His words ceased as Vivianna reached out, firmly taking his chin in hand. “Thank you, Johnny Tabor…for bringin’ my Justin home,” she said. Then, before she’d even realized what she’d done herself, Vivianna leaned forward, placing a tender kiss to the parched lips of the weathered soldier.
“Now,” she began, standing and smoothing her skirt, “I’ve said my thanks to you…and I expect you to mend. I won’t have Justin thrown to the depths of despair by you givin’ up. Do you hear me?”
“Y-yes, ma’am,” he mumbled, his eyebrows still arched with astonishment.
“Fine then,” Vivianna said. “Finish your stew, and put that salve on your hands. When you’re finished, I’ll have Caleb show you where the privy is.”
Johnny Tabor nodded, picked up the jar of salve from his lap, and studied it.
“I won’t have you dyin’ and causin’ Justin any more pain, Mr. Tabor. I won’t have it,” Vivianna said.
He nodded, and she sighed resolutely.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes with some more stew,” she said. “If what you’ve already eaten comes back up, just spit it in the washbasin.”
Again he nodded, and Vivianna left.
As she entered the kitchen, Justin and Caleb both smiled at her.
“He can really get your dander up, can’t he?” Justin chuckled.
“Yes…in one way or the other,” Vivianna reluctantly admitted.
“You’re as red as a beet, Viv!” Willy exclaimed. “What did Justin’s friend do to make ya so angry?”
“Oh, it makes no nevermind, Willy,” Vivianna said—though, in truth, she was still unsettled by thoughts of Johnny Tabor, by his strange readiness to give up his life so easily now that all that had threatened it was over.
Justin stood up from his chair. “Why don’t ya walk me outside a bit, Viv?” he said. “Maybe that’ll cool your temper…and I’d like to see the place before I turn in.”
“The sun’s settin’ mighty fast, Justin,” Nate said.
But Justin smiled and offered a hand to Vivianna. “Oh, that’s all right, Nate,” he said. “I’m sure Viv knows the way.”
Vivianna’s heart was pounding like a wild herd of horses was pent up inside her bosom! Still, she glanced to Caleb, worried he might be hurt if she took to Justin so soon.
Yet Caleb nodded. She saw the slight pain in his eyes, yet understanding was in them too—the unspoken understanding that he knew he had wooed her before and after the war while his brother had wooed her even through all the hardship and terrors of it.
Vivianna let her hand slip into her skirt pocket. She clutched Justin’s letter there—could not help but smile as Justin said, “I bet that ol’ honeysuckle vine has really grown since Caleb and me left.”
“Yes,” Vivianna said.
“Then take me there, Viv,” Justin said.
Vivianna bit her lip, delighted at the prospect of lingering beneath the honeysuckle with Justin. Yet she gasped, suddenly remembering the convalescing man in the other room.
“Oh, but I promised Mr. Tabor I’d bring another bowl of stew in,” she explained.
“Oh, for pity’s sake, Viv!” Savannah said, smiling. “I can do that. You go on and walk awhile with Justin. It’ll do ya good.”
“Thank ya, Miss Savannah,” Vivianna said.
She placed her hand in Justin’s offered one. Instantly she was warm and hopeful! His touch was startling to her senses, and she bathed in the pleasure of it.
As Justin led her from the house, he asked, “Are the honeysuckle blossoms as sweet as I remember?”
“Even sweeter,” Vivianna said, smiling at him.
Justin would be her lover now; she knew he would be. All the kisses she’d never shared with Justin before the war—all the dreams she’d so long dreamt of stolen moments spent beneath the honeysuckle—they would be hers now, and this would be the first of, oh, so many!
CHAPTER FOUR
The sun was beginning its evening descent, sending bright pinks and warm purples beaming across a blue, cloud-dappled horizon. Everywhere there was color; everywhere there was fragrance! Yet no color seemed so bright and welcoming as did the sight of the vine-draped arbor; no fragrance seemed so intoxicating as that exhaled by the honeysuckle blossoms heavy upon it.
“Well, look at that!” Justin exclaimed as he led Vivianna toward the old arbor. “I guess that vine just found a will of its own without me and Caleb here to beat it back. You can hardly see that old wagon of Grandpa’s anymore. That ol’ honeysuckle just swallowed it whole.”
