Timeless Passion: 10 Historical Romances To Savor (154 page)

Mrs. Boone clucked. “Well, if you ask me, it’s the least he could do! Slandering your name like he’s done. People here think you murdered a woman in cold blood, though I’ve told them they know you better than that.” She went back to her bread dough, slinging it onto the counter with a bang. After a long moment, she said, “Well, the house’ll need work. I’ll talk to Becky, and we’ll start the process of making it more presentable.” She glanced up at him. “I hope you don’t plan to live there by yourself.”

“Huh?” Boone gazed up at his mother. “What else would I do?”

“You’re a fool, Gary Boone. I never thought I’d see the day I’d think you were downright foolish and addle-headed.” She slung the bread dough a last time onto the wood-block surface and then stormed out of the room.

Boone shrugged and went back to his meal. Later he started thinking about what his mother had said. Perhaps she was right. The house did need to be made more inviting. He set to work immediately.

• • •

Mindy McCorkle had found peace with her life. When she returned home, she was shocked and surprised to find Richard Peters waiting for her. They began keeping company, slowly at first, then more seriously. He was a good man and she felt she could be content with him. After knowing him all her life, she felt sure there were no surprises up his sleeve.

She tried to push the memories of her trip across country out of her mind. She relegated them to a compartment of her mind marked “off limits.” Sometimes in the quiet of the night, she still cried, but told herself she was foolish and addle-headed.

Her mother encouraged the relationship with Richard. She was overjoyed that Mindy had a suitor and might settle down and give her more grandchildren.

In October, the Fall Festival approached. Mindy’s mother tried to get her to participate in the planning of the annual event, but the thoughts of it brought back too many memories. She planned to attend and that was good enough.

She walked through the day in a haze, thinking back over the last celebration she had attended. Too many things were similar. At the greased pig event, Mindy suddenly burst out crying. She was mortified, but couldn’t help herself. Richard was caught off guard and didn’t know what to do.

“Mindy, what on earth is the matter?” he asked.

“It’s just so sad,” she said, looking on as everyone else laughed and pointed. “The poor little pig!”

Richard looked from Mindy to the pig, and shook his head. “I never saw you cry at a greased pig contest before.”

“Well, I just never thought of it from the pig’s side!” She turned and began to walk away. “I can’t watch anymore.”

Richard hurried to catch up. “That’s fine, Mindy. What do you want to do now?”

What she really wanted to do was go to her room and lie down, but she didn’t say that. “I guess we can walk down and take a look at the pies for the pie contest.”

They spent the rest of the afternoon meandering through the events. Mindy’s handkerchief came out several times. She dabbed at her eyes and then blew her nose in a most unladylike fashion.

Late in the evening, as the sun went down, the crowd moved toward the bandstand and a temporary dance floor that had been set up. Mindy watched the square dancing and sighed. Richard was at a loss as to what he could do to cheer her flagging spirits. Mindy noticed, and thought he was a dear for trying. She determined to buck up and try to enjoy the rest of the evening.

The band began a waltz and Richard asked Mindy to dance. Though it was the last thing she wanted to do, she said yes, and even offered up a smile.

As she counted the beats in her head, Mindy thought back to her last waltz and found it hard to keep the smile on her face. She told herself if only she could get through the rest of the night, tomorrow would be a better day.

As she danced, she had an odd feeling of déjà vu. She felt eyes upon her, and she searched the crowd for anyone who might be watching. As she whirled, her thoughts wandered back to the last time. Suddenly, her heart took flight. It was Boone! Somehow she knew it. Her heart lit up with her smile, her eyes sparkled.
He’s here somewhere,
she told herself. She knew too well the distinct trembling sensation she got when those black eyes were upon her.

She searched the crowds surrounding the dance floor. Round and round she and Richard went, but she was no longer dancing with Richard, she was miles away.

“I’m so glad to see you’ve cheered up,” her companion said.

Mindy nodded.

“You’re feeling better?”

Mindy nodded. “Mm hmm. Much better.” She didn’t meet Richard’s gaze, her neck twisted this way and that as she hungrily devoured the faces, searching for just one.

Then in the shadows, she saw him. Boone —
Boone
! — leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, watching her with a stony expression she couldn’t read, his dark eyes following every move, his eyes roving between Mindy and her partner.

Mindy swallowed. It was just like before, the dreamy, heady sensation that he did care! Then, in a nightmare moment she had lived through before, Boone turned and walked away.

Mindy’s steps faltered. Her heart skipped, and her smile fled. She and Richard stopped in the middle of the dance floor, her hand resting lightly on his left shoulder. She looked up into his face.

“I … I … lost the count,” she said.

“That’s all right, Mindy. Let’s pick it up again right … here.” As the hand behind her back smoothly applied pressure, Mindy looked down, not moving, subtly shaking her head.

“I can’t, Richard,” Mindy said.

“Can’t what, Mindy? Dance? Why, you’re a wonderful dancer.”

“No. I can’t do this. You and me. I’m sorry.”

Richard’s face fell, his shoulders slumped. “What is it? Did I do something?”

“No,” Mindy said. “There’s someone else. And if I don’t hurry, he’s going to get away!” She reached up and gave Richard a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a good man. You deserve more. And thank you.” Then, with the beginnings of a glittering smile, she was gone.

• • •

Boone strode to his horse, untethered it, and started to climb on.

“Boone! Wait! Stop!”

He looked up and was surprised to see Mindy running toward him with her skirts held high. She was showing much more ankle than was proper. He smiled.

“Where are you going? How long have you been here?” Mindy’s words tumbled out. Now that she was before him, her insecurities raised their troublesome heads. How could he be here for her?

“I’ve been here all day. I’ve been watching you with that new man of yours. Looks like you’re doing well. I just wanted to make sure you made it safely home. The road can be a dangerous place.”

