Unconventional Series Collection (34 page)

Jenny held Ryder's hand while her entire family
walked the short distance from her Pa and Ma's cabin to the graves of Jenny's
birthmother, baby brother, and much loved dog, Wally. This was his first trek
and she wanted him to see the beauty in what they were doing, not the
strangeness.

When they reached the graves, her pa spoke
first, detailing the happenings of the past year. After he had finished, one by
one, he began calling the names of his children for them to say whatever was on
their mind. Nate declined.

After Luke spoke, her pa glanced at Angel. She
nodded, indicating that she, too, would like to speak. Lifting a hand to brush
a tear away, she said, "Molly and Ty and Wally, I never met you, but I
love you. I love your family that has become my family, too. Five years ago, I
was a broken woman until Luke came into my life. He gave me hope that I could
finish my sojourn in this life with dignity and happiness. We now have two
daughters and…" Her voice cracked and she covered her face with her hands,
sobbing. Luke handed their newborn to Abby and pulled his wife into his arms.

Jenny glanced at Ryder to see how he was dealing
with everything. He was blinking rapidly as he bent to lift Joy.

Angel turned in Luke's arms and said, "I
need to finish." Everyone silently waited. Gulping, she continued,
"I've never done this, but I think it's time for me to speak to my two
daughters that passed on many years ago." Inhaling a shuddering breath,
she said, "Mary, I remember your giggles when we played hide-n-seek and
sometimes I imagine I hear you while Eva and I play the same game. It always
makes me smile.

"And to my other daughter, who was born too
early, I never gave you a name. Somehow, that doesn't seem right, so I have
been pondering what your name should be and it came to me last night. Your name
is Melody because you are a song in my heart alongside your sister.

"I have decided that every year, during our
annual visitation, I will speak to both of you. It's taken a long time for me
to come this far, and I never could have made it without the love of my husband
and family, and even though I'm in tears, I feel happy and free in the
knowledge that a hundred years from now all of us will be together watching
from the other side and rooting for those who must still run the race set
before them."

Jenny felt such a lump in her throat she
couldn't swallow. After a few minutes, her pa asked if she had anything to say
and she nodded, speaking of her marriage and happiness. When she had finished,
she was grateful her father only glanced at Ryder and moved on to Abby when he
remained silent. Abby spoke the final words. Afterward, the family clung to
each other and cried. Unexpectedly, Nate said, "I changed my mind; can I
talk to my ma and pa?"

Brant pulled his adopted son to his side and
said, "Of course you can. Take as long as you need."

Nate said solemnly, "Pa, first off, I want
you to know I forgive you for your meanness. I know you wasn't always mean,
'cause sometimes I saw you kissin' ma and you was even nice to me once in a
while. I even miss you sometimes. As for you Ma, I surely miss you. You was
always fun and stood up to pa when he was bein' mean." Nate looked at
Brant. "Guess that's all."

Brant ruffled Nate's hair and put an arm around
his shoulders. Glancing at his family, he said, "Guess we're done for this
year. We can–"

Ryder interrupted. "Sir, I'd like to say
something."

Jenny tried to control her trembling while she
watched her beloved husband.

Brant said, "Go ahead, Ryder."

Ryder blinked rapidly, inhaled several breaths
and then said through tears, "Perfect Feather, Running Deer, and Laughing
Daughter, I have lived in torment until recently. Perfect Feather, I was angry
with you for years for not allowing me to die with you and our children. But
now, with Jenny and Joy, I realize that you foresaw what had to be. For the
rest of my life, I will paint pictures that honor your memories and those of
our tribe. I will not forget and I will not let others forget the old
ways."

Jenny's heart expanded with pride at her
husband's words and she entwined her fingers with his. He raised her hand to
his mouth and kissed it. Lifting her eyes to his, she said, "And I will
share my husband's calling to paint works of art that speak to the heart, for
he is a great man with a great destiny. After all, he is the Painter of Emotions."

Ryder bent to kiss Jenny's cheek.

With a loving glance at his family, Brant led
them away from the graves and back to the house where they enjoyed the
remainder of the day basking in each other's presence.

