Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. All original characters and plot are the property of the author. No copyright infringement is intended.
The night went by slowly. The first time Elise stirred was past midnight and Willie was refilling the lamp with only a single candle to see by. As quickly as he could he went back over to her but she had fallen still again.
It was a good sign. He took a glass with water and put a tiny amount past her lips to wet her mouth. Then he listened to her heart with a stethoscope. The beat was weak but steady.
He didn't feel drowsy until hours afterwards.
Dreams came and went, mostly about his childhood. Staring into the corner of the school room. He had every grain of the wood, every lump in the plaster memorized in that ninety degree angle. He could even seen pictures there. A sailing ship or clown's face, a three headed dragon with a fork for a tail. He dreamed of Laura Ingalls pushing him down in the dirt of the play yard and then putting salamanders in her lunch bucket for payback. He dreamed of the pipe in the blind school basement. It sat there smoking on the old stove harmlessly as he tried to fit out a window. Someone was reaching through iron bars and brushing at his hair gently. He looked up but it was too bright outside to see who it was.
Waking up, he was leaning over onto the bed from the chair, his hand still holding Elise's. He refrained from moving, his back was stiff and sore.
Then he felt the fingers going through his hair again and he forced his head up. It was lighter in the room. An early light from the new sun just arriving through the window. Elise's eyes were still closed but her other hand had found it's way out from under the quilt and to where his head had been resting. Now she opened her eyes only half way.
"I thought this was more comfortable than the tub." She said it barely louder than a whisper.
He couldn't even smile, he just let out his breath and squeezed her hand.
She'd be alright. He had saved her. They'd saved each other.
"Is this heaven?" She mumbled closing her eyes again and fell back asleep.
"Yes." He said, putting her hand to his lips.
Shortly after his mother brought breakfast and a warm bowl of broth which she sat on the stove.
It was Sunday and she would be going to church today. She had too much to be grateful for to miss services. But she smiled at him when she left.
Finally at noon, Elise's head rolled to the side and she opened her eyes all the way. Willie was nosing through an old medical book and looked up at the movement.
"Hi." He said and leaned forward.
She tried to smile at him, "Ow, hi."
Taking her hand again he asked, "How are you feeling?"
"I've got a little headache but otherwise, fine." She lied and stretched her shoulders back.
"You'll feel better with a little broth." He moved to get it but she held his hand tight.
"Are you ok? Is everyone ok?" Her voice fluttered apprehensively.
He nodded and she relaxed into the pillows.
But then her eyes flickered over his face sadly and she weakly reached over to touch around his eye.
"Did you put ice on it?"
It was almost as if they were back outside the Nocturne at Carrie's birthday again.
"I guess you're going to have to get used to me with a black eye." He laughed nervously.
"Seems you get those a lot with me around." Elise frowned guiltily.
As seriously as he could he shrugged, "I think I get them because I'm terrible at dodging a swing."
Elise laughed and shook her head slightly.
Willie brought his other hand over to her left one he was already holding and his thumb lightly rubbed over her ring finger, "Can I ask you something?"
"Yes."
"Well, I wish I knew your Pa. I would want to talk to him and ask him if it was ok if I asked you to marry me Elise. I can't see it being any other way for me. I don't want you to ever be away from me again. When I have to leave at night it feels like I'm going away from home. Everything about you is home to me. I promise I'd always get the wood for you so you don't have to worry about the creepy crawlies…"
She raised an eyebrow and laughed. He smiled and continued.
"You're so amazing. You just decide you're going to do something and you do it. But if you ever need anything, I want to be the one you can count on to help you however I can. There's going to be good and bad things happen to us but as long as I'm standing there with you it'll be alright. So, I guess that's about it. Would you? I mean do you want to?" He had been thinking all night about what he would say and none of it came out how he'd pictured it at all.
Now he looked into her vibrant brown eyes and she began to sit up. He was going to stop her but she made it up onto her elbow and then reached up to bring his forehead to hers.
"Yes Will." She said, overwhelmed. "I can't tell you what a part of me you've become. And who else would put up with me?"
At her consent he smile broadly, "I'll only put up with you Elise."
Taking her face in his hands, he tucked his fingers back into the silky cool strands of her hair and leaned in to kiss her.
There had been so many times he had felt he was completely happy with her. Now, again, he felt as if he had surpassed anything he'd previously felt. It was vivid and enlivening.
"I don't have a ring right now. Well not a good one." He reached in his pocket and brought out a small circlet. It was made from a long thin, flattened nail that he had fashioned into a ring days ago not even knowing if he should ask her.
Taking her finger he slipped it on and it fit just so.
"It's perfect." Elise beamed at it inspirited, then she grinned at him. "So you know my stirrup and ring size."
With a laugh he shrugged. "I'll get you a proper one soon as I can…" He said as he thought about what an elaborate ring he could buy now.
"Will. I like this one." Elise said in all honesty. "And we would stay here? At the river house?"
"We could do anything you want. Where do you want to go? I can take you to Salt Lake or Texas...the north pole." Willie turned to his coat and took out a folded paper. "Elise, I found the deed…"
Elise froze as he held the contract out to her. Her eyebrows knitted together. "What?"
Should he had told her this first? The blissful look she had just had was now clouded over and tender.
"I found it in my father's journal, hidden beneath the cover. I only had a few minutes to decide and I sold it. I'm sorry I probably shouldn't have. They bought it for $75,000 Elise." He realized how emotional this must be for her.
