“You promised to marry me as soon as we got here,” she reminded him. “You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”
Mindful of her injured shoulder, he drew her carefully into his arms. “Of course not. Name the day.”
“Is tomorrow too soon?”
“Wouldn’t you like to give your shoulder a chance to heal?”
“No. I’ve waited long enough to be your wife. I don’t want to wait another day.”
“Whatever you say, darlin’. I’m a man of my word.”
She smiled up at him. “Oh!”
“Change your mind already?”
“I don’t have anything to wear. I don’t have any clothes at all except what I’m wearing.”
“We’ll go into town tomorrow. You can spend the day shopping while I talk to the preacher and take care of a few things. We can be married day after tomorrow. How’s that sound?”
“Wonderful!”
They left first thing in the morning. Chance kept the team at a walk so as not to cause Teressa any undue pain.
When they reached town, he dropped her off at the dress shop, promising to pick her up in front of the hotel in two hours to take her to lunch.
“Better make it three,” she said, and with a wave and a smile, she went into the shop. She hadn’t expected to find much of a selection but, to her surprise, the store carried a number of dresses suitable for a wedding.
She chose a pale pink gown with a fitted bodice and a slim skirt, pleased that it didn’t need any alterations. She bought several other dresses for everyday, as well as undergarments, a robe, and a nightgown. She paid for her purchases with money Chance had given her and left the shop.
She browsed in several other stores, buying a new pair of boots for everyday wear on the ranch, a pair of dainty shoes to wear with her wedding dress, and a pair of house slippers. She bought a simple white hat for church, wondering, as she did so, if Chance even went to Sunday services. She picked out a delicate confection of lace and flowers to wear at the wedding, and a floppy-brimmed sunbonnet for everyday. At the mercantile, she bought soap, a brush, and a comb, pins for her hair.
She reached the hotel just as Chance pulled up in the wagon.
He whistled softly when he saw her. “Did you buy out every store in town?”
“Almost,” she replied.
Taking the packages from her hands, he loaded them into the back of the wagon. “Are you ready to get something to eat?”
Nodding, she placed her hand on his arm and they went into the hotel. He held her chair for her, then took a seat across from her.
“Find everything you wanted?” he asked.
“Yes. Did you talk to the preacher?”
“Yeah. Everything’s all set for tomorrow afternoon at one. I thought we’d spend the night here at the hotel, if that’s all right with you?”
“Of course.”
She was surprised when she discovered he had again arranged for two rooms, touched when he told her he didn’t want any hint of scandal damaging her reputation.
“We’ll be living here a long time,” he said, “and the people hereabouts have long memories.”
She laughed softly, touched by his concern. “This is the last night you’ll be sleeping alone, Mr. McCloud.”
“You don’t know how glad I am to hear you say that,” he replied, grinning. “And I intend to hold you to it.”
* * * * *
Their wedding day dawned bright and clear. They ate breakfast in the hotel dining room, then went upstairs to dress for the wedding.
At twelve-forty-five, Chance knocked on her hotel room door. She opened it a moment later, a smile lighting her face.
She was radiant, Chance thought, from the crown of her hat to the soles of her feet. Her dress, though modest, flattered every curve.
“Chance?”
He blinked at the sound of her voice, only then realizing that he had been staring at her like a man seeing a woman for the first time.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured.
“Thank you.” Her gaze moved over him. “You’re looking very handsome yourself.”
He had bought a new suit of clothes. She thought his black coat and white shirt were the perfect complement to his copper-hued skin and dark hair and eyes. He looked tall and lean and good enough to eat. The thought brought a rush of heat to her cheeks.
“Shall we?” he asked, offering her his arm.
Smiling happily, she placed her hand on his arm and they walked down the street to the church.
The minister was waiting for them inside. A elderly man and woman stood beside him. He introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. Browne, who would be their witnesses.
Chance took Teressa’s hand in his as the minister began to speak. She gazed up at him. Lost in the love she saw in his eyes, she was hardly aware of the words that were spoken until the minister said, “You may kiss the bride.”
Chance drew her into his arms. “I love you,” he said, and lowering his head, he kissed her for the first time as her husband.
