by Rikki Dyson
Shane arrived at Sir Richard’s town house at one p. m. The butler showed him into the library. Shane was served tea and they talked topics of generalization. Sir Richard asked about Stacey and to whether her departure was uneventful?
“Yes, Stacey is fine, however, she’s rather concerned about you. She knows how disconcerting unfamiliar and unbidden memories can be. She feels you may be going through the same memory phenomena she is. You came to me in fear of losing your memory. Your tests were all negative, however, I can understand how rouge memories could confuse you.”
“Doctor McLeod, does your wife know from where these memories of hers are coming?”
“No, she doesn’t. I assume Stacey told you that you greatly resemble Rodric Hampton, when he was your age.”
“Yes, she told me that, at the hotel tearoom.”
“Would you like to tell me some of your memories? I could e-mail them to Stacey and see what she has to say or we can wait until we have her back.”
Sir Richard smiled and said, “Shane, it’s very kind of you to share your life and wife with an old man. I am grateful. Have you been with your wife from the beginning of this, phenomena?”
“Yes I have,” Shane said with a grin.
“Why the smile?” Sir Richard asked.
Shane told him of his and Stacey’s early tumultuous relationship and how it turned into love, and then marriage.
“I envy you my boy,” Sir Richard said. “Nothing that exciting has ever entered my life.”
“Yes,” Shane said. “with Stacey it’s always exquisite anticipation.”
Shane told him about the quest, and the information received at Wakefield manor and how subsequently last weekend the past was revealed in his grandmother’s family history book, and also how Stacey’s American ancestor had turned out to be the twin of his own ancestor.
“Stacey and I have talked of this phenomena. We really don’t know what else to call it. Also we would like very much for you to attend our wedding in Texas, if you feel up to it. This may sound enigmatic, but we feel strongly that you’re family. I’m sure you’ll enjoy meeting Stacey’s family. They live on a ranch and her father is a doctor in this very small town with a wonderful well equipped clinic, Stacey tells me. I’m surely looking forward to seeing it.”
“It sounds very exciting, thank you Shane for inviting me, I would be honored to attend,” Sir Richard said.
When Stacey called from Texas, Shane said, “Sir Richard is coming to our wedding.”
“That’s wonderful, is he okay?” Stacey asked.
“Yes sweetheart, he’s fine. We talked late into the evening and I had dinner with him,” Shane assured her.
Stacey’s life went back to normal, with school, the club and the ranch. Her grandparents from Houston came at Stacey’s request. She showed them the documents from Shane’s grandmother’s family history, then the ones from Gram Flemming’s family history. When Shane’s dad called from Edinburgh, to confirm Jacquelyn Suzanne McLeod and Stacey Leighanne Scott’s mitochondrial DNA, was a match, you never saw more shocked people. Now they were doubly looking forward to meeting Shane’s family.
The remaining weeks past by rapidity. Stacey sold two more of her bulls to rodeo stockman. There were three new calves born that might have potential. In May, two thousand and three, Stacey and Eric graduated. The whole tribe came for the graduation ceremony. Stacey and Eric were the first of the grandchildren to graduate college. A big party was held at the ranch. Tony and his family were there too, as he had graduated from A&M. All the families of the Double SS, and most of Rawhide were there. They would all be back for the wedding on June seventh.
Chapter 52
The Wedding
The ranch had been a beehive of activity. Mr. Okita had extended the Koi fishpond river to all the way around the house. There were now seven bridges. The huge pecan, cottonwood, oak and ash trees were green. The flower gardens were in bloom and the swimming pool was glistening in the sunlight. The horses were in the pastures and the corral. Jessie had rented all the rooms, at the Rawhide hotel for the over flow of cousins from both sides.
Shane, along with Annie, Hugh, Nigel and Megan flew in on Thursday morning. Stacey met them at DFW, in her mom’s Daimler. Everyone was hungry, so they stopped at the Cracker Barrel in Burleson, where they were served breakfast by a curious red headed waitress. They were seated at a big round table where she couldn’t help but hear their British accent when she came to take their order. “Howdy, what can I git fir ya folks today?”
