Singing Heart (28 page)

“
You can open your eyes now!”

Even in the pale moonlight it was a sight to behold. They had even erected a white picket fence. To the left was a small barn. In between that and the house was a well. Inside the gate just to the right was a storm shelter. Texas was famous for freak storms.

“
It’s nine feet deep.” He informed her proudly.

The porch wrapped around the house enclosed by an awning and bedecked with latticework where honeysuckle vines would be planted in the spring. He hoped to find rose bushes to transplant for her too since he identified her with that particular flower. The front door had a stain glass window similar to the one she’d had in Sweetbriar covering the top half of the door. It was too dark to make out the color or design but it was miracle in itself that he had gotten a piece of specialty glass that far without it shattering on the long trip. There was a bay window which she suspected boasted a window seat on the other side of the wall. A place to daydream and store her quilts. She couldn’t believe he had remembered every detail so perfectly. She had only told her about her dream house once while walking on the trail. Xzan stared up at him with resplendent eyes.

“
You’re not going to cry again are you?” he swallowed nervously.

She shook her head happily so overcome with emotion she didn’t trust herself to speak. He opened the door.

“
Wait for a second while I light our way.”

She did as he bid her savoring the anticipation. He lit all of the downstairs lanterns. When she stepped into the hallway it took her breath away. She had never had the vapors but she thought she might now feeling downright giddy with excitement. The wooden floors were polished to a glossy sheen. An Oriental rug in shades of blue and gold ran the length of the hall. To the left was a double door and on farther down the hall on the same side was a cafe door on hinges that she knew from experience would open from both sides and swing itself shut. Directly in front of her was a spiral staircase beautifully crafted with huge round knobs at the ends of the banisters. To the right was an empty space that opened up to the back of the house and a set of glass paned patio doors. A perfect spot for dancing. Towards the front of the house was another door.

Sean tucked her tiny hand in his brawny arm escorting her through the double doors to her left. He couldn’t wait to see her reaction to the parlor. He deliberately blocked her view of the right side of the room grinning as she gasped at the magnificent huge hearth with the white marble topped mantle. A gold gilded mirror adorned the wall above it. To either side were built in bookshelves that went from the floor to the ceiling. The French style sofa and matching easy chair were done in needlepoint. Exquisite almond tapestry adorned by tiny sprigs of green leaves embellished with dainty red rosebuds. A cherry wood table sat in front polished to a high gloss boasting an enormous bouquet of pink roses and baby’s breath in a silver heirloom vase.

When Sean moved back showing her the rest of the room she felt her world spin crazily out of control. He caught her slender form laughing softly as her legs buckled in shock. There on the far wall was a gleaming black baby grand piano with a matching bench. She couldn’t believe her eyes blinking several times unable to comprehend the magnitude of his gift. How in the world could he have transported it this far? She trembled so badly he gathered her up in his arms and sat down on the sofa holding her firmly giving her time to absorb it all.

“
Happy birthday!” he announced huskily. She burst out crying wrapping her arms around his huge neck, holding on for dear life, weeping as if heartbroken. He hoped those were tears of joy. Had to assume she liked the house so far while grinning delightedly to himself. When she was finally composed enough to see the rest of the house he led her through the hinged door. It was as she had suspected the kitchen stocked with the most modern of equipment. Mammy would swoon if she could see this. There was an indoor cook stove with a built in bread oven and food warmer above the burners. Beside that a woodpile and tinderbox to fuel it easily.

The sink had a hand pump to get water directly in the kitchen. There were cabinets built above it to store the serving dishes. The sideboard was huge with lots of space to work on and she couldn’t wait to fill up the pantry when she discovered its unique compartments. It even boasted a built in onion and potato bin and generous shelves to accommodate large volumes of flour, sugar and other goods. She could imagine many happy hours especially during the holidays baking in this kitchen.

He led her out into the hall and in to the room on the right. It was as she had suspected a dining room. Complete with a small cozy fireplace to keep them warm in the winter months, an enormous hutch, long buffet and a large table with extendable leaves that could seat up to 12 comfortably. Dark maroon velvet curtains elegantly draped the windows. The wallpaper flaunted chubby cherubs merrily holding pink hearts. Xzan couldn’t believe it was real. She had never seen anything so grand. It was her imagination came to life and she felt as if she could die in sheer joy. Sean beamed at the look of pure wonder fanning across her beautiful features. Her violet eyes were huge as saucers and her tiny rosebud mouth seemed to be stuck in a perfectly shaped O.

Upstairs he had elaborated on her ideas adding a few touches of his own. Things that he’d personally wanted. There were two master bedrooms. One of each side of the house with two smaller rooms in between. One was masculine, the other feminine. His furniture was big and bulky to accommodate his height. Her’s dainty and exquisite. From the dressing mirror to the draped four-poster bed. Each room boasted it’s own fireplace. He had added floor to ceiling bookshelves on one side of hers and a roll-top desk on the other side. There was also a window seat with lacy white curtains and a wardrobe with drawers inside made especially to hold her delicate undergarments. Her bed was made up she would discover later with flannel sheets for extra warmth during cold eminent winter months. Topped with a rose satin comforter and matching pillow shams. The smaller rooms were unfurnished. He wanted to wait for a time when they would belong to someone. Secretly he hoped it would be their sons and daughters.

Xzan was only disappointed by one thing. The small room that she had wanted for a nursery to adjoin her bedroom hadn’t been included. The house was so perfect even more beautiful than she ever dreamed possible that she quickly hid her disappointment. Maybe he assumed she would never want a relationship with any man after the way Brett abused her and it was futile to build a baby’s room.

He led her downstairs giggling happily straight to the piano demanding, “Play for me.”

