Sweet Annie Part 20

Annie slammed the lid on the box.

Charmaine giggled, and Annie and Lizzy joined her.

"Thank you, Mother!" Annie called, a whole new worry opened in her mind.

Sunday afternoon had been decided upon. After Luke got his rigs put away and his horses brushed and fed and watered after church he would take Annie and Charmaine to the house.

Annie fidgeted all through church. When the service ended, she pulled on her coat and walked beside Charmaine down the aisle to shake Preacher Davidson's hand. "Only a week left now," he said with a smile.

Her heart fluttered. "I can't believe the wedding's almost here," she replied.

Her parents were directly behind her, and the preacher said nothing to them about the upcoming event, but greeted them politely.

Luke stood at the bottom of the three steps, wearing a dark-navy coat.

Annie's heart lifted when she saw him waiting, his black hair glistening in the autumn sun, and she smiled a warm welcome. Her father gave her his arm and she grasped it to descend the stairs. She looked up at him, his collar turned against the brisk wind, his expression unreadable. "Perhaps you'd like to join us, Daddy? Come see the house Luke has built?"

Eldon met Luke's gaze.

"You're welcome to come along," Luke said with a nod.

A muscle jumped in Eldon's jaw. He turned to his wife, who stood four feet away, her attention deliberately focused on the street, her fingers white on the reticule she gripped with both hands.

Eldon shook his head.

Mildred faced them. "Just where is this house you are building, Mr. Carpenter?"

"It's about five miles northeast of here," Luke replied. "I bought several acres with the protection of the foothills at the back of the house. The landscape is beautiful this time of year."

"And Annie will be expected to live in the middle of nowhere with no protection?"

"It's a short ride to town," he replied. "Closer than the Renlows' place, actually."

"I hardly think an isolated cabin in the woods is an appropriate place for a young lady. She would be better off in town."

"There wasn't any property available in town," Luke told her. "Not that I could buy, anyway." He observed Annie's father deliberately, then looked away. "Besides, this way I have a place for horses."

Annie's parents exchanged an uncomfortable glance.

"Afternoon, son," Uncle Mort greeted Luke, extending his hand. Luke shook it solemnly.

"Good day, Mr. Carpenter," Aunt Vera said.

Luke gave her a smile. "Ma'am."

Eldon turned to join his wife. They walked toward the Renlows' wagon and Annie's aunt and uncle followed.

Annie swallowed the ache in her throat, blinked, and turned her attention away from her unaccepting parents only to find Burdell's gaze locked on them. Diana waved cheerfully from her place at his side. In his father's arms, Will spotted Annie and his face brightened with an adorable grin.

Burdell turned away abruptly and strode toward the street. Will attempted to look back and wave over his shoulder.

Annie waved, then brought her hand up to cover her trembling lips. Luke stretched a palm toward her, and she clung to it.

Charmaine followed, pus.h.i.+ng Annie's chair.

Luke had brought his best buggy, and he a.s.sisted Annie and Charmaine both to the wide front seat, then placed the wheelchair in the back seat. Annie was delighted to sit in the front and not in her usual place beside her chair, as she did when she rode with her parents. Luke's consideration to place Charmaine at her side, even though the s.p.a.ce was tight, pleased her, too.

The crowded seating placed them shoulder to shoulder, and Luke's knee brushed Annie's skirts with each b.u.mp and sway.

The vivid shades of flaxen and yellow almost hurt Annie's eyes. They crossed the shallow creek, and even the rivulet of water appeared gold in color. The gra.s.s along the banks now lay brown and matted with leaves. A rich glaze shone on the high wooded slopes and the aspen leaves made a brilliant carpet on the dark, damp earth. Hawks sailed in circles above the foothills and a haze hung along the skyline. A small herd of p.r.o.nghorn grazed in the distance.

They topped a rise, and there on a flat section stood the house and a barn, a corral and a windmill, its s.h.i.+ny new blade turning slowly in the sunlight.

Annie brought her hand to her heart in surprise. "Oh!"

It had been dark last time she'd been here, and the house hadn't been closed in or roofed. Wood siding and s.h.i.+ngles testified to a land with readily available lumber.

The house wasn't large, only one story with two windows and a door on the front, but it appeared solid and well-planned with the foothills and the forest at its back. A deer stood drinking from the trough beneath the windmill.

"Look!" Annie cried, pointing. "Isn't he beautiful?"

"She," Luke corrected. "And you won't think so once they start eating your garden."

Luke pulled the buggy to a halt and the deer ran toward the protection of the foliage where it joined another that had been concealed among the trees until it moved. He helped the ladies to the ground and walked behind Annie and Charmaine as they approached the door.

His sudden attack of nerves surprised him. He'd been working for weeks on end to build and prepare this home and now that she was about to see it, he worried that it was small and crude and not at all like the place she was accustomed to living in. "I plan to add a porch later. We've got lots of land, and we can add on to the house if we need to."

Annie and her cousin stopped in front of the door.

"And I didn't make a ramp, because I didn't think you'd need it. But if you want one, I can add it easily."

Annie smiled at him and shook her head.

"Go ahead," he said. "It's open."

Charmaine reached forward and turned the k.n.o.b. Annie steadied herself with a hand on the door frame and entered. Luke's belly dipped in antic.i.p.ation of her reaction. He'd worked so hard and dreamed so many dreams of them together in this place. It wasn't at all the style of life she was accustomed to, and he prepared for her reaction nervously.

