Destiny's Bride Read Free Page A

reflected the lightness of her heart. With no desire for the night to end, Cecile paused to rub the nose of an old mare tethered to a covered buggy.  Up ahead, her mother’s voice elevated in laughter, and Cecile hurried to catch up before Father scolded her for dawdling.
    Harvey Palmer’s heavy footsteps shivered the planks of the old walkway as the trio passed by the mercantile, heading for the end of Main Street, where they lived. Lively laughter rang out behind them as the social hall emptied and others departed. A pang of melancholy plucked at Cecile, her sadness growing. The dance had ended far too soon for her liking.
    “I notice that a particular young man monopolized most of your evening, Cecile. I didn’t recognize him. Who was he?”  Her father halted to light a cigar.
    As expected, the conversation turned to the subject she dreaded discussing. She hesitated before answering, certain her father would find fault with Walt’s breeding. There was no use avoiding the topic. Tomorrow, when he met with Walt and his aunt about the loan, her father would learn the truth anyway. Why not show her interest in the mystery man?
    “His name is Walt Williams, and he’s here visiting his aunt for a few days at her boarding house.” Cecile’s tone bordered on defensive.
    She turned to her mother. “He’s really very nice. Can I invite him to Sunday supper, can I please, Momma, please, please?”
    “Now, Cecile, I…”
    “No! That wouldn’t be proper.” Her father expressed his opinion in a most resounding manner, leaving his wife with her mouth gaping. “After all, you’ve just met and we know very little about him.” With Father’s deep inhalation, the tip of his cigar flickered deep red.
    Cecile considered begging her father to change his mind, but that’s what he expected. Instead she choked back her usual emotional outburst and cast a pleading look at her mother. The trio paused inside the gate of the picket fence surrounding their house.
    “Now, Harve,” Mrs. Palmer said, gazing up at her husband, “there’s no better way to get to know a young man than to invite him for a meal. What harm can come from it? After all, Cecile is nineteen and old enough for us to trust her judgment. I think it’s a fine idea.”
    Her father walked up on the porch and unlocked the door, mumbling something under his breath about Cecile being able to do much better. Usually, when she and her mother joined forces, he didn’t have a leg to stand on, but still Cecile crossed her fingers for luck as she joined him on the stoop. It only took puppy-dog eyes for him to relent.
    Resisting the urge to jump up and down like a little girl, Cecile instead held her happiness in check. “Thank you, Father, I know you’ll really like him.” She used her most restrained voice, trying to display the maturity her mother had pointed out.
    Inside, she kissed both parents goodnight and scurried upstairs. While changing into her nightclothes, she giggled over getting her father’s approval to invite Walt to dine. She jumped into bed and snuggled deep under the covers, almost too excited to sleep. Thoughts of dancing with him flashed through her mind, and she wrapped her arms around her body, trying to recapture the feeling of his embrace. When sleep finally came, her last conscious thought was of his deep blue eyes.
     
    ***
     
    Walt halted the buggy in front of the boarding house and helped his aunt down. A single lamplight shone through the living room window of the white two-story structure, and even in moonlight, one could clearly see that the front yard was neatly trimmed. A shingle bearing “Rooms to Let” dangled over the door.
    Walt heard little of Aunt May’s chattering on the ride home.  His was lost in thought about Cecile, still enjoying her sweet smell and the recollection of holding her in his arms.   With his mind elsewhere, he almost tripped over the black cat that darted past him on his way up the front