A Home at Trail's End (27 page)

But what captured her attention more than anything was the tall, handsome man standing beneath the evergreen arch. Eli's gaze was fixed on her, and although his expression was solemn, she could feel the warmth in his clear blue eyes as she stepped forward to take his hand. Standing next to Eli was Matthew. And standing next to Elizabeth was Malinda. Before her father sat down, Reverend Holmes invited him to say a prayer. And that's when Elizabeth knew the wedding ceremony would be perfect.

Just as Elizabeth had requested, it was a simple, straightforward wedding ceremony. But as she and Eli repeated their vows, she knew that it was heartfelt for both of them. And suddenly it was over and the reverend was proclaiming them man and wife, and after a shy kiss, the couple walked back down the aisle to the sweet singing of the wedding march song again. Perfect, Elizabeth thought as they went outside. Just perfect.

“You are the most beautiful bride in the world, Mrs. Kincaid,” Eli whispered as he leaned over to kiss her with more passion than they'd shared in the church. “And you have made me the happiest man in the world.”

Before she could respond as she would like, their friends and family began pouring out of the church. Gathering around the newlyweds, they extended their hearty congratulations. Many commented on the wedding ceremony and how much they enjoyed it. A few even mentioned their relief that the reverend didn't yell at anyone.

It wasn't long until Matthew and JT and Paddy McIntire were playing music, and the celebration grew even merrier as young couples started dancing outside and the women set up the food inside the church—just in case the weather changed.

“It hasn't rained,” Ruth happily told Elizabeth. “God must have heard my prayer.”

Elizabeth leaned over to kiss her daughter's cheek. “And why wouldn't he?”

Thanks to Clara's organization skills, people brought their own place settings, and many of the older people brought chairs to make themselves comfortable. And for the next couple hours, people were eating and dancing and merrymaking.

“We have plenty of food,” Asa told Elizabeth with relief. “With so many people in attendance, I wasn't sure.”

“Don't forget to take a plate home for Brady.” Elizabeth sighed. “I wish he could have come.”

Asa shook his head. “I'm afraid he made the right decision.”

Elizabeth glanced around the crowded yard and knew her father was right. Everyone who lived within ten miles had come to this celebration, and they were all happy to eat of the wedding feast, but many of them would not approve of a Negro in attendance. As disturbing as that was, Elizabeth was determined not to let it spoil this day. Her reconciliation was that her family, including Brady, would celebrate with them next Sunday when she invited them all for dinner at her new house.

Eli and Elizabeth were just finishing up dessert when the first raindrop fell. She looked up at the gray sky and then laughed. “Well, like I kept telling Ruth, rain on your wedding day is good luck.”

He chuckled. “Then it looks like we're about to get very lucky.”

“Do you think we should try to leave?” she asked. “In order to get the wagon home?” She'd already told him of Malinda's idea to leave the wagon behind if it rained hard.

“I think we should honor our guests with one last dance,” he told her.

She grinned. “Yes. I agree.”

“And tell me, Mrs. Kincaid, what would you choose for your last wedding-day dance?”

She thought for a moment. “Would you mind if it was the Virginia reel?”

He laughed. “Would I mind? It's my favorite.”

Now Eli went over to the musicians, who had been rotating off and on during the celebration in order to give everyone a chance to eat and dance. He requested a tune for the Virginia reel. Then he hollered to get everyone's attention as he rejoined Elizabeth, and the crowd got quiet.

“My wife and I wish to thank each and every one of you for helping us to celebrate today,” he told them. Now he pointed to the sky. “As you can see, the weather is turning, and we do understand if some of you will need to make a run for home. But for the adventurous among us, we are going to enjoy one last dance. Who would like to join us for the Virginia reel?”

To Elizabeth's delight at least two dozen couples, including everyone in her family, came out to form several lines. Once they were ready, despite the raindrops that were falling more liberally, Eli waved to the musicians standing under the tarp awning that Asa and Matthew had constructed, and the lively song began.

Laughing and dancing in the rain, Elizabeth knew this was a day she would remember always. Seeing her parents and her children and everyone else enjoying themselves was the perfect way to end this celebration.

“Oh, my!” she exclaimed when the song ended. “Thank you all very much!” she called out. “Now we all better make a run for cover!”

Already, people were gathering chairs and dishes and belongings and making their hasty departures. Elizabeth and Eli offered to help her parents and family, but they shooed them away. “Not this time,” Clara told her. “Off to your honeymoon.” And so Elizabeth kissed her children goodbye, and she and Eli made their exit.

By the time they reached the wagon, it was raining hard enough that Elizabeth did not want to risk her team by taking them home. “Do you mind if we just ride horseback instead?” she asked Eli. “I've got my saddle.”

“Not at all,” he said as he started to unhitch the horses. “And I'm sure the wagon won't go anywhere parked right here in front of the church.”

She laughed. “No, I think not.”

Before long, they had saddled Bella, and Eli gave Elizabeth a hand getting up. Fortunately, her skirt was so full that she could easily straddle the horse without being indecent. Next he put the saddle blanket onto Beau, and using the wagon wheel hub for height, he mounted the horse. “Ready to go home?”

“Am I ever!” she declared.

People called out to them, wishing them well, and some teased as if they planned to follow the newlyweds, but thanks to the rain, no one seemed very serious. And before long, they were well on their way out of town. Although the road was getting muddy, it wasn't nearly as bad as on Thursday. And when they were about halfway home, the rain let up considerably. Even so, they were both fairly well soaked by the time they reached their property.

Elizabeth looked eagerly as they rounded the corner near the stand of fir trees and the cabin came into view. “Oh, Eli!” she cried out. “It is so beautiful.”

