Herd to Please

by Jenna Brandt

  “Well, that too,” he stated with a wink. “I can’t wait to share a meal with you on the blanket though.”

  “There’s going to be plenty of games, Mr. Stillwell. What’s your favorite?” Bert inquired.

  “I’m not much of a game person. Abigail might be able to talk me into one though.”

  Abigail shook her head. “Oh, I’m not one for games either.”

  A little while later, the mayor took to the front of the picnic area, announcing the events for the day. The band started to play softly in the background as the kids lined up for the different games.

  “You two need to participate in the sack race,” Jasmine insisted, pushing them towards the game. “I can’t wait to see you both in a sack together.”

  “How about we join you?” Alice inquired, walking up to the group with her new husband and stepson. “I’m always ready to play a game.”

  “Alice, you made it,” Abigail exclaimed with happiness. “Come place your blanket down by ours.”

  She did as Abigail directed and put her brown wool blanket next to her sister’s. “It was an endeavor to get here, let me tell you. Jacob was biting everything again. I love him dearly, but I tell you, all his biting could drive a person crazy.”

  “You’ll find a way to temper him of the habit soon enough,” Abigail encouraged.

  “She sure will. She’s excellent with Jacob,” Colton Farmer stated with pride.

  Alice leaned over and whispered. “Sister, I have something important to talk with you about.”

  “Are you pregnant?” Abigail inquired, the first thought that popped into her mind.

  “No, it’s something else,” Alice said with a shake of her head. “I wanted to ask you if you would be willing to have a double wedding with us. I know Colton and I are technically already married, but we didn’t get to do it right the first time. We’ve always dreamed of having one together, so if you’re willing…”

  Abigail nodded her head up and down with glee. “Of course I am. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

  Alice smiled, then hugged her sister. “I’m so glad to hear that.”

  A loud yelp beside them interrupted the moment. Bert was jumping on one foot, then tripped over the edge of her dress. Kane Jameson appeared and stopped her from tumbling to the ground just in time.

  “Are you all right?” he inquired.

  Bert nodded. “I keep telling Abigail and Jasmine I’m horrible at wearing all these layers.”

  “That might be, but you look mighty pretty in it,” Mr. Jameson observed.

  “The music is playing, maybe the two of you should dance?” Jasmine suggested.

  Bert’s eyes darted around the picnic area. “I see something wonderful set up over at one of the tables. I have to go.” Bert tried to run in the opposite direction of Mr. Jameson, but before she could escape, she tripped over the edge of her dress again. She stumbled forward, knocking into Abigail, who went flying forward.

  Mason tried to move out of the way, but was unsuccessful. A sharp pain stabbed him in his jaw, and he realized Abigail’s head had collided with his face.

  Abigail righted herself, then gasped as she looked at his face. “Your last bruise was finally almost gone. Now you have a new one in the same place!”

  “Apparently, God wants me to have a bruise on my jaw for our wedding day,” Mason observed with a chuckle. “I don’t really care as long as I get to marry you.”

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen,” Bert whimpered out in embarrassment. “I really do have to go now.”

  She took off towards the table, with Mr. Jameson trailing after her.

  “Will she be okay?” Mason inquired.

  Jasmine nodded. “She’ll calm down in a little bit. Mr. Jameson will see to that. Why don’t the two of you go dance in the meantime?”

  “What a great suggestion. Would you care to dance, Abigail?” Mason inquired.

  Abigail placed her hand in his outstretched one. “That would be lovely.”

  They made their way over to the dance area where several couples were already dancing. Mason gathered Abigail into his arms. “You look stunning in that dress.”

  The compliment touched Abigail, warming her heart. Since arriving in Bent, she had saved the dress for a special occasion as it was the only pretty one she had. After the fire, she had bought functional clothes rather than luxurious ones with what little money she had. The dress she was currently wearing had been a hand-me-down gift from Mrs. Willenhurst. Though Abigail was the beaded blue dress’s second owner, it was still in excellent condition.

