“I can’t imagine you like that.” Rainy reached out and grasped her mother’s hand.
“Where did you imagine your temper came from?” her mother teased. She hugged Rainy close and smoothed back a stray piece of red-blond hair.
“When the doctor told me he was certain I was to have twins, I prayed that you’d both be boys. I feared having a daughter. I was afraid she’d be just like me—ill-tempered, rushing to conclusions, spoiled. Then when you were born, I was overjoyed. I had a son and a daughter. Because the delivery had been so difficult, I knew you were all I would ever have. But you know what? You were enough.”
“Was I that much trouble?” Rainy asked, sitting up.
She looked quite seriously into her mother’s tender expression.
“No, you were that much love. You were wonderful, Rainy. I could never have hoped for anything better. You’ll always hold a special place in my heart. I just want you to know how complete you made my life.”
Tears came to Rainy’s eyes. “I love you so much— Daddy too. I don’t know what I’ll ever do without you two.”
“You’ll come and visit us. Who knows? You might even fall in love with Scotland.”
Rainy nodded. “I’ve come to believe in these last few months that anything is possible.”
————
A month later, Rainy smoothed the satin of her mother’s gown and prepared to become the wife of Duncan Hartford. The butterflies in her stomach told her that she was not nearly as brave as she presumed.
Licking her dry lips, Rainy whispered a silent prayer for strength and peace.
“I know I’m doing the right thing, Lord,” she whispered as she caught her reflection in the mirror. “I
just need you to stay with me every step of the way—I don’t want to mess this up.”
Her father soon came for her, and before she knew it she was walking down the aisle.
Lamont Hartford smiled at his son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together . . .”
How special,
Rainy thought,
to have Duncan’s father
officiate our wedding
. She could see how much it pleased Duncan. If only Sonny could have delayed his trip to be at her wedding, the day would have been perfect— but it was perfect enough. Sonny had his own life, and she was happy he was in the interior of Alaska with his friends and a new job. She knew she held his love— even from three thousand miles away.
“Who giveth this woman to be wed?”
“Her mother and I,” Rainy’s father answered. He leaned over and kissed Rainy soundly on the cheek.
“We love you so much,” he whispered, then left her in Duncan’s care—for the rest of her life.
Rainy felt a lump form in the back of her throat.
The seriousness of the moment seemed to weigh down on her.
I know I’m doing the right thing
. She drew in a deep breath.
I’ve never been more sure of anything
.
“Rainy Gordon, wilt thou have this man . . .”
Rainy’s eyes filled with tears as she corralled her thoughts and looked at Duncan’s questioning gaze.
She felt his reassurance as he squeezed her hand. “I will.”
I will have this man for my husband and I will love
him for all of my days
.
Duncan gently pushed the ring onto her finger, then kissed her sweetly as Duncan’s father declared
them man and wife. Rainy thought she might faint dead away from the intensity of the moment, but before she knew it she was being whisked away for a picture.
“You’re beautiful,” Duncan whispered in her ear as they allowed the photographer to pose them. Rainy was arranged in a high-backed chair while Duncan stood directly behind her.
The photographer fussed with her dress, positioning the folds of the material first one way and then another. Rainy leaned her head up to catch sight of her husband. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
Duncan lightly fingered the lapel of his dark suit.
“Anything to please you.”
Rainy giggled. “I’m going to remember you said that.”
“Miss Gordon—I mean, Mrs. Hartford, I wondered if I could speak to you for just a moment.”
Rainy looked up to find Marshall Driscoll standing just beyond the photographer. She stiffened but felt Duncan’s comforting touch as he gently rubbed her shoulder.
“What can I do for you? I’m rather busy.”
“One more moment and we’ll be finished,” the photographer promised. He went to his camera and Rainy waited in silence for the moment to be forever captured.
All the while, Mr. Driscoll stood to one side watching. It rather unnerved her, but Rainy knew there was nothing she could do. To her relief her father and mother soon joined them. Her father held out his hand and shook Marshall Driscoll’s hand and smiled.
Rainy couldn’t help but feel a sense of curiosity and even frustration. What was this man doing at her wedding, and why was her father welcoming him?
The pictures were taken and the photographer soon gathered his things and left. Rainy remained seated, uncertain of what else to do. She watched her parents with Driscoll and wondered how they could possibly be so accommodating to this man.
Seeing that Rainy was watching him, Driscoll left her parents and crossed the room. “I’m sorry for the intrusion,” he said, “but I had to come.”
“Why?” Rainy asked.
“Because I wanted to apologize.” Suddenly his expression suggested defeat. He lowered his gaze.
“I’m sorr y for what Chester . . . what he put you through. I knew about some things and presumed others. I knew you weren’t guilty of the thefts at the university, but I couldn’t bring myself to get to the bottom of it and expose Chester. He never confided in me— at least not to the extent that I knew what he was up to these last months.”
Driscoll seemed most contrite for what had happened and Rainy’s anger faded. “It was kind of you to come and apologize.”
“That’s not all,” her father said, joining them.
“Marshall has asked me to stay on with the university permanently.”
