“Hello, Josie.” He took her hand in both of his. “It’s good to see you.”
“I need a favor.” She spoke hurriedly, because she had to finish before the race ended. For her plan to work, she had to take Ty by surprise. “Could you meet with Ty and me at four o’clock?”
“Of course.” When she told him her plan, he smiled. “You’ve forgiven him, then.”
“I have, but he’s worried about providing for us.”
The reverend nodded. “I respect a man’s need to provide, but bounty comes from the Lord. He’ll make a way if you honor Him.”
“I believe that.” Josie had made her peace with God. Now she had to hope Ty would put love before pride and marry her.
She said goodbye to Reverend Hall, then walked with her mother to the hotel. On the way they passed the sheriff’s office, where she saw two deputies leading a horse with Obie on its back, his hands tied and a gag in his mouth. Josie put the pieces together. Obie had stolen Smoke. Instead of chasing after him as he’d done with the Scudders, Ty had apparently gone to the law. The timing told the rest of the story. They’d come back with Smoke but not soon enough for Ty to win the Maze.
More than ever, Josie believed in her plan for this afternoon. At the hotel she borrowed paper and a pen and wrote a note asking Ty to meet her at the church at four o’clock. She gave a delivery boy two bits to hand it directly to Ty.
As the boy ran off, Josie led her mother to their room on the third floor. Even if Ty knocked, she wouldn’t answer the door. As for the race, she didn’t care who won. Like the reverend said, God would provide. As for Ty Donner, Josie hoped her love would be prize enough to convince him to become her husband.
Chapter Eight
Ten minutes before the start of the May Day Maze, Ty was mounted on Wayne’s best horse and fifty feet from the starting line.
“Donner! Get back here!”
He turned the big gelding and saw Wayne running after him. “What is it?”
“Seth’s back and he’s got Smoke.”
Ty wheeled the gelding around and galloped to where Wayne was puffing like a locomotive from his run. “How’s he look?” Ty called to him.
“Good.”
“Is he spent?”
“He’s not as bad off as I am right now!” The poor man could hardly breathe.
Ty made a split-second decision. He’d rather ride Smoke than any horse in the world. He galloped to the livery, pulled up the gelding short and slid off. Never mind his aching arm. He had to get Smoke saddled even if he pulled every stitch. He started to take his saddle off the gelding, but Seth stopped him. “I’ll do that.”
Ty let him. If he popped the stitches, he’d bleed all over the place. But he could handle the bridle. While he worked, he noticed a second deputy waiting with Obie, who was tied up and gagged. The gag gave Ty particular satisfaction, but he didn’t waste time thinking about it.
The instant Seth finished, Ty climbed on Smoke and headed back to the starting line. He had maybe three minutes before the race started, but the street was congested with people, and the meadow was even worse. He was a quarter-mile away and trapped in a crowd when he heard the gun go off. He called to people to clear the way, but it didn’t do any good. Children were everywhere.
Finally the path cleared and Smoke had room to maneuver. The race was ten miles long and would take about two hours because of canyons and switchbacks. As much as Ty wanted to ride hard and catch up, it would be foolish. He crossed the starting line at an easy gallop, waving to the officials to confirm he’d arrived.
And so began the race… The first half couldn’t have been more solitary. He and Smoke were in the middle of nowhere. The rough terrain suited Ty’s mood, and he hoped it would give the rangy stallion some advantage.
They passed Horse No. 1 at the halfway mark. The roan had picked up a stone, and the rider was hunched over and taking it out. Ty and Smoke rode past them with Ty waving to give his respect. Horses No. 2 and 3 came into view at the top of hill. Smoke passed them with ease, and Ty started to hope. He’d ridden the route with Smoke a dozen times. He knew every turn, every hill. As he came upon a mild slope, he looked down and saw Horses No. 4, 5 and 6 in a cluster. Smoke, a competitor, broke to the outside of the trail and passed them.
