He slowed Thunder when he was close to home. He tried to get the horse taken care of and get into the house and his bed without waking anyone. But, he saw a light from the kitchen window. When he crept into the kitchen, he saw Spuds had left a lantern burning for him.
Shaking his head, he thought the cook treated him as a son instead of an employer. What would Mina and Spuds think of one another? He didn’t need any more trouble in his life. Ferguson and Davis and their crazy gold mining scheme were already too much.
He undressed and stretched out on the bed. Two nights from now his wife would share this bed with him. Didn’t that beat all?
His tongue tried to trip him up but he’d been able to propose. The wonder was she’d accepted. He knew at least three other men had shown Mina a lot of attention. Yancy Davis was a teller at the bank, Fred Palmer was the surveyor, and Mark Evans worked at the drug store. Each had made his interest in courting Mina plenty obvious.
When he woke he realized he’d overslept. He hurriedly dressed and went downstairs where his hands sat at the table drinking coffee.
Spuds stood at the kitchen range frying eggs. “Well, let’s hear a report.”
“I’m engaged and we’re getting married Sunday afternoon and you’re invited. I’m going back to town this morning so we can talk to the preacher and arrange the time.”
The three at the table congratulated him.
Spuds set a large platter of fried ham and eggs on the table. “She know about me?”
“She does so don’t worry. Everything will be fine. No one is turning you out.”
The apprehensive expression on Spuds face proved he had doubts. “If’n you say so. I got to admit the thought had occurred to me she might not want an old codger living here inside the house.”
“The two of you can divide duties. She’s lived in town, though, so ranch life will be new to her.” He explained what he knew of her life in Delaware. “Well, I’ll let her tell you more when she’s here.” He pushed away from the table. “I’d better get on my way. I’ll be driving the wagon and will see you boys for supper.”
Chapter Six
Austin was a few minutes early but Mina was ready. They strolled toward the parsonage. He fought for something to say but his brain wouldn’t cooperate.
“You heard all I told Mr. Son for the newspaper but you didn’t tell me about your family. Do they live at the ranch?”
“Parents live in Austin. My mother is kind of frail from a weak chest. I haven’t asked her to come because of the stage ride. I mean, they both know they’re welcome. Won’t be long before the train reaches near here and then they’ll visit.”
“That’s considerate of you. The stagecoach was exhausting and I’m healthy. I’d hate to tackle it if I wasn’t feeling well.” She grinned at him. “I told Cindy I’m never leaving because I don’t want to make that stagecoach trip again.”
He returned her smile. “That’s how we plan to build up the population. No one wants to leave if they have to ride the stage.”
She laughed. “I believe you. Do you have brothers and sisters?”
“One of each. My sister Oleta Mae and her family live in Austin near my parents. My brother Mike went to California. He’s married since he arrived there and his wife Charlotte was born in California. Mike is ranching there like I am here.”
He opened the gate of a picket fence. “Here’s where the preacher lives. In case you don’t remember, you met him last night.”
She gripped his sleeve. “I met so many at once that I don’t recall a preacher. Tell me his name and his wife’s name.”
“John and Sarah Patrick. Nice folks.” He turned the ringer on the doorbell.
Sarah was smiling when she opened the door. “How nice to see you again, Mina. I hope this means you and Austin are engaged.”
Mina remembered the plump, middle-aged woman. “Yes, and we want to ask about arrangements for a wedding.”
“I’m thrilled with your news. I’ll get John.”
“Did someone call me?” John Patrick walked up beside his wife and extended his hand for Austin to shake.
“You remember Mina Stapleton, Cindy Kennedy’s cousin?”
“Of course I do. That was a good party last night. Cindy is always a wonderful hostess.” He looked from Mina to Austin. “What can I do for you two?”
Austin cleared his throat. “We’d like for you to perform a wedding ceremony for us tomorrow afternoon in the church. Is that possible?”
John clapped him on the back. “It certainly is. Congratulations, Austin. Mina, I wish the two of you the best.”
