Colleen surprised her with a beautiful piece of fabric that she picked up at the mercantile after her lunch shift. It was a pale apricot shade, a soft shimmery fabric that highlighted her blonde hair. Colleen designed a beautiful dress that was flattering and full, so that she could wear it throughout her pregnancy.
The sun shone brightly on the day of the wedding. It was a Saturday afternoon and after the ceremony there was going to be a reception at Naomi and Jed’s. Both Paul and Brianna had insisted on something simple, a small wedding with just the immediate family and a few friends. Brianna didn't want them to make much of a fuss.
Colleen helped her to get ready, fastening the back of her dress and playing with her hair, tying part of it up with a shiny ribbon and letting soft waves cascade down her back. When she was finished, Brianna looked in the mirror and felt a mixture of sadness and excitement.
"You look beautiful, but are you sure that you want to do this?" Colleen looked concerned.
Brianna smiled. "Yes, I'm sure. It's why I came here, and I think it will work out."
"Well, I love that you'll be living right next door," said Colleen. "We can still see each other all the time."
"I'm counting on it."
* * *
"Are you sure about this?" David asked his brother the morning of the wedding. He'd taken a ride out to Paul’s house after breakfast, while the girls were getting ready.
"Yes, I'm sure. Remember how you knew when you first met Colleen? That's how it is with Brianna. Are we madly in love? No, not yet. But I'm confident that we'll get there." Paul knew that his brother only want the best for him. He was going to be his best man at the ceremony.
"I understand. I'm just surprised that Brianna agreed to marry so soon. Why the rush?"
Paul thought about that for a moment. "I get the sense that she wants things settled. That she's ready to move on. Not necessarily emotionally, but she is ready to be married again, especially with the baby coming. And I think she likes me, though I don't think she's capable of being anything more than friends yet. I told her that we can take things as slowly as she wants and that she can have all the time that she needs to feel comfortable."
"Good. It will give you time to get to know each other better, to really develop a friendship and partnership."
Paul grinned. "I still can't believe she said yes. I feel like the luckiest man alive."
"And you are, if that's how you feel. I'm happy for you," said David. "I should get back to the girls. It's almost time for us to head to the church."
"I will see you there."
* * *
Brianna's nerves took over as they reached the church. David got out of the buggy and tied up the horses, then came around to help both girls out. There was already a small crowd gathered, and a sense of anticipation was in the air. Pastor Ben was waiting for them when they came into the church, and directed them where to go. As soon as the organ music began, Colleen, as Brianna's matron of honor, led the way into the small church and Brianna and David followed. He had offered to escort her and would then take his spot next to Paul as the best man. As Brianna walked down the aisle holding lightly to David's arm as she went, she saw the happy expressions of the people in the pews, and the reality of what she was about to do hit her for the first time. It felt surreal, almost as if she was walking in a dream. Ahead of her Paul waited, and he looked as handsome as he possibly could, but Brianna felt little other than a mild feeling of warmth as one would for a friend. She just couldn't put herself in the mindset of someone who was madly in love and about to get married. She felt guilty about that and then guilty again for getting married so soon. In her mind, she was still married to Ted. It was far different from her first wedding, and that would be impossible to measure up to. But Paul was a wonderful person, and he had said that he would be patient with her. She also sensed that he would be a good father, and that was important to her. More than anything else, she had to think of the baby first.
Pastor Ben was smiling as he led them through the simple service and vows. She repeated as instructed and after they had both exchanged I do's, he pronounced them man and wife.
"You may now kiss your bride."
Paul leaned in and gave her a proper peck on the lips. It lasted but a moment, and she was surprised to discover that the feel of his lips was not entirely unpleasant.
Everyone congratulated them as they filed out of the church. Brianna then went with Paul to his buggy and they all caravanned back to Jed and Naomi's for the reception.
Paul turned to her with a smile as they started to ride away from the church. "So, Mrs. Donovan, we're married. How does it feel?"
