Whispers of Moonlight (28 page)

"Speaking of Eddie," Travis continued, "what were her plans for the day?"

"She's with her family, including Uncle Mitch, and I think Clay Taggart and his family had been invited to join them."

"You've mentioned Clay Taggart several times," Travis commented.

"Yes. I was very impressed. He lives in Georgetown. He's a mine surveyor, but he's not caught up in that world of trying to get rich quick. Eddie tells
me that his dream is to teach school."

"Well, we can certainly do with some well-qualified men and women for that profession," Travis said fervently. "If the rumors in town can be trusted, Boulder's new schoolteacher is not what they hoped she would be."

"Yes, I'd heard that as well. It's a large class, and I don't think she's assertive enough."

Lavena chose that moment to scurry into the room.

"That was a feast, Lavena," Robert told her.

She managed to look pleased without smiling. "Did you save room for pie?" she demanded.

"Not at the moment," he admitted, hands in the air.

Lavena speared Travis with her eyes. "You see that he stays around long enough to enjoy some of my pie, Travis Buchanan." With that she was gone.

The two men shared a smile.

"Lavena has spoken," Travis said with a false shudder.

Robert laughed. They rose from the table and made their way to the living room. A fire crackled in the huge stone fireplace, and they both sank into comfortable chairs near the blaze.

"Tell me the date again."

"March 14," Robert answered without hesitation. "Eddie and her mother set that date because her father wanted her to be 18
1/2 before we married."

"That's about 3
1/2
months from now," Travis said thoughtfully. "And what day do you want us to leave for Georgetown?"

"I think we better go March 5. Is that going to work for you?" Robert asked his best man.

"What if I said no?" Travis teased.

Robert smiled, "I think I'd get up and go tell Lavena that she has to run the ranch for you in March whether she likes it or not."

"You can't do that," Travis warned him. "She'd probably do a better job and never let me have it back."

The men fell silent for a time. It was a comfortable silence that lasted until they were almost drowsy, but then Robert asked Travis if this Christmas were different for him.

"You mean because I've come to Christ?"

"Yes."

Travis stared at the fire for a moment. "It is different because there's an awareness now that there's more than just
me. Now there's a God in heaven whose Son came to earth. For so long I never thought of anyone but myself. Maybe I'm still too selfish."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know if you realized it, but Tuesday was my anniversary. I believed in Christ seven months ago that day. And because of that, it's like Christmas is not as set apart. It feels as though I've celebrated Christmas every month from that day."

Robert thought that was one of the most special things he'd ever heard. He thanked Travis.

"For what?"

"For reminding me. I need to celebrate Christ's birth all year long, and I don't."

Travis smiled and nodded. He knew that Robert was often the teacher and he the student, but Robert never failed to thank him if something he said was a rebuke or a reminder. All of this turned Travis' thoughts to Eddie Fontaine. Travis had yet to meet her. He hoped and prayed she would be as special as the man she was marrying.

Georgetown

"We're going to stay with Uncle Mitch," Robert told Travis. The younger man couldn't hold his laughter.

"What did I say?" Robert demanded.

"Oh, nothing." Travis was still smiling. "You've only reminded me four times that we're staying with Uncle Mitch whose apartment is above the store."

Robert had to laugh at himself. "Come on, Travis, we've got to drop our gear at the store so you can come with me and meet Eddie." He would have walked on, but Travis spoke.

"I think I should stay at Uncle Mitch's and you should go on your own to the Fontaines."

Robert turned to look at him in complete confusion, but Travis only stared back.

"That's a good idea," Robert finally said softly, wondering why he hadn't thought of it himself. The men went to the store and met both Mitch and
Morgan Fontaine, but Robert was so preoccupied that Mitch took pity on him and swiftly sent him on his way. Partway to Eddie's he remembered Travis and wondered how he would find his way to the Fontaines later. Then he remembered Travis saying that he would come with Morgan. All of the arrangements cluttered Robert's thoughts until the front door opened and he looked down at the woman he loved. For the moment, he dismissed his best man from his mind.

Travis had never experienced anything like the Fontaine family. They were warm and loving, and they made him feel like a special guest. The church family in Boulder was also warm, but he hadn't really become close to anyone except Robert. The Fontaines naturally included him in their meal, laughter, and close fellowship. It was a wonderful evening with Robert, Eddie, and her whole family, but Travis was a man accustomed to his solitude, so in some ways it was nice to have it come to an end.

It was dark when the men made their way back across town to Uncle Mitch's. They had to move through the shadowy store to the stairway where there was a door. Uncle Mitch's apartment was beyond that door. The main part of the living area was down a hallway where the apartment split into several smaller rooms, all on one side. One room was a kitchen and dining area, and one was Mitch's sitting room. The rest were bedrooms. Some of the rooms connected, and others stood alone. The original builder and owner had probably intended to rent the rooms out, but Mitch kept them for himself.

Now the two guests moved as silently as possible in order not to disturb their host. Once in their room, which sported two small beds, they found he had left a lantern burning.

"Well, what did you think?" Robert whispered as both men sat on their own beds to undress.

"I think you're marrying the kindest woman God put on the earth."

