“Oh my!” Olive gazed at the young woman. “I’ve never seen the like.”
“Do you like it?” Amanda asked. “I bought it just before I left Virginia. It’s from France.”
“Mother?” Arabela gaped. “I think we are closed.”
“Excuse me?” Olive turned to her tallest daughter-in-law.
“We’re closed!” Arabela called, hurrying out to the dining hall. “Take your meals and leave, we have a wedding to attend.”
Ellen and Shi laughed as the patrons gathered their things and left the room.
“I’m putting on my Sunday best. Please wait for us,” Arabela chirped, her eyes bright as she gazed at Amanda stepping inside. “Ellen, send Jacob for the men. Today is going to be a day to remember.”
Olive blinked for several seconds then jumped into gear. “Give us twenty minutes,” she said, lifting her skirts and heading for the living quarters.
***
“You look lovely, dear.” Orville Hampton patted Amanda’s hand as they walked toward the church at the end of town. He’d donned his best suit after shutting down the sawmill for the rest of the day and urging his boys to put on their nice duds.
The whole family was turned out for the big event.
“Joseph, run on ahead and let Teddy know we’re on our way.” Olive urged her younger son.
“Thank you for this,” Amanda looked around at the family, missing her younger brothers terribly. What would they say about her big adventure now? She had answered the ad in the paper with a letter to Olive, and left soon afterward, leaving her mother in tears. Now, she was getting married, and the Hamptons being at her side eased some of her heartache and homesickness.
***
Teddy turned as Joseph walked through the door. Pastor Tippert offered him a kind smile.
“Looks like the Hamptons will be joining us.” The tall skinny preacher turned, grinning at Beth, his lovely young wife, as he brushed his unruly brown hair from his eyes.
“I’d say it’s a proper wedding,” Beth smiled back as Orville walked through the door with Amanda on his arm. The shimmering white confection of a dress she wore had layers of ruffles from the waist to the floor and gave the young woman an appearance of gliding down the aisle.
“Boy howdy, would you look at that,” Teddy beamed. He stood in his best suit, the one he’d come calling in, but felt like a country mouse in comparison to the elegance that floated his way.
“Are we ready?” Brandon Tippert grinned as Teddy stared at the vision in white that stood before him.
“Yes,” Amanda whispered, mesmerized by the glow in Teddy’s eyes. “Mr. Lewis?”
“Yes? Yes,” Teddy gave his head a shake and turned to the preacher as the Hamptons filled the front benches of the humble church.
Brandon cleared his throat, looking down at the little book in his hand, then paused, staring toward the back of the church where rugged men filtered through the door occupying the back rows.
“Welcome,” Brandon grinned, as more and more of the town’s folks walked through the doors to witness the wedding. “We are gathered here today, in the sight of God and many men,” he grinned as the rough crowd shuffled to seats, “to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.”
Teddy squeezed Amanda’s small hand in his, oblivious to what was going on at the back of the church. From the moment Orville had placed her hand in his, he had eyes for nothing other than Amanda Antonia.
Preacher Tippert nudged his arm, prompting him to say the words a groom was to say then turned to Amanda, who repeated her vows in a firm voice.
“We will now exchange the rings,” Brandon said, looking at Teddy expectantly.
“I don’t got a ring,” Teddy blushed. “I’ll get you one soon, though,” he added, looking at Amanda, who pulled a glove from her hand, slipping a small signet from her finger.
“We can use this,” she smiled. It didn’t matter that Mr. Lewis had no ring for her. She was gaining a husband, companion, protector, and, hopefully, a friend.
Teddy’s face flushed again, but he nodded, saying the words the preacher told him to as he placed the ring on Amanda’s finger.
“By the powers vested in me by the great state of Texas and the almighty, I now pronounce you man and wife. What God has joined, let no man put asunder.”
Brandon smiled, brushing a lock of unruly dark curls from his forehead and looking at the bride and groom. “You may now kiss the bride.”
Teddy leaned in, pressing his lips to Amanda’s and feeling like he might take wing right there when Amanda placed a hand at his neck and kissed him back.
“I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Lewis!” Brandon shouted, breaking the magic of the kiss.
Teddy grinned, squeezing Amanda’s warm hand as he turned to walk back out as man and wife. The loud, riotous cheer that broke the reverence of the ceremony nearly made him take a step back. “Oh my.”
“Best, take that little woman out of here,” Orville leaned toward Teddy. “Head back to the Hampton House, and we’ll get you set for home.”
Teddy slipped Amanda’s hand into his left one and wrapped his right arm around her waist protectively as they dashed up the aisle and out the door to the whoops and hollers of the men of Needful, Texas.
Amanda cringed, ducking her head as strong hands tried to slap Teddy on the back in congratulations. Was the whole town mad? Didn’t they know that you threw rice at a newly-wed couple? Tears pricked at her eyes as Teddy hurried her toward the Hampton House, her long train dragging in the dust of the street, unheeded.
“That was some wedding,” Teddy beamed as they finally reached the door of the boardinghouse. “Now, let’s get you inside.” Strong arms swept Amanda off her feet as Teddy pushed the door open and carried her inside.
“You aren’t supposed to carry me over the threshold until we get home,” Amanda gasped, grabbing for his