Brianna chuckled, "It's going to take some getting used to. Being called Mrs. Donovan, that is."
Paul looked more serious for a moment. “I just want you to know that I do intend to be a good husband, and a good father for your child. You will never have to worry about that."
Brianna was moved. "Thank you. That means a lot to me."
They chatted easily the rest of the way, and aside from the fact that she was in a brand new dress, it didn't feel like she had just gotten married. It felt like she was just out for a drive with her new friend, Paul.
Once they arrived at the house and went inside, Naomi was bustling around getting the food ready.
"Can I do anything to help?" Brianna asked.
Naomi handed her a large platter of cheese and assorted meats. "Yes, please set this on the long table against the wall.” Brianna did as instructed and then all of the girls continued to help Naomi put food out, so it was ready in just a few minutes. Naomi had explained that it was going to be buffet style, so everyone could just help themselves to whatever they wanted. There were all kinds of food, from fried chicken to sliced meats, potato salad, fresh baked bread, a bubbly cheese and potato casserole and more. In the corner of the room sat the wedding cake. It was all frosted in white, and was several layers high.
"Did you make the cake, too? It's beautiful."
"No, Julia and Emma did that. Each of them baked a cake and then brought them here to frost and assemble. The vanilla bottom layer is the one that Julia made, and the top layer is Emma's—that's chocolate. So people can choose whichever flavor they like."
"That is wonderful. And I won't be choosing. I plan to have some of both."
Naomi smiled at that. "I'm sure you won't be alone." She then announced to everyone that the food was ready, and that they should all come take a plate and eat.
Brianna had just settled down at the lawn table with Paul on her left and Colleen on her right when another man joined them, one that she hadn't met before but he did look somewhat familiar. With his almost-black hair and light skin, he had the look of the Donovans about him. Paul made the introductions. "Brianna this is my cousin Ricky. Ricky, my wife, Brianna."
Ricky smiled and held out his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you." He sat down and then turned to Paul with a cheeky grin. "I can see why you married her so quickly. I never even had a chance."
Everyone laughed, and Brianna could see why Ricky had the reputation that he had. Colleen had filled her in on Ricky, how he had pursued her and had actually proposed before David had. With his handsome looks and eyes that promise mischief, Brianna could see his appeal and could also understand why he reminded Colleen of her charming, cheating ex-boyfriend, Frank.
"We haven't seen you in a while, Ricky. Have you been traveling?" Paul asked.
"Yes, I just got back from a business trip to San Francisco."
"San Francisco? How exciting. What is it like there?" Brianna asked.
"It's a beautiful city, with a booming economy. There's a misty fog that rolls off the ocean. I've never seen anything quite like it."
"It sounds lovely, and perhaps a little bit like Boston. I do sometimes miss the ocean."
"You should definitely visit San Francisco. Perhaps Paul will take you?"
Paul nodded in agreement and said, "I've never been there, and would like to visit someday.
Especially if it's a trip that Brianna wishes to make."
"Perhaps, someday. That would be nice." She doubted very much that it would happen, though. With the baby coming, a trip to San Francisco was not likely to be on the horizon.
The rest of the afternoon was a pleasant one and Brianna was surprised at what a good time she had. It was always fun to visit with Julia and Emma and she was starting to feel as though she too could belong in this extended Donovan family. Naomi seemed genuinely thrilled that she and Paul had married and no one commented on it happening so quickly. Faster weddings seemed to be more generally accepted out here.
Paul caught her mid-yawn, as people were starting to leave. The excitement of the day had caught up with her and she was suddenly exhausted. Brianna was approaching her fifth month now and was feeling much better than she had during the first three months, when the morning sickness and bone tiredness was a daily occurrence. Usually, by around six or so her body wanted to rest.
"Are you okay? Are you ready to leave, do you think?" Paul looked concerned.
