Sanctuary

by Alene Adele Roy

“How nice,” Emma responded. “She’s a lovely woman and friend. I’m so glad she came here.”

  “That’s my Rachael,” her sister replied. “I do hope she is alright.” Concern now etched her face.

  “Shall we announce it in church on Sunday?” Emma asked, while placing an arm around Phoebe.

  “Yes, please. Could you?” the bride asked, as she and Crane hugged. “That would be wonderful.”

  “Of course, we can. It will be our pleasure. We’ll ask Pastor to announce your joy to the entire congregation,” the pastor’s wife told the happy couple. “Now, please be sure to let us know if we can help in any way with the planning of it. We’ve had some experience with that kind of thing, you know,” she chuckled.

  Miss Callie reached into the pie cupboard for more pies and began to hand them to her helpers for transport. “Crane, please carry the ham instead of pie, and we’ll have to start making cakes, won’t we?”

  About the same time, near Black Woods, John and his passenger prepared for the wild rush of floodwater surging toward them at an alarming rate of speed. It seemed almost mesmerizing to see the torrent gobble up the land, causing it to disappear. Yet, John’s strong clydesdales had brought them to safely on higher ground by getting them to the knoll in time. Miraculously, that approaching muddy water and eroded soil crossing Blackberry Prairie had diverted around them, their carriage, the horses, and the rise. Even more surprisingly, most of the floodwater had channeled into the lowland emptying into Green Sheen Stream, before it ever reached them.

  John Davis was duly proud of his steeds. “I’m so glad the team stayed on this knoll so we weren’t swept away,” he admitted, in a quiet voice. “I’m very proud of Daisy and Maisy,” he claimed, and righteously so. “They did a fine job of getting us out of harms way today.”

  Rachael Hathaway was just as amazed to have seen the horses stand their ground, while she and John watched the diverted floodwater flowing to the stream, leaving them unharmed. “Yes,” she agreed. “They are lovely creatures. I believe they’ve been part of a miracle here today.” She complimented the pair. “We shall have to find a special treat for them tonight.”

  “Indeed, we will. I like your idea. You should have a reward, as well, Rachael.”

  “Why? You’re the fearless driver. You should, have the reward, for I liked your idea, and it worked! It saved us! If I’d been driving, I’d probably still be back there.” She turned and pointed.

  “The emergency is nearly over now, Rachael,” John announced. “But this driving rain and wind gusts are still creating poor visibility. However, there will be a lull soon with a rainbow to follow, I’m sure. How are you doing?” he asked his passenger, while surveying her sweet face for fear.

  A blanket was still addressing the surprise rainfall problem, still sheltering them, as Rachael tried to hold it. By now, though, she was becoming tired and cold. Her arm strength was waning. “I am a little tired and wet,” she quietly admitted, adding, “and I hate to inform you, but the wedding gown box got wet.”

  “Your wedding gown box got wet, that is. Here, let me hold that blanket around you. We’ll dry your dress at home, darling, if it got wet. It may have been protected quite enough by the thick box, though.” He was hopeful of that when he took over the tent effect with his right hand to give her a rest, while holding the reins in his left one.

  Suddenly, they saw the surrounding heavy mist rising, retreating to hover over the wetlands of Green Sheen Stream. Within moments, raindrops turned to partial clearing, as if the heavens had closed the door to the clouds. All at once, she saw him again. Rachael could hardly believe her eyes or contain her joy at seeing the determined fisherman again, knowing that he had survived.

  “He must have climbed a tree. Perhaps he did hear me. His appearance proves that he wasn’t swept away by the surge, yet, saved, like we have been. Wonders never cease, do they?” A joy overtook her, bringing happy tears to her eyes.

  John Davis could hardly believe her reaction and compassion for the total stranger. “Yes, darling, and your call may very well have alerted the angler to the approaching danger and saved his life.”