Vivianna nodded as Justin paused to survey the scene. “At least somethin’ seemed to thrive durin’ the war,” she said. “I think there’re more blossoms than there have ever been this early in spring.”
Justin closed his eyes and inhaled a long, deep breath. “It puts me in mind of bein’ just a boy,” he began. “No war, no pain, no misery…no death.” He smiled. “It’s healin’ to my soul, in a manner.”
Vivianna closed her eyes as well—inhaled the sweet perfume of the honeysuckle. Justin was right. In that moment, she could almost sense her childhood lingering near, almost feel those bygone, carefree days of summer, almost hear the laughter as she, her brothers, and the Turner boys played near the arbor.
“Is the swing still in good repair?” he asked.
Vivianna nodded. “Oh yes! It’s often I come here and linger awhile…to think of you, Justin.”
Justin smiled. Reaching out, he brushed a strand of hair from Vivianna’s cheek. The thrill his touch sent racing through her being caused her to quiver a little—birthed goose pimples to prickle down her arms and legs.
“I’ve thought of you so often, Viv,” he said. His voice was low, filled with longing and, somehow, a breath of regret.
“And I’ve thought of you every moment, Justin. From the day you left us…I’ve thought of you endlessly,” she confessed, gazing into the sky blue of his beautiful eyes. “Do ya see?” she asked, reaching into her skirt pocket and retrieving his letter she ever kept there. “I carry one of your letters with me always.” She giggled a little as she handed the letter to him. “This one is perhaps my favorite,” she explained. “The envelope is in my room, with your other letters. But this letter…this is the one I’ve carried with me since the day it arrived.”
Justin smiled and unfolded the pages, his eyes traveling over the words.
“I…I fear I have none of your letters, Viv,” he confessed, his eyes missing some of the light they held a moment before. “My possessions are few, only a handful of things I was able to bury in a small box that day…the day before Johnny and I went scouting and were captured. The few things I own are waitin’ now…way up in the branches of a tree a mile or so from here. Johnny and I, we were afraid—”
“Afraid you’d be overtaken again?” she finished for him.
He looked at her, his brow puckering into a puzzled frown.
Vivianna giggled, “Your friend Johnny told me.” She reached up, placing a soft palm against his whiskery face. Oh, how wonderful it was to touch him! “Just now…when I took the stew to him, he asked if you’d gone to retrieve your packs…the ones you hid for fear ya might be set upon by lingering Johnny Rebs.”
Justin chuckled and shook his head. “That Johnny. I promise to you he has fewer possessions than I do, yet I swear he worries somethin’ awful about them…more than I do mine. I’ll have Caleb go with me tomorrow to fetch what we hid.” He gently ran the back of one hand over her cheek. “Still, none of your sweet letters are there.” He folded the letter she’d shown him and slipped it into her skirt pocket. “I hope you understand.”
Vivianna squealed with delight and threw her arms around Justin’s neck in a joyous embrace. “What do I care for letters, Justin Turner?” she exclaimed. “I have every letter ya ever sent to me…but I’d much rather have you! Oh, now I have you!”
She felt his arms go around her body. He pulled her against him—pressed his face against her neck.
“But what of Caleb?” he asked.
Vivianna felt an uncomfortable anxiety well within her.
“In truth, I feared I might get back only to find you’d already married him,” he said.
He drew back from her and studied her face, his arms still resting loosely about her.
“I won’t lie to ya, Justin,” she said. “He did ask me, just two weeks past…but I…I told him I couldn’t. Somethin’ inside me couldn’t let go of you. I think he only asked me out of duty anyway. With my family gone…and…and my bein’ so alone…I think he only asked me because…”
Justin drew her to him once more. “Oh, Viv! I swear I’d near forgotten how beautiful you are! I love my brother—there ain’t no truer thing—but I am glad ya didn’t promise yourself to him.”
“How could I have?” Vivianna breathed. “How could I have promised myself to Caleb when my soul still hoped you were alive? Oh, Justin! These past five months of no letters from you…of no word at all…they were the longest, darkest days of my life!”
She felt his lips press to her cheek, and she was rendered breathless by the blissful sensation.
