"Return to Paradise Trail" PART NINE

"So when will you and Sam set a date?" Molly looked up from her sewing to Charlotte from across the campfire.

Charlotte had been rather deep in her thoughts, finishing up her second quilt square within the last half hour. She sighed just a bit and set aside the finished square to reach for another. "I really don't know. He says he's open to whatever I feel the most comfortable with. But I want him to be happy too. I never dreamed I'd get married in St. Louis. But I suppose it's better than being married on the trail." She returned her eyes to her work, silently reliving the last several months in her mind.

Molly nodded, slipping her needle into Tommy's well-worn pants before cutting the string and finally finishing up the patchwork. She quickly folded the pants and set them aside, raising her eyes to look at Charlotte in earnest. "What do you want to do?"

Charlotte smiled. "I suppose when you truly love someone, it doesn't really matter. The only thing that truly matters to me is having you all with me."

Molly relaxed into a smile and took up her next piece of sewing. "You know, you should consider sewing some smaller pieces too. Maybe some booties perhaps."

"Molly Mason! It's much too early to be talking that foolishness." Charlotte stayed focused on her sewing, not lifting her gaze as she felt a flush of embarrassment surge into her face.

"Still," Molly couldn't hide her pleasure, "You never know."

Charlotte finally raised her eyes to Molly with a smile, still wishing Molly would let the subject rest but appreciating the sentiment at the same time.

"You really should consider those things though," Molly continued as both of them returned to their steady needlework. "It will be a long while before we see the likes of another town like St. Louis. You could make so many things for such an occasion that you wouldn't be able to when we get to Paradise Valley. There's a few outposts there but nothing like what you have here."

Charlotte nodded limply, agreeing fully before she let her next piece of sewing fall into her lap with her needle still in hand as she suddenly looked up to her best friend. A curious disposition fell over her entire mien as she breathed in the morning's fresh air. "Tell me what Paradise Valley is like, Molly. When I first started out on this journey, I never thought about it much. But now that I've come this far, I can't deny being a bit curious." She ended her brief explanation with a soft smile.

Molly gently rested her work in her lap, as she thought through her next words amid an inhale while she looked across the camp behind Charlotte to the various goings on. A group of little girls were introducing their dollies to each other while a few boys were talking tall tales, most likely describing how good at something or other each of their fathers were.

"Well," Molly sighed and redirected her attention to Charlotte. "I haven't actually been there yet. But I had a friend who went there previously with another wagon train about two years ago. She wrote me the most beautiful letter describing the valley." A bit of a breathy laugh led Molly into remembering the words of the letter she had actually long forgotten but remembered in a heartbeat as the words she had held onto and cherished all these days gone by of struggle and turmoil that had led her up to today. "The first thing you'll notice is clusters of pretty mountains dotting the entire landscape. As far as one can see, rocky cliffs merge into the clouds above. And in the valley is endless shining lakes. The clearest mountain water made up of freshly-melted snow right off of the mountains forms such a luscious basin. Off to the distance are plenty of grassy fields that flow into hills and dales. Excellent fertile soil for farming, John says. Sam even says a rancher could make out alright there if he'd like."

"I wonder if Sam would settle down and start a ranch of his own when we reach Paradise Valley," Charlotte broke into Molly's speech with a frown.

Molly tipped her head, drawing her best friend's gaze. "Have you two talked about it?"

Charlotte shook her head. "No. Not really. But I have a feeling he would not have asked me to marry him without something like that in his mind. But I don't want him to stop what he loves doing if he's happy."

"True," Molly set her gaze back to the needle in her hand, poking it through the button of one of John's shirts and pulling it through. As she raised her hand to pull it through, Molly glanced across the camp where her husband leaned against their wagon, his eyes intent in his duties as he talked with Sam Brazos. "I wonder what they're talking about."

Charlotte turned to place her gaze on whatever Molly was referring to, smiling as her eyes saw Sam and John engaged in conversation. She smiled but quickly looked back to her sewing so as not to catch their eye. "Probably just the usual."

The usual…which had been quite the undertaking up until the river flooding had set them all back in their plans.

Molly sighed and caught another glance of the men. "I've been meaning to talk with John about the possibility of hiring a schoolteacher."

"Oh?"

With a nod, Molly paused long enough to gather what had been plaguing her mind for weeks now. "We have lots of children on the train. And as much as I'd like to help, I'm barely able to keep Tommy on track with his studies and aid John too."

"Have you spoken to John about it?"

"Briefly. But I hate to ask him with everything else happening."

"You know," Charlotte set aside her needlework for good, having finished her task thus far. "I would be glad to help if I can. If Mr. Wooster did anything right, it was seeing to my education."

