14

The Next day Dawned bright and with a few white fluffy clouds. Nathan took the gift tied a red ribbon on it think how much she would love it! The next day dawned bright with a few white fluffy clouds. Nathan took the gift with him when he walked to the garden. Martha was no where in sight he waited and waited still no smiling girl showed up. Almost in disappear he trudged to the house that he had followed her to the other day. There he found Martha Lily hanging dripping wet clothes on the line she had on an apron of lavender her hair was pulled back into two braids with a handkerchief on her head. Nathan reached in front of her with a rose and a music box in his hands. Martha gasped and turn around to face him, Nathans arms still around her. "I forgot Ian I am so sorry I have to work late at the house." He smiled and brought the gift in front of her again. She took it in her hands as her eyes glistened. Martha undid the red ribbon gracefully she smelled the rose. Smiling, she opened the box and as the figure twirled around Martha's eyes brimmed with gleaming tears. "Thank you so much I love it!" she blinked back the tears and then stepped she simply walk up the porch steps and laid the box down with care on the a small table. Walking back to her clothes basket she took out a dress and hung it on the line. "Martha, will you tell me the rest of your story, while you work?" To Martha's surprise Nathan picked up a pair of pants and attempted to hang them on the line. "Yes, Ian, I will. The house began to look like a real home I felt just like a mother hen with all her chicks. I worked at Joseph's most of the time taking the children with me to help out some. Joseph taught Philip how to hunt, trap, and fish. I finally felt I could again breath all was safe and smooth sailing was ahead." Martha sighed as she put three loaves of bread in the stove. Turning she started on the pile of dirty dishes.

"About two months after I got my family I went to town to visit and elderly lady. I often went to visit and help her, for she was old, lonely, and nice. I walked past the train station and saw Christopher I was elated I ran to greet him but right before I reached him a young woman, in the latest Paris fashion, took his arm and they laughed together. Next they started walking down the street toward me. I thought well I will turn and run maybe he won't notice me, I was to late he saw me and called out. "Miss Martha, what a pleasant surprise to see you here."

As he neared me my face grew red "How do you do Mr. Taylor?" was my graceful reply.

13 it keeps gong and going!!!

Nathan sat up, reached out a hand to help her up. "I have to go, Than."
"I'll see you tomorrow, Lily."
"No, Than," she avoided his eyes "not tomorrow but the day after." Martha Lily waved goodbye as she Merrily trip her way down the path toward her home. Nathan gather up the basket his socks and shoes and headed for the boarding house just as the first stars pop out.

Nathan woke to rain pounding the window. His mood fit the weather perfectly. taking up a book he found he could not concentrate the words became muddled tossing it aside he tried to write some letters but all he could write was Martha Lily over and over he gave up and put down the pen. Finally after pacing a while he decided to visit the small town that he grew up in. He found his umbrella he headed out the door the rain reminded him of Martha and how she would want to dance in it.

Entering a store his eye was drawn to a small music box he instantly picked it up opening it he found a small figure twirling around to the song adelvice (sorry can't spell) he thought how Martha had danced that first morning he saw her he had to buy this for her.

12

At his words I jumped up and spun around in pure joy landing with a laugh on the rug in front of the fire. The next day I met the young ones at the door I scooped little Annabelle up and kissed her cheek saying "I'am coming home! we had a jolly old time of it I tell you ,Ian, I have never danced and cheered so much!" Joseph was really a dear sweet man he let me have every Tuesday off. I started in on the house cleaning it all up. Between my pay and Thomas pay we found enough money to buy a little paint.

Martha closed her eyes. Nathan watch her every move waiting for her to continue with her story then he realized she was asleep As the sun kissed her peaceful face and made her shine he found his own eyes growing heavy with sleep. He awoke to find her still asleep with a smile on her face seeing the sun lowering itself in the sky Nathan gently grasped her arm Martha's blue eyes opened wide looking straight into his hazel eyes she smiled wider as she turned on her side and moved her hands to under her head. "I had the most wonderful dream" she spoke in a sleep filled quiet voice.
"What was it Lily where you walking on water?"
"I was hopping from cloud to cloud when I fell through one I was falling, falling, falling then I was floating not falling. I landedon a tree all green with spring buds I sat on a branch when bird flew by and dropped a rose in my lap. It was all so beautiful and real feeling" Martha sat up and took in a deep breath.

