"Good day, Ms. Allan, might I enquire as to what you are doing?" A curious James Eckard asked, tipping his hat her way.
He'd been watching Ms. Allen, a sturdy, buxom woman, with a wealth of mahogany hair for a while now. She was threading ribbons through some sort of crystal, and tying them to the branches of the tree growing on the western side of the schoolhouse.
"Well Mr. Eckard, I'm trying to create an area where the children can sit, read a book, think, or just look at the rainbows dancing in the wind - hence the prisms! Children need a place to think and revel in their imaginations."
"Don't you agree, sir?"
"I must tell you Ms. Allan, I actually haven't given it much thought. But I certainly do understand the appeal of the application." James told her, thinking she was very
interesting to look at as he stepped closer, plucking an already be-ribboned prism from her hand and hanging it.
"Thank you Mr. Eckard, but I ..."
"James, you must call me James."
"Thank you,
Mr. Eckard, but pardon me, if I don't do so. People would say we were overly familiar, you see. A teacher must absolutely be above reproach, or her students would lose confidence in her." Ms. Allen matter of factly told Mr. Eckard.
She had heard many things about Mr. James Eckard. Most telling of how much of a cad he was - but those rumors came from women he rejected, and Diana paid them little mind.
She knew for a fact he was fair, and generous in his dealings with his customers at his lumber mill and , and in giving credit to families struggling. Diana believed this was his true measure.
"Hmm, I see. So, how do we get around such a quandary then - of your inability to use my Christian name- without becoming a scandalous woman of low morals?" James asked in mock seriousness.
"I don't know Mr. Eckard, but I'm sure you- being a man- would think of some grand gesture, leading the people to wonder why, yet again, the gesture had been made. Especially when it would have been simpler to meet me at church on Sunday, and for you to ask me to go walking with you." Diana told him, hanging another prism on the tree.
"Oh, I see. How foolish of me, completely forgetting my chivalry. I humbly beg your forgiveness Ms. Allan. I didn't mean to be forward... or rude." He said smiling awkwardly.
Removing his hat, and bowing with a flourish, he asked, "Ms. Allan, would you do me the honor of walking with me, after church on Sunday?"
"Why Mr. Eckard, I'd be delighted to go walking with you after church. I feel I must warn you, however, I usually have little escorts walking with me, my own little entourage if you will!" Ms. Allan's laughter pealed, brightening her demeanor, and James thought her the most extraordinary woman, indeed!
"Will providing us with a picnic lunch fall under the heading of too forward? Just a light repast for us, and the children?" James inquired.
"That would be lovely Mr. Eckard. Until Sunday, then?" Diana said, giving Mr. Ekard her hand to shake on the deal, and blushed as James unexpectedly turned her hand over to kiss the inside of her wrist; And though not immune to intimacy 's effect, nevertheless Diana felt the need to admonish Mr. Eckard.
Diana pulled her hand away, and taking a step back, shot Mr Eckard a withering look, telling him, "Sir did we not just have a conversation about taking liberties, and being too forward?"
"We did. I, was only leaving you with something to fondly remember me by. Once more I apologize for taking advantage." James told her, trying to look contrite, but not quite pulling it off.
"Hmph, I accept your apologies Mr. Eckard, as for walking after church this Sunday, I'll have to think carefully. I don't want to be out strolling with a 'rake' who has nothing but conquest on his mind." Diana, having little patience left, smartly told him.
"Now, I bid you sir, to be about your business, and I'll go about mine. I have homework to grade." Diana turning on her heel, serenely walked over to the steps, and into the schoolhouse.
Pushing the door closed, and sneaking a peek at Mr. Eckard, she had to stifle her giggles. The poor man looked pole-axed, and she was quite pleased with herself.
Some might say she was playing games when she wasn't, not truly. Growing up with four older brothers, she spent a lot of her younger days spying on them, while 'walking' with their chosen prey.
Ammunition for teasing her brothers with had been her ultimate goal, but she'd inadvertently come away with bits and pieces of knowledge about the behaviour of men. Such as, males - while finding it amusing when you bat your eyes, or do everything but throw yourselves at them, rarely married this type. Her brothers liked chasing the women they married. They went tripping all over themselves trying to get her sister-in-laws' attention.
The smart, sober ones, or the quiet, sassy, intelligent, women, who call their men out for playing games,
these were the strong women men choose to marry. Thank goodness too, for she wasn't much of an actress, and portraying a simpering ninny, she simply could not pull off.
