by Indiana Wake
Ian seemed to adore her, listening intently to every word she said and talking incessantly about how wonderful she was. Never once was her limp mentioned and that warmed David’s heart. It looked like her move had been for the best. As he watched the two of them, he noticed that even Anna paid no attention to her limp. She walked with a confidence he had never seen before. When they passed staff or guests, no one stared at his daughter and he found his heart singing with delight. Anna had found love and a home where people accepted her, who could ask for more.
Mary walked along just in front of him and every now and then he would guide her with his hand. It felt good to help a woman and he enjoyed watching how mesmerized she was as the tour continued. When they entered the library, she had such a look of awe on her face that David could not help but smile. He could see why, the library was quite impressive with shelves from wall to ceiling, packed with books of all shapes and sizes.
Next they went to the activity room. It was quite impressive as well and David thought that later he might be able to try his hand at a game of poker with the other guests.
“May I be excused, to freshen up,” Mary asked once the tour was over.
“Of course,” Anna said. “Linda,” she called. A young woman appeared from nowhere and whisked Mary away. David could not believe how confident his little girl had become. The frightened mouse he knew from home had transformed into a confident woman.
“I must go too, my love,” Ian said squeezing Anna's shoulder. “If you will excuse me, Mr. Montgomery, my brother Ryan needs a hand with a few hundred head of cattle.”
“Of course but it’s David, please call me David.”
With that Ian turned and was gone and David was so pleased to be alone with his little girl. He wondered if Ian had left just too allow them time to catch up. Nodding to himself he knew that was it. Yes, this man was going to work out just fine. “He is wonderful,” David said. “I can see why you love him.”
“Yes, he is,” Anna said. “Now let me take you to the private side of the house and we can sit down and catch up.”
"The private side?" David asked, bewildered.
Anna laughed a delighted sound and spun around before him."Yes, all of this was the guest area,” she said. “It's for their entertainment and luxury. The family has their own private quarters, in the back and that is where you are going to be staying."
David was amazed at the amount of space this house had. The Gellman’s were perfect for his little Anna, and that was only the boarding. From what he could gather they had interests in cattle, sheep, and the wool business
Anna led him to the family library. There he sank down into one of the sofas, amazed at how lucky he felt. Never could he have imagined such a perfect suitor for Anna. She sat next to him and put her head on his shoulder. "Do you like it, Father?" she asked timidly.
"Like what, my dear?" he asked distractedly.
"The house, Ian, me, everything. Do you like it here?"
Rubbing her shoulder, he sat up and turned towards her. "I do like it here, child. The house looks very nice and comfortable, you seem very happy and Ian seems like a good man. He sure cares about you a lot and that is all that matters to me. He will look after you and keep you happy and content. What more could a father possibly want for his child."
Anna smiled contently and hugged her father. "I knew you would like him. You have to meet Ryan, Ian's brother. He is just as nice and he is taking care of all the arrangements for the wedding so Ian and I don't have to worry about a thing."
"He sounds like a splendid chap and I look forward to meeting him."
"Good, then you shall have dinner with us in the family room," Anna said excitedly.
"All right, my dear." He smiled at her. “Now tell me everything. We have been away so long and I want to hear every little detail.”
“Then so you shall.”
They spent the afternoon catching up. Anna was excited as she happily chatted about how she had arrived and the brothers didn’t know about her limp. Then how she started to fall for Ian and at last she told him how Ryan, her intended, had noticed and decided to give them some time to see what happened. When he heard this, David knew the Gellman brothers were the sort of men he wanted for her. For a man to do something so benevolent for someone he hardly knew showed real strength of character. Yet something worried him. Mrs. Hawkins had come across as a good woman, with integrity. Yet she had put his Anna in a difficult position. Leaning back against the sofa he knew he must have a strong word with her.
Chapter 6
The next day David wandered the halls, chatting with the other wedding guests, and generally getting acquainted when he ran smack into Mary. She had just exited the library when he turned to go in and the both of them ended up crashing into each other. They both looked up, rubbed their heads and seeing each other, burst into laughter.
"Well, that's an interesting way to greet someone," Mary said, giggling a little as she fanned her face.
"Oh, this? I greet people like this all the time. Isn't it a really great way to greet someone?" David grinned at her.
Laughing at his silly joke, Mary nodded. "Yes, absolutely. I have half a mind to start greeting people like this myself."
"Glad to know you so heartily approve," David laughed. "So, are you headed anywhere in particular or would you like some company?"
"What did you have in mind?" Mary asked, falling into step with him.
He smiled down at her. "I haven't a clue as yet, but I'm sure the two of us can figure something out." David held out his arm, Mary raised her eyebrows for a second and he wondered if she would refuse him. Then she lowered her eyes and took his arm. Feelings he had not felt for many years flooded into him and he began to walk in the direction of the ballroom. What was he doing? Wasn’t he going to talk to her this morning? Tell her how he disapproved of the way she handled her affairs?
