by Linda Bridey
She chose a white, boy-sized hat that fit her smaller head. All of the others were too big. She pulled the stampede string tight and thought that if it could keep the hat on during a stampede or other fast movement, it would keep it anchored to her head in the storm.
Hope saw her trying it on. “What on Earth are you doing?”
“Keeping my hair dry until I get to the church.”
“It looks cute on you,” Hope said, smiling.
Renee smiled. “Does it?”
“Yes, it does.”
“Maybe I’ll ask Pa if I can have it and wear it around the ranch to amuse everyone. Other women wear them, but I never thought about wearing one,” Renee said.
“I’m sure he’ll let you have it,” Hope said.
“I’ll convince him,” Renee said, winking. “We should leave for the church soon. I was hoping it would slow down out there, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Hope responded. “I don’t want my dress to get dirty, either. Or my hair to be ruined. I’ll put a scarf around it.”
“You look beautiful, Ma,” Renee said. “No wonder Pa fell in love with you. He tells me that he’s quite the charmer when he wants to be. Is that true?”
Hope eyes twinkled. “You have no idea how charming he can be.”
Renee giggled. “Does he give you a certain look? The kind that makes you all warm inside?”
Hope laughed. “Why do you think I married him after only knowing him a week?”
“I guess that answers that question,” Renee said, laughing. “Well, I guess we should brave the storm so we’re not late.”
The women went to collect the men and get underway.
*****
An hour later, Renee was almost in tears. The storm had only gotten worse, getting them wet despite only having a short ways to walk to and from the car and using umbrellas. The strong wind had ripped one of them out of Skip’s hand and he’d gotten soaked. The torrential rain and high wind had created two leaks in the church requiring a regular changing of buckets.
Maybe we should postpone the wedding, she thought. No. Come hell or high water, I’m marrying my cowboy today!
*****
Tim had left for the church with Kyle and Randy in one of their Model T cars. They hadn’t known that the creek about a mile from their house had overflowed its banks, flowing across the road, which was very muddy by this time. Upon seeing the washed-out road, Tim turned around and went back to the house.
“What are you going to do?” Randy asked.
“What we’ve done for hundreds of years: ride a horse. We can cut across camp and take the trail that leads up to the main road heading into town,” Tim said. “We need to warn the rest of the house about the road. They won’t be able to take a buggy, either. There’s no telling how deep that water is right now.”
Once they’d reached the house, Joe put a hand on Tim’s shoulder. “Son, I hate to say it, but maybe we’d better postpone the weddin’. I don’t want to risk everyone’s safety. It ain’t gettin’ any better out here.” A jagged streak of lighting struck the ground out in one of the pastures and they cringed at the accompanying thunder.
“Damn it!” Tim said.
“I’ll call the switchboard and have whoever is on it let Mac and Renee know. She’ll understand,” Joe said right before another crash of thunder sounded overhead.
More than anything, Tim wanted to marry Renee that day. He didn’t want to wait any longer, but the right thing to do was postpone until the next day.
“All right, Daddy,” he shouted over the next rumble of thunder so Joe could hear him.
However, the electric and telephone were out because of the storm. Tim put his hat and slicker on. “I’ll go let them know,” he said. “I’ll be fine.”
His family watched him go, praying for his safety as he rode out of sight into the deluge.
*****
When Tim reached the church, there was a brief break in the weather. He tied his horse close to the hitching post and ran into the church, where he met Matt.
“You shouldn’t have come,” Matt said, concerned over Tim’s welfare. “I think we’re going to have to postpone. The church now has four leaks and Moose said it came over the telegraph, which is still working by some miracle, that there are more bad storms coming shortly.”
As if to confirm Matt’s statement, lightning lit up the windows and a horrific crack of thunder followed. Hope came upstairs and saw Tim.
“Oh, my gosh! You shouldn’t have come, Tim. It’s too dangerous.” She fell silent as she looked out the windows.
They followed her to the side door, which she opened a little bit. The light outside had changed to a greenish color and the clouds overhead roiled.
“Everyone to the basement!” she shouted. “Downstairs now!”
The men saw the same thing and agreed with her. Tim pulled out his pocket knife and said, “I’ll be right there!”
“Where are you going?” Matt shouted as Tim left the building.
Tim knew that if a twister formed while the horses were tied to the hitching posts they would be trapped by their tethers. As a horse rancher, Tim’s first concern was more for his animals than himself. He ran along slashing reins and halter ropes, freeing the animals so they could run to safety.
“Ha! Get goin’!” he shouted at them to get them to move, knowing that they would be found later on or that the horses would go home once it was safe.
Most of the horses were upset as it was and took off willingly—all except for Skip’s mule, Dash, who had apparently broken out of the livery stable where he was kept with the other Keller horse. He hated being away from his family and he was so strong that keeping him contained was hard when he was very determined to go somewhere. Most likely the nosy mule had seen the other equines gathered at the church and had decided to come see what was going on.
