by R. Castro
Her mother and Mrs. Hill walked arm in arm along the bank, but she found a nice patch of grass and took in the steady flowing water. She couldn’t imagine what the women talked about. Whatever it was, they never seemed to run out of conversation, something she never had in a friend.
“May I join you?”
She jumped to her feet upon hearing his voice. “Elias!” She screamed, her heart racing. So many emotions ran through her that she felt she might combust.
Her mother and Mrs. Hill didn’t seem to notice.
“What are you doing here?”
He sat on the grass and patted the patch next to him. She hesitated, unsure of what to do. “I promise I won’t bite.” He grimaced. “I’d planned on being here for Martin and Rosalie Davis’ barn raising.”
His infectious smile blinded her. She wanted to throw her arms around him. Instead, she settled with sitting next to him, very much aware of his woodsy scent which had imprinted on her soul.
“I… I…” She couldn’t figure out what she wanted to say.
And he sat there, smiling at her.
“I. I missed you,” she admitted, feeling uncertain. Would the admission push him away? Since she’d behaved so poorly toward him?
“And I missed you. The truth is, the barn raising was an easy excuse. But I came back because I can’t get you out of my mind. I thought maybe time and distance might help me move past you. It didn’t. It gave me more reason to think about you. To yearn for your conversation. For your sweet scent of orange blossoms. For you,” he said, reaching his hand over to take hers in his.
The flutters abounded in her stomach, but she didn’t flinch. She didn’t pull back. Instead, she squeezed his hand tightly.
It was happening. She was admitting how she truly felt about him. Fear wanted desperately to betray her, but her heart wanted to fly beyond yonder. She wanted to take long walks to nowhere, hand in hand with Elias.
Two leaves danced about the air, finally landing side by side in the creek, quickly speeding past them, and she smiled.
“I had a dream that I loved you. But when I woke, I realized it wasn’t a dream. It is a reality,” she said shyly. “Elias, I don’t know when it happened. However, my feelings are real.”
He kissed the back of her hand. “Guadalupe Cortez, I love you. I’ve loved you always. And the thought of you not being in my life is haunting me. I know I’m breaking with tradition here with not going first to your father, but I must know. Will you marry me?” He said freeing one of his hands to retrieve something from the pocket of his tweed sack coat.
Tears of joy rolled down her face as she leaned her head on his shoulder and quietly responded, “Yes.”
He took her hand and placed on her finger a beautiful ring. “It was my mother’s engagement ring. It’s been in the Hill family for a few generations.”
“She knows?” Lupe asked, straightening up. Still, the women hadn’t noticed.
“Not this. But yes, she knows how I feel about you. She gave me the ring before we left California. She said I’d know when I found the right woman to put this on.”
Lupe smiled as she stared at it. “I’ll take good care of it.”
“I missed you. Life isn’t worth discovering without you at my side.”
“You really mean that, don’t you?” she said, aware of what his words meant. A commitment to take her with him to explore the world.
“I do,” he said, pulling her hand up for another kiss. “Business is doing great. And I’ve traveled to New York during my absence and invested in the arms business. Amongst a few other things. I found myself wandering the city, thinking as I often did, where I would settle put down roots. I couldn’t come up with a place, because I left my heart behind in Belle, Wyoming.”
Mrs. Hill and Martha were beyond ecstatic. While Maribel immediately went into planning mode. Her sister would be a late summer bride. They didn’t have a lot of time, as Elias needed to return to Pittsburgh.
But it was Valerio who was quiet through it all.
Valerio Cortez had been like a second father to Elias, especially after his father died.
“Are you going to be okay with this arrangement?” Elias asked Valerio as he served him a brandy.
“I’m not going to lie. The thought of my little girl getting married isn’t easy. But I can’t imagine her marrying a better man. I know you’ll love and respect her. I’m just sad that you’ll be taking her far away. That will be the most difficult thing to adjust to. After all, who will keep me on my toes, challenging my intellect at every turn,” Valerio said, raising his glass, chuckling almost immediately after taking a sip.
“You all are welcome to visit whenever you like. You know that. And it means a lot to me that you trust me with her heart. She’s a wonderful young woman. I promise I will not take her for granted.”
“What are you two talking about over here?” Mrs. Hill asked as she pushed a glass toward her son. And without hesitation, he poured a drink for her too.
Valerio stood to pull up a seat for Mrs. Hill and his wife. “Are you sure you want to stay here in Belle with us?” he asked the woman.
