by Cyndi Raye
Luke leaped off the porch, catching Adam’s right shoulder and bringing him down first. He was acting as childish as his other brothers but it could not be helped. For some reason, when the three of them were together, this was their way.
When Samuel looked back to see the two wrestling on the ground, he ran back and jumped in the fray as well. Like always, the three wrestled until one of them called out to stop. Since none of them did at first, the carousing went on for a lot longer than anyone realized.
A giggle came from the porch, stopping Luke in mid-air. He had just been about to straddle his brother and force him to give up by holding hands behind his back.
He turned to the soft sound of Abigail’s voice. She held her fingers in front of her mouth, holding back a laugh. The other hand held her head as if she were trying to keep it from hurting.
The moment he saw her, Luke ran towards the porch. “Abigail! You should not be out of bed.” Before anyone moved, Luke scooped her in his arms and carried her over the threshold, placing her on the settee, the closest piece of furniture inside the door.
“Oh, Luke, I’m tired of lying in bed. Let me sit here for awhile.”
He sat beside her, taking her hands in his own. “Are you sure? The doc said bed rest for the next few days.”
She leaned against him, dropping her head to rest on his shoulder. “Bed rest doesn’t mean I can’t get out of bed.”
“I tend to disagree. I think that is exactly what it means.”
‘Hmm, well, then I will go back to bed after supper. I was lying there and something smelled so delicious.”
“Ma sent over some chicken and dumplings. I’ll carry you to the table.”
Abigail smiled, resting a hand on his chest. “Luke, I believe I can walk. Nothing happened to my feet.”
She went to stand up but he was there ahead of her. He scooped her in his arms again even though she insisted she was able to walk and sat her down in the chair at the head of the table. “Don’t move, I’ll get you a plate of food.”
Luke hurried to the stove where the food was simmering. He was busy spooning out food when Abigail spoke up.
“Are you going to invite your brothers inside?” Her soft voice, even though it sounded weak, held a glimmer of humor.
Luke turned to find his two brothers peeking around the door frame. “I should’ve slammed that door shut with my boot,” he grumbled. “You two, get on out of here. Go home.”
“Let them stay. There’s plenty for everyone.”
At her soft-spoken words, Adam and Samuel came through the door as if they were invited by royalty. Luke tried to stare them down but they were too busy thanking Abigail for the invitation to eat.
Luke prepared a plate for Abigail and him, then sat down at the table. The two brothers looked on in surprise. “I am not your keeper, you want to eat, help yourself,” Luke told them. He ignored the two as they scooted their chairs back and got their own plates.
“Abigail, are you sure you feel good enough to be up and about?” His question drew a slight smile from her.
“I’m fine, Luke. You worry too much.”
“He sure does. Why, I’ve never seen this side of my brother before.” Adam jumped in the conversation after folding his hands together in silent prayer.
“I’ll say,” Samuel agreed while he stuffed his mouth with a dumpling.
“You two had better not say another word or I’m throwing you out by your pant tails.” Luke had enough of their nonsense.
“Your wife invited us to sit and eat, Luke. Don’t upset her.”
“It’s true. Please don’t get your wife upset.” Samuel wasn’t going to let Adam be the only one to mention the fact they had been invited to the supper table.
“Boys, please. Let’s give my husband a break.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Adam told her, instantly keeping his nose down and eating his food.
Samuel followed suit, not saying another word.
After ten minutes of complete silence from his brothers, Luke raised a chin and grinned. His wife had shut the two of them up in three seconds flat. He squeezed her hand, then laid a gentle kiss on her cheek. Yes, sir, it was going to be mighty fine having Abigail around.
Chapter 10
Abigail sat outside on the rocker while waiting for Luke to come home. It had been a week and a half since the fiasco with the pup. She was feeling much stronger but he made her promise not to overdo things.
He had been the most attentive man, seeing to her needs and treating her as if she were a princess. It had taken her almost a week to feel back to normal and knowing he wasn’t going to send her back to Miss Addie made everything more real.
