She held the folded letter to her chest, breathing in the faint scent that wafted off the pages. It smelled of summer breeze, if such a thing were possible.
She imagined him, bent over a sturdy table, carefully penning the words that would bring her to him. In her mind, she watched him deliberate over his thoughts as he strained to paint pictures of the land around him, using the simple and stark beauty of his life to beckon her forward. She knew he was an honest man, and wanted to give her honest expectations, but she also knew how very much he wanted her to come. So, if he wrote the sunsets a bit sweeter, the flowers a bit brighter, she would not blame him. He sought only the comfort of her presense in his life. Such a small thing really, yet, it seemed more than she had been able to give.
She placed her hand flat on the page, and traced the small, familiar lettering with her fingers. Not so long ago, his hand lay here, poised over a blank page. His hands, hardened from work, had ceased their labor for a time, to form gentle words made for a woman's heart. Her heart.
She stared out at the fading sun. So sad, she thought. The same sun rises and sets on both of us everyday, yet we are as far apart as ever.
She laid aside the letter, and began to pen her own, knowing not the direction of her thoughts until she was finished. She smiled at her final words, daintily signed her name and sealed her letter, sealed her fate.
Holding both letters to her heart, she soaked in the sunset. Maybe it did seem sweeter, indeed.
I'm a romantic at heart, and this sort of tumbled out tonight when I intended on writing about the boring details of my day. The idea of a woman coming out west to be married, to live the life of a pioneer, with all it's hardships and rewards--- it's something that has always fascinated me. I couldn't even begin to write something that would rival the truth of the time. I just imagine the moment when a real woman, maybe some great-great grandmother of mine, decided the rewards were worth the hardships.
Brave women.
Sweeter sunsets, too.
Shannon, you are such an amazing writer! You paint such a vivid picture. This was wonderful. You need to write a novel!
Thanks Mollie! I appreciate that.
Posted by: Shannon at January 28, 2004 09:07 AMbeautiful shan. I believe that game Oregon Trail (which, by the way, is one of the best games ever!) has given me the appreciation that I have for pioneers forging their way throught the west.
Posted by: Ashley at January 29, 2004 01:26 PM