Her hands felt awkward. She had gradually learned to manipulate the three fingers that had been frostbitten nevertheless she wasn’t sure however if she could play with them. She closed her eyes. Poised above the ivories. Tentatively she began playing a haunting melody. One that required more of the right than the left hand. It was sweet, sadly poignant, gradually building to a crescendo. She felt the vibrations all the way to her soul. Became so lost in the music she forgot the time, the world around her, even the man who stood dumbstruck, mesmerized by the angel in front of him eliciting music he only believed existed in heaven.

When she had emptied herself her playing becoming more tender. light and airy, sweet. She opened her eyes at last meeting his admiring gaze. There was something else in his eyes. A new knowledge. He had walked inside of her. She felt it. Strangely she didn’t feel violated. She rose gracefully from the bench heart shining through her eyes. This house was a miracle in the middle of the wilderness. In front of her was the man who loved her enough to make it a reality. He had reached out time and time again in the big and small ways that were important simply loving her showing that he cared. He treated her with dignity and respect. He came from a wonderful family she had loved and still missed. They in truth only had each other in this savage land.

She knew what she should do. It was the right thing to do. It would make him so happy and maybe in time she could fall in love with him the way he already felt about her now. She did love him. As her friend. Like her family. He could teach her to love him as a man. It was as if he read her mind. He rose from the sofa still mesmerized by her music. She was the most exquisite woman he’d ever seen. Dressed in a rose colored gown with that long dark hair cascading down her slender back. Totally feminine and so fragile looking. Her smile was all he needed to stride purposefully forward bending down on one knee.

“
I want to do this properly.”

She gave him her hand wrapping her slim fingers around his larger ones reassuringly. She caressed the side of his cheek in a tender caress.

“
I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?”

Her eyes deepened with emotion almost to smoky blue. Her delicate lips curved upward. “Is tonight too soon? Do you think we could wake up the minister in Angel City?”

He whooped with joy. Picking her up Sean swung Xzan around in a bone shattering bear hug and then slowly loosened his grip to let her slide down the length of his torso provocatively as he kissed her thoroughly. Breathless she cocked an inquisitive eyebrow with new interest. Laughing in joyful abandonment he pulled her along before she could change her mind. They felt like conspirators sneaking out of the barn with hastily saddled horses. From the darkness of the cabin it appeared Jeb and Robert had retired early for the night. A blessing since they didn’t want to have to add more to their lies in explanation of leaving for town at this hour if they were caught.

They rode for nearly 3 hours. It was an exhausting journey but both were anxious to set things straight at long last and to begin the first day of the rest of their lives in their new home without feeling like sinners. They found the minister’s house behind the white steepled church. He didn’t seem at all perturbed or even especially shocked to be ousted from his bed at such an ungodly hour to marry an anxious couple. Maybe out west a lot of folks did things spur of the moment.

His wife a plump, sweet-faced woman with curly white hair and clear gray eyes, acted as their witness and maid of honor for the bride. The balding man still in his nightshirt put on his round spectacles, opened his well-worn bible sleepily and began reciting the vows. Sean never took his eyes off of her face. Smiling he solemnly promised to love, honor and cherish her till death, holding her tiny hands protectively, reverently in his own. Xzan’s fingers trembled with fear and excitement as he placed Maggie’s wedding band on her ring finger. The words the minister was reading touched her soul.

“
This ring is symbolic of how marriage is. You go round and round. Life is a continuous cycle. You always come back together to the same place that brought you together. That is your love. This ring is a binding token of that love. Sean is placing it on Xzan’s finger showing his love and commitment. Xzan is accepting and wearing it to show her love and commitment as well. Let no man put asunder what God has joined together.”

When Sean kissed her as his wife for the first time it was a long, lingering kiss that promised a lifetime of love and happiness. They fused in that moment knowing that neither of them would ever be alone again. Marriage was such a big step in their lives it seemed like there should have been some kind of fanfare though secretly Xzan was kind of glad it had been a private occasion. It had seemed more dignified somehow without the stress of worrying about what the guest were thinking or how she looked and what would happen on her wedding night.

Getting married to Sean had seemed more real than marrying Brett. And she knew that he would never abuse her. Maybe because they both felt so alone in the world it was twice as meaningful to have chosen to be with each other to fill that void. She wished his family had been alive to share the moment. Shauna would have been so happy for them. Xzan knew that she had encouraged Sean’s feelings for her.

Sean’s family would have been so proud of him if they could see him now. He had grown to be a man. Unafraid to go forward to tame this savage land. Yet still sensitive enough to reach out and bring beauty in to that world and show tenderness to his woman. She had made the right decision. No more guilt for living a lie. No more empty nights lying alone longing for a lover that could never be there for her. Sean was a wonderful man and a good friend. There were worse reasons to marry. He loved her. She would grow to love him. Already he had piqued her curiosity with his kisses. Who would ever suspected he could have such a seductive mouth. She had never even notice his full sensual lips. She wondered where he had practiced kissing and learned the art so well. She could tell from the intimate way he held her in his arms that he was no stranger to making love.

They signed the marriage certificate, paid the man and thanked him and his wife, departing post haste to get back to farm before dawn. Euphoric they talked about everything imaginable on the long journey home. relishing the breeze and enjoying the full moon that lit their path. It was no longer her birthday. Their anniversary would be the day after it each year, easy for them both to remember.

When the horses were unsaddled and brushed Sean reached out eyes dark with passion, patient with understanding, waiting for her to extend her hand. She gave it to him allowing him to pull her into his arms. Groaning with need he kissed her with all his being burying his face in her neck exploring her dainty earlobe with the tip of his tongue. Liquid heat warmed her blood coursing through her veins so fast it took her breath away. He picked her up purposefully striding towards the door to the barn about to take her the distance to their new home, when she stopped him.