Part Four
of Story One

by ae, September 2002

      Feeling quite the inept fool, Dan shrugged off his suit coat and pushed up his sleeves before shoving his hat on his dark head and swinging aboard his mount.  His face sporting a bit of a frown, he pressed the heels of his boots into the chocolate sides of Charlie Brown, the five-year-old gelding he had purchased a few months back.  He had been fortunate enough to meet an old man with the same name back in Boston a good time ago and for some reason, it had just seemed right to use it now—perhaps as a conscious thanks for the willing ear and helping hand the kind eyed gentleman had offered so many years ago.
      Dan's nostalgic abstractions veered in another direction, however, as he headed from the Laurence's neatly manicured estate.  Mrs. Laurence approved of his wish to marry her daughter!  Her acquiescence had relieved the burden of feared rejection and apprehension from his shoulders—for her doubts had been his main concern.  Mr. Laurence had accepted him, given him the benefit of the doubt since his first encounter at Plumfield; but it had taken the wealthy and considerate philanthropist's wife a much longer to warm up to him.
      But with his questionable past, who could blame her?  Especially when it was her only daughter he was asking to marry?
      Despite the natural tensions of it all, his lips twisted into an unbridled smile.  Fiery- tempered Elizabeth Laurence was going to become Mrs. Daniel Madison—assuming she accepted his proposal, which would follow only after he did the respectful thing and asked for her father's permission as well.  Still, the thought sent a current of eagerness through his insides.  Without a doubt, he considered himself the luckiest fellow in the world!

      Blast!  Handsome and clean-shaven, Thomas's face furrowed into a scowl.  In his preoccupation, he had walked out of the Laurence's house without remembering to retrieve his hat.  He could not very well just up and leave it—and coming to that particular decision, he leaned out the side of the carriage and hailed the driver.
      Following the older man's nod of affirmation, Thomas settled back into the seat, hands stapled in thought as the elegant horse-drawn vehicle made a switch in directions.  Did the Laurences know of Dan's nefarious past?  That their good friend picked pockets and was probably still hiding from the law?
      He could only assume not, for typical people in the Laurence's social position did not hold such ruffians in high esteem—let alone associate with them.  Thomas could not help but ponder the curious relationship shared between both parties.  Dan Madison, awkward and a pick pocket, hugging the man's wife . . . and hadn't Theodore mentioned having a daughter?
     'My wife and daughter...'
      His darks brows rose upward.  Mr. Laurence had mentioned a daughter—his only daughter; one of the two girls he had noticed on the staircase?—and more than a couple of times throughout their earlier conversation.  This offered a more interesting twist.  So many plausible possibilities. . . .
      Leaning out the side again, Thomas Gerard waved to the hired driver.

