Breaking them meant putting the wedding offuntil they were sold, but Wes had a real surprise for Kate, and hehad to get the money to do what he wanted.
Kate didn't seem to mind as they were allgetting along famously. Kate taught Black Feather to cook some ofhis favorite meals and the boys helped Wes with the broncbusting.
Dickens tended all the other stock, thehorses and mule, the hogs, and chickens. While Kate planned thingsfor her wedding.
She went over to Annie's and told her aboutWes' return and that they were getting married.
"I knew it. I just knew it. Well, we mustmake you a dress." Annie got excited for her.
"I was hoping you'd help me with it. I mean,I can sew, but making clothes is not my best talent." Katechuckled.
"Don't you fret, we'll have you a gown thatthe whole town will envy." Annie promised. "So when did hepropose?"
"Almost as soon as he got back." Katelaughed.
"How exciting. And he brought a hundredhorses back?"
"Yes, can you believe it. He had some help,but he went into some really rough country. He was gone all winter,but Dickens kept telling me he would return."
"Who helped him?"
"An Indian named Black Feather and his twosons. They are from an Arapaho tribe and they speak English and arehelping Wes bust the broncs."
"Indians, oh my."
"Don't fret Annie, they are really nicepeople and very friendly." Kate told her.
"I haven't even seen an Indian in about tenyears now." Annie reflected.
"They come from the higher country andthey'll be going back soon." Kate told her.
"You amaze me Kate."
"What do you mean?" Kate asked.
"You adapt to anything. You drug your deadhusband from the pasture to the house, alone. You helped Wes pickboth of your fields. You took care of Dickens and now you arefriends with Indians. And you do it all, without the slightestfear."
Kate thought about what she said, "The onlything that bothered me was dragging Jim to the porch that night. Itried my best to lift him on the Mule that night, but I justcouldn't get him up there. And my dress was all bloodied. I finallyput a rope around his middle and drug him back to the house. It wasa nightmare. I must have scared you witless knocking on your doorthat night."
"Well, it was shocking. You didn't realizeit, but you had blood everywhere."
"I wasn't myself that night."
"I'm sorry we didn't come to the funeral,but we didn't realize you were going to have it the very nextday."
"I had to get it over with so I could startpicking my corn. Guess that sounds strange too, but I dreaded itso. If Wes hadn't come along when he did, I just don't know what Iwould have done, Annie."
"Yes, I thought about that too. He was Godsent." Annie smiled.
"You like him a lot, don't you?" Kateasked.
"Yes, and my husband does too. Sam says he'sone nice fella and has his head on right. I guess I should tellyou, but it's wonderful having you close by. Sam and I never couldhave children, and I kinda feel like your kin to me.""
"That's the nicest thing anyone has said tome in a long time." Kate hugged her. "You know it's funny, butDickens knew why Wes left. I didn't. You see, he went to prove tohimself that he could provide for a wife and family. He said hefigured he didn't have anything to offer me before. Now, he's got abusiness to run."
"I'm so proud for you Kate. I kind ofthought that Campbell fella wouldn't be your kind of man."
"Oh, why?" Kat looked at her funny.
"Everyone knows that he wants a real genteellady. Somehow I put you in a category much different."
"Oh, what was that?"
"You're more the pioneer sort. You havesomething to do, you do it, no matter how hard. You are too goodfor Campbell."
"I left the dance early that night. I was sofrustrated at how he told me could teach me to be such a lady. Andthe way he talked about Wes and Dickens made me ill."
"Teach you. Teach you what?"
"How to hold my teacup, where to put mynapkin and how to dance." Kate shook her head and rolled hereyes.
"My word, he didn't tell you all that, didhe?"
"Oh yes, and I left so mad I wanted tospit." Kate gritted her teeth at the memory.
"The nerve of the man. But he went to schoolin Boston, it's no wonder. He belongs with those Eastern snobs."Annie told her.
"He'd do better to go back there, to find awife, I can tell you." Kate chuckled. "Women out here, have no timefor such frivolities."
"That's for sure." Annie agreed.
They had some tea and then Annie asked herif she had any ideas on what kind of dress she wanted.
"I just want it soft, and white, and maybesome bell like sleeves and long white gloves. Something simple buteye-catching."
"I'm already getting some ideas with whatyou just said. I'll draw a pattern up, then we'll check your sizesand I'll start working on it."
"Would you be my maid of honor."
Annie put her hand on her chest and smiled,"Oh, I'd love to!"
"I don’t' have any kin, so I'd appreciateit."
"Who's going to give you away?"
"I'm gonna ask Dickens."
"Perfect, oh, this is going to be the nicestwedding we've had in a long time." Annie screeched withexcitement.
"And while we are at it, we'll make you acouple of dresses for the honeymoon."
"Oh, I doubt we'll go anywhere." Kate toldher.
"Of course you will, and you'll needthem."
"As long as it's not too expensive."
"Don’t you fret, the dresses will be mywedding present to you."
Kate's eyes widened. "Oh Annie, that's toomuch."
"No it isn't. My aunt owns a dress shop overin Dallas, I'll get her to supply the material."
"Oh, would she do that for you?"
"Heavens yes, Sam and I helped her get setup in that shop. She'll be glad to repay me. I'm so excited foryou."
Kate chuckled nervously.
"Did you marry Jim in church?" Annieasked.
"No, we married at a preacher's house, hiswife came to witness it for us."
"I see. Well, do you plan on marrying in thechurch this time?" Annie