She took a sip of brandy and nodded toward her son to refill it. “Yes. I’m sure. Besides, I don’t want to spoil the fun for the newlyweds. And before you say it, no, I don’t want to return to California, at least, not now. Maybe to visit. But my home is here, with my friends and with Hill Blacksmith Company. Besides, it’s much easier to get to Pittsburgh from here. Well, at least closer. Why? Are you trying to get rid of me, Valerio?” She let out a boisterous laugh.
“Nonsense, Ingrid,” Martha said. “He just wants what’s best for you. We all do. But he doesn’t know you the way I do, so, he doesn’t know that you do nothing that doesn’t make you happy.”
They all laughed. “Now that’s the truth,” Ingrid Hill said as she took another gulp of brandy. “Maribel, what will we need for the wedding? I’ll send a driver to Glenda and another to Ft. Bridger. And what shall we do about your wedding dress?” She said inspecting Lupe.
“I was thinking of wearing my mother’s dress. If that’s okay with you, Mom? I know you have it in a trunk.”
Martha’s eyes lit up. “Yes! Of course. That would make me so happy.”
“Will we need to take it to the seamstress?”
“I don’t know,” Martha said, looking at her daughter more carefully. “It might fit her perfectly.”
“Then let’s get it out so it can get aired, and she can try it on just so we are sure.”
Somehow, Mrs. Hill had managed to get gorgeous flowers with orange blossoms. The rumor was, she’d sent for them all the way from the former orchards of the Cortez family, in California. Don Gerardo was in debt to Mrs. Hill, so he hadn’t balked when she made the request.
Martha’s ivory silk, bengaline, wedding gown, with its open V-neck and boned back-lacing bodice, fit Lupe impeccably. The short sleeves with lace, trimmed with bands of satin ribbons and lined in muslin added a summer feel. The bustle skirt with wide train, applied with a hem of Van Dyke points bound in satin, was a sweet touch.
Lupe’s hair was pulled back in a high braid with a few orange blossoms cascading from the crown of the braid, allowing for the long veil to frame her face.
“You look just like your mother,” Valerio said, giving his daughter a peck on the forehead.
Her eyes teared up, “Thank you, Father. For everything.”
“Oh, my dear child, don’t cry. Today is a happy day. Besides, I recall your grandmother telling your mother not to cry, or she’d ruin the silk.” He said jokingly with a wink, causing Lupe to chuckle.
Maribel entered the room, wearing the beautiful dress Mrs. Hill had given her. “Lupe, you are so beautiful. Have you seen yourself in the mirror yet?”
Lupe shook her head.
Her little sister helped her up from the stool and led her to the mirror where Lupe, for the first time, saw herself as a bride. She hardly recognized herself.
&nb
sp; The church was full, and Elias greeted each person who arrived, thanking them for joining them on such short notice to witness their matrimony.
The townsfolk were all so gracious, with the occasional words of advice on what made a good marriage. Elias took it all in stride.
The church was nicely decorated. His mother and Maribel had done an amazing job, buying flowers and candles on such short notice.
The organ player was peeking out the window. The cue was that when she sat; it meant the bride was in sight. So, when she sat at her bench, adjusting the skirt of her dress around her, Elias’s heart raced.
Lupe was in sight. And soon, she’d be at his side, until death do they part. He swallowed hard, trying not to look nervous, but his mom took a couple of steps forward and leaned in to tell him not to look so stiff.
“You should have had that brandy I served you to calm your nerves.”
Her words calmed him considerably. It was Lupe, not some unknown person. They grew up together. They sparred with words, challenging each other to be daring. Lupe. The woman he loved.
The organ player started, and in walked Mrs. Cortez with Gustavo in hand, followed by Maribel who carefully spread petals.
And through the threshold of the church, Mr. Cortez stood tall, in his formal suit. He was elegant and of good breeding. A reminder he’d once been a gentleman of privilege. And on his arm, the love of his life.
Lupe had donned the most beautiful wedding dress, and even past the veil, he could see her deep brown eyes, and long lashes staring back at him. Her presence made him feel more at ease.
She and her father carefully walked toward the altar.
When they finally reached him, Valerio answered the pastor and unveiled his daughter, who took everyone’s breath away.
Her gorgeous bright smile gleamed back at him as he took her , and they exchanged vows before all.
The service went quickly, at least, for him.
When the pastor pronounced them husband and wife, he took Lupe’s arm in his, turned and greeted their guests and walked out of the church where many of the guests showered them with good wishes.
