by Hebby Roman
The small church E.P. had built was packed to overflowing, along with a crowd outside. Inside were the fort’s officers and families, along with many of his soldiers and a nice turnout from the town.
Sally, true to her word to his bride-to-be, had done her job well, spreading word about Mallory’s troubled past and her son. After his daughter’s abduction and rescue, most of the folk, in both the fort and the town, had rallied around Mallory.
Captains Rodgers, Myerson, and French were missing from the crowded church, as were Lieutenants Richter and O’Sullivan, along with Sergeants Hotchkiss and Campbell, and Corporal Walsh. He smiled to himself, guessing where they were.
His fiddlers from the fort’s band tuned up their instruments for a few moments before breaking into his favorite classical song, “The Four Seasons—Spring” by composer A. Vivaldi. The strains of the beautiful music washed over him and filled the church.
The front doors of the church burst open, and he gasped.
Mallory, on Doc Winslow’s arm, stood there, looking like a vision from heaven. He didn’t know much about women’s fripperies, despite being married for almost twenty years to Martha. All he knew, as she floated down the aisle, was his intended was a sight to behold in a fitted, white satin dress, complimenting her full bosom and tiny waist. The collar and the hem of the skirt were trimmed in white lace.
At her throat, she wore her mother’s cameo, and she carried a bouquet of white day lilies. But it was her hair and veil that took his breath away. For the first time, she wore her hair down, shimmering golden waves reaching mid-way down her back. Her golden locks were framed by a gossamer veil of a lace so fine and sheer, it looked as if it had been spun by fairies.
She joined him at the altar, and he took her hand, gazing into her eyes. His chest was tight and it hurt to breathe. He was overcome by his good luck, finding it hard to believe such a beautiful woman loved him and wanted to join her life with his.
The doctor stepped away, and Reverend Whitehead began the ceremony with a prayer.
Their wedding vows passed in a blur, and he was slipping a gold band on her finger before he knew it, listening to the reverend’s admonition to: “love, comfort, honor, and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, for as long as you both shall live.”
He looked into Mallory’s eyes, his heart brimming with love and said, “I do.”
Mallory promised the same, gazing at him and saying, “I do.”
“I pronounce you husband and wife.” Reverend Whitehead finished with, “You may kiss the bride.”
He dipped his head and kissed Mallory long and deep, besotted by the sweetness of her mouth.
They turned and marched down the aisle and stood on the front porch of the chapel. Lined up before them were the missing captains, along with Lieutenant Richter. Across from them were Lieutenant O’Sullivan, along with Sergeants Hotchkiss and Campbell, and Corporal Walsh.
All eight men had their swords drawn and touching the man’s sword across from him. It was a time-honored military tradition, known in the Army as the Arch of Sabers, welcoming his bride into military life.
Mallory glanced up at him with a questioning look in her eye.
“It’s to honor you, my bride, Mallory Gregor.”
She nodded and they walked between his men. The crowd outside started throwing rice at them. At the last two men, Walsh and Richter, they lowered their swords, blocking the way.
Mallory looked up again.
He bent his head and whispered, “They’re demanding I kiss you before we can pass. More tradition.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “But first, I have a surprise for you. I’m taking a two-month furlough, and we’re going on a honeymoon.”
“What about the children?”
“They’re coming with us. This is a special treat. We’re boarding a riverboat in New Orleans and traveling upriver to Cincinnati. I want to show my new wife the farm we’ll be retiring to.”
“Oh, a paddle ship, Peggy will be in heaven.” She gazed at him from the corner of her eye and grinned slyly. “But children on a honeymoon?” She fingered the lapels of his dress jacket. “How will we have any privacy?”
“Don’t worry,” his voice was almost a growl, husky with desire. “I’ve engaged a suite for us. There will be plenty of privacy.”
“My handsome and resourceful husband.”
“My beautiful and cultured wife.”
And then he kissed her lips.
Epilogue
On the Mississippi River, south of Memphis—October, 1877
Mallory twirled her lacy parasol, blocking out the worst of the sun. She pulled a handkerchief from her skirt pocket and wiped her face. She’d forgotten how hot and humid the South could be, even at this time of autumn. Back home… in Fort Davis, the air would be crisp and the nights cool.
She never thought she’d miss the frontier, but at this moment, she yearned for the beautiful West Texas mountains and their mild climate. She hoped she liked Will’s farm. Then she shook her head. The climate and terrain of their home didn’t matter. As long as she was in Will’s arms, she was home.
