Part V – Four Weddings and a Grandchild
October 1882 – July 1883
Chapter 18
Another Wedding and Christmas
Audra fussed over the material that the dressmaker held up for her inspection. It wasn't exactly what she wanted, but none of the others she'd looked at were quite right either. She and Clarke had decided on their date to February 25. That gave them plenty of time to make the plans for the perfect wedding. So far they had invited several guests, both acquaintances of the Barkleys and Clarke's. His family would be traveling from Davisville as would many of his friends.
It was only the first December now. Audra had seen the lovely house Clarke had chosen and approved of his choice. It was bigger and roomier than Heath and Leah's humble little abode, but it suited Audra as the small house suited Leah. Clarke and she had begun picking out furniture. By the time they were married it would all be in the house and ready for them to move in.
They had also already chosen the destination for their honeymoon. Two weeks in New York City. Audra was excited to share the experience of the large town with her soon to be husband. There was so much shopping they could do and they could pick out a few extra things for their house. She had been so busy with the planning of her own wedding she had only had a few moments to consider the fact that she was soon to be an aunt as well. She couldn't wait to hold Heath and Leah's child!
Scotty and Nick were making some plans of their own. Since Audra and Clarke had announced their engagement and the date of their wedding, they had decided to have their's in December. Before even announcing an engagement they had decided that they wanted the wedding to be a family only affair, especially now since Audra was going to have such a large one. At first Victoria was disappointed in their decision, but as she got caught up in the work involved for Audra's she actually became thankful.
Their date would be December the 8th. Scotty had chosen a simple dress pattern that the dressmaker had begun right after thanksgiving and would be done just before the 8th. Since their ceremony would be small Scotty had been devoting her time and energies towards preparing her ranch to be transferred to Ben's capable hands and to helping Leah.
Leah Barkley had not been well for the past several weeks. Severe morning sickness and a minor case of the flu had drained her body and left her on doctor ordered bed rest. That had meant that she needed someone to be there several times during the day to aid her and help take care of Heath. She had not admitted it to herself, but Scotty felt slightly guilty for Leah's illness. She knew Heath seemed to be beating himself up over it and tried her best to support both of them during this rough time.
One afternoon just before the wedding, they were afraid that Leah had lost the baby, but after that initial scare she seemed to improve. Eugene said that the baby was fine and it appeared Leah would recover.
In the meantime, Nick had asked Victoria to redecorate the suite of rooms that would be his and Scotty's. They also began preparing rooms for Luke and Nellie who would of course be moving into the Barkley ranch as well. They had already decided that Nellie would take Audra's old room, and Luke Heath's.
In the midst of all this Jarrod was plodding along through his work. He had met a young woman in San Francisco but before he'd had the chance to introduce her to his family she had told him she could not see their relationship working. He felt rather left out with his two younger brothers and sister about to be married. It was not lost to him that Eugene too had an interest in the sweet, Swedish nurse, Mai.
They were having their own set of troubles in the whirlwind of activity. Mai's frustration was building as each day it seemed to her Eugene ignored her. She had tried her best to get him to notice her on several occasions as more than just his assistant, but he failed to show any appreciation for her efforts.
The 8th of December had arrived. The people attending the small ceremony was, of course, the pastor, Reverend Billings, and the two guests of honor, Nicholas Barkley and Esmeralda Scott – the latter, much to her disgust had to reveal her real name for the ceremony. Victoria watched with pride, Jarrod with suppressed envy, Heath and Leah with joy that the two might find the happiness that they had together, Audra with expectation of her own wedding that would soon take place, Clarke beside her with similar thoughts, Ben happy that his mother would soon be happy herself, Luke a little put out, Nellie also pleased, Jon, who was losing one employer for a new younger one, was also pleased that Scotty had found happiness in the cowboy, Eugene and Mai. Silas too, had stepped from his duties in the kitchen to witness the ceremony, just as he had done with Heath and Leah's.
The days between Nick and Scotty's wedding and Christmas, were not happy ones for Dr. Eugene Barkley. A dark cloud had descended over Mai and thus over himself. She had been angry and blunt with her answers or questions. He could not grasp a reason why she was acting the way she was. He could not recall saying anything that should have upset her as she seemed to be.
He had been saddened when she'd chosen to move into town, and now he was even more saddened. It made him pensive and moody while at home. He could not understand what could have changed.
One afternoon, just before Christmas, he'd had enough. They had not taken a break for lunch yet and he walked over to where she was disinfecting some of his instruments. "Would you join me for lunch?" he asked her in a mild tone.
"No," she said curtly.
His forehead creased in frustration. "What's wrong Mai?" he asked.
"Nothing," she replied in the same tone, her word laced with her endearing Swedish accent.
"Something must be wrong? You've been acting like this for days."
"Humph," she muttered under her breath, barely audible.
"If you tell me what it is that's bothering you maybe I can fix it?"
"You the problem," she snapped, her blue eyes filled with fire. Eugene took an involuntary step back from her. "You not notice me! You say, Mai, go get this, go get that, but you not notice me!"
He looked at her and noticed for the first time that she was wearing her hair differently. Instead of the mass of braids on the crown of her head she was wearing them in two rings on either side, just behind her ear. She looked rather cute that way he thought.
"I notice you," he replied defensively. How long had she been wearing her hair like that? Was that what she meant? He had not intentionally ignored her. He had a lot on his mind with getting his office organized and his brothers and sister getting married and…well, he had a lot on his mind. Why hadn't he noticed her as much? He wondered. He liked her. He truly did. "I'm sorry Mai," he said finally. "If I've neglected you…"
"You have not neglected me!" she spat back. "I am fine!" she stomped off to the back room. Eugene was getting angry now. He was trying to apologize to her and she seemed to be waving off his attempts.
"Now wait a minute!" he said coming after her. "Look Mai, I'm terribly sorry. I should have realized you needed more attention than I've been giving you lately. Can you forgive me? I just…"
She whirled around, the braided rings swinging, "I love you Eugene Barkley!" her eyes were a dark, fiery blue and her words so viperous he could have sworn she'd said I hate you Eugene Barkley! instead.
"What?" he was surprised, shocked. Perhaps he should have guessed it, especially when later he reappraised his own feelings. He loved her too! What a glorious feeling! He smiled to himself and crossed the room, enveloping her in his arms. She pushed against him briefly before surrendering and entwining both her arms around his neck.
Christmas was a joyous affair at the Barkley Ranch. Leah who seemed to have fully recovered and was now having what seemed to be a normal pregnancy joined them, as well as Mai. Audra, however was not with them, as she had gone with Clarke to his mother's for the holiday.
Victoria had relinquished her duties as the woman of the house to Scotty, though the younger woman often deferred to her in some matters. So the day had been planned by the latest Mrs. Barkley. They exchanged gifts and stuffed themselves with the deliciously prepared meals.
Nick himself could not have been happier to have his family nearby and his wife…his wife…in charge of the festivities.
(To be continued…)