by Barbara Goss
“All right, Mother. As long as no one gets hurt.” He headed for the door. “Am I excused? I’d like to go see Celeste and talk with her myself.”
“You will go back with her, won’t you?” Sylvia asked.
“I do miss her. I probably will, but I want to hear her side of it myself.” He left Sylvia with a sigh of relief.
13
Nora pushed Alex’s new wheelchair down the hill to the park. What a difference the new chair made—there was no squeaking, and Alex had a nice footrest besides. The warm and sunny day looked promising to the west, but clouds appeared dark towards the east, so Nora brought an umbrella in case it was needed. Arriving at the park, she took out the special food she’d bought from the local pet store to feed the ducks, and handed the bag to Alex.
“Feed the skinny ducks,” she said.
“Ah, you remembered.” He took the bag and tossed a handful out over the pond, laughing when all the ducks scurried to get some. “Hey, that little one in the back can’t seem to get any.”
“The big ones are bullies.” Nora took a handful. “Now, you take a handful and pretend to throw it that way, while I trick them and throw some to the little one.”
Alex did as she said, but the little, skinny duck went for Alex’s bluff too, so Nora was unable to get any food to it. “How can we feed that little one?” she asked.
“I guess it’s like in the human world—the rich get richer and the poor get poorer,” he said.
“Oh! That’s so sad,” Nora said.
“But it’s true.”
“And we can’t do a thing about that either, can we?” she asked.
“We can help some, like at the mill. I treat my workers well and pay them decent wages, and in return, they give me their best work and loyalty, and I offer bonuses and gifts on holidays. If Phillip gets his merger, that may all stop. He treats his employees as if they were slaves.”
“Oh, Alex! That’s terrible. Would a merger give him the power to override you?”
“It could. It has to do with stockholders. He may have more than I do, which would give him a bigger say in how things are run. That’s one of the main reasons I've been refusing the merger.”
“Can’t you get more stockholders than he has?” she asked.
“I could. And I may have more already, but I still don’t want a partnership with a man like Phillip Randolph. For one thing, I don’t trust him. I’ll hold out until the day I die I will never sign a merger with him. Never,” he said.
They held hands, Alex in his chair and Nora on the park bench. “Do you still insist my feelings for you are based on gratitude and not love?” he asked, kissing her hand.
Nora studied his face. “I know you think you love me…but I know you feel gratitude, too. The backrubs, which you love, and the exercises, not to mention hiding the uneaten spinach from Tilly
“It isn’t all gratitude. If it were, I’d simply send you a ‘thank you’ card.”
Nora laughed. “Should I expect one?”
“No!” he said, firmly. “I don’t know how I can prove my love to you. Do you have any suggestions?” he asked.
“Time will tell. Gratitude won’t last long, but love? That lasts forever, at least mine will.”
Alex shook his head. “How would you feel if I didn’t believe you truly loved me?”
“Oh,” she said, “but you must, because you’ve done nothing to cause me to be grateful.” Nora winked at him and laughed.
Alex laughed with her, and then replied with: “I let you win at Chess. He covered his mouth. “Oops.”
“I knew it!” she cried.
Alex looked up at the sky. “I think we should carry this conversation on at home. It looks as if a downpour will soon be upon us.”
As Nora rubbed Alex’s back that night, he said between moans of delight, “I’ve been thinking about our conversation the other day. You wondered how I could choose you over Celeste. Let me ask you a question: why would you want a crippled man when you could have Nathan, or almost any other walking man in the world?”
“I don’t know. I suppose your heart doesn’t give you an option to choose, it just happens,” she said. “It has little to do with physical attributes, at least for me. It's more about what’s on the inside. You are warm-hearted, sympathetic, kind, and you have a sense of humor that keeps me smiling. When I walk into your room, I never know what to expect. You keep me interested.”
“Exactly!" he said. "My heart chose you over Celeste. Same reasoning.”
