Renegade

by Anna Schmidt

  “Final fitting for your gown tonight,” Emma said, as if she needed reminding.

  “Also my final day of work,” Lily said and was surprised at the feeling of melancholy that accompanied that statement. “I’m going to miss it, you know,” she added.

  “Not nearly as much as I’ll miss having you here,” Emma replied.

  The two friends hugged each other and blinked back tears as Aidan opened the dining room’s double doors in preparation for the arrival of passengers from the morning train. The hotel manager cleared his throat, and Emma and Lily gave each other one more squeeze and hurried to their stations.

  That evening, Grace and Emma accompanied Lily to Abigail’s shop. Grace and Nick were staying at the hotel until after the wedding, and Nick had volunteered to care for the baby while the ladies were out. Cody, on the other hand, had not seen the need for an entire evening devoted to trying on a wedding dress.

  “It’s only a dress,” he argued, “and you keep saying I can’t see you the day of the wedding. Tonight’s our last chance.”

  Lily laughed. “Cody, we have the rest of our lives. What’s one night?”

  “Too much to ask,” he grumbled.

  “Well, since I officially ended my employment with the Harvey organization today, I have no curfew.”

  She let that sink in and knew the minute Cody understood what she was really saying. “We have all night?”

  “Be outside Abigail’s shop at nine.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. “Now shoo.”

  Upstairs, she changed out of her uniform for the last time, recalling the first time she’d tied that pinafore apron in place. It was after Victor had left her. She’d had no money, was about to be evicted from her rented room, and the Harvey Company had saved her. Then because of her work, she had met Emma and Grace—the two best friends any girl could ever hope to have.

  And she had found her true love.

  She hung up her uniform and changed into Cody’s favorite pink calico dress. She reached for her work shoes and then smiled as she set them aside and put on her fancy boots instead. When Emma and Grace tapped on her door and stepped into the room, Lily lifted her skirt and pointed with glee.

  “You are not wearing those with your beautiful wedding dress,” Emma announced.

  Lily grinned and ignored her friend’s edict. “Shall we go?” She locked arms with both women as they walked to Abigail’s shop.

  “Remember that first day?” Grace asked.

  “You were such an innocent,” Lily teased.

  “That changed,” Grace replied. “Changed for all of us.”

  They walked on, tightening their hold on one another as the memories washed over them.

  When they reached the shop, Lily was surprised to see Cody waiting there. “Cody,” she said, shaking her finger at him in mock anger, “I told you we would be done at nine.”

  Cody ducked his head. “I know, but there’s somebody here who’d like to be part of your evening—if you agree.” He turned and motioned to someone Lily hadn’t seen behind him, standing in the shadows.

  “Hello, Lily.”

  Lily’s mother stepped up beside Cody. She looked older and smaller. She fidgeted with her hands as if not knowing what to do or say beyond that greeting.

  “Hello, Mother,” Lily whispered as she felt Emma and Grace loosen their hold on her without entirely letting go. “You came,” she added.

  “May I stay?”

  Lily felt tears fill her eyes. It was as if time stood still. In that moment, she saw a helpless woman standing before her and realized she’d seen that face before. This was the same nervous woman who had turned away from her that day in the church.

  She stepped forward and opened her arms. “Of course,” she managed, and her mother practically collapsed in her embrace. Both of them were crying.

  “Well,” Cody said, his voice shaky, “how ’bout I leave you ladies to it? I’ll be back at nine, Lily, like we planned.”

  Emma and Grace moved closer as Cody left. They introduced themselves and then Abigail as she opened the door, no doubt drawn outside by the commotion.

  “And this is my friend Abigail, Momma,” Lily said. “Wait until you see the dress she’s made for my wedding.” She wrapped her arm around her mother’s shoulders and led her inside.

  “Wait,” her mother said, turning back. She picked up a small valise. “I brought something I thought maybe…” She opened the bag and took out a bundle of netting trimmed in ivory lace. “It’s the veil I wore when I married your father,” she said, handing it to Lily. “I thought perhaps…”

  “Oh, Momma, yes. Thank you.” She shook out the folds and draped the veil over her head.

  “It’s perfect,” Abigail said. “Just perfect.”

  “Where’s my gown?” Lily danced around the shop, wearing the veil. “I want to see it all together.”

  “Step this way,” Abigail invited as she held open the curtain that separated the shop from her workroom. “Ladies, please feel free to try on the hats while Lily changes. They’re all for sale,” she added with a wink.

  Chapter 19

  Later that evening, after they’d seen Lily’s mother back to the hotel, Lily and Cody sat on their favorite rock, staring at the outline of the mountains against a star-studded sky. Cody inhaled the sweet scent of her and thought himself a lucky man.

  “Never would have thought you and me…”

  She linked her fingers with his. “Neither did I.”

  “Jake did,” he said softly. “He told me he hoped we would be together one day.”

  “I miss him,” she whispered.

  They sat in silence for a long moment, and then Cody got to his feet and held out his hands to her. “Come on,” he said.

  “But there’s no curfew,” she protested.

  “Not worried about that. Just come with me.”

