Hey y'all! It's me again, and with a new chapter! Now I'll start with the shoutouts.
TheFarmGirl: Aww, thank you so much! Your reviews make ME smile! You know, that's a good idea! But, sadly, these songs are today's songs, and they didn't have these songs back then. Maybe someone could write a Mandie and Joe into the future, sorta thing? Maybe you should write it, if you want to!
ClownGirl: Lol, Liza can predict the future! Thanks for your review! I try to make the characters as much as themselves, although I feel like I didn't get Mandie quite right.
Skatergirl19: thanks for your review! I have the next chapter right here. ;)
BellytheFatCat: Thanks! I def. Will keep writing!
Lucy Anna Grace: Thank you! P.S, your story is so awesome!
Cattoebeans: Thank you! Joe will survive!
Withapenandpaper: Thank you! I tried to make the rescue dramatic, but realistic also.
Guest: Thanks! Here's chapter 12!
Welp, I think that's it. If I missed anyone, I'm so sorry! So this chapter is very exciting, so I suggest that y'all really read it, and just drink it in, slowly but surely. Now, I put the question of the chappie at the bottom, because it will be based on the chapter. C ya at the bottom!
~EquestrianIntrovert 3
Chapter 12Mandie opened her eyes. It was morning. She yawned. She thought for a moment, and then slowly sat up. There was a small dizziness as she sat up. She saw the sun rising, and the sky was purple, slowly turning blue.
A fire crackled in the fireplace.
A door opened, and Liza came in.
Liza grinned.
"Mawnin', missy 'manda," Liza said, as Mandie yawned.
"Good morning, Liza," said Mandie, with a smile.
"How you feelin' t'day?" asked Liza, pouring some water in a glass.
"Good, Liza. Only a little dizziness when I got up. Dr. Woodard said that's the wound's doing, and as soon as it heals, the dizziness will go away." said Mandie, feeling lighthearted.
It had been about five days since Mandie had gone to see Joe, despite strict orders to stay in bed. The fatigue had been the first to go away, and then the head aches, and all that was left was the moderate dizziness, with little weakness.
"Heah. Aunt Lou said it be good to drink water, 'specially with bein' dizzy." Said Liza, handing her the glass.
Mandie gulped the water.
"Thanks, Liza. I think I'll go and get dressed." said Mandie, swinging her legs out from the sheets, and standing up, pushing her hair out of her face.
Mandie washed her face and dried it, with a small, dainty white towel, and emerged from the bathroom.
"Now, wut dress you gonna want t'day?" asked Liza, looking through the closet.
"This one," said Mandie, pulling down a dark blue dress with light blue trimmings from its hanger.
Mandie quickly put on the dress, with Liza's assistance, and combed her hair, tying it back into a braid, and wrapped a new bandage around it.
"Anyone 'special you want to see t'day?" asked Liza, grinning.
Mandie blushed.
"Yes, like my Mother, and Uncle John, Dr. Woodard, Mrs. Woodard, Grandmother, Grandfather, and Uncle Ned," teased Mandie.
"Oh, so I suppose Doctuh's son don't mean nothin' to you, I guess I might tell Miss Sweet Thang," Liza teased.
Mandie laughed.
"Polly is married now, Liza! It wouldn't be proper to tell her!" Mandie scolded her, jokingly.
"Well, I suppose there ain't no one to take yo' mistuh Joe away now," said Liza, making the bed.
Mandie blushed, and surveyed herself in the mirror.
Liza's skilled hands soon finished the bed.
"Well, Last I heard from da doctuh, is dat mistuh Joe'll be able to come to da table t'day. Well, I's gotta go, 'fore Aunt Lou skins me alive," said Liza. dancing out of the room.
"Joe?" Mandie questioned herself, preening before the mirror. She patted down her hair, and left the room.
She closed the door behind her, and heard a door open, and Dr. Woodard's voice, and Joe's. She turned and saw Dr. Woodard helping Joe out of the room. Joe's arm was in a bandage, and he wore a white cotton shirt, with brown pants and suspenders.
Joe smiled when he saw Mandie.
"Good Morning, Dr. Woodard, Joe," Mandie said, rushing over to them, and taking Joe's unbandaged arm.
