by J. R. Biery
“I love him, Lynne. He is tall and handsome and all that is kind. But since I’m married, he returned to the Fort and his duties while I look for land and a house. I hope to find something off the railroad right of way so I can move my family out here to join me. In a year…” Bonnie was saying.
The priest hissed in annoyance at the whispering women as Claire’s father gave her a last kiss and placed her hand in Henry’s. The two girls, one tall and the other petite looked guiltily at each other and held hands silently while Claire and Henry exchanged their vows.
All she heard was Henry as he stared into her eyes and said, “I promise to love, honor, and protect.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Afterwards, they shared their first kiss as man and wife. The public kiss was embarrassing for Claire, although they had shared a week of them along the trail. The day after Calum left Bonnie behind, she and Henry had been escorted on their promenade around the wagon by her parents. Nearly around, Henry had pointed out the big mare and her playful colt and while her parents looked, he had swept Claire into his arms to kiss her. When he finally released her, she turned in shock to see her parents kissing just as passionately.
All the way back to the wagon she had to listen to the older couple talking about their first time alone in the parlor of her grandmother’s house and her mother’s giggles. Angry at their teasing and hand-holding, she had been relieved when they stopped at the wagon and sent the three children along on the next circle. Even though she and Henry had behaved, the children still teased them all the way around about holding hands, and ‘ooh, kissing.’
She had made a point of saying Goodnight to Henry without a kiss as she checked on Bonnie with Mary Anne in tow. The twins had volunteered to take the dogs around one more time to check the cattle. Bonnie was so blue, it was hard to console her. Claire was glad she didn’t have to make such a hard decision in regard to loving Henry.
Now she and her husband stood at the altar, both accepting kisses from the wedding party. Phillip’s Indians faded away as he herded the family and friends toward the hotel and the large dining room he had reserved for an early supper.
<><><>
Phillip was holding Lynne’s arm and Claire was shocked when he leaned over to kiss her in the brightly lit lobby. “Did you tell your friends, your big news, darling?”
Lynne looked up at her handsome husband and blushed. Bonnie clapped her hands and looked at Mary Anne, who jumped at the sound. “She’s expecting. Your sister is going to have a baby. Right?”
Lynne laughed and blushed even redder as all the guests in the hotel turned to stare at the laughing, teasing wedding party. For a moment, Claire and Bonnie exchanged a look. Then they were both pushing in to hug Lynne again.
As the children crowded around their sister, Henry took the opportunity to pull Claire away and kiss his bride. Father kept clearing his throat and finally tutted to break up the kiss.
The happy, exuberant group followed the bell boy into the dining room. Lynne stared at Bonnie’s muddy brown eyes and quickly assigned everyone seats like a gracious hostess. She told Claire and Bonnie to sit on either side of her, sending her dark- eyed husband and the children to the other end.
Phillip Gant hesitated, then took his seat at the other end between his two mining buddies, Shorty and Banes, and the three McKinney children. The rough men kept smiling as they watched the excited, pretty young girls at one end of the table, then turned to look at the handsome boys and pretty little girl as they gushed about how wonderful everything was. Henry Lambton sat beside his new bride and the Wimberleys sat across from them, watching their happy daughter and her new husband.
“Bonnie, why so gloomy? Lynne asked. “Did you just hear the news?”
Bonnie looked up, tried to smile as she shook her head.
Claire turned from Henry to focus on her friends, saw Lynne’s eyes turn gray and sad too. “Tarn Michaels is dead.” She looked to the end of the table to draw support from her husband. “It was horrible.”
Phillip spoke from his end of the table. “The blackheart got what he deserved. The inquest acquitted Lynne of all charges for shooting him.”
All eyes moved back to stare at Lynne. “You see, I had to shoot him. He had attacked Phillip before and injured him severely and since I was the only one armed.”
After all their questions, and her explanation of making Phillip leave his gun behind, but carrying one in her purse, Lynne said. “
“If you don’t want to sit next to me, I’ll understand. But with the way things were between you and Tarn…,” Lynne said.
