White River Brides

by Frances Devine

  What had she been thinking? Of course God had brought Jim into her life. This was a strong man. If not for God and the love He’d put in Jim’s heart for her, he’d have swept her out of his mind months ago. Joy swelled up in her, and she knew she needed to find a chair before she ended up on the floor.

  Addy accepted a cup of punch from Carrie Sue’s little sister and went to one of the tables. As soon as she was seated, she turned slightly and met his watching gaze. She averted her eyes and pressed her lips together but couldn’t keep them from tilting upward at the corners.

  Horace Packard stepped up to the raised platform at the back of the room. “Ladies and gentlemen, everyone line up for a lively, toe-tapping Virginia reel.”

  Among laughter and catcalls, couples, young and old, formed two lines. Addy groaned as she saw Dr. Fields head her way from the front of the barn. Just before he arrived, a tall shadow crossed her vision, and she looked up to see Jim bow.

  “May I have this dance, Miss Sullivan?” His smile was uncertain as though he half expected her to refuse.

  “I’d be delighted, Mr. Castle.” She placed her hand in his and stood.

  The next few moments of toe-tapping fun flew by with no chance to speak.

  The dance ended, and the couples all reunited, some waiting for the next dance, others falling into their chairs.

  “Addy.”

  “Jim.”

  Before either could continue, a sweet, sweet sound started low and muted and then grew, almost heart-wrenching in its intensity. Startled, Addy looked toward the platform. Abby sat, her bow held high. Their eyes met for a moment. Then Addy closed her eyes and let the haunting notes of Abby’s violin caress her soul.

  As the sweet strains of a waltz filled the room and Jim took her in his arms, the thought crossed Addy’s mind that her sister must really want to get rid of her. She smiled to herself and relaxed in Jim’s arms.

  “You are so beautiful tonight, you take my breath away.” Jim’s voice was soft on her ears, his words tender to her heart.

  “Thank you,” she said, her voice trembling.

  Weakness washed over her, and she prayed he wouldn’t let go because she’d surely land right on the floor. But in spite of the weakness, a peace she’d never known washed over her.

  Oh God, thank You for straightening out my thinking. Abby never really needed me. I was the one who needed to be needed.

  The music came to an end. Jim asked, “Would you care to go outside for some air? It’s quite stuffy in here.”

  They walked across the room, and Abby grinned at them as they walked by. On the way out, they stopped to get cups of hot cider. They strolled across to the fence and leaned against it.

  Addy shivered, and Jim reached over and adjusted the shawl she’d thrown around her shoulders.

  “Why didn’t you wear a coat?” he said.

  She laughed. “You sound like my sister. She said the same thing to me a few days ago.”

  “Your sister is very wise.” He smiled, and the crinkling of his eyes made her knees go weak again.

  “Yes, she certainly is, but as a matter of fact, my coat is in our buggy. And must we talk about my sister?” Oh no. Had she actually voiced that thought?

  He laughed. “As a matter of fact, I do have some things I’d like to talk over with you. I was going to ask if I could take you for a drive tomorrow.”

  “Yes, I’d like that.” She looked up at the night sky. “Of course, it looks as though we might have snow.”

  “Snow won’t keep me away,” he said. “What I have to say is much too important.”

  A gust of icy wind hit them suddenly, and Addy shivered again.

  “Let me get your coat.”

  “Thank you, but we should probably go inside.”

  Disappointment clouded his eyes, but he nodded. “Of course.”

  She laid her hand on his proffered arm, and they went inside.

  Within a few moments, the wind had increased and roared against the barn, shaking the sturdy walls and roaring down the chimneys.

  The guests hurried to get their things together.

  Ma appeared at her side. “Dear, we need to go home now. Pa thinks a storm is coming. Abigail and Rafe are going to take Betty home with them, or if the wind gets worse they’ll all spend the night with Rafe’s folks.” She nodded at Jim. “Good night, Mr. Castle. Please be careful on your wayback to town.”

  Jim walked Addy to the wagon. She turned and watched as he saddled Finch and rode away.

