Free Beneath the Honeysuckle Vine by Marcia Lynn McClure Page B

you could sacrifice yourself in the name of duty or pity and break Justin Turner ’ s heart, ma ’ am, ” he rather growled as he glared at her. “ I brung him home to you . S o even though I know you ’ re mindful of Caleb — and you ’ re a good woman for it — don ’ t do anything out of pity or obligation that might find a load of souls unhappy in the end. ”
    “ Well, I don ’ t plan to, Mr. Tabor, ” Vivianna began, yanking her wrist from his surprisingly powerful grip, “ but I ’ m not right certain that it ’ s any of your nevermind anyway. ”
    “ Oh, it is indeed my nevermind, ma ’ am, ” he growled. His eyes narrowed as he glared at her. “ I was at heaven ’ s door not an hour ago…and glad to be there. ” He closed his eyes for a moment , his face donning an expression of peace. “ I could almost see the crick glistenin ’ in the sun…almost smell the prairie grasses…hear the meadowlarks. I was walkin ’ through a meadow , and everything was green and peaceful. ” He shook his head, opened his eyes, and continued, “ But then it come to me…that Caleb was thinkin ’ of marryin ’ you before the war . H e told me himself , before he was shot and sent home. ” He exhaled a heavy sigh. “ And heaven didn ’ t let me in . I t sent me back to make sure things go as they should here. ” He frowned and added, “ I won ’ t find my peace until things are as they should be where these Turner boys are concerned. ”
    “ Though I ’ m glad heaven wanted you to linger longer in life , this isn ’ t your worry to bear, ” Vivianna said. “ If you knew me at all , you ’ d know I would never marry anyone out of pity or obligation. ”
    His eyes narrowed. “ Yes, you would. ”
    Vivianna trembled slightly—for she knew he was right. Still, she wanted to convince him—wanted to offer him any manner of peace that she could. Therefore, she set the bowl and spoon down on the washbasin table and reached into her pocket. Withdrawing Justin ’ s letter, she held it toward Mr. Tabor.
    “ Do you know what this is, Mr. Tabor? ” she asked. Frowning, he took the letter from her, unfold ing its pages. “ It ’ s a letter from Justin to me…one of my favorites. I carry it with me always . E ven when we thought there was no hope of his having survived to return to us, I still carried it . E ven as we thought he was dead , I still kept it near me. ” She watched as he studied the letter for a moment. “ Put your mind at ease, Mr. Tabor. I won ’ t hurt Caleb more than necessary…but it ’ s Justin I love. ”
    Johnny Tabor folded the letter and returned it to Vivianna. She carefully returned it to her pocket.
    “ Then I ’ ve seen what I need to see…heard all I needed to hear…and I can take my rest now, ” he said.
    Vivianna ’ s heart began to pound in her bosom. Did he mean then to die? Did he feel such a sense of having finished his calling that he would simply give up the ghost?
    “ No, you cannot, Mr. Tabor! ” she scolded. Reaching out , sh e pinched him hard on the arm.
    “ Ow! ” he exclaimed, glaring at her.
    “ I know you ’ re hurt and weak, sir , ” she began . “ B ut you ’ re alive…and obviously heaven itself wants you that way! ”
    He turned his face away from her , however, mumbling, “ I ’ m tired, ma ’ am…and I own such pain in my heart, mind , and body…pain beyond understandin ’ or endurin ’ . I can ’ t even feed myself anymore. Rest is all I can think on . R est is what I need…what I want. ”
    “ What you need is a good paddlin ’ ! ” she exclaimed.
    Again Vivianna pinched him. Again he looked to her and exclaimed, “ Ow! ” Frowning , he mumbled, “ Them Turner boys never told me you were so mean. ”
    Hopping up from her chair, Vivianna stomped to her chest of drawers. Pulling open the top drawer, she rummaged around until she found the small jar of salve she kept there.
    “ Here, ” she said, returning to the bed