"Love isn't something that happens overnight, Daniel." She tried to explain. "I never said I was marrying for love."
"What's he getting out of this?"
"He's returning a good deed I did him once."
"What good deed?"
"I saved his life once. Banister's men were tryin' to kill him. I bandaged him up and pulled him in the shade. I gave him water. I even killed a snake. He survived."
"What did they do to him?" Daniel's voice went softer now, as though considering what Dal might have gone through.
"They drug him through the bushes from town to the edge of the creek." She answered looking at all the children.
Their mouths hung open. "He was half dead when I got to him. So I guess in a way, I saved him. And now, he's saving us."
"But Bonnie…it ain't right and you know it." Daniel protested.
"Now…that's how it's gonna be." She insisted, with a wooden spoon in her hand, Daniel moved out of the line of fire.
"Do you love him?" Daniel asked his lip pooched out as though he knew better than she.
"I like him." She smiled at him. "I like him a lot."
"Liking don't count. You're supposed to love him if you marry him."
"Well, maybe I'll grow to love him, then. Maybe I already do, I don't know. It's hard not to love someone that wants to help you."
"It doesn't work that way. Didn't anyone ever tell you about the birds and the bees?" He frowned mightily.
"I know all I need to know…" she insisted turning back to the stove. "And besides, this isn't a way to talk to each other this early in the morning. I haven't even had a cup of coffee yet and neither have you. Now you settle out and we'll be eating before long."
"Where'd you get coffee?" Daniel asked staring at her as though she'd lost her mind.
"Dal brought it to me. Said it improves the disposition. And this mornin' I need something to improve mine."
"Then you need a good dose of it. So…are you moving away?" Daniel's voice broke just enough for her to hear.
She whirled around and came to hold him. "No, darlin' I’m not moving away. He's coming here to live with us. He's gonna help us."
"Pa said we had to fix our own troubles." Daniel insisted.
"Daniel," She sat down at the table and pulled him close. "I can't fix everything. I've been trying hard. But there are some things I can't fix. If he doesn't help us, we are gonna lose this place. And real soon. That means we'll have to leave. And we….well we…ain't got no place to go." Her eyes mirrored her fears. She held her tears back, wanting to be strong for him. "We ain't got no kin that I know of. If we live in the town, the money will run out before all of you are grown. We couldn't turn around and buy another place, it was hard enough trying to keep this one going. Sometimes, you have to bend that pride and admit you need help."
Daniel looked contrite now. "I'm sorry. But it ain't right you marrying a stranger so we can keep the place. It's like you are …sacrificing yourself."
"Got any better ideas?" She asked him, looking questioningly into his eyes. "Besides, Dal is a very nice man, and he's offered his help."
"No…." He uttered, a tear slipping down his cheek.
"Dal is a very good man. He wants to help us, all of us. I can't ask more than that." Bonnie cried. "We're gonna marry at the church in town on Sunday. All of you gotta go with me."
With that said, she ran from the room crying.
Becky stomped her foot in front of Daniel. "Now look what you done. You made her cry…." She ran to Bonnie to hug her.
Daniel stared at the floor.
When she came out, he hung his head and whispered. "Sorry."
Bonnie nodded and went back to cooking. They ate oats and Bonnie had saved the last of the honey for this occasion. She had no butter, but there was honey.
The kids all smiled and each one dished out just a little honey to go with their oats.
They wouldn't have had honey, if Daniel hadn't figured out how to steal it from the bees. It took a few stings, but he learned fast. And the end result was, they had honey.
Every one of the kids had learned to do something that would help.
When they all gathered at the table together, Bonnie cleared her throat and they all paused before eating. She said a short prayer and then they dug into the oats.
"Orville had a chocolate the other day. He let me taste it. It was fine." Samuel said, turning as red as his hair when everyone looked at him strangely.
"Why didn't you bring the rest of us some?" Daniel frowned at him.
"It wasn't my chocolate. Weren't mine to give." Samuel explained.
"Sure wish we had some milk…" Martin said, seeing the honey was all gone now.
Bonnie nodded. "Maybe Mrs. Turner could give us some more. Samuel and you can go over there this afternoon and see if she might have a little extra."
"I hate to beg," Samuel announced boldly.
"It ain't begging. It's asking." Bonnie hedged around that one, but she saw their eyes roll and knew she hadn't convinced them.
"We need a cow…" Daniel said flat out.
"We need a lot of things, Daniel, but a cow is the least of our worries. If you have an animal, you have to feed him. And we can barely feed ourselves." Bonnie ran again for her room and this time she slammed the door.
All four of the kids looked at each other.
"That means stay out!" Becky put her hands on her hips and frowned at the boys.
"We know!" The boys hollered.
Samuel tapped Martin on the shoulder. "Let's go ask Mrs. Turner if she can spare a little milk."
"Okay." Martin always agreed to anything. He was an easy one. He wasn't old enough to have pride and he didn't mind asking for some milk. Oats tasted better with milk.
Daniel went about his chores. Becky got on her stool at the kitchen counter and started washing the dishes. It was one of her chores, and she never had to be told. Besides, she liked playing with the bubbles. Since she slept in the same room with Bonnie, she knew her sister had cried herself to sleep many nights. The least she could do was her chores that was how she saw it.