  “Thank you,” Abigail whispered with a smile. “You look rather handsome tonight, all cleaned up with a fresh shirt and pair of pants.”

  “I know I don’t do it often enough,” he said with a chuckle.

  “So what you’re saying is I shouldn’t get used to it,” Abigail goaded.

  “Like so many things, I’m learning you can talk me into just about anything.”

  Abigail spent the next hour dancing with Mason until he announced that he was famished. They made their way over to the tables set up with the food the townspeople brought to share, picked up plates and utensils, and selected the items they wished to eat.

  “I’m surprised you’re willing to eat that slop, Mason. You always preferred my cooking over anyone else’s,” a sultry female voice said from beside them.

  Abigail looked past Mason to see a woman with blonde hair, rosy lips and cheeks, and a fancy red dress staring at them. Abigail didn’t know who she was or recognize the other woman from around town. Why was she talking to them? More specifically, why was she speaking to Mason in a way that made Abigail uncomfortable? What was their connection?

  Abigail’s eyes settled on Mason’s horrified expression, and she realized this other woman was going to be trouble.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce us, Mason?” the woman asked, placing her hand on her hip. “It’s rather rude not to introduce me. After all, I’m the love of your life.”

  “What are you doing here, Jane? How did you track me down?” Mason blurted out, angry she would have the audacity to come here after what she did. “I left Boulder for a reason.”

  “We both know all of that was a misunderstanding,” she said, reaching out and placing her gloved hand on his arm. “You left in such a huff, I never got a chance to explain that to you.”

  “It didn’t seem like a misunderstanding when you ran off with that other man,” Mason countered. “That made it pretty clear you wanted to be with him and not me.”

  “Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Mason. I’ve come here to tell you that I’ve thought it over, and I want you back.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’m committed to Abigail now,” he said, crossing his arms in anger.

  “Her?” she squeaked out in irritation. “I hardly think she’s going to keep you happy, Mason. You know you want me back. You’ve always wanted me and you’ll always want me. A little time and some brunette isn’t going to change that.”

  “Perhaps I should give the two of you some privacy,” Abigail offered, stepping back from them. “This doesn’t involve me.”

  “That’s not true, Abigail,” Mason objected. “You’re—”

  Abigail shook her head as she cut him off. “Look Mason, when we agreed to get married, you were under the impression that your ex-fiancée wasn’t an option. It turns out, that’s not the case. You can have your first choice again.”

  Abigail spun around, quickly rushing from the picnic area.

  He wanted to chase after her and tell her how much he cared for her, but just as he mustered the courage to do it, Jane reached out and grabbed him by the arm. “It’s okay, Mason, she’s right. You can quit pretending with her now.”

  “I’m not pretending with her.” Mason turned on Jane and gave his ex-fiancée a dirty look. “You shouldn’t have come here. You’re mistaken if you think there’s anything left between us. I’ve moved on and I’m happy with
Abigail.”

  “You don’t mean that,” Jane protested.

  “I do. I want to be with Abigail, and only Abigail. We’re done. You should go back to the man you left me for.”

  “I can’t. He left me a few weeks back. I have nothing,” Jane lamented. “I’m all alone.”

  “I can point you to a good matchmaker, and he can find you a husband, it just won’t be me.” Yanking away from her, he added, “I have to go.”

  Mason’s eyes darted around the picnic area, hoping he could find Abigail in the crowd. He needed to find her and make it clear how he felt. He was stupid to not have done so earlier, but now, he knew it mattered more than ever.

  Before he could get away though, several of Abigail’s friends along with men from the bar came hurrying towards him. They asked what happened? What did it mean? Were they still getting married?

  Several minutes passed before he could get free from the barrage of people and questions. When he finally did, he made a charge straight for Mr. Redburn’s house.

