I sure hope this was a good idea coming here. I have a feeling this situation…this “marriage” is going to be a constant juggling act to keep this secret from getting out. And Elvira Fetterman knows about it! For cryin’ out loud, how in the world is this going to work? If ever there was a person who couldn’t keep a secret, it’s that woman! For a second, Dwight was almost overcome with an urge to stay on the train and go back down the spur line to Nebraska City—and parts unknown.
Just then, however, he caught sight of Doc Reeves, Pauline, and Mary, standing on the platform anxiously scanning the windows of the car. His heart surprised him by doing a little jig.
As the train rolled into position for the passengers to alight onto the wooden deck, Mary’s searching eyes found and locked with his, and his heart jostled again. Her look of dread and well-nigh terror jarred something unexpected in the center of his chest. In an instant, he went from wanting to tear off and run to very nearly being bowled over by a sudden fierce desire to protect her from anything and anyone who might try to hurt her.
Son of a gun, where did that come from, he pondered as he pressed a hand against his chest in reaction to the physical sensation. Slightly rattled, he gave his head a firm shake before standing straight and slamming his hat on his head.
He was already at the top of the steps when the conductor placed the small stool on the platform, and he heard Pauline call, “Dwight!” She was waving at him and smiling, while Mary stood silently at her side, the look of trepidation on her face unchanged.
He stepped down, and was immediately bumped from behind as several of the Fetterman progeny began pushing and shoving their way off of the train.
Gripping his portmanteau, Dwight threaded his way through the thickening press of people waiting to board, along with those getting off the train from Nebraska City, to where the older gentlemen and two young women were standing near the building.
When he finally reached them, he first offered his right hand to the doctor and then extended his arm around his sister and pulled her close for a moment before kissing the top of her head in greeting. “Hey, sis,” he mumbled.
Then, he turned and came face to face with the girl who was now his legal wife.
She was just standing there, staring up at him, unmoving and obviously unsure. With his peripheral vision, he noticed various faces looking their way with smiles of anticipation. There was nothing for it, they would have to put on a good show if this was going to work, right?
Dropping his traveling bag on the platform, he stepped close and gently grasped her hands in his. He noticed hers were damp…nervousness, no doubt. He smiled down at her softly and murmured, “Hello, Mary.” As he allowed his eyes to explore her features, he mused that he hadn’t remembered that she was so pretty, dressed as she was in the same soft yellow dress she had worn to Pauline’s wedding. But then, he’d really only seen her from a distance; never up close. Now, he saw that her skin glowed with health and vitality, her eyes were a sparkling sapphire blue, and her lips a soft, kissable pink.
She visibly swallowed and blinked before whispering, “Hello, Dwight.”
Aware of curious onlookers, he directed her hands to slide around him as he drew her slowly into his arms, and then raised one hand to tuck her head against the curve of his shoulder and neck, much like he imagined a husband would do.
He hadn’t thought the action through, however, and was unprepared for how well she fit within his embrace—perfectly, as if they had been fashioned for one another by the Master Sculptor. As they stood, softly swaying with their eyes closed, he couldn’t help but notice the fragrant, clean scent of her hair, the warmth of her body pressed to his—even through the layers of their clothing, and the feel of her arms as they encircled his waist. What was this feeling he was experiencing? It was almost as if…he had come home…
Mentally shaking that thought away and finally pulling back, he allowed his gaze to fuse with hers for a moment, before he glanced at his sister.
“Shall we go somewhere and talk?” he prompted his sibling.
Pauline seemed to snap out of a fog. Had she been observing their embrace as if enraptured? Only, in the next instant the look was gone and she was back to business. With the ease afforded a sibling, she took hold of his arm.
“Yes, Dwight Jerome, we very much need to have a talk.” Directing a pointed look at the doctor, she added, “We’ll see you at the house,” to which the physician responded with a nod. She then tugged Dwight along and the three of them headed out of the crowded train depot while the doctor made a beeline to intercept the Fetterman and Christiansen families. Just before they rounded the corner of the building, Dwight and the girls turned their heads, catching a glimpse of the Fetterman horde creating their usual chaos as the adults worked hurriedly to collect the unruly children.
Dwight cringed as he heard that voice railing on, “Oh, I’m so glad to be home! I do love Louisville, and I miss my dear, sweet Lloyd, don’t you know, but I do miss Brownville…Charles! I told you to give that back to your brother! Frederick, Franklin, Jeremy, now you stop that running…stop that I say! Oh, hello, Doc Reeves, how are you? Have you…” the voice blessedly began to fade as they walked farther away.
Once out of earshot, Pauline let go of his arm. Being
