by Lynn Landes
Delta watches in horror with tears tracking down her face. “Please let me go,” she whispers.
“It's too late for that, now. Daniel has to pay.” Calmer now Melody stomps to the center beam under the deck of the bridge and tosses a match on it. Moving to the final truss, she holds the match to it and watches as it jumps to life from the match to the wood.
The thunder of horses coming towards them, drawn by the gunshot and red flames illuminating the dark sky. “Daniel is coming,” Melody says holding her gun up and points it at the men. She begins pulling her trigger wildly and soon empties it.
“Daniel,” she taunts him, “Her screams are going to start soon.” They can't risk shooting her for fear of hitting Delta. Chase whispers into Daniel's ear while two other men hold him back. Daniel nods and races away on his horse. He races down the river and ties a rope from his saddlebag onto the pommel of his saddle. The other end of the rope is tied around his waist, and he stays along the river bank watching for the moment the bridge gives away, pushing her towards him.
The fire is spreading quickly towards Delta, and she is coughing and struggling to free herself. Sheriff Ford has a gun trained on Melody, and when she lifts the second pistol towards her temple, he shoots, clipping the hand holding the gun. Screaming in rage, she spins with her knife raised and swings it towards Delta, just as a loud groan is heard.
The corner of the old bridge Melody ignited, groans and cracks as it gives in and tilts towards the large river below. Melody falls screaming into the raging river below. Delta screams for help and is now hanging from her wrists above a churning river, which is ripping the bridge apart beneath her.
For Delta, time stops for a moment, and she looks up from the hungry mouth of the beast beneath her. “Daniel,” she whispers, and it is as loud as a scream to him. The center of the bridge gives in, and she tumbles into the water as he races headlong into the river. Melody screams for him, but he only has eyes for Delta.
Delta finds one of her hands free, and the other is strapped to a piece of broken wood. Tumbling into the water, she is pulled under and along, fighting to survive. Too much water, darkness, and churning liquid. She can't see! It drags her under, and she stops moving for a second. Tired, she thinks about it… giving up and seeing Jacob again.
“Not yet, Delta, Wake up!” Jacob’s voice jerks her from her stupor. Delta breaks through the surface and uses the piece of wood strapped to her hand to rest her face on and keep her head above the water.
Daniel is praying when he sees her break through the surface. Chase reaches his horse and holds it steady as the Daniel begins swimming through the river to brace himself for the impact. She is being driven down the river at a rapid pace and straight into his waiting arms. Daniel grabs Delta around the waist. The second the rope becomes tight, Chase begins pulling the horse away from the river, dragging the two of them to the muddy river bank. Daniel falls to his knees and rolls Delta onto her side. Patting her back, he prays a silent thank you when she begins coughing and choking from the water she swallowed. Rolling her over onto her back, he cuts the rope from her wrist.
“Delta, are you okay,” he demands.
“I am now,” she sobs and touches his face. “Daniel…” she weeps as he wraps his arms around her and kisses her soundly.
“I’m never letting you out of my sight again!” He promises only breaking away to let the paramedics tend to her.
Sheriff Ford leads a group of his officers to search for Melody’s body. They find her further downriver. The moment she realized Daniel wasn’t going to save her, she quit fighting. Daniel rides in the ambulance insisting that he go with Delta to be checked out, while Chase stays behind to handle the chaos at the Lodge and make sure all the fires are out.
Delta is just beginning to register that she almost died. The nurse takes her blood pressure and helps her change into a gown and get out of her wet, muddy clothes. When the doctor comes in to examine her, he asks her standard questions, one being, “Do you feel safe at home?”
Delta laughs, holding her head in her hands.
Daniel is pacing outside the room when he hears her laughter. He pokes his head inside, and the nurse fusses at him again. “I told you only family members are allowed.”
“I know, but I almost lost her tonight, please,” he begs, “I need to be with her.”
The nurse sighs as the doctor steps outside, “Let him in.”
Daniel rushes inside and finds her resting with her eyes closed. The gash on her temple has been stitched, and the dried blood is evident around the purple bruising. An ice pack is resting on her shoulder, and she opens her turquoise eyes to look at him, and a tear slips free, sliding down her cheek.
The doctor follows him in, explaining, “Delta will need to stay overnight for observation. Her shoulder is going to be alright, just bruised, but she will need to be watched for the next 24 hours for signs of swelling and concussion. If she does alright, she will be free to go tomorrow evening.” He signs the clipboard and drops it into the slot on her door.
“What about her leg?” Daniel asks.
“It's bruised, but the incision remained closed. Ice for that as well and pain med as needed. I suppose you'll be staying.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then use the shower and get him some scrubs,” he orders the nurse before leaving them alone.
“Daniel, you don’t need to stay. Go home and get some rest,” she orders and looks away from him. She feels the bed sink under the weight of him and the warmth of his hand as it takes hers.
“Delta, look at me.” He waits until her eyes meet his. “Please don’t shut me out. I’m sure I’m the last person you want to see right now…,”
She covers his mouth with a finger over his lips, silencing his speech. “Kiss me, Daniel. My painkillers are starting to kick in, and I want to remember the feel and taste of you.” He kisses her softly, trailing his fingertips over her face as though memorizing every inch of her skin.
“I love you, Delta Dawn,” he whispers, and she smiles through tears.
“I love you too.”
Chapter 14
Eight months later
Delta finishes wrapping the Thanksgiving leftovers and listens to the boys argue over the most recent football game. November in Montana is beautiful. Nothing compares to the pristine beauty of the whitewashed landscape and the brisk air, scented with the promise of more snow.
