“God’s mercy might have been at work in saving Red and me from a marriage He knew wasn’t the best for us. And saving you by having Red at the right place and time for you.” She grinned. “Red just might have learned something about women through our courting and break up. Now, if he gives you any trouble, you just come and find me. Between Hank and me, we’ll make sure he knows what’s what.”
~~~~~
Pastor Preston, Doc Eli Steele, and his wife Leah came to Sanctuary House after supper that evening. Noah came to tell Gema when the wedding ceremony would be held on the following Saturday. Doc wanted to check on the four children now living at the House. Leah came to speak with Gema.
Since Doc was using the parlor to examine the children, Leah and Gema went up to her room. Not knowing why the woman would seek her out made Gema nervous. She offered Leah the only chair in the room, but she chose to sit on the bed beside her.
“I’m sure you don’t understand why I want to talk with you. Know that I only have your best interest at heart.” Leah took Gema’s hand. “You’re scared and worried and unsure right now. You feel as if your life is out of control, taken over by some force that is pushing you into a whirlpool where you’ll drown.”
Gema’s eyes widened. How could this poised woman know exactly how she felt?
“I was in the same place you are. Eli and I had to marry because of a situation much like yours.” Leah went on to tell of their kidnapping and imprisonment in a cave a few miles from Stones Creek. They had been trapped there for three days and nights before Nugget Nate Ryder found them, enabling the town men to unblock the entrance. Penny Ryder had spoken to Leah in much the same way she was to Gema now.
“So, you see, if you go into this planning to be a good wife, respecting Red, being faithful and true to your vows, I believe you can grow to love each other. Penny said she and Nate did, and it’s obvious to everyone their devotion to each other. Eli and I have, too.
“Oh, we have our squabbles. Every couple does. Sometimes I want to throttle him. He is a man after all, so that comes with the territory. He probably wants to do the same to me.
“What it all boils down to is this, if you go into the marriage determined to make it work, God will bless you. Red is a good, God-fearing man. That he and Laura are still friends is evidence of that. Scripture says a cord of three strands is unbreakable. Between you, Red, and God that’s one strong cord.”
Tears slipped over and down Gema’s cheeks. She wasn’t alone. Someone else understood how she was feeling. How scared and uncertain she was. That she would fail to be a good wife and that Red would come to resent her. Leah taking the time to come and speak with her gave Gema reassurance that maybe, with God’s help, she and Red would come to love one another. Would have a long and happy marriage.
“Will you pray with me?” Gema asked.
“Of course.”
They knelt beside the bed. Leah prayed in English for the young woman and Red. Gema started in English, then, with an apology to Leah, switched to her native Russian. The words came so much easier then as she poured out her fears to the only one who could truly ease them.
~~~~~
Lying in her bed later that night, staring into the darkness, Gema thought about her future life with Red. She would do all she could to be a wife and maybe someday a mother. It was the duty of a woman, after all, to provide her husband with heirs. Living with the variety of women who came to live at Sanctuary Place, Gema was aware of what went on between a man and woman and how those children were made. The thought made her terrified and excited at the same time.
She knew he was a man of good character. How he treated her so very carefully while they were in the line shack spoke of that. That he was messy was evident, too. The thought made her grin. He’d learn a thing or two from her on that score. Not that she’d nag, but her mother always said, “Start the way you intend to continue.” If Gema didn’t want to live in a messy house her whole life, Red had better… What was the expression? Toe the line.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Ladies wouldn’t let Gema have her way in having no sort of celebration to honor her marriage. On Tuesday, they cornered her after supper and told her what was going to happen on Saturday, and they were brooking no argument.
Rather than have the ceremony at the church, it would be held at the House. The dining room would be rearranged by the husbands of the married Ladies. They’d pushed the time for the ceremony back to late afternoon.
After the wedding, they would have supper and cake. All the Ladies would be in attendance. Even Birdie, who had married a rancher with three children, was going to be there.