  He led her over the rough terrain down to the town cemetery that sat just below the hillside. He opened the low wrought iron gate and, placing his arm around her, walked on to Jake’s grave. They stood there a moment, and then Cody cleared his throat.

  “Well, Jake, you were right, so we’ve come to thank you. I promise you I will love this woman until my dying day. I’ll love her with all the devotion and care we both know you gave her in life.”

  Lily knelt to rearrange the bouquet of fresh greenery she knew George and the kitchen staff replaced several times a week. She stayed there, her fingers tracing the carved words on the wooden cross that marked his grave. “I did love you, in my way. You taught me how to trust again when you gave me your friendship and support without any strings attached. I will never forget you, Jake.” She kissed her fingers and touched them to his name. “Rest in peace,” she whispered.

  Cody backhanded a tear coursing down his cheek and knelt next to her. He bowed his head as she did hers. After a moment, he said, “Lily? How ’bout we name our first son after him?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Jake would love that.”

  * * *

  The day of the wedding dawned clear and hot. The ceremony was scheduled for late morning, followed by a reception in the hotel dining room.

  Cody was nervous.

  “What can go wrong?” his father asked. “Looks to me like Lily’s got this thing well in hand.”

  His parents had arrived early the morning of the wedding, and Cody had pressed his father into service as best man. And now they stood in a small anteroom next to the church sanctuary, waiting for the start of the ceremony.

  “I just want everything to be perfect for her,” he said as he ran a finger under the buttoned collar of his shirt.

  “Nothing about life is perfect, Son. You know that better than most with all you’ve seen as sheriff. Speaking of which, have they found your replacement?”

  Cody nodded. “Ty Drak
e’s deputy is taking the job.”

  “And you and Lily are headed for Washington.” Joe Daniels shook his head in wonder. “My boy, sitting in the Capitol Building with a bunch of bigwigs.”

  Cody grinned. “Pretty sure I might raise a few hackles once I get started pushing for them to reconsider statehood.”

  “Just remember not everyone is in favor of that, Son, even here in the territory. Take care.”

  A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Cody’s mother, Ginny, smiled broadly as she stepped into the room. “Don’t you look a picture,” she said as she smoothed the lapel of his suit jacket and pinned a sprig of spruce to it.

  “Is Lily nervous?” he asked.

  “Not as nervous as you,” his mother replied. “She’s a lovely young woman, Cody.”

  His father chuckled. “You’ll have your hands full with that one,” he added. “My guess is she’ll set Washington on its ear.”

  Cody grinned. “That’s the plan,” he said just as the church organist started playing.

  “That’s our signal,” his father said and led the way out to the sanctuary.

  Cody took his place and turned to face the long aisle. Lily would be walking down it any minute, with Aidan Campbell escorting her.

  “You got the ring?” he asked his father for the third time as George Keller led both Lily’s mother and Cody’s to their places.

  “Asked and answered,” his father said and nudged him as the organist struck up the prelude to the wedding march. Everyone in the packed church stood.

  Grace and Emma led the procession, wearing their Harvey Girl uniforms. Cody gave each of them a nervous smile as they took their places opposite him. Then he heard an excited murmuring and looked to the back of the church where Lily stood with Aidan.

  She wore a dress in a deep purple that reminded him of the night sky just after sunset. Her hair was done up in a loose pile, curls framing her face, and the way the morning light streamed through the church windows, he could have sworn there was a halo around her head. She caught his gaze through the sheer veil that covered her features and held it as she made her way to the altar.

  Aidan stepped aside to stand with Cody’s father, and as the music ended and the congregation sat, there was a moment when Cody could swear only he and Lily occupied the church.

  Even as the minister intoned the words of the ceremony, Cody heard and saw nothing but Lily. He assumed he had played his part properly, for all too soon the minister was calling for the ring.

  “Lift the veil and then take the ring,” the minister whispered.

  His hands were shaking as he followed the instructions, the gold band with their initials and the date engraved on the inside warm in his hand. Don’t drop the ring.

  His mouth was dry as he repeated the words dictated by the minister. “With this ring…”

  But Lily’s smile and those big green eyes sparkling with love and pure joy gave him the strength he needed. He slid the simple gold band onto her finger. Lily was his wife now. Together, they would build a life of laughter and love, meeting any challenge that came their way.

  “I now pronounce you man and wife,” the minister proclaimed. The music swelled as Cody and Lily looked at each other.

  Both their mothers had been very clear about the proper style of wedding kiss—they might share a light peck on the closed lips, but certainly no more. Then they would walk to the exit without interacting, either by touch or eye contact, with any of those attending. Lily had rolled her eyes at this.

  “Well, Mr. Daniels, are you going to kiss me or not?” she said softly.

  He grinned, “With pleasure, Mrs. Daniels.” He cupped her face with his hands and kissed each closed eyelid. “I love you, Lily.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth. Behind him, Cody heard the congregation gasp. Then with a grin, Lily grabbed his hand and started up the aisle, stopping to hug her mother and then his parents, and then, entirely against all instructions for proper etiquette she’d been given, greeted guests along the way.

  That was Lily, Cody thought. His Lily.

