Part 24 (2/2)
She caught her breath again. One word escaped her lips. ”Laramie.”
He moved forward slowly, his black Stetson in his hands. ”May Iacome in?” he asked softly.
She nodded. She couldn't speak. He lookeda”the samea”yet so different.
”You've come back,” she managed to whisper.
He nodded. ”You made me promise. Remember?”
”Iayes.” Tears threatened to spill. He could see them coming.
He stopped a few feet in front of her. Just stopped and looked at her.
”You lookawell,” he observed.
She swallowed. ”And you,” she managed.
They stood in silence. Laramie struggled with words and then spoke softly. ”You remember,” he began, ”that I was toafind some answers. Find myself.”
She nodded.
”Well, I've done that,” he said simply and then added, ”an' in the processaI've found G.o.d, too.”
She stood and looked at him and then the tears began to spill from her eyes. ”Oh, LaramieaI've prayed and prayed. I was beginning to thinka””
”I wasaafraid thetathet you'd have given up. Theta””
She looked up into his face, her eyes s.h.i.+ning in spite of the tears that still ran down her cheeks.
”Oh no,” she said between tears and laughter. ”I would have waitedaforeverato hear those words, if need be. Nothingacould make me happier. We areaareafellow believers now. Nothingacould bring meamore joy.”
Laramie longed to reach for her. To brush the tears from her cheeks and bury his face in her hair. He did not dare. He knew he had no right to expect her to care for him in the way that he cared for her.
He swallowed hard and willed himself to remain at a distance.
Chapter Twenty-two.
Adrift Laramie found a job with a local rancher and settled into the community. He was welcomed into the small congregation that met at the schoolhouse, and Ariana saw to it that he was put to work. To his surprise, Ariana seemed to a.s.sume that the situation had now changeda”that the past was forgiven and could also be forgotten. She even managed, in a subtle way, to convey the idea that she expected him to call.
Laramie was quick to oblige, and the young people were soon seen as a couple in the community. Even Uncle Jake and Aunt Molly expressed unspoken pleasure in the arrangement.
Laramie could not have expressed his deep joy. It seemed that his unthinkable dream might indeed come true. It was hard to keep his love for Ariana in check when she greeted him with sparkling eyes and welcomed, with open pleasure, his evening calls. They spent many pleasurable hours by the fireplace, sharing thoughts and dreams, talking about the events past and their dreams for the future.
Ariana would have been happy to marry quickly, and though Laramie was also anxious, he held himself back.
”But why wait?” argued Ariana. ”We both know that in our hearts we plan toa”somedaya”marry.”
”Not until I have earned enough money to at least provide us with some of the things we'll be needin',” he countered.
Ariana smiled. ”There's little I need to make me happy,” she insisted.
”But you would like a roof over yer head,” he teased.
Ariana tipped her head and grinned saucily. ”It might be fun to sleep under the stars.”
”Until the first snowstorm.”
”Perhaps we could borrow a tenta”from White Eagle.”
”White Eagle needs his tent. By now his papoose will have joined him. He is a true family man now.”
Ariana smiled. She had never been happier. She wished White Eagle even a portion of the joy that she herself felt.
”We do need to set a date,” she said, and she was no longer teasing. ”I want Papa and Mama to be here. Papa will marry us, of course. An' Mama and Aunt Molly will arrange the dinner for family and friends. They will need to know so they can make plans.”
Laramie agreed.
The summer was moving into autumn.
”How about a Christmas wedding?” he asked Ariana.
Ariana thought about it. It seemed a long time to wait. At last she smiled. A Christmas wedding would be just fine.
”I'll let them know,” said Ariana. ”I do hope they will come early.”
Laramie reached out to smooth back her windblown hair. They had ridden out to the ridge overlooking the small farm that belonged to her uncle. The day was just warm enough to be comfortable. The last of the summer crops bowed their heads to the pa.s.sing breezes. The birds filled the afternoon with spirited chatter.
”It's so peaceful herea”I love it,” mused Laramie in contentment.
”Can we live herea”always?” asked Ariana dreamily.
”Always,” he answered.
Ariana moved in closer to him until her shoulder was touching his chest. ”I never dreamed I could be soahappy,” she sighed.
His hand dropped to her arm and pulled her closer against him. He lowered his head to place a kiss on the top of her tousled hair. ”It is still like aaa dream,” he said.
”When did you first know?” she quizzed him.
He smiled and gave her a little squeeze. ”Is that important?”
”Sort of. I just wondered.”
<script>