by Rikki Dyson
Brandon is the ring bearer and Hugh is Shane’s best man.
Finally, the time had come for which Shane and Stacey had been waiting. The guests have arrived and the barn was over flowing. Eric and his band were playing soft music as Annie and Brandon walk down the blue carpet, closely followed by the Bridesmaids.
While Stacey and her dad were waiting for the ceremony to start. He put his arms around her, kissed her cheek and said, “I love you baby girl and we’re gonna’ miss you.”
“I’m gonna’ miss you too Dad, but we’ll be back for a visit before you know it.”
Sam smiled at his daughter and said, “Seeing you in this dress, brings back memories of another wedding. I was so damn scared my knees were knocking, but at the same time I wanted to grab your mother and run away with her. A’ course, the only way I could get away with that was to stand up like a man, and go through with the ceremony.”
Stacey kissed her dad’s cheek, and laughingly said, “Well, Dad, I’m so glad you went through with the marriage ceremony, I would have been a little hellion if I had been labeled illegitimate.”
Doctor Sam Scott hugged his daughter, chortling and said, “Sweetheart, if you had been more of a little hellion than you were, we might have all been run out of Texas.” Sam kissed Stacey’s cheek again and seriously said, “I have always loved you my sweetheart, audaciousness and all.”
“Thank you Dad, I’ve always loved you too. Now, let’s go get me married before Shane gets cold feet,” Stacey said as they heard the Wedding March start. Anticipation was high, when the band struck up, ‘Here comes the bride.’ Down the aisle came Stacey on her fathers arm. Her dress was white satin, fitted bodice, sleeveless with seed pearls around the top. Her jewelry was tiny pearl earrings, fresh water pearl and diamond necklace with bracelet to match. Shane gave the pearls to Stacey on Friday night. One of the few times, they were able to be alone for a few minutes. Stacey told him how beautiful they were and said, “I will have to thank you properly later.”
“In the usual way, I hope,” Shane said, with a sly grin.
As they walked down the aisle, everyone watched. Stacey only had eyes for Shane.
Shane was watching her come towards him. His chest was tight with anticipation. He didn’t care they were being married in a barn, with Stacey in a borrowed dress. It couldn’t have been more beautiful. Now everyone would be happy and he and Stacey could finally live their lives.
Brandon was standing in front of Shane. His head came a few inches above Shane’s knees. He was still there when Stacey’s dad released her to Shane. The ceremony started and things went well until the minister asked, “Do you Shane take Stacey to be...“S- he do,” Brandon said. He told the minister three more times, “S- he do.” The last time, Shane said, “I do,” with him. Shane was smiling at Stacey, as Brandon was very serious about getting the ceremony over with.
Now it was Stacey’s turn. Brandon left Shane to come stand beside Stacey and hold her hand. Both his dad and mom tried to get Brandon’s attention, but he wasn’t budging. From past experience, they knew it was better to leave him alone than to force the issue. While Stacey was saying her vows, Brandon was holding her hand. In his other hand was the little pillow with the pouch for the ring box. Of course, the matron of honor had the ring for the groom.
When asked, do you Stacey take Shane to be... Brandon said, “S-her do.” The second time he said it real loud, “I tels ou, S-her do.” The guests started laughing. Now it’s time for the ring ceremony. Shane said his vows and put the wedding ring on Stacey’s finger. Stacey said her vows and turned to Annie, “I don’t have it, don’t you have it?” Annie said in desperation.
“No, I thought you had it,” Stacey said.
Stacey knelt by Brandon and asked, “Sugar baby, do you have my ring?”
“I dun’t has ur wing, I has Sanes wing.”
“May I have it please?” Stacey asked.
“No, it not urs,” he said. “It Sanes.”
Shane thought this all very humorous. He knelt down on one knee and asked Brandon, “Will you put my ring on my finger for me please?” Brandon took the ring from the pouch, no box, and put the ring on Shane’s finger and said, “I be nice, I do”
Shane picked him up and they both kissed Stacey and the three of them walked out of the barn together.
“Ar we marrwed now?” Brandon asked.
“Yes, we’re both married to her now, but I’m taking her on the honeymoon,” Shane said, chortling.
“Okay, I has go fin my mommy, cause I has to pee, pee,” Brandon said.
Stacey was laughing and said, “That’s why he was in such a hurry to get us married.”
