by Faye Sonja
Jack led them away from the table, and he hoped out of his parents lives forever. Nothing he did could ever be good enough for them. He’d prove them so wrong. “I’m sorry, Amelia. It’s not what you’d hoped. If you want to call off the wedding, I’d understand.”
“I’m marrying you, tomorrow, Jack Blair, not your parents.”
* * *
3
The Wedding
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“I’m marrying you, tomorrow,
not your parents.”
.
“Oh, Adeline, she was simply awful. I’d so hoped for a loving mother-in-law.” Amelia checked her look one last time in the mirror.
Adeline stood behind her fixing tiny, white flowers into her hair. “James mentioned his Aunt was a tyrant. It’s one of the reasons Jack wanted a bride, so he could stop his mother’s constant hounding over who he’d marry.”
“His mother said he’d kissed this Felicity.”
“I’m sure it doesn’t matter now who he’s kissed before. He marrying you today.”
“True. But what if he did promise her, and she’s heartbroken?”
Adeline cupped her hands around Amelia’s face. “Honestly? That isn’t your worry. It’s your wedding day. Enjoy this moment.” Adeline kissed her cheek and let her go. “You look radiant.”
“Were you lonely on your wedding day without any of us here?”
“A little. But Millie took great care of me and we’re still firm friends. She’s from New York too.”
“I’m so excited. I know Jack is my one true love. You should’ve seen him protect me against his ma. He was my knight in shining armor.” She spun around in circles.
The door opened a little and Millie stuck her head through the gap. “How’s it going?”
“Come in, Millie. I was just telling Amelia how wonderful you were for my wedding.”
“How did Adeline look?” Amelia really missed not seeing her older sister on her wedding day.
“She was so lovely. A vision. I think James was quite beside himself with joy when Adeline walked down the aisle towards him.”
“I wish I could’ve been here.” Amelia smiled. “Is Jack out here yet?”
“No. But it’s early. We’d planned the service for half an hour away. He’ll be along any moment.”
Amelia felt a slice of fear in her heart. What if he’d changed his mind? His parents might’ve talked him out of it. What if he’d decided it was Felicity he loved, after all?
“Amelia. Stop worrying. Remember you always see the good in things. Don’t start doubting now.” Adeline’s voice was stern.
Amelia let her captured breath rush out. “Of course. I’m just a bundle of emotions.”
“You look exquisite. I’ll go see how things are coming along.” Millie smiled and left.
Amelia noticed Adeline rub her belly and she saw how tired her eyes looked. “How selfish of me. Let’s sit a while. There’s not need to be on your feet all day. You look exhausted.”
“I’m finding the morning sickness a little taxing. But the doctor and Frank’s wife assured me it would go soon. If I have to drink any more ginger tea and ginger ale I think I’ll go mad.”
“You need to rest more. You haven’t stopped all day.”
The door opened again and Millie called to them. “Jack is here. When you’re ready ladies, proceed outside and I’ll meet you at the front doors.”
“I think I’m going to faint.” Amelia’s body had heated up inside all her layers of fabric. “I think you laced me too tightly.”
“Breathe, dear sister, for you are about to be wed. Follow me.” Adeline floated out the door as only she could and Amelia scurried behind her. This was it. The day she’d dreamt about as long as she could remember was here. Her wedding day. The most magical day of a woman’s life.
Amelia waited while Adeline and Millie fussed over her veil and dress. Once the veil was over her face, Adeline escorted her into the church and down the aisle. Amelia’s eyes locked onto Jack in his new suit. He looked stunning and the yellow carnation in his lapel was so bright and pretty.
Jack had a smile a mile wide and James stretched out his hand on his shoulder. This was really happening. The day she’d planned from as far back as she could remember was finally here. Just a few months before her twentieth birthday, she was getting married. The church was gorgeous decked out in fresh flowers and she wondered where Adeline had found so many in one small town.
It didn’t look like Jack’s younger brother, Jacob, had showed up. Well, they had a witness each and that was all that was needed. Some Asian ladies played the church organ accompanied by a small looking guitar type instrument. ‘Here Comes the Bride’ never sounded better than in the small, wooden church with its miniscule gathering.
Finally the wedding march came to an end and she stood beside Jack. Adeline joined their hands and stood to the side.
“You’re gorgeous. The most beautiful bride in California.” Jack whispered his words quite loudly and Amelia laughed a little from amusement and a little from nerves. She knew this was the right thing, but nerves were natural. She wondered about her mother and younger sister, and wished they were here to see this day. They could all have a cocktail together and celebrate when they got here in two months.
Once they were all away from that awful man. There, now she’d gone and done it. She’d been determined not to think of Lex Baxter, especially not today. But random thoughts kept running through her head.
“Amelia?” She heard Jack called her name and looked up to see all eyes on her. “Shall we get started?”
“I’m sorry. I was thinking how perfect this all is.”
He smiled, and nodded to the reverend.
