I know my Sam/Kate fans are going to start screaming after they read this chapter... Please Review!
Dearly Beloved...
Sam's POV cont'd
After Mr. McGregor, Mrs. McAdams, the local seamstress and an elderly widow sat on chairs, we were just about to start when there was a knock on the door.
Laurence went to answer it and explained that Miss Barlow's student Hattie was here to see her. Katherine looked relieved and went outside.
A minute later, Hattie came in, all smiles followed by Katherine who shut and locked the door. As a precaution, we had drawn the blinds and curtains just in case.
Hattie was a young pretty girl of fourteen who got along well with Katherine, and dare I say it, young John as well. I motioned to the two and winked at Katie. She saw what I meant and tried not to laugh.
"Looks like you two are starting something" Laurence winked. Katie blushed. We both went back in front of Matthew, who had told John not to even think about it.
"Dearly beloved… we come together in the sight of God and these witnesses to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony." He continued, but I could only stare at Katherine. All my hopes and dreams for the past year were standing before me… I wished somebody would pinch me… I'm dreaming!
I turned just as Matthew called my name.
"Samuel Ezra Gardener, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, should enemies arise will you protect her, in sickness and in health, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others unto you save herself as long as you both shall live?"
I smiled at Katherine and squeezed her hands. "I do" Katherine blushed. Matthew turned to her with a smile.
"And do you, Katherine Margaret Barlow take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, should enemies arise will you aid him, in sickness and in health, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others unto you save himself as long as you both shall live?"
Katherine grinned and squeezed my hands tightly. "I do" she said. Matthew grinned, explained and blessed the rings, and we exchanged them. I was very careful putting my mother's ring on Katherine's wedding finger, which fit perfectly. She had likewise found her father's ring and put it on my finger.
Matthew prayed a couple's blessing over us, and then smiled. "By the power vested in me by the state of Texas, I now pronounce you man and wife. Sam… by golly, you better kiss your wife!" we laughed and I took Katherine into my arms.
"I love you, Katherine" I whispered. It felt good to say her first name without the need for Miss in front. Now she was my wife, and nobody could say anything about it! "I love you too, Samuel" she smiled. We kissed for the second time in two hours.
When we were finished, every single person in the room was in quiet contemplative joy. Even Hattie had tears in her eyes.
"Ladies and gentleman, not that you don't know… I give you Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Ezra Gardener" the clapping was short but effective.
I held on to Katherine the whole time, afterwards as our guests enjoyed her spread of wine, water for the young'uns, cheese, bread, salted pork, and spiced peaches, afraid that if I let her go, this whole dream would slip away from me…