felt more for Blake, only having just met him, than she did in all of the time she spent around Frederick.
"I'm sure he's a decent man. You'd probably be well taken care of with him, or your parents would not have chosen him."
"I don't want to be taken care of, Blake; I want to be in love, like your aunt and uncle, or like my parents. I want to feel a deep connection with someone that supersedes every other feeling and desire." Then, she stopped and said, "But now, I want to know what fuels you." As his eyes rose up in question, Viola clarified, "More specifically, what fuels the fire in your heart?"
His eyes rested on Viola's for a little while, before she saw the slightest smile cross his lips. Then, he said, "My parents. They are what fuel my heart. They are always in my heart."
Viola tilted her head to the side signaling that she realized this was serious and listening to whatever he wanted to share with her. "How do you mean?"
"Well, I don't know if my uncle told you, but they passed away quite a few years ago. When my aunt and uncle moved out here and bought the land, they thought it would be a good experience for me to see. So, they sent me with Uncle and Auntie to stay for a while. My parents lived on the coast, but were thinking of moving here,too. They took a train about a month later, after making the final decision to start a new life out here." He sighed and his eyes grew misty as he explained, "On their way, the train ran off the rails and crashed. There were no survivors." After speaking, his eyes dipped down, but before Viola could say anything to comfort him, he added, "But that was a long time ago. The point is that all I do is for them. I know that they wanted to experience the beauty of the mountains and the plains and I'm sorry they didn't get to do that. So I feel obligated to be respectful of nature and what the land has to offer. I know that I must take over the ranch for Uncle one day. When that time comes, I'll be prepared with the love of the land."
"That's a beautiful reason, Blake."
"It's gotten me through so far and I expect it to continue. You need to know, Viola, that I would want to make my parents proud if there were still here. I think they'd like you."
"I'm certain I'd like them, too," she whispered as the butterflies in her belly were on the flutter again.
Chapter Seven
The weeks sped by for Viola. Before she knew it more than a month had passed since she'd arrived at the ranch. She and Blake were officially courting, but it didn't really seem that way to her.
She had a small suite of rooms on one side of the house that was a private area for her. He frequently slept outside or in the barn. He did have his own room, but he didn't use it often for sleeping.
In New York, Frederick would call on her at her home. They would spend time in the parlor with others or alone. Sometimes they would go to the park or to get ice cream.
The time she spent with Blake was vastly different. He didn't call on her since they already lived in the same abode. Though this would normally be considered extremely improper, the arrangement was made acceptable with the presence of Bart and Anna. Include the fact that Blake spent so much time outdoors, it worked for them.
The living arrangements worked, but the courting was leaving something to be desired as far as Viola was concerned. Though the two of them spent time together every day she was still uncertain about his feelings for her and his feelings about marriage in general. She enjoyed his company - there was no doubt about that. She believed he enjoyed being with her, too. She couldn't be sure, of course, since he really didn't say anything positive about their courtship. On the other hand, he also never let a day go by without teaching her something about the ranch or the area or spending time talking about politics or random social topics.
Even though she spent significant time with him and would swear to anyone that he was perfect for her, he seemed to be the only one that needed to be convinced.
Bart and Anna loved her and loved that the two of them were spending time together, but even they couldn't quite tell what he was thinking. Blake didn't confide in them about how he was feeling about the courtship. The best they could do was to keep their distance most of the time and let things happen naturally if they were going to. Most of the time when the courtship topic was raised, Blake avoided the conversation any way he could. That was a clear signal that he hadn't made a decision about Viola yet.
Viola had no idea what she should do. The more she spent time with him, the more she wanted to have a future with him, but even though she tried her best to win him over, all she ever seemed to gain from the experience was pain. It was exceedingly aggravating, wanting to be more to him than she felt she was. She had fallen deeply in love with him and she feared that love might never be returned. She also was tired of being the constant one and making sure he knew she was there for him. She needed a sign from him and that sign was not coming any time soon from the looks of the situation.
There was no denying that they were becoming sple
ndid friends. Viola valued his friendship very much, but she did not come all the way out here for a friendship. She had good friends at home. The truth is that she came here to spend the rest of her life with Blake. Yet, he didn't seem interested in any of that. He was having fun just like he always had done. No responsibilities, no strings. Easy.
He would stay out in the prairie and sleep under the stars most nights. While that helped keep propriety in place with this courting arrangement, she sometimes felt cast aside at dusk. He was choosing to not completely invest in their relationship any further than friends. She struggled to find a way to handle the sadness and the fear. Most days she masked her emotions to keep everything on a pleasant level.
Viola stepped out of her room into the hallway and ran right into Blake one evening after dinner. Surprised by the unexpected collision, she reached out to him to keep from falling over. His arms instinctively went around her. As he pulled her back up to steady her, their eyes met and held.
"Oh. I didn't expect to see you again tonight," Viola said when she had regained her balance.
"I was just about to knock on your door. I'm sorry I just about knocked you down. I should be more careful. Anyway, I was going to see if you want to take a walk and enjoy the stars with me tonight."
Viola rarely turned Blake down when he offered to do something with her, especially at night time. "I'd love to do that. I looked outside a little earlier and it looks like a perfect night to star gaze."
As they got settled on a blanket they'd taken from the barn, Viola thought about how compatible she and Blake were. They liked so many of the same things. The romance was definitely missing, though. She was unhappy about that part because she wanted the romance so badly. She wanted him to sweep her off her feet. Star gazing was a romantic event for most couples, but for her and Blake it was a way for friends to spend time together enjoying the nature that God had gifted them with.