***
“It’s a good thing your dress is so lovely,” Mrs. Howard said. “We only need to make sure your hair is all tucked in and find you some flowers to hold.”
“That isn’t really necessary,” Susan said. “I’m sure I can do without flowers.”
“Maybe not necessary,” Mrs. Howard said, “but we are doing it anyway. I don’t have a daughter of my own, so I’m going to make sure you have the perfect wedding.”
Susan knew it wouldn’t do her any good to argue and allowed Mrs. Howard to pin a small veil to the back of her head.
By the time all the ladies of the town had finally finished everything they insisted needed done with her person, Susan was surprised to see the front yard of the church building had some make-shift tables and wagon beds with food stuffs all over them.
“What’s all this?” Susan turned to one of the ladies.
“It’s not often we get to have a wedding. So we all decided to make a celebration of it. Everyone went home and grabbed what they had, so none of it’s all that fancy.”
“Oh my!” Susan said, a wide grin spreading across her face. “This is wonderful. I can’t believe how kind you all are to a perfect stranger.”
“It comes with the territory,” Mrs. Howard said. “If you don’t help your neighbor when they need it, you’ll run out of neighbors, and who will help you when your time of need comes?”
Susan took the woman’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I hope to be a good neighbor to all of you when you need me.”
“You just make sure you take good care of our Michael.”
“Our Michael?” she asked.
“Yes, we’ve all had a part in raising him. Poor thing. Lost his parents years ago back east, then on his way here with his uncle, he lost him too. Poor soul. Was brought to us and we’ve all made sure he’s had what he needed. Now, he works hard and takes care of us.”
“I’m glad he had all of you,” Susan said.
“And we’re glad he’ll have you.” Mrs. Howard hugged her tightly. “Now let’s get you into that church and married to him. We’ve got to get back out here and eat before the kids or the dogs nip off with too much.”
Susan nodded and allowed the women to pull her to the church. She looked around the small town, taking in all the details she’d missed before. She needed to distract her mind a little from what she was about to do, because if she thought about it too much, she might just run screaming back to the train station and find out when the next train back home would be coming through.
They opened the door of the church and she looked up to see Michael standing at the front. When all eyes turned to meet hers, she had the strongest impression that Michael was a good man. He had the entire town here to support him, and not a single one of them had said a bad word about him. She could trust him, she was sure, and with time, Susan thought it was even possible that she might come to love him.
But would it actually be something that could last? Would he change his mind after he actually married her and had to deal with her stubbornness all the time. If he tried to change her too much, she didn’t think she could endure it. Inheriting the money from her uncle and gaining access to her inheritance wouldn’t be worth the price of changing who she was. What would he think when he learned she had money back home? Would he insist on using it himself or would he despise her and think she had only agreed to marry him in order to access it?
Yet Michael had seemed to take her admission of her personality flaws without any issues. Perhaps he would be just fine with her. Out here, in the west without all the fancy clothes and parties and social gatherings held only to impress others, her odd behaviors and stubbornness wouldn’t stand out nearly as much. She also hoped once he learned about the money, he would help her decide the best way to utilize it for the benefit of the people of Birch Creek. With how wonderful they were to her, she wanted to make sure she paid them back in any way she could.
CHAPTER THREE
When Michael saw his bride step into the small church, it was almost as if everyone else disappeared. She met his eyes and he could have sworn that something passed between them in that moment. A feeling of peace washed over him and he knew he would never regret this.
Susan lifted her head and walked forward with purpose and incredible poise. She would be a woman to reckon with and would definitely stand out. Yet everyone in Birch Creek would come to respect and love her, of that he was certain. To live in the wilds of the Idaho territory took more than just courage. This woman had what it took in spades.
The folks who’d come to watch their wedding were all smiles, but Michael doubted any of them could match his own.
Susan had walked up the aisle alone, no one to give her away, but instead of that feeling wrong, Michael was certain each of the people in town would adopt her to be theirs just as they had done for him. Especially with the way they’d thrown this wedding together within hours.
Susan took the last few steps toward him, then turned to face him and offered her hand which he gladly accepted. He gave it a gentle squeeze, hoping to convey gratitude and comfort. When she squeezed back, he realized she really didn’t need any comforting. She’d most likely adjust to this marriage better than he would.
The two then turned to face the preacher and as the man began the short ceremony, Michael tried to focus on the words. When he said until death do you part, Michael almost wanted to protest. He thought for sure the way he felt right now, he’d cherish her even after he was gone.
“I do,” Susan said and squeezed his hand. Michael looked at her then back to the preacher when he began the second part for him.
“I do,” Michael said with conviction.
The light in Susan’s eyes captured his attention and Michael missed most of the rest of what the preacher said until the words, “you may now kiss the bride” were spoken.
Susan didn’t look nervous or fearful. Less worried than he felt right now, but he would do right by his bride. He adjusted his footing until he was standing directly in front of her. She looked up at him with expectation and Michael hoped he wouldn’t disappoint.
