Page 42 of A Gift for the Beast

“This … is all … ours?” I motion all around. “But what about Eliza’s cabin?”

“It will always be Eliza’s. I wanted something that was ours, something we both dreamed of. A place to build our future together, a legacy we could leave our kids. In a few days, the wagons will start arriving with some things I wanted to keep from the property I sold, but I left our home mostly empty so that we could pick out the furniture together.

We are going to spend all of January traveling for a well-deserved honeymoon. While we are gone, Reggie will oversee our things being moved from the cabin here, and then Milo and his wife will move into the cabin, a perk for the new foreman I hired to work the silver mine. This is my gift to you.”

“But I don’t have a gift for you that could ever compare to this.”

“My Little Mouse, you are the best gift a beast like me could ever receive. I am the blessed one here. Now go get changed, I amimpatient and ready to marry my wife again, and this time we are going to do it right.”

Beatrice grabs my hand, pulling me behind her as I look all around. “Come child, stop your woolgathering. I can’t wait to see you in this dress. Martha has been working on it for weeks.”

Hanging on the wall is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen. Made of blue silk, it has a corseted top with flowy ruffled sleeves, and the bottom layers are outlined in what looks like small pearls.

Hands undress me as I feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience. Tugs on my hair and the smell of perfume complete the experience, only for me to find myself standing in front of a full-length mirror, looking at a stranger. One with free flowing, glistening blonde hair, bright hazel eyes that look bluer because of the color of the dress, and pale, non-bruised skin. A smile lights up my features as Beatrice stares at me through the mirror. I watch as she wipes a small tear from her cheek.

“My child, look at what a change … it’s amazing what a good man, food, a happy home, and true love will do for the soul. I feel like a better person simply being able to watch it all unfold in front of me. Are you ready to take your next step?”

I nod, all of this finally sinking in, especially the fact that the girl standing there looking at me … is me.

“Count to ten before coming out,” she says, kissing me on the cheek, all smiles, and heads out the door. Taking a deep breath, I count slowly, making sure when I open the door not to snag my dress, only to stop dead when I see Grant waiting for me in a matching dress coat. My eyes take it all in - tall, dark boots hug his massive thighs, long, powerful legs covered in dark denim.His bright crisp white shirt stands out against the blue coat, finished off by the black cowboy hat on his head. He is dressed in an outfit that practically has me drooling.

Grant’s huge hand engulfs my smaller one, and I almost don’t hear the preacher’s words for staring at the love in his eyes. I don’t know what I did to deserve him or this life, but I send a prayer of thanks, nonetheless. The kiss I receive at the end of the service curls my toes.

Cheers and hollers break us apart, followed by a picnic shared by friends as we all sit on the floor on a blanket in front of the massive fireplace, listening to all their parts in how they made this happen without me finding out.

Because we don’t have a bed in our new home yet, Grant whisks me back into the sleigh, and I wave at everyone as they load up in the wagon heading back home. He carries me through the door, kissing me the entire time, before leaving to head back out to put Bolt in the barn.

I sit down in my rocking chair, my fingers running over the intricate details of the dress and take a moment to reflect as I look around the small cabin that has become my safe haven, a place of healing. Grant stomping his feet brings me back, and I can’t stop the smile on my face when he steps in front of me.

“Strip, I want to make love to my Little Mouse.”

“I am not a mouse, Grant. How did I even get that nickname?”

“Well, maybe it’s your beady little eyes or the whiskers that twitch when you smile a certain way.”

“Do you remember what you told me to do if you ever got out of hand?” I grab a skillet off the wall and start chasing him around the table with it. Our laughter can be heard clearly across time.

The End