Jenny slipped into the dress Prisca had given
her and Abby had altered to fit Jenny's slimmer figure. Tonight was special for
two reasons. So special, in fact, that Angel and Marylou had spent the day at
Jenny's home preparing supper for their guests. Ryder had asked Angel and Luke
and Marylou and Boone to stay for the gathering, but Angel and Luke had
declined and left earlier to pick Eva and Charity up from their grandparents.
Marylou and Boone had said they wanted to help by serving dinner and cleaning
up. Jenny had been grateful for their help.

 Struggling with the fastenings of her dress,
she finally succeeded in hooking herself into the blue confection Prisca had
said would be perfect for bringing out the color of her eyes. When she stepped
in front of the mirror, she preened and twirled and laughed. Speaking into the
empty bedroom that had once been intended for her use while she adjusted to
married life, and which she had never slept in alone, she said, "I hope
Ryder loves this dress as much as I do."

Raising her skirts and sitting before the
vanity, she brushed her hair into an upsweep and fastened it with large combs.
Next, she reached for the hat box she'd set on the floor beside the vanity.
Lifting the lid, her breath caught at the sight of the beautifully decorated
white satin hat with peacock feathers; the eye of which perfectly matched the
shade of her dress and her eyes. Carefully setting the hat on her head, she
played with the angle until it seemed perfect, and then held it in place with
pins.

Taking a deep breath, she whispered to her
reflection, "Are you ready?" Her answer was her own smile.

The fact that prominent guests were dining with
them to speak of an important matter, paled in comparison to the other reason
for the specialness of the day—it was her one year anniversary—and Ryder was
going to see her dressed as a fashionable lady, wearing a fashionable hat.
Gathering her courage, she stepped from the room.

It had not been Jenny's intention to make a
grand entrance, but dressing had taken longer than expected and Ryder was
already entertaining their guests in the living room. Jenny's heart thrilled
when she thought about the reason for their visit. A month earlier, Ryder had
received a telegraph requesting an appointment and the reason why. After discussing
it with Jenny, he had sent a responsive telegraph.

Now, two distinguished men and their elegant
wives had arrived that morning to discuss the details of their very important
request.

Walking down the hallway Jenny willed herself to
be calm. Before stepping into the room she searched out Ryder. He was standing
next to the mantle with his back to her. The gentleman he was speaking with
looked past him, smiled, and said, "Good evening, Mrs. Ryder. You look
lovely." The other guests turned in her direction.

Jenny paused in the entrance.

Ryder turned and his jaw went slack before a
secret smile curved his lips. Stepping forward he bent and whispered, "So
this is the reason you insisted on dressing in another room." He leaned in
until his lips touched her ear. "You are beyond beautiful, my love. I wish
we were alone so I could show you how much you have affected me."

Jenny wanted to turn her head until her lips
touched his, but they were already making quite a spectacle of themselves. She
grinned and stepped away from him, placing her hand in the crook of his elbow.

Throughout dinner, Ryder kept a delightful
conversation going. His knowledge of so many topics always amazed Jenny.
Finally, Mr. Trueblood, the spokesman of their guests, said, "Now, Mr. and
Mrs. Ryder, if I may, I would like to address the reason for our visit and,
hopefully, solidify an acceptance."

Ryder nodded that the gentleman should proceed.

The dapper little man smiled at Jenny and moved
his gaze to Ryder. "Let me start by saying that after my wife and I viewed
your duel exhibition four months ago at Margot's House of Art in Dallas, we had
no words to describe the magnificence of your works. Ryder, your paintings of
Native Americans simply defy description. You have captured the spirit of a great
people that must be shared with the world.

"Being a connoisseur of the arts, I am well
acquainted with your previous works, and, in fact, own several. However, if I
may be so bold, I will say that your ability has not decreased with the loss of
your arm, it has metamorphosed."

He turned to Jenny. "And Mrs. Ryder, I have
never seen such exquisite countrysides. You liberate the essence of nature into
the hearts of your viewers. Often, I just sit in front of your paintings and
wish I could step into them. As my pocketbook allowed, I purchased from the
gallery what I could of both your works."

