Katie's Maverick (Strasburg: The New Generation Book 2)

by Pippa Greathouse

  Nick cleared his throat, and amazingly, everyone in the room silenced and glared at him. He winked at Katie and looked from one to the other, before speaking. Just as he opened his mouth, however, Katie leaned over into his ear and whispered, "Nick? May I?"

  He grinned. "As you wish, my darling." He pulled the quilt up a little higher to add to her cover as she began to speak.

  "As I said this morning," she said, looking from one to the next. "Miss Watson caught me alone yesterday afternoon and followed me up the stairs. She said she'd told Nick that she'd told me—" She shook her head. "Anyway, I thought Nick had gone out to look for me. When he'd really gone to feed the horses in the stables at the Andrews' house—" She looked up into Nick's face. "I think I did it better this morning, sir. Would you please?"

  Nick kissed her temple as Audra Wilder gave a wheezy gasp. He explained exactly what had happened and about the wolves and the cabin, with Katie adding a few things here and there.

  Finally, Grandmother Thatcher launched into the conversation. "To make it clear, Katie was still a virgin when they arrived back at the church—"

  "Because it had stopped snowing—" Katie added.

  "But what does the snow have to do with being a virgin?" Eleanor demanded.

  Nick rolled his eyes, and Katie giggled. Grandmother Marilyn took over once again.

  "Quiet, Eleanor. What I'm trying to say is that because they had been out all night alone, they came in, and Father Michael performed the Sacrament of Matrimony."

  Angelica put up her hands. "Wait—wait!" She turned to Nick. "You're married?"

  "I married them, this morning, at Nick's request, in the presence of Katie's grandparents. And Gleason. That's what I've been trying to tell you," Father Michael announced. "But none of you were listening."

  "Without us?" Merrie looked hurt.

  "Relax, my child. They plan to do a vow renewal before the church on the twenty-third of December. For you." He smiled, looking from Merrie to Angelica. "For everyone." He moved toward the door. "Later, my children," he said, waving to them all as he left.

  Angelica and Merrie ran to their grown children, full of congratulations and wedding plans. "Don't worry about a thing; we'll take care of everything."

  "And no one listens to me, either." Marilyn Thatcher nodded emphatically. "It was nice to be the ones who got to be present for the actual ceremony." She turned to her husband. "Wasn't it, Otho?" She looked around. "Otho?"

  "I believe Katie's grandfather went back to the dormitory," Nick muttered.

  Geoffrey Wellington took his wife by the shoulders and guided her gently toward the door. He looked back over his shoulder. "Very well, you two." He nodded toward Nick and Katie, pausing. "You can get back to whatever it was you…" He fought to hide a smile. "Were doing."

  "Geoffrey!" Angelica spat at her husband. "Really!" She dragged him out the door, shaking her head.

  Nick turned to Geoffrey Francis, who was behind them, a toothy grin spread across his face. "And, big brother?"

  Geoff shrugged. "I was just going to say that I know exactly what you were doing." Throwing his head back in laughter, he avoided Katie's attempt to kick him in the shins with her bare foot.

  But when Lizzie moved toward the door, she stopped and hugged both of them. "Good for you, you two. See you later."

  "Be my maid of honor on the twenty-third?" Katie whispered. "And bring me back some clean clothes?"

  "Absolutely. And we all forgot and left your clothes at the church. I'll get Geoff to bring them down."

  The Wilder sisters were next. Eleanor stopped at the doorway and turned to glance back. "Well, I, for one, feel we should go. I want you to know, Nicholas, I'm very proud of you and Katie. And Audra and I will do everything in our power to keep anyone in this town from uttering malicious slander about you. Won't we, Audra?"

  "Yes, of course, we will, now, won't we?" Audra echoed, bouncing toward the door. She stopped and nodded toward each of them. "Nothing worse than a gossip, you know." She seemed amused at her own words and cackled as she bounced out.

  Katie stared after them, and Nick hugged her close, managing to wait until the sisters had gotten a good distance away from the house before bursting into laughter. It took a moment before Merrie regained her composure enough to hug Katie, while Francis urged her toward the door.

