CHAPTER 3
"You've been back in town a week," Nancy said as she reached across the table to hand Sammie the cup of tea she'd just poured, "and I can't believe it's taken this long for us to get together." They were in the parlor of the boarding house where Nancy had a room. The tea and fresh-baked cookies had been supplied by her landlady.
"I know." Sammie placed a couple of sugar cookies on her plate before passing it to Leah, who had been invited to join them. "We've been so busy getting settled in and with wedding preparations we haven't had a lot of time to visit."
"I'm so happy for Mary and Chris. How are the preparations going?" Nancy asked.
"I'm going with Mary for the final fitting on her dress this afternoon," Sammie replied. "She wanted to wear something she already had, but Chris insisted she get a new dress for the occasion. Apparently, her first wedding was a simple affair, and he wants this one to be special – especially since she's business owner in town." She paused to take a sip of her tea. "She's going to be a beautiful bride."
"I'm looking forward to it." Nancy turned to smile at Leah. "How are you finding Four Corners so far? Is it everything you expected?"
"Everyone's been wonderful," Leah replied. "They all treat me like I've always been one of the family." She paused to glance at Sammy. "She'd told me about the town and everyone here, and it's much more than I expected."
Nancy laughed. "It can be a bit overwhelming at times. When I came here I'd never been west of the Mississippi. Mary took me under her wing, and Sammie and I soon became friends." She gave a short laugh. "That's about all it took for those seven peacekeepers to start thinking of me as one of their own."
"That and the fact that Vin was sweet on you," Sammie interjected. "Speaking of which, how are things going with you two? Vin avoided giving me a straight answer when I asked him."
"They're okay," Nancy replied, hoping the act of pouring another up of tea for Sammie would distract her friend.
"What's wrong, Nancy?" Sammie asked. "What's going on? Is it something between you and Vin?"
Nancy sighed. She should have known she couldn't have been lucky enough to have distracted her friend. "I'm surprised Kevin hasn't told you. It's been the talk of the town for weeks."
"What?"
"Arthur Butterfield has been making trouble again. This time he has a few more townspeople behind him."
"Who's Arthur Butterfield," Leah asked.
"And what is he doing now?" Sammie interjected.
Turning to Leah, Nancy explained, "Arthur Butterfield is a storeowner here in town. He's been trying for a while to convince the town leaders to fire me because of my relationship with Vin."
"Why?" Leah asked, surprised. "Did they include a clause in your teaching contract that you had to remain single or couldn't be courted?"
"No, they didn't," Nancy responded. "Most people in town like Vin and are fine with the fact that we are seeing each other. However, there are those who dislike him because he's friendly with the local Indians. Arthur Butterfield is one of them. He thinks I'm a bad influence on my students because I'm cozied up with that dodgasted Injun lover," She said, mimicking the storekeeper's voice.
"I thought he'd stopped. What got him going this time?"
"Mary and some of the others have been talking about having some of the children from the reservation come to town to attend school. They would live with willing families during the school term and return to the reservation during breaks. Mr. Butterfield is leading the fight against the idea."
"Hmm," Sammie replied as she took a sip of her tea.
Leah was familiar with the expression on her roommate's face and knew nothing good could come from it. "What are you thinking?"
"Mr. Clark."
"You cannot seriously be thinking that." Leah carefully set her tea cup on its saucer and stared in disbelief at her friend. "Didn't you tell me Chris knows what happened? I can't imagine he'd be very happy if you did it again."
"So we wait until after he and Mary leave for Denver to do it. If we plan it carefully enough, no one will know it was us. Plus, if we do it shortly after they leave, it should have all blown over by the time they get back."
"I'm obviously missing something here," Nancy stated, confused at the turn the conversation had taken. "What are you two talking about?"
Sammie and Leah took turns relating the story of Sammie's revenge on Mr. Clark.
"Sammie, Leah is right, if Chris finds out he'll do more than shoot you," Nancy stated, shocked at what her friend was suggesting. "Not to mention what the others would have to say." She was concerned about her own backside if they did what her friends were suggesting and Vin discovered her role in it.
"It would be worth it to see that mudsill get his comeuppance," Sammy responded, neglecting to tell her friends about Chris's promise. "We have to come up with something they wouldn't suspect was us. With Mr. Clark, it was unsuitable literature hidden in his classroom. Somehow, I don't think that would be as easy to pull off here." She sat forward and folded her hands on the table in front of her. "Any ideas?" she asked.
*** M7 *** M7 ***
A few days later . . .
Oren Travis stepped out onto the porch of the boarding house and looked around for his grandson and Kevin. He and the other men had gathered there, while his wife and the other women had gone to the church with Mary to help her get ready. It would be time for them to leave for the church soon, and the judge wanted to make sure the boys had followed his order not to get dirty when they'd raced out the front door.
