“Oh Steven. I feel the same way. Yes, yes, I’ll marry you!”
Steven pulled Emily into his arms and kissed her. “When do you want to have the ceremony?” Steven asked.
“Anytime. The sooner the better.”
“Let’s go talk to Tom first thing in the morning.”
When Emily got to her room, she removed Jim’s ring from her finger. She gently placed it inside her small jewelry box, knowing she would never wear that ring again.
She walked to the bedside table and picked up the wedding picture of her and Jim. She gazed at it lovingly, then tucked it away in a bureau drawer. She had no feelings of emptiness or remorse. Emily knew Jim was smiling down on her. He would be happy that she had found true love once again.
CHAPTER 15
The next morning, Steven and Emily went to see Tom Kirkland. Tom answered Steven’s knock. “Come in. What brings you two to my doorstep?”
“We need to talk to you if you have a minute,” Steven answered as they followed Tom into the house.
Emily blushed a little as Steven explained, “We’d like you to marry us.”
“I thought you were already married,” Tom said with a puzzled look on his face.
“Legally we are. But now we would like to be married in God’s eyes. You see we want to start our marriage out right. We want to be married in church with our friends and family present.”
“That’s wonderful!” Tom exclaimed. “I’d be honored to marry you.” He stood and offered his hand to Steven as Rosemary embraced Emily.
“When do you want to get married?” Tom inquired.
Steven looked at Emily and asked, “How much time do you need?”
“Well, I’d like to make myself a new dress for the occasion. A couple of days at least.”
Rosemary jumped up and exclaimed, “Just a minute! I have a wonderful idea. Emily, follow me.”
Emily followed Rosemary down the hall into a bedroom. Rosemary opened the wardrobe and pulled out a hanger covered with a sheet. As she pulled the sheet off, she revealed a beautiful ivory-colored dress covered with lace.
“Emily, I’d be honored if you’d wear my wedding dress. It should fit you. Here, try it on.”
“Oh Rosemary, it’s beautiful. But I couldn’t.”
“Sure you could. Come on, try it on.”
“But I can’t get married in a dress like that. I’ve been married before.”
“That’s nonsense. Anyway, this dress is ivory, not white. And you and Steven are already married, you’re just repeating your vows. This would be your something old. Please, it would make me so happy.”
“It’s beautiful. If you’re sure it’ll be all right, I’d love to.”
Emily slipped off her dress and slipped into the wedding gown. “It’s perfect,” Rosemary said. “You look beautiful. Now let’s get a date set, and the sooner the better.”
“My feelings exactly,” Emily responded. “I have one more favor to ask of you. Will you be my matron of honor?”
“I’d love to!” Rosemary exclaimed.
When they returned to the living room, Rosemary’s eyes were shining. “Well, the dress is taken care of, so let’s set a date.”
“Well, tonight’s prayer meeting, so we could announce it then and ya’ll could be married Friday night. That’s day after tomorrow. Can you be ready by then?” Tom asked.
“Sounds good to me,” Steven answered.
Emily gave her approval as Rosemary said, “Why don’t you leave the arrangements up to me? I want to decorate the church and I know Alice will want to help. You two don’t worry about a thing. Just let me handle it.”
As they got up to leave, Rosemary gave one last instruction. “Emily, why don’t you plan to spend Thursday night with us? You know you’re not supposed to see the groom on your wedding day.”
“But…” Steven started to speak but Rosemary cut him off.
“Now, no buts about it. You can survive one day without her. Besides, it’ll take us most of the day to get her prettied up for the wedding.”
Emily and Steven called the children into the living room that same day after school. After everyone was seated, Steven said, “As I told you kids when Emily and I came here, we were married in Abilene. But now we want to be married again and this time in church. We want to really be husband and wife, and we want to start our marriage out right. So we’re getting married Friday evening at six o’clock at the church.”
Steven had barely finished his speech before the three younger children started to cheer. Even Matt and Mark extended their hands in congratulations, and then they embraced Emily.
Steven asked Matt to stay for a moment after the family meeting broke up. When they were alone, Steven asked, “Matt, I would like for you to be my best man.”
“You want me to stand up for you at your wedding after all the trouble I caused you and Emily?”
“I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have. You’re my eldest son, and I want you at my side when I marry the woman I love.”
“I’d be happy to stand up with you, Dad.” Matt glanced toward the mantel and saw the wedding picture of Steven and Rebecca. Walking over, he picked up the little framed picture in his hand. “Dad, if you don’t mind, I’d like this picture. She will always be my mother, and I’ll always love her. I’ll probably never understand the things she did, but I think I can live with that now. Your and Emily’s picture should be here now.”
With tears in his eyes and a lump as big as Texas in his throat, Steven hugged his son. “Thanks, Matt. You have become a young man who I’m very proud to call my son.”
“And I’m proud to call you Dad,” Matt returned.
As soon as supper was over Thursday night, Steven brought the buggy around to drive Emily to the parsonage.
“I’ll miss you tonight,” Steven said as they slowly made their way down the road. “I’ve become accustomed to knowing that you’re just in the next room.”
“I’ll miss you, too,” Emily replied.
