JULY 28, 1861
The cream, lace floor
length dress and crowned veil made Grace look like a princess. The train was long and the
waist was tight. The veil covered her face. Teaspoon was in awe of her beauty. He had
never imagined that the shy girl who was his niece could look like she was right then.
Then again he couldn’t imagine her pregnant before she was married either.
Meg was heading to Luke
to tell him some last minute instructions from Grace, when Teaspoon remarked to her,
“You know I’m glad Grace is happy. I just wish she wasn’t pregnant just
yet.”
Meg looked stunned,
“What makes you think that she’s pregnant?”
“Well, I heard some people outside of my office talking about
it right before Charlie asked for her hand.”
It dawned on her that
somehow the 'misunderstanding' had gotten out, but that no one knew it was a
'misunderstanding'. She took Teaspoon aside, “Teaspoon, she’s not pregnant. She
did come to me thinking that she was, but when I examined her, well, Teaspoon there is no
way that she could be pregnant. I asked her why she thought she was, and she said that her
and Charlie had fallen asleep on the train. Her father told her if you sleep with a man
then nine months later you have a baby. He didn’t explain what he meant.”
Teaspoon went pale. He
would have to tell her what Charlie was going to want her to do tonight. “Oh poor
Grace, when Charlie … I ‘d better go talk to her.”
Meg had to chuckle at
the expression of panic on Teaspoon’s face, “Don’t worry Teaspoon, I
explained everything right after I examined her.”
Teaspoon was relieved
first that Grace wasn’t pregnant and second that he didn’t have to tell her
about tonight.
To finish getting
ready, Meg returned to the dress shop where all the bride’s maids were. Lee, Caly,
Meg and Charity’s dresses were light lavender in color. They were floor length. The
skirts were full and the bodices were tight. They all wore their hair pinned back, with
some white daisies pinned in.
Since Rachel was Matron
of Honor, her dress had lace trim but otherwise it was the same as the others. She also
had a crown of white daisies on top of her head with her hair in a braided bun like the
bride’s maids.
As Richard stopped at the teacher's home and jumped down from the
buggy, Kathleen stepped outside. Richard's face lit up as he saw the beautiful radiant
Kathleen. Quicken his pace, he practically ran up the steps and greeted her. Holding out
his arm, he said, "May I." Kathleen nodded and took his arm. As they rode to
town, they discussed Charlie and Grace's wedding. Arriving at church, Kathleen and Richard
took seats beside Jemima, Desiree and Brianna.
This was Brianna's first time to attend a wedding where her father
was presiding. She smiled all through the ceremony as she listened to her father, and she
clapped really hard when her father introduced the wedded couple to everybody.
As Jennifer was walking over to the church, she saw Jacy getting
down out of a buggy with Kid helping her to the ground. She had learned to tell the
difference between Jacy and Jewel because of their mannerisms and because of the way they
wore their hair.
While Jewel’s hair was curly and flowed down her back, Jacy
always seemed to have hers in ponytails. At first glance though Jennifer had thought it
was Jewel because she had never seen Jacy’s in such a lovely dress before. Jewel was
always wearing dresses, but Jacy mostly wore pants or a working type dress, not a pretty
or glamorous dress.
Jennifer hadn’t known that Jacy was attending the wedding with
Kid. It made her feel a little jealous. Truth be known, she had expected Kid to ask her to
the wedding, but when he hadn’t, she at least thought that he might sit with her
while attending the wedding.
“Is something
wrong, Jennifer?” Jewel asked as she dismounted her horse. It was strange to see
Jennifer just standing in the middle of the street looking towards the church.
“Umm no,”
Jennifer sullenly replied. Jewel saw her sister entering the church with Kid. She knew
that Jennifer had been seeing Kid. She didn’t think it had been serious though.
“Are you going to
the wedding?” Jewel inquired. Jennifer looked down and didn’t reply right away.
“You know Jacy’s at the wedding. She’ll probably write something about it
for the newspaper, so you really don’t have to attend if you don’t want to. I
could see why you wouldn’t want to because you really don’t know very many
people there. You don’t really know the couple that are getting married, do
you?”
“No,”
Jennifer was seeing a way out of going to the wedding.
“Then why
don’t you come help me at the office? I could use some help. We’re not putting a
paper out till later today because of the wedding, but I could use some help with deciding
what should go in the afternoon paper. Would you assist me?” Jewel saw Jennifer nod
her head. “Well, come on then.”
Jennifer turned around
to face Jewel. She wondered if Jewel knew that she had changed her mind about going to the
wedding because of Jacy and Kid. Well, if she did, she wasn’t saying. “Is it
alright if I go change my clothes first?”
“I think that
would be a good idea. You don’t want to get ink on that pretty dress.” Jewel led
her horse to the PEG, and Jennifer went to the hotel to change.
Meanwhile over at the
church, Kid and Jacy were sitting down. Jacy had hoped when Kid had picked her up that
Cody would at the last minute change his mind and decide to take her instead, but she was
very disappointed when Kid helped her up in the buggy and Cody didn’t show up to stop
them. On her way to town, she tried her best not to think of Cody and to try and enjoy
Kid’s company, but she knew that Kid was pretending that he didn’t notice.