He sighed heavily as he spotted the two children crouching in the dirt at the side of the wide front porch. It looked like they were playing a game of marbles. He shook his head as he headed down the porch steps toward them. What was it about boys that left them incapable of staying clean for more than ten minutes?
"I thought I told you two to not to get dirty," Judge Travis stated as he stepped up beside the boys. He reached down and grasped each boy by an arm, pulling them to their feet and none too gently dusting the dirt off their trousers.
"We aren't dirty," Billy responded as he tried to squirm away from his grandfather's hold. Kevin seconded Billy's protest. The discomfort he'd felt in the older man's presence fled in the wake of the perceived injustice. After all, to his mind getting a bit dusty wasn't the same as getting dirty.
"Then I suppose I just imagined the dirt I just dusted off your britches?" Neither boy responded. "Go on, get back on the porch and stay there this time. We'll be leaving for the church soon."
"Yes, sir," both boys said as they grudgingly did as they were told. Judge Travis couldn't help but grin as Kevin ran a finger under the stiff collar of his dress shirt. "Why do we gotta wear this stuff and stay clean," he asked Billy as they trudged up the porch steps. "What's so special about a wedding?"
"I don't know," Billy answered. "But I'm not so sure I like it."
*** M7 *** M7 *** M7 ***
Josiah had gladly given up his living quarters at the rear of the church for Mary to use as her dressing room. She stood in front of a full-length mirror that had been carried to the church from the general store and Gloria Potter and Evie Travis adjusted the blue enamel combs in the curls at the back of her elaborate hair style.
Finally satisfied, the two women stepped back. Mary had chosen a blue and cream silk dress in a style shown in the latest fashion magazine from St. Louis.
"You look lovely, my dear," Evie stated as the bride turned to face the room. "You have something old," she said, referring to the cream colored lace shawl that draped her shoulders. "And you have something blue." She gestured for Sammie to come forward. "Now, it's time for something borrowed."
Sammie handed Evie the sapphire necklace Evie had brought with her just for that purpose. "Oren gave me this for our wedding anniversary last year. I would like you to wear it today."
"It's beautiful. Evie, I couldn't possibly . . ." Mary started to protest, but Evie interrupted.
"Nonsense. You're like a daughter to me, and I want you to wear it." The older woman moved behind Mary to fasten the necklace around her neck.
Mary turned back to view her image in the mirror. She reached up to wipe a tear from her eye. "Thank you," she said, reaching to give Evie a hug. "I know this can't be easy for you, after Steven," she whispered into her former mother-in-law's ear. Evie pulled back from the embrace and reached up to wipe a tear from Mary's cheek. "Steven loved you. Never doubt that. But, he died, and I know he wouldn't have wanted you to remain alone. Besides, Chris Larabee is a good man. From what Oren has told me and what I've seen, he'll be a good husband to you and a good father to Billy. That's all that matters." Mary gave Evie another quick hug in acknowledgement of her words.
A knock sounded at the door as the two women ended their hug. Sammie answered it, and Josiah stepped into the room.
"Mary, you are surely a picture of beauty. If you're ready, it's time for the ceremony to begin."
A few minutes later, Sammie entered the church through the door from Josiah's living quarters and made her way to the piano that had been carefully moved from the boarding house. Looking around the church, she thought the whole town must have been there. The women were all wearing their finest dresses. Most of the men were dressed in their finest as well, but a few still wore their rough working clothes. She grinned, secretly wondering how many of them were there willingly, and how many had been dragged there by their wives.
She watched as Evie slipped out through the doorway and moved to sit in the front pew on the bride's side of the aisle. Billie stood up from where he sat with Vin and Kevin and moved to sit beside her.
At Josiah's signal, Sammie turned to the piano and began playing Pachelbel's Cannon in D as Gloria Potter made her way down the aisle to the front of the church. When Sammy caught a glimpse of Mary, escorted by Judge Travis, appear in the doorway she switched and began playing Mendelssohn's Wedding March.
When Mary and Oren drew even with the first pew, Billy rose and joined them. Josiah stepped forward and asked, "Who gives this woman to be married?"
Oren Travis looked down at his grandson and gave him a nod of encouragement. "I do," Billy said, as loudly and clearly as his nerves would allow. Josiah smiled and nodded his approval as Oren slid Mary's hand from his arm and placed it in Chris's waiting one. He then took Billy's hand to lead him back to sit in the pew beside his grandmother.
When they were settled, Josiah began a short sermon on marriage, then launched into the vows. "We are here today to join Christopher Larabee and Mary Travis in holy matrimony." Looking at the couple and seeing they had already joined hands, he continued, "Chris, repeat after me."
Chris looked into Mary's eyes as he repeated, "I, Chris, take you, Mary, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part." He slid the ring onto Mary's finger.
"I, Mary, take you, Chris, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part."
Josiah grinned. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Chris stepped forward and pulled Mary into an embrace before proceeding to kiss her thoroughly. The couple turned to face the crowd as Josiah announced, "May I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Larabee."