by Connie Mason
"Everything is set," he crowed excitedly. "The church was available for Saturday. The wedding will be held at ten Saturday morning, and the cafe staff agreed to provide food for the reception at the town hall. Oh, yes. The announcement and open invitation will appear in all two newspapers for the next four days. And," he added, eyes glowing, "I found fiddlers to play at the reception."
Meg remained at the stove, strangely subdued. "You've thought of everything, haven't you?"
Jess came up behind her, turned her around, and drew her into his arms. "What's wrong? Any regrets?"
"About marrying you? No. About parading me before people who consider me a whore? Yes."
"It will turn out fine, sweetheart, I promise. This town is going to learn to love you like I do."
"You can't shove me down their throats, Jess."
"I won't have to, trust me."
"I've always trusted you," she whispered, turning her mouth up to his.
Groaning, Jess accepted her offering, taking her lips in a deliciously intimate kiss that made her toes curl.
"Can dinner wait?" he asked. "Suddenly I have a more pressing need."
"I'll put it in the warming oven," Meg murmured against his lips.
"Thank God."
Jess helped her put the food in the oven, then literally dragged her up the stairs to their bedroom. Clothing flew helter-skelter in their eagerness to celebrate their love. There was nothing gentle in their lovemaking as the bed became a battleground of wills. He took her swiftly once, then rolled her atop him and took her again.
Dinner was all but forgotten as they rested, arms and legs entwined, Meg's head pressed against Jess's shoulder. When Jess remained quiet an inordinate length of time, Meg asked, "Is something wrong?"
He touched her breast. "Do your breasts pain you? You cried out when I suckled them."
"I..." She hesitated. "They have been more sensitive than usual."
"When were you going to tell me, Meg?"
Meg flushed. "You know?"
His chest rumbled with laughter. "I'm a doctor, I've known for some time. The absence of menses was the first sign. Did you think I wouldn't be happy about becoming a father?"
"I didn't realize it myself until just recently. You had too many problems then to take on another responsibility. I didn't want you to worry about me. I would have told you soon, in any event. Before the wedding. Are you happy?"
His hand splayed over her stomach, his fingers caressing the place beneath her heart where his child rested. "Ecstatic. I've always wanted a home and family. I was merely waiting for the right woman to come along. I love you, Meg, and I love our child. Boy or girl, it makes no difference to me. Hopefully, in time, we'll have some of each. I think Zach is as anxious as I am for this child."
"Zach never had any children of his own. He'll spoil our babe rotten."
"Let him. He deserves some happiness. He saved your life, a fact for which I'll always be grateful."
"Are you ready for dinner now? I just heard my stomach growling."
Jess laughed and rolled away from her. "Let's not keep you or that ravenous little being inside you waiting." He pulled her out of bed and helped her dress. Then they descended the stairs together.
The day of the wedding dawned cool and sunny. Meg spun before the mirror at Mary's house shortly before the ceremony, admiring the dress they had picked out together. The pale blue silk had a fitted waistline and dropped sleeves, which bared her shoulders and upper portion of her chest without appearing vulgar or revealing. The hoops made her slim figure appear willowy and fragile, though she had never considered herself fragile. She had purchased slippers and hat to match the dress, which set off the outfit perfectly.
Mary had chosen a violet brocade that complimented her fair coloring. The dress was slightly more demure than Meg's, befitting one of her age and maturity. Together they were a vision such as Cheyenne had rarely seen.
Jess had gotten his wish. Nearly the entire town was crowded into the church, waiting for the brides to walk down the aisle. Unbeknownst to Meg, Jess had browbeat, cajoled and strongly urged all his acquaintances and patients to attend his wedding. He'd even threatened to refuse his services to those who absented themselves or showed disrespect to his bride.
If some of the women showed reluctance to attend, their husbands and fathers soon changed their minds. Those men were wise enough to know that Jess Gentry would eventually become a mainstay in Cheyenne society, a man in whom they could place their trust and their lives.
Meg paused in the vestibule of the church, her bouquet trembling in her hands. The church was crammed with people; the same people who in the past had crossed the street to avoid her. Mary had just started down the aisle to meet Zach, and she was to go next. Jess must have noticed her nervousness for he smiled encouragement at her.
