Within the Candle's Glow (41 page)

“Leave it?” She dropped her hands, and her hair cascaded below her waist. “But it’ll catch on limbs an’ branches.”

“So?” He jumped off the rock and pocketed her hairpins. “I’ll untangle it and set you free.” The fingers of both his hands slid through her hair. “It’s so smooth it gives me shivers to touch it.” He stared down
at her. “I
want
to get tangled in it.”

Stepping away, Ella gave a nervous, breathless laugh. “We must hurry if I’m to stop and collect those plants for Granny.” She rubbed her disfigured neck and pulled her collar higher. You do recall her request, don’t you?”

“Ahh, something about flowers.”

“Come on.” She turned and started down the rocks ahead of him. She didn’t dare stand close to him one more second, or she’d throw herself at him and demand to be kissed.

She wanted to know what his lips felt like. She also fought the urge to push her fingers up through the disorderly waves of dark-brown hair on his head. Giggling at her guilty thoughts, she quickened her steps.

“What’s so funny? Ella
Dessa
! Wait up.”

“You catch up.” She brushed her hair out of her eyes and chanced a peek over her shoulder. He was frowning.

“Watch your step in that dress, or you’ll trip.”

“I aim to survive this hike with no broken bones.
You
catch up.” She made it to their dining rock, whipped the picnic cloth off it, and waited. “You’re slow.”

“I’m older than you. I worked hard yesterday.”

“You had a nap.”

“
Hmmm.
It was a good one. Young woman, I
can
keep up with you. I guess I’m not
that
much older. Am I?”

She couldn’t help but respond with another teasing remark. “A few years.”

For a couple hundred feet, they hiked along the edge of the descending mountain stream. Jim pulled branches out of her way and assisted her when they had to climb down a steep mass of rocks. They stayed close to the rushing water, ever watchful for copperhead snakes coiled in the crevices. At some places, they had to backtrack and go around boulders blocking their path. Above their heads, handsome maples had leaves fluttering in the breeze. The June sun angled along the tree-shrouded tops of the mountain.

The ravines of the forest flattened out. The bouncing stream meandered and curved toward the flat bottom of the skinny cove. The water slowed its pell-mell rush. It silently flowed under trees and then out into the open meadow some past settler or Indian tribe had cleared of all trees.

Ella loved the quiet splendor of the constricted meadow, the upward
curve of the mountainsides, and the expanse of bright blue sky. “What could be more beautiful?” she murmured, all the while conscious of his presence.

“There’s one thing …”

“Last night the full moon lit the night with silver light. I seen deer walkin’ across the clearin’. A fawn kicked up his heels.” She fought tears. “I wanted to run out in the moonlit field, lift my hands to heaven. It was breathtakin’.”

“Ella Dessa.”

She ignored him—unsure of her own emotions. She stood with her hands on her hips and kept her eyes on the scenery. Her chest lifted with the intake of her ragged breathing.
I jest want to stay beside him—not yearn for snatches of time. Oh, God, why did I fall in love with him?

“Look at me.” He gently tugged at her arm.

She faced him.

“
Everything
I see today is breathtaking.” His intense eyes searched her face. His hands sought hers, fingers tightening.

The sun shone through the foliage and painted patterns of light on his shirt and face. She boldly met his stare. It was as if they had turned to statues within a framed piece of time. The world floated past them.

“Ella Dessa, I need to tell—”

She gasped and yanked her hands free. “Oh look. Butterfly weed! It’s what Granny tolt me to find.” She laid a hand against her chest and ran to the tall flowers, which bestowed a gentle pink flush of color to the summer greenery.

Ella Dessa, get hold of your senses.

The clusters of star-shaped blossoms nodded on slender stalks, and their faces reached for the sun. Orange and black butterflies fluttered amongst them. “Jim, help me? Can I use your knife?”

He sighed and reached for the sheathed knife at his waist. “Yes.”

She forced her voice to sound bright and cheerful, but her fingers shook. She could still feel the rough calluses on the palms of his hands—the hands that could also be gentle enough to stroke the head of a dying dog.

He followed her and cut the stem where she indicated. He frowned at the milky white substance smearing his knife and fingers. “
Ugh.
What’s
that
?”

She accepted the flowers and smiled at his grimace. “Wipe your fingers on the grass.” She held five clumps in her hands, the thick leaves
sticking out along the stems. “This is good. Granny uses ‘em for lung problems.”

“Will they wilt?”

“Don’t matter.” She smiled.

He shoved her hand and the weed out of his way. His lips claimed hers, lingered gently, then more urgently.

“Ella, you just
don’t know
,” he whispered against her cheek. His right hand slid up under her hair and cradled the back of her neck.

The milkweed blossoms fell to the tall grass at their feet.

“What don’t I know?” she murmured. Before he could answer, she drew his face and lips down to meet hers.

Jim groaned and gathered her closer. His fingers tangled in her hair. “Oh, if only you understood how I’ve longed for this moment. I never let myself dream it’d come true.” He raised his hands and cradled her face. “Look at me. Let me see your eyes.”

“Jim—”

“Hush, I must talk. I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you as a child. You stepped from that old cabin up on the mountain. You wore a woman’s brown dress. Your messy hair fell clear to your hips, much as it is now. Your dirty toes peeked out from under the ragged bottom of the homespun dress, but I lost my heart forever that day. I don’t know how, but I did.”

“You …
love
me?”

“Yes.”

Her heart raced. “But … my scars. I seen your face the day Anna ran from your house. You were … sickened.”

