by Terri Grace
Paul finally understood the different surnames.
“We didn’t expect that Sarah would pull off such a beautiful wedding for her sister, who seemed to be taking her man away.”
As his table companions went back and forth talking about Sarah, Paul found himself getting more and more incensed at their insensitivity. He had thought city folk were respectable and polite, but apparently they were worse than folk out in the west. He gave an inward shudder. There was something he had noticed, however, and it made him think deeply. Sarah was avoiding the bridal table even though she was the maid of honor. He noticed her furtive and sad glances at the groom from time to time, when she thought no-one was observing her, and it suddenly hit him that the girl had probably been in love with her employer.
Unrequited love and rejection. He sighed inwardly. He knew how painful it could be. This was the second reason he had decided to come to Washington D.C. For about two years now he had been corresponding with young women in different cities in the east, hoping to find himself a mail-order bride. He had his preferences, and just when he thought he had found the ideal woman, she would reject him. Two of them were honest enough to tell him that they didn’t see themselves being married to someone who was merely a carpenter. They were more interested in farmers or ranchers – prosperous men. A carpenter spoke of poverty and they were trying to make good lives for themselves.
Once Sarah had made sure that Paul Montgomery was well seated and had been served with food, she decided to keep her distance from him. She actually pretended to be very busy because she didn’t want to hear the comments people were making about the wedding, and about her. She had overheard the servants gossiping about her, but she chose not to take issue with them because she knew they were only repeating what they had heard others say – that she was an old maid, quite over the hill and with no prospects of ever finding a man to marry her.
It hurt to hear people saying that, but she accepted it as being true and resigned herself to her fate. Maybe this was her destiny, to live at home with her parents for the rest of her life. Now the dinner table would be even colder than it had been previously. Marjory had always lightened up the mood, uncaring when their parents frowned at what they termed her ‘lack of social graces’.
Sarah saw her stepfather stepping forward to make his speech as father of the bride. She listened as he extolled the joys of fatherhood and how proud it made him to have married his only daughter off. Her mother frowned at him and whispered something; then he cleared his throat and rectified his mistake and included Sarah in the family. But the harm was done and Sarah knew that she faced tough days ahead.
One by one the speeches were made and people clapped; then a strange thing happened. Paul Montgomery rose up from his seat and strode to the pavilion, asking for permission to speak as cousin to the groom. Since Calvin had no close relatives present, permission was granted.
“First, I want to thank my dear cousin and his beautiful bride for their invitation. I came all the way from Sturgis, South Dakota. I’m sure a number of you have no idea where that is.” There was a small burst of laughter. “I would like to request the lovely Sarah Carlton to join me here, since she is the maid of honor.”
Sarah’s eyes widened as one usher pushed her forward and she found herself standing beside Paul. He looked down at her and smiled as if to reassure her, and she nervously smiled back.
“Love conquers mountains, hills, and valleys,” Paul went on. “Aside from coming to attend my cousin’s wedding, I have also come to ask this fair and beautiful lady to be my bride, and I would like to ask her parents for her hand in marriage.”
There was pin-drop silence for a moment, which was broken by the bride, who jumped up and gave a scream of joy as she ran towards her sister.
“Sarah! Oh, Sarah you wicked girl! You never told me that you were courting with such a handsome man.”
Sarah was so stunned at the announcement that she accepted Marge’s hug and congratulations like one in a dream; then everything went black. She had no idea that Paul reacted quickly, and before she hit the ground he had scooped her in his large arms, much to the amusement of some and the amazement of others. Some young ladies exclaimed that it was the most romantic thing they had ever seen.
When Sarah came to, she was lying on the large couch in the family drawing room. Marge, Calvin, her parents, and even Paul were looking at her with much concern.
“Are you all right?” were the first words she heard when she opened her eyes, and they came from Paul, who was lightly chaffing her hands. “You gave us all quite a scare.”
“I’m all right now.” She struggled to sit up, smiling at her sister. “Really, I’m fine. Just forgot to eat something and felt faint.” She would never admit to her parents that Paul’s proposal had literally swept her off her feet.
Once they were sure that she was all right, the bridal couple and her parents left Sarah and Paul alone. She turned to him. “Thank you for everything, but you and I need to join the reception. Once Marge and Calvin leave for their honeymoon, we can talk.”
“Right.” He nodded, helping her to her feet.
* * *
***
* * *
After his announcement, Paul hardly left Sarah’s side. He kept throwing glances at the women whose table he’d been sitting on, and they had the grace to blush when they realized he was berating them for their mean words about Sarah.
Marge and Calvin left after opening all the presents that had been brought for them, and Paul helped Sarah to put them in their father’s den, where they would be safe until the couple returned a week later.
Once she was sure everything was secure, Sarah led Paul into the garden once again, careful to keep away from the few remaining guests and the servants, who were packing everything away.
Paul, you are such a wonderful man and I thank you for your chivalry. You were my knight in shining armor! I know people will stop mocking me for a while, at least, but now the wedding is over you may stop the act.”