“I suppose. ” She bent over and kissed his spine. “I’ve always wanted to do that when rubbing your beautiful back. I’ve always admired it. It’s muscular, and hard, and I love the way it tapers down to your narrow waist.” She kissed his lower back near the waistline. “If kisses could heal, you’d already be walking,” she said.
“Nora…” He hesitated as if measuring his next words. “What if I never walk again? Will you tire of wheeling me around? Will you yearn to dance?”
“As I've told you before, if you never walk again, you can still lead a fulfilling life. We might not be able to dance, but that doesn’t bother me. I’ve two left feet anyway. I love wheeling you around, and I don’t think I’ll ever tire of it, but if I do, you can wheel yourself around now. You'll soon be back to the mill, driving a carriage, and going about your new house in freedom, so the answer is a definitive no.”
He thought about that for a while. “You didn’t turn my lamp on tonight,” he said.
“I didn’t,” she said. “The full moon lights up the whole room and it looks most romantic to me,” she said.
“It does? And you wanted to keep it romantic? Hmm.”
“Yes, I love romantic,” she replied in her most seductive voice.
Alex flipped over, pulled Nora onto the bed, and placed her at his side. “Romantic like this?” he whispered. “The way the moon's shining on your head gives the impression of a halo. I've always known you were an angel.” He kissed her forehead.
“This is so sinful, but it feels so right,” she whispered. She snuggled close to him and rested her head on his chest. She stroked a small patch of hair on his torso.
Alex suddenly pulled her head up from his chest so her eyes would meet his. “Marry me, Nora! I’m begging you.”
“When you have me in this position, with the moonlight shining on us, and your body so close to mine, it’s tempting to say, ‘yes’—but no, at least, not yet.” She kissed his lips quickly, “I won’t give an emotional answer, but oh, you make it so tempting.”
“You are aware that it’s only my legs that don’t work, right?” he asked.
“I knew that the day I sat on your lap.”
Nora tried to get up, but he pulled her back. “Stay a while longer, please?”
“All right, but—” her words were cut off by a passionate kiss.
“Oh, Nora!” Alex moaned. “I think on second thought, you should go now, quickly. I love you too much to stay like this for long. It would be so natural to—”
Nora sprang up, “I know what you’re doing, Alex Vanderhorn! You are trying to get me to say ‘yes’ by physical torture,” she teased. She jumped off the bed, and blew him a kiss. “Goodnight, Alex.” She walked to the door, “But I still love you.”
He sighed. “And I love you more, and more each day.”
Nora pounced on her bed with a sigh. She’d come close to saying “yes” tonight, even though it had seemed too soon. As their relationship grew, she believed he really did love her, and that it was more than simply gratitude that he felt for her. Should she put him out of his misery and say “yes?” She made up her mind that was the answer she would give him, but she wanted to talk to her mother about it on Sunday, first. She didn’t want to make any rash decisions based on temptation in the moonlight. Marriage was for life, and this was a decision that should be made with a clear head, not while lying, side by side, in a passionate embrace.
On Sunday, as promised, Nathan arrived to
take Alex to see the house. As Nathan wheeled him up the front sidewalk, Alex smiled his approval.
“I love it, but how will I get up the front steps with the wheelchair?”
“We’ll go in the side door, but I wanted you to see the front door because it is so impressive.” Nathan turned Alex's chair towards the side door that was level with the sidewalk. Once inside, Nathan pulled the wheelchair up the three steps. “I’ll have a ramp put in here.”
Alex wheeled himself from room to room.
“I like the large rooms, and the arches instead of doorways. What will we do about the curved staircase?” Alex asked as he studied the stairs.
“Once the deal goes through, I have someone in mind who can install an elevator behind the staircase.”
“Perfect! Thank you, Nathan. I appreciate all you’ve done,” Alex said.
Nathan squirmed a bit. “I-I left something in the carriage. I’ll be right back,” he went out the side door. While he was gone, Alex toured the kitchen and den. He wheeled back to the front of the house in time to see Nathan speeding away in his carriage.
