Rena followed her toward the porch. “I noticed they’ve put flowers in my room. It’s lovely in there.”
“They thought you and Jake needed some in the room. They also said they were going to make you a bouquet.” She smiled. “I fixed up one of my better nightgowns for you. Put some pink ribbons on it and made it look good for tonight.”
“Thank you, Adela. That was sweet.”
Adela pushed open the door and went outside. Rena followed. They took seats in one of the many chairs that the women had put on the porch earlier.
“I don’t suppose you’ll have it on long though.”
“What?”
“The nightgown. I’m sure Jake will make sure it comes off quickly.”
“Please, Adela. I’m nervous enough.” Rena smothered a giggle.
“I know you are, but I’m just telling you what I think. I see the way Jake looks at you. This wedding is just a formality he knows he has to go through to get you in that bedroom tonight.”
“I want to get him there, too, Adela,” Rena confessed, “but I’m still nervous.”
“I don’t think you should be. After all you’ve been married.”
“It’s different this time. I married Drew because I thought I was supposed to. I thought I loved him and in my way, I guess I did. I was very sad when he was killed.”
“Do you love Jake as much?”
Rena didn’t say anything for a minute. She looked at Adela with tears in her eyes. “It’s hard for me to admit this, even to myself, but I love Jake so much more. In fact, I don’t think I knew what love was until I met him. I’m just afraid he’ll tire of me because of my ignorance of how to live in this century. If I lost him now, Adela, I’d be more than sad. I’d be devastated.”
Adela reached over and patted Rena’s arm. “I could tell you cared about him, but I never dreamed you loved him so much. You’ve just described the way I feel about Silas. I know the two of you are going to be happy forever.”
“I hope so, Adela.”
“I know everyone here is trying their best to make this wedding special.”
“They’re wonderful people, even if it’s hard to keep them all straight.”
Adela chuckled. “I know. I tried to make a mental list. There are Whitt and Iris Gentry, their three girls and her mother; Mrs. Coxette; Sam and Eliza Winfree and their baby, Sammy; Owen Toler, his sister, Leona, and his son, Billy; Reverend Burt and the older man, Leo Fisher, and Hank Hawkins came alone. The leader, Grover Beeson and his son, Aaron, make up all our guests.”
Two of the Gentry girls approached the porch and smiled at the two women. “Can we put some flowers on the banister?” one asked.
“Of course,” Adela said. “Put them anywhere you like. Flowers make everything pretty.”
The women watched in silence as the barefooted children crisscrossed the wild flowers on the porch banister. The smallest girl broke the silence. “Ouch. I stepped on something. It hurt.” She bent down and retrieved it.
Holding it up, she asked Adela, “Is this yours, Ma’am?”
“I don’t think so.”
Rena had an instant flashback. Could it be what she thought it was? She had to find out. She tried not to sound too excited. “It’s mine. I didn’t know where I dropped it.”
Adela asked, “What’s in it, Rena?”
“I’ll show you in a minute.” She reached for the saddlebag the little girl plucked out of Adela’s shrubs. “Thank you, sweetie. I’m glad you found it.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled and went back to working with the flowers.
Rena turned to Adela. “Would you come with me to my room? I want to check on my dress.” Adela looked as if she was going to ask questions, so Rena added, “Please.”
When they were in the room, Rena looked down the hall to be sure they were alone. She closed the door and turned. She kept her voice low when she spoke. “Adela, do you remember the night the men came here to get us?”
“Of course. It was horrible.”
“I know, but do you remember the details?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean do you remember Jake going out and talking to the leader?”
“Yes. The animal said he wanted to pay Jake to use us for the night.”
“That’s right. After the leader said he’d pay for us, he threw a saddlebag at Jake and said there was money in it. It made Jake furious and he kicked it off the porch.”
“I remember.”
“I think this is that saddlebag. If it does have money in it…”
“Oh, Rena. That could mean…” Her eyes got big. “Let’s see what’s inside.”
Rena opened it and peeped in. Without a word, she held the saddlebag for Adela to look inside. She watched the other woman’s eyes widen.
“We need to tell Jake and Silas right away.” Rena started to get up.
“Wait.”
“Why? They need to know.”
“Of course they do, but they don’t have to know today.”
Rena frowned. “Why not?”
“Rena, that saddlebag has been laying out there in our yard ever since that night. Another day for its contents to be kept a secret doesn’t matter. This is your wedding day. I don’t want you or Jake concentrating on anything but each other tonight.”
“But…”
“No buts. We’ll tell them in the morning. When the men come for breakfast, I’ll have Silas stay after they finish. When you and Jake get up, we’ll talk about it.”
“But it could mean…”
“I know what it could mean. It doesn’t matter. As I said, one day won’t make a difference.”
Rena smiled. “I guess you’re right. I’d like to have Jake only thinking of me tonight.”
“He will be.” Adela stood. “Now let’s find a hiding place for this money and then you’ve got to get your bath. It’s going to be wedding time before you know it.”
* * * *
Rena was dressed and looking at herself in the mirror. “You made me look lovely, Mrs. Coxette.”
“You’re a beautiful woman, child.”