In no time at all the barn was rearranged with table and chairs put to the side and the dance floor ready. Stacey and Shane danced first, then Stacey danced with her dad, both of her granddads and Andrew McLeod. The barbeque was ready, so Stacey went to change her dress. She put on the dress Grandmother McLeod gave her to be married in before in Scotland. The reception was ready and more people had arrived. Stacey kissed both of her grandmothers and Grandmother McLeod on her way to change her dress. When Grandmother McLeod, saw the dress that Stacey put on, she smiled and wiped a tear away.
“This was a marriage to remember,” Shane said. “Where’s little Brandon?”
“He’s taking a nap,” Stacey said. “Getting us married tired him out.” Stacey looked around at the guest, then told Shane, “Take your morning coat off and roll up your sleeves. It’s hot, and if your family see you do it, they will too.” Most of the young people were in the pool by now.
Stacey and Shane had cut the beautiful wedding cake, that Su Ling and Mr. Chen had made. The photographer had taken pictures of the unusual wedding and ceremony. Time flew by, the uncle’s flight was due to leave at nine p.m. in order for Stacey and Shane to catch their flight to Rome for a seven day honeymoon cruise of the Mediterranean. Nigel, Megan, Hugh and Annie were on their way home on a later flight out of Houston. Sir Richard had decided he wanted to see more of Texas and Houston. He had canceled his reservations to a later date.
Stacey and Shane were hugging their parents, grandparents and everyone else goodbye, when one of her uncles said, “No long goodbyes, we gotta go.”
Before long they were on their way. Paul, Suzanne, Lynn and Melissa flew back to Houston with them. Paul and Suzanne had left the twin babies with Paul’s mother. They needed to get back to them, as they were just born in April.
Shane and Stacey said, goodbye, to their friends at the airport in Houston. The plane ride had given them time to visit and kind of settle down some from all the excitement. They told their friends, “We’ll see you all in London in a week or so.” The Rome flight left an hour before the London flight did.
Back at the ranch, the party is still in full swing. Jessie told the families, “I’m sure this party will go on for sometime, because this was, a big do, for our little town.”
The special guests were all in the house where it was cool. The Scotts, Flemmings, McLeod’s, even Sir Richard felt they were family. The Foley’s and their family were a close connection as well. On Sunday morning, Stacey’s twin uncles were back to fly the McLeod, McPherson and Foley families to Houston where they’ll stay the night at the Fleming’s home, then Monday morning a flight had been arranged to fly the families to Canada, to spent two weeks with the Foley children and grandchildren.
Sir Richard and Aunt Lora are going to drive the young people back to Houston on Sunday. She’ll follow the older cousins, that drove to the ranch early for the rehearsal.
Aunt Lora said, “I’ll drive Jessie’s SUV, so there will be plenty of room for all the young people. They can see Texas and I can keep an eye on them.”
Jessica and Sam were both dead tired when they fell in bed, Sunday night. The weekend had been a busy time taking care of their guest. It had been a beautiful wedding. Jessie and Sam, knew Stacey was happy to be married to Shane, but they were going to miss their da
ughter.
Jessie asked Sam, “Did you notice how Sir Richard’s eyes followed Aunt Lora where ever she went. It won’t surprise me if something comes of that.”
“Don’t get your hopes up honey, London is a long ways away.”
“I know,” Jessie said, “but I’m sure Aunt Lora will visit Stacey and Shane, and Sir Richard is a friend of theirs, so I can hope, can’t I?”
Sam Scott took his wife in his arms and said, “Yes, my darling wife, you can always hope. God knows Aunt Lora deserves love and happiness, after all the heartache she’s had. You know, within the next year we’ll most likely be flying to London ourselves. Stacey plans on making us grandparents.”
“Yes, I know,” Jessie said. “I think I’m looking forward to it. I think it’ll be nice to have little ones around the house again. Working the way we did, we missed out on much of Stacey’s childhood.”
“It will take some getting used to, I’m sure,” Sam said, “but I’m for it, and you’re right my love, we did miss out on a lot of our little girls growing up years, but thanks to Le, Stacey grew up to be a damn fine young woman.”
“You know Sam,” Jessie said. “I feel like this may be the beginning, and not the end, of this saga.”
Author’s Note
To my readers: If you have enjoyed the first two books of the Trilogy then come along and meet Stacey’s immediate family and their lives and loves. Then come to England and join Stacey and Shane as they start their lives together and the challenges they must face and test their love in the third book, Revelation of Hearts.
I live in Crowley, Texas, I have two sons, two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
My e-mail address is [email protected]
