Chapter 34 – Wedding
Aunt Elizabeth, Charlotte and Elizabeth headed back to the cafe where the other women were waiting for Elizabeth. Abigail had tea waiting and had just finished getting the last of the stuff ready for that afternoon. With Abigail, was Rosemary, Dottie Ramsey, and Florence Blakely. Charlotte and Aunt Elizabeth encouraged Elizabeth to sit for a moment. While they had tea before finishing getting ready, each of the women went around and shared some advice about marriage and love. Elizabeth was worried about what Rosemary was going to say. She wasn't married, and even bigger was the fact that she had been engaged to Jack. She hadn't told her family that part.
"Always say 'I love you'." Florence said. "You never know if it may be the last time you get to say it. I regret not getting up that morning and speaking with Paul before he left for the mine."
"Make time to spend together." Dottie said. "Take the time for the ride or the walk, never forget about your relationship, especially after the children come."
"Never go to be mad." Abigail said. "Noah and I agreed to never go to bed mad at each other. Yes, there were times that we were up the better part of the night talking, but it had been better to work it out then to let whatever caused the problem to grow."
"I know that I am not married." Rosemary said. "I also know that we didn't start off on the best, but I know Jack and my father was also a Mountie. So my advise to you is to trust him when he says he is good at his job. Trust him when he says that he can't always talk about things, but also be there for him when he does want to talk."
"Enjoy the little things." Charlotte said. "Whether it is a note left for you or a smile while in a crowd, and take the time to hold hands while walking."
"My dear Beth." Aunt Elizabeth said. "You have heard lots of good advise here, but what I want to tell you is that it is okay to do your own thing, to have your own thoughts. Just because you are married, you don't need to lose who your are as an individual. Yes, you need to build a life with Jack as a couple, but it is also essential that you each don't lose who your are, that is what attracted you to each other."
"Thank you everyone." Elizabeth said. "I don't know how I would have been able to do all this without each and everyone of you. Thank you for all the work that you have done to get things ready for this special day."
"Alright." Aunt Elizabeth said. "We have a wedding to get ready for."
"Rosemary." Elizabeth said. "I should have asked you sooner, but I hope that it is not to late. Would you please stand up with me today. I know that Jack has Bill and Lee and I had only asked Abigail."
"I would absolutely love to stand up with you today." Rosemary said. "I have seen Abigail's green dress and I have one that would work as well and we have plenty of flowers for the bouquets."
While Rosemary helped Elizabeth with her makeup, Dottie and Florence worked on putting the boutonnieres and bouquets together. As soon as Rosemary was done, she headed back to Dottie's to change into her green dress before heading back to the cafe to help Elizabeth. Abigail had also went to change into her dress. When they were done, Florence took the boutonnieres over to the jail for the guys. When Florence returned, Clara had joined the group at the cafe. Dottie and Aunt Elizabeth helped Elizabeth into her dress and then came downstairs for the finishing touches. They still had time before they needed to head to the church.
When Rosemary and Abigail were ready, Dottie and Florence headed to the church. Before Clara headed to the church, she wanted to show Elizabeth the veil that she had made for her. Dottie had already brought it over with the dress, but Clara wanted to point out what she had done to make it special for Elizabeth. The veil was also lace and near the bottom, Clara had stitched interlocking hearts with a "T" in the center of heart where they overlapped.
"Oh Clara." Elizabeth exclaimed. "This is magnificent. You didn't have to do this."
"I just wanted you to have something special." Clara said. "You were a great help to me when I arrived here. Besides, you should have something that you can pass on to your children later."
So as not to start crying, Clara just turned and left heading to the church. Elizabeth handed the veil to Aunt Elizabeth and she put it on Elizabeth. Everyone stood there and was amazed how beautiful Elizabeth was. Elizabeth turned to look at herself in the mirror that had been brought down. The sight of her standing there in her dress took her own breath away. She knew that she was going to make Jack speechless.
Jack, Bill, Lee, Wynn and Dee had made their way to the church. Dee had already set the camera up earlier that day. People were just starting to arrive and Jack took a quick look at how the church had been decorated. He was amazed how different it looked. He couldn't wait to see Elizabeth. He thought if this was what they did with the church, he couldn't even fathom what Elizabeth would look like. Wynn headed to the back of the church to wait for Elizabeth. Dee headed over to where he had set up the camera Jack, Bill, and Lee went to wait in Pastor Frank's office.
