by Lynn Landes
“What do you think?”
“Oh, my.” Anna covers her mouth with her hand, “I think it was made for you, Bronnah you look stunning. We need to go.”
“How will we get past the men?”
“No worries, my girls have it covered. Thankfully, the church is only five minutes up the road,” she laughs as they load into the carriage out front.
Bronnah presses a hand to her stomach as they pull up in front of the church. It's glowing with candles, and the Pastor meets them at the door to help them down.
“Ladies, you look lovely. It’s getting cold, come inside and warm up by the fire.”
The church is lit by candles, and the popping and crackling of the fireplace adds to the intimate feel. "Now then. I expect your fiancé to arrive shortly. I sent my wife over with our wagon to collect them." He takes Bronnah's hands and squeezes gently. "I hope you don't mind, but we have a few more guests who wanted to attend." Outside the sound of wagons and horses, followed by laughter and voice ring out.
“I don’t understand…” Bronnah starts to say, but she stops short when families begin entering. Bronnah recognizes some of them from the train crash, those she nursed or helped pull from the water. Some still recovering, bandaged, battered and bruised, but all smiling when they greet her.
They file in quickly, guided by Anna and take seats. Those that can stand, line the walls of the church and Bronnah struggles not to cry. Tremors shake her body as the Pastor whispers to her, "God's plan is always flawless."
Bronnah nods but doesn’t trust herself to speak. Dr. Higgins and his daughters are the first to enter the church. Chase is confused, until he steps inside the crowded building and he sees Bronnah.
Bronnah is waiting for him with love gleaming in her exquisite eyes. Unshed tears form, and he marches up the aisle to join her.
“How could any man be this blessed?” He asked hoarsely and cups her face. “Are you sure, Bronnah-mine?” A single tear breaks free and rolls down her cheek as she speaks.
"From this moment on Chase Rivers, my hand is yours ta hold, and my heart is forever yours ta keep if you wish it."
Chase kneels at her feet and takes her hand. “In the presence of God and these witnesses Bronnah O’Dalaigh, I promise to be a loving, faithful and loyal husband to you.”
"I think that's a yes," the pastor teases. Laughter floats around the room, and Bronnah pulls him to his feet, and he walks her to the altar.
"Let's begin." He places Bronnah's hands in Chase's, and she traces them gently. Scarred and still healing they are a reminder of how far he has gone to protect her.
“Do you Chase Rivers, take Bronnah O’Dalaigh to be your wife,
To be her constant friend, her partner in life?
To love her without reservation, to honor and respect her, protect her from harm,
Comfort her in times of distress and to grow with her in mind and spirit?”
“I will,” Chase replies and pulls a box out of his pocket. Inside is a simple gold band. He slips it on Bronnah’s finger and wipes away her tears with his thumbs.
“Do you Bronnah O’Dalaigh, take Chase Rivers to be your husband,
To be his constant friend and partner in life?
To love without reservation, to honor and respect him, protect him from harm,
Comfort him in times of distress and to grow with him in mind and spirit?”
“I will,” Bronnah answers with a smile.
“In accordance with God’s holy ordinance, I proclaim you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Cheers and laughter ripple through the room as Chase claims his right.
“Life with you will never be boring, Mrs. Rivers,” Chase said with a laugh.
"Should I have put that in our vows," she teases as they turn to greet their guests. Chase and Bronnah are humbled when the guests follow them back to the Doctors home for a reception. Each family brought a dish to share, and laughter and music flow as their first memory together as husband and wife is etched into their hearts.
One of the guests brings up his camera and offers the only gift he can give, a wedding photograph. Bronnah helped pull his wife from the river and carried his son to safety. "I would be honored to capture this memory for you." After the picture is taken, Chase moves off with him and gives him the family ranch address in Wyoming, and he promises to mail it to them.
The night goes on with guests offering thanks and giving what they can. Bronnah watches quietly and can almost see the ties binding each person together. She leans against Chase and sighs as he presses a kiss to her forehead. In the next few days, many of these people will move on to their intended destinations, and they will never see each other again, but this night will never be forgotten.
