Wedding a Warrior

by Hannah Conway

  “I’m certain.” Certain but terrified.

  “So. He’s sure you’ll be stationed in Colorado?” Momma dabbed at her eyes. “I’ve heard it’s lovely out there.” His voice squeaked. “Collier promises he will see to it you finish college. I know he’ll take care of you.”

  “He will. That’s Collier. It’s what he does.” Whitleigh smirked. “And I’m sure you’ll love visiting us out there.”

  “Professor Rhine was stationed out at Fort Carson for a long time.” Dad squinted as if in thought.

  “So I’ve heard. I know way too much about his life experiences.” Whitleigh chuckled past a gulp.

  “Sweet girl, you know we’d offer you the moon if we could afford it, but —”

  “Don’t worry, Daddy. I think I can cover the cost of the wedding, and I’m sure Collier will send money, too.”

  Momma bent over, scooping up a handful of coins. “But, Whit.”

  “I know.” Whitleigh sighed, her smile slight. Her shoulders lifted and fell. “It’s gonna be worth it.”

  “We have a little to offer.” Dad cupped his chin. “Your mom and I know how much you like our old barn. We thought maybe if we could get it ready in time, we could have the wedding there.”

  Whitleigh couldn’t contain the laugh leaping from her mouth. She grabbed her parents’ hands.

  Momma gave a tight squeeze. “Maybe we can have the reception in the field.”

  “A rustic wedding!” Whitleigh gasped, her mouth opening. “Perfect.”

  “I can make about anything you need, too.” Dad dropped an elbow to his knee. “Lots of scrap wood lying around. I can cut a tree or two down if need be.”

  Her heart leapt in several directions. Whitleigh lunged, swallowing her parents with her arms.

  Chapter 6

  MAY 9th

  Dear Collier,

  There’s so much I want to tell you. I’m busting at the seams with excitement. I can’t wait to see you again. Every day I look more and more forward to becoming your wife. We’re doing it Babes—stepping out on faith, taking this journey together. Ha! It’s an incredible feeling… like going upside down on a roller coaster but way more awesome. I’ll fill you in on the wedding details when you call, but all is going according to plan, which I admit helps me sleep better at night.

  So, the Honduras trip has been pushed back to the end of July. Guess there was some scheduling issues? I know you told me you only had thirty days of leave after basic training graduation until you had to report to duty in Colorado. That means you probably won’t be able to go. I’m prepared not to go if you’d rather me stay in Colorado with you, but I’d like to go—crazy, I’m saying that, right? The more I pray about it, the more peace I feel about going—no more fear, or worry! We can talk more about it.

  I made it through this semester. Whew! I know school’s over, but I couldn’t give up going to the elementary school. They’ve got a few weeks left. I don’t mind staying to help and I really want to celebrate the end of the year with them. We’re going to make confetti-filled balloons and have a water balloon war! I haven’t told the kids that I won’t be back next year… that’s gonna break my heart, but Colorado is beautiful, and we’ll have a happy life there together. So many places to see out west! Let the adventures begin!

  Gotta get to work, oh, and it’s officially The Feeding Trough… so much more classy. Andy said he’s gonna send you a picture of the new name. Ha! That’s one to keep.

  I love you more than:

  Bubble gum, The Feeding Trough’s new name (Ha!), root beer in a glass bottle, old-time movies, popcorn, rainy day afternoon naps, and myself—I’ll always love you more than myself.

  Love me always,

  Whit

  THE middle of May. Week ten of fourteen in basic training and AIT—Advanced Individual Training. Almost done. Collier slashed through another day on the pocket-sized calendar. He flipped over to June, eyes tracing the green circle around Saturday the 28th — their wedding day, just two weeks after basic graduation. Collier tucked the calendar in his Bible and bent over, placing it in his rucksack under the bottom bunk. His dog tags pressed against his tan T-shirt like a light weight. Sweat rings created half circles under his arms. Georgia might as well be on the equator. The open barrack window and warm breeze provided little relief from the heat of the day.