  A pleased look continued to capture her dampened face. To John’s surprise, she waved at the man, just before he disappeared behind a thicket. She was so disappointed that he was gone, that she stood and whistled, to John’s amazement. She could not lose sight of him now. “It’s my brother, John! I know it is! I can’t understand why he’s here and not back at Bower Farm right now, though, but I’m glad he is.” She sighed and shivered a little, then sat back down on the seat. Her clothing was damp, but her hair remained practically unfazed. The upswept hairdo she had worn today had held up well in this humidity, wind, and rain, pleasing her. “I wanted you to meet him.”

  “What?” John thought her admission of who the man was, completely preposterous. “It can’t be your brother, dear Rachael, or he’d be far from home here. Does he have friends in this area? We can send a telegram to your family, however. That should settle the matter for you.” He hoped he had eased her mind about this situation. Now, his thoughts were returning to their future together.

  “I don’t know if he has friends here. I know it shouldn’t be him,” she admitted, missing him even more. “I was just hoping it was, I guess. Thank you for the telegram idea. That would settle it, I’m sure,” she responded, a little sadly.

  Just then, the doctor recognized an old oak grove, a fond memory from his childhood. “I don’t have a brother, Rachael, but Cousin Emery and I used to play here in that grove of trees during our childhood,” he announced. “We even built a small fort for shelter in those trees over there. He’s like a brother to me. He’s a really good man. You’ll come to love him as I do, I’m certain.”

  “Well, maybe I shall not quite come to love him as much, but I’m sure he‘s a wonderful person. I’ve noted his care and concern for you. I’m so thankful that you have a devoted cousin in Emery.”

  He smiled. “I remember some special times the two of us had here. You wouldn’t believe the adventures we’ve shared. We hunted for rocks, fished, followed animal trails, and had lunches here. We never camped out overnight, though, because of the coyotes. Just the sound of their wail at night, with a full moon rising, makes me want to run. I haven’t been to this secret spot in some time. In fact, it took you to bring me here.”

  She laughed. “I didn’t bring you here. The storm brought you here, silly.”

  “No, your loveliness brought us here, because I stopped to give you your wedding gown instead of waiting for a few months, as I had first planned.”

  “Well, perhaps we should ask your Cousin Emery and Miss Worthington to join us for a picnic here in celebration, when the weather is fine, that is. You two could share those memories with us, enlighten us.”

  “Yes. But would you allow that?” he questioned, giddy with excitement at her suggestion.

  “Of course, I would. Why wouldn’t I?”

  He sighed with contentment. “Okay,” he agreed, quietly. “We’ll invite them soon, and thank you.”

  She was relieved to have shown him that she would give Cousin Emery and Mrs. Amber Worthington a chance to be her friends. “Good. I’m ready for another picnic.”

  “You’re ready for another picnic so soon? Well, I am, too, actually, but speaking of marriage.”

  Rachael laughed gaily and leaned to wipe the dress box near her feet with her handkerchief. “We weren’t speaking of marriage at all, Dr. John Davis. You spoke of your childhood and I suggested another picnic so you could share more memories with us.”

  “Yes, I did speak of my childhood, didn’t I? Cousin Emery and I had such good times together here, at Green Sheen Stream, and in Black Woods. We used to catch crawdads and release them, of course,” he laughed. “We’d bring along our lunch or school work. But our papers sometimes blew away. There seemed to be some secret
air current here that would sneak up, swoop down, and grab our paperwork, swirling it into the wind. We chased it, but didn’t always catch it. Of course, that was very difficult to explain to our teachers. Somehow, though, they always believed us and gave us a chance to do them over.”

  She laughed. “Good. What are crawdads?”

  “They are freshwater crusteaceans, smaller than a lobster. They’re ferocious looking.”

  “They sound creepy to me.” She shrugged her shoulders and relaxed into the blanket, fear gone.

  “They are!” he admitted. “They bite!”

  “Well, we won’t be going barefoot in that stream, will we?” she asked, laughing once again.

  “Do you really want to come back here? I’m amazed at your interest in this place, since there are better places to picnic.” Studying her face, he took her hand, loving her gift of undivided attention even more.

  “Yes, of course, I do. I’d like to know more about your youth, someday, some sunny day, that is,” she informed him, laughing. “How did you come to study medicine? What is your favorite food? I need to know all of those things.”

