*****To read Fingerprints in the Frost: Prologue, check out the post To Finish or Not to Finish.*****
“Congratulations, Darling! You and Amos make a lovely couple and I’m sure you will have many happy years of marriage.”
Elizabeth, glowing in her white dress, embraced the gushing woman.
“Thank you, Mama. You and Papa were a wonderful example to me,” her face dropped slightly, “I only wish he could have been here.”
“He would be so proud of you, Beth.” Edith smiled indulgently as Amos wandered over to the women, slipping his muscular arm around Beth’s slender form. “And I know he would have just loved Amos…and approved of your union to him.”
The young man in discussion nodded his head respectfully towards the older woman, in receipt of the compliment.
“I wish I could have met him. I am indebted to him for raising such a lovely woman, as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.” Amos gazed into his new bride’s eyes, obviously head over heels in love. Elizabeth dimpled, her cheeks turning pink to match the simple bouquet of wild prairie roses she held. Turning his attention back to his mother-in-law, Amos smiled apologetically.
“Now, if you’ll excuse us, I believe it’s time for me to whisk this young lady to her new home. Father has our horse and buggy hitched up outside and is waiting to say farewell.”
“Of course, I understand. I’m sure you are excited to show her the results of your hard work. It’s been very difficult for her to resist the urge to wander her way over to your property to watch the progress on the cabin.” Mama shook her head at her daughter’s impatience. Elizabeth just smiled sheepishly at her handsome man.
“Mama said I should let you surprise me, but it’s been so hard to wait. You’ve spent so much time over there…”
“Well, Elsie dear, see it you shall. Come.” Offering an arm to each of the ladies, Amos politely ushered them out of the tiny country chapel and towards the two waiting buggies. Another middle-aged couple approached them from around the larger buggy, exchanging quick pleasantries with the trio.
“Thank you for escorting Mama home for me.” Elizabeth acknowledged, beaming at her father-in-law. “I really appreciate it.”
“It’s our pleasure. She’s not that far out of the way home, so it only made sense to have her ride with us. You just hurry along home with Amos and enjoy the cabin. He’s got a wonderful setup out there, but it definitely needs a woman’s touch.” Charles winked at the young woman who radiated joy from the inside out.
“Amos is a good man and having a good wife beside him will help calm what few wilder ways he has managed to retain from his childhood.” The groom’s mother raised her eyebrows at her somewhat impetuous son. It was his turn to smile sheepishly at Elizabeth who pretended to gaze sternly at him, her dainty hands balled at her waist.
“I shall do my utmost to discourage those wicked ‘wild ways’ which he hasn’t yet outgrown.” Elizabeth held the fierce glare a moment longer until Amos lifted his hands in mock defeat. Breaking into a fit of giggles, she leaned into her chuckling husband. They both knew it was those impetuosities that had drawn the quiet girl to Amos and knit their hearts together in the first place.
With a few final well-wishes, the couple’s parents boarded the large buggy and waved farewell. Amos lifted Elizabeth onto the front seat and climbed in beside her, leaning towards her to snatch a quick kiss. Lifting the reins, he guided the horses out onto the well-worn path through their small country town.
Wrapped in their newlywed bliss, the two were oblivious to the Saturday afternoon wanderers and drinkers who waved cheerily to them from the sidewalk. Basking in the spring sun’s warm rays and each other’s presence, the miles passed quickly beneath the horse’s hooves accompanied by chatter about their bright future.
***
Shifting her position in the hard rocker, Elizabeth smiled fondly. How well she remembered seeing the cabin for the first time, the corners still hiding bits of sawdust missed by a man’s rough attempt at sweeping. The love Amos had poured into the sturdy structure was obvious to any who saw it, and the neat landscaping surrounding it announced to all that a woman would soon take residence.
Beyond the two acres on which the cabin and horse barn rested remained what Amos called his ‘manly territory’ to farm, hunt, fish, and otherwise use as he so envisioned. But those two choice acres had been hers to enjoy and employ as she saw fit. Visions of fruit trees, vegetable gardens, a root cellar,r and clotheslines laced with abundant children’s clothing had danced through her head and quickly became reality.
Amos had cleverly designed the unique cabin with two bedrooms branching off the open floor plan with a kitchen lining one wall and a fireplace filling the other. When they arrived home that first day, bunkbeds already lined the walls of the extra bedroom, awaiting the many children of their shared dreams. The two rockers in front of the fireplace soon proved to be the couple’s favorite place to spend a rainy afternoon or chilly evening, reminiscing over fond memories and dreaming of their future.
Elizabeth could almost smell the many pans of popcorn and hot cider they had warmed over the fire to accompany their reminiscing. They had been a happy duo for almost a year and a half. Her dainty cheerfulness alongside his sturdy, fun-loving personality…a match made in heaven.
Then the morning sickness began.
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