"Annie's making my dress. It will be readyby Friday."
"Good We'll go talk to the preacher and seewhen he can do it."
Almost the entire week, Wes was busy,delivering the horses, planning for their honeymoon, and talking tothe preacher. They were to be married on Saturday. For a reasonablefee, he'd have flowers and music for the wedding. Wes paid him andall was set.
The night before the wedding after everyonewent to bed, Wes pulled her toward the fire and sat in her rockingchair, pulling her on top of him. "Are you ready to getmarried?"
"I guess so. I'm a little nervous, I meanwalking down the aisle and saying the words."
"I can't wait." He smiled and kissed herpassionately.
She wrapped her arms around him, and hewhispered softly, "There's nothing to be afraid of Kate. I'm notJim. I have no doubt you'll enjoy everything."
Then he laid her across his arms and lookedinto her eyes. "I love you Kate, and love will make a bigdifference. You'll see."
She smiled, "I love you too. But… what ifI'm not good enough for you?"
"Honey, the first time you kissed me youknocked my boots off. And you do enjoy it when I kiss you, don'tyou?"
"Oh yes, from the very start I loved yourkisses. Still do."
"Good, tell me something, do you feelanything when we kiss?"
"Oh my, yes!" she sighed and turned brightred.
"Don't be embarrassed honey because tomorrowyou'll be my wife. Making love is even better than just kissing,but lady I intend to kiss you plenty. I enjoy it."
"What else will you do to me?"
"I want to look at you, at your body, touchit, and make love to it. But I'm not just going to jump on top ofyou and take you like some whore. I promise, your going to want meas bad as I want you." He smiled and kissed her soft lips oncemore. "No ma'am, I'm going to enjoy every moment with you. And Ipromise you will like it."
"Oh Wes, what if I like it too much?"
He laughed softly for her ears only, "I canhandle that too."
They kissed for a long while, then he turnedher toward her bed and kissed her on the forehead, "Goodnight sweetlady."
"Goodnight," she whispered.
Strangely her fear seemed to go away. Weswas so incredibly gentle with her and he understood her fears. Shewas happy.
The next morning she woke up and startedbreakfast as usual. Everyone was talking about the wedding and Wesinvited Black Feather and his boys to it too. They'd never been toa white wedding and were very curious about it.
After breakfast though, she got her thingsand went over to Annie's to get ready.
Wes kissed her goodbye, "I'll see youshortly." He whispered and kissed her tenderly.
"You sure you want to do this?" sheasked.
"I've got no doubts. Have you?"
"Not about marrying you, just about pleasingyou for the rest of your life."
"Honey, I got a feeling you'll knowinstinctively how to please me, so don't you worry."
"I love you Wes," she cried as Dickens droveher over in the wagon.
"You're really going to walk me down theaisle?"
"Don't you want me to?" Dickens asked.
"Oh yes, I'm just surprised you wantto."
He chuckled.
Two hours later, she came out of Annie'sback room with her hair done up fancy, and the most beautiful whitesilk gown Dickens had ever seen.
"What do you think?" she asked Dickens asAnnie and Sam stared at her.
"I think I ain't never seen a woman sobeautiful." Dickens smiled.
In another hour Dickens was walking her downthe aisle. Wes was staring at her from the pulpit, his mouth openwith shock.
"My God, she's beautiful, so beautiful." Wescried, as Dickens joined his side.
The church was decorated with beautifuldaisies all over, and strings of white ribbons. There was acarriage outside with "Just Married" written on the back of it. Andcans to rattle about as they would drive away.
Annie stood close by as her maid of honorwhile Sam sat in one of the front pews.
The preacher gave them a beautiful ceremonyand then he pronounced them husband and wife. "You may kiss thebride." He told Wes.
Wes took her in his arms, a big smile on hisface and he kissed her ever so tenderly as he held her close in hisarms. She sighed when she came up for air.
Suddenly everyone came up to congratulatethem and kiss the bride.
Then Wes whisked her outside to thecarriage.
Dickens and Black Feather and his sons hadalready taken off.
"We did it, didn't we?" she cried happily asthey pulled out of the church yard.
"We did, sweetheart." He told her, puttinghis arm around her as they rode toward the ranch.
But as they pulled into the yard, Dickensand the others came out of the house with her valise.
"What's this for?" Kate asked.
"Well, the bride ought to have some clotheswhen she goes on her honeymoon."
"Honeymoon. But we're not… "
"I have a surprise for you, we are going ona short honeymoon. And Annie and Dickens packed your bag foryou."
"Can we afford it?"
"I think so." Wes grinned.
"Aren't you going to tell me where?"
"Nope, not yet."
She threw kisses to them all as they droveoff.
"Okay, you can tell me now."
"Nope, not yet. But I can promise you willlove it."
Kate sat back and waited to see where theywere going. But when he pulled into the dock of the MississippiQueen she gasped. "Oh my God, we're really going to ride it?"
"We are darlin', we are." Wes chuckled.
"Oh, it's been my dream to ride it once,just once."
"And you will. I knew you'd love it."
She jumped up and into his arms and kissedhim for all he was worth.
They boarded the boat and Kate was smilingall the while. She was determined not to miss a moment of itpulling away from the dock and lazily going up the Mississippi.
"Oh Wes, thank you."
He took her arm pulling it through his, "Mypleasure Mrs. Dolan."
"Mrs. Dolan. It's like I'm living adream."
They waved at all the people on the dock andshe watched the slow paddle of the boat moving them down theRiver.
Later they dined and had a wonderful meal.After going out on deck once more for a while. He kissed herendlessly.
She felt all those goosebumps and more.
"I think we need to dance at least onedance, what do
