The Barnstormer

by Jane Lewis

  She threw her arms around her daddy and kissed his cheek. “Pa, thank you.”

  Frankie shook Jacob’s hand. “Thank you, sir. I can build anything Ruthie needs. I know Al will help me.”

  Jacob nodded. “You and my daughter make a good pair. You’re both stubborn enough to succeed at anything you want to do.”

  Victor flew the Stinson Trimotor with Lisbeth in the co-pilot’s seat. Frankie sat with his girl and held her hand. As soon as they landed, they joined the rest of the family along with Al and Ethel at Walter and Delores’ farm for supper.

  Chapter Forty

  Frankie rose early on the day of his wedding. He’d made a promise to himself to visit the cemetery. He placed some daisies on his mama’s grave and sat on the bench he’d placed near the headstone several years ago. “Mama, I wish you were here. I know I’ve made some mistakes and haven’t been the man you wanted me to be, but things are good now. I’m getting married today to someone you would approve of and love. She loves me Mama, and she makes me a better man.” He let the tears come, he hadn’t cried since the day they buried her. “Bye, Mama, next time I visit, I’ll have my wife with me.”

  He drove his car home and spent the morning cleaning their little house. The four-room house consisted of a bedroom, front room, kitchen, and bathroom. He couldn’t be prouder, if he lived in a mansion. Compared to where he’d lived, it was. The pink rose bush planted by former occupants stood laden with blooms. Frankie grabbed some scissors and a mason jar. He filled the jar with as many roses as he could cram in and topped it off with water. He placed the jar on the table next to the bed. Everything in the house sparkled waiting for the lady of the house to arrive.

  Frankie placed his black and white pin stripe suit and vest on his bed. He removed his white shirt from the hangar and placed it on the chair along with his black and white tie. He searched through a small drawer for his tie clip. He stared at the image of the biplane and kissed it for luck. He’d come full circle. He left Saplingville at fifteen to follow his barnstormer dream. He didn’t regret his false starts and bad luck. He wouldn’t be the man he is today if those things never happened. Frankie closed his eyes and thanked God for leading him to this moment.

  He took a cola bottle from the icebox and headed to his front porch. His knotted stomach made it impossible to eat lunch. He sat in the front porch swing nursing his drink. He rolled the empty bottle between his hands. His thoughts were of his wedding and his new bride. He wouldn’t spend another lonely day in this house, and his life would never be quiet with Ruthie beside him.

  Chapter Forty-One

  Ruth Ann stared in her bedroom mirror while Lisbeth pinned flowers in her black bobbed hair. “Do you think I have on enough make-up?”

  Lisbeth kept working but studied her face. “A little more rouge. Are you wearing red lipstick?”

  She smiled and showed her sister the tube. “Red Hot Red to match my fingernails.”

  Lisbeth combed the back of her hair. “Frankie’s going get your lipstick on him when he kisses you.”

  “He won’t care as long as he gets to kiss me.”

  Hattie hurried in the room holding her wedding gown. “Time to put on your dress. Lisbeth, Ruth Ann’s hair is beautiful. I love the flowers.”

  She stood and removed her robe.

  Her mother held out the dress, and Ruth Ann stepped into it. Hattie fastened the row of satin buttons down the back. “You are beautiful.”

  Lisbeth stared. “You are beautiful. I’m very happy for you and Frankie. I hope I find someone as good as Frankie is to you and Dottie is to Victor.”

  Jacob waited by the front door for his daughter. He smiled when he saw her float down the stairs. “My, my, don’t you look beautiful.”

  Her lower lip trembled. “Thanks, Pa.”

  Jacob placed her in the front seat. She smoothed her dress to prevent wrinkles. Hattie and Lisbeth sat in the rear seat. Jacob started the Buick and headed to the church.

  She stared out the window of the car. She’d traveled these roads many times, but the houses and yards appeared different. Her senses on high alert, she saw her world for the first time. Her hands shook as if she were about to go on stage. She closed her eyes and practiced her breathing technique. Her belly expanded against the smooth satin dress and her heart beat returned to normal. The car stopped in front of the church.

  Dottie opened her door. “Ruth Ann, you are stunning. Take my hand, I’ll help you out.”

  She grasped Dottie’s hand. “Hurry, Frankie can’t see me.”

  Hattie hugged her. “Go with Dottie and Lisbeth. I have to stay here.”

  She grabbed her mother and hugged her tightly. “Thanks, Ma. I love you.”

  Hattie held her daughter and whispered, “I love you, too.”

  The three girls hurried to an empty Sunday School room. Ruth Ann stood by the window. “How long do we wait?”

  Dottie sat in a chair. “Pa will come and get us when it’s time.”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Frankie, Victor, and Al waited together. At two o’clock they left the room and walked to the church sanctuary. Mrs. Wilson played ‘Oh Promise Me’ while the men and bridesmaids entered the church. When the men were in their places, she pounded an F-chord and started the ‘Bridal Chorus.’

  Frankie’s heart raced at the sight of his bride. She looked like an angel. My beautiful angel. Al patted him on the back, and he regained his composure.

  Jacob marched her to the front of the church, placed her hand in his, and declared he and Henrietta were giving their daughter to him.

  His heart pounded, and he willed himself to breathe. Lisbeth stepped to the piano. He held Ruthie’s hand, and after a cue from Lisbeth, he started singing “The Shadow Waltz.”

  He gazed into his bride’s eyes and sang. Ruthie fingered the heart pendant he gave her for Christmas. Hattie sobbed and Jacob put his arm around his wife. Frankie nodded toward them. When the song ended, he brushed Ruthie’s tears from her cheek and kissed her on the forehead.