  He found her fascinating and chuckled openly at her questions. “At first it was my parents’ idea. But I came to enjoy learning about doctoring. As for my favorite food, I would have to say that it probably is chicken or spaghetti.”

  “Oh, you’re allowed two, are you? I thought it would be chicken or cake,” she giggled.

  “Rachael, the only cake I’m interested in is our wedding cake, and I would like to learn about your life, too, and about all of your beaus. But first, let’s go get you out of your wet clothes. See, there’s a hint of a rainbow. That clearing sky means it’s time for pie,” he happily announced. Turning the horses around, he headed them down from that rise toward Town Road and home.

  “Oh, so you’re a poet, too!” she teased, trying to pull her hand away from his so he could drive. His horses were so well behaved and trained, though, that they easily followed his directions and lead, even with only one hand upon those reins. “I do love poetry. It’s a part of my life. I write it, sometimes.”

  “And you write songs, too. Now I’ve learned that much about you.”

  “I was just thinking we should call this rise, Saving Knoll,” she suggested.

  “We shall, for that is a perfect name,” he told her.

  “We’ll picnic just beyond Saving Knoll,” she proposed.

  “I like that idea. I won’t soon forget this place and I can hardly wait to ask Cousin Emery to join us. We must also invite your sister, as well. Perhaps you can be the one to invite Phoebe and Amber Worthington.”

  “Thank you for thinking of Phoebe.” Her thoughts now turned to Monty Graham. Did she dare mention him? She decided she would, although it might break the sweet spell of happiness they were now sharing. “Perhaps we should also ask Lieutenant Monty Graham to accompany Phoebe.”

  He shot her a glance, his eyes wide. “Yes, please,” he exclaimed, excitedly. “That will do.”

  She threw her head back and laughed happily. Plans were being made, and she was a part of them. That thrilled Rachael.

  “Well, first, we shall get you out of your wet clothing, so you don’t catch a cold.”

  “Well, we won’t get me out of this wet clothing, Dr. Davis,” she responded, putting the emphasis on ‘we,’ while chuckling. “I shall get out of this wet clothing in due time, I’m certain. I hope it’s soon.”

  “No, I won’t be helping you, for you’ll see that I am a gentleman, Miss Hathaway. I can assure you of that, my darling.”

  “Please don’t say that,” she retorted, before she even had time to think about what she was saying.

  “What, Rachael?” He was puzzled. “Don’t say that I am a gentleman?”

  “The ‘darling’ word,” she answered, looking toward the woods, hoping for one last glimpse of that fisherman, so she could be sure whether it was her brother or not. “I wish he’d come out of that thicket,” she whispered, mostly to herself.

  He stopped the team. “Why, Rachael?” he wanted to know. “Why may I not call you darling?”

  “I am not accustomed to it. I imagine that’s the reason, and I am only the nanny.”

  “What should I call you, if not darling? I love you. I wish to call you that in front of everyone.”

  “I believe it is not quite appropriate unless we are betrothed to one another, which we are not.”

  “If I had my way we would be. May I call you that in private then, since we are to be wed?”

  She turned to him. “Are we? I am shocked by this conversation, even though we did kiss today, didn’t we, several times? What did that mean? I also reached for your hand, twice, in fun. What did that mean?” She wondered about it all out loud, and bravely spoke to him about her mixed feelings.

  “Look!” he suddenly whispered, as a family of quail zigzagged from a trail in the woods to cross the road in front of them. “They’re crossing our path. That should be good luck, a happy little quail train family together. That’s what I wish for us, a happy little family. As for your feelings, it means we’re in love, Rachael.” He turned to smile at her, while awaiting her reaction, if she had one at all.

  Unfortunately for him, her mind was on other things, as she smiled and nodded. If the truth was known, she’d been only kissed once before, at her church Christmas Concert Party. He was a school friend and neighbor. But, surprisingly, Rachael didn’t even miss him now. She had no desire to write to him and he certainly had not written to her since her arrival here. So, her neighbor’s kiss didn’t count. She had never heard that friend mention the word marriage, although they had walked to and from school together each day and she knew him and his family quite well. She never, ever dreamed of that lad as a marriage partner, not in her wildest dreams, nor had they spoken of it. He wasn’t even a suitor, as far as she was concerned, like Dr. John Davis and Lieutenant Monty Graham were. She realized that now. That childhood memory was one she’d not mention on an afternoon picnic at Saving Knoll Rise. She was certain of that, easily sorting things out now. Oh, but there was Monty’s kiss, too. She’d not mention it, either.

