by Linda Bridey
“Hi, folks,” Switch said. “Squirrel, do you have any of those bone rings you showed me the other day?”
“Yes,” she said.
“May I see them?” Switch asked.
Squirrel pulled them out and handed them to him. She was surprised when he took her hand and began putting them on her ring finger until he found the appropriate size. Striking Snake watched with curiosity, but didn’t comment on Switch’s strange behavior. Switch kept out the ring he wanted and carefully put the others back into their container. He gave it back to her and then pulled out a money clip. He peeled off a ten-dollar bill and handed it to her.
“Here. I don’t know how much these are, but if that’s not enough let me know,” he said. “Thanks, Squirrel. You’re a lifesaver,” he said, and kissed her cheek.
Then he was gone, leaving Squirrel and Striking Snake staring after him.
He rushed back over to his tipi and ducked back inside. Relief washed over him as he saw Hope still standing where he’d left her. She watched as he got down on one knee and felt her breath catch in her throat.
“Hope Carver, I know that this isn’t any woman’s dream of a marriage proposal, but please bear with me. You are the most gorgeous, kind, and courageous woman I’ve ever met and I would be honored to call you my wife. Will you marry me?” he asked.
Hope looked down at him. His black hair was wild from sleep and underneath his coat, his tattered blue and white striped shirt clashed horribly with the black dress pants he wore. His tan boots didn’t improve upon his fashion choices. He was no one’s idea of conventional and there were those who questioned his sanity. She’d never known a more excitable person and his moods changed like the wind.
These might all sound like bad things to some people, but they were all part of Switch’s charm. He possessed a rare sweetness, a warm personality, surprising sensuality, and was extremely witty. All of that, plus his creative talents, made a very unusual man; one whom would never be boring, who would care about her and respect her.
Gazing into his dark eyes, Hope smiled and said, “Yes, Switch, I’ll marry you,” as she moved a lock of his hair off his forehead.
“You will? You’re sure?” he asked, hardly daring to hope that she meant it.
“I’m positive, Switch. I want to be your wife,” she said.
A grin spread across his face as he put the ring he’d bought from Squirrel on her finger. He was relieved that it fit well. Hope looked at the ring in wonder. Made of thin bone with turquoise inlay, it was exquisite and Hope thought it appropriate that Switch would give her a ring as unique as he was.
“It’s lovely,” Hope said, with tears in her eyes.
“You really think so? We can get you a regular ring later, but—”
“We will not! It’s perfect and it’s the only ring I want,” Hope said adamantly.
“Very well, madam,” Switch said, as he stood up and wrapped his arms around her.
Hope’s eyes fluttered closed as her fiancé softly kissed her. When they parted, Switch smiled at her and said, “We have to go see Joe Dwyer.”
“Why?”
“He’s the only around here I know with a sleigh and we’re gonna need it to get to Wolfe Point after all this snow. It’ll be safer than a buggy,” he said. “C’mon.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Will looked at Switch with wide eyes. “Have you finally completely lost your mind? You can’t get married!” he said as they stood in the workshop.
“Why not?” Switch asked.
“Well, because … it’s too quick,” Will said.
“Joe Dwyer got married only four days after knowing Lacey, and it worked out for them. We’ll stay at the hotel until we get a place, I have money saved, and speaking of which, I need my money. We’ve already bought our wedding bands, she bought a dress, and if you and Rachel will be our witnesses, we can get married the day after Christmas,” Switch said. “Speaking of which, where is your fiancée?”
Will’s expression turned dejected. “You mean ex-fiancée. We broke up.”
“What? Why? When?” Switch was dumbfounded.
“It’s a long story and it happened while you were missing,” Will responded. “I don’t want to discuss it.”
“You’re gonna get back together, right?” Switch asked. “You have to. You’re perfect for each other. Is there something I can do to help?”
Will smiled. “I appreciate the thought but no, there’s nothing you can do. And I do have something up my sleeve. I just hope it works.”
Switch nodded and hugged Will, rubbing his back and squeezing him tight.
“Switch, what are you doing?” Will asked.
“I’m giving you some of my good luck.” Switch let him go. “There. Now whatever it is you’re going to do will work.”
“Thanks,” Will said.
“So you’ll be my best man?” Switch asked.
Will smiled. “Yes, but are you sure about this?”
“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life,” Switch said with a big smile.
“Ok. I just hope things work out for you two,” Will said. “And for me and Rachel, too.”
“Me, too. Just think, I’m gonna be married before New Year’s. Isn’t that great?”
Switch’s words started a seed of an idea in Will’s mind. “Switch, I need your help after all and you need mine.”
“You do? I do?”
“Yeah. Sit down. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us,” Will said.
*****
“Why can’t you give it to her?” Sammi asked as she took the present Will handed her.
“Because we’re no longer talking, except for business purposes. Sammi, it’s really important or I wouldn’t ask,” Will said. “I’m trying to make up for my failings and win her back.”
Sammi eyed Will speculatively. “Do you really love her, Will?”
