by Paige Powers
He made her laugh. They could talk to each other so easily. Although they both came from completely different upbringings, they had much in common. They had goals and dreams and they were the type of people who went after those goals and dreams.
She felt so protected with Ben. Not necessarily because he was a lawman, but because he was so manly. He had already come into her life and taken care of so many things for her, and was that not what a man was supposed to do for a woman?
Mary had been helping with all of the wedding planning. Ben and Amelia agreed on a small ceremony with only their closest friends and family. Amelia knew that if her parents were alive, her wedding would have been the social event of the century. But Amelia did not feel that she should spend money frivolously on such things. To her, having a large wedding and spending money on photos and other unnecessary things did not make for a strong marriage.
The only thing she splurged on was her wedding dress. It was going to be a vision, and she could not wait for Ben to see her in it.
The wedding would take place in the garden at the finishing school, and Mary had taken care of the guest list, the decoration, and the food.
Amelia was more than anxious about everything. Especially because she had not heard from Ben. He had been away on a job, and had not been able to send her a wire to let her know that he was all right. Some days, waiting to hear from him were completely agonizing. Knowing that he was out there, somewhere in the Wild West here dealing with something unknown was at times too much for her to bear.
Thinking about seeing those deep blue eyes and feeling his arms around her saved her in those moments. She knew in her heart that he would be back all in one piece, so she continued planning the wedding.
Mary had already gotten married to her beau a month ago. He was a good man who made her happy, and Amelia was ecstatic to see love right in front of her. Watching Mary floating on the clouds and giddy with contentment made Amelia want some of that for herself. Mary was looking forward to having babies and making a life for herself and her husband.
"You and George are great role models for me, Mary."
Mary smiled. "Why thank you, Amelia. I had no idea."
Amelia shuffled some papers on her desk. She had signed all of the tuition contracts for the new group of students who would start the springtime enrollment.
"The only role models I knew for marriage were my parents. And although they did like each other, I'm not sure they were in love. I never saw passion. I never saw my father kiss my mother or have that look of desire in his eye when he talked to her or talked about her.
"All I've ever wanted to feel was the love of the poetry I've read. The passion in the books that I've read."
Mary chuckled. "I'm not sure if George and I have that passion that you speak of, but love is more than enough for both of us. The companionship makes a difference. George is a good man, and that is all I've ever wanted. A good man who will make a good husband and a good father. He is even all right with me continuing my work here at the school. That is, until we start to have children."
Amelia gently rubbed Mary on the shoulder. "I know. I will hate to see you go. But starting a family is so very important. You will make a sensational mother. I just know it."
"Thank you for the vote of confidence, Amelia. It is a bit terrifying to think of myself as a mother. But when the time comes, I want to be ready. And what about you? Are you ready to become Mrs. Benjamin Abbott?"
Amelia clasped her hands together. She got up and twirled around the table. "Fantastically ready. I cannot wait."
Amelia grabbed Mary by the hand and humming a song, she waltzed Mary around the office. They giggled like two school girls, completely caught up in the moment. Twirling each other, dancing around the room, Amelia enjoyed the time with her friend.
"Thank you for making me laugh, Mary. I needed that."
Mary held her hand to her chest and tried to stop laughing. "Of course. We can all use a laugh now and then. And I know that you have been patiently waiting for Ben's return. He will come back to you safely, Amelia. I know it."
Amelia nodded. "I feel it in my heart too."
*
The wedding was set for three o'clock the next day. Ben was still not home. He sent a wire saying that he would be home the day before the wedding, but when the train arrived, he was not on it.
Amelia was going crazy. She was not sure what was going on, but she knew in her heart that Ben would not miss their wedding. He was in love with her, and she believed what he said to be true. Nothing was going to stop her from being Mrs. Benjamin Abbott.
Mr. McGill and her uncle would arrive by train the first thing in the morning. All she needed was her groom. She just wished that he would send her word of where he was so that she would know he was safe.
She knew that she had signed up to be the wife of a Pinkerton detective, so she would have to have patience and know in her heart that her husband would come back to her just as he promised.
She stared at her dress hanging on her wardrobe. It had an elaborate train and was silk covered with a lace overlay. Her veil was the same material and Mary was going to pick the lilies from the school garden fresh in the morning.
Amelia had no clue what time she went to sleep, or what time it was when she heard the noise outside of her window. Something was tapping her glass, and she had no clue what that could be because her bedroom was on the second floor. She slipped on her robe and skipped over to the window.
Her heart raced when she saw the sight below.
Ben.
She could see his crooked smile even in the shadows of the street light.
Tying her robe closed, she lit her lamp and tried her best to pull her hair back and make sure she looked presentable enough.
