Stranger In Their Midst Chapter Eight
The slight breeze that was blowing through the field felt good, as Hyrum and Catalina stopped the buggy, tied the horses to a nearby tree and walked through waist high grass. After Willie had fallen off the roof, Hyrum and Catalina had spent the majority of the day making the Hyrum's regular medical rounds and getting a few looks. Someone would hint at the fact that the good doctor was asking for trouble; openly keeping company with a woman who wasn't available. Wide eyes got wider when they were told that was no longer the case.
"Harriet will have a hay day when she finds out we are seeing each other." Catalina had chuckled as she and Hyrum had agreed that for the present time, since they didn't know if it would work out for them and it would make it so no one would bat an eye should Catalina leave town, it would be best not to let anyone know of their legal status. Now weeks later, they had Walnut Grove talking up a storm and they were enjoying each other's company.
"I wish I could remember everything." Hyrum wrapped his fingers around hers as they walked. It seemed strange, but almost natural, to have this woman, not quite five feet five inches, next to his side. It also made him nervous. A man's wife deserved many things…being truly loved was one of them. He wanted to be able to truly do that if this marriage was to continue.
Catalina looked up at the beautiful light blue sky with its company of fluffy white clouds. He might not remember, but she did. "We went on many walks while you were in California and a few picnics. You talked about your friends and family, though I admit," her eyebrows turned down a bit, "I don't ever remember you talking about a blind school or the Ingalls." That part had bothered her slightly.
Hyrum started smiling at her and gave her hand a slight squeeze, "Probably because Charles didn't move his family here until afterwards and the blind school only recently moved to Walnut Grove.
Catalina laughed and admitted that was a good reason. Thinking on the invitation she and Hyrum had just received from the Garvey's, the one that asked them to join them and the Ingalls on a Saturday picnic, she stopped walking and turned to face Hyrum. "So, do we go to the picnic or not? Because Dr. Baker had told the Garvey's he'd think on it, she had not made a solid commitment either. Now since Hyrum knew she had come to Walnut Grove for him, Catalina had no wish to attend the picnic alone. After all, it had been hard enough to keep her secret before; she was sure she'd let it slip if he wasn't there to back her up.
Out of the corner of his eye, Hyrum saw a few jackrabbits moving around. It almost looked they were trying to find a place to hide. The corners of his mouth turned up as a small portion of him wanted to do the same. As it was, he found himself lifting his hand up and sliding it down the side of Catalina's face. "How could I ever forget you?" For a moment, Catalina thought he was going to start kissing her, for a split second Hyrum thought about it, and then he dropped his hand and started walking again.
Catalina found herself disappointed; still, she continued holding his hand and walking beside him. "I don't know, but I'm grateful we've been handed a second chance. This time we don't have my father's interference; that will help."
Hyrum cringed at the thought that she'd had to give up her family to come and find him. Well, if her father was that kind of man, maybe, just maybe it was okay for her to give up her father. Still, her mother was alive as were her siblings. She'd said as much. "What about the rest of your family? What do they think about all of this?" He asked as they drew near the edge clearing and near where the buggy was still waiting for them.
Catalina sighed. "I broke tradition; I refused to stay with the family. They are not talking to me. It might hurt," she admitted, but hurried and laid her fingers upon Hyrum's lips, as he looked like he wanted to protest, "But my heart is with my husband, a husband I desperately want to get to know again." She then wrapped her arms around his waist, ran her hands up his back and rested the side of her head against his chest.
The action that made Hyrum suck in his breath and close his eyes as he wrapped his arms around her too, then pulled her in close. "You should be ashamed of yourself! She's fifteen years younger than you are!" Harriet had stood on the mercantile very much appalled at the "very idea he'd court such a young woman".
As Mrs. Olsen's condemning words rang in his ears, Hyrum sighed. He wasn't ashamed of anything. Still, over the years, Hyrum had told himself more than once that love and a wife just wasn't in the cards for him. Now, he found himself both frightened and excited at the prospect of having such a chance. He pulled out of her embrace, took her hand, led her to a small creek and sat down.
With the sun shining brightly and a cool breeze beginning to blow, Catalina lay down on rested her head on her arms which she folded underneath her head. Since the fluffy white clouds were constantly changing shapes, she laughed and took time to point each one out. "There's the schoolhouse and the mercantile!" She laughed as the clouds actually moved together for a small moment making them look exactly like the two buildings. Well, in her eyes they did.
Hyrum lay on his side, looked at Catalina and smiled. He couldn't believe how strong of a pull he felt towards her at that moment. It was all he could do not to take her right then and there. Truth was, he might have only a portion of him was still holding back; not truly accepting Catalina was indeed his wife. "Is there anything you can't see in those clouds?"
She shocked him when her eyes grew sad and she answered, "Our future. I wish I could see that; I think."
Hyrum ran his hand his hand down the side of her face, an action which got her attention off the clouds. The moment their eyes met, Hyrum's resolve dissolved. He lowered head and covered her mouth with his. Catalina wrapped her arms around waist once more and held on for all she was worth. Just as Hyrum's hand found his way into her blouse, the couple was yanked apart at the faint sound of a wagon. Being so far out from everything, neither Hyrum nor Catalina had expected company. When they stood up the couple saw it was merely a family travelling down the road which set off in the far distant. It might have been off in the distance, but it definitely had broken the mood that had momentarily had a hold of Hyrum and Catalina. The two made their way back to the buggy and headed back for Walnut Grove.