"One more surprise for you," Anna said clapping her hands to draw everyone's attention. "We have taken it upon ourselves to offer you a private cabin until you leave." Laughter and teasing flow as they rush outside to see a wagon decorated with flowers and ribbons.
Bronnah starts to object, but Chase sweeps her up into his arms to the delight of everyone watching. “A hearty thanks to you,” Chase said and marches with her straight to the wagon.
Dr. Higgins laughs and yells out, “Perhaps directions are in order.”
Bronnah laughs out loud and settles into her seat while Chase drops a blanket over her lap. He leaps down to talk to the Doc while Anna hands up a basket with food and their packed bags. “Oh, Anna I don’t know how I will ever thank you,” Bronnah said.
“Look around Bronnah, I didn’t do this alone. Your kindness will never be forgotten. Now go enjoy yourselves.”
“I will, thank you!” Bronnah waves at the group and Chase flicks the reigns.
It is a fifteen-minute ride to the small hunting cabin on Dr. Higgins property. Finding it is easy thanks to Anna's quick thinking. Every few miles a white ribbon gleams, guiding them to a well-worn path and a tiny glowing cabin.
Anna and the women of the church decorated a small, two-room hunting cabin with two big ribbons on the log pillars supporting the covered porch. Two lanterns are glowing to light the way inside. Chase leaps down and ties the horses off before lifting Bronnah down.
“Chase, I can walk,” he silences her with a soft kiss that quickly turns sensual.
"No. I find I like carrying you, it's one way to keep you out of trouble," he says with a laugh. Instead of placing her feet on the ground, he pushes open the door and carries her inside. Inside, they are surprised to find a charming room with a double bed against one wall, a fireplace, galley kitchen, and table. The second room is a bathing room. Compared to the dwelling she grew up in it looks like heaven to Bronnah
“I’ll be back. I need to see to the horses.” Chase sets her down and lights a lantern before heading outside.
Nerves are cracking between them. Bronnah chews her lower lip worried that he's upset with her for ambushing him. She moves slowly around the cabin and shivers at the cold. Two chairs flank the fireplace, and she hurries to start a fire. Leaning down to grab a log, she jumps when Chase returns.
“Don’t even think about it…” he drops the basket and two bags, kicking the door shut behind him.
“I just want to help, Chase,” she snaps.
“I know, I’m starved, could you see what that basket holds while I start a fire?” he asked grabbing some wood from the corner and loading the fireplace.
“Of course,” she carries the basket to the counter and opens it. Fried chicken, biscuits, fruit and a bottle of wine from a local winery with two crystal glasses. “God Bless you, Anna!”
Chase turns and stands slowly, staring at his bride. The glow of the fireplace fills the small cabin with a warm embrace, and he stares at her and can't believe the turn his life has taken. Bronnah glances up and stops moving.
“Are you angry at me, Chase, for ambushing you?”
“Of course not.” He's stunned that she would think that. “What I am is a man in disbelief. That you would choose me, of a
ll the men in this world to call yours.”
Bronnah rushes into his open arms and struggles not to cry. She can't have tears on their first night as husband and wife. Taking a deep shuttering breath, "I love you, Chase Rivers."
He tilts her chin up and stares into her eyes, glittering with happiness. “I love you, Mrs. Rivers.” Softly he traces her mouth with his, tasting the sweetness of her kiss. Breaking away he reaches behind his back and draws his bowie knife. “Now, shall I help get you out of that dress?”
Bronnah’s eyes grow large with false horror, “Not a chance,” she pushes out of his arms and orders him to open the wine bottle. Chase laughs when she disappears into the bathing room. He pours wine and grabs a piece of chicken to eat while she changes, sitting next to the fireplace he pulls off his boots and thinks about the day. In two days, they will head to Wyoming, but for the next forty-eight hours she is his and his alone. He means to show her just how much he cherishes her.