  Pastor Lowe said, “Not so fast, let’s say the vows first.” After the giggles and laughter subsided, Pastor Lowe started the ceremony. “Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and these witnesses to join Francis Jack Howard and Ruth Ann Douglas in holy matrimony.”

  They repeated their vows, exchanged rings, and sealed everything with a kiss. After the long kiss that had Pastor Lowe clearing his throat and the men of the congregation cheering, he dug in his pocket for a handkerchief to wipe the lipstick off his face. Everyone clapped and laughed.

  Ruthie said, “Frankie, you’re wiping off my kiss.”

  “No, I’m wiping off your lipstick. Figured you’d be wearing the same color as your nails.”

  They strolled through the aisle to applause and waited while people gathered in the large reception room.

  Carol Ann and Jack Andrew ran to Frankie. He held them one in each arm, and Ruthie kissed their cheeks. Victor grabbed them before they ripped the flowers from her hair.

  Victor said, “All right, you two, let Uncle Frankie and Aunt Ruth Ann enjoy their day. We’ll take you to their house and leave you with them when they return from their honeymoon.”

  She swung her head toward her husband causing a daisy to topple out of her hair. “Honeymoon?”

  He put his arm around her. “Yep, but it’s a surprise. We’re leaving tomorrow and no, I’m not telling you where we’re going.”

  She squeezed his arm. “But I haven’t packed. I planned to get my clothes from home and take to your house next week. I have enough for the next few days.”

  Frankie bent his head and rested his forehead on hers. “Don’t worry, wife. Lisbeth took care of everything. By the time we get home, your suitcases will be waiting for us.”

  The reception ended, and everyone threw rice as they ran to Frankie’s car. When they arrived home, he scooped her in his arms and carried her through the front door. He kicked the door closed and made h
is way to the bedroom turning sideways as he entered with Ruthie still in his arms.

  He continued to hold her and they kissed until she slipped her feet to the floor. “Unbutton these buttons, please.”

  Frankie stared at the row of buttons. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re not making this easy, are you?”

  She laughed. “I’m worth waiting for.”

  He had already gotten half way down her back with the buttons. “Yes, you are, Mrs. Howard.”

  She stepped out of the dress and draped it on a chair.

  Frankie watched her. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

  She unfastened each garter and rolled her stockings down her legs. She stood, tugged his coat off, and unbuttoned his vest. She loosened his tie and started on his shirt buttons. “Do you have any idea how handsome you are?” He shivered as Ruthie unfastened his belt and pants.

  She tugged his pants and drawers at the same time. She gazed from the top of his head to his toes. “You’re even more handsome with no clothes on.” She ran her hands over his muscles and buried her head in the softness of the hairs on his chest.

  He reached for her slip straps and let them fall as he tugged the garment until it fell to the ground. “My turn to undress you.” He stared at his bride, her beauty took his breath away. He kissed her and drew her close. He wanted to feel her bare skin against his. He unfastened her brassiere and threw it over his shoulder. He pulled her close, her nipples hardened against his body. He bent and kissed her from her neck to her soft breasts as he shoved her panty briefs until they hit the floor, and she stepped out of them. He held her, the feel of her soft body against him ignited a passion he didn’t know existed. “I love you.” The words came easy now.

  She returned the words in a whisper. “I love you, too.”

  He picked her up and placed her on the bed. He’d vowed to go slow, take his time, make sure she enjoyed every second. He started his quest to memorize every part of her before the night was over. Only when he had pleased her enough times she begged for him inside her did he give in to his own need. A need, if he lived, only his precious Ruthie would fill.

  ****

  Sunshine burned into the house when Frankie opened his eyes. He glanced at his alarm clock, ten in the morning. Ruthie’s head rested on his chest, his arm under her and her arm and leg draped over his body. He stayed in bed listening to her soft snores remembering their first night as husband and wife. He didn’t have the heart to wake her. They stayed awake until the wee hours. He lost count of how many times they made love. Just when he thought they’d had enough and settled in each other’s arms, a touch or a kiss or a word had them loving each other again. When they rested, they talked, making plans for their life. He removed his body from hers. She didn’t wake, she pivoted to her side. He put on his drawers and walked to the kitchen to make coffee and breakfast.

  Ruthie entered the kitchen wearing his white shirt. “Good morning.”

  Frankie raked his eyes over his bride, picked her up and cradled her in his arms. “Good morning, my shirt looks better on you. I hoped you’d sleep a little longer.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I smelled bacon and coffee. Besides I’m excited about our honeymoon. Where are you taking me?”

  Frankie swung around holding her close. “We’re going to Tybee Island for a little fun in the sun.” He let her legs fall to the floor.

  She put her arms around his neck. “I love Tybee Island.”

  He kissed her. “I know.”

  She kissed his neck. “I don’t think we’ll be seeing much of the sun or the beach.”

  A smile filled Frankie’s face, one that would never fade as long as he had her. “If we don’t, I’ll take you another time. We’ve got the rest of our lives.”

  A word about the author…

  Before fulfilling her dream of being a published romance writer, Jane Lewis worked as a free-lance musician and teacher, and an analyst and manager for a large railroad company. She is a native of Atlanta and lover of all things southern. She graduated from Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music.

  When she isn’t writing her next romance, she enjoys cooking, tending her rose garden, playing music, yoga, and bowling with her real life hero, her husband. She and her husband live in a suburb outside of Atlanta.

  She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Georgia Romance Writers and Georgia Writers Association. She was a 2016 finalist in the Hearts Through History, Post-Victorian/World War II category for her first romance novel, Love at Five Thousand Feet.

  Website: www.janelewisauthor.com

  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/janelewisauthor/

  Twitter https://twitter.com/janelewisauthor

  Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/janelewis9917/

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  contact us at

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  Also available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc. and other major retailers

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