Part 18 (1/2)
Annie sagged against Luke and he scooped her into his arms, uncaring of who saw them now. She laid her head against his chest, and reverently touched the blue ribbon around her neck.
”People won't forget this Fourth of July celebration, will they?” she asked.
”Not likely.”
”May I say it now?”
It took a minute to figure out what she was talking about. What did she want to say? Then he realized, and his heart jumped. ”Only if I can say it first.”
She raised her head and looked into his eyes. He stood cradling her in the light from the open doorway. ”Okay,” she said, her lips curving into a seductive smile.
”I love you, Annie.”
In the meager light tears formed in her eyes. ”I love you, Luke.”
He kissed her, but it didn't last because of their smiles. He started walking, carrying her away from the building, toward the wagons.
”Thank you for not killing my brother.”
”Thank you for not being ashamed to love me.”
”Why would I ever be ashamed of you?”
”Banker's daughter, liveryman, you know.”
”No, I don't know. Thank you for not being ashamed to love a clumsy girl.”
”You're not clumsy, Annie. You're the most beautiful girl in the state of Colorado.”
”And I can dance,” she whispered.
He touched his forehead to hers. ”You certainly can.”
”Thank you for the dance, Luke.”
”You're welcome.”
”Are you two going to stand there mooning all night, or do you want this chair?” Charmaine had followed them with the wheelchair.
Luke turned with Annie laughing in his arms. ”Thank you, Charmaine.”
He placed Annie on the seat and she settled her skirts.
Her parents approached wearing their displeasure on their stern faces. Luke wished her a good-night and trudged toward his horse.
The Sweet.w.a.ters left in the Renlows' wagon.
Burdell and Diana walked toward their home, Burdell carrying his son on his shoulder.
Luke untethered his horse and mounted, heading for the livery. He'd need to be there when more wagons and horses were returned.
Annie had been right, no one would forget this holiday celebration any time soon, least of all him. He would never forget the image of his beautiful sweet Annie, walking toward him across that dance floor, her chin tilted bravely, her expressive eyes filled with pride and hope and love. He would always remember the dress and the act as a symbol of her maturity and determination. How he loved that courageous stubborn woman.
And now everyone knew it.
Whenever Luke attended church, he arrived late for the service, since he rented rigs to a couple of families for whom he had to deliver the outfit and then ride back, so it was his habit to slip in the back and sit in a rear pew.
This morning he'd entered quietly and sat listening to the music and the preacher's sermon, sometimes letting his mind wander to the upcoming meeting with Annie's father.
Annie wasn't sitting against the wall where she usually sat in her chair, but in her family's pew, and he knew the freedom she must feel without the hindrance of that chair.
Preacher Davidson ended the service and stood on the stoop in the suns.h.i.+ne, greeting the paris.h.i.+oners. Luke observed as Annie stood and made her way to the back of the church, Charmaine at her side, her mother's expression pinched and her cheeks blooming bright pink.
”What do we have here, a miracle?” Preacher Davidson asked, taking Annie's hand.
”I believe so,” she replied, and wished him a good day.
Luke followed, shook the preacher's hand, and watched Charmaine get Annie's chair from beside the building and hold it for Annie to sit. Her gaze lifted and she spotted him where he stood on a wooden step. She gave him a tentative smile.
Charmaine pushed the wheelchair and Mildred walked behind them toward their home. None of them looked back.
Luke moved to stand in the shade of the building, waiting for people to disperse, noted when the preacher left and Eldon Sweet.w.a.ter walked in his direction.
”Want to sit inside out of the sun?” Luke asked.
Eldon shook his head, stuffed his hands into his pockets and paced the hard-packed earth. The only other building nearby was the social hall and no one occupied it today. They didn't have to worry about eavesdroppers.
”I want you to know I never felt right about deceiving you,” Luke said honestly, getting this off his chest immediately.
”Deceiving me didn't disturb you enough to leave her alone, did it?”
He winced inwardly. ”She's of marrying age, sir. There's no good reason why she shouldn't be courted.”
”The good reason was that we forbade it. She's not like other young women.”
”No, she's not. I'm glad of it.”
”We protected her all her life.”
Luke tried to place himself in the man's shoes. He nodded.
”We never wanted her to be disappointed when she couldn't do the things other children did.”
”She was disappointed anyway. There are a lot of things she can do that you never let her.”
”We felt that was best for her emotional development. You have no idea what it's like to have a child like Annie.”
”No. I don't. But I do know what it's like to love a woman like Annie. She's hungry for life, so full of hopes and dreams.”
”That's why encouraging her fanciful ideas is harmful,” Eldon said, his face rigid with anger.