11

Worry sprang into my eyes "Is something wrong?"

"Lets go somewhere we can sit and talk. Its about pa" my brother said as he took my elbow and led me to the near by restaurant.

As soon as the coffee was poured he Thomas started talking "Pa threw Annabelle against the wall then when he realized what he did he took off and hasn't returned. Last night the sheriff came by and said they found him dead in the back of the saloon," Thomas said the last part with no emotion. "Martha, I can't care for the children." I bit my bottom lip trying to think of a plan "bring Philip, Amelia, and Annabelle to my house tomorrow we will figure it all out then."

That evening I was darning a sock furiously as I rocked in the rocking chair. "What's gat yourins lip tinight" Joseph spat a woad of tobacco into the fire as he spoke.

"Will you let me bring my siblings here so I can care for them?" I blurted out.
"Don't wanna no mop head littlins' running round hare" he looked at her and then around the house as he bit another chew "But I's spects I kin let ya live at yers home and work fer me"

10

"Come on Ian the waters wonderful."
No one has ever called me Ian before he marveled at the rivulets of water running down her bright face. He kicked off his shoes and socks and joined her they laughed and splashed for an hour he got out and laid in the warm, sweet smelling grass. She got out and laid not that far away "It was a necklace"
"what?"
"The gift Chris gave me it was a necklace. As he hooked it around my neck he said "I am going away on a trip soon and when I come return I will give you a ring that is if you will have me?" I was to amazed at first to say anything "Christopher I would Love to be your wife." I flung my arms around his neck and kissed him. We spent the rest of the day just walking around holding hands. Martha Didn't look at Nathan as she said this she stared up at the clouds floating past. "A week later as I was walking up the front steps of the store my brother came around the corner I ran to greet him I had visited my family often but was glad to see him.
"Martha we need to talk" he looked me dead in the eye

part 9

Christopher asked to see me home I of course accept we gazed at the stars all the way home. "well...the weeks past I was now 15 and was called a beauty of the woods whatever that means. One day Chris came to the house I was in the garden I stood up covered in dirt and holding a bunch of weeds. He laughed "What's so funny" I demanded this reminds me of the first time we met you looked beautiful then too. Embarrassed I hung my head and said I never have looked so bad in my life and you know it! he smiled and asked if I wanted to get cleaned up before we went on a walk. So I went into the house and cleaned up and when I came out I found him studying the ground in a thoughtful way.

What's on your mind Chris? he turn and said
"You" he handed me a gift and made me promise not to open it till we were in the valley our favorite place to walk. I was very excited this was the first gift I had gotten since my mama died two year before. When we got to the valley I opened it up and it was".....Martha's voice trailed off

"Oh Lily don't stop Please."
"Than I want to stop I am hungry" she said as she unpacked the food they ate in silence when they had both had their fill and all the leftovers packed back into the basket. Martha rose and ran toward the lake "Wait Lily are you doing?" Nathan stood. Martha made a big splash when she landed.

part 8

I had to go back for the basket I had begged for it when I first started shopping.
"Hi my name is Christopher Taylor I work at the bank as a teller my uncle owns it."

"My name is Martha Lily nice to make your acquaintance" I said shyly.

"May I walk you home?" he asked taking my basket and holding out his elbow for me to take.
bobbing my head I took his arm. We walked and talked for two hours I didn't tell him that we had went past the path to my house three times. I promised next time I saw him I would clean up a bit. He laughed and said "see you at the singing on Sunday night if not at Church Sunday Morning." I waved goodbye not telling him that I might not see him at either gathering. That night I girded up my courage and asked Joseph if I could go to the singing he looked at me up and down and said "What fer?"
"To visit with people my own age"
"No"
I jutted out my chin and said "Well then you can just eat slop till you say I can go for I am not fixing you grub worth eating!"
"Fine go he huffed into his grey beard. So Sunday rolled around I went to the creek and bathed got my best dress on and went to the singing we sang songs I hadn't sang since my mother died. I had fun there was a taffy pull I was so sticky.