The landscape that rushed by the windows of the train was stark and barren. Winter had placed a firm hand on the Iowa countryside, and banks of snow covered vast crop fields that only months ago had sported hay and corn. Outside, the weather was frigid, but inside the private compartment of the train headed south bound for Des Moines, Harold Hill was quite certain he'd never experienced greater contentment.
He'd always loved the gentle rocking motion of a train as it sped down the rails. Whether he was heading to a new town, filled with novel sights and people for him to discover, or bidding farewell to one he had just plundered, the smells and sounds of the locomotive had always filled him with a sense of wonder. In an odd manner, he'd often felt like he was coming home whenever he ascended the metal steps leading inside the car.
Home.
Harold realized he now had a new definition for the word that had eluded him for so long. A glance down at the blonde tresses spilling against his shoulder elicited a broad smile, and he felt his heart swell with a happiness he never would have believed existed for a reformed scoundrel such as himself.
Earlier that day, when Marian Paroo, standing with him at the altar in River City, had uttered the most beautiful words Harold had ever heard, he'd almost lost his composure in sheer disbelief that the lovely woman next to him was moments away from becoming his wife.
Wife.
He grinned and reflected that there was yet another word in his vocabulary he would never have believed could be associated with him. But now that it was, he couldn't wait for the opportunity to use it.
"Let me ask my wife."
"My wife and I would be delighted."
"Allow me to introduce you to Marian, my wife."
He chuckled softly at the giddiness that swept through him. Who would have ever thought the great Harold Hill would be ruminating over words such as these? Certainly not he.
As a soft noise roused him from his reverie, he peered down to see Marian gently stirring. She had fallen asleep an hour into their trip, and he simply hadn't had the heart to wake her. Although he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and shower her with kisses, he had realized the wisdom in allowing his bride a few moments of rest. While her elation at today's event had been clearly evident, he knew how tirelessly she had worked on the wedding preparations. In the days leading up to the exchanging of their vows, she had gotten very little sleep.
At one point in his life, Harold would have paid little regard to the needs of anyone other than his own and simply swept his partner away in a haze of desire. But ever since Marian had appeared in his life, he had discovered the unparalleled joy of putting another's desires ahead of his. And besides, he reflected with a wry grin, he wanted his wife to get as much rest as she needed. He had specific plans for when they finally reached Des Moines, and he had no shame in admitting they involved very little sleeping.
As Marian stirred in her sleep, her hand crept across his chest and tightened around the lapel of his jacket, burrowing closer to his warmth. Harold was delighted by her unconscious gesture and brought her closer against him.
"Harold?"
The soft question brought a smile to his lips, and he couldn't help his teasing reply.
"Were you expecting someone else, my dear?"
Marian raised her head from his shoulder and looked up into her husband's face. Warm eyes smiled back at her as she shook her head, shedding the last remnants of her nap.
"Of course not," she chided, a touch of embarrassment creeping into her voice.
Harold laughed and covered her hand with his, drawing Marian's attention to where it lay. She blushed when she realized that she must have placed it there while sleeping. When she returned her attention to Harold, she couldn't help but smile in return.
"It seems my subconscious was a bit forward," she observed wryly.
"I didn't mind," Harold assured her with a wink and brought her hand to his lips for a gentle kiss.
As his mouth softly caressed her smooth skin, his attention was drawn to the wedding band nestled snugly against the engagement ring on Marian's finger. The setting sun cascaded through the window and bathed the golden band in a soft halo of light. Glancing back at his own hand, he surveyed the similar band situated there, before returning his gaze to Marian's hand once more. A slow smile bloomed across his features and a soft sigh escaped his lips. Marian, who had been watching the exchange with growing curiosity, shifted beside him.
"Harold?" she tentatively queried.
He turned his head to look at her, and Marian could see the happiness radiating from his rich, brown eyes. Laying her hand back against his chest, he gently laced their fingers together.
"I was thinking about our wedding bands."
"Oh?"
"I never thought I'd see the day when I would have one," he confessed, a look of wonder filling his eyes.
Marian smiled in immediate understanding. "I see."
He glanced again at her wedding band. "And, I never thought there would come a day when I would have the honor to place a golden band onto the hand of the loveliest, intelligent, most charming woman I've ever known."
Marian couldn't help but laugh at his sincere stream of compliments. "Honestly, Harold. All this flattery! You've won the fair maiden's hand."
Harold chuckled and brought her hand to his lips. "Ah, but it's not only the maiden's hand I wanted. I was hoping for her heart, too." At this soft admission, he dropped a gentle kiss against her skin again and raised his eyes to hers. His breath caught as he watched the startled wonder that had glowed there only moments before slowly disappear to be replaced by restrained desire, which began to simmer within the hazel pools he knew so well. Suddenly, he was very grateful for his earlier foresight when he'd insisted on lowering the compartment's shades when they'd first arrived. Marian had questioned him, but he'd merely shrugged and explained with a sly grin, "After all, darling. We are newlyweds."
The blush his words had elicited was delightful, but Harold knew Marian's scandalized look wasn't as sincere as it appeared. His suspicions were confirmed when he'd resumed his place by her side, and she quietly laced her arm through his.
Now, the privacy the shades afforded them was a blessing Harold was only too willing to take advantage. Leaning closer to his wife, he gently captured her mouth with his and was delighted when she eagerly responded to his overtures. Although they had shared a somewhat passionate kiss at the altar (enough so that the Reverend had been required to politely clear his throat in order to get Harold to release his dazed bride), the newlyweds hadn't been afforded an opportunity to do so since then.
The reception immediately following the wedding had seen to that, and then they had scurried to the freight depot to catch the last evening train out of River City. When they'd finally made it to their compartment and secured their belongings, Marian had been giddy with the prospect of her first train ride. Harold had teasingly remarked that they were merely riding the train, not embarking in one of the Wright Brothers' new airplanes.
"This may be old hat to you, Harold," Marian had smiled. "But, it's a new experience for me."
"One of many," he'd agreed, in a soft voice. When Marian turned to look at him, surprised at the gentleness in his tone, she'd found his eyes bright with emotion.
Feeling her own well up with tears of happiness, she had nodded and whispered, "And we have a lifetime ahead of us to discover them together."
At that, Harold had quietly taken her hand and silently reveled in sharing his wife's moment of childlike wonder.
But, that had been two hours ago, and Harold was eager to make up for lost time. During the last five months, his self-control and discipline had been sorely tested, but now that the time was here, he had to remind himself that pacing was essential. As much as he wanted to introduce Marian to all the pleasures that awaited them, it wouldn't do to get carried away on a train. Although the compartment afforded them some semblance of privacy, he didn't imagine his wife would appreciate the inappropriate setting. At least, not once she had come to her senses; because right now, as Harold's lips trailed heated kisses along her pristine neckline, she was anything but reticent to his amorous advances. As his hand smoothed over the soft curve of her hip, he could feel her fingers slide along the edge of his lapel and then firmly wrap around the fabric, pulling him closer to her as she softly whispered words of longing for his ardent kisses.
Harold was all too willing to oblige.
Author's Note: I'd like to take a moment to thank my dear friend and awesome beta, Morfiwien Greenleaf, for her thoughtful editing, comments and suggestions. These stories have benefited tremendously from it, and this author is quite grateful!
