Chapter 4: Mr. and Mrs. Harper
Jess carefully lifted the veil off of Caroline's face and let its length fall behind her head, leaving a row of white lace and pearl beads encasing the top of her head like a white crown. He was not aware of any of the people in the church sanctuary, much less Rev. Douglas who was standing only a foot from him. The only thing he knew existed was Carrie's face as she looked up at him. He leaned down and his lips met hers as his right hand naturally encased her check. It seemed like only a second passed before they both barely heard Rev. Douglas quietly clear his throat. That brought them both back to the reality that the townsfolk, who were crowded into every pew, were watching them intensely. Caroline turned and took her bouquet from Amanda and then slid her left hand through Jess's extended arm just as the parson had instructed them to do. Both of them had huge smiles on their faces as they swiftly walked back up the aisle followed by Slim who escorted Amanda and Cecilia up the church aisle.
It only took a few minutes for everyone to gather in the Douglas's warm parlor. Mrs. Douglas had arranged everything perfectly, and the ladies had outdone themselves on making an absolutely beautiful wedding cake. As soon as Jess and Carrie had cut the cake and eaten some of it, it seemed that there was an endless stream of townspeople wishing them well and congratulating them on their wedding. For Jess and Caroline, the reception was a whirlwind of people talking to them, eating cake and drinking punch. Jess was sure that the entire population of Rock Springs had turned out for their wedding, but the only ones that he would distinctly remember talking to besides Carrie and their families, which of course included Ma Poole, were Ben Jackson, Jeff and Lori, Bryce and Donnie, Rev. and Mrs. Douglas, the members of the town council and their wives, and Doc Melvin. The time flew by and soon the photographer had the couple pose for their wedding photograph. Then it was time for Caroline to throw her bouquet, which Amanda caught. It was quite plain to Daisy and Ma Poole, who were standing close to each other, that Slim was watching Amanda intently, and both women noticed that as soon as Amanda gave Caroline a big hug she glanced straight at Slim for just a split second before Cecilia stepped up and hugged her older sisters, blocking Amanda's line of sight to Slim.
Leaving Rock Springs
As soon as Caroline had changed into her traveling outfit, they gathered their luggage and headed for the train station. The wind had picked up a little bit, and the day had turned colder. But that didn't stop many people from joining the newlyweds on the short walk to the train station. Carrie had timed the wedding and reception perfectly. After they made the short walk to the train station, it was almost time to board the train for Cheyenne. As Caroline turned to hug her mother goodbye, Jess reached out to shake Bill's hand, "Thanks again, Bill, for all you and Julia have done for us."
"It's our pleasure, Jess. We just want you and Carrie to have a good start to your life together."
"Well you've shore done that – the compartment on the train and the hotel in Cheyenne ta boot." Jess was embarrassed considering the expense that his new in-laws had gone to for their honeymoon.
"The proprietor of the brand new hotel in Cheyenne is an old friend of mine, Jess. And George Ford promised me he'd take great care of you two. He'll send someone to help with your bags and show you to the hotel. It's only a block from the train station." Bill added.
Before Jess could answer, Julia said, "Just enjoy yourselves, and when you get back to Laramie, make sure and give Carrie time to write us often." She continued to have her arm around Caroline while she reached up to include Jess in her hug. Then noticing Jess's Laramie family standing behind them, she gave them both a loving smile and turned to Daisy and Slim, "I'm sure that you want to say your goodbyes before they board the train."
Hugging them both, Daisy said, "You two have a wonderful time in Cheyenne and we'll be there to welcome you home next week."
Slim hugged Caroline while he said, "Try to keep your husband in line, Caroline."
When Carrie and Daisy both laughed, Slim added, "But of course that may be an impossible task." And then turning to Jess he said, "Have a great honeymoon, Pard, and come back ready to get to all those chores that I've saved up just for you."
"I'm shore you've saved up everything you didn't wanna do, Slim," Jess laughed as he gave Slim's shoulder a light push, "But don't worry. I'm shore that I'll do a better job on 'em than you coulda."
Then while Caroline was saying goodbye to Amanda and Cecilia, Jess bent down to Mike, "Tiger, I'll see ya next week when Carrie and I git back ta Laramie."
"You bet, Jess. I can't wait for you ta git back home. You've been gone a long time."
Jess ruffled Mike's hair as he turned to Ma Poole, "Thanks for everything, Ma. It's been great being back at your boarding house."
"I better hear from ya soon, son." She said smiling up at him.
"You will." Then becoming more serious while he hugged the older woman, "If it hadn't been for you, Ma, I woulda never come here and met Carrie."
"It did work out purty good didn't it, Jess?" She gave him one last hug before she turned to hug Carrie. Then Ma placed a sack in Carrie's hand. "You'll need this food for the long train trip. Ya need something besides cake, but we put some of that in there too."
