by Barbara Goss
“I know. My father reminds me every hour, on the hour. I was going to go back but I thought he was dead, and I was scared to death of the consequences.” He turned to his horse. “I’ll talk to Travis again. Maybe he’ll change his mind and help me.” He mounted his horse. “Again, I’m sorry.”
Maria watched him ride away.
She tried to dredge up some sympathy for Peter, but she just couldn’t. Still, she didn’t want Ned fighting him, either.
Six weeks after Ned almost died, he rode up to Maria’s house. As he walked up to the house, she noticed he was wearing new clothes, had his hair slicked back, and he was carrying flowers. She held her hand over her heart to keep it’s beating steady.
She met him on the front porch. “Are those for me?” She reached for the bouquet of purple flowers. “I love lilacs. How did you know they’re my favorite flower?”
Ned looked embarrassed for a few seconds. “I…um, they’re the only flowers growing near our house,” he said. “I guess I’m lucky you like them.”
“I do.”
“Are you ready for our supper picnic at the river?” he asked.
“I am.” She sniffed the lilacs again. “Let me put these in water. C’mon in and say hello to my mother.”
Ned went in and Vera walked over and hugged him. “You have no idea how glad I am to see you looking so well, Ned.”
Now Maria saw him really blush.
“Thank you, Vera.”
“I’m going over to see your uncle in a few minutes, so I won’t lock the door, Maria,” Vera said. “But I’ll be home before eleven. We’re going to play some cards with the Williams’s.”
Maria grabbed her sweater. “Give them our regards, then. We’ll probably be back before that.”
“Ned, I’d appreciate it if you’d stay here with her until I get home. I worry about her since that Balcomb character showed up here the other day.”
Maria gasped and looked quickly at Ned whose face was red with anger, but he simply nodded to Vera as she sped out the door.
After she’d gone, he turned to Maria and said between his teeth, “Balcomb was here?”
“Let’s go. I’ll tell you about it on the way to the river,” she said. “He was fine and only came to apologize.”
Maria wished her mother hadn’t mentioned Balcomb had been there. Now Ned was upset and this was their first courting.
Ned pounded on the back of the sofa. “I’ll wring his neck!”
“Please, Ned, let’s not spoil our first formal courting—it was nothing.” She pulled him out the door.
They took a slow ride to the river, and Maria explained to Ned exactly what had been said when Balcomb came to her house. Ned was angry, she could tell, but she did notice he tried hard to hide it—for her sake.
Once at the river, he spread out a blanket and set the basket down. “Are you hungry?” he asked.
“Starving. What are we having?”
“Helena said you liked the fried chicken she’d served while you were staying with us, so when she heard about our picnic, she made up a batch.” He opened the basket and handed her a nice chicken breast wrapped in a cloth napkin.
“She makes the best fried chicken,” she said.
After they’d eaten, she helped Ned put the food away. He was quieter than usual, but she could tell he was trying to make the evening pleasant for her sake.
After Ned had placed the basket into the buggy, he came back, and laid down on the blanket, on his back, his arms behind his head. The doctor had made his splint smaller so he was now able to bend his arm at the elbow.
Maria lay down beside him. “Are you happy, Ned? You’ve healed nicely, and now here we are, together on our first formal courting.”
“I always enjoy your company,” he said, taking ahold of one of her hands. He brought it to his lips and kissed it. “I’ve been looking forward to this day for weeks, and now it’s here, and I have something nagging me so I can’t enjoy it.”
“Balcomb?” she asked.
“Yep. How does he expect to make restitution for what he did to me?”
Maria turned over so she was laying on her stomach, facing him. “Let’s forget him for one evening, Ned. Please?”
Ned put his hand behind her head and drew her close, guiding her head onto his chest. “This is really wonderful,” he said. “Just you and I, alone, and enjoying each other’s company.”
“Ned, being in your arms, is so comforting. I can’t think of another place that I’d rather be right now.”
Ned rubbed her back. “Most couples would feel they need to kiss and carry on in a situation like this, but I’m happy just being here with you,” he said. “I feel…content.”
Maria sat up and frowned at him. “You aren’t going to kiss me at all?” Now she worried that he loved her but wasn’t physically attracted to her like he was to Ellen. It was the only reason she wished for some spark of physical activity from him.
“Nope. I just want to you in my arms,” he said. “So lie back down and let me hold you.”
She complied. She could hear his heart beating and she thought of how close it had come to stopping. The thought made her put her arm around his waist and hug him.
“I want our first courting to be wholesome. I want to just enjoy you without the passion and all that. You see, that’s not the most important part of a relationship. Just about any male and female can work up a passionate sweat, but how many can just enjoy each other’s company?”
Maria didn’t answer. She knew it: he wasn’t physically attracted to her at all.
“The minister said, in a sermon once, that people who marry in a passionate rush will have nothing when the passion fades in time,” he said.
“It fades?” she asked.
“Well, not completely, but the first fevered frenzy of it will. I don’t think couples’ hearts could stand that kind of romance for too long,” he said with a chuckle. He continued drawing circles on her back with his finger.