“Have I told you how much I love you?” Elias whispered into Lupe’s ear.
Without hesitation, he leaned in, and for the first time, he gently kissed her dulcet lips.
The small gathering erupted in cheers, as their parents joined them.
“I saw that!” Maribel teased.
“Let’s go now and celebrate.” Mrs. Hill directed.
They reached the park setting by the creek where the Fourth of July celebration had taken place, and together, hand in hand, they happily walked around, helping guests to their seats.
An outdoor late summer wedding. A perfect day for a new beginning.
“I love you, Elias Anthony Hill,” she said, standing directly in front of him.
“And I love you, Guadalupe Hill.”
Her sweet lips welcomed his, soothing his passion.
“Thank you,” he said. “For agreeing to be my wife.”
She turned and punched him jokingly in the arm. “You don’t have to thank me as if I’m doing you any favors. It’s not like you needed saving or anything.”
He laughed. “I may not have, but…”
“Chose your words wisely, Mr. Hill.” She winked.
“Or?”
“Or, I might have to smother you with sweet, tender kisses.”
“I think I like those odds.”
“Doesn’t sound much like a punishment, does it? I must come up with something cleverer. After all, there will be plenty of time on our ride to Pittsburgh.”
“About that.”
She froze, fixing her eyes on him. “What is it?” she pressed.
“We aren’t going straight to Pittsburgh.”
“Oh?”
“I figured we’d take a detour to Florida for a few days before we head back up to Pittsburgh. The traveling might be a little daunting, but I feel it will be worth it. The beaches should make up for the exhaustion.”
At the sound of beaches, she lit up, just as he’d expected.
“Yes! I’d love that. Our honeymoon.” She blushed.
“Indeed.”
Saying goodbye to her family wasn’t easy, many tears ensued. They wouldn’t see each other again until spring of the following year, for the winter months were hard in Wyoming, and travel wasn’t easy. Plus, the shop would remain busy and getting away wouldn’t be an option.
Still, the Cortezes promised to write, even though Maribel threatened to show up on the newlyweds’ doorsteps which caused everyone to laugh.
“I love you all. I don’t know what I will do without you,” Lupe said to her family.
Her father stepped forward. “It is time for you to start your own life, my dear daughter. Go on now, be happy. We will see each other soon enough, God permitting.”
Not a dry eye was in that farewell. Even Mrs. Hill stood beside her beloved friend as they both cried in each other’s arms.
Elias held Lupe firmly in his arms. “They’ll be fine.”
“I know. But it doesn’t make it any easier.”
He soothed her by stroking her shoulders.
Feeling his touch on her was surreal.
She was now his wife. His Mrs. Hill.
She smiled at the thought.
Yes, it was painful leaving her family; still; she was excited to start her new journey in life beside the man she loved—Elias.
She took in a much-needed deep breath, allowing the scent of his woodsy cologne to penetrate her entire being.
He was hers, and she, his. She could do this. Be a wife. Be a good, loving wife.
She looked up into his bright blue eyes and smiled.
“What?” he said, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
“Just making sure this isn’t a dream,” she teased.
“I promise you, Lupe, this is not a dream. I love you.”
And he leaned in closer, pulling her into his firm arms, kissing her passionately, like they were the only two people in the world.
Her body was on fire, as she searched desperately in return for his smooth lips.
Love wasn’t the fiery passion she was feeling. It was part of it. But not all. Love was about inexplicable happiness, losing oneself until we find what completes us. It was about complete honesty and patience, a promise to spend the rest of their lives, together, for better for worse, till death did they part. Making the other person a priority and knowing no one else on the planet could fill their hearts the way that person does.
“I’ll travel to the end of the earth at your side. Because you are all I need,” she mumbled through their kiss.
He pulled his lips away, holding her close. “And I’ll love you for all and all eternity.”
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The Belles of Wyoming Series
Don’t forget to grab the next book in the series, Blue Steel Bride by P. Creeden.
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Click here: Blue Steel Bride, The Belles of Wyoming Book 17
A Note From R. Castro
I hope you enjoyed Lupe’s Luck, my first contribution to The Belles of Wyoming Series.
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Contemporary Romance
A Shining Star
Christmas In Holly Springs
The Light of Winter
Upon La Muerte
Dating A Prince – A Royalish Series Book 1
Engaged to A Prince – A Royalish Series Book 2
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YA Fantasy
Elemental Linx – The Tetrad Prophecy Book 1
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