by Linda Ellen
“Oh my,” Beth returned, wide-eyed. “I sure will.”
Looking around at the wedding guests assembled in Finn’s downstairs, Sam grinned at how the place had once again been transformed from its previous use as the Lone Tree Saloon. He had helped his brother push all of his barbering paraphernalia into the back corner and his sister-in-law had once again covered it with a floral patterned material. The old tavern’s tables and chairs had been brought back out and covered in white tablecloths with pretty ceramic oil lamps and borrowed china. Even the bar, which was bestowed with wedding gifts for the bride and groom, was once again artfully decorated with sprays of flowers and tasseled with ivory and lace ribbons.
They had already cut the wedding cake, having been blessed with various toasts delivered with glasses of cider or sarsaparilla; the party had been underway for some time. Song after song had been played by the customary band of townsmen, Paul Woods on the banjo, Terry Carroll on the harmonica, Randy Dever on the spoons, Eric Williams on the fiddle, and of course, old Mordecai Ellwood on his singing saw.
Reverend McKnight danced by just then with his wife and they both nodded and waved to the newlyweds, prompting Beth to lean near him and ask, “You going to dance with me at our wedding, Sam? I want to make all of Brownville’s spinster ladies jealous.”
Sam let out a snort. “All of them, huh? Bertha Simmons and Elvira?”
She giggled mischievously and stood, tugging his hands and entreating, “Pleeeeeease?” while giving him that adorable grin that always melted his heart and swept away any thought of denial.
“Aw darlin’, I told ya, I can’t dance,” he tried to protest. However, he just didn’t have it in him to deny her anything, so he allowed her to pull him to his feet and out onto the floor.
With an exaggerated groan of resignation, Sam took his effervescent wife into his arms. In spite of their height difference, somehow they found their rhythm and they discovered they could waltz together quite well—better than he ever had, matter of fact. He had learned to dance in his younger days when his pa would play his harmonica and he and Finn would dance their mother around the main room in the homestead. But once he had reached his full size, he’d always been too self-conscious and afraid to tread on his partner’s feet.
But, with Beth... Maybe dancing with the right one makes all the difference, he mused. Soon they were sweeping around the floor to the band’s favorite, The Blue Danube, the train of Beth’s lovely wedding gown held up by a ribbon she was gripping in the hand he held while her skirts flowed and caressed his trousers.
When the song ended and everyone clapped, Sam happened to see Charise give a discreet wave to Eric on the fiddle and he started the band playing My Old Kentucky Home. In his arms, Beth gasped with surprised delight. Finn and Charise danced by and his wife and sister-in-law grinned at one another.
“They played that in my honor at our wedding, so I asked them to play it again for you,” Charise told her best friend, who answered with a smile of such radiating happiness, Sam felt downright mesmerized as they waltzed around the floor. When the song was through, Beth thanked the musicians and complimented their skill, leaving them all glowing with pride as they took up their instruments again and began playing, Let me Call you Sweetheart.
As they moved to the rhythm of the familiar, old song, everyone in the room began to sing along with the romantic lyrics. Sam couldn’t take his eyes from the wonderful, amazing, exquisite woman in his arms. How did I get so lucky? To have her consent to marry me, and then to fall in love with me as much as I have with her...it’s a dream come true.
“Beth...I just can’t stop looking at you. You’re so beautiful. I love you so much,” he admitted as he leaned down to murmur sweet nothings in her ear. Her eyes closed as she enjoyed his ministrations, and he was so very conscious of the warmth of her body moving in rhythm with his.
She pulled back enough to give him another radiant smile, her eyes misting as she began, “Oh Sam, I love—”
Just then, Finn and Charise appeared at their sides again, and Finn skillfully snatched Beth from Sam’s grasp, exchanging her for Charise, whom he guided into Sam’s arms.
“Wanna talk to your bride without you hearing,” Finn explained, laughing at Sam’s jealous expression.
His brother danced away with his bride and Charise laughed, leaning close to whisper, “He’s going to tell her about the plan to fool the shivaree gang.”
