A Dream Unfolding (63 page)

As Hannah sat next to Will, working on writing the alphabet, a knock sounded at the door.
 
Will dropped the pencil, a bit too eagerly, and rose to answer the door.

“Dr. Murphy,” Will greeted.

“Will, Mrs. Anderson,” Dr. Murphy said, entering the room.
 
Setting his bag on the corner of the rough wooden table, he glanced over at the papers on the table.
 
“Ready to get started?”

Dr. Murphy pulled a chair away from the table and motioned for Will to sit.
 
He instructed Will on raising his legs one at a time, then together.

As they worked on several agility tests, reality set in.
 
Hannah did not need to hear Dr. Murphy’s diagnosis to know that Will no longer needed her help.
 
He recovered enough to take care of his basic needs.
 
This past wonderful week was coming to a close, signaling Hannah’s departure.
 
She needed to return to the boardinghouse and her job.
 
But, every intricate part of her soul longed to stay here with Will.
 
She never wanted to leave his side again.
 
She wanted to be his wife—though he had yet to ask.

Truthfully, she knew for days the time had come for her to return to her life.
 
She put off the decision for the better part of the week until Ben—not Will—asked her this morning when she would be leaving.
 
Will was there, overhearing the conversation, yet remained silent.
 
When she glanced over at him, he looked away.
 
What did that mean?
 
Did he want her to stay as much as she wanted to stay?

While Will continued the exercises, Hannah stood and walked in to the room that had been her home for the last several weeks.
 
She pulled her carpet bag from under the bed, tossing it on top of the bed with a frustrated sigh.
 
She was an unmarried woman in an unmarried man’s house—a man now well enough to care for himself.
 
No matter her desires, she must leave.

Folding her other dress neatly, she laid it in the carpet bag.
 
Retrieving her Bible from the night stand, she laid it on top of the dress then clasped the bag shut.
 
She tried not to give in to the loneliness that she knew was coming.

After she and Will declared their love for each other, Hannah thought with much confidence that he would ask her to be his wife.
 
But he hadn’t.
 
Hadn’t hinted at it.
 
Hadn’t mentioned it.
 
Had he even thought of it?
 
Maybe it was too soon.
 
Maybe he need more time.
 
Maybe he thought she needed more time.
 
Sighing, she commanded her thoughts to stop.
 
There was no point in trying to guess his motives.
 
If he wanted to marry her, he would ask in his time.
 
And if not...
 
Hannah did not want to think on that.

Taking one last glance around the bedroom, Hannah picked up her bag and shut the door on her way out.
 
Dr. Murphy just finished with Will when both turned to look at her.

“Hannah,” Will started.

“Dr. Murphy,” she said, cutting him off.
 
“I saw you brought your buggy.
 
Perhaps I could trouble you for a ride back into town.”

“Certainly,” Dr. Murphy agreed.

Will turned to the doctor and said, “Can you give us a minute?”
 
The pained look on his face stabbed at Hannah’s heart.
 
Perhaps she should have given him more warning.

Dr. Murphy nodded, pulling the door closed behind him as he exited the ranch house.

Will reached out his hand and took the carpet bag from Hannah.
 
Once he set it on the table, he took her hands in his.
 
Looking down into her eyes for several silent seconds, he seemed torn.

“Thank you, Hannah, for everything,” he said softly.

Hannah willed the tears not to pool in her eyes but they didn’t listen.
 
When she looked away, Will lifted her chin so she would look at him.

“I love you, Hannah,” he said before placing a soft kiss on her lips.
 
Pulling her into an embrace, he rested his chin on the top of her head.
 
She wrapped her arms around his waist holding tightly, desperate to take a sweet memory with her.

His voice was husky, when he said, “I’m going to miss you.”

She stepped back wordlessly wiping her eyes with her handkerchief.
 
She started to reach for her bag, but he lifted it from the table then motioned her towards the door.
 
She walked through into the bright sunlight.
 
After helping her into the buggy, he handed her the bag.

“I’ll come see you soon, I promise,” he said, lifting her hand to his lips.
 
When he stepped back from the buggy, Dr. Murphy
hupped
his horse into motion, leaving a part of Hannah’s heart behind.
 
As the wagon climbed to the top of the hill, Hannah turned and waved as the tears rolled down her face.
 
Will waved in return.
 
Please come soon.
 
Her heart called out.

Chapter
34

Will climbed into the saddle firmly strapped to Jackson’s back.
 
The stallion snorted, then eagerly moved forward at Will’s command.
 
Will breathed deeply of the muggy air.
 
The huge white clouds littering the sky reflected the sun’s bright rays, making him squint.
 
Pulling his hat low over his eyes, he savored the feel of riding in the open country again.
 
While he rode for a few hours each day in the week since Hannah returned to town, today marked his longest ride yet.

Hannah.
 
The woman consumed his thoughts and his prayers.
 