"Good morning, Miss Amanda, how is your head?" asked Dr. Woodard, giving her a smile.
"It's alright, just a little dizziness," said Mandie, smiling.
"Alright. If you feel any pain, you just ask for some ginger tea. For dizziness, you just sit down, and drink water. Dehydration can also cause headaches and dizziness." said .
"Yes sir," said Mandie.
They went down the stairs, and sat down at the dining room.
"How is your arm, Joe?" asked Mandie, as Liza took away their plates.
Joe smiled at her.
"It's fine, sometimes it hurts something awful, but it goes away." Joe replied.
Mandie frowned, and her eyes were downcast.
"What about-the-Amp-" Mandie struggled, choking on the word.
"Amputation? I don't know." Joe said quickly, frowning.
Joe reached for her hand.
"It's alright. Dad says my arm should heal, it'll just take time." Joe said, giving her a small smile.
Mandie smiled back, but still thought; 'What if it dosn't heal?'
Joe stood, and stretched.
"Well, I've been wanting to see how Colt is getting along. Want to come with me?" asked Joe, holding out a hand.
Mandie smiled, and stood up.
"Sure," said Mandie.
They went to the door, and put on jackets.
Joe opened the door, and they stepped out into the chilly spring day.
Mandie could feel the warm sun on her back, and breathed in the mountain air deeply.
They went to the barn, Joe talking all the while on how he had patiently trained Colt, with the help of his Father.
Mandie smiled, and laughed as Joe talked. She began to notice things she had not noticed before, because she had been too shy to acknowledge them, like the pleasant mixture of dignified, city speaking, which the college had probably done, and the way country people spoke. How Joe almost instinctively ran his fingers through his forever unruly hair every 5 minutes or so, and other small things.
"Well, here we are, now where's my Colt," said Joe, opening the barn door for Mandie, with his good arm.
Various neighs sounded, a greeting from all the horses.
Mandie laughed.
"Why, we ought to name all these horses, it sure seems like they'd love to see us more," said Mandie.
"I think Abraham has named them, since he is with them all the time," said Joe, smiling, and petting a bay horse.
Mandie chuckled, and held out a cautious hand to a horse.
The horse cast a wary eye at the unknown, gloved hand, and reached to nibble the tips of Mandie's fingers. The horse did not do this out of meanness, but mistook the white glove for sugar, in another form.
Mandie drew back.
"This horse bites!" she exclaimed.
Joe examined the situation, and seeing that the horse didn't look angry, laughed.
"No, the horse thinks your white gloves are sugar. Besides, you ought to reach for the spot between the eyes, to pet. Not his mouth," Joe explained, scratching the horse between the ears, which the horse accepted with pleasure.
Joe moved on, and found his black horse.
"Hey, old boy. How are you?" said Joe, entering the stall, and scratching Colts neck.
Mandie petted Colt, between the eyes, and looked into its eyes, mournful, yet intelligent.
Colt then stretched his neck and whinnied, ending it with a satisfied snort.
Joe scratched Colt's neck vigorously.
Colt closed his eyes in pleasure.
"Colt loves it when you scratch his neck. Here, you try," offered Joe, stepping aside for Mandie.
Mandie shyly stepped to Colt's side, and scratched his neck lightly.
Colt relaxed, as his master and his master's friend scratched his favorite place to scratched.
Mandie kept scratching lightly, and Colt leaned on her, wanting her to scratch harder.
Mandie gasped.
"Here, scratch harder. Like this." Joe said, pushing Colt back, and scratched Colt vigorously.
Mandie scratched harder, and Colt indulged in the scratching, for about five minutes, until they left.
Mandie and Joe went back to the house, and then decided to sit on the backyard's rose arbor that they had built when they were younger.
Joe excused himself, and went upstairs to grab something.
Joe hastily dug in his suitcase, and got what he was looking for. A blue velvet case.
Joe carefully opened it. The ring was there. It was a beautiful ring, a diamond surrounded by bits of rubies, like a sparkling lake, surrounded by sparkling roses.
Memories flooded back to him, but he decided firmly that this would end differently. Joe ran his fingers through his hair, and headed down the stairs.
