Love Rules (20 page)

“Oh no, ma’am.” Maggie shook her head, ready to refuse such a generous offer.

“I couldn’t do that. Besides, I can’t walk out of the church in that dress,” Maggie cried, a tear slipping down her cheek. “Everyone would know what we done.”

“Oh, child, I wish I could help you in some way. You are such a beautiful young woman, and that baby is a sweetie pie. Just look at her, she sits playing like a little angel. Looks a lot like you, and has Jesse’s eyes. I will keep her for you after the wedding…so you and Jesse can…well, you know.” Helga chuckled.

Maggie knew control was slipping, but this woman was so kind, so giving, so understanding, she couldn’t refuse. She’d just have to temper Jesse. That’s all.

And herself.

As the men were going to be a long time in loading the wagon Maggie and Helga talked forever. Helga told Maggie all about the old country of Sweden.

Maggie told Helga of the struggles of the black people like her mother in the United States.

Soon Helga got up and went to the back room, then came out with a strange but beautiful box.

She handed it to Maggie. “I want you to have it.”

“What is this?” Maggie asked seeing the beautiful artwork on the wood, and opening it finding it empty.

“It is for when you marry. You can place your jewelry, your gloves, and your hair ribbons, anything you want to keep in it. It is for when you marry.” Helga smiled. “That is the purpose, a gift.”

“Oh please, you have been so nice to me. I cannot accept all of this,” Maggie said, surprised and overwhelmed all at the same time.

“It is a gift, something old, for your wedding. I had that box at my wedding. It is very old. It’s been passed down through many generations.” Helga touched the box as though it were more precious than a jewel.

There was no way that Maggie could tell her that she had no gloves, no jewelry, nothing special. But Helga rose up once more. “I almost forgot.”

“What now?” Maggie asked afraid the woman would offer her the house next.

“You must have a veil,” Helga said.

“But no, no more, please.” Maggie cried real tears once more. “You are such a generous woman. I cannot take another thing.”

“Oh, but you must,” Helga insisted, looking at her as though she’d lost her mind. “A bride cannot take the sacred vows without a veil, and I have one for you.” Helga smiled. “It is so lovely. You will love it.”

When Helga saw the distress on Maggie’s face, she shook her head and cradled her in her arms as Abby came to comfort her, too. “Child, you’ve never been married, have you?”

“No ma’am.”

“Then let me do this right for you, yah?” Helga smiled. “From this day forward, if you need help, if you need guidance, if you need anything, you come to me. I will do my best to make everything perfect for you, just as I would if you were my daughter.”

“But why would you want to?” Maggie cried. “I really don’t understand.”

Helga got a faraway look in her eyes and then stared into Maggie’s innocent face. “Once long ago, I was in the same predicament. My family disowned me, for Henry and I had had a child out of wedlock. I was ousted on the street to live like a tramp, but Henry took me to one of his old maid aunts. Her name was Theo, and she had never married. She was about fifty or sixty. No one knew for sure how old she was.

“She had a severe look about her, but she was one of the kindest, sweetest women I ever knew. She took one look at me, and like me seeing you, she fell in love with me, and she said I had to have this very dress, this very veil and this svepask that I give you now. And I cried like you. One, because I loved my Henry so much, and two, because this total stranger took pity on me and wanted me to have something nice. So I married Henry that very evening, in this very dress and veil. And as we were leaving the church she whispered in my ear, “As I have done for you, you must do for another. Then I understood. Goodness is meant to be passed on. Shared. You make me so happy because I can share it. It’s like a dream come true. I must do this, just like you will someday too.”

Maggie was astonished “Oh my, Helga.”

“Yes, it is true. I do for you, because you are a family and yet in the eyes of man you are not. So we must make it all come right, the right way. And see…I have been married thirty-five years this spring. I have four wonderful sons, and you will complete my life by taking this dress and this veil and wearing it. Because you see, I must do for another, as Aunt Theo said. You see, Aunt Theo had never had the pleasure of marriage, but she had so dreamed of it. So much so, she had bought the very dress she wanted to wear, and the veil. But there was no one for her. However, God must have blessed her repeatedly for her generosities, as she was truly one of the kindest people I know. And very happy in her old age.