Finally she closed her eyes looking drained, "No, it's alright. I just had convinced myself that it wasn't real. Almost like what happened to my father wasn't real."
"It's yours. The money. Rightfully. I'll put it in the bank for you when it opens tomorrow." Willie said as he leaned back in his chair.
She tipped her head to look at him. "Ours. If I'm to be Mrs. Oleson, then it should be under your name too."
When she said the name he curled his toes, "Now what would a blacksmith do with $75,000?"
"A doctor and a blacksmith." She corrected coyly. "A handy man of many surprising trades."
"Wild Irish-Texan charmer being one of them?" He bantered back easily, his half smile hitched up.
"Come here." She said suddenly serious.
He got up and sat on the bed and she reached up to his shirt and pulled him down to kiss her.
"I love you." She said, then snickered.
"What?" Willie laughed his question.
"Are you marrying me for my money?" She raised an eyebrow and wrinkled her nose.
"No. But for pretty much everything else. Now let's get you some delicious chicken water." He insisted.
They discussed what they would possibly do with the funds. Pay off his debts of course and send some to her mother in Salt Lake. Neither of them had much taste for elaborate commodities. Elise suggested starting a scholarship fund for aspiring doctors and possibly pharmaceutical research.
This made Willie look at her quizzically, "What do you mean research?"
"Well I thought if we started in Chicago…" She smiled and left off.
"You'd want to go there? You don't like cities." Willie pointed out. "What if I'm gone too much?"
"If I can build a house I can figure out how to keep your attention when necessary." Her confident statement made him smile.
"You've got it. If you are ever unhappy...just tell me ok?" He made her promise.
A soft knock came from the door and Willie called for whoever it was to enter. His mother stuck her head in, "Hello? How are we...Oh, my dear! You're awake!"
She scuttled in, taking her black leather gloves off, and crossed to them. Her merry manner dulled a little as she looked from her son to Elise and tisked, "Oh my, you both look a sight! Now have you both eaten?"
Willie was holding Elise's hand and began to reply when her eye fell on the unconventional ring on her finger. "Willie! Did you?! Are you?!"
Her disconnected question confused him and he turned to Elise who lifted her hand to highlight the ring.
"Oh right. Yes Ma."
"When?! Where?! It must be a church wedding Willie! Your sister denied me a church wedding so you must make sure we have a large, extravagant wedding! I think spring will be just wonderful when the flowers come out?" The woman devised at breakneck speed.
"Uh Ma, we haven't talked about that yet. We've got a lot to figure out." Willie tried to drag her back down from her soaring ambitions.
Harriet had stopped in mid-sentence and still had her mouth opened. "Oh, well. Yes I suppose you need time to recover and then we'll all sit down together and figure it out."
"Ma, it's our wedding. We'll do what Elise wants." Willie said firmly, knowing his mother could be pushy.
Squeezing his hand Elise added, "We'll work it out."
Harriet giggled and sat down at the end of the bed. "Well then it's a wonderful time for me to give you your first engagement present my dear."
Taking out her wrist purse, Mrs. Oleson pulled out the shining golden lariat. It practically gleamed as it hung in the air. Elise's eye widened.
"Yes my dear. This necklace is very important to me. It was given to me by my grandmother and now I want to give it to you. You've weaseled your way into my heart as well and I'll be very pleased to have you as a daughter." She took Elise's hand and lowered it into her palm then closed her hand and squeezed it.
At first Elise hesitated but seeing the woman's sincerity she smiled gratefully, "Thank you Mrs. Oleson."
"Now now, you may call me mother." Mrs. Oleson amended strictly. "Oh before I forget! Mrs. Foster got this letter for you yesterday and gave it to me to hand it off."
She passed it to Willie who saw it was from Dr. LeDoux. He took it out and read it quickly looking thoughtful.
"What is it Will?" Asked Elise who was unsettled at his now troubled face.
Looking back at her he relaxed. "Oh nothing. He was just saying he didn't find anything more on his investigation about my exam. But he did talk to the performing arts center that is right next to campus and the hospital and they would love to hear you sing if you were interested Elise."
With a well bridled smile she said, "I'll think about it."
"Knock knock!" They all turned to see Isaiah Edwards holding Rose Wilder at the door. "We was just sent over to see if Willie's in the mood for child deliver'n. Mrs. Croby's call'n for a doctor and Tim's sound asleep. Baker's with her but he says she may need some cutt'n done. Say's Willie's the man for it."
With a groan Mrs. Oleson glared at Edwards which he easily deflected with a wink at her and she humphed and turned away.
Rose squirmed down and came over to the group by the bed. "Hi Miss Elise, Dr. Oleson!" She paused to look from one to the other, "Did you two bump faces?"
Everyone in the room laughed at her adorable innocence and Willie stood up, turning to go to the door. "Speaking of bumps, how's your tooth? Coming in yet?"
"Nope! Uncle Albert said it'll be a while yet."
Willie's face fell and he glanced back to the letter in his hand and he slipped it in the pocket of his coat.
"Are you feeling up to it Will?" Elise said worriedly.
"Yes. It'll be alright. Gotta go if she needs help." He looked from Elise to his mother.
Before he could say anything Harriet put her hand up and shooed at him, "Go on doctor. I'll stay with her."
Elise also gave him an accepting nod and he waited for just a moment more to look at his soon to be new family then went out the door with a limp.
Note: So sorry for all the mush! If I was an awesome writer I would have had her die or something...just spitballing here.
