A Matter of Heart

by Tracie Peterson

  Mother nodded. “Yes. Have it delivered to the depot at Cedar Springs in care of the stationmaster. He has already been instructed about it, but I will remind him that the dress is coming.”

  “Very good. I shall endeavor to have it on the train within the week.”

  Jessica looked once again at her reflection in the mirror. It’s really happening. I’m going to marry Austin Todd. I’m going to be his wife—the mother of his children. She cast a quick gaze heavenward, scarcely able to believe it.

  Thank you, Lord. Thank you so much for all that you’ve done to make this happen. I haven’t always understood why my life took the turns it did, but I can see your hand in everything that has taken place.

  Austin performed the exercises suggested by the doctor and felt his muscles growing stronger each day. He was anxious to return to Texas but wanted to do so as much a whole man as he could be. The doctor had told him he might struggle with pain for the next few months, but that it shouldn’t be serious or last for long. Already the pain associated with the bullet wounds was so much better that Austin felt certain he could deal with anything that came his way.

  March in Colorado wasn’t as warm as he’d hoped. And because it was still just as likely to snow as it had been in February, the doctor had loaned Austin a coat for those times when he sat outdoors in the fresh air. For now, most of the snow had pretty much melted, thanks to several warm days. One of the nurses had informed him that the Farmers’ Almanac suggested an early spring, with warmer temperatures than normal. If this was warmer, Austin didn’t think much of it.

  “Mr. Todd, you have a visitor,” a young student nurse announced.

  Austin felt a momentary hope that it might be Jessica. However, when Ellery Turner walked through the door, Austin was just as happy to see him.

  “Mr. Turner, I never expected you to come to Colorado.”

  “It was necessary for some of the work related to the case against Mr. Morgan. I thought, why send someone else when it would benefit me to see you.” The two men shook hands.

  “Well, by all means have a seat.” Austin motioned to the only chair in the room. “I’ll sit here on the bed. So tell me everything. How goes the case?”

  Turner sat and crossed his legs. “It goes very well. The evidence is vast, and as we’ve been able to uncover more details, the case has strengthened.”

  “Good,” Austin said, knowing this would be good news to the Barnetts and Wythes. Not to mention everyone else. “I’m glad it’s working out that way. I hope this won’t be too big of an embarrassment to his family. J. P. Morgan has been most helpful in getting the country back on its feet.”

  “No need to worry. This Morgan isn’t related in the leastwise to J. P. Morgan. He only told people that in order to win their trust. He was quite good at convincing people of his powerful connections.”

  “I’m glad you’ve been able to resolve this. I hope the courts send Morgan and his cohorts to prison for a very long time.”

  “We never would have had that chance if you hadn’t gotten involved. That’s another reason I’ve come. I’m hoping to convince you to rejoin the department. We need men like you, Austin. I know that business with your brother was devastating, but hopefully you can put that behind you and move forward.”

  “I am doing exactly that, but I’m afraid it won’t be with the Secret Service.” Austin noted the disappointment in the older man’s expression. “I plan to be a town marshal in Terryton, Texas, with a wife and a passel of young ones. You see, God has sent a very special young woman into my life, and while I was certain I could never love another, He’s given me that gift, as well.”

  Turner smiled. “I’m so glad to hear it, Austin. I can’t say that I’m not disappointed, but I’m also very happy for you. However, if you should change your mind in the future, there will always be a place for you in my department.”

  “Thank you, sir. That means a lot to me.”

  Chapter 26

  “You look so beautiful,” Alice told Jessica as she put the final touches on the bride’s hair.

  “Thank you for saying so and for doing this. I know I could never have made such an intricate arrangement on my own.”

  Alice smiled. “I used to dress Marty’s hair when I worked for her. It was my favorite part of the job. I love being creative and adding beauty to the world.” She tucked one last piece of baby’s breath into Jessica’s hair.

  Jessica watched from her seat in front of the dressing table. She had waited so anxiously for this day, and now that it was here, she could scarcely breathe. It was like holding her breath, waiting to see if all would go well.

  “There. I think we’re done. Is it what you’d hoped for?”