Six down.
Three to go.
Smoke stopped at a shallow stream and drank. Ty climbed down for a minute and did the same. The hardest part of the race lay ahead of them. As much as he wanted to win, he wouldn’t push Smoke to the point of ruin. When the horse finished sucking in water—a sound that always made Ty smile—he climbed back on and they took off. A mile later, Ty saw Horse No. 7 and felt sick. The animal stood heaving at the side of the trail with blood in his nose. His fool of a rider looked angry, when he should have been ashamed of abusing his horse.
They had a mile to go and two horses to pass. Smoke took an uphill slope like a freight train. When they reached the crest, Horses No. 8 and 9 came into view. No. 8 was a feisty mare he’d heard about in the saloon. Horse No. 9 was Grant Harper’s Arabian. Ty wanted to win more than he wanted anything, but he loved his horse. Smoke would run until his heart burst, a thought Ty couldn’t abide.
“It’s your choice, boy,” he murmured to Smoke. “You can quit if you want to.”
Smoke gathered his strength and charged into a full run. The mare put up a fight, but Smoke blew by her. No. 9 now had the lead. Smoke caught him in ten strides. Neck and neck, the animals poured on the speed, but especially Smoke who crossed the finish line by half a length.
Ty pumped his fist in the air and gave a victory yell. As Smoke slowed, Ty imagined Josie seeing the victory. He turned Smoke with the hope of seeing her, but she was nowhere in sight. Grant Harper rode up next to him.
“Congratulations, Donner!” said the Englishman. “That’s quite a horse. Any interest in selling him?”
“Not a chance.”
“How about breeding him to one of my mares?”
“Sure.” Ty smiled. “For a price.”
“Of course.” The man offered his hand and they shook. “I’m Grant Harper. Where can I find you?”
“The Bright place.”
Grant tipped his hat. “I’ll be in touch.”
Ty could hardly believe his good fortune. Not only had he won the race, Smoke had earned a reputation that would allow Ty to build up a new herd of horses. They’d have an income apart from raising cattle, but it didn’t matter. With the win, he and Josie had become full partners. But where was she? He wanted her at his side when they collected the prize money. Still on Smoke, Ty spotted Wayne by the judge’s booth and shouted to him. “Have you seen Josie?”
“I sure haven’t.”
Surely she hadn’t missed the finish of the race? Ty peered at every face in the crowd, but he didn’t see Josie anywhere.
Wayne called back to him. “Get over here, Ty. It’s time to award the prize.”
Ty rode to the judging stand, climbed off Smoke and took his place as the winner. Instead of listening to the mayor’s long-winded speech, he considered Josie’s absence. Had she seen the beginning of the race and assumed he’d failed her? Had she gone home? The situation rankled him. He’d kept his promise, yet she’d run off at the first sign of disappointment. He was a bit annoyed—no, he was downright mad—that she didn’t trust him enough to stick around. As soon as he collected the prize money, he’d take care of Smoke then head to the Bright ranch on one of Wayne’s horses.
The prize ceremony seemed to take forever, but finally Lester Proffitt handed Ty a bank draft for a thousand dollars. Ty shook his hand but glared at him. “Some of this is going back to you for the Bright’s mortgage.”
“That’s fine by me,” Proffitt replied.
Ty tucked th
e check in his shirt pocket, acknowledged the cheers from the crowd, then left the stage and took Smoke by the reins. Together they made a beeline for the livery. People swarmed around him, offering congratulations and wanting to see his horse up close. If Josie had been at this side, he’d have enjoyed every minute. Instead he had to grit his teeth as he accepted congratulations that couldn’t replace sharing the moment with the woman he loved. The livery barn came into view. To the side he saw a buggy he recognized. Someone had put up the mule, so where was Josie? He scanned the yard, but he didn’t see her anywhere.
An adolescent boy approached from the street. “Are you Mr. Donner?”
“I am.”