Claire watched as Bonnie’s eyes suddenly turned lighter with sparks of yellow excitement as Lynne finished. “Tarn is actually dead. I’m free. I’m a widow and can marry Calum.”
Claire squeezed Henry’s hand, waiting until Bonnie finished hugging and kissing Lynne, and then she stood as well. Bonnie was nearly shouting, “Oh Lynne, oh you beautiful smart friend. I owe you so much, so very much. But before you tell me more, where is the telegraph office?”
Claire stood confused as Lynne listened to her husband’s request that she order the food as he left to escort Bonnie out of the room.
Lynne kissed her friend, “Thank you, I didn’t want either of you to hate me when you found out. But I had to do it.”
Claire placed her arms around Lynne’s neck and whispered, “Thank you, thank you. She’s free isn’t she, our Bonnie is finally free of that rotter.”
Lynne continued to make conversation with the deliriously happy couple beside her as the other’s tried to figure out what to order.
<><><>
Bonnie and Phillip returned just as the food arrived. Bonnie sat down and Claire asked, “What did you write him?”
“Widowed, Tarn Michaels dead. Ready to wed.” Claire laughed and Lynne clutched Bonnie’s arm.
“Phillip said your marriage started in a telegraph office too. He said you’d written all the details down,” Bonnie said.
“He teases me that I’ve written a book, but I couldn’t mail the pages since you’ve been on the move. It kills me not to see you two every day and be able to share all the wonderful things that happen,” Lynne said.
Phillip said from his end of the table, “Not everything is wonderful. Did you tell them how you shot the Indian, too?”
Henry smiled at his bride while she talked nonstop with her two friends.
<><><>
“There wasn’t time to bake a cake, but the chef is making a unique dessert for you tonight, it’s called Cherries jubilee,” Lynne said. “Don’t be alarmed for the children to eat this dessert. The fire will burn off the liquor.”
The children were yelling and clapping in delight as the waiter stood over a chafing dish talking about the burning dessert. Everyone stopped paying attention as the messenger arrived with the telegram.
Claire had never seen Bonnie look so excited. Bonnie’s hands shook so much that she had trouble opening the yellow paper without tearing it. Lynne and Carrie rushed to brace her arms as she gently tore the edge of the envelope and opened the message. The room was so silent, they could all hear the paper rattle.
Silently Bonnie scanned the telegram. “Reply was requested,” the messenger who still stood there said.
Claire was the one to insist, “Read it out loud, please Bonnie.”
Bonnie’s voice vibrated and grew louder with every word. “Will send ticket tonight. Return to me, Fort McPherson. Leave with General Miles two weeks, Major at Fort Keogh. Bringing cubs. Officer’s quarters ready for wife.”
Phillip and Henry joined their wives.
Claire asked, “What are you going to do. You’ve got so many plans, so many things you have to do. You don’t want to leave us now.”
“I know. I’ve talked about my plans to buy land and make a new home, to wait until Calum and the lads served their enlistment time, and wait until the rest of my family could save enough money and finish the boat to come and join me. And wa
it, and wait, and wait…”
Bonnie’s whole body shook as she realized. “It doesn’t matter. I love Calum and tomorrow I can be his wife. I don’t have to wait.”
She stared around, saw the messenger. “Yes, yes.” Bonnie yelled.
Phillip paid the man and repeated the message. “She said, ‘Yes, Yes.’” When the man started to protest, Phillip grinned, “He’ll want that extra word.”
As soon as he left, the waiter resumed and poured brandy over the fancy dessert, and then lit the surface. The children’s eyes grew bigger and everyone applauded.
Phillip stared at the young bridegroom who seemed just as thrilled as the children by the flaming desert. “You need to be careful. You don’t want to set your brush pile on fire.” He touched his own upper lip as Henry stared at him and laughed. But the bridegroom waited while the children dove into the wonderful dessert. The girls and Claire’s parents were talking loudly at their end of the table.
“Do you know anything about horse breaking?” Phillip whispered in a low, insistent voice.