The steps creaked as she went downstairs and ran to the front door. As soon as she opened it, Ben took her into his arms. She was off of her feet and he was swinging her around in the air, holding her tightly.
"Ben, you made it."
"You say that as if you thought I wouldn't."
"I was a bit nervous. After all, I can't show up at the wedding with no groom."
He kissed her, erasing all doubt.
"There is no way that I would let that happen. I would go through hell and high water to get to you, Amelia. I want you to know that."
She rested her hands on his chest. Being in his arms made her feel so secure.
"It's late, but would you like a cup of coffee before you go home?"
"I would love a cup, but I hear that it is bad luck to spend the night with the bride the night before the wedding."
"I did not ask you to spend the night."
He tilted her chin up so he was staring her in her eyes. "Woman, if I step foot inside I could not be responsible for what I would do to ravage you. It is enough that I have to stand here and be on my best behavior while you are wrapped in that silk nightgown."
He ran his hands through her long brown hair. "The one thing that is keeping me sane is knowing I am going to wake up to you every morning for the rest of my life."
Amelia bit her lip and smiled. Hearing those words was like music to her ears. She wanted to feel Ben next to her in her bed, but she knew that he was right.
"I can't wait to become Mrs. Benjamin Abbott."
When his lips touched hers, the inferno began.
"It does not take a wedding for that to happen. You have been Mrs. Benjamin Abbott since the day you said yes. I will see you tomorrow."
He pulled her to him, his hard body pressed against hers. A moan escaped her lips, and she knew that it would be practically impossible to fight through the craving she felt for the man that would be hers officially tomorrow.
*
The string quartet that played for the finishing school open house came back and played for the wedding. It was a clear, cool day in San Francisco. The humidity was low and flowers were in bloom. The fountain and the garden were the perfect backdrop for the wedding.
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Mr. McGill and Amelia's uncle Harold were there as they promised. They were practically the only family she had left. It was nice to see familiar faces.
Amelia stayed in her office, away from any of the guests. She did not want anyone to see her. Standing in the mirror, she wondered what her mother would say if she could see her now. Lulu la Rue would have probably told her to wear a bit more rouge. She would have probably given her tips for the wedding night on how to satisfy her new husband. Lulu, most importantly, would have been happy for her daughter. Amelia truly believed that. She knew that even through their strained relationship, her mother loved her. She just never verbally expressed it, and now Amelia knew it did not mean that Lulu did not love her.
Her father would have been just as proud. She was not marrying a wealthy man by far, but she was marrying a good man that would take care of her and provide for her. Amelia was sure that her father would have been able to relate to Ben in that respect. She could not wait to see what her uncle and Mr. McGill had to say when they met Ben.
Anxiety crept in, and she could not wait to walk down the aisle. Seeing Ben waiting for her would be the most amazing thing on earth.
Mary came zooming in the office.
"Are you ready?"
Amelia took a deep breath. "As ready as I will ever be."
She squeezed Mary's hand.
Mary hugged her friend. "No need to be nervous. You are only nervous when it is not right. You, my friend, are marrying the right man."
Mary fussed over the dress and veil, and then checked the time. "It's show time."
The cue was up for the bride. Amelia heard the music change.
"The next time we speak, you will be Mrs. Benjamin Abbott. Many blessings, my dear friend. Many blessings."
Mary excused herself and left the office, leaving Amelia there alone with her thoughts. The time was now or never.
She opened the door and entered the hallway leading to the garden. When she got to the double doors, she peeked outside to see her friends and family seated, awaiting her arrival. The day was sunny, the mood was right, and at the end of the aisle was her groom, Ben Abbott, standing there waiting for her.
She opened the doors and stood there at the end of the aisle. Everyone stood and gasped at her beauty. She had decided to walk alone without an escort. Since her father was not there, it just did not seem right to try and have anyone stand in his place.
The aisle runner was red carpet, trimmed in gold. Red bows adorned the chairs, and Mary had given Amelia her long-stemmed lilies tied with a red bow with gold tulle.
She felt like a princess as she stepped slowly down the aisle. Everyone was all smiles as she approached. Her heart swelled with love as she saw her groom standing there waiting on her arrival. That crooked smile, those blue eyes. Ben Abbott was there waiting on her hand in marriage.
The officiant greeted the guests and signaled the start of the ceremony. Ben and Amelia stood before everyone, agreeing to make each other happy for a lifetime. They each lit an individual candle and then lit the larger candle together, symbolizing their union.
They were presented as Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Abbott, and the guests threw flowers at them as they walked back down the aisle.