  Jessica looked at the curls pinned high atop her head. “I think it’s perfect. The veil will sit just right.”

  “We can see about that in a moment. But now we need to get you into your gown,” Marty Wythe announced.

  With a slight tremble, Jessica got to her feet. She couldn’t help but wonder about the man who was awaiting her arrival at the altar. What would their life be like now that the railroad was finally building the spur line and Austin was acting marshal of the up-and-coming town of Terryton?

  Marty smiled and helped Jessica step into her dress. “You are going to make a beautiful bride, Jessica. I’ve never seen anyone quite so radiant as you.”

  “It seemed like this day would never come, and now that it’s here, well, it seems to be going by much too quickly.” Jessica stood stock-still while Marty and Alice helped secure the skirt of the gown. Once this was done, Marty held up the boned bodice and helped Jessica to slip her arms through the lacey material. Alice immediately went to work pulling the bodice in place. She and Marty worked quickly to do up the thirty-some covered buttons. When this task was complete, the women set about straightening any wrinkles and repositioning the lace to lie properly.

  “I think our work is done,” Marty said, stepping back.

  “Except for the veil,” Alice declared, bringing it forward from the wardrobe where it had been hanging.

  The hand-crafted lace and tulle veil crowned Jessica’s head in a most elegant manner. The lace edging matched that on her dress and flowed so neatly against it that it appeared to blend into the gown itself as it extended down and past the train. Jessica thought she had never seen anything quite so lovely as her headpiece, which was adorned with a silvery band trimmed with white camellias.

  Alice secured the flowery tiara while Marty helped Jessica into her gloves. “Be sure the slit on the ring finger offers easy access,” Jessica reminded her.

  “I have it perfectly placed,” Marty assured her.

  “I’ll need your help to pull the blusher veil over her head to cover her face,” Alice told Marty.

  The two women worked perfectly together and adjusted the tulle to cover Jessica’s face. “I’ll get your flowers, and then we will finally be ready.” Alice hurried to the table and retrieved the bouquet. She handed the exquisite arrangement of white jasmine, camellias, and very pale lavender lilacs to the bride.

  Jessica felt butterflies in her stomach, and she bit her lip to keep her teeth from chattering. She knew she was being silly, but her anxiety was getting the best of her. What if she wasn’t a good wife? What if Austin saw her and changed his mind? What if he hadn’t even arrived at the church?

  Stop it. Austin loves you, and he’s waiting for you.

  She looked to the young woman whose scar she had once thought ugly. It had faded over the years, and now seemed far less noticeable. “I’m ready.”

  Alice smiled. Dressed beautifully in a new but simple lavender gown, Alice stood ready to act as matron of honor—the only attendant Jessica wanted. Alice’s husband, Robert, would stand as best man to Austin. Jessica was grateful to both for having put aside her former transgressions. She planned for them all to be great friends for years to come.

  “Shall we go?” Marty asked. Both Jessica and Alice nodded. “Very
well, then. I’ll go take my seat and signal the organ to start the wedding march.”

  Alice followed her out the door with Jessica slowly coming behind. As she exited the room, she found her father waiting to take her arm.

  “My, but you take my breath away,” Father declared. “I’ve never seen you prettier, Jess.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m afraid I’m feeling a little nervous.”

  He patted her gloved arm. “That’s normal. I thought I might faint dead away when I married your ma.”

  Jessica didn’t believe him. Her father had always been a pillar of strength. It was impossible to imagine him feeling weak in the knees over anything.

  “You know, Jess, when I first held you in my arms all those years ago, I couldn’t imagine this day. I never wanted to give you away to anyone because you were so special. You were the completion of our family, and a blessing to all of us.”

  “Papa, you’d best stop or I’ll be in tears.” She looked up to her father with a smile. “I love you.”

  Father smiled at her in return. “I love you, too, darlin’. But there’s a young man waitin’ for you who thinks he loves you even more. I guess we’d best go meet him at the altar.”

  Jessica nodded and held fast to her father’s arm. “I’m ready.”

  Organ music filled the entire church as Jessica’s father led her down the aisle. Although Austin stood waiting at the front of the church, Jessica couldn’t lift her head to glimpse his face. She feared if she did, she might become overwhelmed, so she watched the church floor instead.

