Peri (Brides 0f Needful Texas Book 3)

by Danni Roan

  Chapter 23

  “Prim! Prim! Primrose Perkins!” Peri shouted as she raced into the house that night dragging a reluctant but laughing Bartholomew Cassidy with her.

  “Good heavens!” Prim said rushing into the foyer drying her hands on her apron. “Whatever is the matter?” she said stopping and gaping at Mr. Cassidy who clutched Peri’s hand in his.

  “Mr. Cassidy is coming for dinner,” Peri said a bright smile gracing her face. “I brought him all the way in from town to eat.”

  Prim raised a dark brow in question nodding at their clasped hands.

  “He kissed me, Prim!” Peri squealed.

  Prim watched as Mr. Cassidy’s face turned a bright brick red but only laughed. “I see.” she said. “ Well come on in to the kitchen and have a seat,” she chided. “I’ve got a chicken in the oven and Mama’s fractious,” she finished turning and heading back the way she had come.

  “I don’t think you should tell everyone I kissed you,” Bear said leaning down to whisper in Peri’s ear. “We haven’t even officially started courting yet.”

  Peri turned looking up at the big man. “This isn’t the old south,” she said her eyes twinkling. “This is Texas and a new start. You can kiss me whenever you want as far as I’m concerned. As for courting, we’ll see, but if you feel about me the way, I feel about you.” She stopped biting her lip as she studied his face.

  “You mean if I love you?” Bear asked.

  Peri nodded as he pulled her into another bone-cracking embrace. “I love you too.” She sighed, feeling a sense of perfection she had always missed.

  “We’ll keep the courting short,” Bear said releasing her with a laugh and heading for the kitchen. “But there’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

  “I’ll learn,” Peri said with a grin. “I already know you like rabbit,” she finished laughing outrageously at her quip.

  Bear shook his head as he traipsed along in Peri’s wake. She was so full of life and giving and sass, but would she still love him when she found out who he really was?

  “Bear, I’m glad to see you up and around again,” Anderson offered as they all sat down to dinner. “Are you working again?”

  “I am,” Bear said. “I’ve been working on a solid wooden chest this week,” he added smiling at Peri.

  “Might you have time to make another of those remarkable rocking chairs or even two?” Anderson asked. “I think I’d like another one for the living room and for Mother Perkins’ room.”

  All three women fixed their eyes on Anderson and Prim jumped from her chair to hug her husband. “Really?” she gushed. “It would be so nice for Mama to have a chair in her room.”

  “I thought the same thing,” Anderson said gazing into Prim’s blue eyes adoringly. “She seems to be doing so much better now that she has her chair in the kitchen.”

  “What do you think Mama?” Peri said taking her mother’s hand. There was no response from her mother but the low strains of We Shall Know Him. Still, Peri took it to be a good sign. There was so much to be thankful for in this home, and the new love she was only starting to understand was the greatest.

  “Miss Perkins,” Bear said as coffee and dessert were served, “would you mind going for a walk with me after supper?”

  Peri smiled. “I think I’d like that just fine,” she said offering the big man a bright smile. “Unless you’re not feeling up to it,” she continued with a teasing glint in her eye. “I can always get Sparrow and lead you around.”

  Bear’s deep chuckle took all the heat from his scowl as the table erupted in laughter.

  Sorrow had come to Needful, yet Peri knew that rejoicing would come in the morning.

  Chapter 24

  A bright harvest moon graced the sky above as Peri stepped out onto the front porch with Bear. She couldn’t think of him as anything but Bear even though his name was Bartholomew.

  Pulling her coat around her to ward off the cold, Peri smiled when the big man dropped an arm around her to keep the cold at bay.

  “Peri,” Bear said as they walked out under the stars. “Before this goes any further, I need you to know who I am.”

  “I know who you are,” Peri said turning and looking at him with a smile. She felt warm and safe in his presence and couldn’t understand why he felt he needed to tell her who he was. “You’re a strong, simple man, who has come through troubles,” she continued. “But you have the heart of a big ol’ bear,” she finished with a giggle.

  Bear Cassidy placed his hands on Peri’s upper arms turning to look down into her beautiful star-lit face. “No, I’m someone I tried to forget,” he said. “Back home in Virginia I was the son of a wealthy plantation owner and a lawyer.”

  Peri gaped shocked at his words even as she understood about the big bookshelf in his simple cabin. How could this simple man, who made beautiful furniture, hunted, and trapped for his living, and found sustenance from the land be a lawyer? “But you live in a cabin in the woods,” Peri said. “You hunt and trap.”

  Bear nodded. “Yes, that’s how I’ve chosen to live since I left my family. They were furious when I joined the Yankee army.”

  “Did they disown you?” Peri asked her brow puckering in anger. “Well don’t worry about that. I’ve got some money, and I don’t mind living in a cabin. Why your place is a palace compared to what I’ve lived in for the past few years.”