Paul frowned at her. Was he being rejected again? “What act? Did my announcement humiliate you? If so, I’m deeply sorry.”
Sarah shook her head. “It was the best thing anyone has ever done for me. Now people will realize that I can also attract a very handsome man.” The words just slipped out and she put a hand to her mouth. What was wrong with her?
“Believe me, I didn’t merely make the announcement to save your honor, but mine as well. True, I came to Washington, D.C. to attend my cousin’s wedding, but there was another reason as well.” He smiled and she was surprised to note the sadness in his eyes. “For about two years I’ve been searching for a bride but so far have been unsuccessful. I even tried the mail-order bride business and a couple of women showed interest. When I told them that I wasn’t a rich man, merely a carpenter in Sturgis, they changed their minds.” He touched her cheek gently. “I know what a broken heart from unrequited love is because I’ve nursed one on more than one occasion. If you are willing, lovely Sarah, to return to Sturgis and be the wife of a simple carpenter, I would be very honored to be your husband.”
“Oh!”
“As I said before, another reason for my coming here was to visit a number of the bridal agencies in Maryland, who are sending women to the west as brides. I intended to make my request to them to find me a good Christian bride.” He sighed. “Sarah, I understand that you were in love with Calvin.”
“How?” She felt her face turning red.
“Your eyes betrayed you. I’m surprised no-one else noticed, or maybe they were too dazzled by your sister’s beauty to really pay much attention to you. Even though you will probably never return my feelings, I promise to be a good husband to you and to love you with my whole heart. From the moment I saw you, I felt something so strong within me that I now understand to be love at first sight.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Sarah thought she was dreaming.
“I’m quite aware that my pron
ouncements have left you confused, maybe, so I’ll give you three days to think about it. Which means I can’t stay here at your parents’ house because I don’t want you making a decision while under pressure.”
* * *
***
* * *
Sarah kept going to the window to check and see if Paul had been true to his word. Maybe he had been indulging her and had no intention of returning. She had spent sleepless nights thinking about his words. Even her parents, for once, had left her alone and allowed one of the maids to bring her food to her bedroom, which was looking very empty now that Marge’s things had been taken over to Calvin’s house.
Had Paul really been serious about returning after three days? He’d mentioned before leaving that he would return for an answer, and if she rejected him, only then would he go to the bridal agencies. He had expressed hope that she would accept his proposal.
The front doorbell chimed and Sarah rushed to the windows. The sight of Paul standing there and looking very much at home almost made her swoon again. He really was handsome and he made her feel petite. One of the maids had revealed to her, with stars in her eyes, how Paul had carried her when she fainted on Marge’s wedding day.
What surprised her most, however, was the fact that as soon as Paul left, she began thinking about him so much that she realized she had hardly spared Calvin any thought at all. She actually admitted that she had never been in love with her employer. It had all been infatuation.
Just seeing Paul standing outside her parents’ house made her heart beat with joy. Being his wife was a pleasant thought. She hurried down the stairs, meeting him in the hallway just as a maid was showing him into the drawing room.
They stood, just staring at each other, and then smiled at the same time.
“I’m sorry I’m behaving like a badly brought-up woman,” Sarah said breathlessly. “Perhaps I should have waited for the maid to come and get me.”
Paul chuckled – a deep sound that warmed her within. “Out in Sturgis we rarely stand on ceremony, and I just want to say that I’m so glad to see you looking so well, Sarah. Have you given some thought to my proposal?”
She nodded shyly, and he reached for her hand and pulled her towards him.
“Sarah, my shy Sarah,” he murmured, “what’s your answer? Please put this country boy out of his misery.”
“Yes. My answer is yes.”
She was immediately scooped up. “You will never be sorry, and I’ll help you to get over Calvin.”
“No need.” She smiled. “Three days of thinking about you and I finally came to my senses. I was merely infatuated with Calvin because he is such a good man. I’m so happy that he’s married to my sister.”
“So you accept my proposal?”
“Yes, Paul, and I have a confession to make.” She couldn’t stop smiling. “I don’t know if it’s love I feel for you, but I find that I can’t stop thinking about you, and I want to be with you always. Does that make any sense?”
“That’s exactly how I’m feeling, and I know it’s too soon after your sister’s wedding, but do you think your parents will allow us to get married, say, in under a week?”
“Believe me, they have waited long enough for someone to come and ask for my hand in marriage. If it was possible, my stepfather would even have me married before the end of the day.”
* * *
***
* * *
Sarah was surprised to see the hint of tears in her stepfather’s eyes as he walked her down the aisle. Her mother had told her that Wilbur Pennington was proud to have been asked to do the honors.
“We may not have been the best parents to you, Sarah, but we love you,” her mother had said, wiping a tear away.
“I know that, Mama.” Sarah hugged her parent. “I was also a difficult child and I’m sorry.”
“You have never been a difficult child. I guess we just had no idea how to handle you. We’re so happy that you’ve found a man who clearly loves you so much.”
Sarah saw love shining in her groom’s eyes, and she was unaware that her own eyes radiated the same thing.
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