  When her father stopped, she knew they’d reached the altar, but still she struggled with her nerves and refused to look up.

  “Dearly beloved,” she heard the pastor begin, and after that the words were something of a blur. She rallied when her father gave her over to Austin. His strong grasp on her arm felt reassuring.

  When the time came to repeat her vows, Jessica did so in a hushed whisper. Her mouth seemed as dry as cotton, but somehow she managed to get the words out. When Austin prepared to put the ring on her finger, all Jessica could think about was the first time she’d seen it in the hospital.

  Austin had been so pale, so wracked with pain as he lay on the hospital bed. But even in that condition, Jessica had seen in his eyes the love he held for her. It gave her strength, and Jessica raised her face to gaze into Austin’s warm brown eyes as he found her finger and slipped the ring on.

  He smiled and Jess couldn’t help but smile back. What they were doing felt so right—so perfectly ordered—and Jessica’s fears drained away. It truly was a matter of heart, and her heart told her that they would share a lifetime of love, and that made the future seem perfect.

  When the pastor announced they were man and wife and that they could share a kiss, Jessica waited in anticipation as Austin carefully lifted her veil.

  “Hello, wife,” he whispered, his lips close to hers.

  “Hello, husband,” she replied, then fell silent as his mouth claimed hers.

  Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over a hundred novels, both historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her stories, as seen in her bestselling HEIRS OF MONTANA and ALASKAN QUEST series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Visit Tracie’s website at www.traciepeterson.com and her blog at www.writespassage.blogspot.com.

  Books by Tracie Peterson

  * * *

  www.traciepeterson.com

  LONE STAR BRIDES

  A Sensible Arrangement

  A Moment in Time • A Matter of Heart

  LAND OF SHINING WATER

  The Icecutter’s Daughter

  The Quarryman’s Bride • The Miner’s Lady

  LAND OF THE LONE STAR

  Chasing the Sun • Touching the Sky

  Taming the Wind

  BRIDAL VEIL ISLAND*

  To Have and To Hold • To Love and Cherish

  To Honor and Trust

  STRIKING A MATCH

  Embers of Love • Hearts Aglow

  Hope Rekindled

  SONG OF ALASKA

  Dawn’s Prelude • Morning’s Refrain

  Twilight’s Serenade

  ALASKAN QUEST

  Summer of the Midnight Sun

  Under the Northern Lights

  Whispers of Winter • Alaskan Quest (3 in 1)

  BRIDES OF GALLATIN COUNTY

  A Promise to Believe In

  A Love to Last Forever

  A Dream to Call My Own

  THE BROADMOOR LEGACY*

  A Daughter’s Inheritance

  An Unexpected Love • A Surrendered Heart

  BELLS OF LOWELL*

  Daughter of the Loom • A Fragile Design

  These Tangled Threads

  LIGHTS OF LOWELL*

  A Tapestry of Hope • A Love Woven True

  The Pattern of Her Heart

  DESERT ROSES

  Shadows of the Canyon • Across the Years

  Beneath a Harvest Sky

  HEIRS OF MONTANA

  Land of My Heart • The Coming Storm

  To Dream Anew • The Hope Within

  LADIES OF LIBERTY

  A Lady of High Regard

  A Lady of Hidden Intent

  A Lady of Secret Devotion

  RIBBONS OF STEEL**

  Distant Dreams • A Hope Beyond

  A Promise for Tomorrow

  RIBBONS WEST**

  Westward the Dream • Separate Roads

  Ties That Bind

  WESTWARD CHRONICLES

  A Shelter of Hope • Hidden in a Whisper

  A Veiled Reflection

  YUKON QUEST

  Treasures of the North • Ashes and Ice

  Rivers of Gold

  A Slender Thread

  All Things Hidden***

  House of Secrets

  What She Left for Me

  Where My Heart Belongs

  *with Judith Miller **with Judith Pella ***with Kimberley Woodhouse

  Resources: bethanyhouse.com/AnOpenBook

  Website: www.bethanyhouse.com

  Facebook: Bethany House