She smiled at Austin before thanking the preacher. “Would a two o’clock ceremony give you time to have your dinner after the morning service?”
“Sure would. Two o’clock is a good time. Gives folks time to get home before dark. Unless I’m wrong, the Kennedys will want to give you a reception.”
“Oh, I don’t think so because there’ll only be Austin’s ranch hands and my cousins.”
Beside her, Austin took her hand. “It’ll be announced at church. I reckon we’ll have a lot of people there.”
“Oh, I see. Well, we can discuss it with Cindy and Bert when we get back there.”
The preacher gestured to the couch. “Have a seat and I’d like to talk to you about the duties of a husband and wife to one another.”
Austin’s mouth dried up. He couldn’t have spoken a word if he could have thought of one to say.
Reverend Patrick launched into a discussion about being partners. “Mina, do I need to talk to you about a husband’s right to intimacy?”
She shook her head. “My cousin will talk to me tonight.”
“Austin, do I need to talk to you about a wife’s rights?”
He swallowed hard. “N-No, sir. My father made sure I knew how to treat the woman I’d marry.” Thank goodness, he had. Sure would be embarrassing to talk about here and now.
“All right, we’ll plan on being at the church around half past one tomorrow afternoon.” The preacher slapped his thighs and rose, ending the discussion.
Austin was relieved to escape from the parsonage. “Whew. I guess it’s a good thing we both went to see him.”
“I’ll try not to be embarrassed with you tomorrow night, but I sure would have been in there just now if he’d started speaking about, well, you know.”
“So would I. I have to ask you about a couple more things while we’re alone. Let’s sit on that bench in the cemetery.”
“It looks private.”
They walked on the cemetery path and sat on a bench placed under a live oak tree.
He pulled the ring from his shirt pocket. “This belonged to my grandmother. Since I’m the oldest son, she left it to me for my bride.”
She accepted the band. “Oh, it’s lovely. Should I try it for size?” At his nod, she slipped the ring on her finger.
“If it’s not right, we can have it sized. I know it’s pretty plain so if you’d prefer a new one, we can do that.”
“I’d be honored to wear a family ring. Look, it fits.” She held out her hand. When she took it off, she looked inside. “Did you know it’s engraved inside? It says ‘love without end’. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“That’s what the ring symbolizes anyway. No beginning and no end. I hope our marriage will turn into that kind.”
“What a lovely thing to say and it’s exactly the way I feel.” She kissed his cheek.
He cleared his throat. “Now comes a hard part. My cook is an old ranch hand who can’t work out on the range anymore. His name is Spuds Young. His room is right off the kitchen. He’s been worrying that you won’t want him to stay in the house. I told him it would be all right with you but I hadn’t asked you.”
“Of course it’s all right. I’ll make clear to him that I’m thrilled to have his help. But, what if he resents me being there? I mean, he’s been in charge of the house.”
“He won’t. He’s thinks he’s my mother a
nd father rolled into one. He’s been nagging me about getting older and needing a wife. I guess if you hadn’t shown up now, within the next year I’d have sent for a mail-order wife like Bert did for Cindy.”
“Sounds like that problem is taken care of.” She gently elbowed him in the ribs.
Austin peered around. They were in plain view of the parsonage. “I planned on stealing a kiss but I figure Mrs. Patrick is watching us out the parsonage window.”
She grinned and her blue eyes sparkled with mischief. “We’re engaged and I think that means we’re entitled to kiss.”
“I like the way you think.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He could have gone on forever. He wanted much more than a kiss. Tomorrow night he’d be able to hold her all night.
“While I’m able to stop, I’d better get you to Bert and Cindy’s. I brought the wagon with me so I could take your trunks today and we wouldn’t have to bother with them tomorrow. If that’s all right with you, that is.”
“Sounds efficient. Maybe Bert will help you this time.”