Ned’s hand went up into her hair and pulled out the pins, one by one. Her hair fell down her back and he played in the curls. “You know, I feel so close to saying those three words, but I’m so afraid.”
“Why?” she asked. Her thoughts whirled in her head. If she became forward and made it clear she wanted his kisses and close embraces, he’d think her a wanton. Yet she needed to know if he found her as desirable as he had Ellen.
“I’m afraid you won’t believe me, since I was so quick to say the same to Ellen, but I never loved Ellen. I loved the way she was the aggressor in the relationship; it was a sort of an ego-builder.” He laughed. “I’m so glad I woke up in time. That’s why I’m being so careful this time.”
Ned continued to play in her hair. Maria loved the feel of him doing that. She loved every touch he gave her.
“Look at me, Maria,” he said softly.
She picked her head up and looked at him. He stroked the sides of her cheeks. She could see the love he had for her on his face. He might not say the words, but she knew it.
He continued stroking her face and then said simply, “I love you, Maria.”
Maria broke out in a wide smile. Then she looked up at him and said. “I believe you, Ned.”
“Now, I’ll kiss you,” he whispered. “I didn’t want to say those words while we were sharing our passion. I wanted to say them while we were just enjoying each other’s company.
He took her lips and gave her a kiss filled with emotion. When the kiss ended, he said, “We aren’t going to go any further until—oh, by the way, will you marry me?”
Maria laughed. “Yes, I’d be honored.”
“I know the proposal is a bit sudden, but once you realize you’re in love, why wait? It’s April now, let’s plan a June wedding, when all the flowers are in bloom and it’s the beginning of summer and a whole new life,” he said.
“Do you want children?” she asked.
“Oh, lots of them,” he said.
“So do I.”<
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“Where will we live?” he asked.
“I’m not sure, but I think Vera and Hugh are planning to marry, so maybe they’ll live in one of our homes and us in the other,” she said.
“Hey, maybe we could make it a double wedding.”
“I’d love that.”
“So now, after courting you for one day, we’re betrothed and that comes with a few privileges,” he said, tapping her nose with his finger.
“What kind of privileges?” she asked, looking at him sideways.
“I get to kiss you whenever I want,” he said. “And grab a hug, too, while I’m at it.”
“But nothing heated, right?” she asked.
“No. We’ll save it all up for that special night and then release it in a whole week of mad, passionate, love-making.”
Maria couldn’t stifle her thoughts any longer. “Something’s bothering me,” she said, sitting up. “You felt passion with Ellen, do you mean you don’t feel that with me? How do we know we’re physically attracted?”
“Let’s not mention Ellen anymore. I’ve ended that relationship to my satisfaction,” he said. “We do have passion together. Trust me.”
Maria laughed. “How would you know when we’ve never really, really…you know?”
“Became heated? That isn’t love, Maria,” he said. “Dogs, animals, prostitutes…any two of the opposite gender can work up somewhat of a sweat together, but it isn’t love.”
“Well, what if we marry and our wedding night is a failure because we aren’t attracted that way,” she said. “Are you physically attracted to me at all?”
“I promised myself I wouldn’t do this, but just to prove to you that we have an attraction—come here.” He sat up, drew her into his arms, and laid her across his lap. He kissed her long and hard. He pressed her close and kissed her neck, her face, and then he went back to her lips, until they were both breathing heavily.
“See what you started?” he said, “now, no more until our wedding night? Agreed?”
“Agreed,” she smiled. “I just had to know that you desired me, is all. It’s important to me.”
“I desire you more than I’ve ever desired anyone because the music we play together is like an orchestra when all the instruments come together to and make the sweetest sounds. What we have together is special, and not based solely on passion, but on how we truly feel about each other. I couldn’t be happier, Maria.”
Chapter Nineteen
When Ned came to the table for breakfast, Hugh was already there with a stack of hotcakes in front of him.
“What are we doing today, boss?” Ned asked as he took a seat and forked a few hotcakes onto his plate. “Pass the syrup, please.”
Hugh handed him the pitcher of syrup. “You look happier today. Did you get some good news, or was your first courting a big success?”
“Both,” he said.
Hugh poured coffee into Ned’s cup. “Tell me the good news first.”
“Maria accepted my marriage proposal and we’re planning a June wedding.”
“Come on…your kidding, right?” Hugh asked.
“No, I’m serious.”
“You proposed on your first courting?”
“Don’t forget: we’ve been a little more than friends for a few months now, since I’ve returned from England,” he said.
“The reason I’m so surprised is that Vera and I are planning to get married, too. We’ve been talking about it, and we’ve decided to live in her home, instead of your place.”
“My place?”
“Yep. I’m giving it all to you, and Vera doesn’t have a problem with that. I figure you and Maria could live here, but I’d still come in every day and work the ranch. Instead of me paying you a percentage of the profits, you’ll pay me a percentage.”
“But we’ve always split it half and half,” Ned said.
Hugh winked. “And I hope that continues when you’re in charge.”
Ned stood and hugged his uncle. “Why are you so good to me?”
“Because I love you like you were my own, that’s why,” Hugh said. “Now, sit down. Your hotcakes are getting cold.”