Bonnie didn't come out of her room for a long time.
When she did, she went to find the kids. She shouldn't have been so emotional, but things were changing and it scared her. She knew nothing of being a wife. She didn't know enough about anything.
She hoped Dal would understand.
Chapter Six
The church at the end of town was a beautifully constructed log cabin, made long to accommodate a lot of people. It was lit with lanterns on the inside and candles. It smelled of pine and today it looked especially beautiful.
The church bell rang like a welcoming choir and Dal was there early. He was anxious to talk to Bonnie. But as soon as he arrived, he realized how his news would have to wait. Since he told the preacher and a few of his friends in town he was getting married, the church was all decked out in flowers and ribbons. Dal looked around, he had never seen the church look so nice.
It was pretty.
Because there was a wedding scheduled the whole town turned out for it.
But he was worried. Bonnie didn't have the money for a beautiful dress, and he'd neglected to help her. Already, he was falling down on his part of the bargain. He remembered how he told her to find a dress. You don't just find a dress!
He fretted all through the service.
When the preacher finally finished with his long-winded sermon, he announced the wedding would be right after the singing.
Dal still hadn't seen Bonnie.
But when the wedding march began, Becky came down the aisle with a basket of flower petals, tossing them on the floor. She had her faded Sunday dress on, but Dal noticed it was getting too small for her. Samuel and Martin came next and took their seats in the front pew where the preacher had told them.
Then he saw her. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Bonnie walked slowly in a beautiful dress of white silk, w
ith beads and ribbons all over it, and full skirt that dragged the floor. By her side, Daniel proudly walked his sister down the aisle.
But the astonishing part was that Bonnie looked absolutely gorgeous, and Dal's face turned red. It embarrassed him that he thought she wouldn't try to make things nice. With little funds, he wondered where the dress had come from.
She wore no veil, just little flowers in her hair. She wore her hair down. It fell in little ringlets to her waist.
When she joined him at the altar, Daniel took his seat after kissing her on the forehead. Everyone awed over his thoughtfulness for his sister.
He was dressed in his finest outfit. Even though it had holes in the elbows and knees, it was clean and done up nicely.
Samuel and Martin wore their best clothes.
The preacher spoke up. "Who gives this woman in holy matrimony."
"I do sir." Daniel stepped up and out.
The preacher smiled and nodded.
The look on Bonnie's face made Dal speechless. She took his hand. Their hands sweat and they looked at each other hesitantly.
The preacher started the ceremony, holding their hands together and smiling.
"We are gathered here, in the site of Almighty God, to bring this man, and this woman together in holy matrimony…." He began.
Dal glanced at her once. She was so breathtaking in that dress, he could barely swallow.
"If any man objects, let him speak now or forever hold his peace." The Preacher was saying.
The church was silent as a mouse.
Before he knew what hit him, the preacher was looking at him in question.
When the preacher pronounced them man and wife, he grinned. "You can kiss the bride, son."
Dal turned to her and stared into her eyes for only a moment, his gaze riveted her to the spot. His heart thundered when she looked up at him with those beautiful cornflower eyes. Awareness and passion coursed through his blood before he bent his head and kissed her. The kiss was sweet and long and he forgot where he was. All he knew was that he wanted this kiss to be special. His hold of her tightened and he pulled her fully against him. Her head fell back and he ravaged her mouth. The preacher himself had to break it up as the congregation laughed and clapped.
Most of the town had stayed for the wedding. Dal and Bonnie were surrounded by well-wishers. Bonnie didn't know as many as Dal, but it didn't matter. Cassie came up to her and touched her arm. "You are just full of surprises. I'll be paying you a visit soon." She promised.
Bonnie barely acknowledged her promise.
From everyone else's viewpoint, it looked as though they were madly in love with each other.
Dal had rented a buggy for them.
He had arranged for Mrs. Turner to watch the kids as they rode off in the buggy.
For a long while, he didn't say anything. He couldn't. He wanted to stop the buggy and kiss her again.
Instead, he whipped the team of horses and they were off.
Rice went everywhere and Bonnie turned and waved to the kids.
She had no idea what to expect next. She'd never contemplated this far into a marriage. She decided she would let him dictate how the evening went.
"You looked real good up there." She finally broke the silence.
He smiled and looked at her, "You looked beautiful, Bonnie."
She blushed. "You're just saying that 'cause you think I expect it. And because of the dress."
"No, I'm saying it because it's the truth. Where did you get that dress, it's lovely?"
"Oh…" She glanced down at the soft silk against her skin. "It belonged to my Mama. I dug it out of the old trunk. I had to take it in places. But I got it to fit right." She said.
"And the shoes?" He questioned.
"They were hers. They are a little too big, but I stuffed them with paper, so they'd fit okay. Did they look alright?"
"They looked better than fine." He said and swallowed hard.
"Where we going?" She asked when they headed a different way from the home place.
"I got an uncle, he has a place up the way a bit. He's not there right now. He's gone hunting. Said we could use it. People in town will expect us to go somewhere. It wouldn't look right if we went to your place right off."
