“What a lovely thing to say and it’s exactly the way I feel.” She kissed his cheek.
He cleared his throat. “Now comes a hard part. My cook is an old ranch hand who can’t work out on the range anymore. His name is Spuds Young. His room is right off the kitchen. He’s been worrying that you won’t want him to stay in the house. I told him it would be all right with you but I hadn’t asked you.”
“Of course it’s all right. I’ll make clear to him that I’m thrilled to have his help. But, what if he resents me being there? I mean, he’s been in charge of the house.”
“He won’t. He’s thinks he’s my mother and father rolled into one. He’s been nagging me about getting older and needing a wife. I guess if you hadn’t shown up now, within the next year I’d have sent for a mail-order wife like Bert did for Cindy.”
“Sounds like that problem is taken care of.” She gently elbowed him in the ribs.
Austin peered around. They were in plain view of the parsonage. “I planned on stealing a kiss but I figure Mrs. Patrick is watching us out the parsonage window.”
She grinned and her blue eyes sparkled with mischief. “We’re engaged and I think that means we’re entitled to kiss.”
“I like the way you think.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He could have gone on forever. He wanted much more than a kiss. Tomorrow night he’d be able to hold her all night.
“While I’m able to stop, I’d better get you to Bert and Cindy’s. I brought the wagon with me so I could take your trunks today and we wouldn’t have to bother with them tomorrow. If that’s all right with you, that is.”
“Sounds efficient. Maybe Bert will help you this time.”
***
The rest of Saturday Mina and Cindy and Mrs. Brown were busy preparing food for the reception Cindy and Bert insisted on hosting. She should have known her kind cousin would want to have a celebration for her and Austin.
While Cindy was putting the twins to bed for their nap, Mina looked at Mrs. Brown. “I’m so sorry to be the cause of your having so much to do this close to last night’s party. I honestly thought it would just be a small wedding and we’d leave directly for the ranch.”
“You mustn’t cheat your cousins when they enjoy entertaining and think so highly of both you and Mr. Wright. They’re a grand couple who rescued me from near starvation after I was widowed. I’d do anything for them but they pay me well. And, I have a lovely room with a little sitting area at one end. I love cooking, too, so I enjoy Mrs. Kennedy’s parties.”
“Cindy said she couldn’t have managed her confinement and having the twins without your help.”
“Thank you for telling me. Wasn’t that a nice thing of her to say?”
“That’s why she’s my favorite cousin.”
Both of them laughed.
***
With all they had to accomplish, time flew. It seemed only a few hours since Austin had proposed but here it was Sunday and time to dress for their wedding. Since she’d sent her trunks with Austin the previous day her valise contained only the things she was using this weekend.
She had worn her green dress yesterday but she wore it to church. Sitting with the twins meant she might get her clothes stained. The children were good but they were still toddlers and had various accidents.
After lunch, Mrs. Coats, the same woman who’d watched the twins during Friday’s party, came to care for them during the wedding and reception. Jamie and Jessica accepted her and didn’t appear to mind being left with her in charge.
“Do they ever cry to go with you instead of staying in the nursery?”
Cindy nodded. “Seldom, and when they do it means they’re coming down with something. They seem content to be together in their playroom.”
“They’re very well behaved. Being twins means they always have someone their age as a playmate. Bert’s right and you were very efficient to have twins.”
Cindy laughed. “Time to change for the wedding. Since you’re wearing blue for the ceremony, I’m wearing my pink dress that’s styled similarly to yours.”
“I’m grateful you’re my matron of honor. I planned to ask Bert to walk me down the aisle but then Austin asked him to act as his best man. Thank you for asking Bert’s boss to escort me.”
“Mr. Jenkins was thrilled. He acts a bit stuffy at first but he’s really a dear and so is his wife, Martha. Oh, Bert’s taking us to the church in our buggy and then Austin will use it to take you to the ranch.”
“I’m getting nervous now. What if I trip going up the aisle?”
“You’ll be holding on to Mr. Jenkins’ arm so you won’t.”
“Worse, what if I burp or get the hiccups or expel gas? I’d be humiliated.”
Cindy hugged Mina’s shoulders. “Stop worrying. You’ll be fine. It’s time to go.”
Chapter Seven
By the time they reached the church and Mina waited in the cloakroom, she was more nervous. She was certain her legs would never support her to walk to the front of the sanctuary.
Cindy fanned herself rapidly with one of the church’s cardboard fans. “We should put a chair in here for such occasions. Then one of us could sit and rest.”
Mina’s fan barely made a breeze because she was too unnerved to use it much. “You can just hang me from one of the coat and hat hooks. At least then I won’t collapse.”
Mr. Jenkins stuck his head inside the tiny room. “The sanctuary is filled and the preacher’s wife is at the piano. I believe