  "I love you both!" She blew them a kiss, waiting for her husband to catch up with her.

  The last one to leave, Francis gave them a round of applause and grinned. "My work here is done," he said, closing the door behind him.

  But just as it closed, it opened again. "Lock the door, Nick." He chuckled when he saw the look on Nick's face and nodded. "Nothing more annoying on a honeymoon than unwanted visitors."

  It was four more days before the widows and the elderly couples were able to go home. It had snowed again twice more during the next two, then the sun came out and began melting everything just as the town had hoped. The Wilder sisters lovingly said goodbye to all the others and then moved across to their own house. Mrs. Billings was carried to her home by Henson Andrews, and Nick helped her pack her belongings, making several trips to the dormitory before taking her. She seemed quite delighted to be sleeping in the bed next to the hearth. She'd no longer have to worry about keeping a fire going or carrying in wood. At last, Katie and Nick bade them all a temporary farewell, and Gleason brought the horses and carriage out of the Andrews' stable to take them home to Pembroke.

  And life in Strasburg seemed determined to get back to normal.

  December Twenty-Third, At Last

  "Be still, Katie. You're fidgeting."

  Katie made an effort. "I'll be glad when it's over."

  "I know. Katie, I realize you'd have been much happier to just have close family there and be married in Father Michael's office, but think for a moment."

  Katie had been thinking and attempting to be positive. But she couldn't get the note she'd received a week before out of her mind. Phebe had threatened; she had insinuated; she had thrown insults at Nick and at Katie. Louisa had told her she had to vacate the dormitory by December twentieth, and she had gone to the hotel to stay.

  Katie turned, and her mother pulled out a stool and sat across from her. "You're the only child your father and I have. We missed your wedding; the Wellingtons missed it. Miss Constance and Miss Hazel and all of the staff here and at Pembroke have talked for years about what they would do for your wedding, even before they knew you and Nick would be marrying each other."

  "I know, Mother. And this was the way I always thought it should be, with everyone there. I just wasn't planning on having to worry about Miss Watson showing up and ruining the whole thing. That's all."

  "She won't ruin it unless you let her." At Katie's questioning look, she continued. "She won't be in town long, sweets. And regardless of what she says or does, it won't change the love Nicholas and you have for each other or the years you have to spend together."

  Katie leaned forward and kissed her mother on the cheek. "Thank you, Mother. I know you're right."

  "And I know you are, too, sweetheart. I hope she doesn't try anything. But Gleason will be outside the church, beginning at noon. Miss Hazel and Miss Constance will be there, too, and the Wellington staff, in case she tries to sneak in through the basement from the outside steps. So, relax. Let me add the ribbons to your hair. Tell me, where are you and Nick going to build? Or are you going to keep living in the house?"

  Katie laughed. "We keep talking about it but haven't decided yet what to do. I don't really care. It's Nick who keeps changing his mind. I won't be surprised if he ends up hiring Geoff to build us a house. Mr. and Mrs. Wellington insisted on moving down to the second floor so we could have the rooms next to the nursery, but I hated for them to do that, since we haven't decided where Nick wants to live."

  "But if Nick ends up taking over the running of the house?"

  "I know. He'll make up his mind, sooner or later. Who knows? Polly might want
to live there. And Nick always said he was glad he wasn't the first born—" She caught a glance of herself in the mirror and gasped. "Oh!"

  Her dark auburn hair curled down her back over the low-waisted satin dress that was coated with lace. Roses made from ribbon dipped from the left side of her waist all the way down to the lower ruffle of the gown. The lace over the sleeves was slit up to the elbow and cascaded over her hands, hiding her heavy splint. Dr. Bilkey had allowed her to take off part of the splint for the wedding but told Nick to insist she wear it afterwards, for four more weeks. He'd pronounced her as healing very well. Nick had agreed; Katie had groused. But the design her mother had come up with for her gown, hiding it, was delightful.

  Merrie's eyes met hers in the mirror. "Sweets, you're absolutely beautiful…"

  "She is." A deep male voice came from the doorway, and they both turned. Nick was standing there, his eyes full of fondness.