Stacey glanced at her name tag and said, “Hi, Dixie, coffee to start with while we look over the menu.”
As Dixie turned to leave, Shane said, “Excuse me, could I trouble you for a glass of orange juice, please.”
Dixie gave Shane an admiring smile and said, “A’ course, ya can shuga,’ ain’t no trouble a’ tall.” She looked the table over and said, “How bout ya other folks, Ya’ll want a little juice too?”
“Yes, please,” Nigel said. When Dixie left to get the coffee and juice, he said, “I don’t know what she said, but I sure like the way she said it.”
Megan gave him a warning look and said, “Mind yourself Nigel, or I’ll leave you here and you can learn the language.” This had everyone at the table laughing.
When Dixie came back with the coffee and juice, she asked, “Ya folks bout ready to orda’? I kin give ya’ll a little longer, if need be.” Dixie took their order and said, “I’ll be right back, now don’t ya’ll go way.”
When Dixie finished serving their breakfast, she turned to go, then she turned back and said, “We’re all kinda’ wondern’ what’ch nice foreign folks doing here in Texas.”
Everyone at the table looked at Stacey, “These nice people have traveled all the way from England to attend mine and this big guy’s wedding,” Stacey said as she reached over and touched Shane’s arm. Shane smiled a big smile at Dixie.
“Honey, ya tellin’ me, with all the boys we got here in Texas, ya had to go a’ cross the water to git’ch one.”
“Yes, I did. I wanted a good one, but not a cowboy, and that’s what I got.”
As Dixie picked up her tray and stand, she said to Stacey, “Honey, ya shor’ one lucky gal. Maybe I’ll go over there one a’ these days and see what I kin find for myself. Ya’ll have a good day now, ya hear.”
Each person at the table was smiling as they ate their breakfast. There was so much to talk about on the way to the ranch. The bluebonnets and other wild flowers were ubiquitous and still in bloom for all to see. Stacey loved Texas and its wide open spaces and picturesque scenery. Annie had been to Texas before and knew how beautiful the countryside was. She could hardly wait for their friends to see the ranch. She had spent three weeks there two years ago.
When they crossed the Brazos River at Waco, Stacey took them by Baylor University so they could see where she and Eric had just graduated from. They drove around Waco for a little while, then stopped at the Dairy Queen for Cokes and Dr. Peppers. They were riding down highway seventy-seven when a big cattle truck, coming over a rise in the road traveling in the opposite direction honked his horn twice. Stacey pulled over and stopped.
“What’s the problem?” Shane asked.
“Not a thing,” Stacey said. “There’s a truck coming over the hill and he wants me to stop.”
“And how do you know this?” Shane asked.
“He honked twice, didn’t you hear him?”
Shane shook his head, but two of the back seat passengers said they heard it too.
As the big cattle truck pulled to a stop, a tall lanky tobacco chewing man stepped down from the truck cab, and hollered, “Hey, Stacey gal,” as he cross the road he said, “I gotta’ numba hea fir yo daddy,” he put two fingers to his lips to make a V and spit a stream of tobacco juice a few feet away, then leaned in and laid his arms on the open window of the Daimler, “I met dis fellow down Victoria way ‘tother day. He’s been looking fir some prime quarter horses. I toll hi
m bout yo daddy, I couldn’t recollect yo numba, so he gim’ me his. Don’t ya forgit now, ya hea gal,” as he handed the slip of paper to Stacey.
“I hear you, and I won’t forget, I promise. J. B., I like you to meet my fiancée, Shane McLeod, and these are friends of ours from England.”
Shane leaned across Stacey, to shake hands and said, “Pleasure to meet you, sir.”
J. B. looked at Shane’s hand, wiped his on his jeans and said, “Like wise, Mr. McLeod, ya folks too,” J. B. acknowledged them, with a nod of his head.
J. B. started back to his truck, then turned and came back and said, “Mr. McLeod, ya gettin’ a mighty fine little gal hea. Folks round these parts thank a heap a’ her.”
“Thank you, J. B., I think so too,” Shane said.
