by Terri Grace
Later in the afternoon, Tam and Jacob arrived at the house to help with the preparations. Tilly excitedly told them about what she had envisioned. They wanted to hold the ceremony in a week’s time, so they had a lot of work to do to make all of the arrangements happen in time.
While Tam and Tilly continued to put together arrangements, Mary-Beth and Jacob set to work on getting some of the decorations put together. They took a wagon into town to purchase some of the ribbons and fabric that would be needed to make the decorations for the tents and the tables. Tam’s parents had eagerly given them plenty of money to make sure that they were able to purchase everything that was needed.
Once they arrived back at the house, Mary-Beth went to work at making bows out of the fabric and ribbons. The fabric that she had found was a lovely shade of pale pink, and the bows that she made with them turned out dainty and beautiful. She looked down at the sets of bows that she had prepared and sighed. If only she were preparing for her own big day, she would feel much more joy about making all of these pretty decorations. She was happy to help Tilly, but part of her was jealous that her friend was getting all of this, and she was crippled and watching on the side. Mary-Beth knew that she was being petty and selfish, but it seemed as though her dreams of getting married were being pushed further away because of her disability.
“Are you okay, Mary-Beth? You have been rather quiet for some time today. It seems as though you are thinking very hard about something,” Jacob remarked as he looked at her. He had been helping by whitewashing some chairs to be used for the ceremony, and he and Mary-Beth had been together for most of the day.
“I’m doing well. I was just thinking about how beautiful Tilly and Tam’s wedding is going to be. Someday, I hope to have a special day like this one is going to be,” she said with a sad smile and began to straighten the bow that she had just finished.
“You will have a beautiful day when the time is right. Trust God and allow Him to give you that day,” Jacob said with a warm smile. He had to look away at that moment before she could catch onto the fact that he was thinking the same thing for himself. He and Tam had been best friends since Tam’s family moved to Jamestown when they were young boys. It always seemed as though Tam got whatever he wanted, and Jacob followed.
“I hope so. I probably sound incredibly silly. How are the chairs coming along? I saw Tam with the tables a few minutes ago. I have one more bow to make, and then we can start hanging them where Tilly wants them.”
“The chairs just need to dry and they will be good. I think that Tam wants my help with that tents, so I’m going to go and do that. Are you alright to finish here on your own?” He needed to step away from this uncomfortable conversation before she could tell that he was getting embarrassed by it. Ever since they had met, he had been fascinated by her. However, he knew that her heart was with her grandparents back in the city. He wouldn’t stand a chance at making her his.
As he made his way out into the opening where the tents were to be set up, he allowed himself to wonder if he should give it a chance. He had nothing to lose by trying to see if Mary-Beth might consider him. She captivated him. Her inner strength more than made up for her physical limitations. Also, she didn’t let her disabilities ruin her spirit. She had more character than half of the girls he had been around in his lifetime.
“Hey, Tam! How’s it coming out here? I just finished whitewashing the chairs and thought I would see if you needed any help out here. How’s Tilly doing? She seems like she is a busy bee!” Jacob patted his friend on the shoulder and looked around at the clearing. It was beginning to look like a beautiful setting for a special wedding.
“It’s coming along. All I have left is to get the tents up and help Tilly hang some decorations on the house. Just three days until the big day. I can’t believe that I am finally getting married.” Tam smiled in pride. When none of the young women who lived near him seemed like a good match, he had decided to place an ad in the papers out east to see if he could find someone who would suit him. The first time that he had talked to Tilly, he knew that she was right for him.
“I’m happy for you. Mary-Beth is pretty much done with the bows, so I think I will help her to hang them. Let me know when you are ready to put up the tents.” Jacob patted Tam on the shoulder and made his way back toward the porch where he had left Mary-Beth to her bow-making.
As she came into view, his heart melted. She was a true beauty, inside and out. If only she wouldn’t have to return to the city…
Working together, Mary-Beth and Jacob got all of the bows hung and straightened in no time. Jacob would get up on the ladder and hang them, and then Mary-Beth would instruct him on how to turn them so that they looked just right. They worked great together and enjoyed each other’s company.
After they had everything set up, and the decorations were just right, the four of them stood back and looked at them with awe. It was more beautiful than any of them could have hoped for. This was going to be a beautiful wedding. All of their hard work had made this happen.
Tired from all the work, the men headed home while Tilly and Mary-Beth relaxed on the porch and sipped tea. The sun was beginning to set, and they could see the tents out in the distant field. In just two days, a very special wedding would take place here. The sense of excitement was overwhelming.
“I can’t believe that it’s so close. When I first arrived, and Tam insisted we court, I was sure that he was going to ship me back. I’m not like a lot of girls, as you know. I’m outspoken and boisterous. Men shy away from that kind of girl.” Tilly knew that was one of the reasons she never courted anyone while she lived back in the city. All of the men who had spoken to her had been leery of the fact that she spoke her mind. They wanted an obedient wife, and they feared that Tilly would be rebellious.
