“All right then.” Prudence stepped over the threshold and preceded Meredith down the aisle. Meredith followed, her gaze drawn to Daniel. He and Charles wore suits recently purchased at the mercantile and hurriedly altered to fit, and both of them had visited the one barber in town. By nineteenth-century standards, they were both attractive, well-groomed men. But as far as Meredith was concerned, her bridegroom was the most handsome man ever to exist in the history of humankind.
Daniel’s eyes never left hers, and he practically glowed with pride and happiness. Her breath caught as she walked down the aisle. The pews were filled with the folks of Garretsville, and the congregation, and their avid gazes were riveted to her. A feeling of rightness settled over her, and she smiled at her beloved.
Meredith took her place beside Daniel, and the pastor began speaking in a strong baritone that reverberated through the church to the rafters. “We are gathered here today before God and witnesses to celebrate the vows of marriage between Meredith Ann MacCarthy and Daniel James Cavanaugh.”
Everything went by in a blur after that. Daniel held her shaking hands in his as they both repeated the vows the minister required them to say. The love of her life slipped a gold band onto her finger, and she slipped one onto his, and … they were married. He was hers. For as long as she lived, she’d never forget the expression of joy on his face as he leaned in to kiss her.
“Meredith Cavanaugh,” he whispered as he drew her close. “I will love and cherish you until the end of my days, and that’s—”
“A fact?” she said, smiling through the sheen of tears in her eyes. “Daniel Cavanaugh, I will love and cherish you until the end of my days, and that too is a fact.”
Daniel kissed her tenderly, reverently. She wrapped her arms around his waist, closed her eyes and just … held him for a moment. This elicited cheers from their guests, and the pastor introduced them as husband and wife. Then came the signing of the church registry and their marriage certificates. Their copy would go into the strongbox at the bank tomorrow, but for now, her husband carefully folded the document and tucked it into the pocket inside his coat.
Meredith couldn’t stop smiling. It was official. She was married to an incredible, beautiful man, a man she’d come to know when he’d been a ghost. “You can’t make this stuff up,” she whispered to herself.
“What’s that, love?”
“I’ll tell you when we’re alone.”
“All right. Are you ready to go home then, Mrs. Cavanaugh?” Daniel asked, offering her his arm.
“I am.” She looped her arm through his.
A few of the women from town had volunteered to help organize the wedding feast. Plank tables and makeshift benches had been set up in front of their cabin. They’d bought a few smoked hams from the butcher, and everyone who wished to join them had offered to bring something to share. Thanks to Prudence, they also had a two tiered wedding cake.
She and Daniel left the church as best wishes and congratulations rained down on them in the front yard. Their recently repaired wagon had been decorated with wild flower garlands, and the two mules were harnessed and ready to go. It would be just the two of them since Charles had arranged a ride with their newly hired foreman, so he and Ben could discuss business.
After Meredith threw her bouquet toward the few single women in Garretsville, Daniel helped her up to the buckboard, and they were on their way.
“Will you tell me now what you whispered, love?” Daniel asked, glancing around them. “No one will be able to hear us.”
“Truth is often stranger than fiction.” She moved closer to his side. “I whispered that you can’t make this stuff up. I was thinking about how we met and where we are today.” She flashed him a wry grin. “A ghost, a ghost whisperer and one of the Tuatha dé Danann walked into a bar one day.” She sighed. “It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, yet that day proved to be a turning point in both our lives.”
“Indeed.” He cocked a brow. “I’m alive because of that turning point.”
“Exactly.” She smiled. “Did I tell you I never intended to volunteer in Garretsville over my summer break from teaching? I needed a paying job, but my aunt talked me into sending in the application. I did, even though I never expected to be chosen. Aunt Beth said I’d been called by the spirit world to help the ghosts here, and to ignore the summons would be a grave mistake.” Meredith glanced at him. “Did you summon me, Daniel?”
He canted his head to peer at her. “If I did, it was unconsciously done. I yearned to be free of the shackles that held me earthbound. Perhaps my soul reached out to yours, somehow recognizing you were the only one who could help me.”
Daniel lifted her hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine longing to be free would lead me to the woman of my dreams.” His Adam’s apple bobbed a few times. “Nor could I have imagined a way existed to restore my life to me. My heart can scarcely contain this monumental and all-consuming love I have for you.”
Never in a million years could she have imagined falling in love with a ghost whose life she’d end up saving either. Yet, here she was, living in the very era she’d studied, married to the man whose life she’d saved. “You do have a way with words,” she
