Ruth announced loudly, and Holly jumped. “I have a bath prepared for you. You best hurry or you’ll be late.”
Holly gulped the last of her tea and hurried back up the stairs to the bathing room. When she finished, she found Charity waiting for her in her room.
“Once your hair is ready, I’ll help you with your dress. I brought my veil if you don’t mind. I know they didn’t carry any netting for a veil at the mercantile, and you were just going to wear the ivory satin roses that match your bouquet. The veil isn’t fancy, but it’ll add that final touch.”
Holly hugged Charity tight. “Thank you. I don’t need the preacher to say I’m married before saying you’re my sister. I couldn’t love you more than I do now.”
“That’s good because Annie has been running around for the last two days practicing saying ‘Aunt Holly’ over and over to get it right. I don’t know if she understands what an aunt is, but she knows you’ll be married to her Uncle Joseph and that’s more than enough excitement for her.”
Once Holly was dressed in her new ice blue dress, Charity suggested, “We should wait until just before the ceremony before attaching the veil. I think it’ll blow away when we walk to church.”
“I agree.”
“One last thing,” Charity said holding out her hand. “These belonged to my mother, and I wore them on my wedding day. If she were here, she’d insist you wear them, too.”
“Oh, I couldn’t.”
“Of course, you can. She wore them on her wedding day and then I did. Annie will be next unless you have a daughter that marries first.”
Holly blushed but attached the beautiful earrings to her ears.
“You look perfect,” Charity complimented. “It’s time for us to leave.”
Holly and Charity arrived at the church before the other parishioners and entered the small room at the back of the church. “Pastor Elkins said we should wait in here until everyone is seated and then slip into the last pew. He made Joseph promise not to turn around until the wedding starts,” Charity explained.
Holly sat, and her foot tapped on its own no matter how hard Holly tried to control it. She followed Charity when it was time to slip into the last pew and did her best to pay attention to Pastor Elkins. She sang with everyone else and did her best to listen to the sermon. Before she knew it, Charity pulled on her hand, and they disappeared back into the small room.
“Are you ready,” Charity asked as she pinned the veil in place.
“I think so,” Holly confessed and smiled.
Holly did her best to listen to Pastor Elkins, but all she could hear was the beating of her heart. He had to ask her twice before she said “I do” much to the amusement of the congregation. The next thing she knew she felt Joseph’s lips on hers and everyone behind her was applauding. She was married. She and Joseph were married.
Joseph held her hand as they walked toward the back of the church and he whispered, “I love you, Holly. I think most of the town will come to the reception at the café. Ladies were dropping off dishes and sweets since early this morning. I hope you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all. I love you, too, Joseph.”
He squeezed her hand harder, and she leaned into him.
“Always and forever, Missus Shields” Joseph added.
Holly agreed and said, “Mister Shields, you are my Christmas wish.”
The End
Thank you for reading my story. I hope you enjoy The Belles of Wyoming series as much as the other authors and I enjoy writing them. If you have a free moment, please leave a review. It helps authors more than you know. Thanks, and God bless.
You can find me at http://mariannespitzer.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mariannespitzerauthor/ All my Sweet Western Romances, Mail-order Brides of Gentle Falls, can be found on my Amazon author page and all are available through Kindle Unlimited.
