by Linda Ellen
Now, he yawned and stretched, checked his pocket once again, and straightened his somewhat wrinkled uniform. He cringed when he looked down at his pants and saw the absence of their customary crease. Then, he let out a snort as he remembered something good-naturedly sarcastic Steve that had said regarding his penchant for neatness.
Gene shook his head. Those brothers of mine. He marveled at how familiar they seemed to him after having known one another such a short time.
He had told his siblings of his plans for the day and amid some friendly ribbing, they had come up with some ideas to add to his agenda that he thought were quite brilliant.
Even at that moment, they were seeing to some last-minute particulars.
Suddenly, his attention was jerked back to the present as the door to the church opened, and his palms began to sweat as he waited for the woman he loved to emerge with her parents. After just a few moments, there she was – wearing a dress he hadn’t seen on her before – a lovely black and white plaid creation with a full gathered skirt and a wide off-the-shoulder collar.
With a beautiful smile, she waved and ran toward his car. He climbed out and caught her in his arms and to his surprise, was the recipient of quite a boisterous kiss.
Jubilantly, they waved to her parents and then climbed into the vehicle. Unable to squelch a sneaky grin, he started the engine and immediately headed toward the destination he had planned.
“So, how long did you stay with your brothers last night, and what time did you finally get to bed? Dawn?” she asked, cocking her head and perusing his face. His surprised expression made her laugh out loud.
“How could you know that?”
She rolled her eyes and tossed her head with a silly smirk, then let the passing scenery claim her attention. “Oh, I just know you, that’s all.”
He let out a guffaw, thinking how much he loved this woman. The previous night, he knew it was her loving, sympathetic presence at his side that helped him plow through the myriad of intense emotions as Dad Tucker had revealed his mountain of secret revelations. In a smaller way, Mary June had steadied Steve. Gene knew, in his heart, that Gary’s very “aloneness” had been one reason he had reacted so forcefully to the news. He knew, too, how lucky he was to have found the woman sitting at his side.
Patting his pocket, he began to whistle happily as he pressed his foot down a bit more on the accelerator; anxious to make it to the spot his brother, Steve, had told him about. Lord, let all of the plans come together…help me knock her socks off!
Twenty-five minutes later, he turned the car into the entrance to Iroquois Park and headed off to the left. Although he had never visited their ultimate destination before, he knew that Iroquois Park was one of ten magnificent city parks Frederick Law Olmstead had designed in Louisville, and that it, with its sprawling 739 acres, was considered a “scenic reservation” for all to enjoy. As the Ford rolled along, he readily agreed.
Eagerness was about to get the better of him.
Turning her head, her brows furrowed, Viv asked, “Where are we going, Gene?”
He just flashed that white dimpled grin. “You’ll see, babe.”
She watched him, noticing his eyes seemed to be twinkling extra bright, as if he were holding back mirth. With mystery masking his countenance, he resumed his whistling and her heart thumped in expectation. She forced herself to pay attention to the lovely scenery the park had to offer as the car slowly rolled along the narrow paved lane under the continuous canopy of trees. It was a hot day, but passing under those marvelous leaf covered branches, the air seemed magically cool and comfortable, a bit like a cave.
Occasionally, they would see a car parked to the side and the people nearby would wave as they passed. Viv waved back, thinking how nice the people of her hometown were. Everyone seemed so happy…
Ten minutes later, following the winding path that took them to the top of a high hill, Gene pulled the car to a stop at the parking area of the scenic overlook, touted as the highest point in the city. A large flag hung on a tall pole in the center of a rounded area.
Whistling the tune to I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling, Gene exited the car and jogged around to Vivian’s door. With the flourish of the doorman at The Brown, he opened it and helped her out.
“This is lovely, Gene, but…why…” she began, but he met her eyes with an innocent face.
“I just thought you might enjoy the view from the lookout. I hear it’s the most beautiful spot in the city. Have you ever been up here before?”
She shook her head. “No…”
He flashed that boyish half-grin at her and wiggled his eyebrows. “Come on, then.”
They approached the low rock wall that surrounded a paved sixty-foot diameter area, with the flagpole in the middle and the 368 feet high vista of the city’s finest natural panorama spreading out beyond.