Sam chuckled and teasingly raised a fist at his brother across the dance floor before swooping his sister-in-law around in a circle. “Well, two can play that game. I’ll just waltz his beautiful proxy bride around the floor a few times.”
Charise’s brown eyes sparkled with happiness. “That proxy marriage was the best decision I ever made, Sam. Have I ever thanked you for making your plea to go ahead and marry your brother so convincing? I shudder to think that I almost decided against it!”
They both chuckled together as the band slowed the song to its end.
With that, the musicians announced they would take a short break, and Sam reached out and drew his brother’s bride into his arms for a hug. In her ear, he softly declared, “You marrying my brother was the best decision for all of us, Char. With you having my Beth as your best friend, it meant we Maynard brothers hit the jackpot!”
It was dark by the time Sam pulled the buggy to a stop in front of the homestead; the temperature had dropped considerably—back to what a normal December evening should be. In spite of the long, dark wool cloak she’d donned so that she wouldn’t glow like a beacon in the moonlight in her white dress, Beth shivered under the blanket Sam had tucked around her when they’d set off. Finn hadn’t thought to raise the buggy’s top and Sam hadn’t wanted to take the time to do it during their escape out of town.
Glancing at her husband’s profile as he wrapped the reins around the whip and turned to feast his eyes on her, she said for the third time since they’d been on the road, “I just hope no one saw us sneaking out the back door of the boarding house.”
“Yeah, me too,” he replied, turning his head and raising up a bit from his seat to look over the back to see if he could make out evidence of anyone following them. “I don’t see any lanterns. But, Finn promised he’d come up with something to set them on a wild goose chase, so I’m not really worried,” he added with absolute certainty.
Pensive with an undercurrent of impending threat because everything had gone so well...and fear that something was bound to go wrong to spoil things...she kept her eyes on him. “Will they try again tomorrow if they realize they were duped?”
At that, he shook his head decisively. “Nope. Not a chance. Shivarees are only for the weddin’ night, darlin’. The whole purpose is to mess up the groom’s fun—uh, plans,” he added with a snort. “Tomorrow, well...it wouldn’t be as entertaining for them.”
“Oh,” Beth answered, her face heating up as understanding dawned. Tomorrow their first time together would be accomplished...tomorrow they would truly be man and wife... A bit of the old fear of the unknown swept back in, but buoyed by Charise’s talks and advice, she pushed it away.
Sam laughed softly, climbed out of the conveyance, and reached in to remove the lap blanket she hadn’t realized she was clutching in her hands. She had just begun to ready herself to climb out when she felt Sam’s big, strong hands reach behind her back and under her thighs, scooping her right out into his arms.
She gasped with excitement, throwing her arms around his neck, as he wasted no time carrying her to the door. Bending to one side, he had to fiddle a bit with the latch while balancing her in his grasp, but he managed and the door swung wide. He carried her in, kicked the door shut, and tipped his head back to let out a joyful belly laugh. Then he began to swing her around and around in circles, her lighthearted laughter filling the cabin as she clutched tightly to his massive shoulders.
With a jubilant squeal, she gasped, “Oh Sam, stop! I’m getting dizzy!”
Before he set h
er on her feet, he angled down and captured her lips with his for one long, passionately deep kiss. She was quite warm, and feeling lightheaded for another reason all together, by the time he drew back.
Gazing into her eyes, he whispered, “Welcome home, Mrs. Maynard.”
Chapter 13
“W ell, lookee here, if it ain’t the newlyweds,” old Charlie Grawemeyer called as he ambled down the boardwalk. He’d just come out of the barbershop, having had Finn give him his weekly trim and shave.
Feeling as if he were floating on a cloud of pure bliss with his wife nestled warmly against his side, Sam obligingly pulled the buggy to a stop as he and Beth smiled at the gray haired, gap-toothed old man. He was grinning up at them, chuckling softly, with what to Sam appeared to be an unmistakable glint of mischief in his eyes. Uh oh...what’s this old buzzard up to now...
It had been five days since the wedding...and their escape from the intended shivaree. Sam wondered if the old man would mention it...he didn’t have to wonder long.
