SECOND WEEKEND POST TO CATCH UP Chapter 34-35
Chapter Thirty Five
Kai walked his mother down the aisle to a tearful audience.
"Who gives this woman to wed?"
"I do and my Fader. He would like Heath to take care of her—-" Kai added.
Grete pulled the handkerchief to wipe away her tears and kissed her son on the cheek. She handed her bouquet to Audra and took Heath's arm. Kai went back and sat with Victoria and Henry with a big grin on his face.
"Do you Heath Thomson Barkley take thee Margarete Astrida Kristoffersen Bjornsen as thy lawful wife? To love honor and cherish? Until death do you part?"
"I do," with a big smile and twinkle in his eyes.
She softly said her vows back to Heath with sweetness and grace.
Jarrod smiled when he got through her name. He had practiced it in his sleep. He was furious when Heath told him about the conjuring that Danish sounds like—
"You may now kiss your bride."
Heath kissed several times to the delight of the family. Grete blushed but returned one of the kisses herself.
"Let's eat cake and dance! " Nick whooped.
Jarrod had hired musicians from the new dance hall downtown. They set up outside and the hands put together a dance floor from the sawmill. He also brought a photographer from town to make the couple's wedding portrait and a new family picture for his mother.
Eugene was telegrammed to bring the champagne, wedding band and a gift for Grete from Heath.
Silas had baked a large cake; Anna made several kinds of pastries for the table. Nick had barbecued a steer; Victoria and Audra cooked side vegetable dishes.
Lisette made Grete a rose bouquet and Anna did an intricate braid of ribbon for the flowers and through Grete's hair. Lisette drew out the flower arrangement in her sketchbook to paint for her as a gift. Jarrod was touched by her thoughtfulness and pitching in with his family to make the wedding a joy for the couple.
Jarrod toasted the couple with champagne from Lisette's family in France Eugene found at the last minute. Heath and Grete took an intimate slow dance and then the rest of the guests joined in—Carl and Audra, Nick and Anna, Lisette and Henry, Victoria and Kai. Jarrod used his time to make sure the family was settled.
He refused to let Davina's absence ruin his happiness over Heath's wedding—
—-&—
The two days before the wedding were a hive of activity and news at the ranch and in town. The ladies rallied together and created a beautiful pink wedding dress for Grete. Jarrod brought the tailor home for new suits for the boys and Heath.
"Are there any traditions from Denmark?" Audra asked, "Here we have, something borrowed and something blue. Mother is loaning you her pearls and I have a beautiful blue handkerchief for you to carry."
"Thank you Audra. We also have a tradition of something red for love—-no veils—-a morning gift exchange for the bride and groom. I have no idea what to give Heath."
"Here it's bad luck to see each other before the wedding. Hmmmm."
Anna suggested ,"Maybe do both. A morning gift after the wedding to start your new life."
"Perfect," Audra answered for Grete.
"Grete, I can embroider a red rose on the handkerchief," Anna volunteered. Lisette added, "and a single red rose in the white ones from the garden?"
"Thank you all so much. I never had sisters. This must be how it feels."
They all clasped hands, "Sisters."
Grete asked Audra to stand up with her and Kai to give her away. Nick was to be Heath's second. Gene would walk Victoria in as Jarrod would marry the couple. A small intimate wedding with all of the family together—-
In town, the news spread quickly. Variation upon variation of a scantily clad Grete caught in a tryst with Heath—-running away in her nightgown—-the livery man's wife claimed she was nude—-kicked out of her Cousins Adolf's home—-carrying Heath's child—-a fight ensued to shatter the plate glass window—-even Brother Jehu's claim that Grete bewitched him and practiced the dark arts—-he claimed she made love potions and incantations to draw men to her. Adolf closed the bakery for the week and wouldn't leave his home. He boarded up the large window. He adamantly refused to attend the wedding.
The news flew through town. By lunch after Jarrod left, Judge Franklin and Davina had heard three different stories.
"What did Jarrod tell you, Davina?"
She recanted his simple version. The gossip she had heard grew in her mind.
"He was angry when I asked if she was with child."
"That's it then. He protesteth too much. She most likely is. I dispute the witchcraft ravings. But there is something to her being caught in a nightgown. Using my years of deductive reasonings as a judge. You listen for details that resurface time after time. I conclude the woman was caught in a compromising situation with young Barkley and it is a forced wedding."
"But Jarrod is marrying them? Surely if it were sinful, he would have no part in it."
"Look at it this way. He is making it right and protecting the family name."
"Oh that makes sense."
"You will not attend such an affair though. You still have a reputation to uphold. Jarrod will understand especially after our conversation."
"I am not sure he will."
"If he loves you as I believe, he will come around and see you as a paragon of virtue and—- marry you."
"Thank you Father. You always help me see clearer."
She wrote Jarrod a note declining the wedding invitation under the circumstances and hoped to see him soon.
He did not respond.
—-&—
The men moved Kai and Henry into a new bedroom adjoining Anna. Lisette stayed in her guest room. Heath moved Grete's meager belongings to his room. Victoria had told her new daughter they would work on new drapes and pillows next week.
"I have my mother's doilies and quilt in the chest."
"Perfect. We will add some ladylike touches here and there so you feel at home. Make it your own."
Heath had told Grete he wanted to build them a home but it would have to wait for the fall. She was content to begin their life in the big house. It was the first time she had a water closet and a space to decorate.
—&—-
They ate a late supper with the family.
Heath took her hand and walked her up the big stairs as the family pitched in to clean up. Nick couldn't help winking at him as they left behind Grete's back.
He pushed open the door to their room. Silas had banked a fire, chilled more champagne and had a tray under a glass dome of fruit, meat, bread and wedding cake. The bed was turned down and a gift was on the bed with her name on it.
She looked at Heath who shrugged, "It's not from me. I will give you mine in the morning as we planned."
She opened a blue silk peignoir, negligee and robe from Audra.
He took a deep breath already visualizing his beautiful wife in the nightclothes. He had struggled for two days with the memory in the kitchen. How soft, how warm—-how eager Grete had been for his touch. He subconsciously rubbed his ear lobe at the memory.
She demurely smiled, "I would like to change. Can you help me with my bow?"
He came up behind her and untied the bow to her pink dress. He pressed himself into her and she leaned back into him with a soft moan. He wanted to take her right then but she pulled away quickly.
"I will be right back." as she went to change.
He took off his suit and boots—-hung up his shirt and tie. Her three dresses hung in his wardrobe. He had more clothes thanks to Victoria than she did. He would rectify that soon.
He got under the clean sheets just in his drawers. She came out in the blue negligée'and took his breath away.
She went to trim the light but he said "No. I want to see every inch of my wife."
"And then so do I, husband." she whispered huskily.
He couldn't control his body any longer and crushed her with a kiss that she readily reciprocated. And their first night began—
—-&—-
They awoke at dawn in each other's arms.
"I have your gift." she whispered.
"You already gave me yourself. That's all I need."
She got up uncovered and walked to the window sill and pulled a pan out of the curtain.
He grinned, "Peach braided bread. When you stole my heart."
"It's all I could think of—-"
"You and Kai and this bread are all I need." as he sampled it.
He took a velvet pouch from the nightstand.
She opened a set of pearl drop earrings.
"Oh Heath, they are beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as you."
She put them on.
He pulled her hair back to admire them and was overcome again with passion.
"I love you Grete."
"Yah, I love you Heath. My elsker, my lover, my husband."