When Gema saw how much it meant to the others to make the day festive, she agreed to their plans. She worried that Red would show up expecting an early afternoon wedding and be upset the time had changed.
Ozzie Basking offered to ride out to Hawk’s Wing Ranch and let them know. He’d been learning to ride a horse as he worked after school at the livery. He’d gotten into trouble recently for riding to the ranch and not returning until the next day. Blanche had been frantic since Ozzie had neglected to ask his mother’s permission.
With the strict admonition to return as soon as he delivered the message, Ozzie was going to ride to Hawk’s Wing the next day after school. The dire consequences he’d face if he failed to do as instructed wiped the grin off Ozzie’s face when his mother agreed.
Once the children were put to bed, the Ladies gathered in a storeroom on the third floor. In it was the crate shipped with Gema and Libby when they arrived in January. Those still living at Sanctuary Place had embroidered linen sets to be given when one of the Ladies married. It was Gema’s turn to choose.
Ruth and Libby helped take the sets from the crate. The ones Gema wanted were near the bottom. “These.” She held up a set. They were not well stitched. Flowers were askew. Stitches were irregular and crooked.
“Why would you want those?” Ruth asked. “There are much nicer ones.” She held up a pillowcase.
“Betty made these. When I came to Place, Betty so kind. She hold me while I cry. She help me learn to speak. She like Mother two. I miss her. She put love in stitches, even if not pretty.”
“Then these are perfect for you. Special memories. You’ll think of Betty every time you use them.”
“I go write to her and tell her about Red, and that I take her linens.”
Blanche gave Gema a hug. “You’re a sweet young woman, Gema. Red is lucky to be getting you as a wife.”
~~~~~
Gema looked at her face in the small mirror on the wall of her room. This was the last time she would get dressed here. In a few minutes, she was going to walk down the stairs and marry Reddington Dickerson.
She learned his real first name just yesterday when Laura asked if she knew it. It surprised her that he had a different name than what she knew him by. These Americans were a strange people. They sometimes even called a man by letters rather than a name. The banker was called C.J. His real name was Chalmers Jehosaphat Ritter. And they all thought her name was hard to pronounce!
It wouldn’t be her name much longer. She would be Gema Dickerson.
They had all been so very supportive this past week. Pooling the few coins each one had, Myra Riverby, who worked at Mrs. Steele’s dress shop, purchased braid and replaced the ribbon decoration on Gema’s good gown. When the Ladies gave it to her, she broke into tears. She was so surprised, as they hadn’t told her they were doing it.
She loved them all. Only Libby hadn’t been a resident at the Place when she’d come to live there. Each woman held a spot in her heart. They’d all helped a sixteen-year-old who couldn’t communicate deal with grief and fear, showering her with love and acceptance. It was one of the reasons she moved to Stones Creek when offered the opportunity, even though it meant traveling across the plains in the winter. The other reason was helping Libby begin to heal from her terrible loss.
A knock sounded at the door. It op
ened, and Ruth stuck her head in. “They are ready for you to come down. You look lovely.”
Gema felt panic rise, threatening to close her throat. Ruth must have noticed because she entered and hugged her.
“Wedding jitters. Everyone gets them. Or so they tell me. Never having been married, I don’t really know. You’ll have to tell me about them when it’s my turn.”
The comment made Gema laugh, and suddenly her fear was gone. She was still nervous but didn’t feel like she was going to faint anymore. Picking up her Bible, she exited the room that would no longer be hers.
~~~~~
Red stood at the foot of the stairs watching Gema descend. When she reached the bottom, he would offer his arm, and they would move into the dining room, between the Ladies, their children, and the husbands of those who were married.
Gema was beautiful. Far too beautiful for the likes of him. Blonde hair piled up in a more elaborate way than he’d seen before, even on Sundays. Those fathomless, dark blue eyes set at such an exotic angle. She was above average in height and with a shape any man would admire.
But she was so young, only twenty. Red was thirty-four. How could such a young woman be attracted to someone who was almost old enough to be her father? Not that Red’s thoughts were at all fatherly.