Laughing at the image of herself acting the ninny, another thought intruded, this one bringing a completely different train of thought... Will Mr. James Eckard be brave enough to still go walking this Sunday? Or will he conveniently forget? She smiled to herself, no, he wouldn't be able to resist the challenge.
*****
The Sunlight was blinding after the dimness of the church, and Diana struck her parasol, shaft her eyes. Looking around, her stomach sank with disappointment, and she was thinking she may have overplayed her hand, when Mr. Eckard's buckboard came rolling into view, braking at the Happy Tree.
Mr. Eckard jumped to the ground, and securing the reins, retrieved a large picnic basket and blanket from the back. Spotting Ms. Allan he waved, and rushed her way. Diana giving him a tepid smile in acknowledgment, gracefully stepped down the stairs toward him.
James, his mouth suddenly dry at the sight of her, swept off his hat, and mashing it against his chest, bowed asking, "Ms. Allan, will you do me the honor of walking with me?"
"Why yes, Mr. Eckard, I'd be happy to walk with you. Here, let me carry that blanket for you." Diana said, smiling, glad to use its weight to hide her trembling hands.
"Thank you Ms. Allan. May I prevail upon you once more, to call me James? And don't look now, but we are gaining that entourage you spoke of." James, informed her.
"That didn't take long at all, the cheeky little buggers ... !" Diana remarked dryly,
She glanced at James, laughing, until they were sharing a laugh together.
Reaching the perfect, mossy, clearing beneath a willow, they spread the picnic around the blanket. The clearing was not far from the swimming hole, and in mid-September it still was hot enough for swimming and cooling off. Some children were swinging on a tire, and doing tricks mid-air as they flew off into the river, providing the adults with entertainment.
The day's passing was quite pleasant, with Ms. Allen ( "Please call me Diana"), and Mr. Eckard ( "Then I must insist you call me, James"), filling each other in on the particulars of their respective families.
Diana told James of her four older brothers, and he feigns fear saying that he would endeavour to please her, lest he be met with four angry men set on protecting their sister. Diana nibbling on cucumber sandwich, smiled enigmatically,
She also told him of her decision to keep on teaching, even after starting a family. James jokingly told her she needed a husband as liberal as she is with her intentions. Diana said yes, she had been thinking the same.
James spoke of growing up with three younger sisters, so he had an inkling about the mysteries of women's ways, but still found the opposite sex baffling.
How his lumber mill had been in the family for three generations, and his fervent hope was to see it with the fourth sitting at its helm. Confidence and pride in his work shone through his face, Diana noticed, transforming its appeal.
And so, a dozen Sunday's passing with the day's activities being dictated by the weather, the young couple spent walking, riding, or even skating when there came a flash freeze.
Two weeks before Christmas, after a night of singing carols and wassailing around town, James and Diana were walking arm in arm; James making sure of her safe arrival at the boarding house. Glancing at her in the moonlight, James thought she was the loveliest woman he'd ever come across, and his mouth went dry from nerves.
Along the way they passed the schoolhouse, and James gently began steering them toward the 'Happy Place' she and the children made together, at the beginning of the school year. He was watching her face for her reaction as she first looked upon it!
James had fashioned a beautiful bench, over the fall, complete with carvings of character's from
Aesop's Fables. James asked her to sit for a moment, he needed to remove a stone that had fallen into his shoe, irritating him.
Diana sat, smoothing her skirts, humming and astonished at the work the children had gotten away with her not noticing!! They had strung together chains of popcorn and berries now hanging around the tree for the animals and birds, and many more crystals and shiny bobbins were hanging now, than when she'd first started. It made her heart sing.
Diana, being preoccupied, forgot James for a moment until his clearing his throat brought her back to him. Looking into his eyes, for the first time, Diana actually saw a vulnerability there, and James, still on one knee took her hands in his.
"Ms. Diana Allan will you do me the immense honor of marrying me? Of taking my name and loving me ... nearly as much as I love you?" James asked earnestly.
"Oh" Diana cried. "My brothers have been threatening to thrash you if didn't propose by Christmas! Oh, Yes! Yes, I will." Diana told him, quickly swiping away a tear. "I love you James. Your heart has filled mine with joy, making this a truly Happy Place."
*****Phew!
blah