“Do you think they suspect anything?” Daniel asks pulling her aside in the kitchen.
“Not a clue. I hope we can pull this off, Daniel,” Delta whispers looking at her sons, as they tease Abby.
“Any second thoughts?” He asks tugging her into his arms for another kiss.
“None, you?”
“Okay, you two, break it up,” Phillip blusters and pulls her aside. “What are you whispering about?”
Delta grins, “You’ll see.”
Daniel moves into the living room and claps his hands. “We need everyone to listen up. Delta and I have a surprise planned.” Outside, the sounds of sleigh bells ring out, and Daniel grins. “Perfect timing,” three horse-drawn sleighs lit with white lights pull up outside.
Everyone is excited, and Delta orders them to bundle up, and Chase smiles at Abby's excitement. They are the only two who are included in the secret. Her boys ride with Easton and Phillip, “Where are we going?” Easton asks as she steps into the carriage.
“It’s a secret,” Abby says and laughs when the carriage takes off. She runs inside and races into the room where Delta is waiting to help her change into her dress.
Daniel and Chase leave in the next carriage with Sasha, as the girls dress in matching gowns. Delta’s chose a blush colored full-length wedding gown with Chantilly lace corset and slim tulle A-line skirt. Both girls wear cowgirl boots and pull on wraps to keep them warm.
“Abby, I have something for you.” Delta hands her a small black velvet box, nestled inside is a small silver caged locket. “This is
a heart locket. Inside you will see five tiny birds, one for each member of our family.”
Abigail smiles and whispers, “Thank you, Delta. I love it, but you didn’t have to do that. I’m glad that you and Daddy found each other.” Delta slips the necklace over her head and squats down to look at her. “Today our families will join and become one. Today you get two brothers, a second mom, and I get one awesome daughter!” They hug, and she whispers, “Now let's go get hitched.”
Daniel is waiting by the newly rebuilt gazebo with Phillip and a pastor. The guests are all seated in the white chairs set up to create a natural walkway. Delta and Daniel wanted an intimate wedding, and as the sleigh pulls down the pathway towards her new future, she can’t help but beam with excitement.
Aiden steps up to the carriage and offers his arm to Abby and helps her down from the carriage. He kisses his mother’s cheek and smiles, “I’m so happy for you, Mom.” Together, he and Abigail walk down the aisle as she drops red rose petals on the snowy the ground.
Allen takes his mother’s hands, “Dad would be so proud of you today. He wanted you to live a long and happy life, but more importantly to be loved. Are you ready?” Delta doesn’t trust herself to speak, so she nods and lets her oldest son walk her down the aisle to her future.
The day passes in a blur of tears, laughter, and excitement. The reception is held inside the rustic barn and filled with beautiful white lights. Guests are treated to food, music, dancing and even sleigh rides for those that wish it. Daniel dances with his bride and leans down to whisper in her ear, “I have a surprise for you.”
Delta laughs as he leads her outside and into a star-filled night sky. A covered sleigh is waiting, “What’s all this?”
“You’ll see.” Daniel lifts her up into the front seat and covers her with a warm blanket before joining her on the driver’s seat.
“What about Abby?” Delta asks as the carriage begins to move.
“Dad is taking her home with him.”
“I can see that life with the three of you will never going to be boring,” she says with a smile.
“I aim to please, Mrs. Matthews,” Daniel murmurs.
“Mrs. Matthews… I like the sound of that.” He lifts her chin and kisses her softly on the mouth as they come to a stop.
Delta looks around and gasps in surprise.
Sarah Jane’s bridge was destroyed in the fire. In its place, Daniel designed a new bridge with Delta in mind. Delta can't stop the tears as she stares at the newly constructed black iron bridge with a red brick walkway. Six beautiful cast iron lamps light the arched bridge giving a Victorian feel and Delta allows Daniel to lift her down.
“It’s beautiful, Daniel. When did you do this?” Daniel gently pulls her towards the bridge and stops to stare across its newly constructed span. The supports along the bottom are made of black iron, but the walkway is made of red brick pavers. Matching brick posts hold beautifully ornate metal panels with the initials, D.D. welded into each section.
“It was in the planning stages for a while, when you went back to Carolina to finish up the details of the sale of your house, the crews came in. I wanted it to be strong enough that it would never burn again.” Hand in hand they walk across the bridge as he fills her in on the details. Delta stops and stares at one of the rod iron panels, tracing her finger over the initials, and asks, “D.D.?”
“Daniel and Delta, of course. What do you think?”
“I don't know what to say, Daniel. It's a perfect representation of our love, two lives coming together.” With tears of joy shining in her eyes, Daniel kisses his bride, “Take me home, Daniel.”
“I thought you’d never ask, Mrs. Matthews.”
The End
Before you go!
If you enjoyed this title
You might want to check out
Another book by Lynn:
Dust & Dreams
About the Author
Lynn Landes is the author and independent publisher of multiple fantasy books in all age brackets. Her stories span the spectrum of Romantic Fiction from paranormal, romantic suspense to Christian fantasy including the Best Selling, New Christian Release, “Mercy’s Promise.”
Educated as a teacher Lynn never lost her love for literature and began writing at an early age. Poetry, short stories and fiction. She regularly can be found in the car rider line editing and writing. A Virginia girl at heart, she lives with her husband and three children in South Carolina, where she is currently studying Dragon Script with her Eleven-year-old daughter.