As he lowered his mouth to hers, he breathed in slowly, smelling the fresh scent of apple blossoms and knew he’d love that scent for evermore.
Her lips touched his before he knew it and the whoops and catcalls from the crowd were lost in the background as he realized she had been the one to close the distance. She wasn’t afraid of him. With the confidence she held, Michael knew he’d lucked out in his choice of a bride. The fact that she’d picked him and come all this way for a stranger was not lost on him. He would do all he could to make sure she never regretted her decision.
***
Susan still felt like she was in a dream, but the kiss she shared with the stranger who was now her husband was more than the stuff of dreams. He didn’t kiss like a man who knew all about such things, but it was sweet and tender and full of promise. She felt cherished and even a little bit like there could be love someday. Definitely a good way to start a marriage. Even one so unorthodox as this. Of course, she knew this was a legal marriage and she’d be subject to all the laws here. If he wanted to, he could take claim to whatever he wanted. Though she wasn’t going to let that happen without a fight.
She pushed the concern down. Her intuition told her this would be just fine. He wouldn’t treat her like just some object or possession, and since he didn’t know she would have such a large inheritance, he wasn’t in this for any kind of economic gain. Michael was doing this for his own reasons, and she hoped that companionship and eventually love could come of it.
When Michael pulled back as the whistles and cheers from the crowd got louder, he met her eyes with a look of tenderness.
She smiled up at him. “Thank you.”
“For what?” Michael asked as he looked at her lips. She smiled again thinking he probably thought she was pleased with his kiss. Well, she was in fact, but that wasn’t what she meant.
“For making me your wife.”
Michael nodded and took her hand. “Guess we’d better get moving outside before Mrs. Howard comes to push us out there.”
Susan glanced at the woman who was wiggling her way past all the other people still standing in front of their benches. Susan gripped Michael’s hand and the two of them walked down the aisle toward the front door to more cheers as they passed the crowd. When they stepped outside, another woman Susan couldn’t remember the name of waved them over and insisted they sit down at the front table so they could be first to eat and hear all the welcomes and congratulations of the town.
Susan kept a tight hold of Michael’s hand, grateful he let her. She watched all the people mill around and studied her new town. None of them would have fit in the society she had kept back home. Of course, here in Birch Creek, Susan felt more welcomed and accepted than she had in all the activities she’d endured in New York.
***
Michael had never really relished the thought of being the center of attention. Though he’d been doted on by most of the women of the town at one time or another, he’d also gotten in trouble with every single one of them for one reason or another. He watched as everyone milled around and celebrated with him and Susan.
He had tried to stand in line to get food for himself and his new bride, but the ladies had insisted the two of them sit at the table closest to the church while the women all brought the newlyweds plates with all the fixings.
“This is amazing,” Susan said, thanking each new person that arrived at their table. She handled the attention much better than he did. It also helped that the women were more interested in getting a peek at his wife than talking to him. Each visitor took the chance to introduce themselves and invite her to come visit or make plans to stop at their house to help her get settled.
Michael made a mental note to stay at his shop for most of the day so he wouldn’t have to make small talk with them. As he watched Susan, he knew she’d be able to handle herself even if the entire population of Birch Creek descended on his little house over the next few days.
Eventually, the town residents who were in attendance had all filed past their table and the meal was consumed until there was nothing left but crumbs. Yet instead of preparing to go home, Michael could tell the celebration was just getting started.
One of the older men had sent a runner to his house for his fiddle and another had a harmonica. Before long, everyone was up and dancing, including the dogs that hadn’t been scared off by the noise.
Susan laughed as the crowd started to dance, and began to clap along in rhythm to the music. Her joy was contagious and even though Michael didn’t know much about dancing, he wanted to get up and move with her. He only had to turn toward her and offer her a hand. She was up, around the table, and into the center of everyone in less time than it took to swallow his surprise.
Susan leaned in close, laughing as she spoke. “We dance differently back home and I’m sure I will look ridiculous, but I’m going to dance anyway!”
Michael laughed with her. “You and me both. We’ll just do what we can and hope I don’t end up knocking you down.”
“Oh, I doubt you’d do that,” Susan said looking him up and down. “You seem rather solid and quick on your feet.”
Michael took both her hands in his following the crowd in the movements and steps as they went forward and back, then up and down an aisle they formed with their hands for the couples to move through.
He’d watched others dancing when the town had come together to celebrate before, but he had rarely danced with them. One of the problems with the community being so much heavier on the male population.
Whoever had come up with the idea of sending for a wife would have his gratitude. If married life was full of this much joy and excitement, he was in for a treat.
As he caught sight of a few of the older gentlemen who had complained about their wives nagging them, he could see most were happily dancing and laughing with their wives, or smiling and clapping together as they sat close.