“Dearly Beloved. We are gathered here…”
A crash came from behind them at the church door and a dusty, dirty and clearly inebriated younger man fell across the back pew, taking a stand of fresh flowers with him. Amelia gasped and stared at the sight. His legs stuck up in the air and goodness knows where his head ended up but after a loud thunk and groan she assumed it was straight into the hard, wooden seat.
“Jacob…I’m sorry, Amelia. I’ll just go check on him. It’s my fool younger brother.”
Amelia looked at Adeline and she had a look of shock on her face as well. Amelia looked upwards and crossed herself. Lord, please let me be married today. Her prayer was heartfelt. Surely this wasn’t a sign. Merely a delay.
James had rushed up the aisle as well and the two men lifted Jacob up to his feet, but he was like a limp rag, and he certainly had passed out. “Lay him on the pew; he won’t be awake a while. Let’s get on with the ceremony,” James instructed Jack, and they got Jacob back on the seat.
“I can’t believe he’d ruin my day like this. Of all the selfish…idiotic –”
“Careful, Jack. Ladies and the reverend present.” James gave him a nudge and Amelia looked on with a certain discomfort. This was the young man who was supposed to be marrying Averill… Oh dear.
Her younger sister abhorred drinkers, and she didn’t suffer fools lightly. Adeline’s perfect plan to save them from the lecherous Lex Baxter as repayment for their late father’s debt may have just hit a huge snag. One glance at Adeline’s frown and Amelia knew she was thinking the same.
Jack came storming back up the aisle. “May the Good Lord see fit for us to marry this day, because I refuse to let Jacob ruin our perfect day.” He took Amelia’s hand and turned to the front. “Reverend, please continue and also skip any parts that aren’t strictly necessary.”
The reverend nodded, and got straight to the promise and the vows. Amelia thought briefly about how she’d imagined her perfect wedding to be, and rushed in a country church with a drunk man asleep on the pew was not part of it. She took a deep breath and prepared to say her vows.
What mattered was that she was getting ma
rried, and to a wonderful man who’d proved his commitment to her. One day they’d look back on this day and laugh. A loud snore and a horrendous throaty noise came from the back of the church. Tears prickled her eyes and she raised her voice slightly to repeat her words after the reverend. In her mind she prayed for forgiveness for having the unchristian thoughts she’d just had about Jacob.
He needed a good woman and to have a strong faith to help him through his troubled life right now, she could see that. She’d do her best to help her new brother-in-law to see the light and prepare him as good husband and god-fearing man.
Jack slid a simple silver band on her finger, and before she knew it, it was time to kiss the bride. Amelia’s face was on fire when Jack lifted her veil and looked deep into her eyes. “Hello, Mrs. Blair.” He tilted his head a little and leaned in to touch his lips to hers.
That was it. They were married. Adeline and James cheered and the reverend smiled and shook hands with everyone. The Chinese ladies and Millie all gathered around and gave some small gifts to the new bride. Amelia had no idea what was inside the brown paper parcels but she was very excited to open them.
“Open them at home, Amelia. The light is fading, and it’s a little over an hour to the ranch.” Adeline squeezed her sister’s hands. “I’ll pop over tomorrow afternoon and help you get settled in.”
Amelia might’ve been paranoid but she couldn’t help but think that Adeline was giving her a warning rather than comfort.
* * *
4
Home Sweet Home
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“I’m marrying you, tomorrow,
not your parents.”
.
At last they rounded the final corner and Jack looked at Amelia. “We’re home.”
“Wonderful. I can’t wait to get freshened up.”
“I carted some water from the creek today. Once the fire gets going it won’t take long to heat. If you wish to bathe, I have a tub.” He smiled and Amelia’s blush deepened. “I’m so sorry, Amelia. I shouldn’t talk about such private things.”
“It’s fine. I’ll get used to it.”
“I hope not, because that blush is lovely on you.” Jack had no intentions of making his new wife feel uncomfortable in any way. Tonight would go however she wanted. He just hoped she could see the potential and beauty in the cabin he’d built. There was a lot of work left to do but Jack was certain he could help her to see what he saw in it.
“I’ll take you inside first, start the fire, and then I’ll come fix the horses for the evening. You can perhaps open your gifts from the ladies while you wait.”
“That would be lovely. Very thoughtful of them. Do you think your brother will be okay?”
Jack’s blood was still boiling over that one. “Reverend and Millie will take care of him. Won’t be the first time.”
“Whatever possesses him to drink so much?”
“Whatever possesses Jacob to do anything he does is beyond me. But I have faith the Lord will show him the way.”
“I’m afraid Averill might take an instant dislike to him.”
“Perfect. He has far too many women falling over him. It won’t hurt him to have to chase for a change.”
“Maybe he won’t bother.”
“If your sister is as intelligent and captivating as my new wife and her sister, he won’t be able to help himself.”
“Oh, Jack. You say the nicest things.”
He helped Amelia from the cart and gathered up her parcels. “It’s the poet in me.”
The sun was almost down but there was enough light to see by. Jack stepped in first and asked Amelia to wait. He put her things on the table and got the lanterns going. “Come, Mrs. Blair. Let me carry you over your threshold. I hope that with some more hard work and a woman’s touch it will grow to be the home I’ve described in my letters to you.”
