Written In Stone

horses, and the carriage lurched forward. Others made their way to their own carriages, and Ben maneuvered around them in order to keep from anyone colliding with them. The horses sensed the panic of the people running around and reared, forcing the carriage to one side. Finally able to find a clear route, Ben urged the horses into a run down the cobblestone streets, heading south toward town.
    "What was that all about?" Angie wondered, pushing the window curtain back to look out.
    "I have no idea, but I'm sure we'll receive word about it tomorrow," Mrs. Waterston replied, now seeming the essence of calm as she smoothed her skirts over her lap.
    Angie could see nothing to give her a clue as to the problem, so she shut the curtain and turned back to her companion. Mrs. Waterston leaned her head against the cushion and closed her eyes. Angie did not disturb her. Instead, she leaned back and shut her own eyes, thinking of Mr. Stone. He really was quite handsome, and perhaps, if her life were different, she would have accepted his offer to dance. Unfortunately, her life was so very changed from what it had been just two years ago . Dancing with a handsome man was not something she thought of anymore, at least, not too much anyway.
    ~ * ~
    Just over two years ago, Angie was happily married to the only man she ever loved. Jonathan Elliott was nearly ten years her senior, but that hadn't mattered to either of them. They were equals on every other level, and she fell in love with him almost immediately. A true gentleman, Jonathan had been a solicitor and quite wealthy. After assisting Angie's father in a business matter, Jonathan accepted an invitation to their home for supper one evening. Angie felt shivers up her arm and over her entire body when he kissed her hand upon their introduction. After that night, they'd been inseparable, and six short months later, they married. Barely seventeen when she became his wife, Angie was only twenty-four when she became his widow. Jonathan's life ended in a tragic accident that had also taken the life of their unborn child and left Angie crippled.
    She had much to mourn. They'd both been excited to conceive a child after so many years of marriage, and to lose both her child and husband in one fell swoop was more than most women could bear. Angie, however, also lost most of the use of both legs as a result of injuries to her neck and spine. Able to move them a little, and with some feeling in them, her legs no longer held her weight when standing and she could not take steps on her own. The doctors, unable to help Angie, couldn't offer much hope for her to walk again. They did say the condition may reverse over time, but they had no way of knowing for sure.
    Angie faced the situation the way she faced everything — head on. Though she wasn't one to shy away from hard work or to run from anything life handed her, she often wondered how she would make it through the rest of her life in her condition. Her father passed away shortly after her marriage, and her mother never quite recovered from his death. Her brother, Thomas, married and took his new bride across the ocean to America. If not for Mrs. Waterston, Angie wasn't sure what she would have done these past years.
    A widow with no intention of finding another husband, Mrs. Waterston never allowed Angie to wallow in self-pity. After thirty-five years of marriage and raising four children, she was quite content visiting her eleven grandchildren as often as possible.
    ~ * ~
    When at last the carriage halted in front of Angie's home, Ben quickly made his way to the door and helped Mrs. Waterston to the ground. Retrieving Angie's wheelchair from the porch, Mrs. Waterston pushed it quickly to the carriage. Ben set Angie carefully in the chair and pushed her up the ramp specially made for that purpose. Once inside, Mrs. Waterston helped Angie to her room and to change into a flannel nightgown, then brought her a cup of tea.
    "It's been a long night and I know you must be tired. Get some sleep. You will feel better in the morning," Mrs. Waterston said as she tucked the quilt around Angie's body.
    "Thank you." Angie set the teacup back on its saucer. "It's been a long evening for you as well. I'll see you in the morning."
    "Good night." Mrs. Waterston looked weary but smiled as she left the room, shutting the door softly behind her.
    "Good night." Angie snuggled into the blankets and sighed as her head sank into the feather pillow. "Good