by Kit Morgan
Matthew rolled his eyes before he looked up at him. “Yes, it’s true.”
Arlan laughed, and slapped Matthew on the back so hard it almost sent him sprawling. “Well congratulations, cousin! This calls for a celebration!”
“We’re already at a celebration, you dote!” Matthew pushed out through clenched teeth.
“Benjamin, Calvin, Daniel! Cousin Matthew is getting married!”
Whoops and hollers could be heard from the food table, but quickly quieted down.
“Hmmm, guess they’re more interested in fried chicken than you,” Arlan laughed.
“Thank the Lord, for that,” Matthew mumbled.
Arlan grabbed Matthew to him in a bear hug that sent his spectacles askew, and squeezed. “Sure is great to see ya cousin! I can’t wait to watch you take your vows with this pretty lady!” he said and looked directly at Charlotte.
“Glehtttt goohhh of meh …” Matthew choked out.
“I think Matthew’s turnin’ blue,” Tom said as he studied him. “That means he ain’t getting no air,” he then explained to Rose. “Maybe you ought to let go of him before he makes a fool of himself, and passes out in front of the women.”
“Good point,” Arlan said, and released him.
Matthew’s hands flew to his neck before he quickly examined the rest of his torso for damage. “Don’t ever do that again!”
“Just a friendly hug between cousins,” Arlan said and looked to Tom. “He don’t like being touched. Was like that as a kid, too.”
“Really?” Tom asked with interest. “I bet you could tell us all kinds of stories about him!”
“Oh yeah, I got barrels of stories!”
“No!” Matthew quickly interjected. “No stories!” He grabbed Rose by her hand. “Come along Rose, let go speak with someone civilized!”
Arlan watched with interest as he pulled her away, and saw her other hand fall out of Tom’s. “Now there’s a story.”
Tom watched Rose disappear into the crowd. “Ain’t it though?”
Arlan laughed, and wandered off. Charlotte stood still until he was out of sight. Or rather, out of ear-shot, he was so tall, he would be hard to miss no matter where she was in the room. “My, he’s certainly big.”
“Ahhh, he ain’t that much. I’ve seen bigger.”
“So you mentioned. Maybe you could tell them some of your stories, and keep them out of trouble. I remember what they did a few years ago.”
Tom glanced at the food table. “They seem pretty civil to me. I don’t see any trouble coming from them.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Miss Charlotte, have I told you how pretty you look tonight?”
She smiled. “No, I don’t believe so.”
“Oh.” He snorted, turned, and headed for the food table.
She burst into laughter and followed him.
The evening continued without incident. Rose got to dance with Matthew, Charlotte with Tom, and Clayton got to steal kisses from Summer all night. That left Spencer on alert for any sign of trouble, of which there was none. Until …
“Well ain’t you a sight for sore eyes. Miss Davis, you get prettier every time we see ya!”
Matthew stiffened at the words. It sounded like Calvin, one of the twins. He spun on his heel, and sure enough, he had Charlotte backed into a corner. Rose was dancing with Clayton and Matthew, for the briefest of seconds, wondered if he shouldn’t fetch him. But no, his temper had already gripped his senses. His good sense, anyway. “Unhand her this instant!”
His cousin Calvin looked down at him. “I ain’t got a hand on her,” he said in surprise and held up his cup of punch.
“I’m sure you did!”
“Did not.”
“Don’t lie to me!”
“Me? Lie to you? What’s the matter, cousin?”
“Kindly step away from Miss Charlotte.”
Calvin looked to her. “Is he always this uppity?”
She sighed. “Only when it pertains to …”
“Step away!” Matthew ordered and shoved him.
Calvin took a step back as he looked Matthew up and down in shock. He glanced to the cup of punch in his hand, sniffed at it, and then looked back to Matthew. “Is there something I’m missing’? Cause if there is, I … I’m not figuring this out.”
“I’ll not have you ogling my … my …” Matthew snapped his mouth shut and gave Calvin another shove.
