Edith and the Mysterious Stranger (19 page)

“Sure will, Gilbert.”

Now that was quick… in fact, too quick for
someone who was not interested in Edith. Gilbert watched closely to
see what the outcome would be. Joseph marched toward the house, but
instead of walking inside, he stopped on the porch and conversed
with the women. What was being said was a mystery, but he noticed
Edith and Melinda laughing, and so was Joseph. Edith followed him
in the house, talking the whole time. Fifteen minutes later, he
walked outside grinning like a cat that had caught a mouse and was
satisfied.

For the next few weeks, Joseph always found an
excuse to go to the house or the porch when Edith dropped by.
Joseph never pushed for a relationship beyond friends and Edith
enjoyed his company. She found his sense of humor and quick wit
refreshing, and he never flirted with her.

One day when Edith needed to go to Montpelier to
shop, Joseph volunteered to drive her to town. He did some errands
for Gilbert and then met her at Aunt Sarah’s Café. He bought her a
scoop of ice cream, and they sat and chatted.

Joseph took a bite of ice cream and then said,
“Gilbert told me all about the catnip tea and how it helped
Melinda’s pain go away. He was really impressed. He said it was
like a miracle.”

“It works every time.”

“So, Edith, why didn’t you tell me that you knew
all about herbs? You just let me go on and on about chamomile and
didn’t even say a thing.”

Edith laughed. “First of all, I don’t know all
there is about herbs. And second, I wasn’t sure what to say.
Besides, maybe you knew something I didn’t, so I listened.”

Her humble attitude was comforting. She
didn’t make him feel foolish. He smiled as he said, “You know that
many doctors, even nurses like yourself, don’t believe in
herbs.”

“I know. It’s a shame. Chamomile is the best
relaxant there is. If one has trouble sleeping, just drink some
chamomile tea.”

Joseph chuckled. “Or a good back
massage.”

Edith smiled as she poked at her ice cream.
“Now that does sound good.”

Joseph noticed that she acted more relaxed
and happier around him since their first encounter. She even spoke
more freely and seemed to enjoy his company. She laughed at his
lame jokes along with the good ones. But most of all, he had
noticed a more humble attitude, and this impressed him.

“Edith, may I ask you a question?”

“Of course. Ask away.”

“Why have you been single for so long?
You’re a mighty fine-looking woman. I’m sure you’ve had a few
offers of marriage.”

“No, not really. I’ve never taken the time
to get to know anyone.”

“So, what are you waiting for?”

Edith smiled impishly as she jabbed at the
ball of ice cream in the dish. “The perfect man.”

Joseph chuckled with amusement. “Is there
such a thing?”

“I’m sure of it,” she said with
confidence.

Joseph looked at her with curiosity. “What
is the perfect man?”

Edith pondered the question
for a few moments, gently biting at her lip, and then said, “Well,
first of all, he has to be educated because he needs a good job to
support a family. That’s really important to me. And he has to be
romantic enough to
sweep me off my feet. I’d like him to
read a lot, such as poetry and the great classics so we can have
something in common and talk about.” She paused and then added,
“And he has to love nature, too.”

“You left out music,” Joseph said soberly.

“Doesn’t everyone love music? That goes without
saying.”

Joseph was deep in thought. His brows were
furrowed, and he was not sure how to respond to her description of
the perfect man.

Looking into her eyes with intensity, he finally
responded, “So, what if he’s self-educated, the best bronco rider
in town, just slightly romantic, and his favorite poems are cowboy
poetry. He doesn’t much care for the classics but loves nature. And
his job? Well, it isn’t that great but he loves it.”

Edith shook her head with determination. “You
listed only one thing in common. That’s not enough, Joseph. It just
isn’t. Nature can’t keep a couple together. They need a lot more in
common than one thing. Don’t you see? That’s why I haven’t married
yet.”

With a twinkle in her eye, she said teasingly,
“Now it’s your turn. What are you looking for in a woman?”

