Melinda and the Wild West Read online

  Yes, he was her knight in shining armor and he had actually saved her from a ferocious beast and a blinding blizzard. The thought of him in shining armor made her grin.

  While she was cradled in his arms, he said softly, “Please tell me you’ll marry me, Melinda.”

  Then he pulled back to look into her eyes and she smiled and slowly nodded. “I realized I had fallen in love with you when you kissed my hand at Christmastime. During my whole vacation, I kept thinking about you and comparing other men to you and no one seemed to measure up. There was no one else who had your qualities. And then, when you kissed me at the terminal, I realized I had lost my heart to you.” She looked lovingly into his eyes and said, “Besides, Gilbert, didn’t you see that I was singing that love song to you at my recital? I thought you noticed that I was looking at you and singing only to you. Didn’t you notice?”

  As Gilbert listened, he searched her face and eyes and his heart skipped a beat. He knew at that very moment he would love her, not for just a lifetime, but for all eternity.

  “Yes, I noticed, Melinda.”

  Gilbert’s eyes trailed down to her mouth as he pulled her close to his chest and touched his warm lips to hers. He kissed her with such tenderness that warmth crept into her rosy cheeks and traveled down to the tips of her toes. The heat from his passionate kiss enveloped her from the inside out and happiness overtook her. His kiss was one of tenderness and longing as his hands caressed her back. It was the most romantic and passionate kiss she had ever felt in her life.

  Melinda knew that Gilbert had the purest love for her. She knew that Gilbert loved her unconditionally and this impressed her so much. He was not judgmental of her. He accepted her for who she was. Gilbert had let her know that her strong self-will and stubborn attitude were assets rather than weaknesses. In fact, Melinda felt their love could rise above any love in history.

  When he finally released her lips, she looked into his eyes and asked once again, “Did you really fight for me?”

  “Well, in a way. I really went there for the sole purpose of convincing you to marry me and not Henry.”

  Melinda smiled. “I’ve never had anyone fight for me before, Gilbert.”

  “Then you’re in for a real treat because I’ll never let you go ever again.”

  Chapter 27

  THE LAST TEST

  A month passed quickly. Gilbert and Jenny whistled merrily as they cleaned the house to prepare for his wedding, which was the following morning. They wanted the house to be perfectly clean for Melinda’s arrival to her new home. Gilbert swept as Jenny dusted.

  “Pa?”

  “Yes, dear?”

  “I don’t know what to call Miss Gamble when you get married tomorrow. Should I call her Ma or Mama, or should I just call her what you call her—Melinda?”

  “Whatever makes you feel the most comfortable, darlin’.”

  “Yesterday when I saw Miss Gamble, she told me that she loved me and she knew I was special from the first time she saw me.” Jenny’s voice cracked and tears formed in her eyes.

  Gilbert took a handkerchief out of his pocket and knelt down beside Jenny and wiped her cheeks dry.

  “Pa, she loved me even when I caused her bunches of trouble. She even loved me when I wouldn’t do my lessons at school and she said it was all right and she was patient with me until I was ready to do my lessons.”

  “Hmm, so you gave your new teacher heartaches?”

  “Yes, Pa. I did.”

  Gilbert chuckled as he stuffed his handkerchief in his pocket. Then he kissed Jenny on the cheek and hugged her. Just then he heard a knock at the door. When Jenny opened it, Martha walked in carrying a large bundle in her arms and a broad smile on her face.

  “Gilbert, I have made this wedding present for you. It’s a feather quilt for your bed so that your new wife won’t get cold.”

  Gilbert grinned at Martha and teasingly said, “Don’t worry about that, Martha. It’s my responsibility to keep her warm at night. She’s so cuddly that I won’t let go of her, I’m afraid.”

  Martha blushed and reprimanded him teasingly. “Gilbert!”

  “Oh, Martha, don’t act so innocent. You had this planned all along. Remember that mistletoe?”

  Martha acted innocent as usual and replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Gilbert.”

  “Martha, don’t play coy with me. I saw you set up the snack table right next to the doorway in the kitchen. I knew what you were doing. You didn’t fool me one bit.”