"You know, I never asked much about you. When I think about it, I guess you thought I wasn't interested. But I am. Do you have folks, Dal?"
"No…just an Uncle…that's all that's left."
"Were they killed or something?"
"They died of consumption, a few years back. First my Ma, then my Pa." He explained. His free hand took hers and folded it into his.
She watched his action and she squeezed his hand.
"So…what are we gonna do at this cabin?" She asked innocently.
"Oh…well. I thought I'd cook you a big steak for supper. And I thought we could talk. Make some plans."
She nodded. "That sounds good. I don't think I've eaten steak in my life."
"You're kidding," he glanced at her, "aren't you?"
"No. Daddy would cook a roast out on the spit sometimes. But we never had steak. Is it good?"
"It's great. You'll see." He said and whipped the horses harder.
"You looked funny today, when you saw me coming down the aisle. Were you thinking of backing out?" She asked softly. "You can tell me."
"Naw…that never entered my mind. I thought I must have gotten the most beautiful girl in town to marry me."
She blushed again.
"The preacher told us what to do. He and Mrs. Turner. They looked so happy for us. I'm sure glad they were there. I didn't want to embarrass you."
"You could never embarrass me."
"Yeah, I never told them why we were getting married. I didn't want to spoil it for them. They thought we were madly in love."
"I want you to know something, Bonnie. I'll always take care of you and the kids…" He said almost without a breath.
"I hope we don't always need taking care of."
He hung his head a moment. "It wasn't what I meant to say…"
"What did you mean then?"
"I like you….I like you a lot." He whispered.
"I like you too, Dal. I wouldn't have agreed to this if I hadn't."
"Well then," He smiled. "That's a start, isn't it."
"A good start."
When they arrived at the cabin, it was early afternoon. He opened the door and went to turn the lamp on.
It was a nice, cozy little place, with a small kitchen and a bed to one side. It was a good size bed, with very little floor to sleep on.
She noticed it and wondered.
"Not to worry, I'll sleep on the floor." He said casually.
"I can sleep on the floor. Or…you could sleep with me on the bed. We don't have to do nothing." She said her voice softer than she wanted it to be.
"Do you even know what that nothing is all about?"
She put her hands on her hips. "I was raised in the country, I seen animals. I'm not ignorant." Her voice grew almost angry.
"I know you aren't. You couldn't have lasted four years and be ignorant. I just didn't know if you knew about…that." He intimated the bed and them in it.
"Well, I'll admit, not first hand, but I done had my Ma and my Pa tell me their version of it."
"Oh, and how did that go?"
She shrugged and blushed again. "Ma said to lay down and bear it. Pa said…well…he said just about the same."
"Lie down and bear it?" He hollered.
"Well…that's what they said." She stared at him. "Isn't that the way of it?"
"It ain't that way at all. Not when you care. When you really care about someone, it ain't that way at all." He took her hand and looked into her eyes. "You see, when you love someone, really love them, it's the most beautiful thing in the world."
"Does that mean, they didn't care for one another?" She wailed.
"No…aw…some people don't like to talk about it. It's best not to talk about it. Look…
when you love someone, it comes natural like. Just like the animals."
"Yeah…but we don't love each other…do we?" She asked moving away from him.
He stared long and hard at her. "I guess not…" His voice trailed off.
She came closer. "Does it…hurt? I mean…sometimes, it looks like it might hurt."
He smiled. "The first time…I'm told it does. But not after that, and it doesn't hurt long. Not if you got a good partner. It's sort of up to the man to see it doesn't hurt much. Bonnie, a man, takes a woman, when he loves her. He doesn't hurt her, and she can enjoy it as much as he. It's a God given gift. Someday, if the time is right….maybe we'll try it."
"Oh…." She smiled back. "When you kissed me at the church, I nearly ran out of breath. Have you had many women, Dal?"
"I'm sorry…I shouldn't have gotten so carried away." He apologized. "I had a few. But not lately…"
"You ever wanted to marry before?" She said timidly.
He studied the question. "I guess…I guess I never did, until now."
"I won't make you sorry Dal. I'll be a good wife to you. And when you really want to…well…then just let me know…"
The tension in the room thickened.
Dal stared at her for a long moment.
"Are you hungry?" He asked obviously trying to change the subject.
"Yes…." She answered quickly, and with a bright smile. She looked outside now, it was getting dark and she wondered what the night might bring.
"Good, I'll start a fire and be right back. I'll throw us some potatoes on the fire too." He suggested.
"That sounds good. Wish the kids could be here to enjoy it."
His smile faded a bit. "Yeah…me too."
After a while, he brought the food in. He'd been outside a long time and she had to glance out there to see if he was still there. But the food looked so good, she was shocked.
Her first bite of steak had her jumping for joy. "Oh my goodness. I've never tasted anything so good in all my days. Where did you learn to cook like that?"
"My Uncle taught me. He taught me most everything." Dal said finishing his steak.
The potato had butter on it, and she couldn't believe it. "Thank you for this…" She got up and twirled around. "I'm stuffed I'm so full."
Brides of the West-Part One Page 6