As they stepped into the ballroom, the preparations for the wedding were in full swing. David looked around and was overwhelmed with all the activity. Maybe a more private place would be better.
"You were missed at dinner last night," Mary said.
David looked down at her and under his gaze her cheeks turning rosy and she looked away from him. "My daughter insisted I have dinner with her, the brothers, and her best friend. I needed to make sure I will be leaving her in good hands, so I met them and observed them."
"That makes sense. I'm sure you must've missed Anna as well."
"Yes, I did miss her immensely." Gently he guided her from the room and into the corridor. It was quieter here but still not the best place for their discussion. Still he could feel a deep anger inside and he had to ask her why.
"So, did they pass the inspection?” Mary asked. “Do you approve of Anna's new family?"
David looked over at Mary and she was staring at him with her eyebrows raised, already knowing the answer. He huffed at her impertinence. "Yes, both brothers are extraordinary men and I saw how much they adore Anna. They will make sure that she is well cared for and happy."
"I'm sure of it,” Mary said with a confident smile. “I vet all my gentlemen very carefully and especially when I see a woman as… as...”
David felt his anger rising. Was she to insult his daughter?
“Please forgive me,” Mary said. “I felt that Anna had been deeply hurt. I know this was not your fault. Raising a daughter alone must be very difficult and you did an admirable job. I just wanted someone very special for Anna.”
David could not contain his anger any longer. What this woman did could have ended in disaster. “Then why did you falsify her form?”
Mary dropped her eyes and he could see color spreading across her cheeks. Was it from shame or from the embarrassment of being caught?
Slowly Mary raised her head and looked right into his eyes. There was strength behind their honey colored depths and he felt ashamed for what he had said. Mary Hawkins was more vulnerable than she let on and he knew his words
had hurt her. But his feelings for this woman were immaterial. Anna was all that counted.
“I am sorry,” Mary said. “That is not something I would normally do and I don’t know why I did it on this occasion. Are you religious Mr. Montgomery?”
“What does that have to do with it?”
“You will not believe me,” Mary said, “but as I filled in that form something guided my hand. Something greater than me and even though I knew what I did was wrong… It was as if something made me do it.”
“I do not believe we should use the Lord to cover our wrongdoings,” David said. “You put my daughter in a very uncomfortable position. May have even put her at risk. Until you can own up to your own mistakes, I will bid you good day.” David turned and walked away before he said something he would regret.
Chapter 7
David sat in his room and stared out the window. In the distance, snow-covered mountains kissed a deep blue sky. They were cloaked in regret as was he. Yet no matter how he looked at it, he could not understand why Mrs. Hawkins had done what she did. It made no sense and as the morning dragged towards lunch, he wondered if he had misjudged her. Maybe he should go and apologize or maybe he should at least give her the chance to explain. Standing he walked towards the door, yet each time his hand touched the handle. The cold wood sent him back to his desk.
The very thought of Anna arriving here full of hope only to be met with such disappointment made his blood boil. Mary Hawkins was a menace and he was best to keep away from her. Maybe he would even ask Anna to make her leave. There he had it. This was not his fault.
Just at that moment the door opened and Anna limped in wearing a gorgeous red, taffeta dress. How beautiful she looked, and how happy. Would she still be here if Mrs. Hawkins hadn’t altered that form? The Gellman’s were good men and having met Anna they looked beyond her disability and saw the real woman. But would they have chosen her if they were offered able-bodied women instead?
“Why so sad father?” Anna asked.
Should he tell her? Looking up into her innocent face he remembered something. She knew what Mary had done and yet she invited her to the wedding. The only other person she had invited was Jolene and she seemed to be spending a large amount of time with Ryan Gellman. David laughed. “I just worry that I am losing my little girl,” he said. Perhaps Mary was a better matchmaker than he gave her credit for.
“Don’t think of it as losing me,” Anna said. “Think of it as gaining a son and perhaps…”
Her words faded away but from the color that hit her cheeks he knew she was thinking about babies. A smile spread across his face. Grandchildren. It was the first time he had given it any thought and now he knew he wanted grandchildren. Wanted to be here with them and wanted to see how this wonderful family turned out. “There is something I have wanted to talk to you about,” he said.
Anna ran over, took his hand, and led him to a window seat. “Do tell me,” she said full of excitement.
David could not get over how much she had changed. At home, she was a withdrawn child now she has turned into this beautiful woman before him. Now she was confident and assured. It made his heart sing. “I wondered about retiring and moving out West. What do you think?”
Anna shrieked with joy and launched herself into his arms. “It is perfect,” she said. “If you still wanted to teach you could do so here and we would love you to live with us.”
“Well, maybe I would get my own place and maybe I could teach my grandkids. But we will see. If you are happy with this and Ian doesn’t mind then I will make the arrangements when I get home.”
Anna shrieked again and jumped up. “Ian will be so pleased, I must go tell him.” Grabbing her skirts she ran from the room. Her limp was hardly noticeable when she moved with such joy.