He wasn’t naive enough to think there would be no problems, but Michael was happy to know that he was off to a good start. He met Susan’s eyes once more as they came together again in the dance. As he grabbed her hands and they moved down the row, her laugh bubbled up from deep inside and he felt his own laugh join hers.
Now if only he could make the whole town disappear or decide to head home so he could have this fascinating woman all to himself.
***
Susan had never really imagined what her wedding would be like when she grew up. Before her mother had passed, she’d talked of giving her a big wedding in a magnificent chapel with flowers and garlands and white ribbons everywhere. Susan was sure the dress her mother would have picked for her would have been elaborate with lace and embroidery and pearls everywhere. Something that Susan would have undoubtedly despised.
Instead she had exactly what she needed. A celebration full of fun and joy. The welcome of a town and the happiness at the good fortune they felt their son deserved.
This was truly the beginning of something amazing. Although she wasn’t actually in love with her husband, she liked him immensely already. He had even agreed to marry her in spite of her request to give themselves time.
The community stayed long and the music continued even after the sun went down. A few of the families had to leave early. Many of them had come to wish them well and say their farewells, apologizing for having to leave so soon to get back to their animals and chores.
She hugged each of the women and gave farewell hugs or waves to many of the children, thrilled to know they had all accepted her so quickly. When it finally came to the point where Michael stood up and thanked everyone for such a wonderful gift of their time, food, and even money or store bought goods, Susan was relieved to see an end to the celebration.
“Shall we give you a ride home?” Colten asked as he shook hands with Michael.
“I think we should clean up first,” Michael said. Susan nodded her agreement, but the townsfolk all insisted they would take care of it.
Michael turned to Susan and whispered softly. “Would you like a ride home, or would you be willing to walk with me? Give us a bit of time on our own?”
Susan smiled. “I’d love to walk. That will give me a chance to cool off after all this dancing and celebrating.”
Michael looked at Colten and shook his hand once more. “Thank you for the offer. We’ll walk.” He turned back to the people moving the tables into wagon beds. “You sure you don’t want help?”
“Get on home, you two,” someone hollered from off to the left. A couple people chuckled and everyone started shooing them away.
Michael took Susan’s hand in his and turned to her. “Are you ready?”
Susan nodded. Her heart skipped a couple beats knowing she was on her way to her new home with her new husband in a new environment she wasn’t used to, but she was more excited than scared. Hopefully the feeling would last.
They walked in silence for a few minutes. The moonlight was bright enough they could see by, and the road was completely empty. She would be excited to explore more of the town in the following days, but she couldn’t deny she was looking forward to the quiet of home.
“Wait,” Susan said and stopped suddenly.
“What?” Michael asked, concern apparent in his voice.
“I forgot all about my trunk. It’s still at your shop.”
Michael shook his head. “I had some help getting it to the house. Along with some of the gifts the town was so kind to help with.”
“Gifts?” Susan asked.
“I didn’t have a lot of food or supplies,” Michael spoke, sounding embarrassed. “Since it was just me and all. So everyone chipped in and got some flour and salt and lard and things.”
Susan took a deep breath. “I have a confession.”
“What’s that?” Michael asked.
“I don’t know a lot about cookin
g. Where I came from, I didn’t do much besides the really basic things. Most of the food was available for purchase or came with my housing arrangements. I might need some instructions.”
“I know a bit. Never any good at bread though. How are you at that?”
Susan gave an embarrassed laugh. “Never tried it actually.”
“I’m sure there are some ladies who’d be willing to teach you. We’ll be fine.”
“Thank you,” Susan said, squeezing his hand. She was hesitant to bring up more of her lack of knowledge of things in the west or more specifically her lack of basic homemaking skills. “I’ll do my best to adjust to things here, but I feel I must warn you that I will probably be rather hopeless in many things at first. I’ll work hard and figure it out as quickly as I can.”
Michael nodded. “Sounds reasonable. I’m sure you had different experiences back east in New York. Not a lot of it would be the same as out here. More shops and more jobs there.”
Susan chuckled. If he only knew the half of it.
“What do you know about animals?” Michael asked after a few minutes of silence as they walked.
“Depends on the animal.”
“Chickens and pigs. I was able to get a couple. Didn’t have them before. Mostly did trading work for the stuff I needed. I figured with a family, I might need to have some.”
“I don’t know much at all about that. I had a dog once, but that is the only exposure to animals I know.”
“No dog currently, but when someone has some puppies, I’ll ask for one if you’d like.”
“I would love that,” Susan said. “I haven’t had a dog in a while. I’ve missed the companionship. I think it will be easy enough to learn what to do with chickens. Pigs though, you might have to teach me.”
“I’m also looking into a goat. For milk.”
Susan felt her stomach rebel at the idea. “I’m not sure how I feel about that. I would immensely prefer cow’s milk. Do you think that would be possible?”
The Blacksmith's Bride: A Golden Valley Story (The Brides of Birch Creek Book 1) Page 3