“Here.” The kid handed him a note. “Miss Bright said to read it right away.”
Ty unfolded it and read words that raised more questions than they answered. Come to the church at four o’clock.
Why meet in the place where he’d left her waiting all those years ago? Ty had kept his word, but did Josie know it? Wouldn’t she have been eager to celebrate together? Why a curt note instead of a kiss? Maybe she’d had second thoughts just because love sometimes hurt.
Ty looked at the boy. “When did she give you this?”
“About ten minutes after the race started.”
So she might not know what had happened. “Where is she now?”
“At the hotel.”
Ty gave the boy a quarter for his trouble, then led Smoke into the barn for a rubdown. While tending to the horse, he thought about Josie. Did she know he’d run in the race like he had promised? Or did she think he’d let her down? He considered going to the hotel and having it out with her right now. On the other hand, she’d be at the church at four o’clock, and a church was a perfect place to make a promise…a new one he’d never break. With that thought in mind, Ty made plans of his own.
* * *
The last time Josie had been this nervous, she’d been seventeen-years-old. She’d been wearing the dress she had on now, and she’d been standing in the same little room to the right of Reverend Hall’s office. She’d been counting the minutes until her father walked her down the aisle. Her sisters had been with her, and her mother had been able to see her oldest daughter in her wedding gown. Her brother had been dressed up in a suit, and she’d teased him about it.
Today she had only her mother. Mama could hardly see now, but in the hotel room she’d buttoned the wedding gown by feel. Josie missed her sisters and especially her father and brother, but some of the changes were good. Her love for Ty had deepened. Tested by disappointment and made stronger by forgiveness, that love had a new strength.
No matter how the Maze ended, she hoped Ty felt the same way. Back at the hotel she’d asked the clerk if he knew who won but he didn’t know. With the hotel and church on the opposite side of town from the finish line, she hadn’t heard the result. When she asked Reverend Hall at the church, he’d been enigmatic. Does it matter? Not to Josie, though she doubted Ty would agree.
Someone knocked on the door to the little room. “Josie?” The voice belonged to Mrs. Hall. “Ty’s coming down the path.”
Josie hugged Mama. “Say a prayer.”
“I will.”
Leaving Mrs. Hall to guide Mama, Josie went to the foyer and peered out the window. Her eyes went straight to Ty, who looked nothing like a man who’d just lost the biggest race of his life. She expected to see him in dungarees and a cotton shirt, the clothing he’d been wearing when they’d met a month ago in this very place, but somehow he’d purchased a suit. It was black and formal and he had on a shirt as white as a cloud. His hair was clean and combed, but it still curled over his collar the way she loved.
Even more startling than Ty’s appearance was the crowd following him. She turned to look for Reverend Hall, who was coming out of the main church.
“Why is everyone following Ty?” she asked.
“He’s famous,” the man said with a smile. “He won the Maze in a finish that will go down in history.”
Josie pressed her hands to her cheeks in shock. “He won?”
“By half a length.”
With tears of joy, Josie realized what Ty had in mind. He planned to propose, but she’d spent the past hour practicing what she wanted to say, and she still wanted to say it. She opened the door and went to the steps, standing on the top one as Ty approached. At the sight of her waiting for him, his eyes caught fire. He was seeing her gown for the first time, and it revealed that she, too, had come to the church with a plan. He stopped at the bottom of the three steps. Josie put her hands on her hips in the sassiest pose she could manage. In a loud voice, she said, “Ty Donner, will you marry me?”
“I might.”
“You might?” She flashed to their conversation about kissing. She knew where this was going and wanted to enjoy every minute. She marched down the steps and lifted her chin. “Just what does might mean?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
He took a step closer.
So did she. “You better think fast, because you don’t get to kiss the bride until we take vows.”
His eyes twinkled. “Is that a fact?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Then I better ask the question.” There was no sass in Ty’s voice, only love. With his eyes bright, he dropped to one knee and took her hand. “I love you, Josie. I pledge my life and my heart to you, today and forever. Will you marry me?”
