by Danni Roan
As plates emptied, Lexi looked up into the eyes of Reginald and swallowed her nerves as together they stood.
“We’d like to make an announcement,” she said, her voice shaky. “Reg and I have decided to marry.”
For a moment no one spoke but only blinked at the young couple as they looked hopefully at Reg’s mother.
“What are you all looking at me for?” the woman finally asked. “The only thing I have to say is, it’s about time.”
Lexi gasped, as all of her worries washed away. “I was afraid you’d be upset, especially since Taylor and my sister had married without your consent.”
Dora Ogden rose to her feet and wrapped her arms around Lexi and Reg. “I could see from the first time I met you that Reg was smitten; it was only a matter of time until he figured it out himself. I’m thrilled for both of you.”
“Ma!” Reg protested, “Are you saying you knew how I felt about Alexis before I did?”
“Yes, Reggie I am. You’re a smart young man with a big heart, but sometimes you let your head get in the way of what you really want. I’m glad you finally listened to your heart.”
“Good heavens!” Nona exclaimed. “The lot of you just got back from Casper and now we’re going to have to send someone back for the preacher.”
“No we ain’t,” Billy piped up with a grin. “I already tolt him to come fer a visit in about three weeks.”
“Billy, how could you?” Lexi gasped.
“I didn’t say who might be gittin’ hitched though, did I?” he said waggling his brows at Mrs. Ogden.
“Sir, I think that was quite presumptuous of you.” The gray hair woman’s voice held a sting.
“Well, maybe it was, but one thing I know is that marryin’ is in the air and I ate getting any younger,” the old cook said belligerently. “An’ besides, ever’one says I grow on a body.”
The whole table erupted in laughter and even Mrs. Ogden had to smile at the man’s tenacity.
“I guess that’s settled then,” Nona said, racing to hug her granddaughter. “We have another wedding to plan. Oh dear, we must tell Benji and Cathleen. We’ll need her for the sewing, and…” she stopped suddenly realizing that everyone was looking at her.
“Bianca,” Isadoro spoke up, “How about if we just clear off our breakfast first, then you can get started on the wedding.”
Chapter 17
Dark, wispy clouds scudded across a bright sky on the morning of the wedding. Alexis was sure it would rain any minute, but by the time she had bathed, done up her hair and slipped into her pale pink wedding dress, the sky was blue.
“I wish Mae could be here,” She said to Issy as her sister did up the tiny buttons at her back.
“I know, but everyone else is here. Uncle Brion and Winny as well as Annabelle. Even Meg and Clayton are back from Boston.”
Lexi smiled and hugged her twin tight. “I’m so happy,” she whispered. “I really didn’t understand about you and Taylor, but now I understand what you meant when you said you were in love.”
“Let’s just hope that you and Reg are more prepared for wedded bliss that we were,” Isabella giggled.
“Issy, does it sound crazy that one of the things I look forward to is that at night after a long conversation, or just sitting and reading, I don’t have to say good night?”
“No, Lexi, that doesn’t sound crazy,” Bella said, waggling her brows.
Alexis blushed and laughed with her sister. “I don’t just mean that,” she said, her blush deepening. “Sometimes after an evening in the parlor or out strolling the grounds I go back to my room and as I’m drifting off to sleep I think of more things I’d like to talk to Reg about, but I can’t.”
“Lexi, you are one of the strangest brides I’ve ever known,” Bella chided, “but somehow I believe that Reginald Ogden is just as strange, so that will work out fine.”
A soft knock on the door told them that their grandfather had arrived and Bella hurried to open the door.
“Are you ready?” Isadoro asked, his bright cinnamon eyes twinkling.
“I’m ready,” Alexi said, smiling as she took his arm.
Alexis walked out the back door of the house and across the back porch of her life-long home. Looking across the back yard toward the old cottonwood, she could see her family standing on the summer-singed grass, in groups that made up a central aisle.
As she walked across the lawn, the wind picked up, swirling the soft fabric of her dress and whipping it around her ankles, forcing her to stop for a moment to keep from tripping.
At the end of the aisle, standing under the golden foliage of the big tree, Reg stood next to his brother, a welcoming smile on his face. His russet locks had been slicked down for the occasion and looked darker somehow, more burnished.
Lexi smiled, her eyes glued on the man before her, the man waiting to spend the rest of his life with her and continued her sedate walk to where the preacher stood.
The ceremony seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye and although she knew she responded at all the right places to all the right questions, Alexis couldn’t have remembered the words she spoke. Instead, she focused on the lips of the man standing next to her, longing for the kiss that would seal their union.
When the preacher finally pronounced them man and wife, Reg leaned in and kissed her soundly, making her heart pound, before smiling down at her. As they turned to be presented to her family as husband and wife, Lexi heard Billy whisper to the preacher.
“Now don’t you go runnin’ off, young man,” the chuck wagon cook said softly, “You jest plan on comin’ back ‘round Thanksgivin’ and we’ll have another shindig, or my name ain’t William Carol Parks.”
Lexi caught Reg’s eyes and giggled at the wink he shot her way.
The wedding party was loud and lively. Periodically the wind would whip the tablecloths, making them snap and threaten to fly away, and causing the women to dash around setting everything straight again.
Lexi couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of her grandmother racing one of the puppies after a napkin that had flown off the fresh rolls.