Although he wasn’t an aggressive animal, Dash’s ears swept back and he stamped a front foot when Tim tried to force him to move away. Tim didn’t have to time to argue with the mule, so he ran around to the front door, which was closest to him now. When he went through it, he discovered that he wasn’t alone. Dash pushed in right behind him, knocking Tim out of his way as he barreled inside.
“You can’t be in here!” Tim said. “Get out!”
The seventeen-hands-tall mule’s answer was to shake off like a huge dog, soaking Tim further. Matt and Devon had come upstairs to see if Tim had come back in and they received the same treatment from Dash.
Devon’s bridesmaid dress was now sprayed with water and mud, as was her face and hair. “Dash! What are you doing in here?”
Tim and Matt tried to push him back outside, but it was impossible to move the sixteen-hundred-pound animal. When the wind howled and the rain came sideways, they gave up and ran down to the basement.
Upon hearing that Tim had arrived at the church and had agreed that they should postpone the wedding, Renee had scooted into the washroom there and changed back into her skirt and blouse. She ran over to him, embracing him.
“I’m so glad you’re all right. You shouldn’t have come. It’s too dangerous,” she said.
“I had to so you knew that I didn’t get cold feet,” he said, smiling.
“I wouldn’t have thought any such thing. I’m just glad you’re safe.”
The building above them creaked and groaned and they quieted, listening in fear. When the groaning grew louder, Renee grabbed Tim’s shirt collar.
“We’re getting married right now, Timmy. If I’m going to die, I’m going to die as your wife!”
“Honey, it’s gonna be all right. The storm will pass and we’ll get married tomorrow,” he said. “I want my family to be here. I don’t have my best man or my tuxedo or—”
A horrendous crash overhead interrupted him, shaking the building, and Dash let out a frightened bray. Tim and Renee looked at each other, their eyes wide and frightened. They moved over to Matt.
“Marry us right now, Mac,” Tim said. “We’re not dying without being married.”
Matt said, “You don’t have rings.”
Renee said, “We don’t have to have them right now, do we?”
“Well, it’s unorthodox, but what the heck? Everyone gather around,” Matt said.
Switch came to Renee and dragged her away.
“What are you doing, Pa?” Renee asked.
“I’m walking you down the aisle,” Switch said. “I’m not letting this damn storm deprive me of that.”
Watching Switch walk Renee over to where Matt and Tim stood made the rest of those gathered laugh, adding a little levity to the dangerous situation. Another crash met their ears. The couple tightened their grips on each other’s hands.
Matt said, “We’re skipping over a lot, but Tim do you take Renee as your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish until death do you part?”
“I do,” Tim said.
“Renee, do you take Tim to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish until death do you part?”
“I do,” Renee said.
Matt had to shout to be heard over the din. “I now pronounce you man and wife! Kiss your bride!”
While the storm raged around them, a different tempest swept Tim and Renee along as they soundly kissed each other. The weather outside may have been dark and dangerous, but in their hearts and souls there was only love and light. The ceiling creaked and moaned above them. It began sagging and Matt shoved everyone into the kitchen, where the ceiling was stable. They’d all just crammed into the room when the boards gave away completely.
One of the mighty oak trees close to the church had been a victim to the storm and had fallen on the structure, smashing through the building. The weakened floor hadn’t been able to hold its massive weight and the tree fell down into the basement. The group inside cowered in a corner, the men instinctively shielding the women with their bodies.
Water poured into the basement, flooding the floor.
Black Fox yelled, “We cannot stay here! It is too dangerous!”
The rest concurred and they began making their way around tree branches to the stairs that miraculously were still intact. Matt led the way up them. The sight that met his eyes caused tears to well in them. The tree filled the sanctuary and many of the pews had been crushed. His attention was diverted from it by Dash, who butted him with his head. Matt was able to move him away so that the others could get up the stairs.
The wind blew pages of hymnals around along with leaves and small branches. They had to shield their faces from the swirling debris. Matt tried to open the door to the outside, but it wouldn’t budge. Several of the men tried to open it, all of them exerting their strength at once, but it still wouldn’t open.
“The building must have shifted and now the door is stuck,” Matt said.
“We have to get out of here!” his wife, Penny, shouted.
Skip hollered, “Get out of the way! Move back!”
In Skip’s hands, Dash was always completely compliant. Skip had worked with him since he’d been a foal, forming a powerful bond. At Skip’s urging, Dash quickly moved around until his rear faced the door.
“Kick!” Skip shouted. “Kick, Dash!”
The mighty mule lashed out, his powerful haunches and legs sending his hooves crashing into the door, blowing it wide open.
“Get out!” Skip told him.
Dash turned and trotted outside, braying as though bragging about what he’d just accomplished.
The twenty-odd people poured forth from the building and turned to look back at it as they were drenched by the raging storm. They gathered together, drawing comfort from their closeness as they looked upon the ruined building. As they looked on, more of the building succumbed to the combination of weight and wind and collapsed. They gazed around at each other, all of them thinking that they’d narrowly escaped severe injury or death. Other townspeople came to see the destruction and to take the shocked and drenched people to safety.