The gla.s.s-paned windows allowed sun to spill across the hardwood floors he'd spent hours sanding and varnis.h.i.+ng. The room they entered held only two plain straight-backed chairs. Guy Halverson had helped him build the mantel over the fireplace as well as the cupboards and shelves in the kitchen area.

"Not much furniture yet," he said. "I thought you'd like to choose it."

She released her cousin's arm and walked toward the other end of the room. He'd purchased a st.u.r.dy table and four chairs that a neighbor had been willing to sell.

"I ordered the stove-the newest model with a water reservoir." He was babbling, and she wasn't saying anything. Didn't she like the house? Striding to the cast iron stove, he showed her the covered well at the back.

"I like it," she said simply.

An awkward silence stretched out. Luke glanced from Annie to Charmaine and up at the stove pipe he'd vented through the wall.

"Would you mind if I went out to see if I can spot the deer again?" Charmaine asked, sidling away.

"No," Luke replied. "I wouldn't wander into the woods if I were you."

"No, I'll stay close." She hurried across the room and out the door, plainly giving them time alone.

Annie opened the cupboard doors, inspected the cast iron pump he'd installed.

"You won't have to go out to pump water," he said.

"I see that."

"Want to see the other room?"

She raised those heart-stopping eyes to his, and today, because of the deep-blue dress and matching jacket she wore, they were more gray than green. His heart thumped erratically. They both knew the only other room was the bedroom.

She nodded. "Okay."

He took her hand and led her back across the room to the closed door. He leaned forward and opened it. Annie walked in ahead of him.

The room seemed huge and hollow with no furniture. Guy had helped him place pegs along one wall and build a cabinet in one corner.

"We haven't discussed furnis.h.i.+ngs," he said. "I didn't want to buy anything we didn't need. What will you be bringing?"

She glanced away, and he realized her cheeks were tinged with color. Lord, he didn't want her uncomfortable with him or this room or anything they'd planned for their life together. With a step, he moved behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders and bending to nuzzle her sweetly scented hair and neck. The uniquely feminine scent of lilacs enfolded him. "I love you, Annie."

She turned her face to bring her warm cheek to his lips and raised her fingertips to his jaw. "Sometimes it seems too good to be true," she said softly.

"I know it's not like the house you live in now," he began.

"No. There's nothing to compare. Don't even think it. I love this house. And I love that you made it with your own hands just for us. I see the caring and...and the love that went into it. It's beautiful, Luke. Thank you so much."

Luke closed his eyes, inhaling the presence of this woman he loved and desired.

"I don't have much to bring." He heard the regret that crept into her voice when she spoke those words. "Not much at all. I don't want to ask them for anything."

"It doesn't matter," he replied to rea.s.sure her. "I'll get a bed and a chest of drawers for you. I've been bartering carpentry work for shoeing horses and repairing wagons and plows. I can probably strike a bargain with someone for a few pieces of furniture."

She turned in his arms, to face him and raise her hands to his shoulders. "It's really going to happen, isn't it? We're going to stand before Preacher Davidson, say vows that bind us for eternity, and then live here together."

"It's really going to happen."

A silvery tear s.h.i.+mmered on her lashes. "I can forget all the other hurts when I remember that."

"What hurts so bad, Annie?"

"That I have nothing to bring. That my mother won't believe in me. That my family doesn't accept us."

"I wish I could change that for you. If I could I would, you know that."

She touched his lip at the place where he bore a scar. "I know."

Lowering his head, he covered her soft lips with his, testing, tasting, loving her with all his being, wis.h.i.+ng he could change the things that saddened her and vowing to give her joy and pleasure at every opportunity from this day on.

Her body curled against his so naturally, her breast pressed to his chest, her fingers kneading the flesh of his neck.

The next instant she pulled away, pressing her palms to her cheeks. "I frighten myself."

Luke breathed a calming breath, ignored the messages of his body, and studied her face. "What do you mean?"

"I mean..." She dropped her hands to her sides, studying his face. "I'm so bold with you, when I have no idea what this all means." She turned her body and gazed at the bare window as if avoiding his eyes. "It's natural for me to be a bit frightened, don't you think?"

She meant the physical aspect of marriage, and it tore at him to think she was afraid. "It's a natural thing between a man and a woman," he said. What had she heard? What did young women learn and who told them? He hadn't a clue. "Natural and beautiful."

"I'm sure it is. Do you know this firsthand?"

She turned her head then, d.a.m.n her, and looked him directly in the eye. Open and candid, his Annie. He doubted many fiancees had the balderdash to question their prospective husbands on the intimate partners in their pasts.

"Well..." Nothing to speak but the truth. "The natural part I know about."

One slender eyebrow went up. "Not the beautiful part?" she asked.

"That must be for husbands and wives."

"Oh."

"I was young and-and-well, young men don't always use their heads."

"Prost.i.tutes?" she asked. Straightforward. Honest.

"A couple."

She turned her gaze back to the window. "Any woman you ever loved?"

"You're the only woman I've ever loved."

Her hand went up to her cheek and rapidly brushed beneath her eye. Lord, he'd hurt her. His stomach balled into a knot.

She turned back then. "You will be the first. For me."

He moved to hold her by her upper arms and stare into her eyes. "That didn't have to be said. I knew that without you saying so."

"Because no one ever wanted me before you, you mean."

"No! Because I know you. I know your parents! G.o.d, Annie, be a little kinder to yourself." He drew her against his chest and held her fast. "I'm sorry my being with those others hurts you. You have to know that wasn't anything like what you and I have together. No comparison."

She hugged him back and he sensed her trembling against his frame. "At least one of us will know what to do," she said.

He couldn't suppress a chuckle.