He approached, daring once more to clasp both her hands in his, bandage and all. “Only that I’ll do my best to make you happy and keep you safe.”
“What about working afterward? I still have my school, and I—”
“That’s mighty important t’you, Miss Powell. You keep right on a-teachin’, as long as you like.”
A narrow-eyed speculation, with lips pursed. Luscious lips, he noticed. Enticing lips. “And what about my financial affairs? Will you want to know where my money is, and how much I have?”
He tipped his head to one side, so that the overlong dark hair tumbled down over his forehead. The tumble begged for a light touch to brush it back. Cecelia’s light touch. “Gabe’s been helpin’ you, right? Then he can keep right on helpin’ you. Unless you ask me. I do,” he assured her modestly, “have a little financial expertise.”
“Will you be reminding me often of where I came from, or what my background was like?”
“What background, Miss Powell?”
“Cecelia,” she whispered.
“Then it’s yes?” His clasp tightened.
Feeling a little dizzy and overcome by the morning’s turmoil, she closed her eyes. “It’s yes,” she said faintly.
“Huh. Then I reckon we better get us some more coffee, Cecelia, my—Cecelia. We got arrangements to make.”
X
Cecelia discovered that a wedding can be planned, prepared for, and finalized in less than a month, after all, if it is a very simple wedding. Even a very simple double wedding.
Upon hearing that Bridget’s beloved Miss Cecie would be wed in the near future, Max went down on one knee. An overjoyed Bridget accepted the proposal without the least hesitation. The oddly matched couple—he burly and uncouth, some ten years her senior; she accustomed to the finer things in life, and still giggly and giddy as a young girl—presented themselves before the pastor of a small nearby church one fine late June afternoon.
With both dressed in glorious plumage of gold, purple, and green, they provided quite a contrast to their fellow participants. Cecelia was wearing a tasteful cream-colored muslin, with elbow sleeves and a light breezy skirt, while John had actually ordered the making of a new navy lightweight wool suit, just for this occasion.
Music and flowers, plenty of witnesses, and a florid Gabe, almost weeping with happiness for both his girls.
Busyness had not prevented the new couple from spending time together during the past few weeks, learning likes and dislikes, sharing banter, sharing laughter, sharing hopes and dreams and thoughts for the future. A picnic now and then, an occasional buggy ride, once even a dance in the Hotel Alexandria’s ballroom.
Even in a wild and wooly frontier town, however, decorum must be followed and propriety observed. Gabe wouldn’t go so far as to dictate the use of a chaperone for every outing, but he did demand strict adherence to certain rules: home by an early hour, curtains open and lamps lit in an occupied drawing room, a moratorium against any place considered unsuitable. Brief hand-holding was acceptable, or the grasp of an elbow for navigation over unstable terrain. Any physical contact other than these would never be appropriate. Gabe had firmly laid down the law to both young ladies.
Thanks to Josiah Kingsley and Noah Harper, both degenerates, Cecelia’s reputation had come near to ending up in shreds. Gabe was determined that wouldn’t happen again. Not ever. Once he had her safely settled, he could take a breath and relax.
In front of the altar, Max’s vows included the word “Kitten.” Bridget’s included a nervous giggle.
“I do take thee, Cecelia…”
“I do take thee, John…”
Their first kiss came as the lightest of touches, a mere public brush of their lips at the end of the ceremony. Then spirited congratulations to both newly wedded couples, from each to the other, from an ecstatic Gabe, from a whole host of Yancey brothers and family.
Before they joined the celebration at a party already beginning to roar at the hotel, Cecelia and John shared their second kiss. He had pulled her into an alcove of Manzanita trees far away from the crowd, where he was finally free to have his way with her.
A lengthy, passionate, marrow-draining kiss, that had Cecelia weak at the knees and John clamoring for more. Once he had finally surfaced from the pool he was drowning in, he grasped her upper arms. Tough and hard.
“Listen here, Mrs. Yancey, let’s get somethin’ straight right now.”
Eyes wide, lips parted deliciously, lungs still fighting to draw in air, she stared up at him.
“I lied,” he told her fiercely. “This ain’t no business proposition. We ain’t about to just see how things work out, and we won’t ever be goin’ our separate ways. B’cause we’re married good and proper, darlin’. You’re mine, you’re my wife, and you always will be, forever and ever amen.”
“Oh, John,” she breathed, lifting one hand to smooth back his tumbled hair. “You’re right. You really are a damn sight better catch than that yokel I chose first time around.” Letting loose with a giggle that rivaled her maid’s, she purred, “Now, John, kiss me again. And again. And again…”
The End
Thank You
I hope you enjoyed this story and would love to know what you thought about it. If you have a moment to spare, I would appreciate it if you could leave a review of this book at Amazon. Your opinion goes a long way in helping others decide if a book is for them.
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Thank you so much.
Morris
About the Author
Morris Fenris was born into a poor family in the Fiji Islands. Thanks to his own grit, determination and the support of his loving parents, he was able to embark on a journey that has seen him attain a good education and work in many parts of the world.
Morris has been writing since childhood, drawing on his experiences in life and emulating the styles of his favorite authors.
Morris enjoys reading and writing in a wide range of genres and has plans for many more books. If you’d like to get in touch with this author, please message him on Twitter at #MorrisFenris or find him on Facebook.
Book List
Links to other Romance books by Morris Fenris:
http://www.amazon.com/Romance-Montana-Christian-Christmas-Fiction-ebook/dp/B00GU2DJBO
http://www.amazon.com/Romance-California-Christian-Christmas-Fiction-ebook/dp/B00MK9UGSA
http://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-Morris-Fenris-ebook/dp/B00FG0WJB2
http://www.amazon.com/Romance-Christmas-Vampires-paranormal-Christian-ebook/dp/B00G7GBIL6
http://www.amazon.com/Romance-Christmas-Heart-Warming-Forgiveness-Togetherness-ebook/dp/B00GHPFYO4
http://www.amazon.com/Family-Life-Heart-Warming-Relationship-Togetherness-ebook/dp/B00GM2Y0TM
http://www.amazon.com/Romance-Heart-Warming-Holidays-Forgiveness-Togetherness-ebook/dp/B00G1XIORG
http://www.amazon.com/Adults-Books-Christmas-Stories-Contemporary-ebook/dp/B00GR0SFOU
http://www.amazon.com/Romance-Fantasy-Adventure-paranormal-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B00IOMHKFE
http://www.amazon.com/Romance-Beginnings-Christian-Christmas-Fiction-ebook/dp/B00OPE4NQE
http://www.amazon.com/Romance-Young-Christian-Christmas-Fiction-ebook/dp/B00PB09BUO
http://www.amazon.com/Romance-Christmas-Reunion-Christian-Fiction-ebook/dp/B00PVCLLT6
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Taking the High Road Page 11