Every morning and every evening for the past week, he prayed, seeking God’s guidance on how to proceed with Hannah.
 
As his memory returned in the days following his awakening—as he called it—Will remembered the scene he witnessed between Hannah and Harrison.
 
Her explanation made sense and he believed her.
 
Yet, for days he held on to the hurt and anger, not caring that he misunderstood.
 
This morning, he finally let it all go.
 
And, with letting go, came a love so deep for Hannah that compelled him to make her his wife.

But, before he could ask her to live life by his side, he needed to ask her forgiveness.
 
He knew he hurt her immeasurably by his silence the day he wrongly assumed she loved Harrison.

As Jackson climbed the hill toward town, Will grew nervous about seeing Hannah.
 
This morning, he took extra care getting ready.
 
He shaved the stubble from his face.
 
He wore his best shirt.
 
He even brushed the dust from his trusty hat and shined his boots.
 
He wanted to look his best for his future wife.

Wife.
 
He grinned at the thought.
 
Who would believe this thirty year old rancher would have found his wife in the middle of the Arizona Territory?
 
He hardly believed it himself.

When he told Ben of his plans, Ben insisted he accompany Will to town, mumbling something about not missing Will’s proposal for anything.

As the pair rounded the last hill, they saw a group of roughly twenty wagons pulling into town.
 
Will’s heart sank at the sight.
 
Prescott was going to be crazy—it always was when a wagon train arrived.
 
Already a line formed outside the boardinghouses, the restaurant, and the hotel.
 
Apparently none of the new arrivals wanted to cook dinner, Will thought wryly.

Glancing over at Ben, he saw his questioning gaze.
 
Sitting taller in his saddle, Will refused to be deterred from his mission today, although his patience may be challenged.
 
With a slight motion of the reins, he urged Jackson forward down the hill into the fray.
 
Stopping in front of Lancaster’s, he dismounted and tied his steed to the hitching post out front.
 
Stepping to the back of the line, he waited his turn, despite his desire to run inside to sweep Hannah away.

The man in front of him turned.
 
It was his friend Mr. Boggs.
 
“Mr.
Colter
.
 
What brings you to town today?”

Will said, “I’m here to visit someone.”

Mr. Boggs smiled knowingly before commenting on the growth of the town.
 
“With the train that just got in, we’ll probably have to start building a school and church.”

“Are there enough children for a school?” Will asked.

“As of today, there are twenty or so school age children.”

Will raised his eyebrows, surprised so many children lived in the area.
 
“How is life as a big elected official?” Will teased.

Mr. Boggs smiled, “Not sure quite yet.
 
Legislature sessions don’t start for two weeks yet.
 
We’ll probably be meeting in Don Manuel’s store, since he’s headed back to Santa Fe.”

“Why would he be pulling out when so many people are arriving?” Will asked.

“Not sure,” Boggs stated.
 
“Don’t worry, though.
 
Gray & Company just opened a store on Montezuma Street.
 
They are shipping supplies up from La Paz along the Colorado River.
 
There are rumors that William Hardy is considering opening a store in Prescott as well.”

Will was constantly amazed at how much changed in the town in matter of weeks.
 
He and Boggs continued to discuss news of Prescott while slowly moving through the line.

As Will and Ben moved into the dining hall, he caught sight of Hannah.
 
She pressed the palm of her hand to her forehead with a frazzled expression resting on her face.
 
When she looked his way, he smiled sheepishly and waved.
 
Instantly her face lit up, almost as bright as his heart.

“Will, Mr. Shepherd,” she said pouring them both a cup of coffee.
 
“What brings you to town this busy day?”

“You,” Will said not missing a beat.
 
Her face flushed before she turned toward the kitchen waving a hand in the air.

Balancing four plates of food at a time, Hannah served the last round of guests.
 
As she set the last plate before him, he commented, “I’m surprised you had enough food to feed this crowd.”

Taking a seat across from him, she explained, “When the scouts at the fort saw the wagon train, they sent someone to town to let us know we had new neighbors to welcome.
 
Betty and I doubled everything.
 
We did not want a repeat of last month’s chaos—running out of food when a surprise wagon train arrived.”

“You look lovely,” Will said, swallowing his last bite of food.

She snorted.
 
“I look like I’ve been mauled by a wagon train.”
 
Sighing, she added, “But I am so glad to see you.
 
I thought maybe you’d forgotten about me.”

“That is not possible, Hannah.”
 
And if I have my way, you won’t have to worry about that again.

Slowly, the rest of the crowd departed, leaving Ben, Will, and Hannah sitting in an empty dining hall.
 
Betty peeked around the wall separating the room from the kitchen.
 
When she saw he was here, she bounded over.

“Will, Ben,” smile beaming, “so good to see you.
 
How are you doing Will?
 
Any more dizziness?
 
What about weakness?”
 
Betty mothered him.