“No one really understood you the way that I see Tam does. He will be a very good husband for you. I can tell that he isn’t shocked by the fact that you speak your mind. It’s quite humorous.” Mary-Beth laughed as she remembered the times that she was around the couple, and Tilly rambled on and on. Tam had just looked at her adoringly and smiled. He would be a good match for her. She obviously adored him as well. The little looks that they shared told her that.
“You’re right. I’m so blessed that God has brought me here. The only thing that I miss is the time that I spent with you in the city. I wish you could be out here too. Your grandparents need you there. I understand that.”
A silence fell between them, and soon they agreed to go up to bed to prepare for another day of preparations. It was all working out wonderfully.
CHAPTER SIX
The Storm
LATE INTO THE night, the wind began to howl over the land. Mary-Beth sat up in bed, suddenly worried about the tents that the men had set up that afternoon. Would they be safe in this wind? Slowly, she rose and made her way to the window. The whistling of the wind would not allow her to go back to sleep for some time, so she wanted to see how badly it was blowing.
As she held the curtain back, she gasped in shock. She couldn’t see outside her window. It was like a billowing blackout of dirt blowing past the window at an incredible speed. There was no way she could see what was happening even a few feet outside her window. She had heard rumors of the dust storms that happened in the West, but she thought that they must be greatly exaggerated. In her mind, there was no way that dust could swirl around like that. She had been terribly wrong.
A frantic knock at the bedroom door made Mary-Beth turn away from the chaos that was ensuing outside the house. Tilly burst into the room, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Mary-Beth! It’s going to be ruined!” Tilly ran past her and pulled open the curtains so that she could look outside. The wind whipped the dust in waves across the window.
“I’m so sorry, Tilly. There’s nothing we can do right now. Sit down and let the storm pass. Once it’s morning, we can see what happened outside.” Mary-Beth motioned for Tilly to sit on the ed
ge of her bed. Sitting down beside her, she wrapped her arms around her best friend as she cried. All of the hard work that they had done would be ruined. Mary-Beth silently prayed to God to allow them to make the wedding happen despite the imminent destruction that was happening outside.
Tilly fell asleep in Mary-Beth’s arms as the storm raged outside. Neither of them knew what they could expect when they went outside the next morning, but they both knew that it wouldn’t be good.
The sun rose on a hazy morning. The storm that had torn through the night before was but a memory. However, its evidence was everywhere. Mary-Beth stirred before Tilly and made her way to the window. She gasped at what she saw.
The world below her was covered in a layer of dirt. What had been green and beautiful just the day before was now covered with brown. Looking into the clearing where they had set up the wedding decorations, she felt tears sting her eyes. The tents were torn to pieces, the newly whitewashed chairs and tables strung out over the clearing. None of the bows that she had worked so carefully to make were to be seen.
Tilly joined her at the window and let out a sob. Her big brown eyes overflowed with tears. All that she had dreamed of had been destroyed with just one dust storm. Tam had told her about the dust storms that sometimes hit, but she had yet to see one for herself. Now, just two days before her wedding, her first dust storm had wiped out her entire wedding scene.
Mary-Beth urged Tilly to step away from the window. Guiding her friend back to the bed, she comforted her. When Tilly was finally calm, Mary-Beth suggested that she go and dress, and they go look at what could be done to help what had been destroyed by the storm.
Tilly nodded and silently left the room. Mary-Beth dressed and made her way down to the kitchen. At the table sat Tam’s father and younger brother. She limped to the window and looked out again. It looked worse now that she was closer to it.
“Such a shame. It’s been some time since we had a dust storm. You kids had such pretty decorations out there, too. I’m so sorry, young lady,” Tam’s father said as she sat down at the table and poured herself a cup of coffee.
“It’s bad, but with a little effort, I’m sure we can make something of it still. Once Tilly is ready, we are going out to take a look at what can be saved.” Mary-Beth was determined not to let Tilly’s wedding be ruined by the sudden dust storm.
“You’re a determined young woman. Tilly is blessed to have you. Be careful out there though. The ground can be pretty uneven after one of these storms. I don’t want you falling out there,” he warned. Even though they had only met just a few days ago, it felt like he was the father that she had never known.
“I’ll be careful. I’m sure Tam will be here soon as well. There’s no way anyone could have missed that storm.”
Sure enough, Tam entered the house a few minutes later. He took one look at his father and brother. The look of loss and shock were evident in his strong features, but he wouldn’t admit how hurt he felt by what had happened the night before. Tam looked over at Mary-Beth and simply shook his head.
“Don’t worry, Tam. We will figure out a way to fix this. Sit down and have some coffee. Tilly should be down in a few minutes,” Mary-Beth pushed an empty cup his direction, and he reluctantly sat.
“It’s all gone. All of the hard work we have put in is gone. I don’t know what we can do to save our wedding now.” Tam shook his head and took a sip of coffee.
“You will still have a beautiful wedding. It may not be the one you pictured, but you will have your friends and family close, and you have a beautiful bride to spend your life with. Be grateful for what you do have and don’t despair over what you don’t,” Mary-Beth advised. It had been a saying that she had told herself many times when she wished that she could run and play like all of the other children.
