Jodi Thomas - Northern Star

Cleland looked up, as if the papers were somehow a shield. "As you know, Mr. Kirkland, in North Carolina it is illegal for a white man to marry a woman of color.''

Hunter's anger reached a point of deadly calm. He moved toward the preacher slowly, deliberately.

"Hunter!" Abram shouted. "Riders coming."

They all glanced far to the north and saw a cloud of dust moving fast. Hunter grabbed Perry and lifted her into the balloon. "Hold this," he whispered as he shoved his Colt into her hand, then turned and shoved the minister into the basket.

"Take aim on our guest!" Hunter shouted loud enough for Cleland to hear. "If he moves, shoot him!" He turned toward the frightened preacher. "Don't worry about her being a good shot. If she fires, we'll all go up in flames."

Abram threw the grounding rope over and hopped into the wicker gondola. Within moments the basket broke loose from the ground and they moved upward, as if someone in the sky were pulling them into the clouds.

"You can't do this!" Cleland whined. His eyes were darting about him like a man who'd just been thrown in a snake pit.

"Just taking you nearer to heaven," Abram said solemnly. " 'Course, if you don't want to come, you're welcome to climb out."

Cleland glanced over the edge for help, but the men below were too far away to hear him. His hands gripped the basket tightly as he watched his world grow smaller below him. "What kind of insanity is this?"

"My plan is unchanged. I wish to marry Perry, and nothing you can say will change my mind." Hunter faced him with cold directness. "What better church than the heavens? You may perform the wedding service now, or you can start flapping your arms and pray you learn to fly before you hit the ground."

The reverend hesitated. He might have called Hunter's bluff, but he felt Abram's massive hand on his shoulder. "I have no Bible and you have no rings."

Abram's grip tightened, lifting him off the floor of the basket.

"All right!" The reverend reconsidered. "I'll marry you!"

"Thanks, Abram." Hunter winked. "The minister seems to have received some divine guidance. Set him down."

Hunter pulled Perry close. "Abram found your bag at the farmhouse, my love. If you'd like to dress and comb your hair, the wedding can wait a moment." Then, to the others he added, "Gentlemen, if you'll turn around and allow my future wife a few moments of privacy…"

Abram and the minister turned their backs as Hunter helped Perry open her bag. Abram began telling the minister of the workings of the balloon, as if he were a willing guest and not a prisoner in the small craft.

As Perry removed her cape she looked up shyly into Hunter's love-filled eyes and whispered, "Aren't you going to turn your back while I dress?''

"Not on your life," Hunter answered. "You might as well understand something from the first, Perry Kirkland. I plan to spend the rest of my life watching you."

Perry shrugged her slender shoulders and smiled at him honestly. She pulled her dress from the bag as her mother's pouch fell to the basket floor.

Hunter picked it up. "Did you say there were old papers in this?"

"Yes, and a few rings. Perhaps we could use them."

Hunter opened the pouch. "We can buy rings in Washington. I want you always to wear that medallion I gave you." He smiled as the gold disk reflected the morning sun. "Many a night I've thought of my name carved into the gold of that small disk. My name nestling lovingly in a place I long to lay my head."

Perry blushed scarlet, and not even the breeze could cool her cheeks. "Hunter," she scolded, "we're not alone."

"That fact has never evaded me. Were we alone, I would tell you far more." He laughed as she turned her lovely back to him.

"The crest on the front of that necklace is about all that remains of the Kirkland family. Several generations ago the clan left England for America. As far as I know, I'm the only one left. But we'll change that very soon. I'm looking forward to many dark-eyed, black-haired Kirkland children."

Perry refused to look at him as she combed her hair. He thumbed through the papers in her bag. As the contents of the letters registered on his mind, Hunter gave them his full attention.

Perry finished, then turned to find him reading the papers. A smile spread across his face as he read.

"Reverend Cleland!" he shouted. "Would it relieve your mind if I could show proof that your document from Wade is a forgery?"

"How?" Cleland glanced over his shoulder without letting go of the basket edge.

"I have here birth documents of Perry's mother and of both Perry and Andrew McLain. Hunter held the papers tightly in the wind. "Perry's mother must have feared that old forgery might turn up."

All aboard the tiny craft gathered around as Reverend Cleland examined the documents. After several minutes he huffed. " 'Pears to be in order. I fear I may have been tricked by Wade." He hated admitting his error but saw no point in insisting he was right when the evidence was so obviously on Hunter's side.

A few minutes later he married Hunter Kirkland and Perry McLain among the clouds somewhere over North Carolina. Then they gently lowered the balloon and set him aground several miles from his church. Though he walked many hours to reach home, the reverend never stopped thanking God his feet were on solid ground.

Perry awoke to church bells sounding outside her window. She looked around for a moment, confused. She remembered the long balloon ride, then climbing onto a horse and traveling several hours. Finally, when she could no longer hold the reins, Hunter held her in his arms. Vaguely she remembered being carried upstairs and tucked into bed.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Kirkland." A woman appeared from the doorway. "I hope you slept well. The mister left orders for a bath to be brought in as soon as you awakened."

Perry looked up, confused.

"Mrs. Adams." The woman pointed to herself. "I'm the housekeeper. Mr. Kirkland has gone to see the president. He'll be back soon."

Perry couldn't believe the beauty of the room before her. Everything was exactly as she would have dreamed a perfect room to be. The walls were sky blue and the furniture dark mahogany with one wall lined in bookshelves. All the curtains were pale blue, trimmed in ivory lace. A warm corner fireplace welcomed her.

When Mrs. Adams went to fetch the bath, Perry jumped from the bed and walked through the open connecting door. A master bedroom greeted her, this one decorated in mahogany and midnight blue. The room could belong to no one but Hunter. Every book, every map posted on the walls, reflected his personality.

She couldn't resist curling into the huge wing-back chair by the fire. She pushed into the velvet and closed her eyes.

"Mrs. Kirkland," the housekeeper whispered, "would you like your tea now, or after your bath?"

"I'll wait for my husband," Perry answered, and heard the housekeeper withdrew.

There was a long silence before the door closed. "Your husband is home," came a low voice from behind the chair.

Perry opened her eyes as he pulled her up into his arms. The look of love in his own gray depths left her speechless.

He carried her to his bed and laid her down gently. "I told you once, whatever your price, I'd pay it." He straightened and removed his shirt, his eyes never leaving her face.

"I ask no price but your love."

Hunter lay beside her and pulled her into his embrace. "Before I met you I thought there was no freedom and joy, except in the Star when I was among the clouds. Now I know my heaven is here in your arms. I love you beyond any limits."

Perry delighted in his touch as she rolled close to him. "I love you, but there is one thing we must clear up."

Hunter raised on an elbow and studied her. "And that is, my wife?"

Perry brushed his bare chest with her hand. "You should know one thing. I plan on having only blond children with gray eyes."

Hunter pulled her beneath him and whispered against her ear, "We'll talk about it in the morning, my angel. Right now I plan to give all my dreams wings."