Charlotte watched him as he valiantly tried to protect her. Little did he know, Calvin had given her a compliment, and been quite pleasant, it wasn’t until he got loud that Matthew thought something must be amiss.
“Could I be of some assistance?” Tom asked as he came up behind Matthew.
“Mind your own business, deputy,” he snapped.
Tom looked up at Calvin who stood solid as a tree. He leaned against the back of his twin, who had his weight braced with his feet. Matthew was so busy shoving at him he didn’t notice. “If you say so.” He strolled over to Charlotte. “Would you care to dance?”
She smiled, took one last look at Matthew, and giggled. “Why, I’d love to.”
He offered her his arm and led her to the dancing area. Matthew meanwhile, was working up a sweat and finally, stopped and glanced around. “Charlotte?”
Calvin and his brother Benjamin burst into fits of laughter. Matthew glared at them and stomped off to find Rose.
Arlan watched him go as he strode up holding Daniel by the scruff of the neck, and threw him at the twins. They caught him, but not before almost falling over themselves. “Keep an eye on him while I go talk with Spencer Riley. I caught him trying to slip toads into the punch.”
Benjamin hit Daniel on the top of his head. “What are you thinkin’ boy? There ain’t no toads around this time of year!”
Arlan sighed. “He knows; that’s why he was using dead ones from his collection.”
Calvin grimaced and shook his head as Benjamin quickly glanced about, then punched his younger brother in the gut. Daniel doubled over with a grunt and a snort as Arlan strode off again.
He found Spencer near the doors leading outside. “Spencer, a word?”
“Sure Arlan, what’s on your mind?”
“Your ma’s been bending my ma’s ear all evening. Something about mail order brides?”
“Oh, good Lord!” Spencer said and moaned. “I apologize, she can’t help herself.”
“I want one.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I want one.” Arlan sighed. “A man gets mighty lonely out on that farm, I would’ve got myself a wife a long time ago if pa hadn’t died. But ma, she took it hard, and I couldn’t leave her with my brothers. They were still too reckless and … well, stupid.”
Spencer laughed. “I understand. I’ll speak to ma. But what of your brothers?”
“They can get their own wives. I’ve got some land next to pa’s farm, built myself a cabin on it and want to till it come spring. Sure would be nice to have a wife by my side when I do.”
Spencer slapped him on the back. “I’ll see what I can do. And who knows, maybe ma can get mail order brides for your brothers too.”
“Nah, they’re still too stupid.”
Spencer laughed just as the ruckus started. The sound of shattering glass followed by women’s screams rent the air. “Speaking of stupid,” he said to himself as he hurried toward the sounds.
“I’ll handle my brothers if you don’t mind,” Arlan called after him as they came upon the scene. But it wasn’t Arlan’s brothers causing the commotion. It was Tom and Matthew.
“You apologize to Miss Rose,” Matthew said just before he punched Tom in the jaw.
Tom’s head reeled, then snapped back to face him. “I didn’t insult Miss Rose, I was talking to Charlotte!”
Matthew turned to Charlotte, who stood held by Abbey as tears streamed down her face. He saw the dress, the dark hair, and assumed it was Rose. Good Heavens! He couldn’t tell which was which
? “Miss Charlotte then! And you must have done something, just look at her! She’s crying a waterfall!”
“What’s going on here?” Spencer demanded.
“This miscreant said something to upset Charlotte.” Matthew snapped.
“I did nothin’ of the kind. We were discussing …”
“Their wedding!” Nellie Davis shouted to the crowd.
Tom’s shoulders slumped as he shook his head in defeat.
“Is this true, Charlotte?” Matthew demanded.
She looked at him, looked to Tom, and sobbed anew.
“Congratulations!” Mrs. Davis cried. “I knew you’d ask her tonight!”
Matthew turned away, saw Rose, and grabbed her. “I’m sorry you had to see me strike him. Did he insult you?”
“I wasn’t even here, I went to get some punch.”