Molly's eyes lit up a bit as she gave her friend a smile. "Thank you, Charlotte. You have been a great help to Tommy on the trail. But I don't want you to feel that you must. You are about to begin a life with Sam. You should really give yourself to that first."

Charlotte sank into her thoughts with a nod. "You're right. You know, this city has several newspapers. We should put an advertisement in one of them."

Molly was clearly pleased, beaming another smile as she turned to catch one last glance from the men. "I'll have to speak with John as soon as possible about the matter." This time, John did notice their brief glances and smiled to Molly, their eyes locking briefly as a moment of love and admiration passed between them.

Sam too turned at this point, eyeing his own wife-to-be with a similar admiration that they would hopefully have years to cultivate as John and Molly had already had. "Say, John, I've been meaning to ask you something."

John reluctantly ended the moment with his wife and turned to address Sam, the wagon master's words having diverted from the subject at hand. "Sure. Go ahead."

"Can you marry Charlotte and me?" Sam cleared his throat nervously and pushed back his hat from his shaded eyes.

"Sure," John nodded, clearly not seeing any issue with the request. "In fact, I'd be honored."

"I haven't confirmed it with Charlotte yet, but I'd like for us to marry soon. I'd like to give her a proper wedding day…the best I can anyway. And if we're able to get out of here soon, I can't see that happening on the trail. Leastwise, the way she deserves."

John nodded once more. "Of course. Molly and I will do everything we can to help. You can count on that."

"Thanks." Sam smiled and reached for two firm handshakes from John Mason before catching another glimpse and smile from Charlotte. He truly could not decipher how he had come to deserve a girl like Charlotte Wilson.

Meanwhile, word began to spread throughout the city that the river had begun to recede overnight since no rain had come within the past forty-eight hours. And as much as Sam didn't want to rush their wedding, it would be far better on the entire camp to have a celebration, no matter how big, while they were still close to a town before they moved out.

After a heartfelt talk later that evening, Sam and Charlotte decided to have a small wedding…a very small one in fact. Although both agreed that it was rather soon, they decided the next day would be the appropriated day. That way, there would be plenty of time for them to be together before the next few days would keep Sam busy with preparation to pull out of St. Louis if his predictions that the river would open up again within a week were right. Much would be required for the longest leg of their trip so far. Not another town would be on their path for at least the next month, and many dangers might await them that he wished to avoid by being as best prepared as they could be.

The event would be just among their closest friends with an open invite to anyone from the wagon train. Molly would stand with Charlotte while John officiated the marriage. Mr. Grisham agreed to give Charlotte away while Sam asked one of the other men to stand with him. Following the wedding would be a short party, nothing extravagant as was Charlotte's wishes. It would simply be another opportunity to spend time with the only family she knew on one of the happiest days of her life.

##

In the cover of twilight and long-faded midday stars stood Brother John Mason the following day with his back to the sinking sun and his face pointed steadfastly towards the small group gathered before him. No music played and no to-do was needed as Sam Brazos took his place by Mason on his left. A look of baited patience played at his eyes. It was as if he was a bit nervous but would never let it show.

Molly walked ahead of Charlotte, her own beautiful blonde hair setting gently upon her shoulders as she held a bouquet of wildflowers that rivaled her smile's beauty very little. It was as if the moment of matrimony entered into by one couple was echoed before it by the love you could see exchanged between John and Molly as they shared in this joyous celebration.

Then the moment came that all eyes turned to Charlotte Wilson as she let her arm gently rest within Mr. Grisham's while he led her between the scattered group of chairs and makeshift seats to where her new life awaited her. There had not been any time to acquire the proper materials for a wedding gown as such Charlotte deserved. But even so she was pleased with the dress Molly had given her for the occasion. The item was a deep shade of mahogany with white lace frills edging the wrists and neck. The solid color throughout instantly complimented her soft hazel eyes and brought out a perfect smile to her face that proved where joy truly came from. Not from things. But from family, hope, and love.

With her hair secured snuggly in a traditional bun, Charlotte could feel the gentle, evening winds softly whipping at her neck, causing her to feel cool throughout as she fought a slight dose of nervous tension that accompanied the sensation. With little more than a whisper, she could almost hear Mr. Wooster proclaim how proud he was of her. She could have almost shed a tear had she not looked into Sam's eyes as she came to a stop. Mr. Grisham slipped his arm away and gently set her hand in Sam's, winking gently to the wagon train master before he retreated to a nearby group of seats where his wife and daughter awaited him.

Sam and Charlotte held their gaze for as long as they could before John Mason's strong voice broke into their silent reverie to join them in such a holy union and bond that they already treasured more than life itself.