Bronnah lights a lantern in the small bathing room and laughs when she sees a sheer lace nightgown made of the same material as her gown with a matching robe. Carefully she removes her gown and skirt before slipping into the satin and lace. She lets her hair down and runs her hands through it releasing it and finger combing it into long waves. Bronnah leaves the robe and slowly opens the door.
Chase watches her step from the room and can’t believe his eyes. She looks like an Irish dream walking towards him. Her gown leaves nothing to the imagination. His eyes trace down her body, taking in her dark pink tipped nipples and she spins slowly before stopping in front of him.
Bronnah takes the wine from his hand and drinks it, before sitting it down on the table beside him. His hands slowly move over her hips as he pulls her between his legs. "I want you, Bronnah," he demands.
“Then come and claim me,” she states and grabs a fistful of his hair before taking his mouth. Chase slides her gown up around her waist, and Bronnah climbs onto his lap all the while tasting, sucking and nipping at his lips and tongue. He stands suddenly holding onto her ass as he rises, and they land on the bed is a rush of silk and lace.
Hours later, Chase jumps up to throw more logs on the fire and grab the cold chicken. “Share!” she laughs, “You make me hungry.” He laughs and climbs back under the covers with her.
“Who made who hungry, Mrs. River?”
Bronnah blushes and grabs a piece of chicken. She eats slowly and looks around the room with a sigh. “I will miss this little house, it’s perfect.”
Chase grins, at her. “Seems small to me.”
“Love grows best in small houses,” her teasing fades replaced by raw emotion. “I would live anywhere with ya, Chase Rivers.”
Chase is humbled by her statement, and until this moment it didn't occur to him to tell him about his land. He pulls her into his arms, "I'm glad to hear it, but I'm afraid you'll have to get used to a little more than this."
“What do you mean?”
“Bronnah, my family owns a five-thousand-acre ranch in Wyoming. I’m one of five boys, we were each gifted a thousand acres. I can’t wait to show it to you.”
Bronnah twists in his arms and stares at him stunned, “Five thousand acres! Are you coddin me?” He laughs when her Irish accent flares.
“No. I mean to spoil you rotten for the rest of our days, Bronnah-mine.” He kisses her shocked open mouth, “After.”
“After what?” she murmurs as he drags his whiskered chin over her shoulder and nibbles at her neck.
“After I stop the Chen.” Bronnah drops her head down in defeat. She knew in her heart that he would have to leave her, but she didn’t think it would come so soon.
“Bronnah, I’m a U.S. Marshall, I have a plan to stop them, but first I need to get you to safety.” In his mind, he sees the bloated bodies of the four young women who were murdered on his family train.
“I could help…” he silences her with a firm kiss.
“Not this time. I need you to trust me. I can think of no safer place for you then with my family.”
Bronnah lifts tear-filled eyes and cups his face in her hands, "Chase, I can't lose ya, I won't survive it."
“I feel the same way about you. I’m very good at my job, Bronnah. When this is over, and the Chen are no longer a threat to you, I will return. I have been thinking about becoming more active in the family business. My father isn’t getting any younger, and my brother Dalton needs a partner.”
“Could you walk away from your badge? It seems to me the man and the Marshall are one and the same.”
Chase sits up and pulls her to his chest. “When I came home from the war, Bronnah, I was a changed man. I found it near impossible to be near my family. How could they go about their lives and not see the blood staining my soul? I did things, Bronnah, things I’m ashamed of…” he clears his throat and looks at her. “Becoming a Marshall was my way of washing that clean. Now, I find that I need peace. I need you.”
Bronnah sighs and kisses his chest. "I understand Chase, life has a way of dirtying up even the cleanest of souls. My years in the workhouses taught me the resilience of the human spirit. We are fighters." Sitting up she wraps a blanket around her shoulders and talks to him of life, death, and disease. She tells him of famine and poverty, "I've seen things you could never imagine, and sometimes it haunts my dreams. It was only after the nightmares stopped that I realized I'd been desensitized to the suffering. Being here with you seems like a little piece of heaven."