  Suddenly, a loud noise from the woods startled the horses. They sped into motion with a jerk. John tightened their reins and reached for Rachael at the same time, keeping her from falling. Instantly, she gasped, as she realized the depth of his passion for her, keeping her safe. Perhaps she felt a small amount of fear, too. Secretly, she delighted in his actions. Alarmingly, though, embarrassing tears began to fall.

  “Are you alright? Did that scare you?” he quickly asked in concern, as he slowed the team some.

  “Yes and yes. What was that, a bear?”

  “No. It was an elk, Rachael. I’m sorry that it startled you and the horses.”

  His voice was a soothing balm to her. “I’m quite pleased with your explanation and take-charge actions and attitude. I’m so very impressed.” Wiping tears from her cheeks with her wet sleeves, she smiled. “I don’t know why I’m crying, for I dare say, I’ve had such a lovely Easter,” she admitted, turning tears into laughter.

  “I do,” he informed her, whispering and smiling, while learning toward her. He gently kissed Rachael’s cheek.

  “Well, then, you know me better than I know myself,” she retorted with a laugh. She seemed to laugh with him a lot lately. They were having fun in his world, making the best of every occasion.

  “It’s emotions, Rachael,” he explained quietly. “Look what you’ve been through in the last few hours.” His voice was quiet, deliberate. “You are certainly entitled to a few tears. We’ll turn them to joy, however.”

  “Please explain what you mean by that. Are you implying that I do a lot of crying?”

  “No, I’m not implying that at all. I’m only stating that there was a large crowd today, with many people in attendance, some
of whom you did not know. That can be daunting.”

  “Yes.” She agreed. “Sometimes I don’t like crowds, other days I do. Today, I did.”

  “You were with a lot of people, new friends. Then, your beautiful sister, Phoebe, appeared suddenly, taking you by surprise.”

  “Yes.” She had to agree again. A broad smile graced her face at the thought of Phoebe’s visit. “What a surprise that was. You think her beautiful?”

  “You both are. You gave my sweet daughter a precious, homemade gift, the doll that you so lovingly made for her, which certainly thrilled her, and me, too. We both know that it did. That’s beautiful. We could see the delight on my child’s face, and she actually came to you to be held. That’s a major accomplishment for any nanny, in my mind, Rachael. It should be in yours, too. It helped prepare Lily for our future together.”

  She glanced at her hand he was holding and smiled, not trying to pull away from him this time.

  “Then there was this stupid storm that you had to experience and its frightening flood. Yet, you experienced it with me, and I thank you for that. I’m grateful to you for sharing this day with me, darling.”

  His horses made a right turn. Before them, just a short distance away, appeared John’s manor at Magnolia Gardens. “It is lit as if for a grand occasion, isn’t it?” She smiled warmly at the sight. “I’ve not seen it from this position before, and it is quite agreeable. This is a pretty grand occasion and cause to celebrate, especially since we will soon be in some welcome dry clothing, and afterward I shall be with my sister again, and other friends.” A giddy sense of excitement and realization that these joyous things were happening to her because of this man sitting beside her swept over Rachael. She was very grateful, too, and would not hesitate to let him know of her deepest feelings at this point. Leaning toward her accomplished, handsome, daring, driver, she whispered softly, while relishing the fact that for now she’d have the last word. “Thank you, John darling.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  As they neared his home, the sweet smell of John’s daphne bush wafted toward them, perfuming the air, welcoming them. “Your sister appeared suddenly today. Perhaps I shouldn’t have done it that way, sent for her in secret for a surprise visit. But I simply wanted to delight you, just as you were delighting my own little girl and me. I hope I wasn’t wrong in doing that, darling.”