  Martha grinned. “Well, I had to do something. You certainly weren’t. You seemed to be too busy to court her.”

  “No, I wasn’t too busy, Martha. I was scared. It was fear that overtook me.”

  “Fear? But you’re so tough. I wouldn’t think that such a tough man would ever feel scared about anything.”

  Gilbert grinned at her compliment. “Martha, even tough guys get scared.”

  “Were you afraid of Melinda? When I noticed that you wouldn’t kiss her beneath the mistletoe, I should have realized it.”

  “Oh, no, Martha. You’re wrong. I wasn’t afraid of Melinda. I wanted to kiss her very much. I wanted to take her in my arms and kiss her more than you know but when I looked into her eyes that night, I could tell she wasn’t ready. I realized I couldn’t embarrass her. Nor could I back down after you pointed out the mistletoe. She would think I didn’t like her at all and that would be even worse than embarrassing her. So, I just kissed her hand.”

  “Oh, Gilbert. That was so chivalrous. So what were you afraid of?”

  “Myself. I was afraid of what I would do to this precious person. I didn’t want to ruin her life. Melinda was an Eastern lady and I was a rancher. I thought the two wouldn’t mix. But she helped me to realize that I was wrong.”

  “Absolutely. Look at me,” said Martha proudly. “I have fared quite well in this western world.”

  ***

  After Martha went home, she found Melinda in the most cheerful mood. Melinda’s heart soared as she remembered how Gilbert had asked Uncle William for her hand in marriage since her father was not around. School was over, and she was preparing for her wedding day. Melinda was so excited. Her parents would arrive tomorrow morning for the wedding and life could not be more perfect.

  She could not sit still, so she decided to take one last afternoon walk before her wedding day. It was May and the air smelled fresh as she strolled toward the mountains. She felt a slight breeze sift through her hair and brush across her cheeks.

  As she walked toward the woods, she watched the crystal water running down from the mountain over stones and rocks. It shimmered and sparkled in the sunlight. The sound of it was soothing and lulling to her nerves. A carpet of yellow and white wildflowers was blooming on every side of the valley and a sweet fragrance was in the air. The sunshine was pleasant on her shoulders and she could see the hand of God in every blade of grass, leaf, tree, and bud. Colorful butterflies emerged, showing off God’s handiwork. Every part of nature was a picture to behold.

  Melinda searched for a soft place to lie down. She spied a beautiful patch of weeds that looked like spearmint or catnip, yet they were taller. She noticed the leaves were heart-shaped with ragged edges that tapered to a point at the end. It looked so inviting that she collapsed upon them.

  As she lay upon her soft bed of weeds, she leaned her face into them to smell the mint fragrance, but instead of smelling like mint, it bit her nose, cheeks, eyelids and mouth. Her hands and lower arms began to sting as if bees or mosquitoes were attacking her.

  Melinda instantly jumped up and squealed in pain, looking for the insects that had bit her, but she found none at all. Her face felt as if it were on fire and her hands and arms prickled with intense pain. The pain was unbearable and she ran home to Aunt Martha as fast as she could run.

  When Martha saw the white raised blotches all over her face, she recognized it at once. “Stinging nettle,” she exclaimed. “Melinda, what did you do? Lay down ri
ght in the middle of stinging nettle? You poor girl. Let me fix you up. Go upstairs and take off your clothes so I can wash them. I will be right up to take care of you, my poor dear. I’m so sorry. And your wedding is tomorrow. Oh my, what a sight you will be. Sometimes people itch for a few hours, but I itched for twenty-four hours straight because I have sensitive skin. I suspect you will be the same, Melinda. Your skin is so fair and sensitive. You may be itching as you say the words ‘I do’ tomorrow.”

  Melinda moaned. She was in pain as she walked upstairs to her bedroom. Tears welled up in her eyes and her chest was heavy with emotion. As she looked in the mirror, she saw white itchy bumps all over her skin and her face was a sight. She groaned in despair as she rubbed her itchy arms. How could this happen to her on the eve of her wedding day, of all days? She sobbed as she looked at herself in the mirror. She just had to postpone it. There was no way she was going to look like this on the most important day of her life.