“Well, I’m home now,” he mumbled. “No more worries about letters…or whether or not I’m dead. I’m alive…and I’m home.”
Vivianna tenderly kissed his cheek and then drew away from him. Taking his hand, she led him toward the arbor. It must be as she’d dreamt it; he must kiss her beneath the honeysuckle vine as he’d promised to do in the letter she kept in her pocket.
“You will keep your promise to me…won’t you, Justin Turner?” she asked, smiling at him as she drew him into the arbor. The scent of honeysuckle was nearly overpowering, and she bathed in the wonder of it.
“Which one? There’re so many,” he teased, winking at her.
“The one you made in this letter in my pocket, silly goose! The promise you made to return and kiss me here…beneath the honeysuckle vine.”
He smiled and chuckled, his eyes merry once more with delight.
Vivianna drew him to her, and his hands rested at her waist as he gazed down into her face. “Kiss me, Justin Turner,” she whispered. “Kiss me the way ya did when ya left that day! Oh, even kiss me better!”
His smile faded, and his brow puckered with worry. “I’m still a broken man just now, Viv,” he told her. “I’m not at all certain I’m at my best.”
Vivianna placed a tender hand on his cheek. He smiled, encouraged by her touch.
“But I’ll sure give it a try,” he chuckled. His gaze lingered on her face, the back of his hand caressing her cheek.
Gently, he cradled her face in his hand—allowed his thumb to travel lightly over her lips for a moment.
Vivianna’s entire body was alive with goose pimples. The swarms of butterflies in her stomach threatened to take her breath away!
Slowly—carefully—he pressed a tender kiss to Vivianna’s quivering lips. Her heart leapt! She felt as if her body might fly apart. Desperately she clutched the fabric of the back of his shirt in her trembling fists. His lips pressed hers more firmly, yet he still did not kiss her as she’d dreamed he would. Was he truly yet too weak? Or was he thinking of his brother, of Caleb’s heart and feelings?
Still, even as Vivianna wondered at his being so careful with her, his arms tightened around her, his lips parting as he kissed her once more. Teasingly he coaxed her into a warm and moist blending, and this kiss caused Vivianna’s heart to soar into the heavens. Bathed in honeysuckle fragrance—warmed by Justin’s careful and teasing kiss—Vivianna knew true happiness. Her lover had returned! All would be well.
“Justin!”
It was Nate calling out. Vivianna startled as Justin instantly released her.
“Justin! Your friend is up and walkin’,” Nate said, dashing into the arms of the arbor. “He’s wantin’ Caleb to take him to some tree to get somethin’…says he don’t want to leave it there through the night. He says if Caleb won’t take him, he’ll go by himself!”
Vivianna frowned, instantly angry with Johnny Tabor for his cantankerous ways.
Justin looked to Vivianna and smiled—regretfully smiled. “I guess I best see to it,” he said. “Can’t nobody keep Johnny Tabor in line when he’s set his mind on somethin’.” He took her hand in his.
“But you’re in no fit condition to be ridin’ out…not to fetch somethin’ that’ll wait ’til tomorrow, Justin,” she pleaded. “Surely he can wait! You said he owns nothin’ to speak of. You should wait.”
“Oh, don’t worry, darlin’. I won’t go. I’ll let Caleb ride out with him,” Justin told her. “But I best see that Johnny settles himself down. He can be one stubborn ol’ mule.”
Vivianna frowned and shook her head. “But…but, Justin…that Johnny Tabor…he’s weak as a new lamb! If he rides out in such a state, he might not come back.”
“Ya mean he might die, Viv?” Nate asked, his eyes welling up with tears.
“No. No, I mean…he might try to stay the night out there…instead of comin’ on home, and…” Vivianna stammered.
“You think he’ll die, Viv,” Nate argued. “I know ya do!”
“He won’t die, Nate,” Justin said, tousling his little brother’s hair. “We won’t none of us let him.” Justin looked to Vivianna, smiled, and winked at her. “I guess we’ll have to visit the rest of the place another time, Viv,” he said. “I can’t let Johnny linger in bein’ worried about his things. I owe him my life. It’s the least I can do for him.”
“But, Justin,” Vivianna continued to argue, “please! What could he possibly own that can’t wait ’til tomorrow?”
