Seth (Prairie Grooms, Book Three) (14 page)

“
Oh, I wasn't worried,” said Seth. “Irene Dunnigan was young once.”

“
Maybe so,” said Constance. “But she's also old enough to have forgotten.”

They all laughed at that, and left the mercantile. When they got back to the wagon, Seth helped Eloise up just as Logan returned and helped Sadie. Mrs. Mulligan was nowhere to be seen, and had probably already gone back to the saloon to help her husband get lunch ready. With a flick of the reins they were off again, and Eloise turned on the wagon seat to get one last look at Seth. It would be the last time she’d see him until tomorrow, at their wedding.

* * *

The next day dawned clear and bright for Eloise. She yawned as she sat up in bed and gazed out the window. The prairie stretched before her as far as her eyes could see. Its rolling beauty astounded her no matter what the time of day.

She got up, dressed, and hurried downstairs, not bothering to braid or put up her hair. Sadie would need help this morning with the pies she had to bake, and Eloise needed something to keep her mind off her upcoming nuptials. “Good morning,” she said as she entered the kitchen.

“
Morning,” said Sadie. “Did you sleep well?”

“As well as can
be expected, considering what today is,” said Eloise.

“
Don't worry,” said Sadie. “You'll do fine. Now, could you help me with these pies?”

“
Sure, it's why I came downstairs.” She put a few pies in the oven and closed the oven door. “I hope one day I can bake as well as you and Belle can.”

“You won't have to worry
about baking much of anything, you'll have Mrs. Upton commanding your kitchen,” said Sadie.

“
Oh, my heavens, I'd quite forgotten about Mrs. Upton. You're right, she does do all of the hotel’s cooking and baking. I may never have to cook again! But Harrison informed me that I might have to do a little.”

“Yes, you’ll definitely get away with not having to cook all the time for your husband.”

“
My, I wonder if Penelope and Constance will be jealous?” mused Eloise with a giggle.

Sadie started to roll out more dough. “I envy you,” she said. “It's a lot of work to feed the men on the Triple C, but I have to admit, most of the time I do enjoy it.”

“Y
ou do?”

“
Of course,” she said. “I like doing things for my husband. On a ranch, however, you tend to have more mouths to feed than the one you’re married to.”

“
What's it going to be like in the hotel?” asked Eloise. “I dare say, but I could have up to thirty men to feed!”

“Y
es,” Sadie agreed. “But remember, you'll have help. Now, would you like me to draw a bath for you?”

“A
bath?”

“O
f course, you
are
getting married today, remember?”

“Y
es, of course,” said Eloise with an absent wave of her hand. “It's not like I've forgotten.”

Sadie stopped what she was doing and stared at her. “Eloise, rest assured, you are doing the right thing by marrying Seth. I know it may not seem like it, and I know you feel some confusion, but I can also see that he's falling in love with you.”

“
Falling in love? But he barely knows me!”

Sadie smiled
. “Sometimes you don't need to know someone for very long, before you realize you love them.”

“
Was it like that for you and Harrison?”

Sadie took on a far-off look. “Yes, it was. We knew each other only a few weeks before we were married. Of course, there were some unusual circumstances involved in our so-called courtship.”

“You mean,
such as getting kidnapped and almost killed?”

Sadie laughed. “Yes, something like that.”

“
Good morning ladies,” Harrison announced as he came into the kitchen. He smacked Sadie on the rear and then kissed her cheek. “Pie; my favorite! How many are you baking?”

“
Only four. There’s no time to bake more than that what with everything else going on this morning.”

“Ah,
yes,” said Harrison. He then turned to Eloise. “I say cousin, are you ready to tie the knot?”

She went
to Harrison, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him on the cheek. “As ready as I'll ever be.” With that, she hurried from the kitchen and back to her room.

“
Well,” said Harrison. “Someone is certainly chipper this morning.”

“About time
,” said Sadie. Harrison nodded his agreement, kissed her again, and then left to go do the morning chores. Like everyone else in Clear Creek, he knew that today was going to be some picnic.

* * *

The Cookes, Turners, and Mulligans were the first to arrive at what had become affectionately known as the “King’s Valley”. Located on the Cooke’s property, Clear Creek ran through the middle of it, and along its banks where the water formed a deep pool, stood the most magnificent oak tree anyone in three territories had ever laid eyes on. It was dubbed “His Majesty”. To give a tree such a name created something no longer thought of as mere trunk and branches. No, this tree was an icon to the townspeople of Clear Creek, a symbol of survival for some, and of hope for others. Women would spread blankets beneath its shade within the hour, and children would play in a shallow area of the creek before it dropped off into a deeper pool the adults would enjoy. Belle and Colin fell in love here, several years before. Duncan, on the other hand, fought his love for Cozette in the waters beneath the mighty tree, and had an interesting conversation with a mysterious Scotsman, who had an uncanny tendency to show up, right when trouble was brewing.

“
However am I going to change into my wedding dress?” asked Eloise.

“
We thought we'd hang some blankets over the branches of the trees near the creek,” said Belle. “You can change there. Once we get everything set up, and everyone arrives, Preacher Jo will perform the ceremony. Then we'll get on with the picnic.”

Eloise let out a nervous breath. “Alright, what do you want me to do?”

“
As soon as the men bring the tables down, we’ll put up the flowers,” said Belle.

“
Oh, my goodness, I almost forgot about the flowers!”