"How on earth did you have time to fix us food, Ma?" Carrie couldn't believe how heavy the sack was.
Glancing back up at Jess, who was talking with Andy and Jonesy, Ma laughed, "Weren't hard a tall with Daisy and Jonesy's help this morning. And we all knew that Jess would be starved bout half way ta Cheyenne."
Just then they heard the conductor say, "All aboard."
Jess and Caroline moved up to the platform as Jess said, "Andy and Jonesy, I hope ya can git back home for Christmas."
They both said they hoped so, and Jonesy added, "You best git on that train fore it leaves without ya!"
As Carrie and Jess stepped up on the train, everyone was waving and saying their goodbyes. Jess handed the conductor their tickets and they started to go inside their car, but they had to turn back around when they heard Ben Jackson yell, "Hey, Jess."
"Yeah?" Jess answered as Caroline waved back to all their friends and family.
Ben continued, "Me and tha boys all wish you had hung around town tonight so we could give ya one heck of a shivaree! Guess we'll jest havta convince yer friends in Laramie ta do it for us when ya git back there!"
Jess waved Ben off as he yelled back, "Nah, Ben. We don't need that." Putting his arm around Carrie, Jess gave Slim a forceful look silently saying, "Don't you dare, Pard." Slim's only response was a hearty laugh.
Jess barely heard Mike ask, "What's a shoe-ree, Aunt Daisy?" before many more "Goodbyes" were heard and returned as the train slowly began to move forward, and the conductor motioned for the couple to step on into the train car, "Mr. Harper, I'll show you to your compartment."
When they were finally alone, Carrie asked, "You don't think Slim will plan that do you?" She barely paused before she continued, "I remember before we moved here from Rawlins that a couple was kidnapped from their house on their wedding night. They forced the groom to buy a round of drinks for everyone at the saloon, and then they dumped the couple in the horse trough before they let them go. Everyone just laughed about it, and it was horrible!"
Jess found her profound indignation absolutely endearing. "Well, nobody's gonna do that in Cheyenne so we don't havta worry 'bout tonight, and Slim won't do anything mean when we git back ta the ranch." He looked intently into her golden eyes and placing his hands on both sides of her face, he kissed her the way he had been wanting to do all morning.
Honeymoon in Cheyenne - Arrival
It was well after 10:00 PM before the train slowed and began to pull into the Cheyenne train depot. Jess gently nudged Carrie, who had fallen asleep on his shoulder. "We're here, Mrs. Harper. You need to wake up." He grinned broadly at her as he stood up and reached for their bags. He opened the compartment door just as the conductor lifted his hand to knock on it.
"Oh, Mr. Harper, I see you know that we're coming to a stop in Cheyenne." He stepped back as Jess and Carrie exited the small compartment. "And right on time, too."
As soon as they stepped off the train, a freezing wind reminded them just how cold it had become. Caroline pulled the neck of her heavy winter cloak closer together and shivered. "This wind is mighty cold."
Just then a young man approached them, "Mr. and Mrs. Harper?"
"Yes." Jess answered as he pulled the collar of his heavy winter coat up.
"I'm Dave Ford. My father owns the Regal Hotel." Then turning to Caroline, "Mrs. Harper, I believe your father and mine are old friends. It's a pleasure to meet you and your husband. I have a buggy right here. I know it's only one block from the train station to the hotel, but it's freezing out here. Do you have other bags?"
"No, we just have these." Jess stated.
Dave took the bags and placed them in the back of the buggy while Jess helped Caroline into the seat.
It only took a couple of minutes to reach the hotel. Dave stopped the buggy, hoped down, and reached for Caroline's hand to help her down. "You two go in and get out of this cold. I'll bring your bags. My father is waiting for you at the reception desk."
Jess took Carrie's hand, and they hurried into the hotel. Jess was taken aback upon entering the lavish lobby. He had been in many hotels, but never one like this. The lobby was filled with overstuffed chairs and sofas, ornate lamps, and freshly polished tables. A chandelier hung from the ceiling in the middle of the room.
"Mr. and Mrs. Harper." The voice came from the back of the room where a middle-aged man stood behind the large counter. "I'm George Ford, the owner of this new hotel, just opened this past January. The Regal is known as the finest hotel in Cheyenne. We have forty large rooms, each with its own parlor. I've reserved the best one for you ever since Bill Simpson telegraphed that his daughter and her new husband would be staying here for their honeymoon."
Jess and Caroline went to the counter where Mr. Ford was turning the registry book around and holding out a writing instrument. Jess took the pen and signed "Mr. and Mrs. Jess Harper" on the first blank line while he commented, "Mr. Ford, I didn't expect you to be here waiting on us at this time of night."
"I wouldn't have missed being here tonight. If it wasn't for Bill Simpson, I would not have this hotel today. It's the least that I could do for one of his children."