  "Nicholas Wellington, what are you doing here?" Miss Constance had followed him up the staircase and was tapping her cane on the floor. "You aren't supposed to see her until the wedding. Now, out!"

  Nick turned and winked at Katie, grinning, and put up his hands. "I think I know when I've been told." He blew her a kiss and disappeared around the corner.

  "Nick, wait!" Katie called out. When he stopped, she ran to him and threw her arms about his neck, kissing him fiercely. "I've missed you," she whispered.

  "Oh, sweetheart, I can't wait to get you in my arms again. You have no idea how hard it was not to sneak over here before now. Behave and be patient. It won't be long now." He stopped once more before kissing her again. "I love you. You're absolutely beautiful."

  Man and Wife

  The Adams' family coach pulled into town at promptly one forty-five, that afternoon. Katie sat across from her mother and father, chewing her lower lip.

  "Relax, darling." Her mother leaned forward and rested a comforting hand on her arm. "Nick's carriage is already here. I can see it at the church. There is no way he's going to allow Phebe Watson to cause any difficulty at the wedding. Your father will be watching, too. And so will the Wellingtons."

  Katie nodded. "I see Gleason, sitting in the other carriage, just outside the church. He's watching, in case she shows up."

  People were arriving and trying to see into the coach, and her father waved at them, grinning, and pulled the leather shades down. If he was trying to keep people out, he didn't have much luck.

  Suddenly, the door flew open, and two heads popped into the coach. "Oh, darling, you look beautiful!" Eleanor Wilder gasped. "Doesn't she, Audra?"

  Audra's head was bouncing up and down. "She does, Eleanor. She looks beautiful!"

  "And we want you to know, Miss Katie." Eleanor put a hand to her mouth suddenly and looked behind her. Whispering, she looked quite proud of herself, "I mean Mrs. Katie. Audra and I haven't told a soul."

  "Oh, no. Not a soul." The younger sister's head went from bouncing up and down to side to side, and Katie felt herself getting dizzy. "And we wanted to tell you, we'll be watching for that girl."

  Laughing, Katie smiled at them and said. "Thank you. I appreciate it so much."

  When they closed the door, she moved a hand to her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Her mother was doing the same. Her father was just shaking his head.

  They waited in the carriage until almost two, when a rap on the door caused Katie's father to look out.

  "It's Gleason." He opened it.

  "Just wanted you to know, sir, I haven't seen her. She's not inside, and I haven't seen her out here, either. I sent Abel over to the hotel. They said she had not come out of her room all morning."

  Katie leaned forward. "Thank you, Gleason. You look very nice today."

  He smiled. "And you are quite lovely, Miss Katie," he said, leaning further in. "I mean Mrs. Wellington."

  Katie leaned back and breathed a sigh of relief.

  "You see, my darling?" her mother said softly. "You've already won this battle. The worst she could do—if she could get in—is to interrupt the ceremony slightly. She can't stop the marriage."

  Katie smiled. "You're right, Mother. The note from her was so malicious, I'd forgotten what was really important."

  "Did you show it to Nick?"

  Katie shook her head. "No, but I did tell him about it. He was furious, but he said the same thing you did. We'd already won this one."

  Her father looked up toward the church, as Geoff stepped out, waving.

  "They're ready," he mouthed. Behind him, Lizzie peeked out and nearly shoved her big brother down the steps. Her deep green eyes and red hair were sparkling today with roses made from ribbon, and she hurried down the steps to throw her arms around Katie.

  "It's about time you got here," she muttered, grinning. "I was about to ride bareback out to your house to get you. Nick is chomping at the bit in there, and so is Father Michael. Syd's at the front, and he's played out every wedding song he—"

  "All right, Lizzie. I get the idea." Katie laughed. "Oh, look at you. I haven't seen your dress since it was finished."

  Lizzie swayed, this way and that, to show the gentle way the gown flowed. The sleeves were similar to Katie's but the dress was the palest delicate shade of green. The roses that trailed down it were of a pale lavender, to match her bouquet.

  "To be in such a great hurry, Lizzie, you're stalling. Come on. I'm to walk you down."

