At her side, Claus Horowitz offered his arm to walk her down the aisle. “I am immensely honored to be standing in for your father.”
Although she was being married in a Christian church, she was fond of the kind Jewish man. He was the first one to sign up for her advertising program. In addition, he and his wife would be her neighbors.
“Thank you for agreeing. I hope I don’t trip and fall. I’m so nervous I can hardly stand.” She fiddled with the folds of her dress to insure the skirt draped properly.
Standing in front of her, Prudence poked her. “Shhh. Straighten your spine and lift your chin. Your groom’s adoring you. Show him how happy you are.” Her blue skirts and petticoats rustled as she faced the front.
Lorraine smiled at the man waiting for her, the center of her world. Grant’s eyes held her gaze as she followed Prudence. Beside him, Zane Evans stood as his best man. Grady waited with a smile on his face and his Bible open on the lectern.
Two large urns of flowers were on either side of the altar.
How fortunate she was. Those who filled the church were already her friends. She thanked God for Lydia Harrison. On this happy day Lorraine refused to consider what might have happened to her if her mother had not seen that advertisement.
When she reached the altar and stopped, Grady asked, “Who gives this woman in marriage?”
Claus stretched his rotund body to his full height. “I am honored to act in place of her father and mother, who could not attend.” He placed her hand in Grant’s and then joined his wife Aleida on the front pew. The Horowitz couple clasped hands and smiled at one another.
Lorraine handed her bouquet to Prudence and then faced her groom. The love shining from his eyes transported her to another realm.
Grady held each side of the lectern and gazed out at the congregation. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.”
He read from Scriptures before he asked, “Grant Raymond Pettigrew, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, forsaking all others to cleave only unto her, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better and worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and to cherish until death do you part?”
Grant’s voice rasped, “I do.”
The minister asked, “Lorraine Elizabeth Stuart, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, forsaking all others to cleave only unto him, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better and worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor and obey until death do you part?”
Her voice trembled. “I do.”
“Let no man put asunder that which God has brought together. By the power vested in me by the State of Texas and my ministerial license, I now pronounce you man and wife. Grant, you may kiss your bride.”
Grant brushed his lips across hers then whispered, “I’ve saved lots more of those for tonight.”
Her face heated, but she smiled at him then they turned to face their friends.
Grady announced, “I present Mr. and Mrs. Grant Pettigrew.”
While they hurried down the aisle, the minister spoke loudly, “Lydia Harrison has invited everyone to the reception at her home.”
Grant helped her down the steps and into the rig he’d hired. He hopped in and they drove to Lydia’s at the opposite end of town. Once there, they handed the reins to Arturo Ramirez.
Lorraine hugged the gardener who’d cut all the flowers used today. “You should have come. It was a beautiful wedding.”
“So are all weddings if the bride and groom are in love as I think you are. I prefer to be here to help. And now you are Señora Pettigrew.” He smiled then gestured at the town. “Hurry, Señora y Señor, into the house. I see the others are almost here.”
Grant took her hand and they raced inside and upstairs to the ballroom. Mrs. Greenberg and Mrs. Ramirez were putting finishing touches on the food table.
Mrs. Greenberg said, “Today was Moira’s turn to go to the wedding. You look beautiful, Lorraine.” She surveyed Grant. “You look very nice too, Mr. Pettigrew.”
Grant and Lorraine stood near the room’s entrance, in the same spot each of her now married friends had stood for their wedding reception. The same decorations used for those other brides and grooms looked new and vases of fresh flowers were everywhere. Open terrace doors admitted a light breeze that cooled the room.
People formed a queue and greeted them with good wishes.
When Grady and Angeline entered, Matthew clapped his hands. “Cookies.”
Vadim stood by his shy bride of one week. “We are happy to see your wedding. It was much like ours, yes?”
Natka took Lorraine’s hand. “I have trouble believing how wonderful is our home. Vadim and I are . . . dobrych—” she looked at her husband for help.
He smiled at her. “We are fortunate to have such good friends. Many blessings we have been given.”
Lorraine slanted a glance at Grant. “Us, too. I am happier than I ever believed possible.”
Grant hugged her to his side. “So am I.” He scanned the room. “Looks as if everyone has arrived. Shall we make this quick so we can leave?”
She giggled. “I’ll bet every couple feels that way, don’t you?”
As they reached their hostess, Lorraine enfolded Lydia. “Thank you for all you’ve done for me. This wouldn’t have been possible without you.”
Lydia returned the hug. “My pleasure. You and the others have enriched my life immeasurably.” She was regal in a faille dress of the lavender color so flattering to her.
After what seemed a long time but was probably closer to thirty minutes, Grant took her hand. “Let’s make our escape, shall we?”
Lorraine and Grant hurried down the stairs amid cheers. When they reached the rig, signs plastered the side and back. She supposed there was one on the other side, too. Those she saw said Leg shackled and Grant’s freedom is over. Streamers and tin cans tied with twine dangled from the rig’s back.
Grant lifted her onto the seat. “I can’t complain about the signs or decorations after doing the same to others.” He leaped into the buggy and released the brake. “In fact, I think I printed the Leg Shackled one for Michael and Josephine’s wedding.”
