by Bobby Akart
Duncan, who ordinarily remained stoic regardless of the circumstances, rushed to hug his dad. It was an emotional moment for the two men as they both teared up.
“Gee, I really don’t know what to say, Dad. I was standing out here this morning, staring out across the ranch, wondering what happens next. I’ve never been settled before, you know? I mean, the ranch is my home, but I always knew I’d be sent off to some part of the world on a moment’s notice.”
“I get it, son. All of our lives have changed dramatically, needless to say. With this proclamation from the president, you and Sook can now make plans for a wedding and your future. You know, when the time’s right. No pressure. Okay?”
Duncan folded the proclamation and shoved it into his pocket. “Are you kiddin’ me? Let’s call the family together and do this right now. I wanna be married to Sook right this minute.”
Duncan started toward the house, and Major grabbed his arm. “Now, son, hold on a minute. Let me give you some sage advice. In your pocket is the legal authority to get married, and Sook has accepted your proposal. But a wedding is the most important day in a woman’s life except for when their kids are born. You need to give Sook time to think about the ceremony, reception, etcetera.”
“Yeah, Dad. You’re right. I don’t want to rush it. This needs to be a special day for Sook. I think I’ll go tell her now, if that’s okay. There’s no way I can sit on this!”
“I get it. Go. Give her the good news, and you might as well gather up your momma and Palmer. Those three will jump into the planning headfirst. Enjoy the moment, son.”
Duncan shook hands with his father and gave him another hug. Then he ran into the house, shouting for Sook. She replied from the kitchen, and Duncan ran to embrace her. After twirling her around a couple of times, Lucy made him stop before he crashed her into the table.
“What’s going on?” asked Palmer.
All three of them waited as Duncan struggled to find the words. He finally exhaled and pulled the proclamation out of his pocket and handed it to his mother.
“Oh my,” she said as she covered her mouth, and tears began to stream down her cheeks. She shook the proclamation in the air. “This is why I love your father. With everything going on, he remembered this.”
Palmer was losing patience. “What, Momma? Are you gonna tell us?”
Lucy regained her composure. “Your daddy has been authorized to marry Duncan and Sook. We can plan the wedding!”
Sook and Palmer squealed in delight. They grabbed each other’s hands and began jumping up and down in the kitchen. With each jump, the loose boards bounced the wooden kitchen chairs in the air, but Lucy didn’t complain. She moved to hug her son, and the group shared a tender moment.
“There’s so much to do!” shouted Palmer.
“What will I wear?” asked Sook.
“We need to decide where the ceremony will be. And what about a reception?” Lucy fired off her questions.
The three women looked at each other’s frenzied faces. Lucy and Palmer said in unison, “We’ve gotta get started!”
Within seconds, the women had raced out of the kitchen and chased each other up the stairs. Duncan, the groom-to-be, stood alone, mouth open, wondering what the heck just happened.
Chapter 49
February 4
The Armstrong Ranch
Borden County, Texas
Palmer was in her element, utterly surprising her mother. Lucy would never admit that she’d always looked upon her beautiful daughter as one of the boys. After giving birth to four sons, when this cherub of a baby was born with sparkly blue eyes, she was secretly thrilled that she wouldn’t be alone in a world full of cowboys. Major was stricken with the thunderbolt as well. He was proud of his sons, but Palmer would always be his baby girl.
Growing up, Palmer couldn’t help but be a tomboy. The family’s life revolved around the ranch and rodeo. When Duncan and Dallas went off to war, Cooper, Riley, and Palmer became inseparable. She looked up to her older brothers and was honored when they included her in their ranch activities.
Soon, Palmer became a skilled rider. She won her first event at the Greeley Stampede in Colorado, and after that, Lucy’s rodeo kids spent their days planning their next rodeo.
So Lucy was shocked when at three in the morning in May of 2018, Palmer gently shook her awake to watch the royal wedding between Prince Harry and the American actress Meghan Markle.
Lucy, in her half-sleepy state, recalled asking Palmer, “Who are you?”