This was her life now. They had their own home on the ranch, along with being able to live amongst family members who cared about the property and each other. Adam and Samuel were the sweetest brother-in-laws ever, even though Luke was constantly chasing them away. She had worked out a deal with them to bake a delicious pie and invite them to supper once a week if they stopped teasing Luke about how he fawned all over her.
So far the deal was being honored by the two. Although she had seen some carousing a few days ago near the apple orchard, Nora told her that had been going on from the time they were kids. From her vantage point on the front porch, she’d watch them come in from the range, some nights later than usual if they had a lot of work to do. Some evenings they came from different directions but always met near the apple orchard to talk. It was almost as if they weren’t able to let a day go past without having a group meeting. It was almost as if they held a secret that only the three of them knew.
Abigail smiled. She had been an only child. Her parents had tried to force her into a marriage with someone so old it made her shiver. That’s why she left to become a mail order bride. Now, watching the three brothers gathered at the orchard, she smiled to herself, then looked up.
Thank you, Lord. You did know what was best for me after all. Maybe eventually she’d send a letter to let her parents know she was well and much cared for even though she doubted they cared enough to write back. Unless she was able to give them something of monetary value, she didn’t believe they cared about her well-being. All those years of feeling unloved made the last few weeks being loved worthwhile. If it hadn’t been for coming here, she’d never have known Luke’s love and adoration.
Supper was simmering on the cook stove, not quite ready to serve yet. Abigail grimaced, at least Luke had allowed her to cook. At first, all he wanted her to do was sit and behave herself. When she told Nora this bit of information, the older woman gave him a what for and ordered him back out on the range. “You’re driving your wife and everyone else crazy! Doc James was here yesterday and said she is fine,” his mother had told him. “If the good Lord was going to take her, he’d have done it that day. Now you go on back to work and don’t come home until your brothers do!”
Abigail smiled, remembering how forlorn Luke seemed leaving her that day. She had to reassure him over and over again she was fine without him being there to watch over her. Although it was adorable to see him like this, she had to admit it was getting tiresome. He had gone from one extreme to the other and rather quickly. She wanted her adorable, confident, strutting Luke back.
She watched as he rode with his brothers towards the corral and barn, walking the horses before taking them inside. After awhile, he came out, waved to his brothers and picked some bluebonnets from the yard.
Abigail looked around her porch. There were little cups filled with bluebonnets all over the porch. Every single day he brought more home. She didn’t have the heart to tell him they were being over run by flowers. It was a sweet gesture and she loved him more for being so thoughtful.
The closer he got, Abigail wanted to tell him she was ready to become truly married in all sense of the word. She wanted them to become man and wife in the marriage bed. He was so overprotective right now, she hoped this wasn’t the way their whole marriage was going to be, other
wise she’d have to have words with him.
He stopped about four feet from the porch and tilted his head, smiling at her. “A penny for your thoughts?” he inquired.
She twisted her hands together, trying to figure out how to tell him her thoughts at hand. When he noticed, Luke was up on the porch by her side in two seconds flat. He sat down and took her in his arms. “What is it? Is something wrong?”
She leaned her head on his chest, a gesture that was becoming more of a habit lately. “Nothing is wrong, Luke. I don’t know how to go about explaining this to you.”
He kissed her on the head. “Let’s eat supper and discuss things. I don’t want you getting all excited.”
She looked up at him then because that’s exactly what she wanted to do. “I don’t want to eat quite yet. I have it simmering on the stove.”
Luke looked at her, taking her chin between his thumb and finger and moving her head so she looked directly in to his eyes. “Then, let’s talk. Tell me, what’s wrong?”
Abigail grinned. “I think there is something simmering besides the pot on the stove.”
She saw his eyes flicker the moment it dawned on him. “That a fact?”
“It’s a fact. And it is high time we stopped this nonsense about me being too fragile. I want you to make me your true wife right here, right now!”