"Oh?" Caroline was puzzled; she didn't think she had ever heard of George Ford.
"It was years ago when your father and I were in Missouri. He had opened a general store and I opened a small, meager hotel about a year later. Everything was alright until one night when the stove caught the kitchen of our restaurant on fire. Luckily, we got all of our guests out, and no one was hurt. But I was broke. I had spent all I had on getting the place up and running. I had no way to rebuild the place, and it was burned to the ground. If it hadn't been for the townspeople, the buildings next to us would have burned also. But they all grabbed buckets and soaked the adjacent buildings and contained the blaze. It was a miracle. Your father and I had known each other for years, but I never expected him to do what he did. I thought I was going to have to send my wife and children to her parents while I tried to find work and try to save enough to start over." Mr. Ford looked right at Caroline. "But Bill was a God-send. Somehow he convinced one of his suppliers to give him enough lumber on credit to rebuild the hotel. And he just gave it to me until I could pay him back. And he never charged me a bit of interest on the loan. Believe me I tried to find out how much the loan cost him, but all he would take from me was the price of the lumber. Once the hotel was rebuilt, I was able to convince the local bank that they could afford to loan me the money for some furnishings for a few rooms. I don't know if I would ever had owned another hotel if it hadn't been for Bill Simpson." Then he remembered that his guests had just had a long train trip. "Well, enough of that, I have kept our dining room open for you two. I know you've had no proper dinner. It should be about ready for you."
Just then Dave came in with their bags, and Mr. Ford continued, "Dave will take your bags up to your room. You two come to your table."
Jess and Caroline entered an adjacent room that was just as exquisite as the lobby. Another fine chandelier hung in the center of the dining room. Several tables had freshly pressed table clothes, but only one was set with china and silverware.
"And here is our wonderful cook with your dinner."
As Jess and Carrie took their seats, the aroma of perfectly cooked roast, potatoes, and other vegetables along with freshly baked bread filled the dining room. Jess hadn't realized just how hungry he was until his plate was filled with the scrumptious meal. The sack meal that Ma Poole had given them had been eaten long ago. And then George Ford surprised them both by opening a bottle of champagne and pouring them both a glass, saying only, "Weddings are a special occasion, my friends, and they need to be celebrated with the best of French champagnes, which I have managed to acquire just for you two." He placed the bottle on the table as he left the couple alone.
Jess looked at the bubbly concoction, holding the glass in front of him.
Carrie smiled, "I've only had this once before in my entire life. It was at Len and Nancy's wedding. Don't look so funny, Jess. It's really good. But I'm glad we have some food in our stomachs. It will make you tipsy rather quickly."
Jess shrugged and took a swallow. He felt uncomfortable. The fanciness of the hotel, a special dinner this late at night, and now this bubbly drink that he had never even seen before made him realize how out of place a Wyoming rancher and previous drifter was in some social circles.
Caroline reached out and took his free hand. "Enjoy this, Jess. Of course, we will probably never be served champagne again unless it is served when Amanda or Cecilia get married." She smiled sweetly at him, knowing exactly what he was thinking. "Do you know how much I love you, Jess Daniel Harper?"
He reached across the table, took her face in his hands, and kissed her. Slowly pulling away, he looked right in her beautiful golden eyes, "And I hope you know how much I love you, Caroline Elizabeth Simpson Harper."
When they finished eating, they made their way back to the lobby. Dave was standing at the bottom of the stairs leading to the second floor. He handed Jess the room key. "Your room is number 207 at the end of the hall on the left. It's our best room, Sir. I put your suitcases in the parlor. The fireplaces in the parlor and the bedroom should keep you warm, even with this wind."
Arm in arm, they walked up the stairs and down the long hallway. Entering the room, they were both highly impressed. The parlor was pleasantly warm with a roaring fire in the large fireplace. Jess noticed extra logs held in a cradle at the side of the hearth. Their bags had been placed near a large overstuffed divan, and intricately decorated lamps were lit on two side tables. There was a large window on the street side of the room. Caroline couldn't help but notice the expensive drapes that had been loosed from their tiebacks and flowed down to the floor. Turning from the window, she faced Jess who was watching her intently as he locked the room door.
"Warm enough?" He asked.
"Yes. This is wonderful, isn't it, Jess?"
"Largest hotel room I've ever seen." He said as he picked up the suitcases and set them inside the adjacent bedroom. Coming back to the parlor, he took her hand and led her toward the door leading to the bedroom. He stopped as they came to the doorway and took her in his arms again and kissed her. "You seem a little nervous, Carrie. Everything okay?"
She blushed as she said, "I guess I am nervous, Jess. You know I've never done this before."
Grinning at her, "Well, I didn't think you had." Taking her in his arms, he kissed her again and then said, "Relax, Carrie, you'll like it, and we'll go slow."
He picked her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom, closing the door behind him with his foot.