As they sped toward his home, he glanced her way. “Don’t worry, I’ve had the place cleaned since you saw it. Apparently, we have a housekeeper now.”
The news was welcome, but not as important as being Grant’s wife. “Do you really believe I care? What I want is your love and to share your life.”
“I can think of nothing I want more, my darling Lorraine. If I were any happier, I’d float up to the clouds.”
She linked her arm with his. “I’d not let you go. You’ve made my dreams come true, Grant. I love you more than I ever thought possible to love another person.”
He pressed a quick kiss against her hair. “And this is just the beginning of a wonderful journey, Mrs. Pettigrew.”
She laid her head against his strong shoulder. “I’ll be by your side all the way, Mr. Pettigrew.”
Dear Reader,
Thank you for choosing to read my book out of the millions available. If you’d like to know about my new releases, contests, giveaways, and other events, please sign up for my reader group here. New subscribers receive a Free historical western titled Happy Is The Bride.
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Caroline
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Read Caroline’s western historical titles:
Amanda’s Rancher, Montana Sky Ki
ndle World, sweet
The Rancher and the Shepherdess, Montana Sky Kindle World, sweet
Murdoch’s Bride, Montana Sky Kindle World, sweet
Bride’s Adventure, Montana Sky Kindle World, sweet
Patience, Bride of Washington, American Mail-Order Brides Series #42
Josephine, Bride Brigade book 1, sweet
Angeline, Bride Brigade book 2, sweet
Cassandra, Bride Brigade book 3, sweet
Ophelia, Bride Brigade book 4, sweet
Rachel, Bride Brigade book 5, sweet
Lorraine, Bride Brigade book 6. sweet
Prudence, Bride Brigade book 7, sweet
The Surprise Brides: Jamie, released simultaneously with three other The Surprise Bride books which are Gideon by Cynthia Woolf, Caleb by Callie Hutton, and Ethan by Sylvia McDaniel, each book about one of the Fraser brothers of Angel Springs, Colorado, sensual
The Most Unsuitable Wife, Kincaids book one, sensual
The Most Unsuitable Husband, Kincaids book two, sensual
The Most Unsuitable Courtship, Kincaids book three, sensual
Gabe Kincaid, Kincaids book four, sensual
Brazos Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book one, sensual, Free
Buy the Audiobook here
High Stakes Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book two, sensual
Buy the Audiobook here
Bluebonnet Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book three, sensual
Tabitha’s Journey, a Stone Mountain Texas mail-order bride novella
Stone Mountain Reunion, a Stone Mountain Texas short story
Stone Mountain Christmas, a Stone Mountain Texas novella
Winter Bride, a Stone Mountain romance
The Texan’s Irish Bride, McClintocks book one, sensual, Free
O’Neill’s Texas Bride, McClintocks book two, sweet
McClintock’s Reluctant Bride, McClintock’s book three, sweet
Save Your Heart For Me, a western romance adventure novella, sensual
Long Way Home, a sweet Civil War adventure romance novella, sweet.
Caroline’s Time Travel
Out Of The Blue, 1845 Irish lass comes forward to today, sensual
If you prefer contemporary western romance, you’ll enjoy interacting with kindred souls and authors by becoming a member of Contemporary Western Hearts Facebook Group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/contemporarywesternhearts/
Caroline’s Contemporary Titles
Be My Guest, mildly sensual
Grant Me The Moon, sweet with mystery
Snowfires, sensual
Home Sweet Texas Home, Texas Home book one, sweet
Caroline’s Mysteries:
Almost Home, a Link Dixon mystery
Death In The Garden, a Heather Cameron cozy mystery, Kindle only
Take Advantage of Bargain Boxed Sets:
Wild Western Women – Mistletoe, Montana, Kirsten Osbourne, Caroline Clemmons, Merry Farmer, and Sylvia McDaniel—for a limited time!
Mail-Order Tangle: Linked books Mail-Order Promise by Caroline Clemmons and Mail-Order Ruckus by Jacquie Rogers, Kindle Only
The Kincaids, Books 1-4 in one set
Men of Stone Mountain, contains the first three of the Stone Mountain Texas books: Brazos Bride, High Stakes Bride, and Bluebonnet Bride. Kindle only
10 Timeless Heroes, time travels include Out Of The Blue and novels by
Sky Purington, Skhye Moncreif, Donna Michaels, Beth Trissel, P. L. Parker, L. L. Muir, Linda LaRoque, and Nancy Lee Badger. Kindle only
Rawhide ’n Roses, fifteen 2000 word short stories by various western historical authors, nominated for the Rhone Award, all proceeds go to Black Hills Wild Horse Rescue
Caroline Clemmons is an Amazon bestselling and award winning author of historical and contemporary western romances. A frequent speaker at conferences and seminars, she has taught workshops on characterization, point of view, and layering a novel.
Caroline and her husband live in the heart of Texas cowboy country with their menagerie of rescued pets. When she’s not indulging her passion for writing, Caroline enjoys family, reading, travel, antiquing, genealogy, painting, and getting together with friends. Find her on her blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google+, WattPad, Shelfari, and Pinterest.