Robert smiled, his chest filling with a huge sigh of contentment. "She's wonderful. That big house," Robert said, referring to his newly built home in Boulder, "has been just plain lonely without her."

"It won't be long now."

"No."

The men were silent as they continued to ready for bed. Robert ducked under the covers first and said, "It's too bad Jackie's not a little bit older." Jackie was the sister two years younger than Eddie.

"It wouldn't matter, Robert; she would still seem too young. Even Eddie seems young."

Robert raised up on one elbow and stared across the room.

"I don't know what you mean, Travis. You're younger than I am by three years."

"It's not a measurement in years, Robert. Eddie is very mature, and she's going to make you a wonderful wife."

Travis fell silent, and Robert gave him a moment.

"I haven't shared a lot with you, Robert, but my life before Christ was pretty worldly. I look into the eyes of those sweet sisters, and I know they haven't seen anything of what this sinful world has to offer."

This Robert could understand. A man wanted a wife who would understand him, and even have an understanding of what he was thinking before he said it. Eddie had done that on countless occasions in her letters; she could read between the lines and guess Robert's thoughts even before he voiced them. Travis was not saying he wanted a worldly wife, just one who would understand where he'd been.

"I'm glad you told me, Travis."

"Yeah, me too. Good night, Robert."

"Good night, Travis."

Travis blew out the lantern and listened as Robert got comfortable. Travis, on the other hand, lay flat on his back and stared into the darkness, his mind going back earlier in the evening to his swift exchange with Addy Fontaine.

Should I be worried that you're going to elope with one of my daughters, Mr. Buchanan?

As lovely as they are, Mrs. Fontaine, I'm not in the market for a wife.

Travis asked himself if it had been a sin not to tell Robert about Rebecca. Robert was very sensitive about not invading his privacy, and Travis thought that might be one of the reasons he was so comfortable with him, but it seemed that tonight would have been a perfect time. On the other hand, this was a time of great joy for Robert, and Travis didn't want to do anything to dampen it.

Travis lay quiet and thought long and hard about what he'd said to Robert. Had he been misleading? After all, he had married a woman who was as sweet and naive as the Fontaine girls.

Travis took time then and there to pray about his situation. He could not logically find a reason to tell Robert. He still thought of Rebecca—he thought of her off and on all day long, every day of every year—but for some reason he saw no need to talk about her to anyone but the Lord. Travis fell asleep asking God to help him know what to do if the question of his marital status were ever asked of him directly.

Travis couldn't help but think of his own wedding day as he watched Eddie come down the aisle to stand at Robert's side. The bride's face was flushed with happiness, her eyes on the man she loved. Rebecca's face had been so pale, her eyes so solemn, as they had become man and wife. Where was she? It was the question he always asked, but since trusting God, he asked it without anger. He would have been made of stone not to wonder, but the rage was gone. He felt his mind beginning to linger on Rebecca and,
with a mental shake of his head, pushed her from his mind. This was a special day for Robert and Eddie, and he did not want to miss a thing.

The wedding, and indeed that whole day, was unlike anything he had ever known. He'd never been with such a large group of people who were able to have fun and laugh without using alcohol. The women had fixed a veritable feast for the reception, and close friends and family stayed with the bride and groom as they opened gifts. Something caught at Travis' heart as he readied the team and saw the happy couple on their way to the hotel. His own wedding night came to mind, and suddenly he wanted to be alone. Uncle Mitch had not stayed for
the gift opening, and once Robert and Eddie left Travis was relieved to be able to make his excuses and head back to
the apartment above the store.

Uncle Mitch had turned in, so all was quiet. Travis was only too glad to seek his own rest, but when he was finally settled in bed, he lay wide awake, his mind going back over the day. Jackie was in love
with Clayton Taggart. Travis wondered if either one of them realized it. Sammy had stared at him the whole day, and he had worked at being kind to her without giving her a reason to hope. He knew she was little more than a child, but he had no desire to play with her heart.

Finally realizing that he was not going to sleep, Travis relit the lamp. He read in his Bible for a time—his favorite, the book of Job—and then blew out the lantern and sat by the window. It was a dark night, the moon only a sliver, but Travis stared at it. Suddenly he wanted to be home. He wanted to be in his own house and his own bed. He wanted Lavena's scolding and cooking. It had been great to come and an honor to be a part of the wedding. He was even enjoying the prospect of going to church in the morning, but boarding the stage and returning to Boulder with Robert and Eddie on Monday couldn't come fast enough for him.

Boulder

"We want you to spend Christmas with us."

Travis shook his head. "You and Eddie will want to be alone, Robert."

"No, we won't. The Henleys have already agreed to join us and so have Raymond, Lena, and Carl." Lena worked for Robert and Eddie. "We're also
planning to ask the Danz family."

Travis was so surprised that for a moment he couldn't speak. Certain he was going to be alone on Christmas Day, he had already been preparing his heart.

"What did I say, Travis, that has caused that look?"

"I don't know. I just assumed that you and Eddie wanted to be alone."

Robert only shook his head and stared at his friend.

"I'd love to come," Travis finally said. "Will Eddie's family try to be here?"