Chapter Twenty

"Stand still," Audra laughed as she helped her future sister-in-law with her wedding dress. "It's not like Jarrod's going to disappear." He wouldn't either. Audra had seen the look in her eldest brother's eyes. There was no way Jarrod would run off.

"What was your wedding like?" Polly, who had grown still, asked quietly. She, like the others, still wished they'd been able to be with Audra when she and Scott had exchanged vows.

Audra, who was getting ready to finish buttoning Polly's dress, froze for a split second and then let out a sigh as she slipped the button through the button hole. "We had a quiet ceremony with a preacher and his wife just outside Saint Louis. However," Audra's voice, which had sounded a little down, took on a more delighted tone as she told her of the promise Scott had made. "He said we can renew our vows after this baby is born. He's promised to make it so our families and friends can be there." So Scott had approached her with the idea of waiting until they could have a wedding where her family could be present before they'd ever reached Saint Louis, only she'd declined…figuring it was better to have his name before they got to Stockton then have a 'real' wedding later. As far as Audra was concerned that part was none of Polly's, or anyone's, business.

"I feel bad that Scott won't be able to be at the wedding." Polly would have told Jarrod they needed to wait on the wedding, only Audra had cornered her before Jarrod got a hold of her and had more than a few words for her. Still, Polly thought the fact that Audra would be alone at the wedding was sad. "I hope you know I would have sided with Jarrod if it wasn't for the fact that I know you and Scot are against us waiting."

Audra shrugged her shoulders. "I know that. Now, let's just be glad that when your uncle checked Scott this morning the infection was almost gone. He'll be better in a few days and then, in a few more days after that, he'll be up and around. When it comes to the wedding, Scott will be watching from his bed next to the window. I won't really be alone." Okay, so she might hear a few words spoken behind her back only, with Samuel Mead's actions being spread all over town, she figured anything she'd heard would be the same as what she'd heard before. People felt bad as "the unfortunate incident", as the gossipers were calling it, was yet another black eye for Ed Mead and his family. It was all Audra could do not to say something unnecessary. After all, she did feel bad for Ed, his wife and the rest of the family only that was it. Samuel was flat out evil as far as she was concerned. Thank goodness Nick and Heath had stopped him before he could strangle Scott. As it was, it made her shudder how close the law had still come to having the right to charge Samuel with murder!

"They're ready for you." Heath, who was giving the bride away, knocked and opened the door.

"Guess this it," said Polly. Audra exited first, as she was Polly's matron of honor. Polly smiled nervously as she took a hold of Heath's arms and followed him out of the house.

~oOo~

The music rang through the air, as Audra and the others watched Heath walk Polly down the aisle by the rows of chairs that had been set out on the front lawn. Though, as Reverend Stacy began the ceremony, Audra looked towards the bedroom window. She could see Scott propped up on the extra pillows, her mother had had Silas taken up, he watched the proceedings. Inwardly Audra sighed; for what had to be the thousandth time, Audra wished Scott would soften up when it came to the way he handled the loans he handed out to people. It would go a long ways in helping the image that was stuck to him. Of course, the moment she did that, Audra chastised herself. Why think about something that would never happen?

"By the virtue…" Reverend Stacy's words grabbed Audra's attention and she turned her attention to her brother and his new wife; Jarrod was kissing his bride. After that it was as if someone took the top off a huge noise box as 'Congratulations' and "Best wishes" rang out more than once, as Jarrod led Polly to the surrey that was waiting near the house. Once the newlyweds drove away, Audra stayed in the yard only long enough to visit a "proper" amount of time and then she slipped away and disappeared into the house.

Three Weeks Later

"Gee, Audra," Nick griped, with a twinkle in his eye, as he put Audra's luggage in the back of the wagon; Scott was inside the house talking with his brothers, meaning Heath and Gene, and Victoria. Nick had offered to put his sister and brother in law's luggage in the wagon "I think you're taking more away with you than you brought!"

"Of course, I did. You didn't expect me to leave without some memorabilia, did you?" Audra asked with a tone that said "I have no clue to why you're griping"…only her eyes were laughing so hard there was no way her brother could stop from busting up laughing.

Nick then grew very serious. "I'm sorry for the way I acted when you first got here." Nick finishing arranging the luggage in the back of the wagon and turned around to face Audra. He still couldn't how much more she'd matured since she left home. He glanced toward her still flat stomach and added as he held onto the side of the wagon with one hand and shifted his weight. "If you ever need anything…" he fidgeted again only to find Audra's hand upon his upper arm and her smiling wide at him.

"I know where to find you, Nick. Thanks," She tiptoed and gave him a small, sisterly, peck on his cheek. "Thanks for everything, even if you still don't approve of Scott."

"I don't approve of the way he does his business." Nick corrected her as he doubled up his one fist and placed it on his while pointing to the house. "I never will, makes it one wonder what he's up to at times. However," he relaxed his stance as Heath, Gene, their mother and Scott came out of the house. "As long as he takes good care of you and makes you happy, I won't have a quarrel with him." He then stepped aside as Scott approached and helped Audra into the wagon. After exchanged farewells, Scott and Audra drove away. Gene and Victoria went inside, Heath headed for the barn while Nick remained where he was until his Scott and Audra were out of sight. Only then did he turn around and went to look for McColl; it was going to be a long day.

Epilogue to Follow