A few miles farther on, Stacey turned onto a blacktop and then turned and drove under a wrought iron sign, with a rearing horse on one side, and a longhorn steer on the other side, that said Double SS ranch. As they rode down the long driveway to the ranch, Annie turned to watch the expression on Shane’s face as well as those of their friends. Their surprised expressions were priceless. The ranch house was a two-story with a verandah porch. A koi fishpond river, which encompassed the house and flower garden. A fruit orchard was on the right with a green house along side and a gazebo across from the swimming pool.
They were the first of the wedding party to arrive at the ranch: As they were unloading the luggage, Shane said, “Oh my god, wait until my mother sees this place. Did I tell you the rest of the family are flying into Houston Friday morning,”
“Yes, I know,” Stacey said smiling. “my uncles will meet them and fly them here to the ranch. My cousins are driving in today for the rehearsal.”
Stacey’s mom and dad met them as they drove in. Stacey knew they all had met at the wedding but reintroduced everyone anyway and showed them to their rooms and then around the ranch house. They admired the beauty of the hill country and the ranch. Stacey’s cousins, arrived shortly after Shane and friends. The rehearsal was set for Thursday evening. Everything went smoothly, even little Brandon did well.
Stacey’s dad had rented three travel trailers in order to house everyone. Shane’s Australian cousin, Sandra and her family had arranged to fly into Austin. Stacey and Shane drove to Austin to picked them up at eleven twenty p.m. on Thursday night.
Friday, a little before noon, the jet landed with Shane’s family, including his cousin, Charles Foley and his family from Canada, plus Sir Richard Heath. John Foley and Sir Richard had struck up a conversation on the plane to Houston. They were amazed when they discovered they were both coming to the same wedding in Texas.
The trees, gates and fences were trimmed in blue, white and silver ribbons. It was a beautiful sight from the air as the plane came in for a landing. Stacey and Shane drove the SUV’s to pick up his family on the tarmac. The uncles didn’t stay long as they had to take off again, right away. Daniel and David, both shook hands with Shane, kissed Stacey and told her, “We’ll see ya’ll tomorrow, sugar baby.”
“Who are those gentlemen?” Shane’s mother asked as she saw them kiss Stacey and shake hands with Shane. “They’re my uncles,” Stacey said.
“Are they airline pilots, dear?” she asked.
“I’ll explain it to you Mother, on the ride to the ranch,” Shane said.
“Is it far, darling?” Elizabeth asked.
“It’s just across the road, Mother,” Shane said.
Stacey and Shane split the passengers in the two SUV’s. Elizabeth McLeod couldn’t believe her eyes, as they drove down the driveway leading to the ranch house. Beautiful flower gardens surrounded the two story ranch house.
Sam and Jessie met them out front and escorted them across the red bridge that crossed the red, yellow, orange and gold Koi fish pond-river. The house was a revelation and different from anything they had imagined. Sam and Jessie were warm and hospitable, the house was cool and inviting. There were accommodations for all their guests. Elizabeth could not imagine trying to house and feed this many people. Andrew too, was taken aback. Neither had he expected anything this impressive. They were offered food and drinks. When Andrew had a chance, he said, “Elizabeth, do you see now what a mistake it would have been, to offer to have paid their way to Scotland, to have the wedding there. Just look at this place.”
Of course, Sam had to take anybody that would go, to see his prize horses. Harlan was there too, to proudly show the horses and their special aptitudes.
Stacey was taking care of Grandmother McLeod and Mrs. Beebe as well as Andrea and little Ryan. Phillip was off to the barn with Stacey’s dad and the other male guest. They were all introduced to Harlan and Jake. Eric came by to say hello and have supper. He said he’d be back on Saturday.
“We’re very informal around here,” Jessie told everyone. “The kitchen is always open. Don’t wait to ask if you want something just come look for it. There’s usually someone in here or close around. Would you like to see the barn where the ceremony is gonna’ be held?” Jessie asked Elizabeth.
“Yes I would, very much,” Elizabeth said.
Letty and Elizabeth walked to the barn with Jessie. It was a huge white barn. The caterers had done their job well. White and silver chairs were all a lined and flowers were being delivered as they watched.