Mary had reached the altar. Zach stepped up to join her. Meg drew in a steadying breath and took that first step. She could feel curious eyes upon her and faltered half-way down the aisle, looking wild-eyed and frightened. She would have turned and run if Jess hadn't noticed her hesitation and sprinted up the aisle to meet her. Meg heard a buzz of voices and knew Jess had done something out of the ordinary, but he seemed not to care.
"Not getting cold feet, are you?" he whispered as he placed her arm in his and started down the aisle. Meg had no choice but to follow. Jess had broken with tradition and the least she could do was show how much she loved him by brazening it out before the very people who despised her.
Much of the ceremony was a blur. Meg knew she said the right thing at the right time, for Jess had placed a gold ring on her finger, smiled at her, and kissed her soundly. In a daze, she let him turn her toward the congregation. Then he raised her hand and kissed it. No matter what happened in the future, Meg would always remember the cheer that followed Jess's loving gesture.
Meg recalled little of the reception, except she remembered Mary and Zach gazing lovingly into one another's eyes. Jess was beside her, instilling her with the courage to greet their guests.
Meg was more than a little astonished at the number of townspeople who attended the wedding and reception, treating her as if she had never been the town pariah. Did marrying Jess make her suddenly respectable?
Food and drink flowed freely. Meg ate little and drank nothing. The fiddlers Jess found provided lively music and soon dancers were forming reels and squares.
"You're not eating," Jess said.
"I'm not hungry."
Jess's eyes twinkled. "That's odd. Lately you've eaten everything in sight." He leaned close. "Shall we go home and have our own private celebration?"
"What about Zach and Mary?"
"They've already left. Or haven't you noticed?"
"Oh, my. I haven't been very observant, have I?"
"Let's sneak out now, while the next reel is forming."
Hand and hand they left the town hall and walked the short distance home. There was no time now for a honeymoon, but Jess promised Meg one early next summer, when they would travel to Denver to meet his brothers. Their child would still be young, but Jess was a doctor and capable of seeing to its welfare. When they reached the house, Jess swept Meg into his arms and carried her over the threshold.
"I can't wait to show you and our baby to my brothers," Jess said as he mounted the stairs with Meg in his arm. I'm the luckiest man alive."
Jess pushed the bedroom door open and set her on her feet.
"No, I'm the luckiest woman," Meg insisted. "I wouldn't be alive today if not for you."
They undressed one another slowly, touching and caressing as if discovering each other's body for the first time. They made love tenderly, gently, savoring every nuance of passion. He teased her, tormented her, his hands roaming hard and demanding over her body. Jess brought her to climax twice, once with his hands and once with his mouth, before entering her with one hard thrust. Then she came apart again beneath the potent onslaught of his unrestrained passion as he joined her
still vibrating body in the ultimate of all pleasures.
When the world stopped spinning, Jess settled Meg into the curve of his body and sighed contentedly. "We're going to be happy, love. People are already beginning to accept you. The only dark cloud on the horizon is concern for my brothers."
"I needn't worry about Rafe. From the sound of things, his life is in order. I hope I get to meet him and his wife. Do you think he'll bring her to Denver?"
"If not, we'll go down to Canon City to visit her. It's not all that far. I hope Sam shows up. I shudder to think of the trouble he could have gotten himself into. Sam's impatient, hardheaded, and often reckless. Clearly the most vexing of the Gentry brothers. It wouldn't surprise me if Sam stumbled into a situation that he can't get himself out of."
"Don't underestimate your brother, Jess. He's a Gentry, isn't he? Need I say more?"
"You're right," Jess grinned. "You do have a way of making me feel better. Now, Mrs. Gentry, go to sleep. That little one inside you needs rest."
"I love you, Jess Gentry."
"I love you, Meg Gentry. Don't ever forget it, sweetheart. Destiny brought us together, we were meant to be."
About the Author
Connie is the bestselling author of 60 books and novellas and counting. Her tales of passion and adventure are set in exotic as well as in American locales. Connie has won awards from Romantic Times and has been listed in Who's Who of American Women for several years. Connie makes her home in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
Connie is a world traveler. She has visited every country in Western and Eastern Europe, Greece, Asia and Northern Africa. Also, countless islands in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas. Connie enjoys spending time with her three children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Visit her Website and www.conniemason.com.