Mandie sat on the bench underneath the arbor, and breathed in the mountain air. She wondered what Joe went for, and a sudden thought flashed through her head. She blushed, and shook her head. Surely Joe didn't intend to propose. He had been friendly ever since he had arrived. Not one hint of marriage, or love, like other times. Why, Joe was not fourteen when he had first 'proposed'. An ache flashed through Mandie's heart. She saw Joe walking towards her.
Mandie's heart thumped faster. His manner was familiar. Joe sat down next to her. Mandie thought about it, but then decided she could no longer withhold her feelings. What if Joe left, again?
Mandie breathed faster.
"Joe, I can't go on like this. I-i love you. I always have. I-i was just too stubborn-and prideful-to admit it. Please forgive me. I know I hurt you awfully. I've been miserable ever since the day you left." Mandie burst out, looking into his eyes pleadingly.
Joe reached for her hands.
"I forgive you." He said, and embraced her.
Mandie choked up, and returned the embrace.
Joe slowly backed away, knelt on one knee, and fumbled with his pocket.
"Amanda Elizabeth Shaw, I love you. Will you marry me?" He asked, opening the velvet case, and showed her the ring.
Mandie's eyes filled with tears, of joy. She nodded.
"Yes. Yes." She choked out.
Joe slipped the ring on her finger.
Joe's eyes were also filled with tears of joy. He kissed her cheek, and then embraced her in the tightest bear-hug known to Mandie.
Mandie sobbed into his jacket, with relief, and joy.
Liza happened to come out of the house, to beat a rug, and saw them. She let out a scream, dropped the rug, and ran into the kitchen.
Joe and Mandie looked up, to see Liza run in the house.
Joe sniffed, and laughed.
" Looks like the word will get 'round fast." He remarked.
He brought out a handkerchief, and carefully wiped Mandie's eyes, and then his own.
"Let's go, and perhaps we can beat Liza," said Mandie, taking Joe's hand bashfully, and pulling towards the kitchen.
"Aunt Lou! Aunt Lou! Missy 'manda an' doctuh's son be gettin' married!" Liza screamed, bursting into the kitchen.
Aunt Lou dropped her spoon in her pot, and whirled angrily.
"Hesh, chile, you make 'nuff noise to wake the dead! Now what you say 'bout mistuh Joe and missy 'manda?" Asked Aunt Lou.
Liza gasped for breath.
"Missy 'manda an' mistuh Joe gettin' married! I saw 'em out in da back, huggin'," Liza gasped, jumping up and down.
"You be spyin', Chile?" Aunt Lou demanded.
"No'm, I was goin' out to beat dem rugs, and there they was, under da arbor," said Liza.
"Well how you know if they be huggin' 'cause they gittin' married? What if they huggin' jest 'cause they friends?" Aunt Lou said.
"Aunt Lou! Missy 'manda was clinging real hard, and cryin', and doctuh's son was cryin' too!" Liza said excitedly.
"Well, It's 'bout time! I jest knew it!"
Aunt Lou broke into a wide grin.
"Well, good thang I made a choc'lat' cake," she said, going back to her stirring, happily.
A door opened somewhere.
"Aunt Lou? Liza? Where is everybody?" Mandie called.
"In da kitchen," called Liza.
Joe burst in, leading Mandie, both grinning uncontrollably.
Aunt Lou turned around, and pretended to look angry.
"Now you two gits outta my kitchen, or else," Aunt Lou threatened.
"Oh, but we love to be in your kitchen," Mandie said, twirling, giddy with joy.
She stopped at Aunt Lou, showing her ring.
Aunt Lou grinned, and looked from Joe to Mandie.
"Finally. I knew you was gwine to end up marryin' doctuh's son, from the minute I saw you two." Aunt Lou said, embracing Mandie, and then Joe.
Liza squealed over Mandie's ring.
"Now look how dem diamonds sparkle in da light," she exclaimed, moving Mandie's hand, to make the diamonds sparkle.
"Now I have a feeling Liza will get a diamond on her finger soon, since I've seen George around lately," Joe teased. George, worked in town, had met Liza, and they were now going steady.
Liza blushed.
"Now, y'all git outta my kitchen, 'fore I skin y'all alive! And Liza, git to dem rugs! And don't come back in heah, or no choc'late cake fo' you!" Aunt Lou said, shooing them out.