“Yes, I do. I don’t want to live my life without her. I don’t want to work with her every day and not be able to laugh and talk with her. I want to marry her and have a family and do all of the things we dreamed about. Please help me, Sammi?”
Sammi was surprised when her eyes filled with tears. She sniffed a little and nodded. “Ok. I’ll give it to her tomorrow.”
Will’s own eyes grew moist. “I thought we’d be spending Christmas together, Sammi. I wanted it to be so special and I messed it all up.”
Sammi put a hand on his shoulder. “At least you can admit it. Not everyone would.”
“Thanks. Well, I’d better get going. I’ve got a lot to do. Merry Christmas, Sammi,” Will said.
“Merry Christmas, Will,” Sammi said as he left. She looked down at the gift and shook it a little. She couldn’t tell what it was and she decided she’d better put it away before her curiosity got the better of her.
*****
Christmas dinner at the Taylor residence was delicious. The beautifully decorated seven foot pine tree in the parlor stood sentinel over a mound of opened gifts. The gift giving and opening had been a boisterous affair with plenty of laughter and ribbing. Rachel had a wonderful time with her family, but Will’s absence was still very painful.
They had planned to eat the early meal with her family and the later meal with his family. She loved his family and had looked forward to spending time with them on the holiday. Though she tried to stifle her hurt and disappointment, Rachel felt the loss of Will so deeply, it seemed like there was a gaping hole in her soul.
As the family relaxed in the parlor after the meal, Sammi said, “Rachel, will you come with me for a minute?”
“Sure,” Rachel said as she got up from the sofa and followed Sammi upstairs.
They went into Sammi and Mitch’s bedroom and Rachel saw a present on the bed.
Sammi said, “This is for you from Will. I promised him that I would give it to you. I’ll leave you alone to open it.”
Sammi closed the door and Rachel just stood looking at the present. She didn’t know if
she wanted to open it or not. Sighing, she sat down on the bed and began removing the wrapping paper from it. Gradually, a large, gorgeous jewelry box was revealed to her eyes.
Rachel put a hand to her lips as she looked at the stunningly beautiful piece. Will had crafted it from cherry wood and engraved it with tulips. He had remembered that they were her favorite flower. It looked like there were three main compartments and a drawer on the bottom. Even the little knobs on the drawer had been carved to resemble tulips.
She opened the middle compartment and found a piece of folded stationary inside it. After unfolding it, she read:
Merry Christmas, Rachel,
I hope that even though I’ve caused you so much pain, you will have a wonderful Christmas with your family. I know how wrong I was to accuse you of lying and cheating. I know that you never lied to me, and I can’t adequately convey to you how sorry I am. I broke your heart, but I broke mine, too.
I am ashamed of how I treated you. You deserve better than that. You are such a special woman, and I know I’ll never find anyone like you ever again. I was stupid and mean, and I acted like an idiot. Being without you hurts so much, and I don’t want to live my life without you.
Even though I really don’t deserve it, I’m hoping that you will reconsider things and agree to marry me once again. We dreamt about building a wonderful future together and I don’t want those dreams to go unrealized. I love you so much. If you give me a second chance, I promise to never doubt you again, to fully trust you, and to give you the kind of life you deserve.
If the answer is yes, meet me on New Year’s Eve at ten p.m. in front of the depot. If you aren’t there by ten-thirty, I’ll know the answer is no. I won’t ask you about this at work, so don’t worry about me pressuring you.
All my love,
Will
With trembling fingers, Rachel folded the note and put it back in the jewelry box. She didn’t know what to think. Could she forgive Will and still marry him? Could she trust him to honor his word?
Oh, how she still loved him. Mason had asked her if Will were to apologize and promise to never let it happen again, would she take him back. She still didn’t know, but it was something to seriously consider. If there was a chance at happiness, she owed it to herself to not be hasty and act out of anger or hurt.
As she inspected the rest of the jewelry box, Rachel could see the love and care Will had put into making it for her. To some people, it would be just a jewelry box, but Rachel knew it was an expression of how much Will cared about her. It was a testament to the love he felt for her. She smiled a little as a glimmer of hope warmed her.
When she arrived home that evening, she was surprised to find a basket outside her door. Unlocking her door, she took it inside. Mewling noises began coming from the basket and she smiled.
“He didn’t,” she said as she lifted the lid.
Sure enough, a pure white kitten with blue eyes looked up at her and meowed loudly. She cuddled the kitten to her as Boo came to inspect the other kitten. Rachel put the new kitten on the floor to let the two get acquainted. There was a note and an envelope attached to the inside of the lid.
The note said, “This is Spirit and I’m hoping the spirit of the season moves you to accept my proposal again. If so, you’ll need to bring what’s in the envelope with you on New Year’s Eve. I love you, Will.”
Rachel opened the envelope to find her engagement ring inside. A small cry of surprise escaped her lips. What was she going to do? The choice she made by this time next week would be the biggest decision of her life. Rachel put the ring in her new jewelry box and went to fix some tea to help calm her nerves, so she could think about the situation.
*****
Will couldn’t tell which way Rachel was leaning and it was maddening. He kept his word and didn’t ask her about it, though. It was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do. When he wasn’t at work, he was conferring with Switch and a host of other people. The plans were coming together, but everything hinged on Rachel’s answer.
