Chapter 1

She sat upon the green grass, picking wild flowers covered in the fresh morning dew,

tucking her nose into each corolla as she did. She loved the smell of fresh flowers. She

was dreamily distracted, for she didn't hear the clopping that sounded in the distance,

stopping once it had arrived at it's destination. She was too busy to notice.

"Winnie! Winnie, come here!" She finally looked up, seeing her mother-dress hiked up

to her knees- running over to her.

"What's wrong?"

She stopped to catch her breath, pointing back to the farm house from where she

came, "There's a man here to see you."

"What? Who?"

Her mother only answered, "Come, find out yourself."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winifred entered the house behind her mother, who had become suspiciously elated

in demeanor, to find two strange men sitting in her living room.

One of them stood up, "Hello, Winifred. My name is Arthur Wilkinson-" He must

have been in his 50's or 60's, Winnie thought. He lacked hair upon his head, but what

was there, was white in colour, the same as the moustache upon his upper lip, which

curled at each end. "We're sorry to have bothered you. My son, Henry-" He gestured

over to the reserved young man that sat next to him. "has something he'd like to ask

you."

He stood up to face her. He was tall in stature, and had chocolate brown hair and

eyes to match.

"This is going to sound very strange," he began, "but,...I would like to ask for your hand in marriage."

She was frozen for a moment, not sure if she could respond to such a question, for

she did not know the man that stood in front of her asking it. He was only a stranger.

"It's alright if the answer is no-"

Winnie's mother quickly interjected, "We had a discussion with Arthur before you

came in, and they're a wonderful family, Winnie! Your father and I really do think it

would be a good idea."

They held their breath after that, awaiting her answer, but they didn't wait long before

she spoke up.

"Sure." Was all she said.

"Well, isn't it wonderful!"

"Mr. Wilkinson," Ezra, Winnie's father, held his hand out to Arthur as he proclaimed,

"may our families be bonded for life."

"Of course!"

Winnie and Henry stood quietly, having not moved an inch, as those around them

celebrated. Winnie finally found the courage to look him in the eyes. The eyes of the

man that she was apparently going to marry. They were soft, and smiled at her.

'Maybe, this won't be so bad afterall.' Was all that came to mind.