“Home was where the heart was.” Now, she understood what the old saying meant.
Peggy, pulling Macon along, came running up, breathless. “Miss Mallory, Captain O’Malley says we can help steer the ship! He’s going to show us around, how they shovel in the coal to keep the paddle wheel turning and everything!” Peggy jumped up and down. “Can we? Can we go? We’ll be careful and I’ll watch that Macon doesn’t fall overboard.”
Macon frowned, and Mallory laughed. She tousled her son’s wavy hair. “What do you say, Macon?”
He glanced at his new sister and lifted one shoulder. “I’d like to see how the boat runs, but I’m big enough to take care of myself.”
She leaned down and hugged him. “Of course, you are, son.” She gave Peggy a sideways look and declared, “Maybe it’s you who should be looking after Peggy, since you’ve grown so big and turned seven.”
Peggy smiled at her and nodded. She let go of Macon’s hand and offered her arm, “If you’d be so kind as to escort me, Mr. Macon.”
Macon, warming to his part, bowed at the waist. “I’d be delighted, Miss Peggy.” He took her arm. Luckily, he was tall for his age, like she’d been, and despite a difference of almost six years, they were almost the same height.
Arm-in-arm, her new family traipsed off, looking like a proper lady and gentleman.
Mallory smiled and shook her head.
She felt someone behind her and whirled around. It was Will. He’d been below, drawing some cash from the purser.
He put his arms around her. “What are you smiling about?”
“Everything! Our children and you.” She fingered the tailored edges of his civilian dress coat. “I’ve never been so happy in all my life.” She hugged him. “All because of you.”
He nuzzled her neck. “Is that so? Sounds like an invitation to me.” He nipped her ear lobe and then laved it with his tongue tip.
She pulled away and shook her finger at him. “Colonel Gregor, what are you doing?” She glanced around the open deck. A few couples, arm-in-arm, promenaded up and down the deck. “You must behave yourself. We’re in public view here.”
He straightened and smiled. “I know. I’ll try and restrain myself.” He inclined his head toward the dwindling forms of Macon and Peggy. “Where are they going?”
She put her arms around his neck and pulled his head down. “The captain is going to show them the bridge of the boat, the engine room, and how to steer the paddler.”
“Hmmm, that’s kind of Captain O’Malley. Sounds like a lot of territory to cover. Might take them all afternoon.”
“That’s what I was thinking, Colonel Gregor. What do you want to do? We could get some deck chairs and read or go to the game room and see if there was a game of whi
st or…”
He grabbed her hand, pulling her toward their suite. “I think I have a better idea, Mrs. Gregor.”
She grinned and ran ahead of him, taking the lead and tugging on his hand. “I thought you’d never ask.”
***
Thank you for reading Mallory:The Mail Order Bride by Amazon Best-selling author Hebby Roman! Your opinion would be appreciated if you could please post a review at Amazon. If you’d like to read more of Hebby’s books or post other reviews, you can find them on her Amazon Author Page and at her website.
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Mallory: The Mail Order Bride
COPYRIGHT © 2018 by Hebby Roman
Published by Estrella Publishing
Cover designed by Earthly Charms
All rights reserved and return to the author. This book and parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means –electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise -without prior written permission of the author and publisher, except as provided by the United States of America copyright law. The only exception is by a reviewer who may quote short excerpts in a review.
About the Author
Hebby Roman is a New York traditionally published, small-press published, and Indie published #1 Amazon best-selling author of both historical and contemporary romances.
Her WEST TEXAS CHRISTMAS TRILOGY is an Amazon Bestselling and Award-Winning series. Her first contemporary romance, SUMMER DREAMS, was the launch title for Kensington’s Encanto line. And her re-published e-book, SUMMER DREAMS, was #1 in Amazon fiction and romance. Her medieval historical romance,THE PRINCESS AND THE TEMPLAR, was selected for the Amazon Encore program and was #1 in medieval fiction. She won a national Harlequin contest. Her book, BORDER HEAT, was a Los Angeles Times Book Festival selection. She has been a RONE Finalist three times and in three different categories.
She is blessed to have all her family living close by in north Texas, including her two granddaughters, Mackenzie Reese and Presley Davis. Hebby lives in Arlington, Texas with her husband, Luis, and maltipoo, Maximillian.
Visit her website or Facebook.
You can find her Author Page on Amazon.