by Kit Morgan
“Ahem,” Reverend Hammond said and made a show of clearing his throat.
“I guess this means I’d better kiss you,” Walker said.
“I guess,” she said with a smile as her eyes closed. He waggled his brows at Father O’Flanagan and the Kinnisons who were in the front, and then kissed her. Another cheer went up from the attending townsfolk as Walker deepened the kiss. It was only their second, and he was making it count.
“Ahem,” Reverend Hammond said again as the kiss continued.
Father O’Flanagan chuckled. “Can he keep that up long?”
“We’ve seen what he can do,” Mrs. Kinnison commented dryly. Her husband Zeke gave her a side-long glance filled with curiosity.
“Don’t ask,” she said with a smile. “Everything has worked out fine. It always does.”
Zeke smiled, nodded, and continued to watch the kissing pair.
When Walker finally broke the kiss, another cheer went up. From Reverend Hammond, for the most part. “Hurray! That’s the longest one to date,” he added under his breath. “Let’s celebrate!”
Charlie and Penny approached. “Congratulations, Walker, Daphne. Let me be the first to welcome you into the community.”
“Thank you, sir,” Walker said.
“We’ll miss you at the mine, but your new job will suit you better. Let me know when we can all sit down and discuss your investment in the mine.”
Walker and Daphne nodded, smiles on their faces. It took some time to get through the well-wisher and congratulations, but once done, the happy couple was able to sit. They watched as Norah and Seamus, who insisted on hosting the festivities afterward, bustled about serving refreshments as a few musicians took the small stage and prepared to play.
“This place will be quite something when Seamus has it remodeled,” Daphne commented. “Norah told me all about his plans.”
“Seamus told me,” Walker said. “Noelle will have a hotel with a restaurant, some homes built by then …”
“Ours too?” she asked hopeful.
“We’ll see. We have to report to the Wells Fargo office in San Francisco, remember? We’ll be there a good stretch. Months according to Clint. By the time we come home, they should be about done with the railroad.”
She rested her head against his shoulder as the wedding celebration began to get underway. “I can’t wait to come back.”
He looked at her and laughed. “You haven’t left yet!”
“I know it’s just … the people, the dreams they have for this place … they’ve grown on me.”
He put an arm around her. “Me too. Chase and Charlie tell me they plan on having a big to-do once the railroad’s complete. By their calculations, it should be done in time for the Fourth of July. Those two are planning quite the party to hear them talk.”
Daphne sighed. “I’m going to miss the Hammonds and the Hardts and the …”
“Me too?”
Daphne looked up into Ophelia’s smiling face. She stood and hugged her. “Yes, and you too. We’ll write each other every week, agreed?”
“And you’ll tell me all about San Francisco, you won’t leave anything out?” Ophelia said.
“No, I won’t. Especially the words, thank you.”
Ophelia smiled. “You made the right choice, Daphne. You both did.”
Walker stood and put an arm around his new bride. “Thank you, Ophelia. You, Clint and everyone else in town have been so kind to us.”
“Whoo whee! Will ya look at that!” Jasper cried from across the saloon when Seamus brought out a bottle of his special whiskey.
The three laughed. “You and Clint will be sure to look out for Jasper,” Walker said.
“Yes, Clint found out he’s skilled in carpentry work. Seems your tent mate has been holding out on you and the rest of us. Clint plans on asking Charlie about hiring Jasper to help build the new bank.”
“It would be better for Jasper than working in the mine,” Daphne said. “Until the work is done, that is.”
“With all the building going on in this town?” Ophelia said with a smile. “He’ll be kept busy enough. Jack Peregrine can’t do it all. Speaking of which, I’d best go find Clint.” She gave them each a hug and a parting smile, then left.
Walker and Daphne sat once more. “Noelle will be quite different when we return for the Fourth of July celebration, won’t it?” she asked.
“Yes,” he agreed. “But it will still be Noelle. Bigger perhaps, with more people settled by then, but still our Noelle.”
“Our Noelle,” she repeated. “I like the sound of that.”
He gazed into her eyes and smiled. “So do I.” And with that, they shared their third kiss.
THE END
About the Author
Kit Morgan has been writing for fun all of her life. Her whimsical stories are fun, inspirational, sweet and clean, and depict a strong sense of family and community. Raised by a homicide detective, one would think she’d write suspense, but no. Kit likes fun and romantic westerns! Kit resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest in a little log cabin on Clear Creek, from which her fictional town from her Prairie Brides and Prairie Grooms series is named after.