  Chapter 23

  Addy wiped the frost off the parlor window and peered out at the deep drifts piled high against the house and outbuildings. Would he show up? He’d said snow wouldn’t stop him, but surely he hadn’t realized how much would fall in the night. The only way he’d get through this was by horse or sleigh. When the snow stopped earlier this morning, Rafe had brought a bundled-up Betty home in his sleigh.

  She was almost beside herself with nerves. Now that she’d come to her senses, what if he didn’t ask her to marry him and leave Branson with him? After all, he couldn’t know that all she wanted now was to be with him, even if he took her to the other side of the world. Would she dare bring up the subject?

  “I hear sleigh bells.” Betty ran to the window and looked out.

  “Are you sure, Bets? I don’t hear them.” Addy squinted and peered again through the frosty pane.

  “Yes, I’m sure.” Betty said. “Maybe your ears don’t work as good as mine.”

  “Maybe they don’t work as well as yours, sweetheart.”

  Betty hunched her shoulders and grinned. “That’s what I said, silly.”

  Wait, maybe Betty was right. Addy ran to the door and flung it open. She heard the jingling of bells just before the single-horse sleigh came around the bend of the lane. Quickly she shut the door before Jim could see her. After all, it wouldn’t do to appear too eager.

  Betty gave an impatient little stomp. “Why’d you close the door, sister? He’s almost here.”

  “Well…umm…I didn’t want to let cold air in.”

  “Oh.” She wrinkled her brow and gave Addy a suspicious stare.

  At the knock on the door, Betty flung it open. “Hi, Mr. Jim.”

  “Well hello, Miss Betty,” Jim said with a bow. “It’s mighty cold out here. Is it all right if I come in?”

  Addy blushed. “Please come in, of course. May I take your hat?”

  “I’d better take care of it myself. I dropped it in a snow bank a few minutes ago, and it’s wet.” He hung it on the hat rack.

  Pa stepped out into the hall. “Come in and sit by the fire, Jim. I think Lexie just took cinnamon rolls out of the stove.”

  “Thank you, sir, but if you don’t mind, I’ll wait until Addy and I get back from our ride.” He gave her a questioning look. “That is if you’d still like to go. I have a pile of warm blankets for you.”

  “Yes, a sleigh ride will be fun. Let me get my coat and gloves.”

  “And a hat,” Betty piped up. “Don’t forget your hat, Addy.”

  “Oh, thanks, Bets, but will a wool scarf do?” She smiled and gave her sister a kiss on the cheek before she and Jim walked to the sleigh.

  He helped her in then tucked blankets around her before getting in himself.

  The sleigh glided smoothly across the snow, and Addy leaned back against the seat in satisfaction. “Are we going any place in particular?” she asked.

  “I thought we’d go down by the river or maybe over to the churchyard so we can sit and talk,” he said. “Unless there’s someplace else you’d like to go.”

  “No, that would be fine.” She licked her lips, suddenly nervous again.

  Snow began to fall in soft white flakes as they pulled into the churchyard.

  “Oh, dear.” Addy pulled her collar closer around her neck. “I hope it doesn’t get any harder.”

  “I can take you back home if you’d like. I suppose we can talk another time.” The disappointment in Jim’s voice
would have made up her mind, if she’d needed it.

  “No, that won’t be necessary. It’s not snowing that hard. And look how beautiful it is.” Addy took a deep breath as she glanced around. Snow draped the trees that surrounded the church and yard, and drifts billowed up against the weathered logs.

  “It almost looks like a picture, doesn’t it?” she said.

  “Yes, it does. I feel like singing ‘Jingle Bells.’ “ He grinned.

  She giggled. “Me, too.”

  He reached over and wiped snow off the red wool scarf she’d placed over her hair. Then he paused and looked deeply into her eyes. Her breath caught, and she lowered her lashes.

  “Addy, look at me.” He lifted her chin. “I love you. That was the first thing I wanted to say.”

  She couldn’t contain the happy sigh that escaped. He loved her. Her heart beat rapidly. Could she say it? Should she? Casting caution aside, she whispered, “I love you, too.”

