Chapter 4

The Ushers

Heath and Eugene straightened each other's ties, while Silas looked on with a smile. He himself was decked out in his very best formal wear, and both Heath and Eugene looked a little jealous. The houseman always looked impeccable, neat as a pin, and as handsome as any man who ever graced the Barkley mansion.

"What do you think, Silas?" Eugene asked and he and Heath turned to face the older man.

All three of them were at the front door, but would not stay that way. They had decided that Silas would open the door to the guests, then pass them off to Heath just behind him at the step into the foyer. Heath would see the guests down the step and into the living room, where Eugene would actually seat them. Heath would then return to the step for the next guests.

Silas smiled and nodded. "Everything is just fine, Mr. Eugene." It was to be his job to make sure everything – food, drinks, music, everything - was ready for the reception, so he would be leaving the house as the ceremony began. In a way, Silas was disappointed he would miss seeing Audra get married, but on the other hand, being asked to manage the reception was an honor he loved having.

Muffled voices came from upstairs. It wasn't Jarrod – he was in the library. Nick was in one guest room, getting Carl ready. Victoria was in Audra's room, getting her ready. Soft laughter came from Audra's room, making the three men in the foyer smile.

"What do you want to bet Nick has more trouble dressing Carl than Mother has dressing Audra?" Eugene asked.

Heath said, "No bet. That's not a hard call."

Silas opened the door. Audra's dear friend from town, a girl her age named Connie, came in. She was to play the piano for the guests and for the service.

"Good afternoon, Miss Connie," Silas said.

"Good afternoon, Silas," she said and came in, carrying a folder full of music and a small cushion. "How is everyone doing?"

"Everyone is doing fine, just fine," Silas said.

"Even the ushers," Heath said and reached a hand to help Connie down the step.

"I guess you fellows feel pretty comfortable," Connie said. "Your jobs will be over by the time the ceremony starts."

"We definitely got the easy parts," Eugene agreed. "Except for Silas, of course. He's in charge of the reception."

"And it'll be one whale of a reception, too," Nick said.

Silas just nodded, smiling.

Eugene escorted Connie to the piano, where she placed the cushion on the bench before sitting down and getting her music set up. Eugene returned to Nick and Silas near the door then.

"Well," Heath said, "it's half an hour until the ceremony. I reckon we better make sure we're all spit and polish. Silas, we never have to worry about you. Spit and polish are your middle names."

Silas laughed. "You both look more handsome than ever."

And then the guests began to arrive. The stable hands helped each guest out of their buggies and parked the buggies. Silas, Heath and Eugene got their parts down perfectly, and each guest was escorted through the door and the foyer and to their seats without a problem, even though as the time for the ceremony drew closer, the traffic picked up.

Connie played soft music to set the mood. During a short lull, Eugene had time to talk to Heath. "How am I doing?"

"You're doing fine," Heath said. "Got everybody in the right seat, left room at the front for you and me and Jarrod. We got this covered good."

Nick came down the stairs with Carl. Heath noted that Nick was holding onto Carl. "Which one of you has cold feet?" he asked.

"Nobody has cold feet," Carl protested. "I just want to be sure I'm not late."

"You've got a good five or ten minutes," Heath said.

"Come on," Nick said, "let's get you back in the hallway over here and out of the way till it's time to go to the priest."

Nick and Carl went back down the hall, but in a few moments, Nick came back.

"Where you going now?" Heath asked as he came back from delivering more guests to Eugene.

"Checking on Jarrod. I think he's in the library," Nick said.

"Last I saw him," Heath said, and Nick disappeared.

Eugene, coming toward Heath, said, "I wonder if Jarrod's nervous," Eugene asked.

"Nah, I don't think so," Heath said. "He's really been looking forward to this."

"I do wish Father was here," Eugene said wistfully. "He really doted on Audra."

"I'll bet everybody doted on Audra," Heath said. "I know I fell right into the pattern."

More guests came in then, and Heath and Eugene never did have another chance to talk. Before too long, Nick came back with Jarrod in tow. He put Jarrod at the bottom of the stairs and took off back down the hall to Carl.

Heath received the final guests from Silas and took them to Eugene. Then he came back to his older brother at the foot of the stairs.

"All set?" Heath asked.

"All set," Jarrod assured him.

And then they caught the sight of Audra, coming down the hall upstairs, on their mother's arm.

"My God, she's breathtaking," Jarrod said.