Gema stepped down to the floor, her eyes locked on his. They had been the entire way. She was nervous. They’d only known each other as more than passing acquaintances for less than two weeks. Now, she was his bride. No wonder she was looking at him like a scared rabbit.
As much as he wanted to, Red decided they wouldn’t fulfill their vows tonight. He would wait until she was comfortable with him. Maybe in the meantime, he could encourage an attraction between them. Or her attraction to him since he was definitely attracted to her. Now that it was allowed, of course.
Red extended his arm. Gema placed her hand on it, and they walked into the dining room and to where Pastor Noah Preston stood waiting.
~~~~~
Red locked the door of the hotel room. When he turned around, Gema was standing beside the bed, wringing her hands. She was so nervous she was trembling. It reminded him of when they were at the shack and trying to get her warm. This time she wasn’t cold though. She was terrified.
Walking up to her, Red took her hand. He noted that her glove was worn and mended. He’d have to be sure to have her purchase new ones, or maybe he could give some to her as a gift. But he didn’t know what size.
He knew she didn’t have many belongings. He and Hawk had loaded her trunk on the wagon he’d brought to town. It was small and light. Red had always heard women had lots of clothes. Gema didn’t, it seemed. Maybe that was a way he could encourage her to like him, buy her new clothes.
Hawk had driven the wagon back to the ranch since it looked as if it were going to rain. Red would rent a horse from the livery tomorrow for Gema to ride when they left town. Hawk had left his horse, Hania, for Red to use.
“Gema, honey, don’t fret yourself. It’ll be okay. We won’t do anything tonight. Or maybe not much of anything. I know you’re nervous.” He didn’t want to use the word afraid. She might not be, and he didn’t want to suggest that she should be. “I would like to kiss you though. That peck at the ceremony wasn’t how a man should kiss his wife.”
Gema visibly relaxed. “I’m sorry so nervous. Just so much changes so fast.”
Red drew her gloves off one finger at a time. Her hand trembled a bit, but he didn’t know if it was from fear or a more pleasurable feeling. He knew it was affecting him.
“I’m going to leave for a few minutes so you can change.” He encircled her with his arms and kissed her with gentle desire. The last thing he wanted was to scare her with passion. “Then we’ll bundle like we did at the shack. The only difference will be fewer layers of clothing.”
~~~~~
Gema quickly changed into her nightgown. She used the chamber pot and slipped into bed. Now that Red had promised not to… well… just not, she relaxed. At least she knew which side of the bed he slept on and that he didn’t snore. That was far more than most brides knew on their wedding night.
Was she being fair to Red in not consummating their marriage? Maybe not, but there was no way she’d be able to relax if she thought they were going to…
A knock sounded, and the door opened admitting Red. “Did you know there was a bathing room just down the hall?” He sat down on the other side of the bed and began removing his boots.
“Yes, I work here as maid. Clean many times. Men filthy pigs.”
The firmness with which she said the words caused him to chuckle. “Who told you that?”
“I see, but other maid tell me words. They very true.”
“I suppose so.” Red took off his cutaway sack coat, laying it across a chair. He began unbuttoning his vest.
“I not see that coat before. It new? You not wear to Sunday service.”
Setting the vest aside, he eyed her and swallowed. “Um, yeah. It’s new. I, um, ordered it a while back. It came in last week. Just picked it up from Ben’s store. Haven’t had a chance to wear it.” He knew he was spewing words but couldn’t seem to stop them.
“You order for wedding of you and Laura.” Gema’s tone was matter of fact, easing his concern.
“Yes.”
“Nice coat. Nice vest. You look well.”
“Good.”
That confused her. He could tell by the look on her face.
“You look good, not well.”
“I good. Feel fine.”
Red started laughing. He dropped on his stomach across the bed and gave her a quick kiss. “The way you tell someone you like how they look is, ‘You look good,’ or ‘handsome.’ You look well means someone doesn’t appear ill.”
“Ah. You look good and well.” Gema suddenly blushed.
