Calico Brides (18 page)

“I guess that’s all right.”

Annie returned to the first row of seats and knelt. Jackson bent his knees and joined her on her left. Jeremiah joined them on the other side. “You don’t need any fancy words, Mack.” Calling him by rank or surname seemed inappropriate for a man seeking a relationship with the personal God. “You’ve already done the hardest part, admitting what you did was wrong. With God, you admit you have done wrong things—sins—many things.” He went on, talking about Jesus’ death on the cross and the forgiveness God offers to everyone who believes in Him.

Annie joined the conversation. “Do you have any questions?”

“No.” Jackson shook his head. “I mean, I’ve heard you preach about this lots of times. I just never thought I needed to worry about it.” He looked a long second into Jeremiah’s eyes. “Until now.”

“So is this something you want to do?” Jeremiah paused. He always felt he had to add this last bit. “I’m not asking you as Lieutenant Arnold. If you only say the prayer because your superior officer says it’s a good idea, it won’t go any higher than the ceiling. I’m asking you as your fellow man, another sinner who needs God’s grace as much as any other man.”

“Yes sir. I know this is what I want to do.” Jackson looked between Annie and Jeremiah. “So is this when I pray?”

Annie and Jeremiah nodded as one, and Jackson prayed a sinner’s prayer, one more man brought into the family of God.

Tears tumbled from Annie’s eyes, and only strict discipline kept Jeremiah’s from brimming as well. All of his calling and Annie’s mission to befriend soldiers had led to this moment in time.

The soldiers marched into Calico to cheering crowds in honor of Decoration Day. Annie scanned their ranks. Young Private Jackson wasn’t among them, even though they had decided the wrongdoers could attend if they wanted to. If the rest of those soldiers were like Mack Jackson, they needed the reminder of God and family more than the others.

Children ran in circles behind the soldiers, boys on bicycles, girls waving streamers. Men who had served in the Civil War, regardless of which side they fought for, carried the stars and stripes. One of the youngest veterans, who would have been only a boy during the fighting, beat a slow drum as they marched, each man’s face a study in hidden memories.

Their expressions reminded Annie of Jeremiah. She spotted him, his uniform emphasizing his broad shoulders, at the back of the line. Most of the soldiers under his care were too young to have fought during the civil conflict, but she imagined that chasing rampaging Indians and hunting for criminals also caused a measure of pain. Of course he would reenlist. He must. His calling didn’t allow for the same things that other men enjoyed, things like family and a permanent home. A shadow fell across her heart.

Jeremiah had promised Annie two surprises today. She hoped he didn’t plan on announcing his reenlistment plans. He had kept himself aloof from her today. She had no idea what his surprises would bring.

The parade reached the end of Main Street and halted at the town square. A few booths had been set up on the grass. Wanting to keep to their original purpose—to raise money for schoolbooks as well as to reach out to the soldiers—businesses around town had proposed several money-making schemes while leaving other things free of charge. Aunt Kate offered free weekly dinners for three months and one of her best lemon custard pies to the highest bidders, while serving free ham and beans to everyone at the fair.

The fort supplied the beverages. Annie joined the line in front of the booth and scanned the square for Jeremiah without success.

“What would you like to drink? Lemonade? Sweet tea? Water?”

Annie studied the sign on the booth. The first glass cost five cents, but the refills were free. “I’ll take a glass of sweet tea, please.” She dug a nickel out of her reticule and turned to hand it to the soldier behind the table.

She stared at Mack Jackson’s face, eyes stone-cold sober. He was dressed in his heavy woolen uniform, and looking unbelievably happy in spite of a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead. “Miss Bliss!”

Annie felt herself answering his wide smile. “It’s good to see you again. You look like you’re doing well.”

“I am, thanks to you and the Lord. And Lieutenant Arnold of course.” He glanced behind Annie. “I’d better take care of our guests.”

“I’m happy for you.” Annie leaned close for one last question. “Do you know where Lieutenant Arnold is? I didn’t see where he headed after the parade.”

Mack shook his head. “I’ll tell him you’re looking for him if he comes by here.”

Annie thanked him and slipped through the crowd. An equally full crowd gathered in front of Aunt Kate’s booth—where she knew Gladys was helping—so she decided to wait. A brief stop at each booth did not produce Jeremiah. His absence surprised her.

She crossed the square, mingling with the crowd, in the direction of the church. People spilled over into the street, and she thought she caught sight of Jeremiah’s distinctive form heading toward her from the north, on the road leading out of town. She moved toward him, sliding through gaps in the crowd, until at last she reached the edge. She had a surprise in store for him as well.

Two people accompanied Jeremiah, a man and a woman. She recognized the woman instantly.
Mama. What is she doing back in Calico? With Jeremiah?

The other man came out of Jeremiah’s shadow. Walking with the aid of a crutch, the man dragged his left leg. His gaunt face haunted her memories. He looked like—it couldn’t be—her brother Samuel.

She broke into an unladylike run and raced down the nearly empty street, into his waiting arms.

In the past, Jeremiah had done his share of informing relatives of the death of a loved one.

This was the first time he’d taken part in reuniting a wounded soldier with his family. That must account for the warm feeling spreading through his limbs.