There was a knock on the door. It was Iris. “Adela, it’s your husband. He said he came to get his clean clothes and some for his brother.”
“I’ll be right there.” Adela handed Rena the bouquet the children had made and went to the wardrobe. “What would you like Jake to wear? He doesn’t have a suit.”
“I don’t want him to wear a suit.” She moved to the wardrobe. “What about this shirt? Light blue looks good on him with his dark hair and eyes. Here’s an almost new pair of pants and I’d like him to wear a vest. The tan one. I want him to look like a real cowboy.”
“I’ll tell Silas to make sure he does.” She took the clothes and headed to her room to get clothes for her husband.
* * * *
“Well, Rena, you sure look pretty.” Leona came into the bedroom. “Jake is a lucky man.”
“Thank you, Leona, but I think I’m the lucky one.” She sighed. “That is if he doesn’t change his mind. He may jump on his horse and head for the hills.”
“I bet there’s a parcel of men standing out there that hopes he’ll do just that. They’d be waitin’ in line just to cheer you up.” Mrs. Coxette grinned from her seat in the only chair in the bedroom.
“My brother will be among them.” Leona laughed. “All the men think you’re a special woman. You’re not only pretty, but you can shoot a gun. Something many of us females have never mastered.”
“I appreciate them thinking I’m special, but I’m afraid there’ll never be another man for me except Jake.”
“I knew that the minute I saw you two together. Ain’t no way he’d pass up the chance to marry you.” Leona changed the subject. “Now who’s going to give you away?”
“Give me away? I don’t have anyone to do that.”
“You got to have a man to walk you to your intended,” Mrs. Coxette said.
“How about one of the
hands?” Leona suggested.
“Of course. Finn. I want Finn to give me away. He’s like a brother to Jake and Silas and he’s wonderful to me.”
* * * *
“Rena wants me to do what?” Finn almost shouted at Billy as he leaned on his crutch and delivered the message to Gideon Finn.
Burt Abernathy and Whitt Gentry were standing nearby. They both laughed. “She wants you to give her away, Finn,” Burt said.
“When Iris and I got married, her uncle gave her to me because her father had died when she was young.”
“I’ve married a lot of couples, and every bride so far has had someone to walk her down the aisle. It’s an honor to give the bride away.”
“How can I give her away, preacher? I don’t own her. Jake does.”
“Not yet, I don’t, Finn. I have to say the words ‘I do’ before she’s mine.”
“As I said, it’s an honor, Finn,” Burt said. “The woman has no family here and she feels close enough to you that she requested you specifically.”
“Lord, if I’d knowed I was getting into something like this, I’d have stayed with the cows.”
“Don’t you want to see me get married, Finn? You’ve said often enough that I ought to.”
“I don’t mind seeing you get married, Jake, but I didn’t expect to have to help you do it.”
“Quit whining, Finn, and pick out a clean shirt.” Silas joined the conversation.
“Why don’t you do the giving away?” Finn looked at him. “You’re his brother.”
“I can’t. I’m his best man. I’ll be standing beside him when you bring Rena to him.”
“I never heard so much malarkey in my life. I ain’t never going to get married.”
“No woman in her right mind would marry you, Finn.” Silas laughed.
“You’ll do it for Rena, won’t you, Finn?” Jake asked.
“You know damn good and well I will. Ain’t no way I’d refuse to do something for Rena. Now if you’d been the one to ask me to give you away, that’d be another story.”
“I’m giving him away.” Silas laughed. “I think it’s time, too. He’s been hanging around here single long enough.”
Finn was buttoning his clean shirt. “You’re right about that.”
“Gentlemen, I think it’s about time we headed up to the house. Everyone’s gone but us,” the reverend said. “Are you all about ready?”
“Give me one minute. I can’t get this damn bandana tied right.” Finn was all thumbs.
“Here, let me.” Silas took it and tied it quickly. “Now you get on up to the house ahead of us. You don’t want Rena to think you refused to escort her, do you?”
The front yard seemed full of people when Jake, Silas and the preacher headed that way. “Damn, if it don’t look pretty,” Silas remarked.
“Looks like the women and the children have been busy.”
“It sure does, Burt.” Jake’s voice was a little shaky.
“Nervous, brother?”
“A little. This is a big step, you know.”
“I sure do. Remember I’ve been through it and it wasn’t that long ago.” Silas grinned. “It’s about time you got nervous about something.”
“I didn’t known there were this many flowers in Arizona. They must have stripped the whole state.” Jake looked around at all the smiling people as he walked across the yard. He smiled back.
As Jake took his place in front of the preacher, with his brother at his side, he looked toward the front porch. Sam Winfree stood off to the side and began playing a love song on his fiddle. Adela came out the front door and walked the flower lined path to stand on Jake’s other side. She was wearing the new dress she’d made from the cloth Silas had bought her.
Then the wedding march began and Rena appeared on Finn’s arm.
Jake forgot about the flowers, the people and even the music. All he could see was the beautiful woman he loved. She was smiling at him as she came forward to join herself with him forever. His heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. He wondered if happiness had ever killed a man.