        Her husband's head resting in her lap for the ease of his newly returned headache, Amy massaged his temple with gentle fingers.  "He seemed like a very nice young man," she commented, referring to the cultured Gerard, Jr. who had come in his father's place.  "So intelligent and responsible for having just turning twenty- six."
      Mumbling an almost incomprehensible word of agreement, Laurie offered a slight shift of his head, eyes remaining closed.  "He's got a level head strapped on his shoulders, I think," he answered, knowing his wife would want some sort of response.  "And is very popular with the ladies, no doubt."   Such gentleman as the one he had just arranged a business agreement with did not go unnoticed by the female population of any town.
      Amy's delicate brows curved inward.  It had not been intentional, but his words gave an ominous feeling she couldn't quite decipher.  Jo had used the same words to describe Mrs. Albright's nephew following their first encounter with the cunning college- aged rogue . . . and look where that had gone.
      "Amy?"
      "Yes, dear?"  She pushed her musing aside.
      "What was Dan doing here?"
      "Dan!"  Her countenance brightened.  "I almost forgot.  He came by for tea and we—talked."
      Laurie peeked up at his blonde wife through a dropping eyelid.  "Tea?  I know there's supposed to be a first time for everything, dear, but I hardly think that such a thing could possibly apply when putting 'Daniel Madison' and 'tea' in the same sentence," he countered in a wry tone.  "It's an oxymoron."
      "Well, we did talk and he did have tea.  In fact . . . " she started to squirm and a bubbly smile started at either corner of her rosebud mouth.
      "In fact, what?"  Was he going to have to pry it out of her?  Gracious!  Who was this and what had she done with his real wife?
      "He wants to marry Bess!  And I told him that would be just fine."
      "You what!?"  Laurie bolted upright, looking back at her with eyes rounder than dinner plates.
      "He wanted to speak to you, but I pried it out of him before you arrived."  She giggled.  "Poor boy—he was so nervous!  Enough that I thought he might up and faint dead away."
      He said nothing for a moment, it was all somewhat of a shock.  "He wants to marry Bess?"
      Amy nodded, oblivious to his sudden change in mien.  "He's going to ask you for permission, of course, but I told him I thought it would be just lovely."
      Just lovely?  She sounded like she was planning a tea party rather than their daughter's future.  "Did he say when he might be coming by?" he queried, keeping his thoughts to himself.
      "Oh, I don't know.  In the days few days, I would suppose.  Maybe even tomorrow?"
      Laurie ran a hand through his hair.  Dan—marry Bess.  He had always had a soft spot for Jo's "firebrand" and had even unconsciously suspected something like this would eventually happen.  But now that it was here—that he was actually asking permission for Bess's hand . . . 
      Questions filled his mind.  Dan Madison was a honest young man with a good heart and a desire to do what was right.  And it was honest to say that he could not ask for a better young man for his daughter than Daniel Madison.  His character—no matter how wonderful—would not put food on the table, though.  It would be a definite asset in finding a position, but he did not have the same qualifications as a man who had received a full education.  Could he provide enough for a family?  He was a diligent worker, that was for certain.  But would it be enough to get by?
      Laurie closed his eyes and let his head rest back in Amy's taffeta cushioned lap, feeling the intensified ache in either side of his temple.  Could Dan support a wife, children later on?  Perhaps.  Although he knew it would likely not be close in comparison to the way some young men could provide . . . ones like Thomas Gerard, Jr.

        Bess Laurence accepted the extended bundle of mail with a polite smile to the older man situated across the old oak counter.  "Thank you, Mr. Gerson.  And please thanks Mrs. Gerson for the roses.  I know Mother will be thrilled when she sees them."
      Mr. Gerson nodded his balding head, returning her kind gesture.  "You're most welcome, Miss Laurence.  And I'll be sure to pass the message on," he promised.  "Now you have a nice afternoon."
      Miss Laurence.  Bess's lips curled into a secretive smile of wistful delight as she exited the general store.  Before too long it would be Mrs. Daniel Madison . . . at least she hop—
      "Whoa!"
      Her letters and the small bouquet of flowers Mrs. Gerson had sent along went up and then fluttered to the ground like a shower of leaves falling from a tree as she collided with a tall, distinguished—and altogether dashing young man just entering.
      He looked up.  And she flushed.
      Noting her polite embarrassment, he spoke.  "I hope you're all right?  It was most barbaric of me to come barreling down the boardwalk like that, entering with such force.  I fear I was in a bit too much of a hurry."
      Bess shook her head, a slight smile touching her mouth.  "Oh, no.  I'm fine, thank you.  But it was my fault—I'm afraid I wasn't paying attention."  Her brows furrowed a little.  "Are you all right?"
      "I survived alive and unscathed, thank you, Miss."  He swept off his fashionable hat then, giving a half bow.  "Please forgive me.  I'm Thomas Gerard."
      His greenish gray eyes twinkled when he smiled, so she noticed.  "It's a pleasure to meet you . . . Mr. Gerard."  Why did that sound familiar?  Bess extended a small gloved at the extension of his.
      Blonde . . . flustered . . . smiling.  She looked familiar . . .
      "I'm Elizabeth—Bess—Laurence."

What shall happen next?  Please e-mail me (misshoney_bee@hotmail.com) to tell me if you are interested in writing part of this story.  Well, what are you waiting for?  E-mail me!  (If no one responds by October 9th, I will write the next part.)