  Collier sat on the edge of his bed, Whit’s letter in hand. He couldn’t help but smirk. She was doing it, becoming brave and fearless. God answered his prayer. Collier laughed to himself. The scent of Sweet Pea floated from the paper and whirled around his head. He breathed it in. Soon he’d hold her in his arms again.

  Collier flipped through several pictures tucked in the envelope at his side — silly faces, their friends hanging out, splashing in the fountain on campus. A bunch of crazies. Collier smiled. Did Bryant have to have an arm around Whit? Collier frowned and rolled his eyes. His thumb rounded over Whit’s cheerful expression. Blond hair, blue eyes. His Whit. He slipped a notebook and pen from his pillowcase and penned a letter to her. Before sending it off, he’d add cash. Even though Whit was managing well enough on her own so far, weddings were expensive.

  Haden hopped from his top bunk and rummaged through his pillowcase. “Gum?” He pulled out a stick of Big Red, offering it to Collier.

  “No thanks. It’s hot enough in here without setting my mouth on fire.” Collier grinned, shaking his head at Haden. He kept the craziest things in his pillow.

  Collier tucked his photos and letters away.

  Soldiers scrambled around the room, tidying up the area. Drill sergeants often entered unannounced, ready to yell at the slightest speck of dust. Order, discipline, respect, and obedience — that’s what they demanded. That’s what Collier delivered.

  “Orders go out today.” Haden crammed two pieces of gum in his mouth. “We find out for sure where our first duty station will be.”

  “I’m not sure how much it will change.” Collier smoothed out the wrinkles on his bed and tightened the sheets on each corner. “They acted like it was set in stone last time.”

  “I guess.” Haden shoved the gum back in his pillowcase and gave his bed a once over. He folded his arms, leaning up against the metal bed railing. “How do you get your sheets so tight like that? Not a wrinkle.”

  “Paracord.” He pushed his hands in his pockets and shrugged.

  “No way.”

  “Shh.” Collier lifted a finger to his mouth. “Don’t let the drill sergeant catch on. Here. Look.” Collier lifted the edge of his thin mattress with ease. “I’ve tied a cord to the bottom of the sheet at each corner, pulled it tight, and then tied it like you would your shoes.” “Wow.” Haden examined the route of the parallel threads. “Genius.”

  “I’ve got a few good ideas like that.” Collier laid the mattress back in place. It bounced a time or two. The springs creaked and rattled.

  “Since you’ve got a knack for paracord uses, you should think about making a bunch of those bracelets as party favors.”

  “Party favors?”

  “For your wedding.”

  “Oh.” Okay. Collier wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. “I thought people who come to our wedding bring me and Whit gifts, not the other way around.”

  Haden huffed, shaking his head. He rolled his eyes.

  “What?” Collier landed a teasing punch on Haden’s shoulder. “Why do you know so much about wedding stuff anyway?”

  The burliest men were filled with surprises.

  “Emilee’s family owns a wedding planning business.” Haden rubbed at his arm, grimacing. “Anyway, the paracord bracelets would be a nice touch. Tied with a small ribbon with the Scripture verse about how a strand of three cords cannot be easily broken.”

  “But I make them with two cords.”

  “You know what I mean.” He knelt, swiping a few specks of dust from his boots. “Just make the bracelets.”

  “Sounds like a job my best man might want to help me with.”<
br />
  “Fine, but I’m stealing your paracord bed making idea.”

  The heavy barrack door flew open. “Attention.”

  The men scrambled into position at the end of their bunks, eyes straight ahead, fixed on anything but the drill sergeant.

  “This won’t take long.” The drill sergeant flipped papers on his clipboard. “Going in alphabetical order, I’m calling last name and the placement of your first duty assignment.” He cleared his throat and marched through the ranks. “Aaron, Korea. Anderson, Korea. Blevins, Hawaii.”

  Collier kept the heels of his boots together. Whit would love Colorado and sounded excited about the location. Nature at its best. Historical sites to visit. He allowed himself a short sigh.

  “Cromwell, Korea. Deel, Korea.”

  What? Collier’s jaw muscles tensed. Did he hear that right? He dared not break rank to protest. Korea? What happened to Colorado?

  Collier took the risk and eyed Haden. His widened eyes gave proof of pure shock.