  After undressing and putting on her cream-colored nightgown, she sat on the bed as Aunt Martha proceeded to rub a mixture of baking soda and water all over her skin to relieve the itching. “I wish I had witch hazel, but this will have to do. This will soothe the itching but it won’t make it go away. I’m sorry, dear.”

  After Martha finished, Melinda looked like a white splotchy mess. When she stood and looked in the mirror, she moaned. Her stomach twisted into knots and she told Martha, “You need to call on Gilbert. Tell him I’m putting off the wedding until next week.”

  “But Melinda, what if you get better tonight?”

  “What if I don’t? I can’t cancel at the last minute. That wouldn’t be fair to Gilbert.”

  Aunt Martha could see that Melinda would not listen to reason. She sighed, “All right, dear. I’ll ride out to his place and explain to him.”

  When Martha returned home, Gilbert had come along with her on his horse. Martha led the way to Melinda’s bedroom door and then left him to talk to her. Gilbert very gently knocked on her door.

  “Melinda, it’s me, Gilbert. May I come in and talk to you?”

  Melinda gasped. “No, no. Go away, Gilbert. Please don’t come in.”

  “But I need to talk to you.”

  “I can’t let you see me like this, Gilbert. I look terrible.” Melinda began to cry and between sobs, she explained, “I’m ugly. I have white bumps all over my face and arms and hands. I have white goop all over me and I still itch.” She took a shaky breath. “Please go away, Gilbert.”

  “But Melinda, I love you no matter what you look like. Please, let me come in so we can talk.”

  “Go away, Gilbert.” This time her voice was firm.

  “Melinda, I don’t care what you look like. I’m in love with the Melinda that is inside of you. The outside doesn’t matter. I would love you no matter what you looked like.”

  “Go away, Gilbert.”

  “Please, Melinda, let me come in.”

  “No, Gilbert. Go away.”

  He listened to her as she burst into tears and began sobbing once again. Gilbert knew her stubborn nature and he knew he could not coax her into doing something that was uncomfortable. But he was just as stubborn as she was and he would not leave. He knew she was weeping and he knew she was sad and depressed. Leaving her in this state of mind and in her misery was not what he wanted to do. He had to let her know, in no uncertain terms, that he had undying and unconditional love for her. But how?

  Immediately he thought of Thomas Moore. “Melinda, I’m not leaving. I’m going downstairs and I’m coming right back.”

  Martha was in the kitchen when Gilbert entered. She looked at him with questioning eyes but he just asked her for a paper and ink and then sat down at the table to write her a love note. As he wrote, he poured his heart out to her the best way he could. He was not a romantic kind of person. He definitely was not a Thomas Moore and he knew it, but he did the best he could. This time he would not compare her to a bull as he did at the terminal, but to a delicate flower.

  A SPECIAL FLOWER

  Each flower has a different scent,

  Color, shape, and beauty of its own,

  And so does each friendship in my life.

  As I nurture and care for each flower,

  My love begins to grow.

  Each flower becomes a part of me

  And I know that my life is happier.

  But there is one special flower

  That brings me great joy.

  I love its color, shape, and scent.

  This flower makes me smile.

  This lovely flower makes me laugh.

  She gives me reason to live.

  You are my joy and my life.

  Then Gilbert wrote beneath his message, “Melinda, the wish of my heart is to hold you in my arms and comfort you when you are sad, lonely, and depressed. May I have my wish?”

  After folding the note, he marched upstairs and tapped at the door. Then he slid the note under it. He watched as the edge of the note disappeared from sight. Then Gilbert waited and waited. He paced the hall back and forth. The minutes that followed seemed like hours, and still he waited. After a while, he began to think he would have to ask for a pillow and blanket so he could stay overnight. He could not desert her at the lowest time of her life.

  Then Gilbert heard footsteps approach the bedroom door and he turned toward the sound. His heart fluttered as he waited, wondering if she had softened and would allow him to talk to her. As he watched the door open slowly, Melinda stood in her cream-colored nightgown and robe with her eyelids lowered. Her dark auburn hair was brushed out and hanging gracefully about her shoulders and her face looked like a white blotchy mess. White patches were all over her face, neck, and hands, and she stood still as if she were ashamed. When she raised her eyelids, he could see that her eyes had a forlorn and unhappy look and he knew she felt embarrassed.