***
The rest of Saturday Mina and Cindy and Mrs. Brown were busy preparing food for the reception Cindy and Bert insisted on hosting. She should have known her kind cousin would want to have a celebration for her and Austin.
While Cindy was putting the twins to bed for their nap, Mina looked at Mrs. Brown. “I’m so sorry to be the cause of your having so much to do this close to last night’s party. I honestly thought it would just be a small wedding and we’d leave directly for the ranch.”
“You mustn’t cheat your cousins when they enjoy entertaining and think so highly of both you and Mr. Wright. They’re a grand couple who rescued me from near starvation after I was widowed. I’d do anything for them but they pay me well. And, I have a lovely room with a little sitting area at one end. I love cooking, too, so I enjoy Mrs. Kennedy’s parties.”
“Cindy said she couldn’t have managed her confinement and having the twins without your help.”
“Thank you for telling me. Wasn’t that a nice thing of her to say?”
“That’s why she’s my favorite cousin.”
Both of them laughed.
***
With all they had to accomplish, time flew. It seemed only a few hours since Austin had proposed but here it was Sunday and time to dress for their wedding. Since she’d sent her trunks with Austin the previous day her valise contained only the things she was using this weekend.
She had worn her green dress yesterday but she wore it to church. Sitting with the twins meant she might get her clothes stained. The children were good but they were still toddlers and had various accidents.
After lunch, Mrs. Coats, the same woman who’d watched the twins during Friday’s party, came to care for them during the wedding and reception. Jamie and Jessica accepted her and didn’t appear to mind being left with her in charge.
“Do they ever cry to go with you instead of staying in the nursery?”
Cindy nodded. “Seldom, and when they do it means they’re coming down with something. They seem content to be together in their playroom.”
“They’re very well behaved. Being twins means they always have someone their age as a playmate. Bert’s right and you were very efficient to have twins.”
Cindy laughed. “Time to change for the wedding. Since you’re wearing blue for the ceremony, I’m wearing my pink dress that’s styled similarly to yours.”
“I’m grateful you’re my matron of honor. I planned to ask Bert to walk me down the aisle but then Austin asked him to act as his best man. Thank you for asking Bert’s boss to escort me.”
“Mr. Jenkins was thrilled. He acts a bit stuffy at first but he’s really a dear and so is his wife, Martha. Oh, Bert’s taking us to the church in our buggy and then Austin will use it to take you to the ranch.”
“I’m getting nervous now. What if I trip going up the aisle?”
“You’ll be holding on to Mr. Jenkins’ arm so you won’t.”
“Worse, what if I burp or get the hiccups or expel gas? I’d be humiliated.”
Cindy hugged Mina’s shoulders. “Stop worrying. You’ll be fine. It’s time to go.”
Chapter Seven
By the time they reached the church and Mina waited in the cloakroom, she was more nervous. She was certain her legs would never support her to walk to the front of the sanctuary.
Cindy fanned herself rapidly with one of the church’s cardboard fans. “We should put a chair in here for such occasions. Then one of us could sit and rest.”
Mina’s fan barely made a breeze because she was too unnerved to use it much. “You can just hang me from one of the coat and hat hooks. At least then I won’t collapse.”
Mr. Jenkins stuck his head inside the tiny room. “The sanctuary is filled and the preacher’s wife is at the piano. I believe we’d better get lined up.”
Cindy laid aside her fan and stepped in front of Mina.
An elderly woman handed a bouquet to each of them. “Here are the flowers several of us contributed.”
Cindy hugged her. “Mrs. Davenport, you are so kind. Thank you for remembering.”
Tears gathered in Mina’s eyes. “Thank you so much for these lovely blooms.” She blinked to keep the tears from spilling from the many kindnesses shown her since she’d arrived in Palo Pinto. So much had happened—could she have been here only four days?
She laid her hand on Mr. Jenkins’ arm. “Thank you for agreeing to escort me up the aisle. I can’t tell you how very much I appreciate it.”
He inclined his head in a slight nod. “I’m honored, my dear.”
