Missing Scenes from Return to Rock Springs #4 Chapter 2

Wedding Day

Saturday morning dawned clear and cold. Caroline had woken up quite early. She guessed that she was just too excited to sleep. After all, in just a few hours, she would be Mrs. Jess Harper. She finally gave up on trying to go back to sleep and went to the bedroom window. In the early dawn light, she could see that no new snow had fallen during the night, and it seemed that even the wind apparently had died down some. Glancing back at her sister's bed, she saw that Amanda was still sound asleep. Good, she thought, I'm glad that I have a few minutes to myself. She had packed her suitcase for the honeymoon trip last night after Jess had walked her home from Ma Poole's Boarding House, but she still had to put a few of her belongings into the trunk that Amanda was going to take on the train for her the day after the wedding. She was so glad that Slim and Daisy had promised to take the trunk from the train station in Laramie to the ranch when they returned home from the wedding. That way she and Jess wouldn't have to carry it to Cheyenne, and it would certainly be no trouble for them since Amanda and Cecilia had tickets for the same train that Jess's Laramie family was taking for their return journey home

She turned away from the window and hurriedly packed the remaining items in the trunk. Then she turned back to the closet door where her wedding dress was hanging. It was perfect. Mrs. Denson had done a beautiful job. The little pearl beads were evenly placed over the lace-covered bodice, and they perfectly matched the row of pearl beads that covered the hem of the flowing shirt and the edges of her bridal veil. She couldn't wait to see Jess's face when he saw her coming down the aisle of the church. Smiling, she thought she also couldn't wait to see how handsome Jess would look standing in front of the altar wearing that new suit. Of course, she knew that he was much more suited to his blue jeans and work shirt, but, after all, you just had to "git all gussyed up," as Jess referred to it, on your wedding day.

Just then Amanda got out of bed and joined her sister near the closet door. "Your dress is absolutely beautiful, Carrie. But we better give ourselves plenty of time at the preacher's house. There must be at least twenty of those silk-covered buttons on the back of your dress, and it will take us a few minutes to get you ready." Mandy smiled at her younger sister and gave her a big hug. "You're going to be the most beautiful bride there has ever been, Caroline."

"I hope that Jess will think so."

"Well, of course, he will!"

"And you'll be the prettiest maid of honor that there ever has been. I picked that dark green material just because I knew it would set off your beautiful green eyes." Then Carrie decided that now would be a good time to broach the subject of Slim Sherman, "Mandy I never got a chance to ask you what you and Slim were talking about after dinner Thursday night. You two seem to like each other quite a lot."

Amanda blushed slightly, "No argument there – at least on my end. Slim Sherman is the most handsome man I've ever met in my life!" Then she remembered that as far as Carrie knew she had only seen Slim a couple of times in Rock Springs. "But I really know nothing about the man. Carrie, could you do me a favor when you and Jess get back to Laramie?"

"Of course, what is it?"

"Could you find out if he's got a girl in Laramie?" Amanda hoped that her voice sounded normal. She well knew that Slim didn't have a girl in Laramie, and, if his letters were any indication, he was as interested in her as she was in him. But she certainly couldn't let on to Carrie that she had been to Slim's ranch and that they had been writing to each other regularly. "And do you think there would be any way that you could see if I could stop by Laramie when I'm on my way here for Christmas? I'd love to see where you will be living, and I'd also really like to get to know Slim Sherman better."

"That's a great idea, Mandy. I knew you were interested in him. And it sure looked like he's interested in you too." Carrie remembered the way that they had looked at each other when they were getting Daisy's coat Thursday night.

Just then Cecilia entered the bedroom, "Mama sent me to make sure that you two were up."

"My, you're up early, Celie." Amanda said, noticing that their youngest sister was already fully dressed.

"I couldn't sleep. And I don't know how you managed to, Carrie. If I were getting married this morning, I don't think I could have slept at all last night."

"I've been awake for a couple of hours now. And you're right, I didn't get much sleep. I'm too excited to sleep."

Cecilia joined her sisters near the closet door. "That's the most beautiful wedding dress I've ever seen. I know I've said that a hundred times since I saw it, but I still can't believe how beautiful it is. And it's perfect for you, Caroline. I saw that at our last fitting at Mrs. Denson's yesterday." Cecilia then turned to Mandy, "And don't you just love the way our dresses look?"

"Of course I do." Mandy laughed before she turned back to Caroline, "So, which outfit did you decide to change into for the train ride to Cheyenne?"

Celie added, "If you want my opinion, I still say the brown one will be the most comfortable for the long train ride. And you look absolutely gorgeous in that dark brown riding skirt and jacket with that beautiful cream blouse. The dark blue one is alright, but the brown one sets off your hair and eyes so well!"

"Well, you'll be happy then that I have already put the blue one in the trunk that you and Mandy are taking for me on your train." Carrie smiled at her younger sister.

"Yes, wasn't it convenient that Amanda just managed to convince Papa that we needed to be on the same train as Slim Sherman?" Celie asked as she beamed at Mandy.

"Cecilia, it only made logical sense that we leave tomorrow on the same train as Slim. After all we didn't want to rush off and get on the train with the newlyweds today. I'm sure Caroline and Jess don't want all of us watching their every move on the train today. And you and I have to return to school as soon as possible, and Slim has to get back to his ranch. Anyway, Slim, Daisy, and Mike will only be with us as far as Laramie. And that made it easy for them to take Carrie's trunk on to the ranch." Amanda corrected her youngest sister.

"Now don't you deny it, big sister. I saw all those looks that you've been giving Mr. Sherman when you're around him. I think you're sweet on him," Cecilia smiled knowingly at Amanda.

"Don't be silly. I hardly know the man. Of course, I wouldn't mind getting to know him a little better. I just asked Carrie to find out if he has a girl in Laramie." Then Amanda changed her tone to one of authority, "But in the meantime, Cecilia Diane Simpson, you keep those thoughts to yourself and make sure you don't embarrass me."

Refusing to be subjected to her older sister's authority, Cecilia continued her playful tone, "Oh, I wouldn't dream of embarrassing you, Julia Amanda Simpson." Then hugging her oldest sister, she continued, "I think it would be kind of sweet if you fell in love with Jess's partner and best friend. Then if you get married too, I could come and visit both of my sisters at once. That would make it so much easier on me to see both my married sisters at once!" Celie giggled.

"Cecilia, you're getting carried away now. Amanda has only seen Slim a couple of times." Caroline paused for a moment before she added, "And we need to get dressed and gather everything up that we need to take to the parson's before Mama calls us to breakfast. We won't have time to come back here if we forget to take something that we need when we're changing into our wedding clothes!"

Just then Julia appeared at the bedroom door, hearing the last thing that Carrie had said. "That's right, Caroline. Make sure that you three have everything that you need. And put something warm on to wear to the parson's. Your father has already been outside, and he says it's bitterly cold. But thank the Lord there's no snow and no wind. Hurry now so that you'll have time to eat some breakfast before we leave."

"I'm not sure that I could eat a thing, Mama. I think I'm too excited to eat." Caroline stated.

Julia came over and hugged Caroline, "I remember how I felt the morning that I married your father. But you better at least have a bite or two. It'll help calm your nerves. And, besides, I think the wedding cake will be a little rich on an empty stomach. And you'll have to eat some of that. The ladies have worked so hard on it. I saw it last night. You'll get a peek at the cake and the lovely area that Mrs. Douglas has set up in their parlor for the reception when you're there to get ready." Then turning to all of them, "I know it's quite early, but let's get a move on, girls."