Joseph was pensive, trying not to show his
disappointment in her answer. He thought for a moment and then
finally answered in a quiet and humble manner.

“I’m looking for a woman who is loving, and
would love me with all her heart. I would like her to love God as I
do. If she loved me with her whole soul, with everything she’s got,
I would do anything for her. In fact, I would encourage her to
build her talents and support her in any decision she makes. I
would give her the best kind of life I could, and I’d love her with
the kind of love that lasts for eternity. I would love her with all
the passion I had. Edith, I would give my life to protect my wife
and companion.”

Joseph’s words astonished Edith. His answer
had taken her aback. She had expected a lot in a husband, but
Joseph was only expecting love and very little else. As she thought
about his answer, she began to feel quite materialistic. Everything
she listed was worldly. What he had mentioned were only spiritual
things: love and God.

For some reason, she knew that his answer
would linger in her thoughts. Most of their discussions had. She
noticed that Joseph was a very wise man, and she found herself
listening and understanding his point of view many times.

Feeling uncomfortable with the subject, she
quickly replied, “We’ve been in town for several hours already, and
I’m exhausted. Are you ready to go?”

Joseph nodded, stood and pulled her chair
out for her, and helped her rise from her seat. He kept his
thoughts to himself on the ride home and didn’t say much. He felt
discouraged …disheartened… depressed. Edith’s answer had twisted
his heart. He felt an ache in his chest that would not go away. Was
she so wrapped up in the monetary or physical things of life to
ignore the spiritual side of a person?

He knew one thing though—she would not be
around much longer. After Melinda had her baby, then Edith would
leave. Disappointment tugged at his heart and he tried not to think
about it. Edith was a good woman with great qualities. Not only
that, she made him laugh and look forward to another day.

As they rode toward home, he thought, “If God
holds any favor in me at all, if I have done any good in the world,
just anything at all, if He would allow me to win Edith’s heart
before she leaves, I’ll be indebted to Him for the rest of my
life.”

The air was crisp, and the dark clouds hovered
low. The atmosphere was filled with the scent of smoke from
neighboring chimneys. The day before, the temperature was below
freezing, approximately ten degrees. Since the clouds had
accumulated, the valley had warmed to a pleasant forty degrees.

It was the day before Thanksgiving, and Edith
stopped by to check on Melinda. She had been having pains off and
on during the last four days, and the catnip tea was helping a
little but not like it used to. When Edith arrived, she found
Joseph on the sofa strumming his guitar and Gilbert in his
overstuffed chair listening to the melancholy sounds. Gilbert
invited her to rest her feet, and then left to check up on
Melinda.

As she sat on the sofa, Joseph turned in her
direction, looking into her dark eyes, and smiled. “Looks like
snow.”

“Think so?” Edith replied.

“I bet so."

Edith said teasingly, “Oh, so you’re a betting
man, are you?”

Joseph strummed a few chords and thought for a
moment, contemplating whether this was a trick question or not. He
knew how the womenfolk felt about betting, and he tried to suppress
a smile.

Edith watched Joseph as he avoided her question
and laughed softly when she saw him struggling for an answer.

Joseph raised his eyebrows. “What?”

“Nothing. What were you playing before I
interrupted you?”

“An Irish folk song.”

“I love Celtic songs, too. Talking about the
Irish, did you hear what happened to Mrs. O’Grady the other
day?”

“Oh, the overalls in her soup? Isn’t there an
old Irish song about that?”

Edith laughed. “Probably so. But I don’t
understand how they got in there.”

“I found out,” Joseph said with a grin. “At
first no one seemed to know who did it. Mrs. O’Grady’s husband was
so upset that someone would play such a practical joke that he was
ready for a fight. He said it was such a low-down Irish trick, and
whoever did it should be ashamed of himself. He was getting ready
to accuse a few of their neighbors when…”

Joseph burst into laughter, not able to
finish.

“What? What happened?”