Everyone that knew her loved her. Therefore, my dear you must wear the dress, and live happily as I have done. It was her wish to pass happiness from one person to another. It is a custom, and you cannot break it.”

“And, would it be all right if I pass this dress down to Abby one day?” Maggie asked through a flood of tears.

“I think it would be very all right.” Helga smiled. She went to get the veil and came back. It was so lovely. It had embroidered white flowers along the edges and could be worn many different ways. As she stood in the dress, Helga made a few adjustments. She spread the veil out, and it went to the floor and dragged along side her dress in the back. Maggie looked in the mirror and could not believe it was her.

“Come, we must fix the men some food and you must tell me all about this great war we have just gotten over. For my husband and I never understood it.

Perhaps with your help, I will come to understand, some of it at least.”

Maggie wasn’t sure she was interested in the war, but she indulged her as they peeled potatoes and made potato balls out of them. Maggie knew she must have some recipes from this woman who knew so much about life.

Abby played contentedly on the floor as they stepped over her to go by. She giggled every now and then and played peek-a-boo with them.

“She’s an adorable child, and she has such lovely hair, like you.”

Maggie couldn’t help the slight frown. “I want to cut my hair, but I have no scissors.”

“I have some. We’ll tend to that after we eat, then.” Helga smiled.

“You treat me like one of your own. Thank you, Helga,” Maggie cried out.

“I know enough. I see what a person you are in your eyes. You have been through much pain and sorrow. You have the promise of a better life, with Jesse.

He’s a good man, your Jesse. Best neighbor we have, yah.”

Maggie smiled.

After dinner Helga cut Maggie’s hair. It was still long, it just didn’t drag past her waist any longer. Jesse noticed it and smiled.

“Well, if you two are to be married tomorrow, then Maggie should stay with us.

It’s bad luck to see your betrothed until you’re married,” Helga said with a smile.

“Oh, no, really, that would be too much.” Maggie trembled slightly from all the fuss.

Jesse nodded. “That’s fine with me. Just remember to come through the back of the church. It’s the Baptist church at the end of town. Be there at six.”

Jesse was going to leave her. Maggie felt her face grow hot. But he came up to her and kissed her quickly on the lips before she could protest. “It’ll be fine, Maggie. Humor them. They are good people.”

Maggie was left with her mouth hanging open.

The next day Helga fussed with the dress for Maggie and Abby ran about the cabin. “You’ve done so much, really!” Maggie began.

Helga fastened it and smiled at her, then turned the floor mirror around so Maggie would see herself. Helga had stayed up through the night to get the dress sewn and ready, so she and Maggie had talked for a long while. She was the first woman Maggie had been able to talk to, and she quickly realized how much she missed female companionship.

“I’m not sure I can do this. I’m trembling so,” Maggie admitted as she tried the dress on after Helga altered it.

It fit so divinely that Helga gasped. “You are so beautiful, my dear.” She smiled at her, as a mother would her daughter.

“It’s the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen, Helga,” Maggie cried. “Anyone would be beautiful in this.”

Abby came in and clapped her hands, and everyone laughed.

However, when Helga put the veil on her head and showed her the mirror, Maggie gasped. “I’m not sure I deserve this Helga, not after all I’ve done.” Maggie had confided in Helga about her part in the war.

“I never dreamed I’d ever be a bride,” she cried aloud. “Not like this!”

“It will be a fine wedding!” Helga reassured her and hugged her. “And the war, my dear, is over.”

***

Jesse had gotten a glimpse of the dress and realized that the Jenkinses meant to do the wedding up properly, so he wanted to clean up well for Maggie. He took out his straight razor and stropped it good, then shaved as closely as he could. At the creek he lathered himself with lye soap and bathed. In his closet he searched for something decent to wear. Jesse was never a big dresser. He worked too hard

and too much to worry with such. This was a special occasion and from the looks of it, Maggie would be dolled up. Therefore, he had to put forth some kind of effort. He found the only suit he ever owned, for going to funerals. He pulled it out and dusted it off. He took it outside and hung it on the line to air out. He had one white shirt, and he would wear that with a string bolero tie. Not real fancy, but not too bad. No one ever looked at the groom anyway.

