Page 51 of A Joyful Ring
“You’re a very clever man, Lars Hoffman,” Gloria said, cuddling against his chest.
“I ought to get up and walk out that door and never come back, but here’s the truth of it. Gloria Franklin, you’ve brought me more joy than I thought I’d ever know again. You somehowmanaged to break down the walls I built around my heart and poured light and love into the darkness that resided there. You have helped me find happiness again, and for that alone, I’ll be eternally grateful. But I love you, Glory, and I realize what a fool I’ve been to put off our happiness together. Will you marry me?”
“Yes! Absolutely yes!” Gloria wrapped her arms around his neck, and Risa brushed at her tears as she witnessed her father kiss his soon-to-be bride.
When her father pulled back with Gloria held close to his chest, he smiled at Risa. “Girlie, I know you’ve been hiding from Gunder and your feelings, and I’ve let you do it because I’ve been doing the same thing myself, except instead of hiding here, I’ve used excuses to distance myself from this amazing woman. It’s time for both of us to grab on to happiness and love with both hands. If you want to marry Gunder, and he gets around to asking, you have my permission. You may also have the place in Lovely. It’s yours to do with what you wish because I’m going to be here in Baker City. I talked to a few of the local businesses this week about hauling freight for them. It seems there is a need for dependable freighters. It looks like I’ll be going into business for myself. I talked it over with Mr. Goodwin yesterday and let him know this is the final trip I’m making for him. When I go back to Lovely tomorrow, it will be the last time I haul for the mine.”
“Oh, Lars! Here you’ve let us think you had no interest in changing the way things were, andyou’ve been making plans all along,” Gloria said, shaking her head at him while snuggling closer.
“I’m not nearly as dense as I may appear. I know Gunder loves my daughter, and she’s plumb loco over that boy for some reason.” Lars smirked, aware Risa knew he was teasing. “I can’t stand to see them both so mopey. But Risa, how do you think Gunder’s going to feel when he realizes you’ve been here all along?”
“He’s going to feel like he’s been lied to and made a fool of,” a deep voice said from the doorway.
Risa gasped and rose to her feet as Gunder walked into the room, brushing snowflakes from his shoulders.
“What are you doing here?” Lars asked as he and Gloria stood.
“A little birdie told me where I could find Risa. After you left this morning, I made a few plans of my own, Lars. Mr. Goodwin agreed the mine could make do without a load hauled into Baker City tomorrow, and Silas let me borrow a horse to ride into town. I had some important business to attend to that couldn’t wait.”
“You did?” Risa asked as Gunder crossed the room until he stood in front of her.
“How could you hide from me, Ree? Especially here? I thought I was losing my mind, catching a hint of your fragrance when I’d walk into a room, or convinced I saw you disappearing around a doorway.”
Risa shrugged, unable to find the words to explain why she’d left Lovely and why she wasnow so eager to return.
“Don’t you know, Risa Karoline Hoffman, how completely I love you? How my world feels dark without your smile to brighten it, and my heart feels empty without your smile to fill it? You mean the world to me, Ree, and …” He paused and glanced at Lars, then back at her. “If your father has no objection, I would very much like to ask for your hand in marriage. I know we need to wait until I have enough saved to buy a piece of land and build a house, but with the jewelry repairs I’ve been doing and the few pieces I’ve made, I think by summer we can make it happen.”
Risa shook her head. “No, Gunder. That just won’t work.”
Gunder appeared utterly devastated and took a step back as though he needed to sit down. Before he collapsed on one of Gloria’s little chairs, Risa smiled and took his hands in hers. “That won’t work because Papa just offered to give us the place in Lovely.”
“What?” Gunder asked, looking from her to Lars. “Truly, sir?”
“Truly, Gunder,” Lars said, nodding in agreement. “It seems I won’t be needing it after Gloria drags me down the aisle. Above anything else, I wish for my daughter is for her to know the love of a good man, and to rest in the knowledge that she’ll be cherished and treasured. I know you’ll make sure she is cherished every day of your life together, son.”
Gunder let out a whoop and swung Risa into his arms, giving her a kiss that made her forget allthe worry and torment she’d put herself through to realize where she belonged was with Gunder. That the home she’d always longed for was in his arms, and his heart.
“That’s enough, son!” Lars thumped Gunder on the shoulder.
Gloria laughed and gave Lars a sideways hug, then hugged Risa, kissing both of her cheeks. “I’m so, so pleased we’ll finally be family, Risa.”
“Me, too, Gloria, or may I call you Mama?”
Gloria nodded her head as both she and Risa began to cry, and the men shook hands.
The voice in Risa’s head quietly whispered,Go home.
The next morning, Risa and Gunder stood up with Lars and Gloria at the church in Baker City as they exchanged vows, then Gunder kissed Risa, promising he’d be waiting for her at the church when she arrived tomorrow for their Christmas Eve wedding. He swung up on the freighter wagon after giving her a kiss full of promises and waved as he hauled the load that Lars was supposed to drive back to Lovely, with Silas’s horse tied to the back of the wagon. The load today was supplies for the mine’s Christmas dinner, and Risa wouldn’t have to worry about him hauling explosives.
The following morning, after the Christmas Eve service, Pastor Thomas invited the congregation to stay to witness the wedding between Risa Hoffman and Gunder Birke.
Risa hadn’t argued when Gloria insisted on purchasing a few new dresses for her, including a beautiful dress in a shade of blue that accented hereyes and brought out the roses in her cheeks. Risa had never even dreamed of owning such a fine gown and proudly wore it as she walked with her father down the aisle to where Gunder waited next to Pastor Thomas and Silas Evans, who had agreed to stand up with him.
Gloria had somehow talked Gunder into accepting the new suit she’d purchased for him that was similar to the one she’d insisted Lars needed for their own wedding the previous day.
Risa felt as though her heart would burst when Gunder took her hands in his to recite his vows, his heart shining in his glorious blue eyes. But when he slid a ring she knew he’d made just for her onto her finger, she couldn’t imagine loving this incredible, handsome, caring man more than she did at that moment.
“This ring was meant to be a promise for our future, Risa, but today it’s more than just a promise, it’s a symbol that my love will always encircle you,” Gunder said softly at the end of the vows the pastor had asked him to repeat.
