Beneath a Southern Sky Read online

  She sat, transfixed at his words. “Oh, Cole,” she breathed. It was the first time he had spoken of marriage.

  “I’m sorry, Daria. That wasn’t fair.” His voice shook with emotion.

  “Is it true?” she breathed.

  “That I want to marry you? That I love Natalie like my own? That since I met you, I’ve never been so happy in my life? Oh, Daria, of course it’s true! Are you blind? I love you. I think I’ve loved you since the first day I saw you.”

  “Oh, Cole…”

  Then they were in each other’s arms, she crying, he apologizing over and over. “I’m sorry, Daria. I’m so sorry. I’m only making this harder for you. My timing stinks. This isn’t how I wanted to ask you.”

  “No.” She leaned back and looked at him, put a hand on his cheek. “Maybe you’re giving me my answer.”

  He brushed a tear from her face with his thumb. “I don’t want to hurry you, Daria. I admire the way you’ve been so careful not to rush into anything. I want you to have all the time you need—to get over Nate, to make sure about your calling, whatever it is. To make sure…you feel the same way about me.”

  He took her face in his hands and kissed her, his touch both tender and urgent.

  She responded with more tears. “Oh, Cole, I’m so happy. I didn’t know—”

  “Hey, shh, shh. Don’t cry. It’s nothing to cry about, for Pete’s sake.”

  She laughed through her tears, and he pushed her away gently and looked at his watch. “It’s almost midnight. Your landlady is going to start flashing the porch light at us.”

  She giggled.

  “Come on. I’ll walk you to the door. You’ve got a lot to think about. Do you want me to pick you up for church in the morning?”

  “Sure. Just not the early service, okay?”

  “Definitely.”

  He leaned over to kiss her again. “I love you so much, Daria.”

  “Oh, Cole, I lo—”

  He cut her off with a gentle hand to her lips. Then tenderly, but sternly, he told her, “Don’t say it just because I did. Make sure, Daria. I don’t want to hear it if you’re just going to break my heart someday. I want to hear it—oh, how I want to hear those words from your lips—but please don’t say it until you’re absolutely sure.”

  She nodded and, feeling chastened, lowered her gaze.

  He put a finger under her chin and lifted it toward his face. “I’ll see you in the morning?”

  She nodded again. Then he was off the porch and driving away before she could respond.

  She climbed the stairs and unlocked the door to her apartment. The letter was still lying on the table in the dining area. Daria walked past it and went to the closet to hang up her coat.

  One lovely thought rang through her head: Colson Hunter wanted to marry her.

  He loved her. He loved Natalie like his own child. Her mind was suddenly crystal clear. She loved this man. She wasn’t a schoolgirl. She knew what love was. She had known a true, abiding love with Nathan Camfield, and what she felt for Cole was every bit as deep and mature and right. She didn’t need to ask anyone for advice on this. This she knew more surely than she’d known anything in a very long while.

  She went over to the dining table and picked up the letter. She unfolded it slowly and forced her eyes to skim the paragraphs. But she did not try to analyze the words any longer—they had no meaning for her after what Cole had told her.

  God had given her her answer. She would be loved again. Her daughter would have a father. She would know true happiness once more. She couldn’t have dreamed of a more perfect answer. Soon she would hold Cole’s hands and speak the words she’d wanted so badly to say to him tonight—I love you too, Colson Hunter.

  That night Daria dreamed the same dream she’d had the night before. It seemed so real that she could almost smell the dank floor of the rain forest. She felt that if she opened her eyes she’d find herself in Timoné, that Nate would be standing in front of her and she could reach out and touch him.

  Then Nate’s face melted into Cole’s, and Daria startled, fully awake now. The clock on the nightstand read 9:30 A.M. Beside it, Nate stared at her from the framed photograph. She could feel her heart thumping beneath the thin flannel of her nightgown.

  She threw her legs over the side of the bed and sat up, breathing hard.