  Bear dropped his gaze shaking his head. “No, no, that’s not it,” he said. “You need to stop jumping to conclusions,” he added. “Peri I’m rich. I have a big house in Virginia and have inherited my parents' defunct plantation as well. Both of my brothers died fighting for the south and that means I’ll get everything when my parents pass.”

  Peri’s eyes grew wide as the words of assurance she had been planning to say abandoned her.

  “I hope that won’t change the way you feel about me,” Bear said looking into her eyes. “I love you, my little Periwinkle, and I’ve chosen a simple life. Are you still willing to marry me knowing about my past?”

  “Willing?” Peri whispered. “Why Bear Cassidy I was willing to marry a simple woodsman living in a cabin in the woods. Why should you having money change that? I want you, not fancy things, or a big home. I want to live here in Needful and have lots of babies and listen to Mama humming to them. I want you,” she finished breathlessly throwing herself into his arms.

  Bear pulled the woman he loved into his arms kissing her with everything in him. His entire heart belonged to the sassy slip of a girl who had wrapped herself not just around his neck but also his heart.

  Breaking the embrace gently, Bear pulled back letting the cool air flow between them. “You’re something else,” he said with a grin.

  “That’s what people keep telling me,” Peri said, “but no one seems to ever bother to say what exactly.”

  Bear threw back his head laughing. He couldn’t make this woman his wife soon enough.

  “When do you want to get married?” he asked. “The church will be done in a fortnight if you can stand a Christmas wedding?”

  “I think that would be perfect,” Peri said with a laugh then her eyes grew troubled. “But what about Olive and Rosa and the Hampton House?” she said. “I can’t just go off and leave them without help, especially now with what has happened to Raul.”

  “You can keep working there if that makes you happy,” Bear said, “though I’d rather like to have you all to myself for a little while,” he added kissing her again.

  “I’ll talk to Olive,” Peri said, “but I think a Christmas wedding will be perfect. You know it’s crazy, but I think I loved you the minute I saw you that day in the Hampton House,” she said. “I couldn’t look away when you walked in to talk to the Gaines brothers.”

  Bear smiled, his heart melting in his chest. Peri had so much spunk, such a love for life, and others that it seemed to shatter the sorrow that had lived in his soul for so long. “Maybe God brought you here because He knew how much I needed
someone who could teach me to laugh again,” Bear said. “I’m very glad he did.”

  Peri’s smile was angelic as Bear pulled her into a gentle hug. “Now let’s go tell Prim and every one the good news,” Peri said, “Then we’ll talk to Mr. Tippet tomorrow.”

  Chapter 25

  It was the New Year before Peri got her wish and became Mrs. Bartholomew Cassidy.

  The building of the church had slowed due to bad weather, but the chapel was opened for Christmas services, and a week later, she and Prim had decorated the place for her wedding.

  “It’s beautiful, just like you,” Prim said hugging her sister one more time. “I’m sorry you had to wait,” she added. “I know you wanted the wedding sooner.”

  Peri smiled. “I know I did,” she agreed, “but I think it was meant to happen this way. Rosa wasn’t able to deal with all the wedding news, and Olive needed me to help at the Hampton House. Did I tell you we’ve interviewed two men who are looking for brides?”

  “What?” Prim said. “What are you up to, Periwinkle?”

  “You know very well what I’m up to,” Peri sassed. “Olive and I have devised a plan to not only find wives for some of these men that have been ogling us silly for the past few months, but also get some extra help at the Hampton House. “The brides will come there and work while they decide if any of the men are acceptable. Olive is encouraging each girl to correspond with the potential groom, but if they don’t suit, they can stay on and work for the boarding house and restaurant.”

  “Who’s idea was this?” Prim asked suspiciously as she smoothed Peri’s new purple dress. “Does Bear know?”

  “Mine and yes,” Peri said with a haughty sniff. “He thinks it’s brilliant,” she added. “Besides this means that none of the women will arrive to discover they have no groom,” she finished breaking into a laugh as she and her sister fell into each other’s arms.

  “I think it’s time,” Prim said brushing a tear from her eye. “Orville is going to walk you down the aisle,” she added with a bright smile taking Peri’s hand and heading for the main sanctuary.

  Peri stood at the entrance to the church her eyes finding Bear, dressed in a dove gray suit and standing at the front of the church next to Mr. Tippert, with Anderson at his side. The big man had trimmed his beard and now looked every bit the big city lawyer.

  A bright smile spread across Peri’s face as the rest of the world narrowed, drifting away until only the man she loved remained.

  Orville Hampton had to tug on Peri’s arm to get her moving, but then in what seemed to be fleeting moments she became Bear’s blushing bride.

  “The wedding supper’s over at the Hampton House!” Olive called as Bear broke the chaste kiss he placed on Peri’s lips and they turned to leave the church as husband and wife.

  Stepping through the raw wooden doors and onto the small stoop of the church, Peri gasped as the first snowflakes of the year drifted from the sky. “It’s like a blessing,” she said turning her bright blue eyes on her new husband as her stomach jiggled with delight.

  “Who’s that over by the Hampton House?” Olive asked squinting through the curtain of fresh snow.

