Mason put as much into that courting as he did when he trained his men. His heart and soul and his entire being went into making sure Peyton knew how much he loved and adored her.
“When Catherine and I wed, I was just as nervous, if not more,” Christian said, putting a hand on Mason’s shoulder. Mason turned and looked at his best man.
It was hard to believe he had been in Harrisburg for six months. Christian had been paramount in helping him secure the supplies he needed for the day to day operations to train the troops, including securing the housing that enabled him to spend more time with Peyton.
Christian was a valuable officer in the regiment, as well as a good friend. He looked around the room. Catherine sat on one of the chairs, her belly swelling beneath her shawl.
It wasn’t an easy recovery for the Millers to recover from the betrayal of one of their family members. Christian had even talked of going into battle just to restore his family’s name.
Mason was glad he was able to talk his friend out of doing something like that. Christian wasn’t responsible for his brother’s actions. Justin was still missing, but Josephine Graves had been tried in Philadelphia and paid for her crimes with a hangman’s noose.
He dismissed those unpleasant thoughts and returned to the happy ones of today, instead. His eyes continued around the room.
The Fullers stood to the side. He knew he would be forever grateful to his father-in-law for opening his home and his heart to young Pup.
Mrs. Harris whispered to Mrs. Fuller. Whatever Mrs. Harris had said, Mrs. Fuller must have agreed with as she was nodding her head furiously.
Mason pulled out a gold watch from the pocket of his jacket. It was almost time.
“She’s here,” Reverend Harris whispered.
Mason’s eyes flew up to see Peyton standing in the doorway. She looked like an angel, standing there in a white silk gown, wearing gloves and a long veil. He could barely make out her features under the layers of lace.
As wide as the skirt was, he knew she must have had many layers of crinoline over a wire frame. The veil covering her face brushed her chin and she had a longer one in the back.
The crowd hushed as Peyton walked toward the front of the room. Mason had never seen anything more lovely as she walked towards him. It appeared like she was floating above the carpeted floor.
When she finally stood in front of him, Mason reached down to take her hand. It was so small compared to his large hands. Just the perfect size to hold his heart, he thought.
As Reverend Harris started to recite the words that would make them man and wife, Mason couldn’t keep his eyes off his bride. He tried to see her features beneath the veil. The anticipation was difficult to bear. He recited his vows and slid a gold ring on her finger.
“You may kiss your bride,” Reverend Harris said.
“Yes, sir.” Mason lifted the layer of lace covering Peyton’s face. Peyton’s green eyes flashed up to his. “I love you, Peyton,” he whispered as he leaned down to capture her lips.
Her heard her return the sentiment as he deepened the kiss. After a moment the sound of applause reached his ears and he broke the kiss. He looked at Peyton, her eyes glowing with unshed tears.
“Happy?”
“Very happy, darling. I love you.”
They turned to look at their family and friends. Pup came up and wrapped his arms around Peyton, then Mason.
He now had a wife and a son. Even though it would take time for them to legally adopt Pup, he became their son the moment they asked him.
They were a committed family.
He took one more look at his wife, before grabbing her hand and bringing it to his lips. He then gently kissed her forehead and led her to the dining room for cake and coffee.
His life was full. He looked up towards the heavens and said a silent thank you to the Lord above for his Civil War bride.
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The End
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Read the next book in the North and South Series:
Minnesota Bride
By Lisa M. Prysock
Melody Ramsey has a daring and dangerous thirst for adventure in this inspirational Civil War romance. A governor’s daughter, she is in the unique position of meeting President Abraham Lincoln when news of the war breaks out. In fact, her father, the Governor of Minnesota, is the first to offer troops to Lincoln in response to his proclamation to put down the Confederate rebellion.
She has no idea how she’ll accomplish the mission in her heart, but she has a courageous if not overly zealous idea to become a spy before she settles down into becoming a teacher. Since she doesn’t see how it could happen, she tucks the idea away. When dashing military officer and Virginia mountain man, Captain Charles Trumbull, offers her a chance to meet the private secretary to Jefferson Davis by posing as his wife, she takes him up on the unconventional proposal. Can true love be found between the daughter of a northern Yankee politician and a man raised with southern tradition tearing a nation apart?
Get your copy of Minnesota Bride, available on Amazon for purchase and in Kindle Unlimited.
Read all of Christine’s Books
The Silverpines Series:
1. Wanted: Medicine Man
2. Wanted: Gravedigger
3. Wanted: Redemption
The Silverpines Companion Tales:
1. The Coffin Maker
2. Snowbound
3. Changing Seasons
The Proxy Bride Romances:
1. A Bride for Jeremiah
2. A Bride for Elijah
3. A Bride for Benjamin
The Pinkerton Matchmaker Romances:
1. The Pinkerton Matchmaker
2. An Agent for Claudette
3. An Agent for Penelope
4. An Agent for Marianne
5. An Agent for Pearl
The Cowboys and Angels Romances:
1. Bride in Blue
2. Beauty and the Baker
3. Tempting the Tailor
4. Married by Midnight
The Belles of Wyoming Romances:
1. Wynter's Bride
2. The Homecoming
3. A Matter of Marriage
4. The Barn Raising
The Black Hills Brides Books:
1. Her Secret Past
2. Her Secret Baby
3. Her Secret Shame
4. Her Secret Love
The Christmas Books:
1. A Cozy Mitten Christmas
2. A Cowboy for Christmas
3. A Mother for Christmas
Read Christine’s Other Books:
1. Gwyneth (Widows of Wildcat Ridge)
2. Moving from Maryland (Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge)
3. Dancing to the Altar (Holliday Islands Resort #2) – written as Christi Bortner
Click here to visit Christine’s Amazon page.
About Christine
Christine Sterling published her first book in 2017. She is the creator of the wildly popular Pinkerton Matchmaker Series and the Proxy Bride Series. She is an author in multiple collaborations, including: The Belles of Wyoming, Cowboys and Angels, The Widows of Wildcat Ridge and Silverpines, where her book Wanted: Medicine Man won best historical novel of 2018. She recently joined Sweet Promise Press as a historical romance author, writing for the Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge series.
She writes sweet and wholesome histor
ical western novels under the name Christine Sterling and sweet contemporary novels under Christi Bortner. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, a spoiled Shih Tzu, two German Shepherds and an energetic Border Collie, that keep her on her toes.
She spends her time writing, thinking about writing, and dreaming about writing. Her favorite things are a good cup of tea, puppy snuggles, a movie that will make you cry and hearing from her readers.
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The Civil War Bride
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, organizations, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
The book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. All rights are reserved with the exceptions of quotes used in reviews. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage system without express written permission from the author.
Scriptures quoted from the King James Holy Bible.
All books titled or quoted in this story belong to their respective authors.
His Civil War Bride ©2020 Christine Sterling
Cover Design by Virginia McKevitt, Black Widow Books
Editing by Carolyn Leggo and Amy Petrowich
1st Ed, 3/2020
His Civil War Bride Page 9