“Oh. You came to see about my safety?”

Boone nodded. “I worried about you being stranded somewhere by the side of the road.” Then he smiled. “Though, of course, if you had that confounded bag with you, I suppose you would have been all right.”

Mindy looked down and blushed.

“Are you happy, Mindy? That’s all I need to know. Are you happy here … with … him?”

Mindy looked up into Boone’s black eyes. She knew her only true chance for happiness lay inside the circle of his arms. “No, Boone. I’m not happy. I haven’t been happy since the day you walked away.”

Boone’s eyebrows rose. “Me?”

“Yes, you. You torment me beyond imagination when you’re with me … but you torment me so much more when you’re gone.”

Boone lips creased into a broad smile. “Well, that’s right funny. There’s a little green-eyed girl that torments my thoughts as well.”

He stepped closer. The moonlight washed over them, bathing the scene in soft light. He reached up a calloused hand and touched her face. “I love you, Mindy McCorkle.”

“Oh!” Mindy threw her arms around him, not caring at all about propriety.

Then Boone kissed her and all became right with the world.

• • •

The wedding occurred a week later and took place immediately following the Sunday morning church services. Mindy wore a light pink blouse with a round neckline and a brown skirt. She carried a bouquet of yellow and pink dahlia and white baby’s breath. Her niece, Sophie, skipped along before her, dropping yellow flower petals into the aisle.

Boone looked like a new man in a black cutaway suit, with a white shirt. He was freshly shaved and cologned and his smile could have lit a hundred homes in the dead of night.

Mindy’s mother cried. Not only to see her last daughter wed and happy, but because Mindy was leaving. Joyous tears mixed with sad ones.

The couple traveled back to Tipton, reminiscing over the last trip. Mindy glowed with happiness, and Boone’s chest stuck out in an unnatural manner. They discussed children and church and discipline and plans for the future. They fought a lot, but smiled even more.

When they arrived in Tipton, Becky and Mrs. Boone hosted a grand homecoming and wedding party for them. They were showered with good wishes and given a grand Pounding. After the party, they had enough food staples to last a year! They had been given pounds of flour, meal, eggs, coffee, and much more.

They spent the first two nights with Mrs. Boone, who promised that the Larby place had been cleaned and organized.

On the morning they rose to head to their new home, Mrs. Boone cooked a big breakfast and said, “Now you’ll have to feed him well in the mornings, Mindy. He’s gruff as a bear if he doesn’t have his breakfast.”

Mindy smiled and looked shyly at Boone. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you. That could explain a lot.”

Boone laughed and took her hand. “I can’t wait to get you home,” he said.

“Home.” Mindy spoke the word thoughtfully. “Home. I’m ready whenever you are!”

They had to borrow Becky’s wagon to carry all their gifts. The trip to their new home passed in a blur of conversation.

“You know, I’ve been there for a while without you,” Boone said, nudging Mindy with his broad shoulder. “Though I always hoped you would join me some day. I’m warning you, there are some changes since the last time you saw the place.”

“Oh, Boone. No! It was perfect the way it was!”

“Well, maybe it will be more perfect. We’ll have to wait and see.” Boone grinned.

“What are you up to?” Mindy asked.

“Wait and see … ”

They passed the turnoff to the property, where a large boulder lay at the foot of the drive, and Boone turned the wagon along the rutted dirt road.

“Why, everything looks the exact same, Boone! You had me worried for nothing.”

They stopped: Boone climbed down and set Mindy out of the wagon. She stood in the front yard of her new home and sighed, with her hands on her hips.

“Home,” Mindy said. “I like the sound of that.” She turned to her new husband. “I’m happy, Boone. Really, really happy.”

They began unloading the wagon and made the first trip into the house. Inside, Mindy ran her fingers over the furniture and fixtures, then whirled to Boone, “I couldn’t
be
happier!” Her face was radiant.

Boone stepped over and picked Mindy up. He whirled her in a wonderful, dizzying circle and then hugged her to him. “No more tears?”

“Not anymore.”

“I love you, wife.”

“I love you, too, Torment.”

As she glanced around the house, something out the back window caught her eye. She stepped closer to take a look and then exclaimed, “Boone! What on earth have you done?”

The pair of them stepped out the back door of the house and stood in the dirt yard. Mindy stared up at the most elaborate tree house she had ever seen. There were three levels with gradually rising stairs between.

“It’s for you, Mindy.” Boone said. “I built it for you. I hoped you’d come home with me some day.”

“A tree house, Boone?”

Boone looked down. His face had turned a bright cherry apple red. “When I first met you, Mindy, you said you’d never been kissed, never been married, and never climbed a tree.” He looked at her. “I wanted to be the one who made all those things come true.”

With a cry of delight, Mindy jumped into his arms, and they whirled. Standing in the back yard of their home, while the joyous sun shone overhead, Mindy knew all her dreams had come true.

About the Author

Robyn Corum is a happy housewife and mom who lives in Hartselle, Alabama with her husband, three children, one son-in-law, one dog, one cat, and recently, two scorpions. She loves reading, crafting, creating graphics and writing. Her favorite hobbies are hunting for four-leaf clovers, gently torturing her teenagers, and celebrating when a string of words bang against each other in an altogether remarkable way.

She is author of the book,
Pieces of Her Mind
, a collection of Japanese short form poetry, with seventeen other women, available November 2012.

Robyn is currently at work on a novel about a mail order bride who is forced to leave New York City for the west in the late 1800s. Both are called “Ama.”

Learn more about her at:

www.facebook.com/MelindaHeadsWest

http://about.me/robyncorum

http://pinterest.com/robyncorum

Contact her at:

[email protected]

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