Jewel’s baggage over to his house. Jewel hopped up into buggy, feeling lighter than a cloud. She’d have something very interesting to write in her diary tonight. She also would definitely have to send the details to her friends.
James gave the reins a shake and they rolled away, followed by the shouts and cheers of the crowd.
***
They arrived at the church and James went to Jewel’s side. After he’d helped her down from the carriage, he asked, “Are you truly in agreement with this? I don’t want you to think I was goaded into this decision by Pendleton. You know I love you and want you to be my wife, don’t you?”
“I’m in complete agreement, James. And yes, I know you love me. You made that quite clear earlier today. I’m happy beyond my wildest imagination.” She blushed a little as she answered him.
He smiled, dropped a quick kiss on her lips, and went in search of the parson.
Jewel stood on the porch and watched Maria and the rest of the Harland family arrive.
“Thank you for agreeing to stand up for me, Maria. I’m so happy to have you as my friend,” said Jewel.
“You’re more than welcome, um, Jewel. It seems funny to call you by your name,” she giggled. “I’m honored that you asked me.”
Jewel nodded at Maria and then turned her attention to the people who would be her in-laws in about thirty minutes. “Mr. and Mrs. Harland. Janice. It’s lovely to see you all. Thank you for coming on such short notice.”
Mrs. Harland walked to Jewel and hugged her tentatively. Jewel could tell that displays of affection weren’t easy for the woman and she accepted her attempt to welcome her into the family easily.
Janice stepped up with a large box. “We brought you this. It’s a dress,” she said sweetly. “I hope you like it.”
Jewel’s eyes filled with tears. “How did you know to do this? It’s so wonderful of you!”
“We shopped for it a few days ago,” replied Janice. “We wanted to get you something nice.”
“I wanted you to have something nice to wear for your wedding. I’m glad we got it in time,” said Mrs. Harland.
James returned with the parson right behind him. “So, I hear there’s about to be a wedding?” he said jovially.
“Yes, but I need to put on my new dress!” exclaimed Jewel.
“You’ll find a class room right in side. Janice will show you,” said the parson.
As she changed into the fabulously beautiful dress that Mrs. Harland and Janice had given her, she was happy and a little melancholy. She missed her family at a time like this. She also missed her friends. It would have been so much fun to have them with her to fuss over her dress and her hair.
This was God’s will just as it was happening. She pushed her sadness aside because her life as a married woman was about to begin. The reason she’d left New York was waiting for her and she was happy.
When Jewel was dressed and ready, she walked out and to the front of the sanctuary. Janice went to join the others at the front.
Jewel started the short walk to her love, James. They were aware that others were in the room, but they only had eyes for each other. Jewel’s mind flashed back to that morning. She had no idea how much her life would change in the matter of a few hours. She was so thankful for where she was now. Trusting God to give her signs, that’s how she’d made it here. She believed that’s how she would make it to the next milestone.
And then the parson pronounced them husband and wife. James was allowed to kiss his bride for the first time as his wife. This was indeed her dream come true.
Epilogue
A grandstand had been erected in the park, hung with red, white and blue bunting. A significant portion of Laramie’s population was gathered before it, milling around as they waiting for the results of the mayoral elections. Families came in from the surrounding country, and children ran happily back and forth, chasing each other or begging their parents for
James gave the reins a shake and they rolled away, followed by the shouts and cheers of the crowd.
***
They arrived at the church and James went to Jewel’s side. After he’d helped her down from the carriage, he asked, “Are you truly in agreement with this? I don’t want you to think I was goaded into this decision by Pendleton. You know I love you and want you to be my wife, don’t you?”
“I’m in complete agreement, James. And yes, I know you love me. You made that quite clear earlier today. I’m happy beyond my wildest imagination.” She blushed a little as she answered him.
He smiled, dropped a quick kiss on her lips, and went in search of the parson.
Jewel stood on the porch and watched Maria and the rest of the Harland family arrive.
“Thank you for agreeing to stand up for me, Maria. I’m so happy to have you as my friend,” said Jewel.
“You’re more than welcome, um, Jewel. It seems funny to call you by your name,” she giggled. “I’m honored that you asked me.”
Jewel nodded at Maria and then turned her attention to the people who would be her in-laws in about thirty minutes. “Mr. and Mrs. Harland. Janice. It’s lovely to see you all. Thank you for coming on such short notice.”
Mrs. Harland walked to Jewel and hugged her tentatively. Jewel could tell that displays of affection weren’t easy for the woman and she accepted her attempt to welcome her into the family easily.
Janice stepped up with a large box. “We brought you this. It’s a dress,” she said sweetly. “I hope you like it.”
Jewel’s eyes filled with tears. “How did you know to do this? It’s so wonderful of you!”
“We shopped for it a few days ago,” replied Janice. “We wanted to get you something nice.”
“I wanted you to have something nice to wear for your wedding. I’m glad we got it in time,” said Mrs. Harland.
James returned with the parson right behind him. “So, I hear there’s about to be a wedding?” he said jovially.
“Yes, but I need to put on my new dress!” exclaimed Jewel.
“You’ll find a class room right in side. Janice will show you,” said the parson.
As she changed into the fabulously beautiful dress that Mrs. Harland and Janice had given her, she was happy and a little melancholy. She missed her family at a time like this. She also missed her friends. It would have been so much fun to have them with her to fuss over her dress and her hair.
This was God’s will just as it was happening. She pushed her sadness aside because her life as a married woman was about to begin. The reason she’d left New York was waiting for her and she was happy.
When Jewel was dressed and ready, she walked out and to the front of the sanctuary. Janice went to join the others at the front.
Jewel started the short walk to her love, James. They were aware that others were in the room, but they only had eyes for each other. Jewel’s mind flashed back to that morning. She had no idea how much her life would change in the matter of a few hours. She was so thankful for where she was now. Trusting God to give her signs, that’s how she’d made it here. She believed that’s how she would make it to the next milestone.
And then the parson pronounced them husband and wife. James was allowed to kiss his bride for the first time as his wife. This was indeed her dream come true.
Epilogue
A grandstand had been erected in the park, hung with red, white and blue bunting. A significant portion of Laramie’s population was gathered before it, milling around as they waiting for the results of the mayoral elections. Families came in from the surrounding country, and children ran happily back and forth, chasing each other or begging their parents for
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