Forgotten Boxes (21 page)

The wedding took place two weeks later,
just as the trees popped in all their glory. Brilliant hues of red, gold, and orange
crowned the trees on Danbury Mountain, creating a majestic backdrop for the simple
outside ceremony.

The ceremony was small, only family and a few of their closest
friends. Tarn fashioned a rustic arch from maple limbs and positioned it on a flat
knoll overlooking their kingdom. In the valley below, a church steeple winked at
them as the sun added its brilliant blessing to the day. The brisk mountain air
whispered of promise and the warmth of home. A reception followed at the Danbury
farmhouse, where Lynnie laid out a feast fit for royalty. She had been cooking and
baking for days, refusing to allow her crippled body to be a handicap. Not even
the outdoor venue deterred her from attending the wedding; her sons carried her
up the hill, where she watched her eldest marry the love of his life.

Charity made a beautiful bride. Happiness put a special glow
into her rosy cheeks, and her blue eyes shone brighter than the overhead autumn
sky. Her dress was a simple white cotton that could be worn again. Like the woman
wearing it, it was practical yet idealistic, and perfect for the day.

Tarn clipped his beard for the occasion, trimming it into a neat
cloak against his squared jaw. He wore a crisp white shirt that accented the breadth
of his chest and the clear gray-blue depths of his eyes. He looked so handsome and
strong that he stole Charity’s breath away. Before the ceremony even began, happy
tears smudged her makeup.

When Charity’s family heard of the impromptu wedding, they thought
she had lost her mind. Tanya went hysterical, warning of a hundred pitfalls and
potential dangers that awaited such a whirlwind courtship. Charity finally insisted
that unless her stepsister found something positive to say, she would not be invited
to the wedding. Tanya’s compromise was to agree that it was a gorgeous time of year
for an outdoor ceremony. She came for the nuptials, along with one of her brothers
and his wife, and even Tanya had to admit what a beautiful, glowing bride Charity
made.

Charity’s father had his own concerns, but he granted his only
daughter his blessing and was there to walk her down the leaf-shrouded aisle.

As a wedding surprise for his bride, Tarn made certain there
was one other guest at the wedding. Golda Barrett, best known as GoGo, flew in from
New Mexico for the special day and promised to stay until Charity and Tarn returned
from their brief honeymoon trip.

Reluctant to leave during her first peak leaf season, the couple
went only as far as the quaint inn in Stowe, where they could soak in the beauty
of the Vermont countryside while celebrating their new love.

The in-room whirlpool tub for two turned out to be a tight fit
for a man Tarn’s size, but somehow they managed. With a fire snapping in the fireplace
and chilled champagne in hand, the newlyweds curled up on a blanket on the floor
and relived the magical day.

“This day was perfect,” Charity beamed.

“Agreed.” Tarn tipped his crystal flute to hers, a tender smile
playing upon his lips.

“Your Uncle Murr is a real character!”

“That he is. Few years ago, there was a documentary made about
him and his life here on the mountain.”

“Yes, he told me,” she laughed. “He claims he’s an institution
around here.”

“He is,” Tarn admitted ruefully. “There’s been a Danbury on that
mountain for over a hundred and fifty years. Some claim he was the first.”

Charity gloried in the sound of his chuckle, loving the feel
of it rumbling against her back as she lounged in his arms. “Well I, for one,” she
said, “am willing to make certain a Danbury stays here for the next sixty or so
years.”

“Make that two,” he said, nuzzling her neck. “The nights get
mighty cold up here in the winter when you’re alone.”

“I never plan to be alone again.”

After thoroughly nibbling her neck, Tarn reached behind them
and pulled out a small box. “You still have two more wedding gifts.”

“Bringing GoGo here was enough, you know. That was such a wonderful
surprise. In case I didn’t say it enough earlier, thank you for that.”

“I like her,” Tarn said. “The orange hair is a little much, but
I like her.”

“It’s normally pink, but she dyed it orange for the occasion.”