Matthew glanced around as if trying to remember where he was, then sniffed at the punch in her hand. “How did I mix up… I thought … oh bother!”
A crowd had gathered around Tom and Charlotte at this point, and the congratulations exploded out of them. Matthew watched as everyone patted them on the back and shook the deputy’s hands.
“I’ve made a fool of myself tonight, Rose. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“If you think he insulted me in any way, you’re wrong, but he must have said something to Charlotte, she’s crying something awful. But … smiling?”
“He did it, he asked her to marry him,” he said in disbelief.
Rose took his hand. “Let’s have a double wedding.”
“What? You want to share your day with …”
“With Charlotte. Please, I know she’ll want to.”
“But our wedding is tomorrow, she hasn’t a dress … does she?” he asked nervously.
Rose glanced around before she whispered in his ear. “Her mother had Mrs. Jorgensen make her one.”
Matthew’s head jerked back and forth between Rose and Charlotte. “How do you know?”
“Your mother told me.”
“Oh for the love of …”
“Please, Matthew, I know it would mean a lot to her, and it would keep her mother from badgering her.”
Matthew took a deep breath. “You have a point on that score. All right, if that’s what you want, go speak with her.”
Rose smiled in delight, and went to go tell her friend the good news.
* * *
“What have I done?” Tom mumbled to himself as Mr. Quinn held a white shirt up to him.
“This ought to fit you fine! And I got pants too! Consider it a wedding gift.”
Tom stared at him. He was still in shock. Last night was a blur, and the only thing he kept thinking about was Rose. He had to leave town, he couldn’t stay and watch her marry another man. He figured it out the week before as he looked at the wanted posters. He needed to go home, get back to his family’s farm, and start over there. Even if it meant being Sheriff Hughes’s deputy for a time, he could make it work. He planned to tell Charlotte last night at the dance, and tell her he’d be praying for her and her mission of forgiveness. But then, everything happened at once, and here he was, in a tiny room at the church being dressed up in wedding clothes by Mr. Quinn and Mr. Davis.
He could have stopped it, could have said something, but Charlotte started to cry, told him he was her only true support, and then Matthew tapped him on the shoulder, and punched him in the jaw.
But that wasn’t the worst of it, he didn’t speak up when he should have, and now the whole town thought he proposed. And when Rose ran up to Charlotte and offered to let them take their vows together, that did it. The crowd went wild, and then Charlotte looked at him with those big eyes of hers and he caved. Who would marry her if he didn’t? Who would come to her rescue every time one of the townsfolk talked behind her back? Who would help her find the forgiveness she so desperately needed? Somebody had to, so it might as well be him. Besides, as soon as she got what she needed, he’d take the advice given him by everyone, and get her away from her mother. He’d take her to Clear Creek, yes, that’s what he’d do and …
“You cut a decent figure, deputy!” Mr. Davis said. “Never thought I’d see the day, when my little Charlotte would finally land a man!”
Tom realized he was fully dressed as Mr. Quinn yanked him toward the pulpit where Matthew already stood. He shoved his spectacles up his nose and gulped. He looked as nervous as a cat, and stared wide eyed down the center aisle.
Mr. Davis and Mr. Quinn hurried to the back of the church using another aisle, and disappeared.
The organ began to play.
Tom gulped.
Matthew gulped.
And the preacher stepped to the pulpit.
All three men froze when the brides came into view.
“She’s beautiful,” Matthew said.
“She certainly is …” Tom added.
Matthew glared at him.
“Charlotte, I meant Charlotte.”
“Of course you did.”
“Quiet, the both of you!” the preacher warned.
The crowded church ooo’d and ahhh’d until finally, Rose and Charlotte reached them. Tom sucked in a breath as he took Charlotte’s hand. All four faced the preacher, Charlotte on Tom’s left, Rose on his right. His spine went stiff and his gut twisted. Did all grooms go through this?”