Rena was aware that Finn was nervous as they paused at the top of the steps. She knew he was doing everything in his power to make sure she got to Jake in the way she was supposed to. “I love him, Finn.” She squeezed his arm and whispered, “I’ll always love him.”
“I know you do, Rena. He loves you the same way.”
“Now, Finn, let’s go down these steps together, then I want you to walk me up to the man of my dreams and turn me over to him.”
“I’m going to do just that.”
As she went down the flower strewn path, Rena could see the smile on Jake’s lips. She smiled back and became oblivious of anyone else in the world. It was only the two of them. This was their day, their time. She didn’t care if they were from different eras. This had to be what was supposed to happen. A love like theirs had to be for all time. She would love this man until her dying day. No matter where she ended up in time. Her heart was praying, “Dear God, if this is a dream, please never let me wake up.”
When Finn handed her off to Jake and she felt her love’s hand grasp hers, she knew it was not a dream. This was for real. In that instant the knowledge came that she’d never try to get back to her time again.
After the vows, Reverend Burt Abernathy pronounced them man and wife and told Jake to kiss his bride. Jake swept her off her feet and kissed her hard on the lips, all the time swinging her around. There was a loud course of cheers from the crowd. Sam Winfree played the fiddle again and some of the people began to dance as the women loaded the makeshift tables with all kinds of food. There was wedding cake for dessert and the couple cut it together. Then Rena tossed her bouquet of wild flowers from the porch steps. Leona Toler caught it and everyone cheered. Leona looked embarrassed.
When the evening sun dipped low and light began to fade, the party was still in full swing. Rena danced with every man there and Jake with every woman. By nightfall, everyone had eaten their fill and the children were sent to the bunkhouse to bed. Mrs. Coxette went with them.
Owen Toler walked up to Jake and Rena. “Just want to say I’m pleased for you folks. Looks like you got yourself a fine wife, Haywood.”
“Thanks. I think she’s pretty special, too.”
“I probably won’t get a chance to talk with you again, cause I figure you’re going to go on a wedding trip, so I want to thank you for giving us a chance to help out on your ranch. I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed working cattle more.”
“Thanks, but you’ll be seeing me every day. Rena understands that we have to get these cattle ready to sell and then drive them to market. We’ll have to put off any kind of trip until after that.”
Rena nodded.
Owen nodded back. “Well, thanks for letting my sister help with this shindig. She sure enjoyed it. So did my boy. It made him feel useful that you folks have overlooked his missing foot and used him to run errands for you.”
“Billy is a smart young man. I know losing the foot is a hard for him, but he’ll cope. He has a good family behind him.” Rena smiled at the man.
“Thank you, ma’am.” He put his hat back on his head. “I guess I better get back out there. Good luck to you both.”
After he walked away Jake looked down at Rena. “I have a feeling he wanted to ask me something else, but I guess he changed his mind.”
“If so, I’m sure he’ll ask you later.”
They couldn’t say anything further because others came up to offer congratulations.
Chapter 15
It was after nine-thirty when things were cleared away and everyone had left for their sleeping areas. Jake and Rena said good night to the last of their guests and wandered into the kitchen to find Adela and Silas having a cup of coffee at the table.
Silas looked up. “You two still up? I thought you’d have gone to bed long ago.”
Jake shook his head and Rena blushed.
Adela turned to
Rena. “It was a lovely wedding. I know you’re going to be very happy.”
“I appreciate all your hard work today, Adela.” Rena glanced at Jake. “I know Jake does, too.”
“I sure do.” He looked back at Rena. “Do you want some coffee or anything?” She shook her head. “In that case, I think we’ll take my brother’s advice and turn in.”
They said quick good nights and exited the kitchen. In the parlor, Jake paused and turned her toward him. “I want to kiss my wife.”
“Okay.”
He touched her lips softly with his. “Now I want to carry her to our bedroom.” Before she could protest, he swooped her up in his arms and hurried down the hall.
Closing the door, he sat her down and looked around. “Looks like the women have been at work here, too. Someone even thought to light a lamp and put a bottle of wine and glasses on that table.”
“They’ve been wonderful, haven’t they?”
“I know this small room in a log house isn’t much. I’d love to give you a palace, Rena.”
“I don’t want or need a palace, my love.”
He smiled at her and whispered, “Any room you enter becomes beautiful just because you’re there.”
“Oh, Jake. What a wonderful thing to say.” She moved close to him and slid her arms around his neck. “I love you so much.”
He pulled her close, then leaned down and kissed her. When he released her he said, “Want a glass of wine?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Good. Neither do I.” He began kissing her neck and his hand slipped up her rib cage to her breast. “Oh, how I need you,” he whispered.
She kissed him and pulled away. “I need you, too.”
“Then why are you moving away from me?”
She turned her back to him. “As you can see, I can’t reach the buttons in the back of my dress.”
He chuckled and began to fumble with the satin covered buttons on the dress. “Damn, how do you women get all these things fastened?”
“I didn’t. Mrs. Coxette buttoned me up.”
“You look beautiful,” he whispered, and he leaned over and kissed the back of her neck. “I’m glad you left your hair down. I like it that way.”
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