“I will.”
The crowd burst into applause. Men whistled and women cheered. Ty pushed to his feet. She wanted to step into his arms then and there, but he offered his elbow to lead her into the church. Mrs. Hall escorted Mama, and the reverend stood at the door, inviting the folks to come inside.
Arm in arm, Ty and Josie walked to the front of the church. There they faced each other and held hands. Mrs. Hall settled Mama in the front pew, then went to the piano and played a joyful hymn as people filed in. Word must have spread, because Josie saw dozens of people she’d known most of her life. Many of them had been at the first wedding. It was almost as if there had been no gap at all.
With everyone finally seated, Reverend Hall took his place at the front of the church. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Tyler Jacob Donner and Josephine Margaret Bright. As most of you know, this day has been a long time coming. The delay brings to mind Proverbs 13:12. ‘Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.’ Today Ty and Josie are planting their own tree of life. It’s a tree that will grow into a common future, a tree that will sustain their family, young and old alike, for generations to come. It’s a tree that will bear the finest of fruit because that fruit will be fed by love. Their love is strong now. It’s been tested by heartache and strengthened by forgiveness. They know what it means to respect each other.”
Ty’s fingers tightened over Josie’s. She stole a look at this profile and felt a rush of tears. Five years ago the reverend’s words wouldn’t have made sense. Today she understood every one.
The reverend focused on Ty. “Today’s wedding is about more than nice clothes and rings. It’s about loving each other more than you love yourselves.”
“Yes, sir,” Ty answered.
The man looked at Josie next. “Today is about forgiving each other when the mistakes seem unforgivable.”
Josie nodded in full agreement.
The reverend scanned the entire church. “Unless anyone has an objection, we’ll get to the vows.”
No one moved. No one breathed. This wedding would not be interrupted. Ty faced Josie and gripped her hand. Satisfied, Reverend Hall began in a solemn tone. “Do you, Ty Donner, take Josie Bright to be your wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness
or in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?”
“I do.”
The reverend repeated the vows for Josie. She heard every word, every nuance and promise. Tears slid down her cheeks, but they were the finest kind. When the reverend asked the last question, Josie said “I do” in her strongest voice.
Reverend Hall turned to Ty. “Do you have a ring, son?”
“Yes, sir.” Ty took a gold band from his pocket. Shiny and new, she figured he’d bought it with the prize money. He held her fingertips, watching her face as the reverend led them in the final vows.
“Ty, repeat after me. ‘With this ring, I thee wed.’”
Ty smiled and said, “With this ring, I thee wed…and if Reverend Hall doesn’t mind, I’d like to say that there’s no might about it. I love you, Josie.” He slipped the ring onto her finger, over her knuckles to the crook at the top of her palm.
“I love you, too,” she murmured.
Reverend Hall’s lips curved up. “I now pronounce you man and wife. Ty, you may kiss your bride.”
Ty faced Josie and leaned close. Josie lifted her face and leaned into him. Their lips came closer, closer still and then Ty stopped and grinned. “Are you going to kiss me or not?”
“You bet I am.” A bride at last, wearing the dress of her dreams, Josie kissed her husband with all the joy in her heart. Forgiveness tasted sweet indeed.
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
Do you have a favorite wedding memory? Either from your own wedding or from the wedding of a son or daughter, a sibling, maybe a friend? I do. It goes back to the day after my husband and I decided to get married. Neither of us wanted a big wedding for all sorts of reasons. We liked the idea of eloping, actually. We’d been Christians for just a few weeks, and eloping struck us as romantic in a Bruce Springsteen “Born to Run” kind of way. When I told my dad, I thought he’d be pleased. After all, he wouldn’t have to pay for a wedding on top of paying for my college education.
Brides of the West: Josie's Wedding DressLast Minute BrideHer Ideal Husband Page 8