"I'm fine. Just a little tired. It has been a busy day." She smiled.
"That it has, and a happy one." Brianna went with Paul as they said their goodbyes and then climbed into the buggy. His farm was just a short drive and before she knew it, they were there. He stopped the buggy, tied up the horses and then came around to help Brianna out.
"Go ahead in," he said. "I'm going to bring the horses out to the barn and make sure that all the animals are fed and then I'll be in shortly." He smiled back at her and added, "Make yourself at home."
Brianna went inside and looked around. The house was clean and comfortable. She quickly found an oil lamp, and lighted it. It was just after dusk when the light was starting to dim and she knew that it could suddenly get dark quickly. She wasn't sure which room Paul had in mind for her, as he had three bedrooms in addition to the main bedroom. She decided to settle onto the sofa and look through a book while she waited. He had a nice selection of leatherbound books in a bookcase against the wall. She selected a thick novel by Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, and started to read.
She quickly became engrossed in the novel, so much so that she jumped when the front door opened and Paul walked in. He noticed the look on her face and asked, "Did I startle you? It must be a good book."
She smiled. "It is. Charles Dickens."
"Oh, that is a good one. I noticed that you found the lamp. If you like, I can show you around so you know where everything is."
"Of course." Brianna closed the book, stood and then followed Paul as he led her around his home and pointed out where everything was, especially in the kitchen. Then they made their way toward the bedrooms. He stopped in front of a large room, which she guessed was the main bedroom as it looked lived in, with a pair of boots by the side of the bed and a jacket hanging on a peg on the wall.
"This is my bedroom, and I thought you might like this one." He indicated the guest bedroom next door. It was a large room with an oversized window, a chest of drawers and a double bed with a cream-colored quilt topped with a crocheted blue blanket.
"My mother made that for me and gave it to me as a gift when I moved in here." Paul indicated the blanket.
"That seems like something she would do. That was very sweet of her."
"I agree. I'm lucky. We all are." He smiled and then said, "I'll get your bag out of the back of the buggy. I almost forgot it."
"Thank you." She yawned again, and then apologized. "I'm sorry, that's so rude of me."
"Not at all. You should rest. I'll be right back with your bag."
Brianna sat on the edge of the bed and gazed out the window. In a few minutes, it would be completely dark out. It wasn't all that late, but Brianna was utterly exhausted and about ready to fall into bed.
Paul returned a moment later with her bag and set it down at the foot of the bed.
"Why don't you go to sleep?" he suggested. "It's been a long day, and you should really get your rest."
"If you don't mind, I think I will." She was grateful for the suggestion. Her eyes felt so heavy.
Paul leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "Good night, Mrs. Donovan."
Brianna smiled. "Good night, Mr. Donovan."
Chapter Ten
Brianna woke the next morning and was at first disoriented. It was a strange enough feeling to be in a different bed, but especially in the guest bedroom of the man she had just married the day before. The house was quiet, and she guessed that it was early. The sun was up and light was streaming in through the window. She eased out of bed and dressed in her favorite blue dress. It was dressy enough for church, and given that it was a Sunday, she knew they would be heading out in the next few hours. On her way to the kitchen, she noticed that the door to Paul's bedroom was open and his bed was empty. So he was already up, and was probably out feeding the animals, she guessed, because there were no sounds in the house whatsoever.
She found a tea kettle, filled it with water, and set it on the wood stove. There was a roaring fire going, and it didn't take long for the water to heat up. She was just filling a cup with water and adding a strainer with tea when the door opened and Paul walked in.
"Good morning," he said. He was holding a small bowl filled with eggs and set them on the counter.
"Good morning to you, too. Would you like me to cook some of these for breakfast?"
"Could you? I would love that. Did you sleep all right?"