“You sure pulled a fast one on us, you young buck,” the old man cackled. “And that brother of yours, he had us trottin’ all over town a’ lookin’ for you that night, till we was just plumb wore out. Spoilt our fun, he did, and I just got through givin’ him a piece of my mind about it, you can be sure,” he let out another few cackles. “Now, that wasn’t very nice of either of you, Sammy boy. Why—we just wanted to serenade you and the little missus, there. We wouldn’t have done ya no harm, honest,” he added, but something about the way his snapping brown eyes sparkled as he snickered again put the lie to the declaration.
Mmm hmm, Sam thought as he exchanged knowing looks with Beth. He could see she was trying her best not to giggle. Just as I thought. They’d planned to really give me the business that night. I wonder what they did have in store for me...maybe tie me up, strip me naked and chuck me down old man Simmon’s dry well till mornin’... His gratitude for his brother increased tenfold. I’ve gotta think of something really big to pay Finn back for saving my hide!
Now, he put on as straight of a face as he could and merely blinked at the old man. “I don’t have any idea what you’re talkin’ about, Old Charlie,” he replied.
Again the old man cackled in response, reaching up to run a hand over his freshly shaven jaw. “Aw well, no harm done.” Then, he eyed Beth, sitting there demurely at Sam’s side, and his gaze softened a bit. “You sure are a pretty filly, Miz Maynard. You remind me a bit of my Delia...”
Beth reached forward and took the old man’s gnarled hand in both of hers. “Someday soon I’d love to hear all about your Delia, Mr. Grawemeyer. Perhaps you could come out to the homestead for dinner one night? But right now, I’m feeling a bit chilled out here, that wind is sharp...”
Sam couldn’t have been more proud of his new wife as he watched Beth work her magic on the old man as his countenance softened and he patted her hand.
“Thank ye kindly for the invitation, Miz Maynard. I believe I’ll take you up on that sometime soon.” Then switching his eagle-eyed gaze to Sam, he barked, “Well? Don’t jes’ sit there like a big oak tree ye jes’ felled—get your wife inside somewhere’s warm! You young bucks! Don’t know how to take care of your womenfolk. Why, I have half a mind to—”
“See you later, Charlie,” Sam interrupted as he snapped the reins and headed the buggy on down the street, enjoying the musical tinkle of Beth’s giggle. The train whistle sounded just then and Sam pulled his watch out of his pocket. “Ten thirty-five, she’s right on time. We’ll stick around town to see if that package you ordered from Nebraska City made it.”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” Beth crooned, leaning into his side and lifting her face to receive his kiss.
They were still smiling and chatting about their encounter with Old Charlie when he pushed open the door to the mercantile and greeted Mr. and Mrs. Hodge.
“Well, well. How goes everything, you two? Married five days already,” Sebastian shook his head in pretend sympathy and tsked. “How many knock down, drag out spats have you had, hmm?” he teased, dodging and laughing as his wife took a playful swipe at him.
“Not a one, Mr. Hodge,” Beth returned, tossing a grin over her shoulder at him, and then blowing a kiss to Sam before heading down an aisle to pick out some spools of thread.
Sam’s eyes stayed glued to her until she turned at the end of the aisle and out of his line of sight, then he breathed in deep and let out a big, silly, contented sigh. Even Seb’s teasing couldn’t get his goat this morning. He felt like the happiest, luckiest, most blessed man on the face of the earth. He was in love with the prettiest little gal this side of the Rockies—and she loved him back! And wooo doggies, she was learning fast how to show it. Images of their idyllic honeymoon days swam past the forefront of his mind and he had to switch gears to keep from taking off after her; after all, they were out in public and he had to remind himself to behave.
He turned toward the proprietor and his wife, who were unabashedly grinning at him, and he laughed, quickly thinking of something to converse about that would take the attention off of him. When Beth returned with her thread, the newlyweds spent some time engaged in conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Hodge and another shopper who had recently entered. Then, after purchasing a few sundry items, they said their goodbyes while mentioning their intent to visit with Finn and Charise.