Heath looked up and smiled. "She sure is," he said, and he moved to the side of the stairs, where he would take his mother's arm and escort her as Matron of Honor.

When Victoria and Audra arrived, Heath smiled softly as he offered his arm to his mother. To say he was honored to escort her as the Matron of Honor was putting it mildly. Even though he was a latecomer to this place, and a demanding one at that, he felt absolutely at home here now.

But every time his family gave him an extra grace, like this one today, he felt like a king.

Victoria took Heath's arm and he escorted her toward the aisle.

"Nervous?" Heath asked as they walked down the aisle.

"Petrified," Victoria said.

Heath chuckled. "Just remember – you're gaining another son, not losing a daughter."

"I just hope I don't faint dead away during the vows."

Heath laughed again. "Mother, you've never been the fainting kind."

"I've never watched my daughter get married before."

By then, they were with the priest. His duties complete, Heath took his seat on the front row next to his brother Eugene, and they all turned to watch Audra.

Jarrod escorted her down the aisle, and both Heath and Eugene gasped.

"Wow," Eugene said softly at the sight of her in her satin and lace gown and beautiful veil. "I don't think she's ever looked so beautiful."

"All brides are their most beautiful on their wedding days," Heath said, "but you're right, she is magnificent."

As she drew close, Audra gave Heath and Eugene a smile. Such as happy, wonderful smile. Then she and Jarrod were before the priest, who asked who gave Audra in marriage. Jarrod said, "I do," and gave her hand to Carl. Then he took his place on the front row with Heath and Eugene.

The service was over so fast, or so it seemed to all the participants, that Audra and Carl were pronounced man and wife before Eugene thought he had a chance to blink. Heath watched Nick once or twice, and both times saw as soft a smile as he'd ever seen on that hard rancher's face. He also saw Victoria fight tears, but she never dabbed at her face. She just let them flow.

Then came the kiss and the bride and groom came back up the aisle, smiling ear to ear. Nick and his mother were right behind them, and then Heath, Eugene and Jarrod followed along.

There was food and music and dancing and everyone got lost in the happiness that surrounded the Barkley ranch today. Both Heath and Eugene danced with their mother and their sister and every other girl or woman there. When Audra and Carl finally climbed in their buggy to leave, things began to wind down.

Heath found Silas off by himself, watching the bride and groom leave. Heath went over to him and said, "Silas, you threw one heck of a party."

"Only the best for Miss Audra," Silas said, still smiling as he watched the buggy drive away.

Heath offered his hand to the houseman. "And you gave it to her."

Silas shook Heath's hand. "Thank you, Mr. Heath."

As Silas began to supervise the clean up, Heath rejoined his family, still watching the buggy disappear.

Victoria said "I don't think I can be happier than I am today.

Nick said, "Just wait till I get married."

"I don't know, Nick," Eugene said. "Would you really have any girl who would marry you?"

Nick swatted his youngest brother and chased him back into the house, an old ritual that had begun when Eugene was very small and one he thought was pretty appropriate today. Eugene dashed into the living room, where the chairs for the guests had been cleared and the regular furniture was back where it belonged. He flopped into one of the armchairs, and Nick flopped into another.

"She was beautiful, wasn't she, Nick?" Eugene asked.

"She certainly was," Nick said.

"So when are you getting married?"

"Oh, when the right woman comes along and will have me," Nick said. "How about you, little brother?"

"Well, don't tell anybody yet, but I have met someone."

"Really?"

"I don't know if she's the one yet, but we are seeing a lot of each other."

"Well, I hate to tell you, but I think Audra let the cat out of the bag when she got home from Washington."

"Ohhhhh….."

They chatted some more until Jarrod, Heath and Victoria came in and joined them. They all talked idly together until they realized they were exhausted and would have to get a light bit to eat before calling it a night, even if it was a little early.

That was when Nick filled wine glasses for everyone for the last time and offered his toast. Silas brought out some sandwiches, which they all ate. After that, they began to make their way upstairs.

"Looks like we did okay today," Eugene said to Heath as they climbed up the stairs together.

"Got everybody where they were supposed to be," Heath said.

"When are you getting married?" Eugene asked.

"Me? Who knows? Not soon, I know that. How about you?"

"Same thing," Eugene said, but smiled at the thought of the girl waiting for him back east.

Heath noticed the smile and read into it what he was sure Eugene was saying. "Boy howdy, I better get this monkey suit all cleaned and ready."

Eugene gave him a friendly punch in the arm, and they went to their separate rooms.