One could literally see for miles, east to north to west, and the view was breathtakingly gorgeous. Down below were acres upon acres of trees and greenery of every hue, dotted by the occasional house and ribboned throughout with narrow roads, although they were too far up to hear the cars. It was mesmerizingly quiet way up there. Straight ahead, far in the distance, they could see a long line of hills on the horizon – the “Floyd’s Knobs” of Indiana.
Viv breathed in the magic of the picturesque scene. Everything was flawlessly wonderful, including the fact that she was in the arms of such an amazingly thoughtful man. A clear turquoise blue sky, the same shade as Gene’s eyes, swelled above them. The temperature was ideal and the gentle breeze was just enough to fluff tendrils of her hair. It waved the flag on the pole above them and caused a few leaves to rustle in the trees at the edges of the cliff sides.
“Oh Gene, this is magnificent,” Viv murmured as they stood together, their arms around one another, taking in the panoramic view.
“Yeah,” Gene concurred, equally awed. “Steve told me about this place. It’s incredible – the view just goes on and on. Never-ending, huh?”
“Mmm,” she nodded slowly, in full agreement.
“Kind of like my love for you,” he observed quietly, his arms drawing her in a bit tighter.
She smiled languorously and laid her head against his chest.
He gently cleared his throat. “And speaking of that, my sweet, wonderful Viv…”
Letting go of her with one hand, he reached into his pocket and withdrew a small, dark blue velvet-covered box. Turning toward her, he urged her to sit down on the flat top of the two-feet thick wall, and then he sank down on one knee in front of her.
Viv’s mouth dropped open. She had hoped and dreamed of this moment, but now…it was actually happening!
Taking her hands in his, Gene gazed up at her, no pretense in his eyes. And what she saw in them took her breath away. Her eyes began to sting and glisten.
“Vivian Powell, I love you with all my heart and soul,” he began softly. “I fell in love with you the first moment I saw you – when I stood there in the club, watching you as you took a big swallow of your drink, closed your eyes, let your head drop back, and sighed in pleasure. When you opened your eyes and they met mine, I felt an electric shock fire through my whole body.”
Viv nodded, tears rimming her lashes as she remembered that exact moment and the fact that she had felt the very same thing. “So did I,” she whispered.
He smiled tenderly. “I knew then that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. Viv, I promise I will never let you down and I’ll love you for eternity.” He let go of her hands and opened the box. Inside was the loveliest engagement ring she’d ever seen – a European cut diamond, set in a square, white gold fitting and accented with two small illustrious diamonds on each side.
He looked back up at her, his expression hopeful, earnest, and kind of shy.
“Will you marry me…and make me the happiest man on earth?”
She didn’t have to think or wait. “Yes! Oh yes, Gene, I’ll marry you!” she exclaimed as a single t
ear spilled from each eye and trickled onto her cheek. He grinned as if he’d just been given the keys to Buckingham Palace and took hold of her left hand, sliding the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly.
Then, he climbed to his feet and drew her up with him, before he leaned down and captured her lips with his. When he did…such a chorus of whistles, yells, and catcalls arose, it caused the birds in the trees down the hill to squawk and take off flying.
Viv broke off the kiss in total surprise, looking to the right and discovering that they had an audience. And what an audience!
Her eyes fell on her parents’ faces, so full of love and hope. Gene’s entire family along with Mary June were clapping and cheering next to Vic and Louise, who had brought their boys. Even Mr. Tucker, sandwiched between Gene’s brothers, Gary and Steve were in high spirits celebrating with everyone else. They had all snuck in close enough to hear, but had somehow stayed out of Viv’s line of sight. Something else she didn’t know, was that the brothers had fixed it so that the couple would have the overlook to themselves for the amount of time it took Gene to perform the deed.
Gene turned with her in his arms, pumping his fist in the air as he called out, “She said yes!”
The group hurried over and Steve clapped his brother on the back. “Good job, bro! I couldn’t have done it better myself!”
Giggling with delight, Gene and Viv turned back toward one another. Viv lifted her arms and draped them over his shoulders, peering up at him with a look of such absolute adoration it took his breath away. He smiled blissfully down into her lovely face, and there was no mistaking the depths of his feelings for her.
