The music changed and Maria's heart was pounding, she swore it was about to jump right out of her chest.
"Calm down sweetie and just breath," Ben told her softly as they watched the doors open. She smiled at Adam and that seemed to calm her nervous down a bunch.
Ben walked Maria down the aisle and when they got to the Judge Ben handed Maria off to Adam with a smile as he and his oldest son shook hands. Maria and Ben hugged a little then Ben stepped to the side.
"Ladies and Gentlemen we are gathered here in the presence of God to join these two in Holy Matrimony. Before we start who gives this lady to this man?" Judge Wilson asked.
Maud, Jake and Willow all stood up, "I give this lady to that man sir," Jake spoke, "well us three do."
Judge Wilson nodded, "Maria, Adam turn to face each other please." They do as he asked, "Do you Adam take Maria to have to hold, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health... Till death do you part?"
"I Do," Adam spoke with a smile.
"Do you Maria take Adam to have to hold, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health... Till death do you part?" Jude Wilson asked Maria.
"I do," Maria replied with a smile towards Adam.
"Who has the rings?" Judge Wilson asked. Maud removed a ring and went up to the front as Ben handed Adam a ring. Maud handed Maria the ring and a tear slipped down her cheek as she recognized it as her Grand Father's wedding band. Maud nodded and Maria smiled and mouthed 'Thank You.'
"Now Adam, repeat after me as you slip the ring onto her left ring finger..With this ring I thee wed," Judge said.
"With this ring, I thee wed," Adam said slipping the ring onto her left ring finger.
"Maria please repeat after me putting the ring onto Adam's left ring finger, with this ring, I thee wed," Judge Wilson said softly.
"With this ring, I thee wed," Maria spoke as she put the ring onto Adam's left ring finger.
"By the powers invested by me, the state of Nevada and The city of Virginia City, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife, you may kiss the bride," Judge Wilson said and Adam lifted the veil and the two of them kissed.
"Whoo-hoo!" Joe hollered happy that his oldest brother was married, "by the way, Hop Sing's three cousins went to the ponderosa to make a big dinner and Hoss and I kinda talked to a bunch of our friends for a wedding reception for them."
Adam and Maria smiled and hugged him, "Thanks Joe," Maria said softly as they hugged a little more.
"You're welcome sis," Joe said and saw Ben and Adam hugging.
"Congrats son," Ben said and then hugged Maria, "Congrats sweetie and welcome to the family."
"Thanks Pa," Maria said, "wow, that was weird to say."
Everyone laughed and Maud went up to Adam, "Now you's treats my granddaughter good you hear, or I'll hunt ya down."
"I promise Maud, I'll treat her with total respect," Adam said and the two of them hugged.
"Now, I's got two horses you two can take home, or you two take the wagon you's came on and Ben, Hoss and Joe get the horses," Maud said.
"You two take the wagon, we'll take the horses," Ben said.
"All right Pa," Adam said with a big smile on his face.
"Let's head to the house, Maud, Jake, Willow, you're coming also right?" Ben asked getting a nod from them three.
They all went outside and to the horses and the wagon. Ben, Hoss, Joe and Jake got onto the horses and Joe helped Willow onto the horse to sit in front of him. Jake helped Maud onto the horse he was on and they all went to the Ponderosa.
Adam and Maria were following behind, a ways behind, "Maria, why were you crying slightly when you saw the ring your grandma was giving you?" Adam asked kindly.
"It was my grandfather's ring, the one Grams gave Grandpa," Maria replied with a smile.
"So we both gave each other a family ring?" Adam asked getting a confused look from Maria, "the ring I gave you is the one Pa gave my mother."
Maria smiled and kissed him on the cheek, "I love you Mr. Cartwright," she told him with a smile.
"I love you also Mrs. Cartwright," Adam told her and took her hand into his.
They arrived at the house and wondered where everyone was, and then Adam realized they all must be inside. He pulled the wagon up to next to the barn, got out, helped Maria out and they went inside. Adam lit the light next to the door since it was now closer to night time and it was dark in the house. When he did everyone was standing there.
"Congratulation you two!" they all cheered with smiles.
"Thank you everyone," Adam and Maria both said with smiles.
"Well, since now Joe and Hoss have all the lights outside lit, let's move this party outside where there's more space," Ben called to everyone seeing Joe and Hoss enter the house. They all went outside and Joe lead Adam and Maria to a table with only two chairs. He pulled Maria's chair out and after the bride and groom were sitting everyone else sat.
Hop Sing and his cousins brought out the food and plated everyone food and handed them out. After everyone ate Hop Sing and his cousins took care of everything.
"I would like to make a toast," Ben called and everyone hushed, "To my oldest son and his new wife, may you two be together for ever and make the family a little bigger in the future."
Maria and Adam laughed a little at Ben, "My turn," Hoss said, "To Adam and Maria for bringing two great families together and may you two be happy for the rest of your lives."
"Now, to the best older brother out there and to my new sister, I hope you two will be happy for ever, live a long, happy life together as a married couple, and Maria, don't worry to much about Adam's eating habits, you won't have to cook a lot of food," Joe said and said the last part as a joke.
"You're skinnier then he is Joe," Maria said jokingly.
"She's got you there son," Ben said.
"To my wife, the only thing I have to say is I love you and I am very happy we are married," Adam said.
"To My husband and my new family, I want to thank you for being so kind, caring and thoughtful, without a family like this I think I would have been lost," Maria said and Ben, Joe and Hoss went to the table and the five of them went into a group hug.
"Now I would like to say something," Maud spoke up, "I would like to thank the Cartwright's for taking care of my granddaughter and protecting her like you did."
"I second that and also Adam you better keep my girl safe," her Uncle Jake spoke up making Maria giggle.
A few, long, hours later all the guests left for the night and Maud, Jake and Willow went into the bunk house where they'd be staying for a while.
Adam and Maria went up to their room, even though Adam's shoulder was still hurting he picked his new bride up and carried her into the room, "Since this is where we'll be living until our house is finished," Adam said shutting the door behind him.
"Wait, what house?" Maria asked.
"The one Joe, Hoss, Pa and I go to everyday since you and I first met, I had a feeling we'd get married Maria, I loved you from day one," Adam told her.
"I loved you from the start also Adam," Maria replied and they started kissing after they were lying on the bed.
"We should get ready for bed shouldn't we?" Adam asked getting a nod from Maria. They got off the bed and he helped her unzip her dress and then untie her corset. She then slipped out of them both and slipped on her short night gown she made herself out of some old pink fabric she had, "that's pretty."
"Thank you, I made it one day," Maria replied with a smile. Adam smiled and pulled her into a hug and they kissed.
"I love you Mrs. Adam Cartwright," Adam told her as they laid down on the bed.
"I love you too Mr. Adam Cartwright," she replied and rested her head on his chest. She rolled onto her stomach and looked up at him.
"So my love, will you tell me what that smile was for when you saw the baby dear crossing the road earlier?" Adam asked.
"Just got me thinking that some day in the future I would like a couple kids," Maria replied.
"So I wasn't the only one thinking that?" Adam asked and she shook her head no.
"Nope, you weren't my love," she told him and lightly kissed his neck.
Adam pulled her up for a kiss, a while later he rolled them over to enjoy a night full of passion.