“After tonight I don’t plan on spending any more nights without you. And I won’t be sleeping in the hall.”
Emily blushed, but he could see that the thought had great appeal to her. She tucked her arm through his and put her head on his shoulder.
“Matt has finally accepted both of us,” Steven said softly. “I don’t know if you noticed or not, but yesterday he removed mine and Becky’s wedding picture from the mantel. He said that that place now belonged to you and me.”
“Oh, Steven, isn’t God wonderful? We will truly be a family now.”
When Steven stopped the buggy in front of the house, he jumped down and then helped Emily to the ground. “I’d like a good-night kiss now. I probably won’t be able to get one later.” Emily obliged him, and then he walked her to the door. After briefly greeting Rosemary, Steven stepped off the porch. He stood alone in the darkness and watched Emily as she disappeared into the house.
“Thank You, Father God, for all the blessings You’ve poured out on this undeserving farmer,” Steven prayed. He mounted the buggy and drove off into the crisp autumn night.
Emily awoke. It was her wedding day. This time she was very much in love with the man and he was in love with her. Life was wonderful. Before she ever got out of bed, she thanked God for all the blessings He had bestowed upon her. And she especially thanked Him for Steven.
There was a gentle knock on her door, and Rosemary entered carrying a tray with pancakes, syrup, eggs, and coffee. “I think a bride deserves breakfast in bed,” she said as she set the tray on the table beside Emily.
“This is just too much to ask for. I’ve never had breakfast in bed before,” Emily acknowledged.
Rosemary sat with Emily while they planned out their day. Emily would get her hair washed while Rosemary went over to the church and helped Alice and a couple of the other ladies get everything ready. Then Rosemary would come back and help Emily style her hair. They would have the afternoon to talk and visit like y
oung girls.
Steven didn’t think he had slept a wink all night long. He was up early and got the milking done. He even managed to prepare an edible breakfast for his family. It was unbelievable to him that after all these years he found himself so desperately in love.
All day his thoughts were of Emily. Early in the afternoon, he slipped into the bedroom that tonight he would share with his wife. He filled the wood box so they would be able to have a cozy fire all night and moved in his few personal belongings and put them away. Although it was the room he had once shared with Rebecca, he was amazed to discover no unhappy memories were lingering anywhere. In the past few months, this had truly become Emily’s home. He could feel her presence in every corner, like a warm and loving feeling. His heart raced with anticipation at the thought of spending the rest of his life with Emily. Once again he thanked God for Emily.
The church was filled with friends. Steven nervously waited outside for his cue that the ceremony was about to begin. He repeatedly asked Matt if he had the ring. Each time Matt patiently assured him he did, but his efforts to calm his father were in vain.
As the music started, Tom, Steven, and Matt entered the church through the side door. The front doors opened and Rosemary slowly walked down the center aisle.
The wedding march resounded and the congregation rose. Emily appeared at the door holding on to Clyde’s arm. As Emily walked toward Steven, the love he had for this woman poured out from him. Tears sparkled in Emily’s eyes.
This ceremony was nothing like the first. Their love for each other not only surrounded them but touched everyone gathered there. On this perfect autumn Friday evening, they discovered the true meaning of the vows they were pledging to one another. Their love had truly made them one.
After the ceremony, everyone was invited to Clyde and Alice’s for cake and punch. Before the evening got too late, Steven suggested to Emily that they say good night to everyone and make their way home. To Emily’s surprise, the children gathered around them and kissed them good night and wished them well. It seemed that Steven had arranged for the kids to stay with Clyde and Alice until Sunday.
Steven tied the buggy to the fence when they got home and walked Emily to the door. Once at the door, he picked her up and carried her across the threshold. He built a small fire in the fireplace in the bedroom, then excused himself and went to unhitch the team. Emily took advantage of the time alone to change into her nightgown and robe.
When Steven returned, he removed his tie and coat, and he and Emily sat on the rug in front of the fire. As they sat facing one another, Steven gently stroked Emily’s cheek. “I’m so thankful I asked you to come with me to east Texas. Whether it was misery, loneliness, or just plain fear of facing my children alone that made me ask you to marry me the first time, I don’t really know. But I’m very thankful that you agreed. I’m also grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to get to know you, first as my friend and now as my wife.”
“Yes.” Emily sighed with contentment. “I’m thankful that I accepted your offer, even though I tried to think of it as just a job in the beginning. Because I was so lonely for a family again, I agreed to come to a strange place with a man I hardly knew. But God in His great wisdom and mercy has made something beautiful out of something that could have turned out so bad.”
Emily reached into her robe pocket and pulled out an envelope. She handed it to Steven.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“Remember the month’s pay you gave me before we left Abilene? That’s it. It’s now the start of our savings to make the dreams we have for this place a reality.”
A smile covered Steven’s face as he took his bride in his arms. “I guess we can say thanks to lonely hearts, we’re together. But a relationship that started out of loneliness and misery is ending in love. I do love you, Emily Barnes.”
“And I love you, Steven Barnes.”