  “What are you talkin’ about?” Orville asked as the congregation backed up behind them. “The stage ain’t due for another two days.”

  “It looks like wagons,” Bear said pulling his eyes away from his wife and gazing down the street.

  “Wagons?” Olive said her voice high with shock.

  “No point standing here freezing,” Orville spoke up taking his wife’s elbow. “Move on to the wedding supper, and we’ll know who it is.”

  Bear nodded, wrapping Peri’s small hand around his arm as he hurried down the stairs, the rest of Needful following the happy couple along the street in a procession of joy and love.

  “It looks like 1870 in Needful is going to be an eventful year,” Bear said making Peri giggle. “Now let’s find out who’s come to our little town.”

  Peri looked up watching as Dan and Spencer Gaines trotted ahead to meet the newcomers, only to be cut off by a group of loud cowboys who chose that moment to go charging down the street shooting and hollering like Banshees.

  Bear stopped, spinning on the spot, protecting Peri from the splatter of mud kicked up by the horses as they raced by.

  “You hooligans!” Peri shouted as the wild riders charged away to the north leaving Needful behind. “You mark my words,” she continued as the last horse disappeared around a building. “We’ll get you settled.”

  Bear looked down at his wife, worry and delight warring for a purchase in his eyes. Her lovely purple gown hadn’t been ruined by the ruffians and a wave of relief washed over him.

  “Shall we,” he said taking her arm once more, as Dan and Spencer made it to the lead wagon calling up to the driver. It appeared that the Mayor and the Sheriff would leave chasing down wild cowboys for later.

  As the whole town hurried toward the Hampton House, the wagon’s coming into sharper view with every step, Olive picked up her skirts running past Bear and Peri like a schoolgirl fresh from class, only to come to a halt by the lead wagon.

  “James, Joseph, Jubal?” Olive’s tear-stained voice warbled as Orville reached her side.

  Chapter 26

  “Boys, we didn’t know you were coming,” Orville Hampton said, his voice thick in his throat as each one of his sons climbed down from their covered wagon to hug their mother.

  “We planned it together,” James, the oldest said, smiling at his father in delight. The young man looked much like his father, but with rusty brown hair and cheerful dark eyes. “We got to missing you and thought if Pa thinks it’s worth moving to Texas then that’s good enough for us. Besides, you can’t run a new sawmill all by yourself,” he finished flashing a bright smile.

  “Oh my boys,” Olive continued to weep as the men walked back to their wagons helping their wives and families to the ground.

  “And we can help with the Hampton House,” Shililiah said hugging her mother-in-law, as a gaggle of children ranging in age from five to nine swamped their grandparents.

  “We’d all best get inside before we freeze,” Olive said shaking her head as she tried to believe she wasn’t dreaming.

  “Ma, it ain’t even cold here,” Jubal laughed. “Why back home we’ve got four feet of snow already,” he laughed his dark eyes sparkling with mirth.

  Bear took Peri’s arm leading her into the dining hall and out of the chill. “It looks like there is a great deal to celebrate today my love,” he whispered taking her wrap.

  “God has blessed us greatly in Needful,” Peri agreed turning to take her mother’s hand as Prim and Anderson walked her into the warm building.

  “What’s Mama humming today,” Peri whispered to Prim as Anderson led the elder Perkins to a table.

  “I think it’s Joy to the World,” Prim said bewildered. “She hums something new all the time anymore,” she added.

  As the town’s folk poured into the restaurant and the smells of roasting meat and vegetables washed over them, Orville and Olive trundled in with their extended family.

  “Olive, won’t you introduce us to your family,” Peri asked boldly as they stepped over the threshold.

  “Are you sure?” Olive said leaning in to speak to the bride. “This is supposed to be your day.”

  “Every day is my day,” Peri laughed. “We want to celebrate this wonderful occasion as well. There’s room on my wedding day for all joy.”

  Olive grabbed her oldest son’s arm pulling him to a stop as she called out above the crowd. “Friends, neighbors, loved ones,” she added looking at Daliah, Prim, and Peri significantly. “I’d like you all to meet our family.” She smiled at the young man next to her as he took his hat from his head running his fingers through his dark russet kissed locks.

  “This is our oldest James,” Olive said, “and his wife Shililiah,” she added as he wrapped an arm around a lovely strawberry blonde who’s blue-green eyes
sparkled.

  “And these are our three children,” James said as their small brood gathered around there mother's dark skirts. “Russell, Robin, and April.”

  “I’m April,” the little girl said with a tiny wave. “I’m the baby,” she added making everyone laugh. She couldn’t have been more than five, but she seemed to know her place in the family where all of the children took after their mother in coloring.

  “You go find a place to warm up now,” Olive fussed as Orville pulled their next son forward. “This is Joseph,” the old man said his eyes shining with emotion at the boy who looked so like his brother it would be hard to tell them apart. “His wife, Ellen,” he added pointing at a shy looking blonde with blue eyes, “and their children, Felicity, who’s seven and Jacob who’s five.”