Palmer had assured her the daughter she loved wasn’t possessed and truly wanted to enjoy the pomp and circumstance of the royal nuptials.
When the guys stirred awake, some playful ribbing occurred, followed by moans and groans when they realized they had to fend for themselves to make breakfast. Lucy and Palmer were glued to the television, occasionally envisioning what Palmer’s wedding would be like.
For nearly five hours, the Armstrong women flipped through the channels, alternating between the UK version of the ceremony on BBC America and various American networks, who spent more time talking about the bride’s ethnicity than describing the pageantry surrounding the event at Windsor Castle. Regardless of the future Duchess of Suffolk’s background, Palmer said at the time, she appeared to be welcomed into the royal family with open arms.
Palmer and Lucy were determined to give Sook that same feeling of warmth and love for her upcoming nuptials. After the excitement died down and the initial frantic planning sessions passed, Palmer sat down with Sook to talk about what she wanted for her wedding day. Palmer remembered the visuals from the royal wedding as she relayed her recollection to Sook over breakfast that morning.
“Sook, it was all about the bride. Once everyone was seated in St. George’s Chapel, they became quiet and turned their attention to her as she came into the church. All cameras focused on her beautiful wedding gown as she walked down the aisle. She was the center of attention, as all brides should be. Tomorrow, we want the wedding ceremony to be all about you.”
Sook smiled shyly and then made an admission. “I have never been to a wedding. Most ceremonies are for the elite in Pyongyang. I have seen pictures.”
Palmer reached out and touched her hand. “That’s not a problem. Tell me about what you know of North Korean weddings. Is there something you can recall that you might like for tomorrow?”
“Okay. Miss Lucy has shown me her wedding gown. Thank you for allowing me to wear it before you do.”
“You’re welcome. You are the same size as Momma when she married my daddy. It is an almost perfect fit.”
“In North Korea, the bride wears a hanbok. Some are white with colorful embroidered flowers while others are a combination of bright pinks, reds, and yellows. The elites were entitled to have fantastic weddings in hotels and gardens. For the average couple, the wedding is usually in the bride’s home.”
“What about flowers?” asked Palmer.
“Yes, a simple bouquet. In Pyongyang, the bride and groom visit the statue of the Great Leader to bestow their flowers.”
Palmer smiled. “Okay. In Texas, the bride will throw the flowers to the single women attending the wedding. The tradition says that the woman who catches the bouquet will be the next to get married.”
Sook shrugged at this concept, so Palmer continued.
“Is there anything about the North Korean wedding ceremony that you want for yours?”
“We did not have Christian weddings, as they were forbidden. One of the traditions is to wrap a live hen and a rooster in blue and red cloths to be set on the ceremonial table. During the wedding, guests place flowers and dates into the hen’s beak. The rooster’s beak gets stuffed with red chilis.”
Palmer stifled a laugh. She didn’t want to be disrespectful, but the tradition seemed odd to her. “Sook, would you like to do that as well? I mean, um, we certainly have the chickens and roosters. I don’t know about—”
Sook interrupted Palmer and shook he
r head. “No, thank you. I want a Texas wedding. I want to be a Texan.”
Palmer finally was able to emit a hearty a laugh. “Excellent. Then we shall throw you the finest Texas wedding that’s ever been!”
“Yes, Palmer. A Texas wedding, please.”
Lucy came downstairs and joined the wedding planners. “How’s it goin’?”
“Momma, Sook wants a bona fide Texas wedding.”
Lucy sat next to Sook at the table and grasped her hand. “That’s a great idea. We are very casual in Texas. Anything goes. Our guys wear cowboy boots instead of dress shoes. We have country-western music and line dancin’. The food is spicy, and the desserts are sweet. I think I even have a case of the official drink of Texas in the smokehouse—Dr. Pepper.”
“Whoa, you are goin’ all out, Momma!” exclaimed Palmer.
Palmer and her mother exchanged high fives.
