by Mark Stewart
THE FOLLOWING morning Lightening Dawn woke early to finalize the wedding day plans. He finished trimming an arch in the side of the pepper bush tree. Twice daily for almost a month, he watered the grass growing at the base of the tree. He raked and cut the soft luscious dark green grass by hand. Next, he walked through the bush searching for flowers. Inside an hour, he finished and trotted towards the barn, two wooden buckets full of an assortment of coloured flowers, one in each hand. The wedding ceremony will have one bucket of flowers, and the other bucket of flowers will be set aside for the wedding night. Wanting the night to be perfect, he studied the sky, making sure the weather conditions were still favourable. At 2:00 o’clock he’d strategically place the flowers throughout the area around the arch to add colour.
Stepping onto the homestead verandah, he walked towards the kitchen door. Gip appeared, banning him from entering.
“You can’t come in, Jessica is getting ready,” she howled, shooing him away. “You’ll see her at 4:00 o’clock.”
Lightening Dawn back stepped off the verandah on his way to the barn. 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon couldn’t come soon enough. When they looked into each other’s eyes to say their wedding vows they both understood no one except Gip and her brothers could witness the ceremony.
Gip closed the kitchen door and walked across the room to where Jessica sat painting her nails red. “You’re going to look beautiful.”
“Thank you. I’m sure looking forward to the moment I become Mrs. Dawn and afterwards tasting the rabbit stew and the home-grown vegetables your brothers are cooking.”
“They can’t cook good as me,” Gip hinted. “They do alright.”
Jessica smiled, ruffling her curly hair. “The three of you can cook very well.”
Gip placed her hands on her hips. “There’s no time for an English lesson, 4:00 o’clock will be here soon. You have to be ready.”
At exactly 4:00pm. Jarrah, Coba,r and Lightening Dawn were standing under the arch. Every few seconds Lightening looked at the house for Jessica before glancing at the flowers he’d placed around the area. He certainly didn’t want them to start wilting.
Jessica stared out of the kitchen window. “Lightening looks a little nervous.”
Gip stood on her toes. She shrugged.
“I’ll explain it to you one day. Come on; I can’t wait any longer.”
Gip led the way out of the house. On the way down the stairs, she started to hum her favourite tune. Halfway way to the pepper bush tree, Gip stopped to look over her shoulder at the back door of the homestead.
The back door squeaked open. Jessica came into view. Standing in the doorway, her broad smile grew. Lightening Dawn looked directly at her. His grin couldn’t get any wider. He watched nervously as Jessica descended the three verandah steps. Gluing her gaze on her future husband she started walking. She held tight a bunch of white wildflowers Gip had picked two hours earlier. Jessica wore her cream coloured dress, the one she wears to church the first Sunday of each month. Her long hair cascaded off her shoulders, curling at the ends. A pair of white pearl earrings dangled from her earlobes.
“You look a splendor of beauty,” Lightening hinted the moment his bride stepped next to him.
“Thank you,’ replied Jessica. “You look extra handsome in your black suit.”
Lightening cradled his bride before escorting her under the pepper bush tree.
“I want to apologize for the small number of guests.”
“The number of guests is of no consequence. The only thing on my mind is marrying you,” whispered Jessica.
Jarrah, Cobar, and Gip stood in front of Lightening and Jessica. They wanted an unrestricted view of the soon-to-be married couple.
Lightening gently took hold of Jessica’s hands and looked her in the eyes.
“Jessica, even though I don’t speak good English well, I want you to know I will love you all the days of my life. I am a blessed man to have such a beautiful woman at my side. Each year the birds and the animals pair off. They build a home in which to raise their young. I have found the special someone in you. We have a home, and we have a family. I will protect you and look after you all my living days.”
Lightening Dawn lifted Jessica’s left hand to eye level.
“Seeing how there’s no gold ring due to the fact we must keep the union between us an absolute secret I have thought of something I hope you will approve of.”
He kissed Jessica’s finger seven times exactly where the gold ring would sit.
“Each kiss represents one day of the week. They are there to remind you in the years to come each day I will live up to what I have said today.”
Jessica glanced at Gip. Tears were rolling down over her cheeks. She gave her a smile before facing Lightening Dawn.
“I Jessica will love you, Lightening Dawn, all the days of my life. I know you will protect me, keep me from harm to the best of your ability.” She bent her head to kiss the back of his hand. “My kiss seals what I have said to be true.”