Henry looked surprised by the question and shook his head. Nervously, he took his pipe out of his pocket, and sat cleaning out the bowl while the last flames died out on the dessert.
“You have to be very gentle when you work with a young horse. Show them the bridle, the blanket and saddle. Add them one at a time.”
The boys looked interested and Henry wondered what brought up the conversation. At the other end, he watched the three girls with their heads close together and heard Claire giggle.
Phillip nodded and smiled knowingly at him and Henry realized they weren’t talking about horses. “Calum Douglas advised the same, and I’ve been doing some of those things.”
Phillip smiled, looked at the protective parents who were staring at their excited daughter. “That must have been a challenge.”
Henry blushed up to his ears and the boys looked suddenly interested. Phillip leaned down and took a bite of the lush, sweet cherries and smiled, “Tastes wonderful. Should be safe now, Henry.”
Henry put aside his pipe and ate his dessert in minutes. Only when the children were up and running about the table did Phillip pick up his conversation.
“Key thing with a young unbroken horse, is to make the first ride short and gentle. Some people make the mistake of trying to ride the animal to death. Makes them reluctant to let you back in the saddle.”
Henry sat back and stared at the other man. “I hadn’t heard that. Are you sure that’s the best way?”
<><><>
Bonnie reached out to capture one of the boys as they raced about and Claire grabbed the squealing little girl. The other boy, Jim, stepped back out of range and giggled and hiccupped. Lynne looked uninterested but as he moved she reached out and captured him too. The adults laughed as each girl pelted her prisoner with kisses until they yelled ‘uncle.’
Mother stood and motioned for the children. “I’m going to take them up to get settled. I’ll be in to help the girl’s get you settled darling,” and she bent to kiss Claire. Suddenly Claire looked as young and sweet as Mary Anne, who was holding Mother Wimberley’s hand. “Children kiss your Aunt Bonnie. She’ll be back at the Fort and married to the Lieutenant when you wake up.”
“I want to watch you get married too,” said Mary Anne wistfully.
Bonnie walked over, hugged each and kissed them solemnly. “You’ll come to visit us next year. I’ll need your help in raising my cabin. Ian and Shawn will be there for the wedding so I won’t be alone. Love you all,” she stared at them, her eyes tearing up as they whined and fussed at having to say goodbye.
In minutes they were gone, and the friends were standing on either side of Claire. “Come on, I haven’t got long before I have to catch the midnight train,” Bonnie said.
The waiters stepped forward to clear the table, but the men remained and ordered a brandy. While the women escorted the blushing bride upstairs, Robert and Phillip sat beside the nervous Henry, who looked nearly as frightened as Claire had.
<><><>
Claire was talking nervously as her friends helped her out of the dress Bonnie had helped her don that morning. “Tomorrow you’ll be married too,” Claire stared at Bonnie, then at Lynne. “We will all have traveled west and wed. If you had told me a year ago we would be here tonight, I would have laughed at you for being crazy.”
Claire let them slide the thin cotton gown over her head, then ducked behind the screen to the commode chair. When she emerged, Lynne had brought the basin and washcloth to her and they took turns, washing her face and hands, even her small feet as she sat on the edge of the bed. Bonnie carried the basin away as Lynne stood over her nervous friend to undo her hair.
“There wasn’t a church or priest at the fort,” Claire said. “How will you get married? Do they have a claims office like Butte?”
Again, the friends took turns brushing out the elaborate loops and braids of Claire’s wedding hairdo. Bonnie shook her head, “There’s an army Chaplin for the men. I’m not sure if he’ll perform the ceremony or General Crook will marry us. It doesn’t matter, as long as I have witnesses when Calum and I say I do.”
Claire’s nerves started to fade, as each brushed the hair smooth, then pushed it behind her ear. Then the other girl took the brush and finished the other side. Mother Wimberley knocked on the door and came in to sit behind her daughter and hug her. “I hope you experienced women haven’t been frightening her,” she scolded. Then she looked at her daughter. “It’s really not such a terrible ordeal. Henry loves you, I’m sure he will…,”
“Oh Mother, please, I know about all that. I’m not a baby.”