Rainy perked up at this. “And what did you tell him?”
“I declined,” her father said. “I told him that my plans were set for Scotland and we would only delay long enough to get teachers in position for the classes
Gunther’s dismissal left open. Then I told him that I had a very qualified daughter who would probably love to work at the university—especially in the areas of archaeology and Indian history.”
Rainy looked at Duncan, who beamed her a smile.
She shook her head in disbelief and looked to Marshall Driscoll. “And what did you have to say about that, Mr. Driscoll?”
“I thought it a wonderful idea. I’ve already released a letter to the board exonerating you of all guilt and accusations. I’ve made it quite clear that my son was to blame for the mishap three years ago. My son and Gunther Albright.” He paused and drew a deep breath. “We’re prepared to offer you a position.”
Rainy nodded. A part of her wanted to jump for joy and immediately accept whatever position Driscoll might offer but another part couldn’t have cared less.
She turned to Duncan and reached for his hand. “My husband and I will discuss it and I’ll let you know.”
Marshall Driscoll nodded. “I hope very much you’ll join us.”
With that said, he allowed Rainy’s parents to lead him from the room. Rainy got to her feet and turned to face Duncan. “So . . . what do you think?”
“I think I love you more and more by the minute,” he said, pulling her close.
“No, I already know that part. What do you think about Mr. Driscoll’s offer?”
Duncan’s expression grew thoughtful. “Is that what you want?”
Rainy studied her husband for a moment. She
thought of all the time she’d spent fretting over the university and what might have been. She thought of how desperately she’d longed to clear her name. God had worked out all of the details—freeing her from the stigma of being a thief, giving her a husband to love her. Without a doubt, everything seemed much clearer now.
She slowly shook her head. “No. No, it isn’t what I want at all. I want to have your children and spend my life enjoying your company.”
He slowly grinned. “I think I can arrange both.”
She laughed. “I’ve seen your determination when you set your mind to a thing. I’ve no doubt you can accomplish whatever you decide is worthy.”
He nuzzled her neck. “So you won’t mind terribly that I’ve talked to the National Geographic Society about a husband-and-wife team who can provide them extensive research on the Hopi and Navajo Indians?”
Rainy’s eyes widened. “Truly? What did they say?”
“They were very interested.”
“Oh!” She couldn’t help pulling away to give a little jump and clap her hands. “I can’t believe you did that. This is wonderful!”
Duncan picked her up and whirled her in a circle.
“I always want you to be this happy.”
Rainy reached up and ran her fingers through his wavy black hair. “I love you, Duncan Hartford.” She heard his sigh and joined it with her own.
Later that night, long after everyone else was asleep, Rainy and Duncan strolled in the garden together. Rainy wore a flowing nightgown and robe of white lawn, her strawberry blond hair flowing down to
her waist. She felt like a princess in a fairy tale and Duncan was her prince.
Looking to him, she smiled warmly at the sight of him in his loose open shirt and gray trousers. They held hands as they walked. Words seemed unnecessary. He was everything she’d ever wanted—loving, giving, and kind.
What a wonder it is to be wife to this man,
Rainy thought.
She smelled the fragrant scent of her mother’s honeysuckle—so sweet and delicate. A friend had brought her the plant from California and her mother had babied the bush until it grew strong and supple.
There were other flowers—some in pots, some planted around the courtyard walk and walls. There was so much of her mother here in this garden. So much of Rainy’s past was here as well. The garden had always been a comfort to her.
“I’ll miss this place,” Rainy told Duncan. “Even when I was in Santa Fe working for the Harvey Company, I knew I could come here anytime I wanted.
Mother worked absolute wonders with this garden, and now she’ll go away and the new owner will never know how much effort she put into it.”
Overhead a full moon shone down on them, lighting the path as if it were day. Duncan put his arm around her shoulders and whispered in Rainy’s ear, “I have a surprise for you. I worked out the details with your father and . . . well . . . I bought this place.”
“What!” Rainy pulled away and caught the amused expression on his face. “You honestly did?”
He shrugged. “You seemed to like it so much, and I figured we’d need a place to come when we were not out on a dig. Does it please you?”
She laughed and hugged him tight. “You know it does. Oh, thank you, Duncan. I don’t know what to say.”
“You’ve already said it. You told me that you love me, and that’s all I’ll ever need.”
“I agree,” she said, stretching on tiptoe to kiss him, “and I intend to say it often.”
“Just so long as you mean it each time.”
Beneath the harvest skies God blessed their union with a deep abiding peace and satisfaction. Rainy believed that nothing would ever be more wonderful than these first moments with her husband.
Sometimes,
she thought,
to have the very best, you must let go of the
mediocre that you hold to so tightly
. She’d let go of her desire to control her life—she’d let go of her plans for helping God answer her prayers and she was learning to let go of her doubts and insecurities. Together, Rainy knew that she and Duncan would be able to face most anything. And with God at their side, Rainy knew there was nothing they couldn’t accomplish.
It was a new beginning.
A starting place for all the dreams they would share.
Snuggling against her husband, Rainy had no room for doubt. The future was much too promising.