“Sounds like we were made for each other, Bronnah.”
She smiles softly, and love lights her beautiful eyes. “I agree, but Chase I would never ask you to try to be someone you aren’t. If being a Marshall makes you happy, I will respect that,” she states.
“You trying to get rid of me, wife?” he demands.
"Not hardly, Mr. Rivers." Bronnah rises on her knees and lets the blanket fall to the bed behind her, and she slowly crawls up his body. "If I had my way, you'd be trapped here forever.”
“I like the sound of that,” he moans as she sinks down on him. “Say it again, Bronnah mine,” he demands.
Bronnah lifts his hand and places it over her heart.
“A chuisle, a chroi beats only for you,” she whispered and louder in English, “My heart, my pulse beats only for you, Chase,” she sings out.
"Yes, never forget that Bronnah," he growls as he rolls her and pins her beneath him. "Never forget that you hold my heart in your hands."
Chapter 33
“This is our first stop. We’re switching to the Union Pacific Railway.” Chase explains as he guides her through the noisy, cold, railway station in Nebraska. “Stay close.”
“Not a problem,” Bronnah has her arm looped through his as she glanced around worriedly. “So many people.”
“The major railheads are always busy. Our next connection will take us straight into my hometown. Ah, there it is,” he points to a line of people at a counter with the initials, UPR on a sign overhead. Chase murmurs for her to wait for him and he marches up to the counter and steps in front of the next person waiting as he flashes his badge.
“Chase Rivers, we have two tickets for Wyoming…”
“I’m sorry Mr. Rivers,” the older man snaps. “There’s a delay. You will have a two-day layover. The railways are prepared to offer housing at the boarding house across the street at no charge to you.”
“Why? What’s happened?” Chase snaps.
“Sir that is railway business. I can assure you that…”
Chase slides his badge closer and leans in speaking intently, “I am a United States, Federal Marshall, let’s try this again.” All the color fades from the man’s face as he stares up at Chase, “Explain quickly.”
He leans in and whispered, “Indians destroyed some of the tracks. Lucky for us it was caught before the train struck, but it’ll take time to repair.”
Chase thinks quickly, “Fine. I will need a hotel, not a boarding house.” Bronnah watches from a few feet away a
nd notices the stress and frowns at Chase when he returns to her and smiles.
“Change of plans,” he takes her arm and begins to guide her back outside to the front of the railway. They dodge people, horses, and carriages all without an explanation from him. Chase is aware of the heavy presence of soldiers as the nearest fort is only about few miles outside of town.
“Are ya planning on draggin me all over Nebraska, or are you gonna tell me what’s happened?” Bronnah snaps and Chase skids to a stop, looking down at her.
"I'm sorry, I don't like being in the open. I'll explain everything to you, once we're alone." He slows his stride, and she smiles at him.
“I have trouble keeping up with your long legs, Chase.”
"I'd carry you, but I'm sure that would draw attention as well." Bronnah laughs, and he stares down at her with a grin.
"You'd not hear me complain," Bronnah grumbles as Chase guides her into the lobby of the Hotel Davies. It's a six-floor, brick, building and near enough to the train station.
“I’ll hold you to that.” A few minutes later they’re guided into their hotel room by the concierge.
"Enjoy your stay. If you need anything, please pull the cord by your bed." He leaves quickly, and Bronnah turns to look at the room.
It is lovely with wooden floors, a massive four-poster bed, and fireplace. Chase chose the sixth-floor room, overlooking the back of the hotel with a private bathing room. Bronnah watches him light a fire and smiles as he turns to face her.
"We will have a couple day layover, it seems Indians have messed with some of the tracks. They are being repaired..." his voices fades as Bronnah unpins her hair and releases it to her shoulders giving a shake. His mouth goes dry, and he takes a step towards her, tossing his cowboy hat on a small table next to the chair. Next comes her overcoat, one button at a time.