“This is the start of our life together, Viv. From now on, I promise – it’ll be smooth terrain. I’d say we need to thank good old Warden Warren and the USO for helping us find each other, don’t you?”
Viv smiled up into those sky-blue eyes she loved so much. “Amen, my blue-eyed sergeant. Amen.”
The couple leaned toward one another, and as their audience “awed” and their lips met, their adventure began.
~THE END~
Coming soon – Book 2 – Her Blue-Eyed Corporal (which will be Steve and Mary June).
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Dedications
I have so many people to thank for helping to make this work of fiction happen. First of all, Jesus my Savior, Who helped with ideas and inspiration every step of the way. Next would be my husband and best friend, Steve, who is my biggest fan and is always full of encouragement and wonderful help. Countless times, I have gone to him needing help or clarity, or information about something within his realm of expertise, and with his wisdom and common sense always helped me find the right path. My beta readers and friends, Judy Glenn, Liz Austin, and Barbara Goss, helped tremendously with ironing out the flow and small details, and letting me know things they hated or loved. Thanks also to the many friendly and helpful members of the Facebook group Clean Indie Reads, for their encouragement, knowledge, and helpfulness. My friends at the office, Mary June, Verna, Kathryn, Sherry, and Terry, who were more inspiration than they know, always interested and asking how much more on the story I had written over the weekends. Their genuine interest means the world to me. I thank God for you guys! Special thanks goes to Verna Powell, who was my inspiration for Vivian – especially when I found out Verna had been to dances at the Louisville USO club! Verna inspires me in so many ways, and I’m blessed to call her friend. Thanks goes to my wonderful editor, Venessa Vargas, for fitting me into her busy schedule to polish, tone, and cull out my many repeats and stumbles; my cover artist, Samantha Fury, for her many hours of scanning photo sites for just the right faces and backgrounds, plus her incredible talent for taking a piece here and a piece there and bringing it all together into a magnificent cover; and my dear friend and co-worker, Kathryn Lockwood, for her final combing of the manuscript. A special shout out goes to Miss Terri Drake, manager of the gift shop at the Patton Museum at Fort Knox, who on a busy Saturday, went above and beyond the call of duty to find me much-needed information, and even put me in touch with her dad, Command Sgt. Major H.C. Richie, who is 87 and was for many years commander of that post. Their input was invaluable in understanding specific terminology of ranks and day-to-day operations of Fort Knox during the War. Thanks also to my cousin, Robert Sells, for his invaluable help, making himself available to answer my dumb “army” questions and explain the workings of the Army, and especially Ft. Knox. And last, but not least, thank you to Judy Hayes Fischer, Charles Conn, and Peggy Shofner Ray, of the Facebook group Louisville’s Past, for their tireless help in researching obscure details of how things were back then. I couldn’t have done it without each of you! Thank you all!
About the Author
Linda Ellen lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband of thirty-five years. A lifelong avid reader, and after encouragement from her family and friends, she tried her hand at writing in 2009 and never looked back. Prior to the release of her debut novel Once in a While (fashioned from the real-life story of her parents’ romance), she wrote articles for a local newspaper, The Southwest Reporter. Linda keeps very busy with her work in her church’s prison ministry and writing every spare moment she gets. Many more plans are under way for books and series, both historical and modern day. To keep up with the latest news on her books, including trailers, cover reveals, release dates, and book signings, visit and “like” her Facebook page, Linda Ellen – Author. Also, if you “Follow” her on her Amazon Author Page, you will be notified when she publishes her next book. And another way to contact Linda is through her new website! Link below.
For a special treat, go to her Pinterest page to see many pictures related to all of her stories:
www.pinterest.com/linda4him59
Linda loves to hear from readers. You can contact her in any of these ways:
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
lindaellenbooks.weebly.com
Twitter:
@LindaEllen54
Facebook:
facebook.com/LindaEllen.Author
Follow her on her Amazon Author Page:
http://goo.gl/rFj5Ci
Other works by Linda Ellen
The Cherished Memories Series
Book one – Once in a While
Book two – The Bold Venture
Book three – Almost as Much