  Disoriented and agitated, she grabbed the frame that contained Nathan’s picture and opened the pocket door that led from her room to Natalie’s. Her daughter had spent the night with her parents, but the crib still held the faint scent of her.

  Daria set the photograph on Natalie’s dresser and picked up a rumpled baby quilt. She held it to her nose for a minute, studying Nate’s picture, fighting a menacing feeling that she couldn’t identify.

  Then she dropped the quilt into the crib, walked back through her bedroom, and down the hall to the shower.

  Her parents would be bringing Natalie home in twenty minutes, and Cole would come by to pick them up for church shortly after that. She desperately needed to see him. She needed to be with someone who loved her. Someone who was real and alive.

  Daria slid the silver ribbon off the box and carefully peeled the tape from the shiny foil wrapping. “A Christmas present already? Cole, are you sure you don’t want me to wait?” she asked him for the second time.

  “Daria! Would you just open the package,” he laughed. “You’ll understand when you see what it is.”

  She folded the paper neatly and set it on the sofa beside her, then she lifted the lid on the shiny white box. “Oh!” she gasped, when she saw what was inside. “Cole! You didn’t! You remembered!” She took the little ceramic cottage from the box and held it in the palm of her hand, admiring it.

  “Do you like it?”

  “You know I do! I love it.”

  “I couldn’t afford the whole village, but it’s a start.” He knelt down beside her and took out the little brochure that was folded up in the box. He spread it out on her lap, pointing to a photograph of the display she had seen in the gift shop the day they’d gone shopping for Natalie. “There are forty-eight pieces in this collection, Daria. This is the first one.” He took her hand and squeezed it tightly. “If God answers my prayers, there will come a Christmas someday when I’ll have to choose something else to give you because this whole village will already be twinkling on our mantel.”

  Her heart quickened and tears stung her eyes as she realized the implication of what he’d said.

  “I’m not asking for an answer, Daria,” he told her just as he had that first night he’d declared his love. “I’m just telling you what my heart desires.”

  And in that moment, she knew for certain that—even though the memory of Nathan was still heavy, and maybe always would be—her heart longed for the very same thing.

  She set the cottage aside, put her arms around him, and buried her face in his shoulder. Then she pulled away to look at him, to make sure that he could read her words in her eyes as well as hear them from her lips. “I love you, Cole. I love you with all my heart.”

  Fifteen

  The highways were clear, but the ditches and fields as far as the eye could see were covered with snow. The canted afternoon light painted Maxfield Parrish shadows on the canvas of snow, and the beauty of the scene took Daria’s breath away. It was one week before Christmas, and she and Cole were headed to Wichita for an evening out.

  “Where do you want to eat?” he asked her now.

  “I really don’t care, Cole. You decide. I chose last time.”

  “Can you remember that far back?” he said with a sigh.

  “I know,” she told him. “It does seem like it’s been forever since we had a chance to go out together.”

  He reached over to take her gloved hand. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Mmm. Me, too. Maybe we could—”

  The sharp blare of Cole’s pager interrupted her. “No!” Daria groaned. How many times she had wanted to toss th
at interloper out the window. But he was a vet, and she had resigned herself to the fact that it was a part of his life.

  Cole checked the message. “It’s Bill Wyler.”

  Cole dialed his cell phone, and Daria listened while he talked to the rancher.

  “Bill,” Cole said. “Okay…how long has she been that way?” Another pause. “Well, it’ll be another half-hour before I can get there. No, it’s okay. You did the right thing. Yep. I’ll see you.”

  Cole powered down his cell phone and put it back on the console. He turned to Daria with a hangdog expression on his face. “I’m sorry, Daria.”

  “I know, I know. I understand. I’m just disappointed, that’s all.”

  “Do you want me to take you home or to your folks’?” Daria’s parents were baby-sitting.

  “Could I go with you?” she asked, brightening at the thought.

  He looked surprised. “Sure. If you want to.” He looked at the soft corduroy slacks and sweater she was wearing. “I don’t have time to take you home to change though.”

  “Maybe Bill will let me borrow a pair of coveralls.”