Joseph struggled to get
himself under control. “Well, when he pulled them out of the soup
and showed them to everyone, he asked who had done it.
H
is wife recognized them
immediately and clapped her hand over her mouth.
”
With a high-pitched falsetto
voice, he said,
“
Oh, no. I had them soaking today and forgot to take them
out.
”

“What?” exclaimed Edith.

Joseph
grinned.
“You see
, Mrs. O’Grady had absent mindedly added her vegetables
without thinking.”

Edith burst into laughter, filling the room
with light and joy. Her countenance was bright and cheerful and
when Joseph stopped laughing, he watched her. He enjoyed making her
laugh. If he could think of more jokes to tell, he would do it.

But Joseph’s eyes betrayed his feelings and
Edith could see his gentleness and his interest in her. His blue
eyes were so familiar. She was drawn to them and was not sure why.
She nervously cleared her throat and stood.

“I should check on Melinda.”

Gilbert walked in just as Edith stood, and
said, “Melinda seems to be all right this evening, but she’s been
having more cramping off and on throughout the day. Nothing
serious. She’s not due for another three weeks.”

“That’s not uncommon. Two or three weeks
early isn’t bad. I’ll check on her.”

Edith found Melinda in her rocking chair,
dressed in just a robe and slippers, rocking peacefully and
reading. The only sound that could be heard was the soft creaking
sound of the rocker against the floor.

“How are you feeling, Melinda?”

Melinda looked up from her book and
answered, “So, so.”

“I’ve heard that you’ve been having some
cramping.”

“Yeah. Nothing to worry about, though. How are
things with you?”

Edith knelt beside Melinda and whispered
soberly, “I’ve got to talk to you. I’ve received a couple letters
from my friend. We’ve just got to meet.”

“But you already have.”

“No! I’m through with writing letters, Melinda.
He has to court me in person. Not through letters anymore. It’s
getting serious between us.”

Melinda’s brow lifted. “Oh? What’s
happened?”

She shoved four letters into Melinda’s hands.
“The last one is mine, he hasn’t answered it, as of yet. I’m just
waiting.”

Melinda unfolded the first letter and began to
read:

Hello, You little thief!

What have you done with my heart? Where did
you hide it? I need it. I can’t get along without it. I don’t know
what has happened to it. All I remember is a wonderful perfect
dream that goes through my mind like a marathon night and day.

I dreamed I met a girl Halloween night, a
perfect girl whom I had been thinking of, who far surpassed my
imagination. As I took her in my arms, I was in love with her from
that moment. I can’t tell you why. If I tried to explain, I would
just make a mess of it. All I know is that everything that happened
was just perfect, and I wonder if I can ever have another wonderful
dream like that again. Do you think I can, Edith? Or would you be
willing to bet it will be even better next time.

By the way, did you know that I wait
impatiently for each letter I get, wondering what my sweet friend
will say next? It’s true. When I receive it, my heart thumps wildly
as I sit anxiously reading what you have to say. As I sit reading
your letter, I feel content and happy, and I realize that I’m
grateful for our friendship and love.

Truly Yours,

A Most Devoted Friend

Melinda sighed as she read the most romantic
letter she had ever read. Then she unfolded the second letter and
read:

Hello Dream Girl
,

I can’t just sit here and tell you what you
have done to me. This would just be idle chatter. I want to hear
your heart beat and really know you are in my arms again. You’re so
dog-on sweet.

It seems like all I do is dream. All day
long I get started on something I should keep my mind on and then
here you come crashing through and I get you mixed up in everything
I do.

Wow, the moon is so big and bright tonight –
I couldn’t help but think how nice it would be to hold you in my
arms again and look at it. I know I said I didn’t want the moon to
invade our privacy, but I have changed my mind.

Yours Truly,

A Most Devoted Friend

Melinda was enamored by the words this
mysterious man had written. She unfolded his next letter and
read:

Hello Dream Girl
,

Here I am again! Will you open your heart
and let me in?
I received your letter today and you’re so
darned sweet. Remember when you were snuggled so close to me? I
thought it wasn’t possible for you to love me.