  Korea. They both were headed to Korea. Collier tried to swallow.

  The drill sergeant marched on like the smashed pieces of Collier’s plans weren’t in his way.

  Heat pulsed through Collier’s veins. Breathe. His heart sank to the pit of his stomach. Whit. Would she still want to marry him after she knew?

  COLLIER wiped both hands over his face. He stood in the phone booth, staring at the phone as if it would dial itself. Three days since he’d received word of the drastic change of plans. Korea. Whit needed to hear. He needed to call, so why could he only stand there?

  “You can do this, Collier.” Haden’s large hand palmed Collier’s shoulder. “Emilee took it better than I thought. So will Whit. Call.”

  “But what if —”

  “Call.”

  Collier lifted the phone from the receiver. Smudged fingerprints and dirt covered the phone. He scrubbed it clean with the cuff of his Army fatigues. The small metal numbers clicked as he dialed.

  Haden patted his back and stepped away. “I’ll be over here if you need me.”

  Collier managed a nod. His throat tightened with each ring.

  “Hello?” Whit sounded upbeat. “Collier?”

  “H… Hey.” His words fought through the desert conditions of his mouth. “It’s good to hear your voice.”

  “Back at ya.” She giggled. “Got a lot of exciting things to tell you.”

  “Oh yeah.” He licked his lips. He needed good news right about now. “Care to share?”

  “Did you get my letter? Well, for starters, wedding plans are better than I ever imagined.” She talked so fast. “Reese and Lennon are pros, and Mom and Dad are amazing. I can’t wait for you to see the barn. It’s gorgeous. Professor Rhine’s been over here helping Dad almost every day since school let out.” Whitleigh smacked her lips together. “It’s never been weird having him around until he became my teacher.”

  Collier sank his teeth into his bottom lip. Her daddy was gonna kill him for breaking her heart, and Professor Rhine would probably flunk him if he could. Collier nodded and regained focus. “How are we doing on cash?”

  “$3,326.56 remaining after the dress, flowers, and cake deposit. The flowers are lovely. Simple, but beautiful. Lavender, in mason jars, maybe some lilac worked in with lace, burlap, and a few pearls.” Whitleigh’s voice grew louder as the words sped from her mouth. Collier listened, enjoyed her enthusiasm even if he couldn’t get too excited over lace and purple flowers, or the news he needed to tell. “Right now we’re working out prices with the catering school. Since Lennon and Reese are doing the desserts we only need a few appetizers from the caterers. Nothing fancy. I’m thinking a potato bar with yummy toppings.”

  Potato bar? Collier allowed himself a contained snicker. Might as well enjoy a good moment before a bad. “I still can’t believe you had almost five grand in change.”

  “Crazy, right?”

  “I can send more money if you need me to.”

  “Right now we’re good. Save your money so we’ll have a nice cushion to start married life with.”

  “So, um, what’s left to buy?” Delaying the purpose of the call couldn’t last much longer.

  “The honeymoon.” She twirled her voice, low and flirty.

  Their honeymoon. Collier gulped, his brows lifted. “Oh.” That part of their relationship, the part he worked hard not to think about — the intimate portion. Waiting was right. Right, but difficult. He swallowed and cleared his throat.

  “Reese’s mom is a travel agent. She’s got a great deal at a resort in Niagara Falls. It’s just for a few days, but for the price, we can’t beat it.”

  “Book it.”

  “Done.” She giggled and his cheeks flushed. “A few days is really all we’ll need anyway. Especially since we’ll be in Colorado. That’s a honeymoon in and of itself.”

  Collier coughed, clearing his mind more than his throat. “I’m good with Niagara Falls.” Or anywhere. He coughed once more.

  “And guess what else?” Her excitement poured through the phone. “I’ve been accepted into the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with a partial scholarship.” She squealed. Collier pulled the phone from his ear. His stomach turned. All her planning, for what? “I’ve been waiting to tell you. Figured I can work to help make up the difference and hold off on taking out any loans. They’ve got a great teaching program too.” Her sigh carried too much enthusiasm for the news on the tip of his tongue. “Everything is falling into place.”