  Joy slid over his face, but immediately he sobered. “I tried to find work, so we could be together without your leaving the home and family you love.”

  “I know. Abby told me.” She raised her eyes and met his. “Jim, I didn’t understand. I’ve been behaving like a child hoping everything would work out the way I wanted it. But life doesn’t always work out the way we have it planned.”

  “Does that mean…?”

  “It means I’ve realized sometimes God’s plan is different than ours, but His is always the right one.” She trembled as she allowed her love for him to shine from her eyes. “I want to go wherever you go. If you still want me.”

  “Still want you? Oh my darling girl…” he said. “And we can visit often now that the railroad is complete. Who knows? Now that those Wright brothers have had a successful flight, we might even fly here someday.”

  Addy giggled at the ridiculous remark. “I think I’d rather stick to the train.”

  She gasped as snow began to come down heavily. “Jim, this isn’t light snow anymore.”

  “You’re right. I need to get you home. But first, I have a very important question to ask, and I don’t want to wait any longer. Addy, will you please marry me?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, “I will.”

  As a curtain of snow fell, Jim bent his head and kissed her waiting lips.

  Addy stood on the top step of the train and waved, feeling the comfort of Jim’s chest behind her.

  Ma wiped the corner of her eye with her handkerchief but managed to throw a tremulous smile Addy’s way.

  Little Betty clung to her mother, sniveling and waving. “ ’Bye, Addy,” she said for about the umpteenth time. “Don’t forget to write me a letter.”

  “I won’t forget, Bets. I promise. Good-bye.” Addy’s voice cracked, and tears rushed up, threatening to overflow. She averted her eyes from her little sister just for a moment, then forced a big smile and turned her gaze back on her family.

  Pa appeared stern, but Addy knew he was fighting back tears. Funny how men thought they had to be so brave. He cleared his throat. “Take care of my little girl, Jim.”

  “I will, sir. I promise.” Jim’s voice was deep with emotion.

  Rafe and Abby stood to one side. Worry rose up in Addy as she looked at her sister. Abby stood stock still, a smile frozen on her face. Grief filled her eyes.

  Addy touched her hand to her lips and blew her a kiss.

  Jim pressed gently on her waist. “We need to find our seats, sweetheart.”

  Addy waved again then walked down the narrow aisle at her husband’s side. She scooted into her seat next to the window while Jim put her hatbox in the space above. Waving to her family, she examined each face.

  The train lurched and began to roll slowly forward.

  Addy hung on to the arm of her seat and continued to wave.

  Suddenly Abby broke loose from Rafe’s protective arm and took a step after the train. “Addy! Good-bye. I love you so much!” She continued to wave as the train crept slowly forward.

  “I love you, too, Abby. I love you, too. Don’t worry, we’ll visit!” She blew another kiss.

  “I know. I…” The rest of her sentence was drowned out as the train whistled loudly and the wheels picked up speed. Abby grinned and blew a kiss back then buried her face in Rafe’s shoulder. The train picked up more speed, and Abby leaned back against Rafe.

  Addy put her hand to her throat. Her sister would be all right. She had her husband, and they both had God. Peace flowed through her as she turned around. She looked at Jim and met love in his eyes.

  “I love you, Mrs. Castle,” he said.

  Suddenly amazement washed over her. It was just like her dream, from the moment she stood on the train step then walked with her husband up the aisle and sat beside him as the train left Branson. “I love you, too, Jim Castle.”

  A ripple of delighted laughter escaped her throat. Life would be one grand adventure with her handsome, dashing Jim. And she didn’t need to worry about leaving home. She’d heard the phrase “Home is where the heart is.” And her heart was right here where it belonged.

  Jim eyes crinkled as he smiled down at her. A lock of almost-black hair fell across his forehead as he bent and kissed her tenderly on the cheek.

  Epilogue

  Branson, Missouri, May 1, 1960

  Addy stepped through the gate, holding onto Jim’s arm, then stopped and stood still. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. The smell of wood smoke tantalized her senses, taking her back in time to the Sullivan farm and Ma’s old wood stove. She could even smell chicken frying.

