Read Online The Endearment by Lavyrle Spencer - Free Book Online
Authors: Lavyrle Spencer
Tags: Fiction
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could.
And the long months of hoping, dreaming and planning for this day would become part of the fabric that wove Karl to Anna in the words he spoke aloud. Nor would the thoughts, which had so long lived in Karl Lindstrom, now be denied their part in all he promised.
"I, Karl, take thee, Anna ..." My little whiskey-haired Anna ...
"for my lawful wedded wife ..." How I have waited for you ...
"to have and to hold ..." Not yet have I even held you, Anna ...
"from this day forward ..." Forward to this night, and tomorrow and tomorrow ...
"For better, for worse ..." In spite of everything, I know I could do far worse ...
"for richer, for poorer ..." Ah, how rich we can be, Anna, rich with life ...
"in sickness and in health ..." And I will see this thin hand grow strong ...
"till death do us part." These things I promise with my life--these things and the promise of patience, as Father, my friend, said.
As Anna's eyes roved over Karl's face, a shaft of golden sun came through the open door, gilding his features as if nature itself bestowed the blessing Father Pierrot could not. In the tiny outpost mission of Long Prairie only wild-flowers adorned the altar. Only the cooing of mourning doves provided song. But to Anna's ears and eyes it was as fine as any cathedral hosting a hundred-voice choir. She could feel the beats of their hearts joined where her slight, pale hand rested in his wide, dark one. As she took her turn at vows, Anna felt a willingness she had certainly not expected when she'd thought of this moment through the dreary winter, waiting to come to an unknown husband.
"I, Anna, take thee, Karl ..." Forgive me, Karl, for tricking you…
"for my lawful wedded husband ..." But James and I didn't know what else to do ...
"from this day forward ..." Never again will we be homeless ...
"for better, for worse ..." I promise I will never, never tell another lie ...
"for richer, for poorer ..." Riches we do not need. A home will be enough ...
"in sickness and in health ..." I'll learn all I said I knew ...
"till death do us part." I'll make up for everything, Karl, somehow I promise I'll make up for everything.
She saw Karl swallow and detected a tremble in his eyelids.
Then, still squeezing her hand, he looked at Father Pierrot. "There is no gold ring, Father. I could not afford gold, and there was nothing else at Morisette's store. But I have a simple ring because it doesn't seem right without a ring."
"A simple ring is fine, Karl."
From his pocket he extracted a horseshoe nail curled into a circle. It was on his lips to say, I'm sorry, Anna, but she was smiling down at the ring as if it were burnished gold.
Anna saw Karl's hands shake, and her own, as she extended her fingers and he slid the heavy iron circlet over her knuckle. He had misjudged in bending it, and she had to curl her fingers quickly to keep it from slipping off. Then Karl's hand recaptured hers again. Gently, he spread her fingers and lay the banded hand upon his open palm, the fingers of his other hand lightly touching the ring as if to seal it upon her flesh for life.
"Anna Reardon, with this ring I make you my wife forever." His voice cracked faintly upon the last word, bringing her eyes up to his once more.
Then she put her free hand over his and the ring, and said into his eyes, "Karl Lindstrom, with this ring I accept you for my husband ... forever."
He looked down at her turned-up freckled nose, her pretty, waiting lips. His heart became a wild thing within him. Now she is really my Anna, he thought, suddenly timid and eager all at once.
Fleetingly, Anna's eyelids quivered, and she felt his hold upon her hands tighten a fraction of a second before he bent to kiss her lightly, forgetting to close his eyes as he brushed her lips uncertainly, then straightened again.
"So be it," Father Pierrot said softly, while bride and groom nervously cast about for something upon which to settle their gazes. Anna's turned to
And the long months of hoping, dreaming and planning for this day would become part of the fabric that wove Karl to Anna in the words he spoke aloud. Nor would the thoughts, which had so long lived in Karl Lindstrom, now be denied their part in all he promised.
"I, Karl, take thee, Anna ..." My little whiskey-haired Anna ...
"for my lawful wedded wife ..." How I have waited for you ...
"to have and to hold ..." Not yet have I even held you, Anna ...
"from this day forward ..." Forward to this night, and tomorrow and tomorrow ...
"For better, for worse ..." In spite of everything, I know I could do far worse ...
"for richer, for poorer ..." Ah, how rich we can be, Anna, rich with life ...
"in sickness and in health ..." And I will see this thin hand grow strong ...
"till death do us part." These things I promise with my life--these things and the promise of patience, as Father, my friend, said.
As Anna's eyes roved over Karl's face, a shaft of golden sun came through the open door, gilding his features as if nature itself bestowed the blessing Father Pierrot could not. In the tiny outpost mission of Long Prairie only wild-flowers adorned the altar. Only the cooing of mourning doves provided song. But to Anna's ears and eyes it was as fine as any cathedral hosting a hundred-voice choir. She could feel the beats of their hearts joined where her slight, pale hand rested in his wide, dark one. As she took her turn at vows, Anna felt a willingness she had certainly not expected when she'd thought of this moment through the dreary winter, waiting to come to an unknown husband.
"I, Anna, take thee, Karl ..." Forgive me, Karl, for tricking you…
"for my lawful wedded husband ..." But James and I didn't know what else to do ...
"from this day forward ..." Never again will we be homeless ...
"for better, for worse ..." I promise I will never, never tell another lie ...
"for richer, for poorer ..." Riches we do not need. A home will be enough ...
"in sickness and in health ..." I'll learn all I said I knew ...
"till death do us part." I'll make up for everything, Karl, somehow I promise I'll make up for everything.
She saw Karl swallow and detected a tremble in his eyelids.
Then, still squeezing her hand, he looked at Father Pierrot. "There is no gold ring, Father. I could not afford gold, and there was nothing else at Morisette's store. But I have a simple ring because it doesn't seem right without a ring."
"A simple ring is fine, Karl."
From his pocket he extracted a horseshoe nail curled into a circle. It was on his lips to say, I'm sorry, Anna, but she was smiling down at the ring as if it were burnished gold.
Anna saw Karl's hands shake, and her own, as she extended her fingers and he slid the heavy iron circlet over her knuckle. He had misjudged in bending it, and she had to curl her fingers quickly to keep it from slipping off. Then Karl's hand recaptured hers again. Gently, he spread her fingers and lay the banded hand upon his open palm, the fingers of his other hand lightly touching the ring as if to seal it upon her flesh for life.
"Anna Reardon, with this ring I make you my wife forever." His voice cracked faintly upon the last word, bringing her eyes up to his once more.
Then she put her free hand over his and the ring, and said into his eyes, "Karl Lindstrom, with this ring I accept you for my husband ... forever."
He looked down at her turned-up freckled nose, her pretty, waiting lips. His heart became a wild thing within him. Now she is really my Anna, he thought, suddenly timid and eager all at once.
Fleetingly, Anna's eyelids quivered, and she felt his hold upon her hands tighten a fraction of a second before he bent to kiss her lightly, forgetting to close his eyes as he brushed her lips uncertainly, then straightened again.
"So be it," Father Pierrot said softly, while bride and groom nervously cast about for something upon which to settle their gazes. Anna's turned to
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