Their other guests nodded and spoke words of
agreement.

Ryder responded, "Thank you. My wife and I
are honored by your kind words."

Jenny said, "You are too kind."

Mr. Trueblood smiled big. "So, as I have
somewhat explained, being the head of the Art Committee, it is my pleasure to
offer you both commissions to paint for the 1904 World's Fair to be held in St.
Louis. If you accept, your works will be seen by the entire world, which, no
doubt, will lead to many commissions coming your way."

Ryder lifted his wine glass and sipped. He
glanced at Jenny and she smiled her answer, but he asked anyway. "What do
you think, love? Is this something you're up for?"

Jenny turned her gaze back to Mr. Trueblood.
"My husband and I discussed this after receiving your telegram and he left
the decision up to me." She paused. "I will happily agree on one
condition."

Mr. Trueblood said, "Please tell us that
condition and we will do our best to fulfill it."

Jenny said, "My request is that at least
two sculptures by Nathaniel Marsh also be displayed. You saw one of his latest
works in our living room—the Cheyenne brave atop his horse with his child
resting against his bosom."

Mr. Trueblood smiled. "I certainly did. It
captures the intensity of a moment that remains with me even now. I would be
happy to display two, possibly more, of Mr. Marsh's sculptings."

Jenny grinned at Ryder and nodded.

Ryder said, "Then I guess we have an
agreement."

Mr. Trueblood and their other guests looked
delighted.

* * *

In the kitchen, Jenny thanked Marylou and Boone
for their help and bid them goodnight, inviting them to Sunday dinner. The
evening with the World's Fair delegation was winding down and she couldn't wait
for it to end. She and Ryder had kept their anniversary a secret from their
guests and she wanted to enjoy the remainder of it alone with her husband.
Warmth suffused her when she anticipated the coming night and she walked to the
water closet, intending to splash her cheeks with cool water. The door was
slightly ajar and she heard the voices of their female guests. She turned to
leave, but paused when she heard her name mentioned.

"Can you believe Jenny Samson? What a
countrified girl. When I first saw her, I couldn't believe Jake Ryder was
married to her."

Jenny raised a hand to her mouth to keep from
gasping. The very circumstance she had always dreaded had come to pass. She was
seen for what she was—a plain, backwards country girl that no one believed Ryder
had married for love. Tears pricked her eyes, but her internal voice came to
her rescue with a shout, "What do you care what they think? It only
matters what Ryder thinks, and you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he
loves you."

Suddenly, Jenny's fear of her inadequacies
evaporated and she almost knocked on the door to thank the women for making her
free at last.

The same woman spoke again. "That is, I
couldn't believe Mr. Ryder was married to her until she entered the room
tonight. She is simply exquisite."

The other woman responded, "I saw Ryder a
few years back and he was so different; haunted and sad. Jenny has transformed
him into another man. I don't think I've ever seen a couple more in love."

Her companion sighed, "Yes, it's so
romantic."

Quietly, Jenny tiptoed down the hall, a big grin
on her face.

Jenny put the finishing touch on her last
painting for the World's Fair, stepped back, and looked at Ryder. "What do
you think?"

He glanced over from his own painting, tilted
his head, and pondered her depiction of their home under the glorious light of
a perfect summer day. He was silent for so long that she frowned.

His eyes captured hers. "I'm speechless,
Jenny. You have encapsulated the beauty of our lives in that painting."

Her frown turned into a grin. "Thank you,
Ryder."

He winked and began cleaning his brushes.

Something Jenny had been pondering for a long
time popped into her mind. "Ryder," she said breathlessly.

Her husband glanced up and she smiled demurely.
He stopped what he was doing, a questioning look on his face.

"You once told me that you've painted
dozens of nudes."

"Yes?"

"Well, I've never painted one."

Ryder studied her eyes, grinned wickedly, and
began unbuttoning his shirt. "Darlin', I'd say there's no time better than
the present."