Chapter 17

A couple days later, Rachel made a surprise announcement at supper. She told everyone that she and Christopher had gotten married by the minister in town earlier that day.

"I'm sorry Rachel, you're telling us you're married?" Lou asked and Rachel just nodded with a mischievous grin.

"Why so soon? I thought…" Lou started but Rachel interrupted. "We didn't want to wait and we didn't want to take away from your pending nuptials. Plus now you two can go ahead and move into the house and we can fix up the bunkhouse before Cody and Sarah get back…" Rachel kept talking but Lou was too shocked to hear what else she was saying.

It took some explaining but Lou and the rest of them had begun to understand why Rachel and Christopher eloped and finally Lou went up to her and gave her a hug and congratulated her. It was just a surprise she told her but was happy for her.

They started to discuss the idea of surprising Cody and Sarah with fixing up the bunkhouse upon their return. There would be a lot to do in a short amount of time but it was exiting too.

Later that night Lou got to thinking what the townspeople would think of her and Jamie moving into Rachel's old house together with Jimmy before they were married. Then she remembered that some thought ill of her for staying in the bunkhouse with the boys all those years, but then again marrying one of them only to get a divorce a few years later didn't bode well for her reputation either and truth be told she had decided long ago she didn't really care.

The next few days were spent moving and cleaning. Rachel was moving out of her house into Christopher's and Jimmy, Lou and Jamie were moving in. That part was rather easy compared to the overhaul they were doing to the bunkhouse. They removed the bunks and put up some walls to make a bedroom. They decided the table that they had spent many meals at was far too big, but the men were able to shorten it to fit perfectly. Luckily, there was already a table big enough at Lou and Jimmy's house that would still fit the whole family for their weekly dinners. Lou made some new curtains for the windows and they moved in some essential furniture for the newlyweds. All in all they decided the place looked real nice. Hopefully Cody and Sarah would approve.

Back in their new house, Lou and Jamie had taken one bedroom while Jimmy moved his stuff into the spare which would eventually be Jamie's after the wedding. Lou sure thought things were changing quickly, but she couldn't remember when she had ever been happier.

There were days Lou wished that Jimmy and her had followed Rachel's lead and gotten eloped. The planning was turning into a frenzy of activity. She was making her own dress mainly because she knew exactly what she wanted. It would be pale pink in color as she didn't think a traditional white was appropriate. It was not going to be over the top either. She was going for subtle yet elegant.

She had Rachel, Emily and Sarah over at the house helping her plan, but Lou thought the group of ladies was making things more difficult. To make matters worse Jimmy had been out of town helping the territorial marshal find some bank robbers.

Lou had been worried about Jimmy like she always was when he was working, but a part of her felt like things had been going well for far too long and something bad was bound to ruin it. Just as she was thinking a little too negatively, Emily said she had some news to share, her and Buck were having another baby. The women all hugged and congratulated Emily on the welcomed addition to their growing family, but a part of Lou thought even more that bad news was coming.

Cody and Sarah had been over the moon with excitement to see they had a home fixed up for them upon their return. They were so grateful that they somehow wanted to return the favor, and Cody thought he had the perfect idea.