Outside on the boardwalk, Beth Ann pulled her cloak around her as a sharp gust of wind blustered, causing her to seek shelter against Sam’s side. He slipped an arm around her and she raised her face again for a kiss, which he obliged. Unable to resist, he gave her another...and another...and another...both of them becoming thoroughly lost in each other.
“Well, well, well, so this is the man you threw me over for?” a voice called from in front of the bank a few doors down.
Beth gasped against Sam’s lips and instantly drew back. Her eyes round with fear, she clutched the front of her husband’s coat as she slowly turned her head. His heart jumped and immediately began to pound with fierce protectiveness at the terrified expression on her face.
“Oh my stars...it’s him!” she squeaked.
Sam looked to see the object of his wife’s fright and discovered a finely dressed man in a bowler hat and overcoat, jeering at them while two armed men stood nonchalantly at his sides.
He didn’t have to ask her who it was. Fetterman.
Beth couldn’t believe her eyes.
Just when she found herself the happiest she had ever been in her life, this happens! After all this time, she had assumed the threat of danger was over, but there that awful man was, in the flesh. Telling herself she shouldn’t be so petrified—since he was away from Louisville and out of his element, not to mention she was legally married and Sam would move heaven and earth to protect her—she couldn’t seem to help the shiver of fear that ran down her spine. Stop it Beth! He can’t do anything to either of us. Don’t let him see you’re scared...
“What are you doing here, Mr. Fetterman?” she forced her voice to work, despite her lips having gone completely stiff. She felt Sam’s vital presence at her side, his arm tightening around her in a show of support that also sent a message to the other man that she belonged to him, and it calmed her nerves a bit.
Fetterman slowly sauntered forward as the two thugs followed. All the while, the sarcastic grin never left his face.
“Why, my dear, I should think that would be obvious. I came to make sure you are...all right. I was sure that something wasn’t quite up to snuff when you left Louisville in such a hurry. Never let it be said that Lloyd Harold Fetterman the Third will merely stand by and do nothing when a damsel under his care is in distress. I just couldn’t believe that story of you having found another man to marry so soon after asking me to find you a prospective groom and then accepting my proposal,” he added with exaggerated solicitation.
Beth couldn’t believe her ears. Did he really think these things? No, she could see that glint in his eye. He was ac
ting for the benefit of anyone who might overhear. Anger flared inside her like a match set to dynamite and she lashed out, “I never accepted your—”
“My wife is just fine, Fetterman,” Sam interrupted. “She’s not a damsel in distress and she’s not in your care in any way, shape or form. Now, I’m a patient man, but I protect what’s mine. I can’t see any need for continuing this conversation. There’s nothing for you here. I suggest you go on back to Louisville.”
The marriage broker spared a dismissive once over to Sam and then brought his gaze back to Beth’s. “This is your proxy husband?” he sneered and Beth gasped in surprise.
“How did you find that out?”
Fetterman laughed derisively. “I have my ways. Money always loosens people’s tongues. That little clerk at the courthouse was most helpful with information about a young, red-haired woman marrying by proxy an old man—Proxy marriage...that was a new one on me, by the way—with the real groom being in some godforsaken place called Brownville, Nebraska. I will compliment you, however. I paid a private detective good money to track you, but the many and varied disguises you used proved to be his downfall. He...lost your trail.”
Beth squelched a grin at that, keeping her face straight. “Well, I’m sorry you wasted your money and time. I’m very happily married—we even had a second ceremony in church—and I have no further use of your services or you.”
“Good day, Fetterman,” Sam grumbled as he swept Beth around to usher her into the borrowed carriage.
“Not so fast there,” the awful man halted their progress, making Beth Ann want to scream in frustration. “Why, I think after all of the time and expense I put forth to make sure this woman was safe, I should at least know the name of the man who...stole her away from me,” Fetterman insisted.
She and Sam turned their heads in unison, and she felt a tiny bit of alarm that the men had moved closer still. She couldn’t help the foreboding feeling that was now sitting on her chest and she looked around quickly to see if anyone was out and about who might come to their aid if need be, but there were only a few stalwart souls on the street and boardwalk, looking their way in curiosity.