  * * *

  As she and Cody walked up the aisle, Lily felt as if she were lighter than air. Music and sunlight filled the church. All around her, people were happy. And Cody held her hand like he would never let go. Once they stepped outside, they saw Nick waiting with a buggy to take them to the hotel. They could have walked, but riding all the way around the plaza only added to the romance of this day. Nick took his time with the circuit, giving their guests time to reach the hotel on foot. She could not seem to stop smiling, and it delighted her to see that Cody appeared to be in the same state of euphoria she was.

  At the hotel, the Harvey Girls were lined up in two facing columns outside the closed entrance to the dining room. Grace and Emma stepped to the double doors and swung them open to reveal the wedding guests gathered inside. Aidan stood just inside the entrance and tapped a fork against a crystal glass to gain everyone’s attention.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to welcome Mr. and Mrs. Cody Daniels.”

  A cheer went up along with applause as Lily and Cody crossed the large room to their place at the head table. Cody’s parents and Lily’s mother were already seated there and appeared to be getting along famously. Grace, Nick, Emma, and Aidan took their places as well. Harvey Girls sent for the occasion from the La Casita Hotel in Santa Fe circulated among the tables, filling champagne flutes with their usual efficiency. George and his staff emerged from the kitchen carrying large trays filled with individual servings of huevos rancheros that the girls quickly delivered to the tables. In addition to the entrée, each table had baskets filled with muffins and bowls of cut fruit. Once everyone was served, the waitresses patrolled the room, filling coffee and tea cups and responding to any request.

  Lily saw it all as if her wedding veil still covered her face. Nothing seemed real. How could it be that she was here with Cody—and her mother? She took hold of her mother’s hand and squeezed. “I am so glad you came,” she said softly.

  “With food like this, I may just decide to stay,” her mother replied with a laugh that quickly sobered. She touched Lily’s cheek. “I am so proud of the woman you have become, Lily. In spite of my—”

  Lily interrupted her. “That’s all in the past, Momma. From this moment on, we only move forward.” She lifted her champagne glass in a toast, and her mother returned the gesture.

  Cody leaned closer, drawing her attention back to him. “The train will be here soon,” he reminded her.

  “Emma and Grace have everything under control,” she assured him, and on cue, her two friends stepped forward to place two cakes on the table in front of them—a bride’s cake for Lily and a groom’s for Cody. The bride’s cake was bedecked with ribbons and tiny metal tokens.

  “Come,” she called as she stood and pulled Cody up beside her. She distributed ribbon ends to Cody’s father, Aidan, Emma, and Grace. “Okay. Now pull,” she instructed. Everyone was laughing, and others had gathered round to watch the fun, while Lily only looked up at Cody. She was sure she would never get used to the idea that this gorgeous man was her husband. She saw a future filled with adventure and children and so much love—the kind of love she had known before her father died.

  Cody caught her watching him and smiled, revealing the dimples that had drawn her to him from the start. They each cut a slice from their cakes and fed it to the other. Cody wiped a bit of frosting from her lips with his thumb, and the desire she saw burning in his gaze made her legs weak.

  “We need to go, Lily,” he said, and Lily heard the distant whistle of the train moving closer. Cody turned to kiss his mother and shake hands with his father, then kissed Lily’s mother on the cheek. “Thank you,” Lily heard him whisper. “Thank you for trusting me with your beautiful daughter.”

 
Her mother patted his hand, tears brimming. “Be good to her,” she said.

  Cody nodded, then took hold of Lily’s hand. “Thanks, folks,” he shouted. “It’s been a special day, but Lily and I have a train to catch.”

  As they made their way through the room, Lily saw Emma and Grace handing out small bags of rice to the guests. She kind of regretted not having had the chance to fully enjoy the cake, but when she looked up at her husband, all thoughts of food disappeared. She stopped in the lobby to remove her veil and put on the hat Abigail handed her, while Cody picked up the luggage they had packed the night before and stashed behind the front desk.

  “Goodbye,” Lily called as she hurried outside.

  Nick took the suitcases from Cody and led them down the path to the station. The wedding guests trailed behind them, tossing handfuls of rice in their direction and shouting their good wishes. Cody hopped aboard ahead of her and then held out his hand. Lily lifted her skirt and saw him notice the boots. He rolled his eyes, and she grinned at him as he pulled her up onto the platform at the back of the train. They held tight to each other and waved to Juniper as the train slowly pulled away.

  The shouts and cheers faded, and they were left standing alone, the wind in their hair and the rhythmic sound of the train’s progress the only music. She smiled up at him, loving the way he was looking at her. As if he too could not quite believe they were standing there. Involuntarily, she shivered.

  “You’re cold,” he said and, without waiting for an answer, ushered her inside the first-class car.

  They smiled at the few other passengers who greeted them with nods and murmurs of congratulations as they made their way to their private compartment. Once inside, Cody tossed his hat aside and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Happy?”

  “Delirious,” she replied and kissed his jaw.

  “Afraid I’ll need more than a peck on the jaw,” he said.

  Lily felt as if she could happily drown in the kiss they shared and hoped it might go on for much longer, but a light knock at the door had them pulling apart too soon. Cody opened the door, and Lily broke into a smile.