Belle
glanced to the wide trail leading down to the valley’s meadow. “Here they come now,” she said.

Eloise turned. Sure enough, Mabel Turner and her children were coming down the trail with garlands of flowers in their arms. The oldest, Tom, had them piled on his head, and was doing his best to walk at a steady, even pace, so that they wouldn't topple to the ground. Eloise laughed at the sight, and slapped her knee in response. Belle, too, let loose a giggle. “Maybe we ought to go help,” she suggested.

They left to meet the T
urner children where the trail spilled into the grassy meadow, and then set about hanging the flowery decorations. With the children helping, they were able to accomplish the task in very little time, and Eloise, along with the others, was able to step back and admire their work.

“
Will you just look at that,” said Mrs. Turner. “The children have outdone themselves this time.”

“
Oh Mabel,” said Sadie. “They did a wonderful job, thank you so much.”

“
It was my pleasure, and it couldn't be for a more perfect event,” she said as she smiled at Eloise. “I'm sure you and Mr. Jones will be very happy, my dear.”

Tears stung the back of Eloise's eyes. Why did this happen every time there was talk of marrying Seth? If only she understood what triggered it. But in less than an hour, it wouldn't matter anymore. By then they'd be married. “Thank you Mrs. Turner for all your help.”

“
It was no trouble at all, my dear. You're going to have a lovely wedding. Do you need any assistance getting ready?”

“No, I think we have it handled
,” said Eloise.

“
Well then, in that case,” said Mrs. Turner. “I'd best go see to the children. They're very anxious to play some games.” She turned and headed for His Majesty where Tom, her eldest, was spreading blankets out for his younger siblings.

Eloise wiped away a few tears. “For heaven's sake,” she said. “I do hope I can hold myself together until after the ceremony.”

Sadie put her arm around her. “Don’t worry, you will. Besides, I’m sure you won't be the only one crying at your wedding.”

“
She's right,” added Belle. “Fanny Fig will likely bust a gut right in the middle of it.”

The three women laughed and hugged each other.

As more and more people came down the trail to join them, it became apparent to Eloise she needed to change into her wedding dress. She wished Penelope and Constance had arrived to help her, but so far there was no sign of either sister. She thought of waiting few more minutes in hopes that one of them would show up, when she spied Seth coming down the trail. “Oh, no!”

“
What is it?” asked Sadie.

“It's Seth! H
e can't see me before the wedding! Isn't that supposed to be terribly bad luck?”

“
Quick!” said Belle. “Let's get behind the blankets where you can change. You can wait there until its time. It won't be long now.”

T
he three women scrambled to get behind the wall of blankets Sadie had created by hanging them on the branches of a few small trees. The enclosure was just down the creek from the picnic area, and would offer the privacy Eloise needed. No sooner did Belle and Sadie have her stripped down to her petticoats, when Penelope and Constance showed up.

“H
urry, Eloise!” Constance cried. “Preacher Jo is coming down the trail!”

“
And there's another preacher with him,” added Penelope.

“
Another preacher?” asked Sadie.

“
Does he have a big belly and laughs a lot?” inquired Belle.

“Yes, that's the one,” said
Penelope.

“
Who is he?” asked Constance. “We could hear him laughing behind us, all the way down the trail. And we were already halfway down!”

“His name is Preacher Dan,” said Sadie. “He's a traveling preacher who shows up around here once every few months to visit and help out Preacher Jo.”

“H
e married Preacher Jo and Annie,” said Belle. “Not to mention Logan and Susara Kincaid.”

“Don’t forget Harrison and me,” added Sadie
.

“My,
my,” said Eloise. “There’s certainly not a shortage of preachers today, is there?”

“If one gets stung by a bee, or
falls in the Creek, you'll still be able to get married!” laughed Constance.

Eloise let out a heavy sigh. “Seems I'm to be married, no matter what.”

Penelope and Constance both reached out and touched her at the same time. Eloise turned to them. Penelope spoke first. “Sister, marriage is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me, and I know it will be for you, too”.

“
And for me,” added Constance. “I can't imagine not be married to Ryder. In fact, I think I should die if anything ever happened to him.”

“
So, it's not like what mother told us?” asked Eloise.

Penelope and Constance shook their heads. “I dare say,” said Penelope. “But our mother did not have as happy a marriage as she led us to believe.”

“
If she had, then we would have seen her look at father the same way we look at our husbands,” added Constance.

“Then everything I've felt up to this point
has been nerves?” asked Eloise.

“
Of course, silly,” said Constance. “Now, let's turn you into a bride.”

Eleven

Seth paced nervously in the shade of “His Majesty
”. The giant oak was an awesome sight to behold, and a part of him felt intimidated by the Almighty’s handiwork. But he could think of no better place to take his vows.

Quilts had been spread on the ground in such a way, as to form two sets of seating, one on the right, one on the left, with an aisle down the middle. Just like in
a church. The townsfolk had begun to seat themselves when Colin approached. “Well, old boy, are you ready for this?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Colin looked him right in the eye. “You’ll take good care of our cousin, won’t you?”

“Is that a request, or a demand?” Seth teased.

“Both.”

Seth caught the serious look on Colin’s face, and straightened. “I assure you, sir, I have nothing but good intentions toward Eloise.”

“See that you do. Our cousins have come a long way to get married. I’d hate to see any of them disappointed now.”