  Gilbert’s heart went out to her and he immediately enfolded her in his arms and said, “Oh, Melinda. How could you ever doubt my feelings for you? You’re beautiful to me no matter what you look like.”

  Then all was silent except for a few sobs that were muffled by Gilbert’s shoulder. He held her lovingly in his arms as he stroked her silky hair with his hand and tenderly rubbed her back. The feelings he had for this woman were deep. In fact, there seemed to be no words that could adequately describe his feelings for her.

  As the wetness of her tears soaked through his shirt, he felt her anguish. “Oh, Melinda, I love you. You’re the only woman meant for me. I know this. If I traveled across the universe searching for a mate, I wouldn’t be satisfied with anyone but you.” Then he realized that Melinda’s happiness was more important to him than anything else. He could not coax her into marrying him when she felt so embarrassed.

  He cleared his throat and said tenderly, “Melinda, if you want to wait until next week to get married, I’ll wait for you… as long as it takes.”

  Gilbert held her tightly against his chest and snuggled his face into her neck. After a few seconds, he commented, “Hmmm, you smell like soda.”

  Gilbert pressed his lips against her neck and gave her a couple of tender kisses. “Mmm, you taste like soda.”

  Once again he sampled her neck a few more times, nibbling as he went, until Melinda squirmed and giggled. Quickly, she pulled away from his arms and lifted her shoulder upward so she could protect her neck.

  “Stop, Gilbert. That tickles. I’m getting goose bumps.”

  He chuckled and said with a twinkle in his eyes and a mischievous grin, “Melinda, I’ve got an idea. How about if we mix cinnamon and sugar with the soda mixture and smear it all over your face and neck? Then I’ll sample it to see how it tastes.” He licked his lips. “Mmmm, what do you think?” Then he wiggled his eyebrows mischievously.

  Melinda burst into a fit of laughter while Gilbert grinned from ear to ear as he watched her laugh.

  Then she narrowed her eyes and asked, “Gilbert, are you trying to make me forget my troubles?”


  “Is it working?” He winked at her teasingly.

  “Yes.”

  “Then in that case, I admit that I am.”

  “You mean to tell me that if it hadn’t worked, you would have denied it?”

  “Probably so, Melinda. I hate to admit to failure.”

  Melinda burst into another fit of laughter as she wrapped her arms around Gilbert’s chest and leaned her head against his shoulder. As she laughed, Gilbert wrapped his arms around her waist and chuckled. He slid his fingers through her silky auburn hair and smiled. His plan had worked and she was happy once again.

  When Aunt Martha came to the door of her room, she heard Melinda laughing and asked, “Well? What do you say, Melinda? You would disappoint more people than Gilbert if you cancel, you know.”

  Gilbert pulled back and looked into Melinda’s eyes lovingly and said, “You know how I feel, Melinda. I hate to wait, but whatever you choose is all right with me. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

  Melinda’s heart was healed and she nodded her white blotchy head and sent Gilbert on his way. She would not put off their marriage after all.

  The day of their wedding, Gilbert stood straight and tall and happiness filled his soul as he watched Melinda enter the room to be his wife for eternity. Even though he was six-feet-two inches tall, he felt taller that day.

  Gilbert took her soft warm hand in his. As they looked at one another, Gilbert seemed to hold her eyes with his compelling gaze and the message he communicated was one of devotion and adoring love.

  Melinda still had small patches of white bumps on her face and hands, but she smiled at Gilbert as she said those magical words, “I do.”

  AUTHOR’S NOTES

  Jenny’s experience with her former teacher when she was placed behind the bookshelves and the “saying” that her new teacher wrote on the board were taken from an actual experience. The children giggled at the statement, but learned what I was trying to teach them. This experience stayed with me so powerfully that I included it in my novel.

  Jenny’s fishing experience and walking with pans tied to her feet were taken from true experiences of my daughter, Felicia. As a child, she was such a cute little thing, and she still is.