“Thank you, Mary-Beth. You are a true blessing.” Tam smiled weakly at her, and they continued to drink their coffee in silence.
Tam’s father and brother left to go and check on the animals, leaving them alone.
“She isn’t doing well with this, Tam. I will do everything I possibly can to help fix what was destroyed, but Tilly is devastated. I’m so sorry that this had to happen to you,” Mary-Beth said.
“Some things cannot be helped. I’m glad that you’re here, Mary-Beth. You are such a light and a blessing for Tilly. Thank you,” Tam said as he smiled at her once more.
A few moments later, Tilly entered the kitchen. Tam and Mary-Beth made sure that she drank a little bit of coffee and ate a few grits. Tilly remained silent the entire time. Her wedding day, ruined due to a dust storm.
Once they were satisfied that Tilly had eaten enough, they all made their way out to the clearing. As they began walking, they noticed Jacob making his way across the front yard. He looked as upset as they felt, and he wanted to do whatever he could to help the situation as well.
In the clearing, they realized that the damage was beyond anything they imagined. Many of the chairs had been broken, the tables had been swept away, and the tents were tattered. Tilly dissolved into a new set of tears. While Tam did his best to comfort her, Mary-Beth looked around and started making a plan. Even though she had physical limitations, she knew that this could be done if they all put their time and energy into it.
“Jacob, let’s get the broken chairs and tables picked up. We might be able to repair them so that they are usable,” Mary-Beth began. She made her way to the first fallen chair and took a look at it. Wiping away the dust, she realized that they could fix them with a few nails. They wouldn't be perfect, but they would be good enough. Jacob followed her lead and together they began to pick up the chairs and assess what could be repaired.
Before long, Tilly and Tam joined them. Tilly’s tears had dried up, leaving a woman full of sheer determination in their place. Nothing would make her day any less special. Mary-Beth’s strength was wearing off on her.
Once they had everything that needed repairs set aside, Mary-Beth encouraged the men to round up some of the ranch workers, and a handful of friendly neighbors. Mary-Beth rallied the assembled helpers to work a western miracle. The men went and got hammers and tools to fix what could be fixed. Mary-Beth and the women found some of the bows that had been torn from the tents and chairs and began to wipe the dust from them and straighten them out. Amazingly enough, they were able to find most of the bows.
By the time the day had ended, the tents had been mended, the chairs and tables had been mostly repaired, and many of the old decorations had been found and rehung. Mary-Beth and Jacob worked side by side tirelessly to get it all ready. There was still a lot of work to be done, but, for the most part, a lot of the damage had been repaired. They all decided that they would work again the next day so that it would be ready for the guests the following day. Jacob was fascinated by Mary-Beth’s ability to bring so many people together and achieve what was seemingly impossible. His heart swelled with pride every time he thought about her. What was it about this lady? And how could he get to know her better?
Happy but exhausted, Mary-Beth and Tilly returned to the house to get a good night’s sleep. They were sore, and Mary-Beth’s legs were hurting, but she didn’t care. They had pulled through the damage and would make the wedding what they hoped it would be.
CHAPTER SEVEN
A Double Blessing
THE DAY OF the wedding arrived. It was a beautiful and sunny morning. The birds seemed to sing much louder than before, and the flowers looked more vibrant than they had in the days preceding this wondrous moment. Mary-Beth smiled as she looked out of her window. The clearing was beautiful once more. Sure, things were a bit dusty, but they were in the wild west, wasn't that to be expected? Mary-Beth smiled and thanked God from the bottom of her heart. Tam and Tilly would have a wonderful wedding.
She carefully dressed in the pink muslin that she had brought for the wedding and made her way to Tilly’s room to help her prepare. As they draped the beautiful dress over Tilly’s head, a loud knock
came on the door.
“Mary-Beth, Jacob has come to see you. Do you have a moment?” Tam’s mother asked as she stuck her head into the room.
Mary-Beth looked curiously at Tilly. Tilly nodded slightly and urged her to go. “I’ll still be here when you get back. Go and talk to him.”
Jacob was sitting in the parlor when she came down. He rose as she entered the room, and he motioned for her to sit next to him. The look on his face had Mary-Beth feeling nervous, but she had learned to trust Jacob and sat down and waited for him to speak.
“Mary-Beth, I have been doing some thinking. During this past week or so, I have really gotten to see what a wonderful and beautiful person you are. In fact, I feel as though I have known you my entire life. I don’t know what you will say to me, but I was wondering if you would consider being my wife and working by my side?” he asked nervously. He had been thinking about this for a few days now. Even though he knew how devoted she was to her grandparents, he couldn’t let her go back without asking her this important question.
“Marry you?” She exclaimed. “Oh Jacob, it would make me the happiest lady in the world to be your wife! But when? We just planned one wedding. I don’t believe I have the energy for another at the moment,” she replied with a smile.
“Well, I have talked to Tam and Tilly, and they have agreed to share today with us. If you are willing, will you marry me today?” he asked with a glint of hope in his eyes.
“Are you serious? I would love to!” She started to cry tears of happiness as she stared at this special man she thought would never choose her because of her disability.