EPILOGUE
Emily stood in the doorway of the living room and watched her husband talking to their six-month-old baby girl. Could it have been almost three years since she came to this house? And three years ago that’s what it was—just a house, full of unhappy people. Now it was a home full of love.
“I hate to interrupt your conversation with Mary Elizabeth, but if we don’t hurry we’ll be late. The train is due in at three o’clock you know,” Emily told Steven.
“I know. Mary and I were just discussing how excited we were that Matt was coming home from college. He hasn’t gotten to meet his little sister yet.” The baby gave her daddy a big smile because he spoke every word directly to her instead of looking at his wife.
“Well, let’s go. The others are in the wagon,” Emily said, trying to rush the stragglers.
“Daddy, Momma, are you two coming?” Sarah called from the back of the wagon. “We’re gonna be late.”
“We’re coming,” Steven called as he and Emily walked through the front door. “Matt will wait if we’re not there when the train comes into town.”
“Do you see him?” Mark asked. He was craning his neck, trying to see past each passenger who was exiting the train.
The last passenger off was Matthew. He was a handsome young man and cut a magnificent figure standing there in his boots, jeans, cowboy shirt, and hat. As he stepped onto the platform, he was accosted by the happy group of family eager to greet him.
“It’s good to have you home, brother.” Mark grabbed Matt and gave him a bear hug.
“It’s good to be home. Luke, John, you two must’ve grown a foot since I left last fall,” Matt told the twins.
“Only about six inches,” John replied with a grin as he and his twin brother greeted Matt.
“Matt,” Sarah squealed as she jumped into the arms of her big brother. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too, baby sister. And you have turned into a pretty young lady since I left.”
“Thank you, but I’m not your baby sister anymore. Come on. You’ve got to see Mary Elizabeth.” Sarah pulled her brother by the arm over to where their parents stood with the baby.
“Welcome home, son,” Steven said as he hugged Matt.
“It’s really good to be home,” Matt returned. “Now let me see my little sister.”
“Mary Elizabeth, this is your big brother Matthew,” Emily introduced. Emily handed the bundle to Matt.
“You’re beautiful,” Matt exclaimed. Right on cue, the baby gave her brother a warm smile. “Oh, look, she likes me and she’s already got a tooth!”
“Of course she likes you. We’ve told her all about you. She’s been very anxious for you to get here. She’s ready to be spoiled by someone new,” Emily told Matt.
“Thank goodness she looks like you, Emily.” Matt gave his stepmother a smile, then leaned over and kissed Emily on the cheek. “Are you doing okay?”
“I’m fine. Especially now that all my family is back together. Even if it is for just a few weeks,” Emily returned.
“Hey, enough of this. I think we can continue the rest of our reunion at home over some of Emily’s chocolate cake,” Steven said as he picked Matt’s bag up off the platform.
“Emily’s chocolate cake? I think I can handle that.” Matt started toward the wagon with Mary Elizabeth in his arms.
“It’s good to have our family together again,” Steven whispered to his wife.
“Yes. I’ll treasure these weeks since Mark will be leaving with Matt when he goes back to school,” Emily wistfully commented.
“I guess the new house will just have to wait until we get our kids educated,” Steven said.
“That’s okay. I don’t need a new house. I’ve already got the perfect home.”
A BRIDE’S SWEET SURPRISE IN SAUERS, INDIANA
by Ramona Cecil
CHAPTER 1
Sauers, Indiana, April 1849
Have you lost your senses? My Vater will shoot you!” Fear for the young man standing before her bubbled up in Regina Seitz’s chest.
A deep
laugh rumbled from Eli Tanner, but the cacophony of his father’s horse-powered gristmill behind them quickly swallowed the sound. The nonchalant grin stretching across his handsome face told her he did not share her concern. “Your pa is a reasonable man. He may run me off his farm and give me a tongue-lashing in German, but I doubt he would shoot me for taking you to a box supper at Dudleytown.”
“He might if you take me without his consent and without a chaperone.” With all her heart, Regina wished her words were not true. In her seventeen years, she couldn’t remember a longer, colder winter than the one their little farming community had just endured. Now that the harsh weather had finally given way to a warm and glorious spring and with Lent and Easter behind them, she looked forward to occasions like this Saturday’s gathering at the Dudleytown School to socialize with friends her age. And of all the boys in the county, she could think of no other she would rather have squire her to the event than Eli. But Eli hadn’t seen the thundercloud form on Papa’s face last September after her sister Elsie’s marriage to her non-German husband, William. Eli hadn’t heard Papa’s booming voice ring like a death knell, proclaiming that he would never again sanction the marriage of a daughter to a non-German.
Eli took Regina’s hands in his, sending a thrill through her. He drew her away from her pony cart and into a slice of shade closer to the mill’s weathered gray walls. She still could hardly believe she had caught the eye of Eli Tanner. And she probably would not have if his previous sweetheart hadn’t eloped with a young farmer from Driftwood—something she would never understand. For with his broad shoulders, thick shock of auburn hair, and green eyes that almost matched the spring’s new growth all around them, the miller’s son was, in Regina’s estimation, the handsomest boy in all of Jackson County.
A Bride's Agreement Page 17