*****
Once the storms finally subsided enough and the rain stopped, Tim went to the Dialogue office to see if the telephone was working again. It wasn’t. He went back to the Keller home, which had only suffered a few shingles being ripped from the roof.
“Sweetheart, I have to go out to the ranch to let them know we’re all ok. The telephone and electric are still out,” Tim said. “I’ll come back with the gang so we can help around town.”
“I’ll help, too,” Renee said.
“Honey, you don’t have to do that,” Tim said.
She fixed him with a look. “How would it look for the wife of the future Congressman Dwyer to not help our town in a time of need? Besides, I have a lot of friends that I want to check on, and I can help out with anyone who’s wounded.”
He smiled at her. “Boy, I like the sound of that. My wife.” Holding her, he said, “I’m so glad we went ahead and got married. I’m sorry our wedding got ruined in one way, but I’m not sorry we had Mac marry us. When I think what might have happened if I hadn’t come when I did …”
Renee tightened her arms around his midsection. “Don’t think about that. We’re safe and sound. That’s more than others can say.”
“No wonder I love you so much.”
“I’m going with you to tell your family about us getting married,” Renee said.
Skip said, “Take Dash. He can hold the both of you and he’s more surefooted and able to get over obstructions.”
Tim nodded. “Good idea.”
Renee had changed into jeans and an old blouse. “I’m ready.”
Switch and Hope hugged her.
“Be careful,” Hope said. “Switch and I will go to the hospital to help with incoming patients.”
Skip said, “I’ll start helping around town however I can.”
Tim and Renee mounted Dash and made their way through the camp up to the Dwyers’. Pasture fences lay on the ground and shingles had been ripped from some of the buildings. One of their trees was down and a couple of the sunroom windows were broken. They rode up to the house and slid off Dash. Tim tied him to a hitching post and they went inside.
Most of the family was gathered in the parlor and greeted the newlyweds with relief that they were safe.
Tim put his arm around Renee and said, “We have to tell you something, and please wait to get mad until we explain it all to you.”
“All right,” Lacey said.
Tim said, “We’re gonna need our rings, Kyle, because we had Matt marry us.”
The expressions on the family’s faces were filled with surprise and dismay.
Renee understood why they were disappointed about not being there for their wedding.
“Please let us explain,” she said.
She and Tim told the story of their narrow escape and why they’d wanted to get married in a rush. The family understood their reasoning and were shocked by how close they’d come to being hurt or worse.
“Thank God for Dash. He might have been an accident, but I’m sure glad he was there,” Tim said. “He and Skip saved us.”
Kyle had gone to his room and he came back with their wedding bands, which he handed to Tim.
Joe snatched them and said, “I’m the mayor so I can do this part at least. I guess I have that power.” He handed Renee’s to Tim and said, “Repeat after me, Tim.”
Since he’d been to so many weddings, Joe had memorized the ceremony. He guided them through the ring exchange. “I now pronounce you husband and wife … again. You may now kiss your bride … again.”
Everyone smiled at his performance. Tim and Renee didn’t mind repeating their kiss as their family applauded them. They were hugged and Randall said they should have a quick toast before seeing to repairs, not only at the ranch, but in town, too.
Joe and Lacey watched Tim and Renee as Kyle raised a toast to them and the love in their eyes convinced them that the y
oung couple’s choice had been the right one. They split up, some of the people working on the ranch and the others heading for town.
*****
By the time they arrived home that night, the Dwyer clan was exhausted. The destroyed church had gotten the worst of it, but there had still been a lot to be done elsewhere in town. This sort of thing had happened a long time ago, prompting Joe’s deputy mayor, Cassie Benson, to organize a disaster relief plan for the town.
Joe knew that if it hadn’t been in place, dealing with the aftermath of the storm would have been much harder. They’d helped board up broken windows and Renee had patched up minor wounds and assisted in taking people to the hospital for further treatment. Cora and Lucy had fixed a meal and they heated up food for the tired workers arriving home.
After eating, Tim and Renee went to his room.
This is my home now and I’m going to be with Tim from now on. That thought filled Renee with happiness, but she also felt nervous. It was another new place she had to get used to, but she wasn’t alone this time. This was what she’d been waiting for: beginning her life with Tim. And yet she didn’t know what she should do. One thing at a time. Clean up and get ready for bed.
They had planned to stay at the Dawson Hotel overnight before leaving on their honeymoon, but that plan had been derailed by the storm. In the morning, they would take stock and decide when they wanted to leave.
Tim was also disappointed about the way things had turned out, but he was determined to make the best of the situation.
“Why don’t you go ahead and use the washroom first?” he suggested.
“All right,” she said.
Tim could see the tension in her shoulders and apprehension in her eyes as she gathered her things.
Going to her, he said, “This isn’t how it was supposed to be, but I’m not sorry that we got married today, honey. Everything is gonna be fine because we’re together now. We can get through anything together and we’ll get through this.”