  He smiled. “I like your attitude, woman.”

  “I’m learning, I’m learning…”

  They spent the next hours in the chilly barn on Wyler’s ranch, delivering twin calves and then trying frantically to save the smallest one. They almost lost the little fellow, but after an hour of working with him, the calf responded, struggling to stand on wobbly legs and finally nursing greedily beside his sister. Oblivious to the cold and exhilarated by their success, Daria and Cole cheered and whooped and gave each other high-fives.

  Bill had left to feed his cattle, so Daria and Cole were alone in the barn. Cole grabbed her gloved hands across the metal fence of the stall, and his eyes held hers with an urgency that made her heart beat double time.

  “Marry me, Daria.” His voice was winsomely demanding. “Just marry me and I’ll be the happiest man alive.”

  It was all she’d wanted since the night of the symphony. “Yes, Cole. Oh, yes.”

  She gave her answer without a second thought. It was an answer to a prayer she hadn’t even prayed yet.

  Christmas Day dawned cold but clear. The skies of Kansas had cooperated beautifully, unfurling a fresh blanket of snow over the state the night before. The sun sparkled on the fields and on the rooftops of the farm buildings, almost blinding Cole and Daria as they drove up the long lane that led to the Haydon farm. Natalie chattered happily in her car seat behind them.

  “Looks like Jason and Brenda beat us here,” Daria said, spotting her brother’s two boys throwing snowballs in the backyard.

  Cole parked the car, but before he cut the engine, he turned to Daria. “You nervous?” he asked.

  “A little,” she admitted. “But I think they’ll all be thrilled with our news.”

  “Even your dad?”

  “Cole,” she chided. “You know Dad thinks you hung the moon.”

  “Yeah, but you’re still his little girl. I know how I’m going to feel the day some young whippersnapper wants to take Nattie away from us.”

  “Quit it! I don’t even want to think about that day.” She reached over and patted his arm with a gloved hand. “Come on, let’s get this over with.”

  Laden with gifts, two cherry pies, and a tightly wound Natalie, they made their way up the freshly shoveled path to the back door.

  Jason met them in the mud room, eyeing the stack of packages Daria balanced in one arm. “Hey, sis. Let me take those off your hands. Is my name on one of these?”

  “That depends,” she teased her brother. “Were you a good boy this year?”

  Margo, wearing a festive apron, appeared from the kitchen. “Merry Christmas! Here, honey, let me get those pies. Jason, did you check on the boys?”

  “We just saw them,” Cole interjected. “They’re fine. They’re playing in the snow.”

  Daria’s father came and snatched Natalie from Cole’s arms. “Hey, squirt!” he said, tickling the little girl under the chin. “Did Santy Claus visit your house last night?”

  Natalie giggled as her grandfather helped her out of her coat and mittens and took her off to see the Christmas tree.

  The house was fragrant with the aromas of freshly roasted turkey, pumpkin pie spices, and the massive Scotch pine that Erroll had grown from a seedling and brought in from the pasture just last week.

  After dinner, they sat around the table, groaning even as they took a second slice of pie or one more of Margo’s famous dinner rolls.

  Finally Daria glanced at Cole, and he gave her a look that said, Now? She nodded imperceptibly, and Cole cleared his throat.

  “Well, everybody…” The entire table turned to look at him while Daria sat beaming at his side. “Daria and I have an announcement to make.”

  “I knew it!” her brother crowed.

  “Jason!” Daria laughed. “You don’t even know what Cole’s going to say.”

  “Want to bet?” he challenged with a grin.

  “That’s one you’d probably win,” Cole laughed, while everyone else held their breath. He looked around the table, and Daria thought he was enjoying the moment. “Well,” he told them, drawing out the suspense. “If you were betting that I was going to tell you that Daria and I are getting mar—”

  Before he could finish, the table erupted in cheers and happy laughter. Even Natalie clapped her pudgy hands together. Margo wept for joy, and Daria thought she even saw a tear in her father’s eye.