Mother stared at her young daughter, saw the edge of uncertainty in her face and just leaned over and kissed her. “All right.” She stood and pushed the spread and top sheet back and motioned to Claire. “Come sit here.” Claire moved and she covered her lap.
“Goodnight, darling.” She bent and kissed Claire’s mouth and then left. Each of the girl’s lingered after she left, then both laughed as Claire stared up at them. “Phillip and I are going to walk Bonnie to the station and wait with her for the train. We’ll send your bridegroom up. Don’t bother screaming for help, no one will hear you,” Lynne said and Bonnie scolded her.
“Just relax and let him do what he wants. It will be over in a minute. See you and Henry next year for the cabin raising. Don’t forget,” Bonnie said. Claire fought the urge to grab at them and hold them back. Instead, she sat smiling bravely, the long full sleeves fluttering over her hands. Henry loved her, she was not going to be afraid. But as soon as the door closed over her laughing friends, Claire began to pray.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Henry watched his father-in-law leave, then nervously downed the second brandy. He gulped and it made him cough and his eyes water. Phillip slapped him on the back and rose as Bonnie and Lynne descended the staircase.
A little tipsy, and with great trepidation Henry climbed the stairs and entered the room. On her knees in the middle of the bed, a pale and trembling Claire sat praying. Henry closed and locked the door, and watched her jump as he turned the key. He felt a little guilty, realizing the women must have treated her to the same routine the men had given him. He sank onto the edge of the bed and gave her a timid smile. Instantly she relaxed and moved into his arms. Tenderly Henry kissed her before blowing out the light.
He stood and removed his clothes in the dark, then slipped between the covers to gather her into his arms. She made a little squeak as she put out a hand and touched his smooth warm skin. Exercising infinite patience, Henry began with light kisses to her face, but when he reached for the buttons on her gown, she backed fearfully away.
He relaxed back onto his half of the bed, let his tired head sink into the pillow. Maybe it would be wiser to wait until dawn when he was sober.
Claire heard his soft snore and relaxed on her side of the bed too. Then she realized if he fell deeply asleep, Father would be knocking
on the door, telling them to rise and shine and pack up to hit the trail. She would still be a virgin and not a wife. Because of her silly fears, she would be the only one of the three girls to not know what marriage meant. Irritated at herself and at Henry, she scooted closer to the relaxed man in her bed.
Curious, she pushed back the covers enough to see his bare chest, slowly rising as he slipped deeper into sleep. She reached out a hand, felt the rounded mound of his chest, the tiny flat button of his nipple. As she moved her hand across his warm body, she wished Henry hadn’t turned out the light. Her finger caught in one of the few swirls of hair on his chest before she touched his other nipple. Curious, she leaned down and put her tongue on his left nipple as he had on her that night on the benches. If it changed, she couldn’t tell. Emboldened, she pushed the covers lower.
Henry’s breath caught, his world clashing around him. His shy Claire was no longer terrified. He had to struggle to keep his eyes closed and not move before she grew frightened again and drew back. The air in the room had cooled down with the breeze through the bottom of both opened windows. He wondered what would happen if there were some magical way to turn the lights back on. Would she be pleased, or frightened by what she saw?
Claire trailed her curious hand lower across the flat plane of his stomach. One wayward finger led the way, tangling through more hair until she touched him. His body’s reaction betrayed him and he let out his breath in a whoosh as she flung herself back on the bed, eyes wide, chest heaving. Fully awake, Henry turned to stare into her wild eyes.
“Hello, dear wife. Are you ready to try this again?” Henry asked, his voice warm with laughter.
Claire smiled back at him and then giggled. “Yes, dear husband.”
<><><>
Phillip escorted the two pretty women across to the rail station and sat on the bench beside them. He was surprised that Bonnie had only one small worn leather bag at her feet. She wore the same brown dress, the lace trims starkly white in the dark shadows. She and Lynne both wore their bonnets again, hiding their faces and hair.