  “I know you were nervous about saying yes to me.” He brushed a hand over the back of his neck. “It makes me happy to hear your excitement now.” If only for a few more seconds.

  “I spent too much time worrying about all the what-if’s. This whole taking a leap of faith thing is great.”

  Collier held his breath. He toyed with the metal phone cord and chewed on the inside of his jaw. “Whit, baby, I, um….”

  “Have to go again? I understand.”

  “I, uh, have to tell you something.”

  “All ears.”

  “I’m being stationed in Korea.” He paused, closing his eyes. “Not Colorado.”

  Whit released a quick gasp. Collier hung his head, heart racing. His chest throbbed. Whit remained silent.

  “It’s for a year. Unaccompanied.” He shifted his weight. His fingers pressed against the glass wall of the booth. “We can still get married in June. You can visit me anytime, and I get to take leave too, so I can visit you.”

  “But I can’t live there with you?”

  “Not this time.”

  “What about school?” Her voice shook. “Collier, I gave up my scholarship to transfer to Colorado. What now?”

  He ran a hand over his crew cut and released a long sigh. No solutions came to mind.

  She sniffled.

  “Don’t cry, Whit.”

  “What am I supposed to do, Collier?”

  The phone grew heavy in his hand. The fun conversation had been replaced by the sound of tears.

  “Whit?”

  “Let’s forget this Collier. The wedding’s off.”

  “Whit. No. Please. Wait.” Her harsh words bit and sent a chill over his body. He stumbled back and leaned against the phone booth door.

  “I can’t believe this is happening.”

  “Me neither Whit, but let’s figure this out together.” He tapped his fingers on the window. “Don’t leave. We’re meant to be together and you know it.”

  “Collier, don’t.”

  “So what if there’s a kink in our plan? When have our plans ever worked anyway?” He chuckled, pressing a palm against his forehead.

  “I can’t do this right now. It’s too much.”

  “Don’t hang up. Please.” Collier raised his hand. “It’s a lot to take in. I know.”

  She whimpered and his heart writhed inside his chest.

  “I’m asking a lot of you. I want you to be my wife, I do. I understand me going away for a year could cha
nge things.”

  “Could? Collier it does.”

  He pressed his lips together. Don’t give her permission to go. “Whit. I love you, and I, uh…” Don’t let her go. “How about we take a few days to think things through. If we can’t come to a solution regarding school, and me being away for a year, or if you feel you… you… can’t go through with the wedding right now, it’s okay.” He washed his hand over his brows. “I’ll wait for you forever. You’ll have to be the one to end us, because I won’t. I can’t.”

  Her quiet sobs played a painful tune in his ear.

  “I never wanted to hurt you, Whit. I’ve always wanted to do the right thing, follow God.”

  “Is this what He wants? For us to be apart?”

  Collier shook his head. Sometimes there were no easy answers. “I’ll give you time to think things through, Whit, and,” he bit at his fist, “I’ll understand whether or not you decide to marry me, wait, or,” his stomach lurched, “or if you decide it’s over.”

  The whistle blew. Time for weapons class. “Whit?”

  “I know. You gotta go.”

  The story of their lives.

  Chapter 7

  WHITLEIGH slid the phone into the back pocket of her blue jean shorts. She pressed her back against her parents’ aged and grayed barn. The last bit of air escaped her lungs. Rigid slivers of the damaged wood grated against her shoulder blades. Could she still marry Collier? Her head spun.

  Collier’s bombshell gave her much to consider. Were they over? The paracord ring clung to her finger. A future without him by her side flashed in broken, uneven spurts through her imagination. She sucked in a sharp breath, cradling her arms around her waist. Tears dotted her eyes. Whitleigh wiped them away with the back of her hand and tossed her long braid over her shoulder.

  Dad hammered away, working hard to whip the old barn into wedding condition. A few playful robins flew past the twisted honeysuckle vines climbing the side of the barn. Whitleigh eyed the afternoon sky. Puffs of cotton clouds hung against the blue background. The day was too pretty for bad news.

  Her chin dimpled. She sniffed, wiping at her nose. Crying never helped. She scanned the land around her, biting at her lip, praying for a distraction or maybe an escape from reality.