“No, no—no,” he groaned. He held her away from him. His fingers brushed aside the high collar and touched her skin. “I didn’t see scars that day. I was horrified at my sister’s awful words.”

“But—”

“They aren’t there. I only see the girl I want for my wife.”

“Your
wife
?”

“Yes, I have to know you’re mine. I won’t go on pretending I don’t care. I know Samuel loves you, but I won’t let it stop me from asking. Ella Dessa. I need to hear your answer.”

Her lips trembled, and tears slid down her cheeks. “Jim, I want nothin’ more in life than to be your wife.”

“Then tell me your answer with a yes or—”

“
Yes
,” she cried and laughed.

“Then you’ll marry me.” His lips sought hers.

“Yes.”

“When? Tell me when.”

She placed her hands on his wide chest and felt his heart beating beneath her fingertips. She smiled and hesitated. “The middle of August.”

He bent to place a trail of kisses along her neck. “
Hmm
, I don’t know if I can wait that long. I want you as my wife now.”

She shivered at the touch of his lips on her skin. “We must wait … jest over two months.” She smiled at the thought. “Velma’s baby will be here soon. I need to be with her for a short time.”

“You should’ve told me you cared about me.” He raised his head and playfully shook her. “We’ve wasted so much time!”

“I should’ve told
you
?” She stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You were busy chasin’ someone named Sophie.”

“Naw.” His lips claimed hers once more. “She chased me, and I was waiting for you to grow up.”

“Am I grown up now?” She clung to him, still feeling as though she floated through a dream. She had no desire to awaken and find solitude awaited her.

“Yes, indeed.
Hmm … yes
.” He whispered the words against her lips. “And I have a secret.”

She leaned back in his arms and trailed her fingertips along the side of his face and over his lips. She shivered as he grabbed her hand and pressed it to his lips. “What’s the secret?”

“There’s a small cabin in the woods above my parents’ homestead. They lived in it while building the log house. I’ve been repairing it, waiting for you to realize I was the one you loved.”

“Jim, I was the one waitin’.”

#

Two weeks later, Ella heard the bell jingle over the store’s backdoor. Samuel stepped in. “Can we talk?”

“Yes.”

He took off his hat and held it in his left hand. “I came to say goodbye.”

“So soon?” A lump formed in her throat. “You won’t stay for the weddin’?”

“No. Can’t. Konrad says it’s time for my interview with the dean at Emory College in Oxford. I leave in the morning.”

“But—” She fought tears. “I wish you’d wait ‘til—”

“No. Ella Dessa, I love my brother, but losing you to him leaves a void. So, I’ll move on—while I have confidence in myself. I’ll be back.”

“When?”

He chuckled. “Well, I think I won’t return ’til you and my big brother are old married people—
real old
.”

“Samuel, you’ve been a good friend all my life. I cain’t help it if I love Jim. We … you and I might’ve been married, but you pushed me away.” She wiped tears off her face and smiled.

“Don’t remind me.” He stepped closer. A wounded look deepened the color of his eyes. “But your heart was always Jim’s. Not mine. It wasn’t meant for us.” He bent and kissed her damp cheek. “Stop crying. It makes me want to hold you—and Jim might walk in and beat me.”

She giggled.

“I couldn’t be the love of your life, only the berry pickin’ partner.” His wide smile failed to reach his eyes. “I have studies to complete. I want to make you proud of me.”

“I
am
proud of you.” Impulsively, she hugged Samuel’s neck and pressed her cheek to his.

He trembled in her arms. “I still love you, Ella Dessa. I might have to learn to hate you.”

Ella knew she’d always cradle Samuel’s love in her heart. It was too valuable to let go. She stepped back. “Life does funny things, doesn’t it?”

His slight smile twisted. “Yes. We never know where it’ll take us. God’s plans aren’t for us to know.” His chest expanded with a ragged breath. “I’ll come back someday. You must take care of my brother—and go visit my mother. Oh, and if Duncan ever returns, tell him I’m trying to imitate him. I hope someday to do some exploring, along with teaching. Florida might call to me.”

“I’ll tell him.”

Samuel bent and kissed her cheek. “I better stop that. Jim might walk in.”

She laughed. “I never had so many kisses!”

He raised his eyebrows. “I don’t want to think of how many you’ve gotten from Jim. And I’m sorry I was cruel to you after I lost my hand.”

“Samuel, it’s in the past.”

“Ella Dessa, tell Walter and Velma I’m happy for them. Their baby girl will be spoilt rotten. It’s been born into a large, loving family.”

She laughed. “Yes, since Myra’s birth last week, I don’t think she’s
been put in her cradle to sleep. Someone’s always holdin’ her.”

He lifted his hat from the counter, placed it on his head, and grinned. “Hey, I got to leave. First, I’ve something for you.” With his left hand, he reached into his pocket and drew out a cloth-wrapped object. “It’s my wedding gift to you. It proves a person can accomplish the impossible with a wooden clamp.”

She accepted it and started to open it.

“No.” He closed his fingers over her hands. “After I’ve left.”

Her heart twisted. As he closed the door, she couldn’t call out a final goodbye. With trembling fingers, she untied the string holding the piece of fabric.

Into her hands rolled the wooden figure of a girl with flowing hair embossed around her slender body. Two winsome carved eyes gazed up at her. The figurine was almost a duplicate to the one that had been burned and destroyed many years before.

Sobbing, she pressed it to her heart. “Oh, Samuel. Thank you!”