Mrs. Patrick played the piano with gusto. Cindy glided slowly a few steps in front of Mina and Mr. Jenkins. Bert watched Cindy with such love in his eyes.
Austin smiled at Mina and she offered a tremulous smile in return. Although he didn’t love her, seeing that he was pleased gave her a boost. She didn’t have to lean on Mr. Jenkins after all.
Soon the ceremony was over and the preacher announced, “I present Mr. and Mrs. Austin Wright.”
Bert announced, “Folks, my wife and I are hosting a reception at our home and you’re all invited. Just give us a few minutes to get there.”
Austin took Mina’s hand and they hurried down the aisle and out to the street. Austin helped her into the buggy.
Bert helped Cindy onto the seat then hopped in and grabbed the reins. “Hope you don’t mind sharing on the way to our house. You’ll have it to yourselves later on the way to the ranch.”
As they rode along, they passed a wagon containing odd equipment.
Austin turned back to look at the wagon. “Did you see that, Bert? Ferguson has a monitor to use at the supposed mine site.”
“I saw. Forget it for today, Austin. Sheriff Cornelius will be at the reception. I’ll have a word with him.”
He turned to face forward. “You’re right. I can’t let those two idiots spoil this important day.” Austin took Mina’s hand and laced their fingers.
She leaned his way. “What’s a monitor?”
“It pumps water from a creek or wherever through a nozzle that shoots the water with a high pressure. They use it in mining to wash away the sand and get to the ore.”
“But in this case, there is no ore, right?”
“Right. They’ll use one or several chemicals that will be fatal to anything that drinks the water. I’d better not talk about it anymore today, Mina. I get so riled up I’ll say crazy things.”
She wished he would tell her more but she didn’t say so. Besides, they arrived at the Kennedy home and had to hurry inside.
Mrs. Brown beamed at them. “Let me be the first to offer congratulations and wishes for a long and happy marriage.”
Mina hugged the housekeeper. “You’re so kind. I wish you’d been there but everything here looks wonderful.”
Cindy guided Mina to a spot in the entryway and Austin followed. “You two stand here to greet people. Bert and I wi
ll start here but soon leave to circulate among the attendees and help Mrs. Brown.”
The first guests arrived and were followed by a steady stream of people. Mina smiled until she was certain her face had frozen that way.
Austin put his arm around her. “Here are the men who work on the ranch. This is Spuds Young. He’s been our cook and housekeeper.”
Mina kissed the man’s cheek. “I hope you’ll be patient with me, Mr. Young. I’ve never been on a ranch before and I’ll need guidance.” He looked about forty, much younger than she’d expected him to be.
Spuds’ face turned red. “Be my pleasure. I’m sure glad you and Austin got hitched. And just call me Spuds.”
Austin shook hands with the next man. “This is Dusty McDonald. He’s worked with me longest of the men.”
Dusty had sandy-brown hair and a mischievous grin. “We got those trunks full of anvils into the house for you.”
“Thank you, Dusty. You never know—I may set up shop as a blacksmith.”
He laughed as he walked ahead.
The next man in line was a colored man who appeared uncomfortable. He wiped his hands on his britches before he shook hands. “I’m Buck Hayes.”
“I’m so glad you men came to the ceremony. It means a lot to Austin that you were there—and to me, too.”
Buck smiled and inclined his head briefly. “I’m glad we were invited. That was a right nice wedding.”
Austin waited until Buck had stepped ahead before he introduced the next man in line. “This is Chico Diaz.”
Chico leaned over and kissed her hand. “Es muy bueno you and Austin have married, Señora Wright.”
“I look forward to getting to know each of you—and to learning to speak Spanish. Thank you for coming.”
She and Austin stayed in place for another ten minutes or so.
He turned to her. “I think all the people who are coming are here, don’t you?”
“And, I was too excited to have much for breakfast and lunch. Now I’m starving. Shall we get something to eat and then mingle?”
Desperate In Delaware Page 4