A Line in the Sand by Al Lacy

Author:Al Lacy [Lacy, Al and JoAnna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-56164-0
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2013-05-23T00:00:00+00:00

On Thursday, November 27, 1834, William Childress and his young friend Alan Kane embarked on schedule for New Orleans. They arrived at the New Orleans docks at noon on December 2. They took a hired carriage to the Miller mansion and were greeted by Garth, who informed them that the Miller family was visiting the Dardanelles at their plantation but would be home in a while.

Garth then asked, “Have you gentlemen had lunch?”

“No,” replied William.

“Well, I will go tell Hosanna you’re here, and she’ll take care of you. I will then take your bags to your rooms. You will be staying in the same rooms you occupied before.”

Hosanna quickly prepared lunch for the guests and fed them in the dining room. They had beef sandwiches, fried potatoes, and green salad, along with hot coffee. For dessert, they were given a plate heaped high with molasses cookies.

At two thirty that afternoon, the Millers returned home. Garth led them into the parlor, where William and Alan were waiting. Sally and Julia hurried ahead of their parents, with open arms. Sally hugged Alan, while Julia hugged Uncle William. Then when Julia turned to Alan, her face lit up, and she gave him a tender embrace that made him feel like someone had just poured liquid fire in his veins. Justin and Myra welcomed their guests warmly. Courteously, Alan clicked his heels perfectly and kissed Myra’s hand. He then shook hands with the man he wished could be his father-in-law. William followed suit, kissing Myra’s hand and shaking hands with Justin.

Alan’s heart secretly surged over the next few days as he and Julia spent time together. At one point, she asked him if he was adapting to ranch life all right. He assured her that he was and added that his success in horsemanship had come easily because of what she had taught him. This pleased her immensely. Julia brought up more than once what a beautiful friendship she and Alan had developed.

On Saturday, December 6, while the wedding ceremony was in progress at the church, Alan’s eyes were glued to beautiful Julia, who was one of the bridesmaids. She was stunning in her lovely dress. He tried to picture what she would look like in a wedding gown, coming toward him on the arm of her father to marry him, just as Sally had been escorted down the aisle by her father to marry Jeffrey Dardanelle.

While Alan feasted his eyes on Julia during the ceremony, he also observed Jeffrey Dardanelle. Jeffrey was right and proper material as a son-in-law for the Millers, Alan thought. Handsome. Mannerly. Rich.

It was then that a grisly thought gripped Alan’s mind: someday a rich young man would have the pleasure of marrying Julia. He told himself he never wanted to know who or when she married. He could not stand it.

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