Suddenly the music stopped.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God, to …
Matthew took Rose’s hand, just as she took Tom’s and gave it a squeeze. Tom’s eyes about jumped out of his sockets as Charlotte took his other and shook with a silent sob. He nervously glanced over his shoulder and wondered if anyone noticed, but the lace dripping off of Rose’s sleeve probably hid the fact she held his hand. Was it her way of saying congratulations?
The preacher droned on, and his words became a jumble as Tom’s ears started to ring. At some point he remembered Rose let his hand go, and he felt a sudden disconnection, as if something in his heart snapped. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on what the preacher was saying.
“If there be anyone here that has reason that these two … er … four should not be wed, let him speak now or forever hold his peace.” The preacher scanned the crowded church for any reaction. Tom felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple and looked nervously to Matthew. He looked about to chew his lower lip off, and also turned slightly in the crowd’s direction.
“Let us continue on,” the preacher announced.
Tom squeezed Charlotte’s hand, and she burst out sobbing. He leaned toward her. “It’s all right, honey,” he whispered. “I know you’re nervous, but don’t cry.”
Suddenly, Rose grabbed his other hand again. He slowly turned his head toward her …
“Repeat after me,” the preacher called. “I, Matthew Quinn, take you Rose Smith, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward …”
Rose let out a wail.
Matthew gritted his teeth and bent to her. “Shhhh, it’s all right darling, I know you’re nervous, but don’t cry.”
Tom leaned back to see past Rose, and gave him confused look. He’d used the exact words he said to Charlotte, sans the endearment. Matthew shrugged and gave his attention back to the preacher.
“Son, are you going to say the words?”
Matthew shook himself. “Oh, yes, yes of course! Ah … er …” he glanced around as inconspicuously as possible before he leaned toward him. “What did you say?”
The preacher looked at him in shock and shook his head. “I, Matthew Quinn take Rose…” he whispered at him.
“Oh yes, so sorry … I Matthew Quinn,” he squeaked.
Charlotte’s entire body shook, but was she laughing or …
A horrible wail erupted from both women.
“Oh, don’t you just love weddings!” Mrs. Quinn wailed along with them from the front pew.
Matthew continued to recite his vows after the preacher, and Rose, ever so sl
owly, let her hand fall out of Tom’s. As did Charlotte …
He looked at her, then at Rose, and heard Matthew say, “for as long as we both shall live…”
The words grated on Tom’s nerves like fingernails on a slate. He stiffened, his usual, easy-going reserve, shattered. “Stop!”
Charlotte and Rose let loose a wail to rival … well, suffice to say it was really loud …
Tom ignored them and leaned forward to see past Rose. “Matthew Quinn! We can’t go on like this!” He looked at Rose, but didn’t straighten up. “I love you!”
She let out another wail just as Matthew’s eyes flicked to Charlotte. “And I love you! This has all got to come out in the open!”
Mrs. Davis screamed.
The preacher looked them all over and threw his hands up in the air. “Will somebody tell me what’s going on?”
The crowd in the church gaped at the four. Arlan Weaver and his brothers stood in the back and laughed hysterically.
Tom held a hand up to the preacher. “Just a moment.” He took a step back, pulled Rose and Charlotte together, and kept pulling until they had switched places. He then looked to Matthew who nodded in approval.
“This is highly irregular!” the preacher cried. “You can’t switch brides in the middle of a ceremony!”
“Who says we can’t?” Matthew asked. “You don’t see them objecting, do you?”
The preacher looked at the women, and was even so bold as to lift their veils so he could see their faces. “And you’re all right with this?”
They both nodded and wailed anew.
Nellie Davis and Mrs. Quinn screamed at the same time, and thankfully, both swooned!
Tom sighed in satisfaction, as did Matthew. The only two meddling mothers to cause them any trouble, were both passed out cold.
And the rest of the town? Well, like Arlan, those with eyes to see, did. Of course, with Arlan and his brothers there, who was going to argue?
Epilogue
One month later …
“I so love having tea with you,” Rose said as she watched Charlotte pour. “I’m glad everything worked out for Abbey and Billy, but I know you’re going to miss them.”