“Yes, we are,” continued Lucy. “With the weather warming, I think an afternoon wedding in the barn would be nice. We can include the ranch families as well as some of the off-duty soldiers if you want.”
“I could see if any of them can play the guitar,” interjected Palmer.
“Good idea,” said Lucy. “I’m thinkin’ the guys should wear black jeans and pressed white shirts.”
“Black hats and boots too,” added Palmer. “I’ll make sure they polish them.”
“Boots for me, too?” asked Sook.
Palmer chuckled and looked at her mother. “Why not, right, Momma? We also need a garter for Duncan to remove.”
“I’ve got something that will work,” replied Lucy as she stifled a laugh. “You’ll see.”
“What is a garter?” asked Sook.
Palmer allowed her mother to take that question.
“In the olden days, women wore socks or hose that came above their knees. To keep their stockings from rolling down, an elastic strap was used to hold the stockings to a woman’s legs.” Lucy hesitated and then shrugged before continuing. “After the wedding ceremony, the husband and wife were expected to consummate their marriage.”
“Consummate?” asked Sook, who appeared unsure of the meaning.
“I’ll explain later, dear,” replied Lucy with a smile.
“In the medieval days, the guests went into the bedroom to watch, didn’t they, Momma?”
“Yeah, and thank goodness they don’t do that anymore,” said an embarrassed Lucy. “Instead, the new husband will remove the garter belt from his new bride’s thigh.”
Sook blushed. “Does everyone watch this?”
“Um, yes. It’s a tradition. Then he flicks it at the eligible bachelors to wish good luck to whomever catches it.”
Sook shook her head. “I thought stuffed hens and roosters was odd.”
Chapter 50
February 5
The Armstrong Ranch
Borden County, Texas
There was no reason to rush Duncan and Sook to the altar other than they loved each other dearly, and in an uncertain world, there was no time like the present. Besides, everyone pitched in to help as excitement about the ceremony lifted spirits around the ranch. The barn was cleaned out, and tables were set up similar to their Christmas gathering. The opening located at the southern end of the barn was decorated and would serve as the spot for the actual ceremony. This allowed the sun to shine upon the bride and groom as they said their vows.
Duncan and Sook wanted to speak to one another from the heart and without formalities. Major reminded them he had to follow certain minimum requirements to make their bond in matrimony legal, but otherwise, this was their special day.
The guests consisted of the ranch families and their children. Antonio was instrumental in making the barn a beautiful setting while the women helped Lucy prepare the wedding reception food and desserts. The Armstrongs’ extended family was anxious to put the horror of that night behind them, finish mourning the loss of their loved ones, and look to a better future. The wedding of the Armstrongs’ oldest son to a young woman who had escaped a brutal regime was a fairy-tale start to a new life for all of them.
Espy was also in attendance. That morning, he got together with Palmer and Cooper to discuss music. It had been a while, but Espy said he was capable of playing several songs, including the guitar version of “There is Love,” first performed in the late sixties by Peter, Paul, and Mary.
Cooper offered to play a few songs on his harmonica. They found a couple that Espy could perform on his guitar, so with Palmer handling the vocals, the trio practiced them together.
Everyone was settled in their seats. Duncan joined Major, as did Cooper and Riley, who acted as his groomsmen. Lucy and Palmer were Sook’s bridesmaids. It was a beautiful scene as Espy began to strum his guitar. All heads turned to the back of the barn.
When Sook rounded the corner, a hush fell over the attendees, who stood in unison to take in the bride’s beauty. Lucy’s dress was perfect for Sook. It was a white V-neck with a ruffled tiered skirt. Its dainty design wasn’t overwhelmed with an excess of lace and organza. The cap sleeves revealed Sook’s buff arms, and the slightly shorter length revealed a pair of white cowboy boots Lucy had stored at the top of her closet for decades.
As Espy strummed “There is Love” on the guitar, Sook walked slowly toward the Armstrong family, who took in her beauty. Duncan, Major, and Cooper had huge smiles across their faces. Lucy, Palmer, and Riley made a feeble attempt to fight back tears of joy. This was indeed Sook’s day, and she strode toward her groom with confidence and flair.