The chatter and laughter of her big, boisterous family seemed to be the perfect back drop to the love she felt in her heart.
As the afternoon wore on, the cowboys brought out their instruments and began to play fast reels and slow waltzes, but when Reg picked up a small mandolin and began to play, the whole family fell quite.
The sweet song he played was soon joined by the men of the Broken J lifting the words of When You and I Were Young, Maggie in song, bringing a tear to the eye of every woman present.
“I didn’t know you played,” Lexi gasped as Reg placed the instrument back on a small table.
“I haven’t in a long time,” he answered softly, pulling her into his arms. “Mother brought it with her. She said it would be romantic and that you’d like it.”
“I do,” Alexis said, wrapping her arms around his waist and swaying to a slow tune that the others had picked up.
A heavy drop of rain fell, splatting Lexi on the nose and she laughed, turning her eyes to a darkening sky.
More drops fell and in an instant everyone was racing to collect the dishes and other wedding fare and dash out of the rain.
Taking Lexi’s hand, Reg turned toward the sod shack on the other side of the house but as the sky opened, he picked up his pretty bride and raced for their new home.
Hesitating for only a moment to open the door of the little earthen house, he ducked into its warm depths, closing the door behind him with a booted heel and bending his dripping face to his wife for a kiss.
Epilogue
The founding members of the Broken J sat around the table sipping coffee while the rain drummed out a beat on the tin roof. It had been an exceptional day and their hearts were full of joy.
Reg and Lexi had disappeared into their little sod home and the other young folks had headed off to their own homes.
Bianca Leoné sat at one end
of the table, her hand held tightly in her husband’s. She was always emotional following a wedding, and even after all of these years he thought it was sweet.
“Chen Lou got another letter from Mae,” Joshua began, his eyes making contact with his oldest friend, Benjamin Smith. “The preacher brought it along with him and Chen Lou wanted us to hear how my baby girl’s doing in Boston.” His crooked grin made everyone smile.
Next to Joshua at the head of the table, a thin little Chinese man with a long white braid down his back pulled a letter out of his pocket and handed it across the table to Cathleen.
“You read,” he said, bobbing his head as he offered the well-rounded woman the page. “Mae miss you, so you read.”
The buxom woman took the letter with a grin. “I hope she’s doing well,” she said, unfolding the missive.
Boston, Mass September 1, 1890
Dear Yeye,
First I want you to know that I’m fine and I haven’t caused any trouble here in Boston. As a matter of fact, I haven’t done anything but be fitted for new clothes. Please don’t tell Pa, but Aunt Jemma is nothing like him. She’s very concerned about the way people look and what connections they have in town. I do have some beautiful new dresses though.
To be honest it’s very boring here. I’m doing all of the things Aunt Jemma wants me to do but I can only read so many books, and my needlework is appalling. The house staff is nice though. Tell Nona the house here is amazing and always very clean. Still I don’t know why you need so many rooms. I’m told I’ll understand someday, but for now it’s just confusing. Why do you need a parlor and a formal parlor in the same house?
I’m working really hard to learn to be a lady and I promise to do my best with my studies as soon as I start school. Aunt Jemma told me that if I practice walking and talking properly she’ll take me riding in the park when the leaves change. I’m learning to ride side-saddle. Can you imagine sitting sideways on purpose? It’s so much easier to simply ride astride. I really do want to ride in the park though and to make all of you proud.
Sean is already taking classes and I don’t see him very often anymore. I don’t really think Aunt Jemma likes him for some reason. Sometimes he stops by when I’m out walking in the garden. It’s always nice to talk to him about home and it keeps me from feeling lonely.
I’ll try to write often. Please tell everyone I miss them. Tell Callie I said hello and sneak her an apple for me, just don’t tell Nona.
I love you,
Mae Lynn
“She sounds lonely,” Nona said with a sniff.
“Why is your sister not nice to my son,” Winny, Brion’s small Indian wife asked, dark eyes flashing.
“Winny, calm down. We all knew it wouldn’t be easy for Sean when he left, and Jemma has never been very tolerant of anyone who doesn’t seem to fit her idea of ‘the right kind’.” Brion offered kindly. “Sean has to learn to fight his own battles.”
Wynona Blakely shifted in her seat and turned to look at Brion. “I suppose you are right husband,” she said, patting his red and white beard.
“Mae Mae will be fine,” Chen Lou said. “She is strong and she will do everything she needs to do, then she will come home.”
Around the table the others smiled at the oldest member of the family.
“I’m sure you’re right, Chen Lou,” Benji offered. “She’s a fire cracker, that girl, and she’ll be fine.”
“Time will tell what life intends for Mae,” Joshua finally said. “For now we will all remember to pray for her. Now let’s go to bed,” he added, pushing himself from the table.
“Good-night.”
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About the Author
Danni Roan, a native of western Pennsylvania, spent her childhood roaming the lush green mountains on horseback. She has always loved westerns, specifically western romance, and is thrilled to be part of this exciting genre. She has lived and worked overseas with her husband, and tries to incorporate the unique quality of the people she has met throughout the years into her books. Although Danni is a relatively new author on the scene, she has been a story teller for her entire life, even causing her mother to remark that as a child “If she told a story, she had to tell the whole story.” Danni is truly excited about this new adventure in writing and hopes that you will enjoy reading her stories as much as she enjoys writing them.