He smiled. “Home sweet home.”

She stared happily at the boxy cabin. The lower part of the walls consisted of solid logs, and the upper part was milled wood. The sloped roof was covered in cedar shingles, and she could see the top of a stone chimney in back. But what really got her attention was the big glass window on the left side of the front door. “It looks like a real house,” she said with wonder.

“Wait until you see the rest.” Eli slid off his horse and then helped her down from Bella. “You go on inside and get warmed up while I see to the horses.”

She started to go but then stopped. “But you must carry me over the threshold,” she declared stubbornly. “It's tradition.”

He chuckled.

“What is so funny?” she demanded.

“You sounded just like Ruth when you said that.”

She grinned at him. “Well then, it's about time you learned that every woman has a little girl inside of her.”

“All right then. I'll carry you over the threshold. But would you like me to tend to the horses first?”

“Yes, please do.”

“In the meantime, you could at least go up on the porch and stay out of the drizzle.”

“I'll do that.” As she walked up the stone-lined path leading to the porch, she spied what looked like an outhouse off to the right. Eli seemed to have thought of everything. On the covered porch there was a washing-up table with a bucket of water and a towel. Next to that was a bench, which looked like a handy place to remove muddy boots. And since she'd sent her carpetbag filled with clothes, including her moccasins, with Matthew the other day, she decided to remove her good shoes, which were now in need of a thorough cleaning.

She had just gotten her shoes unbuttoned and off when Eli came onto the porch. “Are you ready to be carried into your new home?”

She pointed out her stocking-clad feet. “I most certainly am.” And before she could stand up he leaned over and scooped her up into his arms, nearly taking her breath away as he did so.

“Goodness!” she exclaimed as he opened the door.

“Right this way, my lady.” He carried her into the warm room and closed the door with his foot. She was tempted to remind him that his boots were muddy too, but she stopped herself. Mud was not that difficult to clean. “What do you think?”

She stared in wonder at the big room. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination or wishful thinking, but it seemed even larger than Malinda's house to her. “Oh, Eli,” she gushed. “It's the most beautiful house in the whole world.”

“Beautiful?” He eased her down to the wooden floor. “You really think so?”

“I do,” she said sincerely. “It is truly beautiful.” As she removed her coat and hat, her eyes attempted to take it all in, which was impossible. Certainly this house was more rustic than her home in Kentucky, but the golden brown wood walls and floors seemed to glow with warmth. And the recently sawn lumber smelled clean and fresh. “I love every inch of it.”

He grinned. “I'm glad to hear that. But maybe you'll want to see more of it before you make that claim.”

“Of course, I want to see every bit of it.” She hung her coat and hat on a peg on the door.

“So do you want me to show you around?” He lit a lantern and carried it over to the fireplace. “Or should I go out and call for Flax?”

“Flax?” She suddenly remembered. “Where is he anyway?”

“Probably off chasing a rabbit. He's not used to being left on his own too much. He and I have gotten quite close, you know.”

“Yes, please, do go call him. And if you don't mind, I'll make a fire and look around. I want to admire your workmanship.”

“This is your house, Elizabeth. Make yourself at home.”

Chilled from the rain and feeling slightly damp, she went straight to the hearth, where sticks of kindling and wood shavings were stored neatly in a wooden crate. She stacked them carefully and found a box of matches on the mantle. She lit the shavings and blew a bit just to get it to catch. And then, with the light from the lantern, she admired the fir grain of the sturdy mantle. She ran her hand over a smooth round stone in the fireplace, one of the same stones she and the children had begun gathering from the creek after they'd first arrived. She thought they were for the foundation, but they were just perfect for the fireplace.

With the kindling crackling and snapping, she put on some large pieces of wood, and after warming her hands, she continued touring her new home. The rug she'd brought from Kentucky was just where she would have put it—in the sitting area near the fireplace. Her old rocker as well as a roughly hewn chair were in place as if waiting for the master and mistress of the house to hold court. Certainly, the area could use a woman's touch, but that would come. She went to the kitchen area, where the table and chairs she'd brought from her previous home were set into place. Directly across from the table was the large window. And hanging from the ceiling, directly over the table, was another kerosene lantern, which she lit. In the center of the table was a hand-carved wooden bowl filled with apples. On top of the apples was a note that appeared to have been written by Ruth. “To Mama and Eli. Love, JT and Ruth. PS. I picked the apples and JT made the bowl. Brady helped him.”

Next it was the cookstove that captured her attention. New and black, it was spotless and ready to put to use. Resisting the temptation to light it, she examined the cupboards instead. Eli had given her the measurements for these, and she'd made some curtains she planned to hang on them to keep things tidier.

She was relieved to see that other than a few food items, some coffee and sugar and flour, the shelves and cupboards were still bare. The boxes of her household goods and the items she received at her bridal shower were stacked neatly against the wall. She could hardly wait to start putting everything into place.

Next to the stack of goods was a rustic but sturdy-looking dry sink. And on top of the dry sink was a little piece of paper. She immediately recognized her father's handwriting. “Lovingly made for Eli and Elizabeth by Brady.” She ran her hand over the smooth surface. Unless she was mistaken, it was maple. Where had Brady found maple? She bent over to examine the cupboard space below. Nice and deep. She would hang a curtain over the front for now, and maybe someday it would have wooden doors.

She resisted the temptation to delve into the boxes containing her kitchen supplies and start putting the space into order. First she wanted to see everything in this sweet little house. She paused to look out the window, curious as to whether Eli had found Flax yet. Where could that dog have gone? As she peered out the shiny new window, she wondered why Eli had positioned it on this side of the house. She had assumed he would have placed it in the sitting area near the fireplace.