Switch and Hope spent the week working out the details of everything. Switch kept asking people, “Will you do it?” Most were excited and willing, but there were a few who he had to wear down. He used his considerable acting talents to win them over.
In the morning of the day before New Year’s Eve, he gathered his parents together when Hope arrived.
“Ma, Pa, this is Hope Carver. Hope this is my father, Jay, and my mother, Elizabeth,” Switch said.
Jay stepped forward to shake her hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Hope.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said. Switch had inherited his father’s dark eyes and black hair, but his chiseled, angular features came from his mother.
“Pleased to meet you,” Elizabeth said, but didn’t venture to shake her hand.
“We have good news,” Switch said. “We’re engaged to be married and the wedding will be soon.”
His parents were shocked into silence at his announcement.
“Engaged? We didn’t know you were seeing someone,” Elizabeth said. “How can you be engaged, Justin? I don’t think you know what you’re doing. Hope, you can’t be serious about marrying him. Do you know about, well, his behavior problems?”
Hope stepped toward her. “What I know about your son is that he’s the most remarkable man I’ve ever met and if you had spent more time noticing his positive attributes, perhaps his other difficulties wouldn’t have concerned you so much. Switch is kind, sensitive, witty, and smart. I feel very fortunate to be marrying such a fine man.”
Elizabeth made a noise of surprise. “Well, how impertinent, young lady.”
Switch’s expression turned dark. “Ma, don’t talk to her like that. She’s only telling you the truth. Ever since my condition became apparent, you’ve hated me. You’ve hated having a son who wasn’t like Davey, your perfect child. You never saw the good in me, you never believed in me.
“All my life, you’ve belittled me and made me feel inferior. Well, no more, Ma. I’ll be packing up my things today and moving to the hotel for the time being. I’m not going to let you taint my life with your negativity any longer. C’mon, Hope,” Switch said as he took her hand.
“Justin, if you do this, you forfeit your inheritance,” Elizabeth said.
“Elizabeth! You can’t take that away from him,” Jay said.
“Oh, yes, I can, and I will,” she protested.
Switch gave his mother a steady look as he said, “That’s fine. I don’t need your money. I now have employment.”
“Where? Doing what?” Elizabeth asked.
“Joe hired me to work at the Watering Hole as an entertainer. So not only am I getting married and moving out, I’ve found a profession. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have work to do,” he said.
As Hope followed Switch, she would have like to have turned around and stuck her tongue out at Elizabeth. It was childish, but it would have been satisfying. Once they were in Switch’s room, he sat down on his bed and patted the space next to him.
Hope looked around the large room. She hadn’t ever seen so many trains in one place before. They were everywhere; on shelves, bookcases, and his desk. She sat down by him and asked, “Where are we going to put all of your trains?”
“I’ll store most of them for the time being,” he said. “We’ll start house hunting as soon as possible.”
“It can wait until we get back from Chicago,” Hope said. “I just hope my father doesn’t give us much trouble.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle him,” Switch said with a smile. “Well, let’s get to it.”
“Yes, sir!” Hope said and saluted smartly.
Chapter Twenty-Six
A bitter wind blew as Will waited by the depot on New Year’s Eve. The moonlight glittered off the snow that remained. It turned the trees into shimmering works of natural art and gave the street a magical appearance. Will prayed that that magic would extend to Rachel’s response to his proposal.
He looked down the street toward Elliot’s, beyond which lay the business that he and Rachel had built together. With every fiber of his being, he hoped that his prayers would be answered so that he and Rachel could build much more together. Looking up, he sent another prayer heavenward and then looked at his watch. It was 10:05 p.m. Will sighed as his stomach twisted with anxiety.
“Will?”
He whirled around at the sound of Rachel’s voice. He smiled at her. “You came. I was beginning to think you wouldn’t. Does this mean–”
“It means that I need you to answer a couple of questions,” Rachel said.
“All right.”
“Do you without a doubt believe that I didn’t lie to you?”
“Yes. Without a doubt.”
“Did our night together mean anything to you?”
Will moved close enough that he could cup her face in his hands. “Of course it did. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced. I was so caught up in my stupidity that I couldn’t tell you how I felt about it, about you. I’m so sorry, honey.”
She saw the sincerity in his eyes, but there was one last question she needed to ask him. “Do you still love me?”
“With all my heart, Rachel,” Will said, smiling.
Rachel opened her purse and took out the envelope containing her ring. She took the ring from it and handed it to Will. He took it and as he gazed unwaveringly into her eyes, he asked, “Rachel Crispin, will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes. I’ll marry you, Will,” she said, as tears filled her eyes and spilled over.
Will pulled her tight against him and held her for several minutes. Then he drew back and said, “I need you to trust me now and let me put this on you.” He held up a bandana.
Rachel looked at it and then at him and saw a mischievous glint in his eyes. “What are you up to?”
“You’re not gonna find out if you don’t put this on,” Will said. “Do you trust me?”
She giggled. “Yes. Go ahead and put it on.”