Red realized he was lying partly on top of her. He got up quickly and turned away to unbutton his shirt. Now that he knew she was watching him, Red was embarrassed to be undressing in front of her. Gema probably didn’t realize he’d never done so before.
There was only one lamp lit, and it was on Gema’s side of the bed. The wick was high, so there was plenty of light. Should he ask her to turn it down or out? Or would she think he was empty in his upper story? No help for it. He’d have to either ask or walk all the way around the bed to do it himself.
“Gema, will you please turn down the lamp?” Red didn’t face her to ask as he unbuttoned the final button. The room dimmed as she did so. He slipped his suspenders off his shoulders and unbuttoned his trousers, then slipped them down his legs, folding them and placing them on the chair with his coat and top-shirt.
Leaning over, he untied the tapes on the legs of his drawers and took off his socks. He removed his shirt and undershirt and dug in his bag for his nightshirt. Letting out a soft breath, he pulled it on over his head. When it settled around his knees, Red slipped off his drawers. Nothing left now but to get into bed.
At the shack, they’d slept in the same bed out of limitation and need. Now, it seemed odd to join her there. At least it was dark. Maybe it was the fact that they each only had one layer of clothing on: Gema in her nightgown, him in his nightshirt.
Red slid in between the sheets and lay on his back beside her. “Goodnight, Gema.”
“Goodnight, Red.” Gema turned onto her side facing away from him.
He stared at the ceiling.
“Red?”
“Yes?”
“I’m cold.”
Red smiled, turned, and snuggled up to her back, wrapping an arm around her.
~~~~~
Gema and Red ate lunch at the House the next day after worship service. They were heading to the ranch that afternoon. Red had described the house he lived in as foreman. It was small, just three rooms, but it could be added on to when they had children. That statement had caused Gema to blush a deep red.
“Gema, honey, while you change from your Sunday-go-to-meetin’ dress, I’m g
oing to get Hania at the livery and rent a horse for you.” The startled look on Gema’s face stopped his words. He took her hand and drew her close. “What’s the matter? You know we’re heading out to the ranch today, don’t you?”
“Yes, yes. Not that. It…it… I not ride. Not know how. Please, no.” She gripped his hand so tightly her knuckles turned white, and her nails dug into his skin.
“It’s okay, honey.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Would you rather ride double with me?”
The relief on her face gave him the answer. “Please, yes.”
“You go get changed now. I’ll be back faster than a jackrabbit can spit.” Red gave her shoulders a quick squeeze, then strode out the door.
As he saddled Hania, Red smiled. Gema didn’t seem to mind his touch. They’d woken up this morning pretty much the way they had each morning at the shack: a tangle of legs and arms.
This time he hadn’t had to carefully extract himself so she wouldn’t be embarrassed by their position when she woke. Instead, Red lay with soft curves pressed against him, his arms holding her to him. That is until she woke up, jerked in surprise at how they were arranged, knocking her head against his chin, clicking his teeth together. Thankfully, he hadn’t bitten his tongue. She’d laid very still for a long time, relaxing in his arms.
Now, she wanted to ride double with him. It wasn’t that unusual for a woman to ride behind a man on a horse. They’d hold onto his waist either astride or sidesaddle. Red hadn’t ever thought that looked very safe or all that comfortable for the woman. Besides, having Gema in his arms while they rode was appealing.
He planned to teach her to ride, but for now, he’d rather she rode with him. If she could ride and she went off alone, there was always the chance of the outlaw gang finding her. Gema staying close to the ranch homestead minimized the chances of her being taken again.
The smile left his face as he tightened the cinch. That gang needed to be captured. Not only had they kidnapped Gema, but they’d abandoned four children to die in that cave. Red and Hawk had met with Wes Chase and Linc Pierce of the Chasing R Ranch the previous week. They’d discussed methods of searching their ranches and the surrounding lands for signs of the gang as they and their men went about their normal activities. Red prayed the gang would be found quickly.
Music Of Her Heart Page 6