They went out of the kitchen, Liza running to the rugs.
Mandie and Joe shared a glance, and laughed.
"Now let's go tell my parents, and your mother and uncle, and Uncle Ned. c'mon!" Said Joe, taking Mandie's hand, and rushing to the parlor.
Giggling, and blushing, she rushed with him.
Joe burst into the parlor, Mandie by his side.
The Woodards, and the Shaws, and Uncle Ned were there.
Joe led Mandie onto a sette, and they sat.
Everyone was silent, until Elizabeth caught sight of the ring, and lifted Mandie's hand.
"Oh, Amanda, I wonder where you got this ring, I don't remember you buying it," she teased, her eyes glistening with tears.
Mandie blushed, and stammered.
"We're-eh-engaged." Said Joe, wondering why it was so difficult to say.
John's eyes danced with mirth.
Everyone exclaimed at once, and embraced the new couple.
, eyes glistening, shook Joe's hand.
"Joe, I'm right proud of you, you certainly selected a perfect wife for yourself, and I hope that you have learned how to be a better husband than I, and eventually, a better father." said, hugging his son.
Joe's eyes filled with tears.
"Dad, I don't think anybody could be a better dad than you." Joe choked.
Tears filled every eye in the room, and , who was hugging Elizabeth, let out a sob.
John sniffed.
"Hey, instead of all this crying, why don't we go to lunch, Liza told me it'd be ready in five minutes, five minutes ago," announced John, with a small grin.
Everyone laughed, and headed towards the dining room. This time, instead of the adults keeping to themselves, and leaving the 'youngsters' alone, they talked with Joe and Mandie, now finding something in common.
"Joe, when do you plan to be married?" Asked Elizabeth, once they finished lunch.
"Well-I'd like to be married by the end of this year, and if sooner, the end of July. I have to start getting clients, and then by that time I ought to have a house ready, but it's really until Mandie is ready." Joe said cautiously.
"Well, the end of July sounds good. That ought to give us enough time to give an engagement party, and then plan everything, since I know it can be a nightmare," Elizabeth said.
"But, there isn't much to plan, is there, Mother?" Mandie asked.
"Why, of course! Your uncle John and I barely got away with it, just having flowers on the house, and the preacher and a pianist come, but you will have to plan much more," said Elizabeth.
"But, isn't it just that? I mean, it can't be more than flowers, a dress, a preacher, and a pianist?" Mandie insisted.
"Why, no, because there is the color theme, the set up, the location, invitations, how many guests are allowed, who will be bridesmaid, and best man, food and drinks, moving out, and moving in! It is quite stressful, from what I've heard, but it is also worth it." Elizabeth said.
Mandie frowned. It sounded overwhelming.
"But that is why you give yourself at least two months time to do it, and in your case, you have almost four," added .
Mandie sighed.
"I suppose it will be a challenge that I'll have to face," she said, catching Joe's glance.
"That's my blue eyes, now, let's start with the engagement party. When, what, who, and where." Said Uncle John, standing, and leading the way to the parlor.
They spent the day discussing plans, the women with pens and paper, writing down certain details.
The day passed quickly, and after hours of planning, it was settled. Joe would begin the search for a house as soon as possible, and Mandie, aided by her Mother and Uncle, would plan the wedding.
Mandie and Joe walked up the stairs together, exhausted with all the excitement.
"Well, we'd better get some rest. I'm sure I'll sleep peacefully, since my future is quite settled," said Joe, smiling, and hugging Mandie.
Mandie blushed.
"Goodnight, Joe," Mandie said, giving him a smile, and opening her door.
"Goodnight, my future wife!" He called, heading to his own room.
Mandie blushed and chuckled.
She got ready for bed, and then lay down in bed, looking at the moon.
"Thank you, Lord, for all my blessings, and my engagement to Joe. My cup runneth over." She whispered, closed her eyes, and fell into a restful sleep.
Well, how'd y'all like it? As always, review, review! Now, the QUESTION OF THE CHAPPIE:
a character that I had said in the first chapter that I would not include, is going to appear; WHO IS IT? give a few guesses! Hint: It's a he, and he just might feel for Mandie, too, and not like Joe! Anyways, 'til next time, y'all!
~EquestrianIntrovert