“Where is he going?” Alex said aloud. He shrugged and continued inspecting the house. He opened cupboards and closets, but he couldn't think of a single thing to add to the list Nora had made. She’d thought everything. Of course, he hadn’t been upstairs yet.
Suddenly, he heard a carriage in the drive, and horses neighing. “Nathan?” he called out. But, Alex’s mouth dropped when he saw who walked in.
“What are you doing here, Sylvia?” Alex asked.
“Why, Nathan invited me to see your house.” Her insincere smile put Alex’s nerves on edge.
“Where is Nathan?” Alex wheeled closer to Sylvia.
“He’s running an errand for me. I’ve brought papers for you to sign.”
“I’m not signing anything.”
“Oh, but I think you will. You see, we have something you want, and we won’t give it to you until you sign the papers.”
“We?”
“Just sign the damn papers!”
“You’re wasting your time,” Alex felt the need to get away from her, so he turned his chair away and wheeled to the kitchen.
She followed him. “We’ll see. I had hoped you’d sign so we wouldn’t have to resort to drastic measures, but I see that we must,” Sylvia slapped the papers onto the kitchen counter.
“ Who is ‘we’? Did Phillip put you up to this?” Alex asked.
“No. He knows nothing about this. I want to surprise him with it.” Sylvia leaned against the wall. “As soon as Nathan returns with your valuable property, we’ll do some bargaining.”
Nathan! He should have known he was involved in Sylvia’s ploy. Alex wondered what Sylvia could possibly have of his that would be valuable enough for him to sign the merger with Phillip, when his only assets were the mill and his money in the bank. “Is it money you want?” Alex asked.
“No, I don’t want your money,” she said. “I’ll have plenty of that when Phillip marries me.”
“Ah,” Alex nodded. “I get it now. You’re doing this to get him to marry you. Now, I know where his daughter gets her manipulating skills. I have nothing that valuable.”
“We shall see,” Sylvia said.
Alex paced in his wheelchair, wondering what Sylvia could possibly have of his. She seemed so sure—could she be holding back the sale of the house until he signed? He loved the house, but not enough to trade it for his inheritance and livelihood.
Nora sat facing her mother and aunt, and announced: “I’ve received a marriage proposal.”
“Really?” Aunt Frances said. “I didn’t know you were being courted.”
“It’s been a rather unusual courtship.”
Evelyn patted her hand and said, “Tell me everything, dear.”
When Nora finished telling them how she'd slowly fallen in love with Alex, Aunt Frances and her mother exhaled a collective sigh.
“What will you tell him, Nora?” her mother asked. “Will you accept his offer?”
Nora played with her teacup. “I will, today. He's hurt that I wouldn’t give him an answer last night, and I've decided that, tonight, I shall put him out of his misery.”
On her way home, Nora felt as if she were walking on clouds and that her feet barely touched the ground. Once she’d talked about it with her family and made her decision, she felt euphoric, and she couldn’t wait to tell Alex.
She was about to step off the curb to cross a street, when a carriage pulled in front of her, blocking her passage.
“Nathan!”
“Hop in!” He said. “I’ll give you a lift to the new house. Alex is there and wants to review a few things there with you.”
He helped Nora into the buggy. Once she was inside, he whipped up the horses until they nearly flew, not to the new house, but straight into the Vanderhorns’ carriage house.
“I thought we were going to the new house!” Nora exclaimed.
“We are, but I need to do something first.” Nathan got out of the carriage, closed the doors to the carriage house, then helped Nora down from the buggy.
“What’s going on, Nathan?”
“This is all going to seem strange and maybe a little frightening to you, but I mean you no harm. I have to do this, but remember I would never, ever hurt you. No matter what happens, I promise no harm will come to you.” Nathan took a large coil of rope from the carriage house wall.
“Nathan? I don’t understand. What are you doing?” she backed away in near panic as Nathan tied her hands together with the rope.