He scooped her up and stepped in, watching her face as she looked around the kitchen. She never said anything and didn’t smile. Jack might’ve been a little heavy in his descriptions of the place. “I hope we’ll be happy here, and later we can build bigger.”
“It looks lovely.”
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. She was being polite. He set her down and pulled out a wooden chair for her and she sat.
“Thank you, Jack. For everything. I’m sure we’ll be very happy here.”
With the fire roaring, the water on and Amelia resting at the table, he left her to stable the horses for the night. He’d been foolish to go on about the cabin the way he had. She would’ve expected something much bigger. But then, Amelia wasn’t a material woman. She didn’t seem to be, anyway. As soon as he’d sorted the horses he’d do a fast check on his fifty cattle in the near field.
He’d left them there so he could do a head count when he’d arrived home. Rustlers had been working this area, and though they usually went for larger herds, Jack wasn’t taking any chances.
In half an hour he had the horses settled and he walked the small distance to the field. He checked the gate to see it was secure and with a lantern held high he tried to do a head count. It looked like all the cattle were inside the fences. If he’d gotten home earlier, and if Jacob hadn’t…never mind that. Jacob was a law unto himself.
Jack was thankful he hadn’t left Jacob in charge of the cattle. God was indeed watching over him in that regard. He cut back to the stables to get Amelia’s case with her clothes and other belongings he’d left outside the door. He headed for the timber cabin.
Inside was warm, and the kettle boiled on the wood stove. Perfect. Amelia sat with a look on her face he wasn’t sure was good or bad. “Now the horses are retired for the evening and the cattle seem to be in order.”
Amelia smiled when she turned to him. She was truly beautiful. “I’m pleased.”
“I’ll put the boiling water in the tub and you can scoop the cold in from the bucket. It won’t be a lot, but I hope it’s enough.”
“It will be fine. I have some scented soap, a lovely washcloth and a nightgown from the ladies. Adeline was thoughtful enough to fix us a basket of bakery goods to share.”
“She’s a good woman. I’m starving.”
“Where is the tub?”
“In the bedroom. I’ve covered the window and it locks from the inside. You’ll be quite safe. I’ll take your case in soon.” He picked up the heavy, black kettle and carried it in to the tub. The steaming water poured in and he’d left a towel on the bed. A little coarse, but he hoped not too much so. “I’m sure you’d like to remove your wedding finery so you can eat as well.”
“Yes. I’m sorry to ask, but I will need a hand to unlace.”
“My pleasure. I’ll keep my eyes turned away. I don’t wish to embarrass you.”
“It’s alright, Jack. I trust you.”
“There’s no pressure…with anything…you know. I’ve no expectations about…” He didn’t quite know how to say it.
“I understand. Thank you.”
“Okay, follow me.”
* * *
Amelia loved the hot water to be able to freshen up in. The scented soap was like heaven. Now she sat in the kitchen with Jack and they chattered over a cup of tea. The bakery goods were hearty and delicious. There would be plenty left for tomorrow.
The one thing Amelia wanted to talk about was her return to New York to steal the documents from Lex Baxter that showed her pa’s debt to him and her pa’s signature giving up one of his daughters as payment.
Amelia shuddered. She’d write Mama and Averill tomorrow. They’d both be nervous being there alone with Lex’s threat of getting one of the daughters and an heir any way he had to. He must’ve been a terribly lonely person to pay no mind to the fact that any wife gotten that way would always resent and hate him.
Her own wedding was very different from what she’d imagined and the homestead was certainly unde
rwhelming compared to the pictures Jack had painted in her head with the words in his letters, but she’d make the most of everything now.
She had a very romantic, poetic husband with a talent for writing and that should only be encouraged. “Jack, you know how I wrote about my idea to go back and find those documents?”
Jack looked up from his mug of tea. “Yes.”
“It’s very important that that happens. It takes so long to travel there and back, and you had promised to accompany me…”
“I did. Yes.”
“How will that happen when you have these cattle to get to the market?”
Jack raked his hand through his hair. “Jacob has said he will take the cattle with two cowboy friends of his.”
“Jacob? You mean….in the church today...that Jacob?”
“Yeah. I mean, he’s not always that way. In a sense, the fact he even attempted to show up was a sign from God. He’s trying to mend his ways.”
“I see.” Amelia did not like the sound of this at all. “And if, for some reason, Jacob can’t get the cattle to market?”
“Then I’ll have to go.”
That was just what she didn’t want to hear. “If I can’t get these papers and destroy them, that horrid man will come find us.” She shuddered just thinking about that.
“Let’s not panic about it now. We’ll add it to our nightly prayers and leave it in God’s hands. He will put us where we need to be.”
“Yes. Yes, of course.”
“Did you bring some less fancy clothing? The ranch work is messy, and having you help will be a great relief for me.”
“I did. I have some long skirts made for manual labor, some very sturdy shirts and aprons as well. I hope they’ll be suitable.”
“I’m sure they will do just fine. I didn’t want you getting any pretty dresses ruined.”