Charlotte made sure everyone had everything before taking the bouquets and heading to the church herself. Abigail, Rosemary, Aunt Elizabeth and Elizabeth were not that far behind. When Charlotte arrived at the church, she set the flowers down near the entrance and then went to make sure that everything was ready. Wynn was already waiting in the entryway and the curtains were shut. Charlotte peeked her head around, she didn't see the guys so she turned to Wynn.
"They are waiting in Pastor Frank's office." Wynn said. "They will enter the side door when the music starts."
Charlotte looked back and saw Elizabeth approaching. Once Elizabeth was close, Aunt Elizabeth went ahead and joined Charlotte. Together they went and sat down. Florence went back to help with the dress and Cat started playing at the piano. Pastor Frank led Jack, Bill and Lee into the church from the side door. They each took their spots. Wynn and Elizabeth had stepped just outside for a moment. When they were ready, Miles and Albert held open the curtains and Rosemary entered followed by Abigail. As soon as Abigail cleared the curtains, the boys shut them again. Elizabeth and Wynn entered the church. Florence helped Elizabeth take her coat off and then made sure the dress was perfect and handed Elizabeth her bouquet, before she slipped back into the church. Wynn took a moment to look at his niece.
"You look amazing." Wynn whispered. "Take a deep breath and just focus on Jack when the curtains open. I will guide you."
"Thank you for everything." Elizabeth whispered back.
Cat started playing the wedding march. Pastor Frank nodded to the boys and they opened the curtains. Elizabeth and Uncle Wynn stepped forward. Elizabeth had to take a quick breath when she saw Jack standing at the front of the church in his dress uniform. She had always thought that he had been so dashing in his uniform, but standing there staring at her with his dimpled grin was almost more then she could handle. She couldn't wait to kiss him, she would settle for holding his hand. She just needed to have a physical connection with him.
Jack gasped when he saw Elizabeth standing there. She was radiant and truly looked like the angel that he thought that she was. They locked eyes, but had to tear his eyes from hers. He wanted to take in every detail, so he would be able to draw it later. He wanted to remember the way that her hair framed her face. He wanted to remember how the veil wrapped around her shoulders. He wanted to especially remember how the dress hugged her body and then flared out when it got past her waist. The closer that she got, the more detail that he saw of her dress. He saw that the lace seemed to consist of roses. He noticed the necklace that Elizabeth wore, he had never seen it before. He noted how the necklace laid perfectly in the "v" of the dress. He followed her necklace down the front of her and gasped again when he saw that her cleavage was only covered by the lace. He wondered how his was going to be able to focus and keep his hands off of her.
Jack wanted to kiss her right then and it was all he could do to stand there. He wanted her next to him It felt like an eternity for her to reach the front of the church. Finally she was there standing before him and Wynn was placing her hand in his before he went to join his wife. When their hands touch, they felt the electricity pass between them.
Jack and Elizabeth stood there facing each other. Despite being surrounded by family and friends, it felt like they were the only two people in the room. Both wanted to kiss the other and had to settle with holding hands. Jack squeezed her hand and tried to focus. It took a moment for them to realize that Pastor Frank had started talking.
"Friends we are gathered here today." Pastor Frank started. "To witness the joining of this man and this women in holy matrimony. The Bible says that for everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. In this amazing season that we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jack and Elizabeth had chosen to celebrate their love for each other.
I haven't know Jack and Elizabeth that long, but I have seen their love grow. They have a special kind of love that is rarely seen. I think that everyone could see the love Jack and Elizabeth have for each other. I know that they have not had an easy go of things, but they have come to realize that they are stronger together then they are individually and that is a mark of a true love. Jack and Elizabeth have each asked to share something before we continue."
Jack took a deep breath before speaking. He was nervous and hoped that he would be able to get through what he wanted to say without tears that he felt welling up in his eyes.
