Beneath the Honeysuckle Vine by Marcia Lynn McClure Page A

understanding that he knew he had wooed her before and after the war while his brother had wooed her even through all the hardship and terrors of it.
    Vivianna let her hand slip into her skirt pocket. She clutched Justin ’ s letter there—could not help but smile as Justin said, “ I bet that ol ’ honeysuckle vine has really grown since Caleb and me left. ”
    “ Yes, ” Vivianna said.
    “ Then take me there, Viv, ” Justin said.
    Vivianna bit her lip , delighted at the prospect of lingering beneath the honeysuckle with Justin. Yet she gasped , suddenly remembering the convalescing man in the other room.
    “ Oh, but I promised Mr. Tabor I ’ d bring another bowl of stew in, ” she explained.
    “ Oh, for pity ’ s sake, Viv! ” Savannah said, smiling. “ I can do that. You go on and walk awhile with Justin. It ’ ll do ya good. ”
    “ Thank ya, Miss Savannah, ” Vivianna said.
    She placed her hand in Justin ’ s offered one. Instantly she was warm and hopeful! His touch was startling to her senses, and she bathed in the pleasure of it.
    As Justin led her from the house, he asked, “ Are the honeysuckle blossoms as sweet as I remember? ”
    “ Even sweeter, ” Vivianna said, smiling at him.
    Justin would be her lover now ; she knew he would be. All the kisses she ’ d never shared with Justin before the war—all the dreams she ’ d so long dreamt of stolen moments spent beneath the honeysuckle—they would be hers now , and this would be the first of , oh, so many!
     

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    The sun was beginning its evening descent , sending bright pinks and warm purples beaming across a blue, cloud-dappled horizon. Everywhere there was color ; e verywhere there was fragrance! Yet no color seemed so bright and welcoming as did the sight of the vine-draped arbor ; no fragrance seemed so intoxicating as that exhaled by the honeysuckle blossoms heavy upon it.
    “ Well, look at that! ” Justin exclaimed as he led Vivianna toward the old arbor. “ I guess that vine just found a will of its own without me and Caleb here to beat it back. You can hardly see that old wagon of G randpa ’ s anymore. That ol ’ honeysuckle just swallowed it whole. ”
    Vivianna nodded as Justin paused to survey the scene. “ At least somethin ’ seemed to thrive durin ’ the war, ” she said. “ I think there ’ re more blossoms than there have ever been this early in spring. ”
    Justin closed his eyes and inhaled a long, deep breath. “ It puts me in mind of bein ’ just a boy, ” he began. “ No war, no pain, no misery…no death. ” He smiled . “ It ’ s healin ’ to my soul, in a manner. ”
    Vivianna closed her eyes as well—inhaled the sweet perfume of the honeysuckle. Justin was right. In that moment, she could almost sense her childhood lingering near , almost feel those bygone , carefree days of summer , almost hear the laughter as she, her brothers , and the Turner boys played near the arbor.
    “ Is the swing still in good repair? ” he asked.
    Vivianna nodded. “ Oh yes! It ’ s often I come here and linger awhile…to think of you, Justin. ”
    Justin smiled. Reaching out, he brushed a strand of hair from Vivianna ’ s cheek. The thrill his touch sent racing through her being caused her to quiver a little—birthed goose pimples to prickle down her arms and legs.
    “ I ’ ve thought of you so often, Viv, ” he said. His voice was low , filled with longing and, somehow, a breath of regret.
    “ And I ’ ve thought of you every moment, Justin . F rom the day you left us…I ’ ve thought of you endlessly, ” she confessed, gazing into the sky blue of his beautiful eyes. “ Do ya see? ” she asked, reaching into her skirt pocket and retrieving his letter she ever kept there. “ I carry one of your letters with me always. ” She giggled a little as she handed the letter to him. “ This one is perhaps my favorite, ” she explained. “ The envelope is in my room , with your other