Justin shook his head and shrugged tired shoulders. “I don’t know. All he’s got in that pack is a beat-up ol’ tin box. I ain’t never seen what he keeps in it.”
“Maybe jewels! Or gold!” Nate exclaimed, his eyes widening with excitement. “What else could be worth goin’ after when he’s as weak as he is?”
Justin chuckled, and Vivianna couldn’t help but smile—even for her worry. Nate and Willy were always hunting for treasure. She could see how a soldier’s tin box would hold boundless wonder for a young boy.
“You might be right there, Nate,” Justin chuckled. “Let’s get back to the house…before Johnny causes Mama too much worry.”
He winked at Vivianna, and she was somewhat soothed. Justin was home; that was what was important, not her own selfish desires to have and hold him all to herself.
Scolding herself for such selfishness, Vivianna followed Nate and Justin back to the house. She was astonished when they arrived to find Johnny Tabor mounted bareback on Caleb’s horse, Captain.
“It won’t take me but a minute to saddle him, Johnny,” Caleb said as Johnny Tabor took the bridle reins in hand.
“It ain’t more than a mile to where we left our packs,” Johnny said. “I can be there and back in near the time it would take ya to saddle him.”
“Oh, Johnny!” Savannah exclaimed, worry constricting her lovely face, her hands anxiously wringing her apron. “I wish you’d wait…or let Caleb go for your things.”
Johnny Tabor smiled at Savannah. “I’ll rest better knowin’ we’ve got our packs about us, ma’am. I promise I’ll be back quick as anythin’.”
“You’re as stubborn as any ol’ mule, Johnny,” Justin said, patting Captain on the neck. “But I know better than to get in your way when you’ve set your mind on somethin’.”
Johnny nodded to Justin. “I’ll ride him easy, Caleb,” Johnny said, nodding to Caleb.
“You just get back here quick as you can, boy,” Caleb said. “The sun will be down in less than half the hour.”
Johnny nodded to Caleb.
Vivianna startled as Johnny hollered, “Get up!”
Captain lurched into a full gallop, and Caleb and Justin both chuckled.
“Yeah, he’ll ride him easy all right,” Justin said.
“That boy’s tougher than ol’ cowhide,” Caleb said. He smiled at Justin and
placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m glad he’s the one who brung ya home, brother. Ain’t another soldier I’d have rather seen than ol’ Johnny Tabor.”
“Well, it seems to me we’re gonna have to tie that boy to his bed to keep him here for any length of time,” Savannah said.
“Best make him feel useful if ya want him to stay, Mama,” Justin said. “Johnny won’t linger anywhere he’s not needed.”
“He can feed the chickens and gather the eggs for me, Mama,” Willy offered. “I don’t mind lettin’ Johnny Tabor help me out with my chores…if it means he’ll stay on and start into mendin’.”
Savannah laughed and tousled Willy’s hair affectionately. “I’m sure ya don’t mind at all, darlin’…and it’s mighty thoughtful of ya.”
Vivianna watched Captain disappear in a cloud of dust down the road—the same road that had led Justin home. She hoped Mr. Tabor collected his things. She hoped he collected his things and that it wouldn’t take him long to gain enough strength to be on his way. She sensed he was a wild sort of man, prone to belligerence, with a head thicker than a tree trunk. No wonder he’d been able to bring Justin home. It seemed Johnny Tabor’s determination was unequaled. Still, as she thought of him lying in her bed earlier—scolding her for causing him to worry over whether she would be true to Justin, reprimanding her for having kept him from dying—she frowned.
“He’s awful scarred up,” Nate said. “Did ya see that one on his back, Willy? Near as long as your arm!”
“I stitched that one up myself,” Caleb announced.
“Honest, Caleb?” Willy asked, his eyes widening in awe.
Caleb nodded. “Ol’ Johnny got himself sliced near in two by a Reb saber one day. But we cleaned it out, and I stitched it up. Looks pretty good, don’t it?”
“It sure does, Caleb,” Nate said, nodding.
“Justin,” Savannah began, “please do come and rest awhile. Can’t ya just hear that spare bed in Caleb’s room callin’ to ya? You must be tired, darlin’. Won’t ya turn in for the night?”
Beneath the Honeysuckle Vine Page 7