"Elizabeth." Jack said. "I chose you and no other. Even before you said yes, you were mine in every way. When I first saw you, I knew that heaven had put an angel in path and I wondered what I had done to be so lucky. You stole my heart without me even knowing you had done it. That afternoon when you introduced yourself in the saloon and we shook hands, I knew that I was in trouble. I knew that I would never be able to let you go. So today, I marry you without hesitation and without doubt. I know that things may not always be easy but I am committed to you … completely. I love you … with everything that I am."
When a tear slid down Jack's face, Elizabeth let go of Jack's hand and reached up to wipe the tear away, returning her hand to his.
"Jack." Elizabeth said. "I never expected to find love when I came to Coal Valley. Yet that day when you rode in on your horse, I was taken by you. Somewhere you suddenly became the most important person in my life. My favorite to dream about and dream with. So today, I'd offer you my heart, but the truth is you have had from the moment that we met. So instead, I am going to give you my soul. I love you Jack Thornton from chalk dust to eternity."
By the time that Jack and Elizabeth finished speaking, many gathered had tears in their eyes. Including both Jack and Elizabeth. Jack did the same to Elizabeth when she was finished speaking, taking care not to mess her makeup.
"Jack and Elizabeth." Pastor Frank said. "Have shared that 1st Corinthians 13 is one of their favorite passages. I don't think that there is a better passage when it comes to a describing how people are suppose to love each other, especially a husband and a wife."
Pastor took a deep breath before continuing.
"Jack take a deep breath and repeat after me." Pastor Frank said softly.
Frank softly said the vows and Jack repeated them for all to hear.
"I, Jackson Alexander Thornton, take you, Elizabeth Grace Thatcher to be my wife." Jack said strong and clear. "I promise to be true to you in good time and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. So help me God."
"Elizabeth take a deep breath and repeat after me." Pastor Frank said softly.
Frank softly said the vows and Elizabeth repeated them for all to hear.
"I, Elizabeth Grace Thatcher, take you, Jackson Alexander Thornton to be my husband." Elizabeth said. "I promise to be true to you in good time and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. So help me God."
"Can I have the rings please." Pastor Frank said.
Bill handed the rings to Pastor Frank.
"These rings are an outward sign of the commitment that you have made to each other." Pastor Frank said. "These rings have an extra special meaning to this couple. These are the rings that Jack's grandparents exchanged years ago.
They were given to Jack to have and share with his wife. Another thing that is special about these rings, is that they are engraved. They read – Love is patient, Love is Kind. Which is Jack and Elizabeth's favorite verse. It is only appropriate that their wedding bands reflect that."
Frank handed Elizabeth's ring to Jack.
"Jack as you place this ring on Elizabeth's finger, repeat after me." Pastor Frank said.
Again Frank said the lines softly and Jack repeated for all to hear.
"Elizabeth." Jack said. "I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and will all that I am and all that I have, I honor you in the name of the Father, and the Son and Holy Spirit."
After Jack finished speaking he brought Elizabeth's hand up and kissed where he had just placed the ring.
Frank then handed Jack's ring to Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth as you place this ring on Jack's finger, repeat after me." Pastor Frank said.
Again Frank said the lines softly and Elizabeth repeated for all to hear.
"Jack." Elizabeth said. "I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and will all that I am and all that I have, I honor you in the name of the Father, and the Son and Holy Spirit."
When she finished speaking, she repeated Jack's action and kissed his hand where she had placed the ring.
"Jack and Elizabeth." Pastor Frank said. "You have committed yourselves to each other. What God has joined, let no man pull asunder. So by the power vested in me by the providence of Alberta and God, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Jack you may kiss the bride."
Pastor Frank hadn't even gotten the word 'bride' out and Jack closed the distance between him and Elizabeth. He gave her a sweet kiss before pulling back with a big dimpled grin on his face. Elizabeth had a big grin on her face as well and both laughed just a little.
Jack and Elizabeth then turned to face their friends and family while they applauded for them. Jack and Elizabeth headed down the aisle with Bill, Abigail, Lee and Rosemary following. Jack stopped to grab Elizabeth's coat and helped her slip it on before they went to stand on the top step of the church to let people greet them as they headed left. Abigail and Rosemary headed straight for the cafe so that they could bring the food over to the saloon. Bill and Lee went to help them. After everyone was headed to the saloon and before they left the church, Dee wanted to get a couple of pictures.