"Yes. I had a good night's sleep." She quickly located a frying pan, found the butter, added a little to the pan and set it on the stove to heat up. She found a small bowl, cracked some eggs into it and scrambled them up in the pan. While she was doing that, Paul sliced some bread and put that on the top of the stove to toast. A few minutes later, the eggs were ready. Brianna filled two plates, brought them over to the kitchen table and they sat down to breakfast. There were the occasional awkward pauses, but their conversation was mostly comfortable as Paul told her more about the farm and his routine there.
"I know that Colleen showed you how to milk the cows, but I don't want you to do that. I'm going to take care of it in the mornings."
"Why?" Brianna asked. She hadn’t minded milking the cows once she got comfortable doing it.
"I just think we should be careful. If anything went wrong, if the cow was agitated and kicked and you fell—well, I just wouldn't want anything to happen to the baby, or to you."
Brianna smiled. She liked that Paul was already protective. If he wanted to do the milking, that was fine with her.
"How about if I gather the eggs each day, then? I'm happy to do that."
"I think that would be fine," Paul agreed. And then his expression grew more serious. "How much longer do you intend to teach?"
"I hadn't really thought about it. As long as I can, I suppose. It's not a very physical job, so I should be able to keep going right up until the end, I would think."
"I suppose. Although if you're feeling at all poorly, we should reconsider. Your health and the baby's are too important."
"I agree. So far, I've been lucky, though. I've had a fairly easy time of things compared to some women that I know."
"That's good. Let's hope it continues." After they finished eating, Brianna cleared the table and then read for a little bit longer until it was time to go to church.
* * *
"I feel like we just did this," Jed joked as the house filled up with Donovans as soon as the church service ended.
"Well, it's nothing fancy today," Naomi said as she set out platters of sandwiches and bowls of fresh fruit. "It's a day of leftovers."
"Is there leftover cake, too?" Jimmy, one of the youngest Donovan brothers, asked.
"There's not much, but there is some."
After everyone ate, the men gravitated towards the living room to talk about who knows what, while the women cleaned up and chatted in the kitchen.
"How's it going so far?" Colleen asked. Naomi had stepped
out of the room for a moment, and both Julia and Emily leaned in to hear her answer.
"It's fine, but not terribly interesting. I'm afraid I'm a bit boring. We came home last night and I pretty much went straight to bed. I was exhausted."
"Well, I can certainly understand that," Julia said as she settled herself onto a chair and adjusted her dress. She was just starting to show and was self-conscious about it.
"How are you feeling?" Brianna asked Julia.
Julia grimaced. "Well, I'm really not sure why they call it morning sickness. Lately, for me it's been any time sickness."
"That sounds awful," Colleen said.
Emma raised her eyebrows and said, "Just wait, you'll see soon enough."
Colleen chuckled. "I don't think I'm in any hurry for that."
"Once it happens to you, you won't mind it at all. Having a child is the best thing that ever happened to me," Emma added.
"I couldn't be happier that I'm expecting," Brianna said. "Ted was so looking forward to this." She was quiet for a moment as a wave of sadness came over her. Emma reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.
"I'm glad that Paul will be there for you. I think he'll make a good father."
Brianna smiled. "I think so, too." She glanced at Colleen. "It might not be that bad for you. I've been lucky. I've mostly just been more tired than normal. And hungrier!"
"Well, you've come to the right place, then. There's plenty more. Have seconds." Naomi was back and Brianna didn't have to be asked twice.
"Thanks, I think I will."
* * *
A few hours later after everyone had said their goodbyes, Paul and Brianna drove home and had a relaxing evening. Brianna read for a little while Paul worked on a wood-carving project.
“How did you learn to do that?” she’d asked when he first brought the piece of wood in and started chipping away at it with a sharp knife.
“My father taught me, years ago. He taught all of us, actually, but I was the only one that was interested. He used to make all kinds of things, but birds mostly. My dad loves birds.”
BRIANNA: A Sweet Western Historical Romance (Mail-Order Brides Club Book 4) Page 6
