Beneath the Honeysuckle Vine (51 page)

Still, though she tried not to look at the handsome man she
’
d fallen in love with, eventually she could not resist.
Johnny was smiling—smiling as he watched
Lowell
trading elbow-nudges with Nate and Willy.

Vivianna felt breathless
.
Just gazing at him had caused her heart to begin hammering—sent butterflies to swarming in her stomach!
She thought of all he
’
d done since he
’
d come home with Justin—all the chores and fixing up
,
all the hard work.
She thought of his kindness to Nate and Willy also.
It seemed Johnny was never too tired to go hunting for bones
,
never too tired for playing with pollywogs and frogs.
She thought of the day she
’
d come upon him in the cemetery
,
of how he
’
d taken the time to tell the young Turner boys his stories of war and the scars it leaves.
He would be a wonderful father—an ideal father!
The perception entered her mind that she would delight in having his children—in being as good a mother as he would be a father.

The contemplation caused her to blush
,
even for the fact she knew no one could read her thoughts.
The warm pink on her cheeks deepened to a hot crimson, however, as Johnny glanced up to find her looking at him.

Instantly, his smile faded
,
replaced by an expression of concern.
“
You feelin
’
all right, Vivianna?
”
he asked.

Naturally, everyone
’
s attention fell to her.
Still, she simply nodded and said,
“
Just a little warm, I suppose.
”

Savannah
began to fan herself with one dainty hand.
“
It does feel rather still and hot here,
”
she said.
“
Why don
’
t you leave the dishes for me and the young boys, Viv…and go on out for a walk
?
It
’
s cooler outside, I
’
m sure.
Or at least there
’
s a little breeze.
”

“
I
’
m fine,
”
Vivianna assured her
,
attempting to fan away her own blush.

She might truly have done as
Savannah
suggested—if it weren
’
t for the fact that she was entirely unwilling to leave Johnny
’
s presence.
She
’
d missed him when he
’
d been with the younger boys that afternoon.
She fancied she
’
d never be able to easily leave him again!

“
No, I think ya need a little air,
”
Savannah
argued.
“
You look like a ripe tomata!
Now you go on and take a little walk.
Find a bit of shade and cool off a bit.
Ya won
’
t sleep a wink if ya don
’
t.
”

“
Miss Savannah, I
—”
Vivianna began.

“
I
’
ll take ya strollin
’
if ya like, Miss Vivianna,
”
Lowell
offered.
He smiled at her
,
and she was reminded of the rather brazen kiss he
’
d applied to her lips earlier in the day.

“
That
’
s all right, darlin
’
,
”
Savannah
said, patting the boy
’
s hand.
Savannah
nodded to Johnny then.
“
Johnny…would you be a dear soul and see Vivianna on a walk for a little while?
I think she
’
s overdone it today.
Would ya mind findin
’
her a bit of shade to linger under for me?
”

Johnny grinned as Vivianna
’
s blush deepened again.
“
It would be my pleasure, Miss Savannah,
”
Johnny said.

“
Well, I just know it will be, Johnny.
Thank you so much,
”
Savannah
said.

Savannah
looked to Vivianna, smiling with such entire mischief twinkling in her eyes that Vivianna felt her mouth fall agape for a moment.

“
Now you go on, Viv,
”
Savannah
said, silently shooing Vivianna with one hand.
“
You go on and get some nice fresh air in ya.
”

All at once, Vivianna was nervous.
All at once
,
the blissful memories of the time spent in Johnny
’
s arms—the moments of their blended lips—nearly overc
a
me
her
with a trembling, nervous anticipation.

“
I
’
m sure I
’
m fine,
”
she told
Savannah
.

“
You are awful red, Viv,
”
Willy said.

“
Like a radish,
”
Nate added.

“
Mr. Johnny,
”
Lowell
began,
“
you best take her out before her supper comes back up or the like
.
I can
’
t take the sight
of someone
’
s supper comin
’
back up!
”

Savannah
gasped
,
and Vivianna covered her mouth with one hand as
Lowell
heaved a little.

“
Honest, Miss Vivianna,
”
Lowell
moaned.
“
If you lose your supper…I just know I
’
ll lose mine!
”

“
Viv!
”
Savannah
exclaimed, holding her apron wide under
Lowell
’
s chin.
“
You go on with Johnny.
Have yourself a nice walk.
”

Johnny stood, hurried around the table
,
and helped Vivianna from her chair.

“
Go on now,
”
Savannah
waved, smoothing
Lowell
’
s forehead with one hand and holding her apron under his chin with the other.

“
Yes, ma
’
am,
”
Vivianna said as Johnny took her arm.

Savannah
lowered her voice to a calm, soothing tone and asked
Lowell
,
“
When
’
s the last time you had such a big supper,
Lowell
honey?
”

“
A might some time, ma
’
am,
”
Lowell
said, heaving again.

“
Caleb, darlin
’
…would you fetch me a bucket?
”
Savannah
softly asked her eldest son.
She glanced to Vivianna.
“
Go on.
Take my Vivianna strollin
’
for some air, Johnny.
We
’
ll have
Lowell
all settled by the time y
’
all get back.
”

“
Yes, ma
’
am,
”
Johnny said, tugging at Vivianna
’
s arm.

“
Hold it down,
Lowell
!
”
Willy encouraged.
“
You can do it.
You just ain
’
t used to eatin
’
so much.
”

“
Come on, Vivi,
”
Johnny said, taking her hand and leading her out of the house.

“
Oh, I hope he
’
s all right,
”
Vivianna said as she followed Johnny to stepping off the porch.

“
He
’
ll be fine,
”
Johnny said.
“
He just ate too much.
Ya gotta let your stomach get used to the food again.
”

Vivianna nodded
and
winced at the memory of Johnny the day he
’
d arrived.
She remembered how she
’
d had to feed him his first few spoonfuls of broth.
He
’
d been so weak—so near to expiring.
She couldn
’
t think on it
,
not after the many painful thoughts she
’
d already endured that day.
Besides
,
Johnny was well—strong and healthy now.
That
’
s what mattered.

“
You did seem awful pink for a moment, Vivi,
”
he said.
He reached up
,
placing the back of one strong hand to her cheek.
“
You sure you
’
re all right?
After all, you
’
ve been over the washboard and wrung out today.
”

“
I
’
m fine,
”
she told him.
“
Truly.
”

He nodded.
“
Good.
”

“
Still,
”
she ventured timidly,
“
I could do with a little fresh air…if…if you
’
re still willin
’
to go for a little walk with me.
”

He smiled
,
his dark eyes smoldering with sudden and irresistible allure.
He didn
’
t speak—simply gripped her hand more tightly and began to lead her away from the house.

She was wildly excited—near to trembling!
The excruciating pain she
’
d known earlier in the day—as she
’
d accepted and begun to mourn the loss of her family—had softened to a dull ache.
Thus, her utter delight in Johnny
’
s touch and company was able to find her joyous in that moment
,
not sad and despairing.

Still, she felt nervous.
They
’
d shared such intimacy—such an exchange of mutual passion that morning.
Yet they
’
d not spoken of it since
,
and Vivianna was not quite sure how to think or feel.
She was grateful when it was Johnny who spoke first.

“
That Mr. Maggee…he could talk the tail feathers off a magpie,
”
he said.

Vivianna giggled
and
nodded.
“
Oh yes, he can!
”
she agreed.
“
I once sat and listened to him for near to two hours without sayin
’
so much as
‘
yes, sir
’
to him.
”

“
Between diggin
’
through owl pellets and Mr. Maggee
’
s goin
’
on and on…I
’
m worn out,
”
he chuckled.