Luke sat back and grinned. “Here? Out here on the porch?”
Abigail flung her head back and laughed out loud. “Oh, dear! Luke, you are kidding me, right? I, yikes! Luke! Put me down!”
Luke swept her in his arms and marched through the front door. This time he took his boot and kicked the door closed, then pushed a chair in front of the door. “No one is getting in here tonight,” he told her.
“Oh, Luke, I love you!”
She waited for his words of love to come but he was too busy nuzzling her neck as he kicked shut the bedroom door as well.
<><>
When Luke told her to wear her Sunday best, she was so nervous, wondering what in the world he had planned for her today. She had noticed there was quite a bit of commotion going on at the main ranch house. “Is Nora having a party?” Abigail wondered why Nora hadn’t said anything to her.
Luke stood by the front door, wearing a matching jacket and slacks, along with a long sleeve button down shirt. “It’s a surprise and you are the recipient.”
“Me? Oh, dear!” Her hand went to her dress to make sure everything was in place. She wore a pale blue and white gown, the color of the sky, with a skirt that trailed behind. Not a good choice for working on a ranch but she had brought it along none-the-less. Abigail secured the matching gloves and held out her hand. Her husband placed a soft kiss on her gloved hand. “You look beautiful, as always.”
Abigail blushed. “You tell me this every single day. Thank you.”
“I mean it every single day.” He nuzzled her neck before securing the door as they went to ride up to the main house in the buggy.
As Luke turned the horse and buggy towards the back of the yard, Abigail was stunned and surprised at all the people there. How did she not see the wagons, buggies and horses lined up in the yard? Maybe because her husband had kept her very busy all morning long.
After careful scrutiny, she noticed most of the vehicles were hiding around the side of the barn where she was unable to see from her vantage point at their cabin. “Is this some sort of surprise?”
Her husband gloated. “It is. For you. For us. Our wedding reception.”
Abigail let a tear fall. Luke took a thumb and wiped it from her cheek. “Don’t cry, darling. It’s time to celebrate.” He turned her towards him, gently brushing her lips with his own. “I love you, Abigail. This day is for you. I wanted to show you how much you are loved.”
She flung her arms around his neck, not caring if she wrinkled her beautiful dress. His words meant the world to her. She felt as if she were home, as if this place had called out to her.
Two handsome men in matching suits walked towards them. Abigail gave them both a hug. “Thank you, Adam, Samuel, for helping with this surprise.”
Samuel blushed while Adam wasn’t paying attention. He was busy searching the crowd. Abigail followed his gaze when it stopped at Melody and her red-headed little boy. She shifted, uncomfortable when she realized the look on her brother-in-laws face was one of longing for a woman he couldn’t have. It made her sad to know this. They had been best friends growing up, Abigail was told, but the look on his face said so much more.
Nora rushed towards them. “Welcome, you two! I see Luke’s told you about your special day. I love you both so much!” Nora took them both in a big hug, kissing Abigail on the cheek. “How lovely! You’ve chosen the most beautiful gown to wear to today’s celebration. We’ve got so much in store for the two of you. Come along now, let me show you.”
Abigail and Luke spent the next few hours mingling with neighbors and other folk who stopped by to join in the festivities. There wasn’t much else in the way of celebrations since most people lived far from Wichita Falls but on a Saturday afternoon, no one minded getting dressed for a celebration like this. Tons of food filled up the long tables Nora had laid out. A large white cake took up over half the area on one table.
Rusty and three older gentleman began to play their instruments as the day began to wear on. A few of the children danced around the yard. When a soft melody began to play, Luke took her hand and guided her to the center, in front of the musicians. His hands went to her waist and he held her closer than it was proper to do so.
She whispered in his ear. “You’re going to have the whole countryside talking about this dance,” she teased him. The truth was, Abigail didn’t care what anyone thought or said. All she knew was the feeling of being in her husband’s arms. The way he held her right now topped anything she’d ever felt in her life.