  He barged in, knowing everyone was at the picnic. “Abigail, where are you? I need to talk to you right now.” He stormed through the house looking for her, shouting her name until finally she appeared at the top of the staircase.

  “What are you doing here, Mason? Shouldn’t you be patching things up with Jane?”

  He shook his head. “It’s over with Jane. It has been ever since I met you, I just didn’t know it.”

  “Don’t be silly; you hated me when you first met me,” she rebuffed.

  “I only thought I did, or rather, wanted to convince myself I did, so I would keep you at arm’s length. The truth is, you’re the smartest, prettiest, most challenging woman I’ve ever met, and I love those things about you.”

  “You do?” she asked, her face softening under his praise. “Because I don’t want to be second choice.”

  He climbed the stairs two at a time until he stood right in front of her. “You’re not, Abigail. You could never be. I love everything about you.” He reached out and put his hand on the side of her face. “Tell me you still want to marry me.”

  “Maybe you should kiss me to convince me,” she whispered, her eyes lifting up to meet his.

  “I can do that,” he whispered back, just before his lips descended to meet hers. The kiss was filled with passion, with every word Mason had been unable to say, he expressed in the kiss that made both their hearts pound in rhythm together.

  A moment later, Abigail pulled back. “Now that you’ve convinced me to stay, I should probably go unpack.”

  “Go unpack? Why were you packing in the first place?”

  “I’ve had a job as a governess waiting for me back in Baltimore. I wanted to make sure Alice was married and settled if I was going to accept. When I thought I no longer had a future here with you, I was going to return and take the position.”

  “You can’t go, Abigail. I can’t be without you,” Mason pleaded. “Promise you’ll stay here and be my wife.”

  “I promise, but on one condition.”

  “Anything,” Mason vowed.

  “We have to have a double wedding with my sister and her husband.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Two weeks later

  The butterflies in Abigail’s stomach wouldn’t stop fluttering. In just a few minutes she was going to walk down the aisle of Bent’s church and marry the man she loved.

  “You look gorgeous in your gown,” Alice admired, standing next to Abigail in her own white lace dress that had a fitted bodice and a multi-layered skirt, massive bustle in the back, and a matching long veil. Her dark-hair was curled and piled high on her head, with flowers sprinkled throughout.

  Abigail’s wedding attire choices were more sedate. Her dress was made from white satin with a scooped neckline and a loose, A-line design that just brushed the floor. She also opted to forgo a veil and had her brown hair pinned up in a simple twist. Just as their personalities were opposite, their wedding ensembles were a sharp contrast; however, Abigail wouldn’t have it any other way.

  “Are you ready, sister?”

  “I am,” Abigail replied with certainty. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”

  “I’m so glad we’re doing this together,” Alice said, reaching out and squeezing her sister’s hands. “I wouldn’t want to walk down that aisle with anyone else.”

  Abigail clutched her sister’s hand in return just as the music began to play, letting them know it was time to start the wedding procession. Jacob headed down the aisle first, carrying a pillow with rings tied to strings on it. Jasmine and Bert walked down the aisle next, taking their spots across from Kane Jameson and Andy Winslow who stood next to Mason and Colton.

  Everyone in the room stood to their feet as the Wagner’s Bridal Chorus started to play by the organist. The sister brides glided down the aisle, their center arms looped together and their outer hands each holding a bouquet of flowers.

  They reached the front of the aisle and their grooms gathered them to their sides. The entire wedding party turned to face Pastor Bill who was smiling at them with approval.

  “Dear Friends, we are gathered here together to marry Alice Bowen to Mason Stillwell and renew the vows of Abigail and Colton Farmer.”

  There were a couple of gasps and a few murmurs in the audience from the people who recognized the mistake by the pastor.

  “I’m Abigail, she’s Alice,” Abigail corrected, pointing to each of them as she said their names.

  “I’m so sorry,” the pastor said, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment. “I knew that.”