“I wanted to talk to you about all this at Annie and Hugh’s wedding, but we just didn’t have time. We had to be in Spain, there were people there interested in buying our horses, so we had to move fast. Anyway, if circumstances had been reversed, I would’ve been overly concerned if someone had told me my only child was being married in a barn. I asked Stacey, did she explain to you about the barn? She said no, but she gave Shane pictures to show you.”
“I did ask Shane about the barn,” Elizabeth admitted, “however, all he would say was, from the photo it looks like a nice barn, Mother.”
“Well he’s a man, and men don’t get caught up in the particulars,” Jessie said. “I’m sure Shane is a wonderful man and I know he loves my daughter.”
“You know we all admired Stacey when we first met her. We were very pleased when Shane told us they were getting married,” Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth was relieved, she now saw how elegantly the barn was decorated. She no longer had qualms about the wedding and perhaps she had been wrong about Jessica Scott as well.
The house was full of people, and the young people from Canada and Australia, fit right in with the Texas young people. They spent most of their time in the swimming pool and the basement game room.
Stacey and Shane hardly had a chance to see each other, but when they had a little time alone, they walked in the orchard holding hands. Shane said, “Stacey, why didn’t you tell me that your uncles owned a private jet?”
Stacey glanced at him with a frown, and said, “I don’t know, I guess I never thought about. It’s part of their work, they’re oil field firefighters, I’m sure I told you that. They have worked hard to make their company successful. They need to get where they’re going in a hurry. Why, what difference does it make?”
“It doesn’t make any differences, sweetheart. And yes, you did tell me that, I pictured things differently in my mind.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, to start with, I never imagined all this,” Shane said as he gestured toward the ranch house and its surroundings.
“I told you I lived in a big ole’ ranch house,” Stacey said, defensively.
“Yes, sweetheart, I know you did, however, I thought you were...you know...under privileged.”
Stacey stopped walking and said, “Under privileged? You mean you thought I was dirt poor and you married me anyway.” Stacey hugged Shane and said, “You’re a good man Shane McLeod, and you’re half-right. We’re okay, but not rich. We live on a budget, that’s part of the reason I work for spending money.”
“What is the other reason?” Shane asked.
“Its fun,” Stacey said, and explained.
“Both Mom and Dad work hard to make things work. Dad at the clinic and Mom teaches at the college. The ranch helps pay for some of it, but it still takes good management. That’s why Jake and Harlan are so important. We couldn’t make it without them. Moreover, when I said old, it wasn’t a figure of speech. This ranch house was built from parts of many older houses. My Dad’s grandfather was a contractor. He and his son, Dad’s uncle Bryan, built this house for Mom and Dad from many spare parts of other houses. His grandfather believed a house was a living thing as long as people lived in all parts of it. That along with love, made a house a home.”
Shane smiled at Stacey and said, “I like your great-grandfather’s way of thinking. I know he has passed on, but is his son still alive?”
“Yes, he is, they’ll be here for the wedding. You’ll get to meet him then,” Stacey said.
Stacey spent as much time as she could with Grandmother McLeod. Saturday morning around ten a.m. the Houston families arrived. Stacey and Shane could hardly wait for the two Jacquelyn’s to meet. Everyone, now knew the mitochondrial DNA, was a match. Of course, by now they both knew about the other, but still Stacey was excited.
When they entered the house, Gram headed straight to Grandmother McLeod. She said, “Hello my dear cousin. Isn’t it amazing what fate had in store for us?”
“Yes, very much so,” Grandmother McLeod said. “If these two darling children had never met, we would’ve been lost to one another. Now tomorrow our families will be united once again.”
The Houston family was introduced to Sir Richard. He was welcomed right into the family along with everyone else. This was not a stand off family. The family noticed, Aunt Lora and Sir Richard seemed to gravitate towards one another. The wedding was schedule for two p.m. The Scotts came over on Thursday for Brandon to be in the rehearsal and to meet Shane and his friends from England. Now they were looking forward to meeting Shane’s family. Of course, they knew about the DNA, connection and were anxious to meet everyone.
The guests were starting to arrive. Stacey’s male cousins, along with Tony and Rich were ushers. Annie is matron of honor, and Stacey’s female cousins and Katie are bridesmaids.