  Jason and Brenda smiled smugly. “I just knew you two would end up getting hitched,” Jason said. He reached out to shake his future brother-in-law’s hand. “Congratulations, Cole. You take good care of her now, you hear.”

  Cole put an arm around Daria. “I’ll do my best—but sometimes this woman has a mind of her own.”

  “You don’t have to tell me that,” Jason countered.

  “Hey! Watch it, you two,” Daria chided. But it warmed her heart to see how easily Cole fit into her family.

  If only it would be so easy to tell Nathan’s parents. So far the Camfields had only met Cole once and since then had politely declined every invitation of Daria’s that included him. Though they were planning a small family wedding, their engagement would be big news in Bristol. And once word got out, Daria knew the Cam-fields would eventually hear it. It wouldn’t be right for them to find out through the grapevine.

  Later that evening, as the family cleaned up their leftovers, Daria pulled Cole aside.

  “I’m going to call Jack and Vera,” she said, leading him to the extension phone in the guest bedroom. “Do you want to be in on this?”

  He stopped in his tracks and held up his palms. “No, thank you.”

  “Chicken,” she teased, more nervous than she let on.

  “Are you going to tell them over the phone?”

  She shook her head. “No, I’m just going to invite them to dinner. I think I should tell them in person.”

  He turned more serious now. “Good idea. But really, Daria, I don’t think I need to be in on this. To put it mildly, Jack and Vera don’t seem very comfortable with me.”

  She took his arm. “Okay. But stay here. I need your handsome face for moral support.” She planted a kiss on his cheek and lifted the receiver.

  While she waited for an answer, Cole reached for her hand.

  “Vera? Merry Christmas!” she said, forcing cheerfulness into her voice.

  “Oh, hello, Daria. Did you have a nice holiday?”

  “Very nice. We’re still at my folks’, actually.”

  “Well, we certainly got our white Christmas, didn’t we?”

  “Yes, isn’t it beautiful?”

  “Jack is out shoveling the rest of the driveway right now. We’ve had almost six inches, and it’s still coming down a little. Now where is my little girl?”

  “She’s by the Christmas tree—playing with the wrapping paper, I think,” Daria chuckled.

  “Oh, isn’t
that the way it always is?” Vera exclaimed. “Well, let me talk to her.”

  “Of course, but actually… I was calling to invite you—and Jack, of course—to join me for a late Christmas dinner. Would you be able to come next Sunday?” Daria flashed Cole a smile.

  “Why, that’s very nice of you, Daria. We’d love to come.” There was a pause, and then Vera’s voice became guarded. “Your friend… Dr. Hunter… isn’t going to be there, is he?”

  “No, it will just be Natalie and me.” Daria rolled her eyes at Cole.

  “Well, we’d love to come.”

  “Wonderful. Let me get Natalie. I know she’ll be happy to hear your voice.”

  She motioned to Cole, and he went to retrieve the toddler so she could stare at the receiver while her grandmother made baby talk from the other end.

  Balancing three bowls of Rocky Road ice cream with the grace of a former waitress, Daria emerged from her kitchen. With a free elbow, she pushed Natalie’s half-eaten bowl of spaghetti from the edge of the highchair tray as she passed by. Then she set two of the desserts in front of her former parents-in-law and one at her own place.

  “After that delicious meal, I don’t have room for another bite, Daria,” Jack Camfield groaned. “But I guess I’ll choke it down if I must.” He laughed at his own joke, and Daria joined in nervously.

  The clock on their evening together was ticking, and still she had not found an opening to tell the Camfields of her impending marriage.

  She couldn’t let them leave without knowing. She felt deceitful, having left the diamond Cole had given her—the one she ordinarily wore so proudly—in her jewelry box that morning.

  Poking her spoon at her ice cream, she took a deep breath and plunged in. “Vera, Jack. I have something I need—something I want—to tell you.”

  Vera turned toward her, her heavily penciled brows raised in innocent interest. This was going to be harder than Daria thought.

  “I—Well, I have an announcement to make. As you know, Cole and I have been dating for a while now.”