Tarn ran his fingers through the silky strands of Charity’s hair.
“Your hair reminds me of the leaves,” he murmured. The smooth melody of his voice
poured over her, as sweet as the words he spoke. “It’s the exact color of a translucent
leaf when the sun shines on it, as much red as it is yellow. I’ve never seen that
color before, anywhere but on the leaves, but it’s here in your hair.”

Humbled by his most sincere compliment, Charity swallowed hard.
“You make it sound so beautiful.”

“It is. You are.” He kissed her tenderly, and then shoved the
box into her hand. “Open it.”

“Boxes,” she murmured, unwrapping the silvery paper. “Who knew
a few simple boxes could change so many lives?”

“The boxes brought us together,” he reminded her.

“Boxes are wonderful.” She parted the tissue paper and saw the
intricate carving nestled inside. “And so is this,” she whispered in awe. “Oh, Tarn,
this is perfect! Absolutely amazing.”

She lifted out an exact replica of a maple leaf, expertly carved
of its own wood. The detail was perfect, down to the delicate veining and the curled
edges. Sanded to a smooth finish, the wood was protected with a clear satin sealer.

“I thought you could put your rings on it,” he suggested, pointing
out the flat center.

“This looks exactly like a pale leaf from the forest floor,”
she insisted. “Are you sure you made this?” She glanced up at him suspiciously.
“Maybe it’s petrified.”

He chuckled. “I made it for you, sweet Charity.”

She hugged it to her. “And it’s perfect, absolutely perfect.
I love it!”

“I think you’ll really like this last gift.” There was a shy
gleam in his gray eyes as he whipped out another box.

She set the leaf aside and worked the wrappings loose on her
next box. She was a bit puzzled to see the small jar inside, but nonetheless pleased.
“You know how much I do enjoy maple cream,” she smiled.

Looking suddenly uncomfortable, Tarn took it from the box and
explained, “That first day we met, I told you some of the best ways to enjoy it.”

“You said your favorite way was with a spoon,” she recalled.

His uncertainty melted away, darkening his gaze into a blue flame.
His low words were but a rumble as they rolled from his massive chest and curled
around her in sensual delight. His huge hand pushed the terry robe from her shoulder.
Against her lips, he murmured, “I’ve thought of a new way to try it…”

Charity’s last coherent thought for the night was that his voice
should come with its own grading system:
sinfully, delightfully, exclusively-for-her,
dark and delicious
.

I hope you have enjoyed my tale of the Forgotten Boxes. If you
did, please take a moment to share your opinion on Amazon, Goodreads, and any other
venue of your choice. Reviews are an author’s best friend and play a major role
in our careers.

Thank you for reading.

If you would like to know more about my inspirations and other
books that I have written, please visit
www.beckiwillis.com
or contact me directly at
[email protected]
.
I love to hear from readers and promise to write you back!

Imaginary playmates and a sense of adventure had a key role in
developing this author’s career. With a passion for reading and the challenge of
‘what if’, Becki Willis knew she wanted to write, even from an early age. Since
2013, she has been weaving her imaginary friends and events into published stories
of mystery and romance.

Becki enjoys creating stories that reflect real life. She stirs
up believable characters in believable situations, then tosses in the thrill of
mystery and adventure. Danger is good, too. While all her stories have a healthy
dose of romance, if you’re looking for steamy sex schemes, you won’t find them here.
Some things, Becki believes, are best left to the imagination.

Married to her high school sweetheart for over thirty years,
Becki lives on a ranch in Central Texas and is a member of the Brazos Writers organization.
You can connect with Becki on www.beckiwillis.com and

www.facebook.com/beckiwillis.ccp?ref=hl.

Several of Becki’s books have made Amazon’s Top Ten list by genre.
Here’s what readers are saying about Becki and her books:

“This is an awesome new author with a strong voice! This was
a great read with tons of suspense and great character development. I highly recommend
you read this author!”

“It was so wonderful to find an author who knows that you don’t
need to use bad language and sex to sell a book. I would recommend this book to
anyone young and old. Thank you Becki Willis...”

“The best new series available.”

“Full of twists and the best love story revealed in ages. Loved
it!”

“I should know better than to start one of Becki’s books at bedtime.
So hard to stop in the middle!”

“Can’t put them down once you start.”