“Please, don’t resist me; you might get hurt. I’m taking you to Alex; it’s a plan. If you stay calm and don’t panic, everything will turn out fine. Trust me, Nora. You know how I feel about you. I’ve loved you long before Alex ever did, and I would never harm you. You need to go along with this though, or your life might well be in danger.”
Nora complied, although it all seemed so surreal. She had sensed Nathan’s feelings for her, and she believed him when he said he didn't intend to harm her, yet here she was, in the carriage house, the door bolted, and Nathan binding her arms and legs with rope.
After he'd tied the last knot, Nathan asked, “It’s not too tight, is it?”
She shook her head.
“Good.” Nathan wrapped his arms around her and said, “I do love you, Nora. Don’t be afraid. I love Alex too, and no harm will ever come to either of you from me. I’m going to carry you and place you into the carriage now, so don’t be alarmed. We will then go to the new house where Alex is there, waiting.”
Alex was getting tired of Sylvia standing over him with her arms crossed. He was beginning to feel as if he were her prisoner. Being in a wheelchair only served to escalate his feeling of helplessness.
When at last Alex heard the side door open and saw it was Nathan, he grew worried when he noticed what he was carrying in his arms.
My God, it’s Nora! “Nora!” Alex cried. “What’s going on?” he looked from Nathan to Sylvia. “Untie her at once!” he demanded.
“I think not… at least not until you sign the papers,” Sylvia said.
Alex turned to Nathan, “How could you?” he demanded.
Nathan looked down at his feet and shrugged. “I didn’t hurt her.”
“I will kill you if you do,” Alex snapped fiercely.
“Ha!” Sylvia laughed. “A scary threat from a man in a wheelchair.”
Nora didn’t utter a word.
Nathan set her down gently. “She’s fine, Alex, see?”
“You!” Sylvia pointed her finger near Nora’s face, “You’ve done enough damage with your exercises and walks to the park.”
“What do you plan to do with her?” Alex asked Sylvia.
“I have instructed Nathan to take her far into the mountains and leave her there. It’s neater than killing her outright, I think.” Sylvia patted the papers on the counter. “Unless, of course, you sign the merger." Sylvia paused. "It's only a merg
er, Alex, it's not as if I'm making you sign over the whole mill. Although, now that I have you where I want you, I could ask for it all.”
Alex glared at Sylvia. “I never would have thought you capable of such malice.”
“Money and love do that to a person,” she answered.
“Money and greed,” Alex spat.
Nora tried to move nearer to Alex, but her ankles were tied, and she tripped, falling to the floor in a heap. Nathan rushed to her, and helped her to stand. “Better stay put, Nora,” he said kindly.
“Are you all right, Nora?” Alex asked with worry lines on his face.
Nora nodded.
Alex looked up at Sylvia and said, “If you harm one hair on her head, I will hunt you down and make the rest of your life so miserable, that you’ll wish you were dead.”
Alex studied Nathan. He didn’t seem comfortable doing his mother’s dirty work. He figured Nathan as the weak link, but he was in no position to act. If only he weren't in a wheelchair…
He felt helpless, and he knew he had just one choice. He would sign that darned merger before they followed through with their threat to take Nora and leave her in the mountains to die.
14
Alex reached up to grab the papers.
“Don’t sign, Alex! I’ll be fine. I used to camp with my father. I know how to take care of myself in the woods. Please, don’t sign!” Nora begged.
“Nathan!” Sylvia shouted. “Take her away! And be sure she’s at least 25 miles away from Pittsburgh and away from the rivers. Give her a canteen half filled with water.”
Nathan didn’t move. He stared at his mother. “I can’t—”
“I said, do it!” Sylvia yelled.
Nathan gently picked Nora up and walked toward the door.
“Wait!” Alex yelled. “I’ll sign.”
“No!” Nora cried. “Don’t sign! Nathan won’t hurt me, I know he won’t.”