The evening was filled with good food, dancing, and love of family and friends. Amelia did not object when her uncle Harold and Mr. McGill took Ben off for cigars and coffee and plenty of man talk. Ben had been true to his word, and signed an agreement that he would enter into the marriage with only his worth and that if they were divorced, he would leave with none of Amelia's fortune.
They were going to live in the same home that Amelia currently lived in and decide later if they wanted to make their home elsewhere.
Amelia was in love for the first time in her life, and things were finally right.
Four Months Later…..
Mr. McGill left San Francisco after setting up Amelia's stake in the very gold mine that her father had chosen. William Smith had been a very smart man. He chose a mine that struck gold and proved to be even more lucrative than William had suspected it to be. For a woman to own such a prospect without the help of her husband was unheard of. But the money was not what interested Amelia. Owning the mine was the chance for Amelia to offer jobs for others to feed their families. She paid her prospectors well, and everyone was happy.
Mining was not easy work, and Amelia appreciated the fact that these men were away from their families for months on end, trying to provide. She offered them comfortable housing and made sure they had accounts set up for their families in the event of unforeseen work disasters.
Her uncle Harold liked Ben, and had offered him a job within the Smith Corporation whenever he was ready. Ben thanked him, but said that he preferred to work for the Pinkertons for now. It was an honest wage, and afforded him the opportunity to see the country. Ben knew in his heart that he would take his wife's uncle up on the offer when they started a family. There was no way that he would be away from his wife and children if he did not have to be.
Ms. Amelia's Finishing School for Girls was maintaining enrollment, and students were starting to come from other cities for enrollment. It was Amelia's dream come true. She loved what she did for a living, and loved most of all that she was able to make a difference in the lives of young girls. They would soon have to add on to the school and plans for expansion were in the works. She was also looking for a new teacher because her friend Mary Williamson, née Studebaker, was now married and expecting.
Moving away from Boston seemed like a lifetime ago. Going away to boarding school in Switzerland seemed like a lifetime ago. Amelia did not even recognize the girl she had been. The girl that went to Switzerland had been angry and resentful. She had the opportunity to see the world and missed out on completely enjoying a year of her stay because she harbored resentment and did not feel that her parents loved her enough to keep her in Boston.
The woman she was now knew that her parents did love her, and that they had always wanted what was best for her. Switzerland had been their gift to her. They had given her the opportunity to travel and live life outside of Boston. It had been the very thing she pined away for while sitting at the pier and watching the ships sail away. They had listened, and they had delivered.
She wished they were here so that they could see that life had worked out for her. She was finally happy. And her happiness had nothing to do with being discovered in the company around her. Amelia now knew that happiness came from within and every day that she woke up, she had a choice. She could be happy or not.
And she chose to be happy. There in San Francisco, California in the home she built with her husband Benjamin Abbott, Amelia found peace and happiness. Something that she never knew truly existed.
Benjamin Abbott had come from out of nowhere, swept her off her feet, and made her forget about all else. He made her feel safe, secure, and was a great provider and an even greater lover. She no longer had to settle for hoping to fall in love.
She woke every morning to kisses and her husband whispering sweet words in her ear. He never stopped telling her that he loved her and even when he was away, he sent her love letters and details of his travels. When he arrived home, she was always overwhelmed with affection to see her cowboy.
This time, Benjamin had been away for two months and Amelia had a surprise for him.
She took the carriage to the train station, awaiting his arrival. Standing there on the platform, the train pulled into the station and Amelia tried to look into the car windows to see if she could find Benjamin. After the first set of travelers exited the train, she spotted her beau.
They were like magnets, drawn to one another. She ran to him, falling effortlessly into his embrace. He smelled rugged, woodsy, and the bristles of his beard were rough against her face.
"Woman, I have missed you."
The kiss threatened to take her breath away.
"Welcome home, Mr. Abbott."
They walked hand in han
d to the carriage that awaited. Ben helped her into the coach, and after throwing his bag inside, he joined her. The carriage was off.
"You look like you have something on your mind. Tell me what it is, my love."
Amelia handed him a small card.
"A surprise for you."
Ben's deep blue eyes stared at her curiously.
When he opened the envelope, she watched him scan the words.
"Is this for sure?"
Amelia nodded.
Tears came to her eyes, and Ben leaned over and kissed her.
"Mrs. Abbott, you have just made me the happiest man on earth."
He stared at the card again.
"We are going to have a baby. Will you look at that!"
Ben slapped his knee and kissed her again. As the carriage pulled up, he threw open the door and jumped out. Pulling out his wife, he twirled her around, both of them smiling and laughing.
In that moment, Amelia knew what love truly was about.
And she was grateful for the chance to live A Perfect Forever.
The End
Thank You Most Sincerely for Your Help
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Paige
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