He wondered how Maggie felt about this day. Was he getting through to her, yet? He reflected on the past and sighed. He had shown her how much he loved her once, but that was love of the body. He wanted to show her exactly how much he cared, and that he intended to spend the rest of his life with her. When it was time, he gathered the wagon, and headed into Bright Star—two churches, three saloons, a dry goods place, and a feed and grain—that was about all. They were supposed to get a post office soon. Still, he went the back way, not wanting to call attention to himself. Anyone who knew him would quickly realize he was quite dressed up and begin asking questions.

He tied his rig in the back of the church. Another wagon was there. He hoped no one wandered that direction. He glanced at the whiteboard church with its tall steeple and huge bell imported from New York. Stained glass adorned the windows, with pictures of Jesus and angels. Beautiful work. Jesse had helped install those windows before he went to war.

Sheriff Townsend, a tall, big man with sandy hair and a mustache, opened the back door. “Let’s get this done, boy.”

Jesse had known and been friends with Tucker most of his life. Tucker made a great sheriff because everyone respected him, and he kept the law in Bright Star.

Jesse looked up and went to shake hands with him. “Tucker, it’s been a while.”

“Yeah, it has. Glad to see you made it back from that dang old war.” Tucker adjusted his tie and shook hands with him. Tucker Townsend stood almost six-foot-five and towered over most. His gray, piercing eyes studied Jesse for a moment. “You sure about this? I mean, she’s a beauty to behold, but you are gonna have nine kinds of hell. You know that, don’t ya?”

Jesse nodded. “I know what you’re thinkin’, but I’ll do everything I can to keep things peaceable. And you might as well know, I’ve done killed a few because of it.”

Tucker looked at him. “I’d have been surprised if you hadn’t. But maybe I better tell you, they are sending Union troops over to Greenville as the county has been fightin’ its own personal war there. One of the state’s most highly respected citizens has been fueling ex-Confederates back from Arkansas. He’s got them all riled up about the Negroes and is trying to really do some damage. It’s a good thing the Federals were called out. Otherwise, the people of the town would have had to get involved, and no tellin’ what would have happened. The preacher told me that’s where Miss Maggie is from. If they find out she’s here, which some may have already, it could bring trouble. Just wanted to let you know that it’s a crazy place to be for you and her. This wedding is legal, as the Negroes have been freed, and I’ll respect that, uphold it, even, but you got to know it’s going to bring trouble. Why don’t you just live together and forget this, ceremony?” Tucker suggested kindly.

“‘Cause that baby in there is mine, Tucker, and I aim to claim her and more of the same. I want a family. I love Maggie and Abby. Doesn’t matter what color she is or what was done. I was there too, Tucker. I know. And I want more, more for me and more for them. I love her, Tucker. I’m a Christian, and we should be married by all that’s holy,” Jesse said, looking Tucker in the eye.

“Who’d you kill?” Tucker’s frown hardened on him.

“No one from around here. Some remnants of the war,” Jesse said, coming inside the church and closing the door. “Looks like there might be a lot of drifters this way.”

“Well, try to stay within the law because you’ll have the U.S. Army to answer to if you don’t.” Tucker’s frown grew.

“‘Fraid so. I guess because you’re the law, I better be tellin’ you she’s the Black Widow.”

“A spider?” Tucker twisted his head.

“No, a spy,” Jesse corrected, forgetting Tucker hadn’t been in the war. “She was a spy for the North, and there are those that want to see her dead. I aim to stop that.”

Tucker studied on Jesse’s admission for a long moment. “Then it might be a good thing the Army is so nearby. If worse comes to worst, you can call on them to help and protect her.”

“That’s a little bit of an idea, isn’t it? Thanks, Tucker. I’ll keep that in mind,”

Jesse said.

Tucker shut his mouth and seemed to ponder the news as they continued into the back chapel. No one was there.

“Where is everyone?” Jesse asked, glancing around. He loved his church.

Inside the church was simple but had one huge cross hanging over the pulpit.

Reverend Daniels had prided himself with that at his own expense.