Mary spent the morning pacing her room and going over what David had said. Why had she done it? Why had she altered that form? Back and forward she walked as if she could somehow chase down the answer. But it was not like her. Yes, she often brought out the best in a woman. Many of the potentials that came to her were too shy to fill out the form to their best advantage. But she had never lied on a form before.
Was she arrogant to think it was divine intervention? Why would God care about one wounded bird? But he did and she believed that when she altered that form there was something more. Maybe it was just her own intuition but wasn’t that a gift from God?
Folding her arms, she sat down on her bed. David Montgomery was no gentleman. Speaking to a lady in such a manner was bad form. She would make sure she kept out of his way for the rest of the visit. Perhaps she should even go home?
“Oh darn it, go and apologize,” she said aloud.
As soon as she had said the words she knew they were what she needed to do. Quickly she got up and went in search of David.
She found him staring into the ballroom. Something had happened for Anna was on her tiptoes whispering to Ian, who stood on a ladder. The Gellman boys were decorating the ballroom and it looked wonderful. Ian laughed and jumped down. He picked up his fiancé and spun her around and then rushed over to see David. Perhaps Mary should leave. This was a private matter. She turned to go.
“Mary,” Anna called. “Come join us and hear the good news.”
Mary turned and walked over. “I owe you an apology Mr. Montgomery,” she whispered as she stood next to David. As she watched he clenched his jaw but then he smiled. “We can talk later,” she said.
Anna came over with Ian. “Tell her father, tell her the great news.”
David smiled and puffed out his chest. “I am thinking of retiring and moving out here. I think that I would miss my daughter too much to stay back in New York.”
“That is wonderful,” Mary said yet she felt a deep sense of loss. How much she had started to depend on this gentleman. In her mind she had seen them talking at church, maybe she had even imagined a little more. “I am so pleased for you.”
Anna turned and hugged her close. “It is all because of you Mary,” she said. “Now father will you entertain our guest I have much to do?” Without waiting for an answer, Anna limped after Ian.
“I do not mind being alone,” Mary said. “Or I can talk to the other guests.”
“I would not dream of it,” David said.
“Then come.” Mary led him to the corridor where they had engaged in their earlier altercation. “I am truly sorry,” she said. “What I did was wrong and I do not know why I did it. I hope you can forgive me.”
David bowed his head and Mary feared he would simply walk away. Eventually, he lifted his head and looked into her eyes. She felt lost in the depths of their blueness. Drawn in and held against the vibrancy within. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart pounded against her ribs. Oh dear, she thought. What am I doing?
“I believe I owe you an apology also,” David said. “If Anna has accepted what you did, who am I to question it?”
“That is most gracious of you. Now please let us hear no more about that,” Mary said. “After all we are here to attend a wedding.”
David held out his arm and Mary looped hers through it. Trying hard to ignore the way her heart flapped and fluttered against her chest. Perhaps she could distract him and then she remembered. He had only a small bag with him. That would just not do. "The wedding is in a few days," Mary began. "I hope you do have a nice suit to wear to it."
David blushed. "I didn’t have the time to get one tailored back home. I will probably just wear the one I am wearing now," David replied.
"Absolutely not," Mary exclaimed, flabbergasted at the idea. "We are going into town today. I saw a shop and we will get a new suit tailored for you. There is no way that the father of the bride can give her away in an old suit." And with that she began to drag him to the main door, grabbing their coats from the closet.
David couldn't help but chuckle. Mary looked rather beautiful when she was on a mission and full of purpose, he noticed.
Laughing and protest
ing throughout, David begrudgingly agreed to go and get a new suit. Mary seemed most pleased when she finally got him to relent and she looked up at him with a gleam in her eyes. David had to look away quickly for he found himself melting into that gaze.
It was just a five-minute walk into town so they forwent a carriage and strolled along the dusty track. David could not believe how much he enjoyed spending time with this woman. They talked as they shopped and she had a good eye. Picking out a fine fabric and making sure that the tailor would get the suit ready in time. Next they went to the mercantile and he treated her to a licorice stick.
They chewed as they walked, giggling and having a merry time, acting like young teenagers rather than the grownups they were. As they neared the boarding house, David wondered at how much he had gained on this trip. He was soon to see his daughter married, but then he felt Mary’s arm in his and he wondered if maybe he had also lost out.
Chapter 8
The next few days, Mary and David spent almost all of their time together. When they interacted with other guests, subconsciously they ended up going into the same rooms and hanging around close to each other. They never seemed to run out of things to talk about.
After that first day, David began to take his meals with the rest of the guests, preferring to sit with Mary and talk about anything that struck their fancy. They shared their life experiences, their hardships, their hopes, and dreams.
One day while they were sitting alone in the den. Mary was looking out the window and David could not believe she was still single after all these years.
“Why did you never remarry?” he asked. “It must have been very hard living alone all those years.”
Mary stared out the window as if she were searching the mountain tops for some sign or other. “I could ask you the same thing,” she said.