Ned sat back down, feeling totally speechless after Hugh’s generous gift.
“Now, what are we doing today, boss?” Hugh asked.
After his day’s work, Ned headed over to see Travis and Evaline on his way to see Maria. The minute he walked into their house, he knew something was wrong. The looks they gave each other, as well as the fact that Robert excused himself after greeting him, as if he didn’t want to get involved in whatever was about to occur.
“All right, you two, what’s up?” Ned asked. “Usually you’re glad to see me, but today I feel tenseness in the air.”
“Can I get you some tea or coffee?” Evaline asked.
Ned sat down at the kitchen table with them. “No, but you can answer my question.”
Evaline gave Travis a look that Ned read as a—he’s your friend, you tell him—look.
Travis gave her a frown in return, and took a deep breath before saying, “Ellen’s on her way back here.”
“I hope she has a nice trip,” Ned said. “Will she be here for the weddings?”
“What weddings?” Travis and Evaline said in unison.
“Vera and Hugh’s and,” he hesitated for effect, “mine and Maria’s.”
“Congratulations!” Evaline put her hands together in a silent clap. “I’m so happy for you both. Maria has become a good friend of mine. I just love her.”
“Me, too,” Ned said with a grin.
“I’m afraid of what Ellen might be up to, however,” Evaline said. She bit her bottom lip. “She keeps saying she’ll stay in Kansas until she gets you back, Ned.”
“She’ll have a very long wait. I truly love Maria. Our relationship isn’t like how it was with Ellen. My feelings for Maria are deep. I feel as though we’re kindred spirits. I feel comfortable with her, and she with me.” Ned frowned. “My only worry is that Ellen might do something to hurt Maria again. Writing her that letter hurt her deeply, and I won’t stand for it, Evaline. Whether she’s your sister or not, I won’t let her hurt Maria.”
“I’m on your side, Ned,” Evaline said. “Travis agrees that if she starts any trouble she’ll be going back with my father.”
“Your father’s going back?” Ned asked.
“Yes. He and my mother are going to give it another try. Surprisingly, she misses him terribly and has agreed to compromise on many of their issues, including going to church with him.”
Travis said, “Sometimes absence does make the heart grow fonder.”
“I wish them well. When’s he leaving?” Ned asked.
“He wants to leave in a month, before we get into the hot weather. If my sister acts up in any way, Travis and I have agreed to tell her she can’t stay with us.”
Ned opened his mouth to speak, but Evaline cut him off.
“I know she’s my sister, but you and Maria are our friends—our dear friends. If she does anything, she’s out. Sometimes I’m ashamed of her, I really am.”
Travis nodded his approval of Evaline’s words. He reached out and pulled her close, smiling at her proudly.
“I’ll ride over tomorrow to congratulate Maria and help her get ready for her big day,” Evaline said.
“We wanted the two of you to stand up with us at our wedding.” Ned scratched his head. “Maybe with Ellen coming, you’d prefer not to, and we’d understand.”
“We’d be honored,” Evaline said. “We’ll be there, although I’ll need a slightly bigger dress,” she touched her already rounded belly.
On his ride to Maria’s, Ned thought about what effect Ellen’s arrival might have on his relationship with Maria. Perhaps this was a good test of their relationship. If they were ready for marriage, they should be able to trust one another enough to weather any storm. He’d be honest with Maria, as he had already been—he had nothing to hide.
He and Maria spent
the evening on the front porch. Ned has his arm around her and she had her head on his shoulder.
“What a lovely evening,” Maria said.
“Any evening with you is lovely,” Ned said, kissing her forehead.
“Look, a falling star! Make a wish, quickly!”
“What did you wish for?” she asked.
He laughed. “I can’t tell or it won’t come true.”
“This star business isn’t biblical, you know,” she answered.
“Of course it is, remember the wise men?”
“They didn’t wish on a star, Ned, they followed one.”
He laughed. “I know, but it’s fun.
“Come and sit on my lap, Maria. I want to talk to you, and I can’t see your face.”
She slid over onto his lap and he pulled her close. “Now, isn’t that better?”
“It is,” she said. “What should we talk about?”
“I stopped to see Travis and Evaline before coming over tonight, and…well, Ellen’s on her way back here.” He felt Maria tense when he said that, so he kissed her forehead. “Evaline says she’s not going to give up until she gets me back,” he said, studying her face for a hint as to her thoughts.
Maria seemed to be thinking. She hid her expressions so well that Ned had no clue how she felt.
“Interesting. Can I ask you just one personal question?” she asked.
“You are to be my wife and can ask me anything.”
“Did you and Ellen…did you and her…”
“We didn’t go any further than some heavy, passionate kissing and hugging. Once, she got a bit too aggressive, but I stopped her. That was when I started to brace my bedroom door with a chair at night.”
“She’d come into your room?” Maria gasped.
“This is just between us—I’d hate for it to get back to her family—but she tried her hardest to seduce me, but all it did was make me more anxious to get home to you.” Ned kissed her nose. “She actually scared me. I vow to you that I have never done the ‘deed’ with anyone. I’m as much a virgin as you are. We’ll discover the joys of the marriage bed together.”