“Kiss, Kiss,” chanted Gip.
Lightening and Jessica didn’t disappoint the girl. They embraced then kissed for a long time. The three kids cheered. Even the kookaburras joined in by laughing. A few kangaroos looked over, studying the noise wondering if they were in any danger.
“It’s dinner time,” yelled Gip and her brothers.
Gip grabbed hold of Jessica’s hand, pulling her back to the homestead.
The group devoured the rabbit stew in minutes. The freshly cooked scones and jam was devoured the moment they were put on the table as the dessert. Coffee came next then the dishes were cleaned.
Lightening Dawn stood, holding out his hand. Jessica reached up, taking it. Wearing a proud expression Lightening escorted her out onto the verandah. The stars were twinkling high above their heads. The full moon was just rising over the tree tops. The birds were settling for the night. A hint of a warm breeze blew across the land.
“What have you got planned?” asked Jessica, wrapping her arms around her husband’s waist.
“Mrs. Dawn I’ve been working extra hard to give you a night you will never forget,” hinted Lightening.
Jessica cuddled into his deep chest. “So far the day has been extra special. Even the weather has been perfect.” She held out her hand. “Mr. Dawn, please take me to what you have in store for us tonight.”
Lightening swept Jessica off her feet. He carried her down the three verandah steps, walking briskly towards the barn. He swung the door open using his free hand. Stepping over the threshold, he pulled the door shut.
“The barn door didn’t squeak!” exclaimed Jessica.
“I squeezed oil from a bale of sheep wool to oil the hinges.”
“What a thoughtful thing to do.” For more than a minute she stood staring at the far wall. “You’ve placed all the tools belonging to the Rosedale from largest on the left to the smallest on the right. You’ve certainly being busy. I’m impressed at how you’ve gone out of your way to make tonight memorable.”
Lightening couldn’t contain his excitement. He carried Jessica to the ladder which led to the loft. The moment they were in the loft he closed the trap door.
Jessica looked about the clean dust free room. “I love the flowers you’ve placed everywhere.”
“Thank you.”
“The loft smells fresh,” whispered Jessica.
“It should. I removed the old hay which has been stored up here for months so I could sweep the entire area.”
Lightening Dawn walked across the floor. He lit a kerosene lantern which hung from a new straight nail on the main beam which supported the roof. A warm glow lit the room. A blanket covered the thick layer of new hay. Lightening Dawn opened the window. The warm breeze wafted in. The stars were countless; the moon full.
Lightening turned down the lantern to half. The narrow room quickly plunged into semi-darkness. He stepped next to Jessica, placing his hands on her hips.
“You seem nervous
,” he said with a sigh.
“I think you’re nervous too.”
Lightening hugged his bride. For a long time, they stood in the middle of the loft kissing. The breeze lightly buffeted the ends of Jessica’s hair. Eventually, Lightening took hold of her hand to walk her to the window.
Jessica stood cradled in the man’s arms looking at the landscape. She breathed in the air, taking in every second of the romantic night.
“I’m certain I can smell the aroma of the rabbit stew,” she whispered.
Lightening slowly turned her head so he could look lovingly into her eyes.
“I hope you love the room for our wedding night?”
Jessica smiled. There would be no more talk tonight. For the first time in her life, Jessica felt completely loved. Lightening Dawn had picked the perfect night. Any problems yet to come quickly faded out. She wanted to soak in the love they were about to share.
Lightening carried Jessica to the blanket in the hay. He peeled his shirt off. He lifted her wedding dress above her head. Jessica took hold of it, tossing it to the side.
Pushing skin against skin they kissed.
Everything about Lightening Dawn was large. Jessica rubbed her hands up and down his back. She could feel the tension in his muscles. Lifting her arms, she took hold of his shoulders. Dropping to her knees she lay prone, dragging the man down on top of her. She knew it’ll be nothing short of scandalous if anyone ever discovered they made love. She didn’t care. She wanted the man. He excited her in a way she never felt before. Jessica couldn’t think of the exact reason why they had been drawn together. Whether it was the colour of his skin or the gentle words, he always spoke or the dare to be different or even if it were the scandal which might develop if they stayed together. None of those questions needed an answer. She couldn’t wait to slip into a world of love.
Hour after hour the breeze fanned their naked silhouettes. Secretly Jessica prayed for a long night.
CHAPTER NINETEEN