  Her eyes flew open, and she glanced up at her husband. “It smells just like the old homeplace, Jim. I even smell chicken. You didn’t tell me. Is this the surprise?”

  Her husband grinned. “No, it may be a surprise, but it’s not the surprise. But come on now, you don’t want to stand here and get knocked over. They’ll be opening the gates to the public any minute now.”

  “Should we wait here to see it?” After all, she was here to see the grand opening.

  “Nah. You see one crowd, you’ve seen them all. I want you to see the place before anyone else gets here.” He winked. “Especially your surprise.” Gently he looped her arm through his and stepped forward.

  “Oh look, Jim. A blacksmith shop.” Her eyes wide, she pulled away from him and walked by herself to see the brawny man with his sleeves rolled up above his elbows pounding on iron with his anvil in front of an old wooden structure. Sparks flew and Jim pulled her back a step.

  She wrinkled her nose. The wonderful aroma she’d experienced had been replaced by an acrid smell. Still, the shop reminded her of long ago, so even the smell was yet welcome and somewhat familiar.

  As they walked on, the rest of the family trailing behind, she stopped again, her gaze following two women clothed in long dresses that would have been in style in Branson a hundred years ago. “Why, Jim. You didn’t tell me the workers wore period clothing.”

  “I thought you’d like the surprise,” he drawled with a teasing look in his eyes.

  “Oh yes. And that’s my surprise. A wonderful one.”

  Jim chuckled, that deep laugh that still curled her toes. “Nope. That’s not it.”

  Craft stalls lined the dirt streets of the town, and Addy took her time examining expertly handmade quilts and tatted scarves. A wood shop filled with old-fashioned, handcrafted furniture drew her attention. Over in one corner of the shop stood a horsehair chair. A pang shot through her. “Look, Jack. Your Uncle Rafe’s pa used to make chairs just like this.”

  Jack walked over and examined the chair. “Even the bottom?”

  “Of course. He made cane-bottomed ones, too. Now there’s a renewed interest in caning.” She ran her hand over the smooth seat. “But I don’t think anyone makes horsehair chair bottoms anymore.”

  They strolled down to a stand where vendors made candles and displayed them for sale. Addy ran her hand down the smooth wax of short and tall tapers. The other side of the sho
p displayed old-fashioned oil lanterns and lamps. Some were intricately made with flowers painted on the side. She closed her eyes and allowed nostalgia to wash over her.

  Jim squeezed her arm. “Just like the old days, aren’t they?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Most of ours were plain, but Ma had a rose-patterned one very similar to the one on the shelf there. It’s very beautiful, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is.” He motioned to the middle-aged shopkeeper. He paid and asked her to wrap the purchase and have it sent to the gate to be picked up when they left.

  “Thank you, darling.” Addy beamed at him. “I’ll cherish it always.”

  “And I will cherish you always.” He leaned in and gave her another peck on the cheek.

  She giggled. “That tickled. I think the mustache needs trimming.”

  “Your wish is my command,” he said with a droll expression. “I trust you won’t mind if I wait until later.”

  “I don’t mind at all. But I might not let you kiss me.” She wrinkled her nose.

  His laughter roared across the little mountain town. “Just try to stop me.”

  “Now, Jim, you have me all curious. Where is my surprise?” She batted her lashes, teasing.

  He shook his head. “No, no. You can’t work your wiles on me, young lady.”

  Addy heard subdued laughter from behind them and turned to see her son and grandson shaking their heads at one another.

  “Hmmph. So you don’t think I’m a young lady?”

  “I absolutely do, Mother,” Jack said with a serious face. “You are undoubtedly the most young-at-heart lady I know.”

  “And don’t you forget it.” She smiled and gave a short nod. “All right, if I can’t have my surprise, how about some of that fried chicken that’s torturing me. I know it’s here somewhere.

  “Right this way.” Jack took her other arm, and the two of them led her to a shack with a cut-out window. From inside, the tantalizing aromas of chicken and barbecued pork and beef wafted to her nostrils.

  “Oh dear, now I don’t know what I want. You decide, Jim.” She bit her lip. “It all looks and smells so delicious.”