Once Sook arrived in front of Major, he gave her a smile and nodded to everyone, encouraging them to take a seat. He then directed his attention to the bride and groom.
“Today, it is with great joy that we come together to celebrate the marriage of my son, Duncan, to this beautiful, young woman, Sook. Please join me in prayer.
“Dear Father, we humbly invite Your presence and Your blessings to be upon Sook and Duncan as they enter into the ceremony that will unite them in the bonds of holy matrimony. Impress upon them the solemnness and the impact of their actions today that will set the course for their lives into eternity. Amen.”
Major looked up for a moment and then wiped a tear from his eye. “It is with a somewhat heavy heart that I stand before you instead of our dearly departed friend Preacher. He would’ve been proud to join you two in marriage. I’m sure he would’ve known all the right words to say and when. I know what’s required by Texas law, but you two know what’s in your heart.”
“You’re doin’ great, Dad,” whispered Duncan.
“Thank you, son. Why don’t you tell Sook how you feel?”
Duncan and Sook faced one another and held hands. Their smiles were so big that one wondered if their faces might break.
“Sook, you saved my life. I have never told you this before, but I was awake at times while you were nursing me back to health. At first, I thought you were an angel of mercy. It didn’t take long for me to realize that you were much more. You became my best friend and partner as we fought to survive. When you were in danger, I fought to protect you. When I went into battle, you stood shoulder to shoulder by my side.
“Our burdens, our joy, and our lives became one. As your husband, I promise to continue protecting you during times of sorrow and struggle. When times are good, I promise to laugh with you and enjoy every moment of our time together. You will always have my respect, my trust, and my love. This I promise with all my heart. I love you.”
Duncan squeezed both of her hands and turned to his father.
“Duncan, do you take Sook to be your lawfully wedded wife, forsaking all others, in good times and bad, for so long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
Major smiled and turned to Sook. “Is there anything you’d like to say to Duncan?”
Sook shyly looked down, and then her eyes met Duncan’s. “Yes, please. Duncan, because of you, I laugh. I smile. I dare to dream of my future. I am thankful to God that I
am able to spend the rest of my life as your wife, and a member of this wonderful family.”
Sook paused to make eye contact with all of the Armstrongs before continuing. “I promise to nurture you and be there when you need me. I will love and cherish you with my heart and soul. My devotion to you comes from my heart and the prayers that have been answered by God. I make these commitments in love and strengthened by faith. I will love you forever.”
They stared lovingly at each other for a moment, and then Major asked, “Sook, do you take Duncan to be your lawfully wedded husband, forsaking all others, in good times and bad, for so long as you both shall live?”
“I do, y’all!” exclaimed Sook to the delight of everyone. Overwhelmed with emotion, Duncan swept Sook off her feet, and the two kissed.
“Hey, I think I’m supposed to give you permission to do that, or something,” said Major with a chuckle. As they continued their embrace, Major stood to the side to address the attendees. “I now declare these two lovebirds to be husband and wife. They’re already kissing, so let me just present to you Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Armstrong Junior!”
The barn erupted in applause and even a few whistles of congratulations. Duncan and Sook broke their embrace in order to receive congratulations from the entire Armstrong family. They spent the next fifteen minutes greeting everyone and talking about their future together.
While Duncan and Sook accepted the well wishes, Palmer and Lucy recruited the guys to help bring out the food. They’d spent the morning fixing a Tex-Mex menu of taquitos, enchiladas, burritos, and a variety of desserts. There was plenty of food for everyone and some leftovers for the members of the military who continued to stand guard during the festivities.
After eating, the party really swung into high gear as Espy, Cooper, and Palmer made their debut as a country trio. They only had a set of three songs, but they played them all twice. Their biggest hit was their rendition of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” Every time they sang the lyrics, those who sang along substituted West Texas in place of West Virginia.