No, that wasn’t the reason. Not if he was honest with himself. If he had learned anything in the last few days and weeks, he couldn’t hide behind assumptions and half-truths. Happiness had sped his steps home, but he didn’t start smiling until he saw Annie.

If only he could be certain she returned his feelings. She had marched into his life, challenging his faith and his ministry and turning his world upside down. Whether she saw him as a man worthy of love—her love—he didn’t know.

Samuel stopped his forward progress and braced himself. Mrs. Bliss stood by his left side, offering her support. Jeremiah retreated behind them. Whatever Annie’s feelings toward him, this moment belonged to the Bliss family.

Tears streamed freely from Annie’s face as she flung herself into Samuel’s arms.

Samuel’s face twisted, and he blinked. Jeremiah guessed he was ready to cry, but that would embarrass a young man who already had lost so much. He stepped into the gap. “Captain Peate corresponded with your brother’s commanding officer. I received word earlier this week that it was time for him to muster out, and Captain Peate agreed I could escort him and your mother home. So—here we are.”

Mrs. Bliss placed her hand on Jeremiah’s shoulder, embracing him as part of her family. “The lieutenant has been wonderful. We would have had a hard time making it back without his help.” The look she directed in Samuel’s direction spoke volumes of love and family. Love Jeremiah had once experienced and had doubted he would ever enjoy again this side of heaven, until he met Annie.

Annie glanced at Samuel’s leg but immediately looked up at her brother’s face again. “You can tell me about that later.” She laid her head on her brother’s chest. “I’m so happy you’re home. I want to run home with you, but I’m responsible for the dance in the town square.” She stepped back. “Everyone would love to see you, but I’m sure you’re tired.”

“We have a lot of time to catch up with each other. Go ahead and have fun.” Samuel smiled at his sister. Annie took a reluctant step in the direction of the square.

“I’ll see him safely home,” Jeremiah promised.

“After that, promise me you’ll come to the social.” Annie sounded worried that he wouldn’t make it. If only she knew. “I saw Private Jackson at the beverage booth, so I believe I have discovered both your surprises, but I have one of my own.”

Jeremiah would have marched double time for a full day to receive another one of her dazzling smiles. “I’ll come as soon as I can.”

As they neared the Bliss home, Samuel’s speed increased to a jagged run, his left leg dragging behind him. He collapsed into the chair in the parlor that Mrs. Bliss readied for him. “Go ahead, Lieutenant. You have business to attend to with my sister.”

Jeremiah resisted the temptation to study his reflection in the store window. Nothing he could do would make him worthy of Annie’s beauty. In a deep blue calico dress, a red, white, and blue ribbon attached to her collar, she shone with a patriotic brilliance. He hurried his steps to join the jostling crowds, fiddle music replacing the chatter of the crowd.

However, first he had to attend to his duties as chaplain. He sought out Mack at the beverage stall, which was doing a brisk business. “Lieutenant!” The private grinned. “What would you like? It’s on the house.” Mack dropped a nickel into the coin jar.

“Lemonade, please. I’m glad to see you doing so well.” Jeremiah scanned the crowd, not spotting Annie.

“Miss Bliss was here earlier, looking for you. But I haven’t seen her since the dancing started.”

“I’ll look for her there, then.”

He found her at the edge of the dance floor, her dress swaying slightly in time to the music. When she saw Jeremiah, she whispered in the fiddler’s ear and walked in Jeremiah’s direction.

Annie reached Jeremiah when the music ended. The fiddler addressed the crowd. “This next dance is lady’s choice. Gentlemen, await your ladies.”

A shy smile skipped across her face. “May I have this dance, Jeremiah?” She extended her hands toward his, inviting him to swing her around in his embrace.

She picked me
. “It would be my pleasure.” Gathering her close, he led her onto the dance floor. Thanks to long-ago lessons, he slipped into the rhythm easily, and Annie felt natural in his arms. The music ended all too soon. “Can you escape for a moment, or do you have to stay here?”

“I can get away for a few minutes.” She accepted his arm as he led her to the only semiprivate spot within reach, near the library. He wanted to pick one of the tulips planted there but left them for others to enjoy. All he had to offer Annie was himself. That would have to be enough.

“Miss Bliss. Annie.” He had practiced what he would say at this moment, but now that the time had arrived, he couldn’t find the words.

“Yes, Jeremiah?” Her blue eyes invited intimacy.

“The first day you showed up at the fort, you set an earthquake in motion in my life. I know I’m just a used-up soldier, ready to leave the army and see what God has next for me. But you’ve opened my eyes to what God can do with a willing heart. Do you have room in your heart for someone like me? I promise I will spend my life trying to honor you and love you in the way you deserve, every day, for the rest of your life.”

Fresh tears glistened in her eyes. “Jeremiah. People told me you were a bear, but you’re a cuddly cub, one who wants to be loved. I would be honored to be that woman—whether you stay in the army or whether God leads you somewhere else.” She stepped into his embrace, raising her face to his.

Jeremiah slowly savored the taste of her lips. With God ahead of him and this woman beside him, he could move into the future, free of his past.