“I want the whole world to know how much you mean to me.”
She hugged him tighter. “I feel the same.”
Luke swore. “What are they doing here?” he burst out, slowing his feet until the two stood still.
Abigail turned her head to see Widow Young and her two sons standing by one of the food tables, speaking with Nora. Their heads were close together as if they were having much more than a casual conversation.
Luke glanced around the area, nodding to Adam. When Adam turned to see what was wrong, his eyes widened. He grabbed Samuel, who was a few feet away and headed towards the table area. Luke shook his head. “I’m sorry, Abigail. I’ll be right back. Can you go get something to quench your thirst?”
“Certainly. What’s wrong? Can I help?” Abigail became worried. The whole situation was beginning to have her concerned. Why were all three of the brothers making their way towards Nora? She stood dead still, watching the three until little Tommy stood in front of her holding Trouble in his arms.
“Abigail?” A little voice cut into her thoughts. She knelt down closer.
“What do you have here, Tommy?”
“Trouble wanted to come with me. My momma said I had to ask you first.”
She smiled, forgetting about the trio. “Of course it is fine. But, Tommy, you have to watch him very carefully. Are you able to do that?”
He nodded his head, the red curls bouncing faster than his head was going. “I promise. Maybe it will make momma happy again.”
Abigail tilted her head. “Oh? Why do you say that, Tommy?”
He shrugged. “I’m not supposed to tell.”
“Why not, Tommy?” The little boy had her complete attention. She adored Melody and if there was something going on, something happening that Abigail could help her with, she wanted to know.
“Can I get Trouble some of the food over there?” He pointed to the table loaded with a variety of dishes as the little pup wiggled in his arms.
“Hold on to him with two hands, Tommy. Yes, you can feed him but first tell me why your momma isn’t happy.”
He looked towards his mom then took a
step closer and whispered in her ear. “Cause she is getting a der-voice.”
Abigail tried to keep a straight face while Tommy struggled to get the words out. Then it dawned on her. Her eyes widened in surprise and shock. “Do you mean a divorce?”
He nodded again. “Yes, yes, ma’am. My daddy is a cheating no good snake.”
“Oh, Tommy. I don’t think you should mention this to anyone else, OK? Go on now, take Trouble to get something to eat.”
Abigail gave Melody a worried look. She was hesitant to speak with her about the impending divorce. It was obvious Melody didn’t want anyone to know.
Then Melody happened to look up. She shifted in her seat, a worried look on her face. Abigail couldn’t help herself. She made her way to her friend and sat beside her. “Melody, you don’t look well. Is everything alright?”
Melody attempted a brave smile but Abigail knew better. “I’m fine, and you?”
She was trying hard to keep the subject off herself but she wanted Melody to know she had someone who supported her no matter what. “I’m also fine, better than fine. Melody, I’ll be honest. Tommy spilled the beans about what is happening.”
Melody cringed. Her face paled and her eyes darted back and forth. Abigail spoke low to make sure no one nearby was able to hear.
“Please! Don’t tell a soul. Promise me! Promise!”
Abigail was worried Melody would faint dead away. Her skin paled even more at the thought of someone knowing about her situation. It wasn’t something to announce as people tended to frown upon a divorced woman these days. Even in Philadelphia it wasn’t too common for a marriage to end in divorce. The courts always decided and many were not granted. “I promise. I want you to promise me something in exchange for my silence.”
“Oh, Abigail. I can’t promise anything right now. I’m ruined. There will be a trial next week and I’m so afraid he will try to keep Tommy for spite. I’ll give up everything I own, sell my soul to the devil if he agrees to let me keep my child.”
Abigail’s heart cringed at the thought of Melody and Tommy split apart. She saw in just this short time how close they were. She took Melody’s hand in hers. “Promise me when this is all over, when you get a divorce and custody of your son, you will come here the moment it is done. Promise me this and I will keep your secret.”