Subscribe to her newsletter here to receive a Free novella of Happy Is Bride.
Now here’s a peek at the next Bride Brigade book:
PRUDENCE, Bride Brigade Book 7
Chapter One
Dry Water Crossing, Virginia 1873
Prudence Lynch darted inside the cabin and slammed the door behind her. She yanked the latch string inside to hinder anyone from gaining entrance. Setting her bag on the floor, she dropped a few coins into the bean pot they used as their cash jar and replaced the lid. What would happen next?
“That you, Pru?” Granny’s voice had grown faint.
“Coming, Granny.” She fought for calm as she stood and covered the short distance to the bedroom, weaving her way among to drying and dried plants hanging from the rafters.
“You bein’ pestered again?”
“Nothing bad, just annoying. Have you been all right while I was gone? I sure hated to leave you.”
“Mamie McGee came by and stayed last night after you told her you were goin’ to the Boggs. Widow Abbott stopped off today. I’ve been looked after fine enough.”
Prudence smoothed her hand over her grandmother’s lined face. “I delivered Tillie Boggs’ baby boy safe and healthy. They wanted you and acted real disappointed I came instead. Granny, people think I’m too young to be a healer.”
“They’ll get over that. You didn’t tell them how bad off I am, did you? They don’t need to know, and that’s a fact.”
“No, you said to keep it a secret except for Mrs. McGee and Widow Abbott. I said you had something you needed to do and wanted me to take over for you yesterday. That’s the truth because you sorely needed to rest.”
“Did they pay you?”
“Sure did, in real money. I put it in jar but it didn’t sound like there’s much in there.”
“There’s enough. Isn’t like you to slam the door like that. Why did you?”
“I was in a hurry.” Prudence lied and bent to straighten the cover over her beloved grandmother.
Granny’s cloudy eyes saw too well. “Um-hmm. Four fools still followin’ you and lookin’ to find trouble?”
Prudence sighed and confessed, “No matter what I say those pesky Jensens and Winfields won’t believe we have no gold. They ought to see we don’t have any money to speak of from the way we live. Who started that awful rumor?”
“No tellin’ but when I pass, more than those four will take this place apart lookin’ for it. You got to leave before they know I’m gone.”
“Please don’t talk about dying.” Looking at the frail lady lying in bed, Prudence couldn’t deny that dreaded day would arrive soon. She shut her eyes against the pain of losing her beloved grandmother, her only remaining kin.
“I’ve been makin’ arrangements with those who visit me and I have things to tell you. Take a dollar and four bits and go to Widow Abbot’s. Now that she’s livin’ with her daughter, she’s got two big trunks and a valise she wants to sell. Bring them here and pack everythin’ you want to take with you.”
“What will I do with trunks? I can’t carry a loaded one anywhere and our pony cart won’t be much use.”
“Child, I’ve already made arrangements to take care of that. Mamie McGee’s son Ricky will take you to Richmond in their wagon. He’s simple but strong and trustworthy. Poor boy loves going places.”
“He might talk when he gets home. He’s easily tricked by the likes of the Jensen and Winfield bunch.” In fact the foursome teased Ricky mercilessly. The only thing that saved him from worse was his large size and strength.
“What he says won’t matter by then. In return, I promised to give him the pony and cart.”
“R
icky’s crazy about them. He’ll take good care of both.”
“I’m sure he will. Otherwise, I would have given them to someone else. Now, go on and get the trunks like I said.”
“Oh, Granny.” She dropped to her knees beside the bed and cradled her grandmother’s hand against her cheek. A knife pierced her heart at the thought of losing the wonderful grandmother who’d raised her and taught her so much about healing and herbs and life.
Granny pulled loose and stroked Prudence’s hair. “Now, none of that, Pru. You know we each have our time to be born and our time to die. I’ve been longin’ to see your grandfather and my sweet daughter again, the Good Lord willin’.”
“You’ve often mentioned seeing them once more, especially the past few weeks. Are you pining for them?”
“Reckon I am. Concentrate on your future. I sure wish you would’ve gone away to school like I wanted so you’d know more about the world outside of this little spot in the road.”
“I wanted to learn from you, Granny.”
That was true, but sometimes she wondered what her life would have been like had she gone away to study. The little one-room school she’d attended didn’t teach her much. Granny had furnished a better education at home. She often wondered where her grandmother had learned all she’d taught but Granny wouldn’t tell.
“Besides, think of the cost of me going away to school. Unless you really do have gold hidden, we couldn’t afford that.”
“Same thin’ your mama said when I wanted her to go to school in Richmond. I’d have managed to pay for hers and for your schoolin’.”
The dear lady flicked her bony hand. “It’s too late to worry about that. There’s no point in you being stuck in this crossroads to waste away. You’re my darlin’ girl, but there’s nothing here for a gentle soul and intelligent woman like you.”
Reluctantly, Prudence rose and prepared to go out again. What Granny said was true. This place offered no future promise for her or for anyone else.
Lorraine Page 12