“Stop!”
Teressa jerked out of Chance’s arms at the sound of her father’s voice. “Papa! Mama! What are you doing here? How did you know…?” Her voice trailed off. Of course, her father must have talked to Cynthia.
“This wedding will not take place,” Edward Bryant said. He hurried down the aisle, closely followed by his wife.
“I’m afraid you’re too late,” Chance said, holding tight to Teressa’s hand. “It’s already done.”
“I will have it annulled! Today!”
“No, you won’t, Papa,” Teressa said. “It’s already been consummated.”
Bryant’s eyes widened, then narrowed ominously as he glared at Chance. “You bas—”
“Sir, I would remind you that you’re in the house of the Lord,” the minister said, cutting him off.
Bryant reached for her hand. “Teressa, let’s go.”
“No, Papa. I’m Chance’s wife now.”
“The marriage will be annulled!”
“Papa, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Teressa said calmly. “Unless you want your first grandchild to be illegitimate.”
Edward gaped at her.
Rosalia dropped down on the front pew, looking aghast.
“You’re pregnant!” Her father spoke the words with the same horror he might have used if she had told him she had the plague.
“Yes. And I’m Chance’s wife, so you may as well get used to the idea.”
“There’s cake and champagne waiting for us at the hotel,” Chance said, grinning. “We’d love to have you join us.”
Edward turned to look at his wife. She stood, her face pale, and held out her hand. “Come, Eduardo,” she said, forcing a smile. “Let us celebrate our daughter’s marriage.”
Teressa looked up at Chance and grinned. “Welcome to my family, Mr. McCloud.”
* * * * *
The celebration didn’t last long. The Bryants toasted the happy couple. They ate cake and drank champagne, but, through it all, they looked like they were in a daze. It would be a while, Chance mused, before they fully accepted the fact that their daughter had married a half-breed rancher.
After her parents bid them goodbye, with the promise they would see them the following morning, Chance carried his bride up the stairs to their hotel room. Opening the door, he carried her inside, kicked the door shut with his heel.
“A baby?” he asked, still holding her in his arms.
“I had to say something to make them stop talking about an annulment,” she said, grinning at him.
“So it’s not true?”
“It could be.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “But just in case I’m not…”
He grinned at her. “I get your drift, Mrs. McCloud, and I’ll do my best to make sure you’re in the family way just as soon as possible. Starting right now,” he promised, and carrying her to bed, he made love to her as thoroughly and tenderly as ever a man had loved a wo
man.
And nine months later, he turned his wife’s little white lie into a nine-pound baby boy.
Epilogue
Teressa sat in the shade of a huge old cottonwood, her four-month old son sleeping peacefully on a buffalo hide beside her as she watched her husband put a handsome buckskin stallion through its paces. The horse was fresh off the range, still green broke and rough around the edges, but it was quick to learn and Wolf—she never did learn to call him Chance—had hopes that the stallion would make a good cutting horse.
She smiled and waved as Wolf looked in her direction. Life had never been better. Their son was healthy and happy, the ranch was prospering, and her parents had finally given them their blessing.
She glanced fondly at her son. They had named him Luke, after Wolf Shadow’s father. Soon, they would go to visit the People so that Wolf Shadow could seek a vision. And while they were there, they would have a feast to honor their son and Wolf Shadow would proclaim that Luke would be known as Snow Wolf among the People.
She knew Wolf Shadow was looking forward to seeing Kills-Like-a-Hawk again. She, too, was eager to return to the Black Hills, to show off her handsome son to Corn Woman and Yellow Fawn and Leaf, to hear the Lakota language, to lie inside a snug lodge and listen to the wind whisper against the lodgeskins.
Her heart swelled with love and peace as she watched Wolf Shadow dismount and walk toward her. She glanced down at her son and then back at her husband. At long last, she knew where she belonged.
The End
About the Author
Madeline Baker started writing simply for the fun of it. Now she is the award-winning author of more than twenty books and one of the most popular writers of Native American romance. She lives in California, where she was born and raised.
The author welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Madeline Baker
Apache Flame
Hawk’s Woman
Lakota Love Song
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