  “It’s okay. We get it all the time,” Alice said with a laugh. “We’re used to it.”

  Alice’s response elicited laughter from the rest of the assembled guests, followed by the wedding party joining in, and finally Pastor Bill.

  “Let me start over. We’re gathered here today to marry Abigail Bowen and Mason Stillwell and to renew the vows of Alice and Colton Farmer. It’s not every day that a pastor has the joy of presiding over a double wedding—if I’m honest, this is my first time—and with it comes the responsibility of emphasizing the importance of this commitment, double-fold. Each couple is promising to honor and cherish each other for the rest of their days. It’s important to remember that there will be good and bad days, but through them all you will have each other to rely on. Your greatest victories and your deepest losses will no longer be just your own. “Do you, Abigail Bowen, take—”

  “Chicken!” Jacob shouted at the top of his lungs, drawing everyone’s attention to the little boy who was now chasing a hen through the sanctuary. “Here, chicken, chicken.”

  To Abigail’s utter shock, someone had left the back door of the church open, allowing the bird to come inside.

  “Oh, no, Jacob, leave that chicken alone!” Alice shouted in horror. Leaning towards her sister, she whispered, “We have to stop him before he gets ahold of that hen and bites it, or worse it bites him back.”

  Chaos ensued in that moment. Both brides chased after Jacob, who for a little guy, was mighty fast. The chicken ran across the train of Alice’s dress, getting caught in the lace. Jacob pounced on the chicken, and with clear precision, chomped down on the chicken’s back. A loud squawk made it clear he didn’t just get feathers.

  “Jacob Farmer, you stop that right now!” Colton yelled at the top of his lungs.

  The little boy’s eyes grew wide with fear as tears welled up in them. He let the chicken go which took off out of the church. He scurried to his feet, and with everyone watching, yanked up Alice’s skirt and dove underneath to hide.

  Colton marched over, lifted the skirt a second time, and pulled the boy out.

  “Oh, my,” a cry was heard from the watching crowd. Widow English was fanning herself, and slumped in the pew. “This can’t be happening, this just can’t be happening,” she muttered. “I need some air.” She stood from the pew and moved to leave, but suddenly, the older woman fainted, ca
using a second round of chaos.

  Several of the townspeople helped Widow English to her feet, guiding her back to her seat where they helped her calm down. At the same time, Alice was comforting Jacob.

  Once everyone was settled down, Pastor Bill continued the ceremony without further interruption. The couples repeated their vows, the rings were exchanged, and in short order, Abigail was a married woman.

  The townspeople of Bent decided to throw the sisters and their husbands a giant reception in the courtyard of the church to celebrate their unions.

  The night passed with a delicious potluck meal, cake cutting, and dancing.

  Mason stole a moment to pull Chance aside. “Here’s the $25 I owe you.” He handed the money over to his friend. “You know, I complained to your aunt when she told me I would need to spend $50 in order to obtain a bride. What I didn’t realize then but know now is that it’s the best $50 I will ever spend. Abigail is worth so much more than that. I’d give up everything I have to be married to her.”

  “So, what you’re saying is that you admit us matchmakers know what we’re doing after all?” Chance kindly taunted.

  “I confess, I assumed wrong. You knew exactly what you were doing.”

  “Glad to hear you finally admit it,” Chance said, patting Mason on the back. “Why don’t you go rejoin your bride for a dance.”

  “There’s nothing I’d like more.”

  Mason went and claimed his wife from her sister and friends. The women were huddled together, giggling and laughing. It was nice seeing Abigail so happy and fitting in with everyone.

  “Can I steal you away for a dance?” Mason requested.

  Abigail nodded, letting him guide her into the area set aside for dancing. He gathered her into his arms, pulling her close.

  “Have I told you how beautiful you look in that dress.”

  “Only about a dozen times,” she teased. “But one more doesn’t hurt.”

  “Well, it’s true. You’re the most gorgeous bride I’ve ever seen.”