  Lizzie’s glare at her brother was sarcastic. "I'm the maid of honor, and I have to be escorted down by my own brother?"

  "Don't fuss. Perhaps after the wedding, you can dance with Thomas. He's here until after my wedding to Polly next week."

  "Ah, Thomas, my hero." Lizzie turned toward the front, while Katie's mother fluffed her dress and veil and moved the front layer over her face.

  Katie caught a glimpse of her mother's face as she put the last ruffle in place and saw her tears.

  "It'll be all right, Mother. We'll be close by. We can see each other every day."

  Her mother's vivid blue eyes were shining. "I'm not sad, sweets. I'm happy for you. And your father and I are so proud."

  Katie turned to look up at her father, who was smiling down at her. "Your mother's right, my darling. But I doubt either of us are as proud as the young man who hasn't taken his eyes off you since the moment you walked in."

  Katie turned. Her eyes met Nick's as he stood at the front of the church, next to Father Michael.

  "Nick," she breathed.

  His smile increased as Father Michael nodded, and Syd began the wedding march. Lizzie and Geoffrey Francis started forward and walked slowly in time with the music until they reached the front.

  Katie completely forgot to look for Phebe as they started forward, her mother on one side, her father on the other. Merrie protectively guarded her injured arm, with an arm around her as they moved forward.

  They stopped in front of the priest as he stood a moment, smiling fondly down at Katie.

  But Katie had eyes only for Nick as he stepped forward. She handed her bouquet to Lizzie as Nick reached carefully for her hands, guarding her right.

  Her father on one side, her mother on the other, and Nick standing right in front of her, increased the safe and secure feeling she had whenever she was in Nick's presence. It didn't matter what Phebe Watson did or did not do. She knew it would be all right.

  "And who…" Father Michael's voice echoed through the room "…gives this woman to wed this man?"

  The sound of footfalls in the stairwell caused a pause. Francis looked toward his left before saying, "Her mother and I do."

  Katie couldn't help it; she followed her father's gaze toward the side of the church. But no further sound was heard. Her mother and father both raised the veil and kissed her, before lowering it again and moving to sit down.

  Father Michael addressed the crowd. He talked of trust, of caring, of the kind of unconditional love that each man and woman was blessed enough to receive. Handing Geoffrey his Bible, he mo
ved forward and put his hands over theirs.

  Finally, he prayed over them. As he raised his head, he asked for the token of Nick's affection for his bride.

  Nicholas turned toward his brother and reached for the ring. Geoffrey, however, seemed to have difficulty retrieving it from his pocket. Finally, he blinked and brought it out.

  As Nick reached for it again, however, Geoff dropped it.

  Katie stared as it sparkled in the glint of sunlight coming in through the window and disappeared. A clattering sound was the only thing heard as it bounced, not once, not twice, but three or four times, and was silent.

  She gasped. "Nick!" she whispered. They were both looking for it on the floor. It couldn't possibly be under her dress, could it?

  Suddenly, everyone on the first three rows was looking for it. Katie lost her composure and began to giggle as Geoff put his head under the pew and then smacked the back of it, trying to get back out. When he uttered a, "Damn," everyone in the church tittered.

  Katie rolled her eyes and glanced up at Nick, who was grinning.

  "Found it!" Geoff yelled and reached out to hand it to his brother.

  But as Nick put out a hand to take it, another hand, a smaller one, knocked it from Geoff's hand a second time.

  "What?" A furious explosion from both Geoff and Nick erupted. Nick immediately turned Katie away from the scene to protect her arm.

  How it had happened, no one knew, but Phebe Watson had crept up in the midst of everything. She now had the ring grasped in her own hand and was running fast, down the aisle, before either of them realized what had happened and could stop her. Geoff ran after her.

  The crowd broke into fury, watching helplessly as the girl ran toward the back of the sanctuary with it grasped tightly in her fist.

  Pandemonium broke out. A shriek was heard, and Phebe suddenly went flying through the air as the foot of one Audra Wilder made its way into the aisle to knock one leg out from under her. Phebe landed on her face, and when she raised her head, her nose was bleeding.