Sitting down, Kid said,
“Jacy, I know you would rather be here with Cody, but I think Cody just needs some
more time to deal with his situation. I think in time, things will all work out.” At
least he hoped they would for Jacy’s sake. Jacy smiled. She didn’t know what to
say, so she just nodded. Then she turned her attention to the people sitting down in front
of her.
Kid liked Jacy. She was a nice girl, but Jewel was a different
story. He didn’t know what to make of her, not since she had lied and pretended to be
Jacy, and had even tried to get Jimmy to marry her. He just couldn’t see how Jacy and
Jewel could be twins. They were definitely different. He was glad that Cody was in love
with Jacy and not Jewel. Jacy was a better match for him. He just hoped that Cody
wouldn’t totally change his attitude on life. He hoped that Cody would come to grips
with his life and start acting like his original self. Well, maybe not quite like he used
to. He could leave out the jokes that he played on people, especially the ones that he
played on him. Although right now, Kid would take Cody as he was, jokes and all if he
would just be the old Cody.
As soon as Desiree and
Walter sat down, Desiree turned around and whispered, “Hello,”
“Hi,” Jacy
whispered back.
“I can’t wait
to see Grace in her wedding dress.” Desiree said.
“Neither can
I.” Jacy replied.
Desiree smiled and then
turned back around and gave the rest of her attention to Walter and the wedding ceremony.
Michael escorted
Melissa inside the church. This was the first time that she had been to a church wedding.
Every thing looked very pretty. There were lots of flowers and bows. She saw Jacy and Kid.
“Michael, can we sit with my sister and Kid?”
Michael nodded, “Sure.” So they both scooted into the pew,
and Melissa sat next to Jacy. The sisters smiled at one another. Then they watched as
others arrived and took their seats to wait for the ceremony to begin.
Ike escorted Charity down the isle, then Luke escorted his wife down
the isle and then he took his place as best man beside his best friend, Charlie. The next
bride’s maid was Caly escorted by Buck then Lee was escorted by her fianc�, Jimmy.
Simon escorted Rachel down the isle and then the wedding march played and in came Grace
and Teaspoon as every one stood.
The ceremony itself was
beautiful with the church filled with flowers and bows that the bride’s maids had
made.
Lou rode into town as fast as she could spur Lightening to go. She
had just got back from a mail run, and she was running late. She hoped that the wedding
hadn’t started yet. She stopped Lightening in the middle of town. Where could she
change clothes? She couldn’t possible attend Grace’s wedding
in her dirty clothes. She noticed Jennifer going into the PEG, so she had
Lightening stop in front of the newspaper office. She jumped off, grabbed her dress out of
her blanket roll and flew inside. Jennifer turned around startled, and Jewel did likewise.
“Can I change here? I want to get to the wedding.”
Sitting at the desk, Jewel replied, “Sure, yes go ahead.”
“I’ll watch to make sure nobody comes in, but I bet all or
most of the men are at the wedding anyway.” Jennifer kept an eye out while Lou
quickly changed.
“Thanks,” Lou said as she hurried out. She hiked up her
dress and ran all the way to the church. Before entering she stopped and caught her
breath. As she sneaked in and took a seat at one of the last pews where Marta and Ted were
also sitting, they smiled at her.
Marta whispered to Lou, “You haven’t missed the important
stuff yet. They’re just beginning. Lou smiled and nodded at Marta. She let out a long
breath. She was glad that she had made it in time.
As Charlie and Grace
began their vows, Corey wondered if she would ever get married. As she began to dream
about her and Dean standing in front of the preacher and saying their vows, Caller Bob
bumped her as he tried to make his way to the other side of the pew to sit down. He
whispered, “I’m sorry,” to Corey, and she nodded, accepting his apology.
“Are you
alright?” Dean inquired. He hadn’t meant because of Caller Bob. He had noticed
that Corey was staring into space, and he thought that something might be wrong.
Corey thought that Dean
meant because Caller Bob had bumped into her, so she smiled at him. “I’m
fine.” Then she forgot about daydreaming and turned her attention back to Charlie and
Grace.
After Charlie and Grace
said the traditional vows, Sean announced that Charlie and Grace wanted to add to the
vows.
”I'll do
everything I can to make you proud to be my man, Charlie.” Grace started
“And I’ll
fulfill all your fantasies, Grace.” Charlie added.
“I guess we're
promising a lot, but for now it's all we've got,” Grace’s voice cracked.
“And I'll stand by
you thru our rockin' years,” Charlie reassured her.
“Rockin' chairs,
rockin' babies, rock-a-bye, rock of ages, side by side we'll be together always.”
They simultaneously said.
“And if you'll hold me tight when you love
me. That's all I'll ask of you,” Grace’s voice got louder as her confidence
grew.
”And I'll stand by
you thru our rockin' years,” they said together.
”I'll be your
friend,” Charlie told Grace.
“I'll be your
lover,” Grace answered back.
”Until the end,
there'll be no other,” Charlie promised.
“’Cause my
heart has only room for one,” Grace vowed to Charlie
“Yes, I'll always
love you,” Charlie promised.
“And I'll always
be here for you,” Grace vowed.
”And I'll stand by
you thru our rockin' years,” they said together.
“Rockin' chairs,
rockin' babies, rock-a-bye, rock of ages, side by side we'll be together always.”
They both said.
“And if you'll
hold me tight when you love me, that's all I'll ask of you.” Charlie informed Grace.
“And I'll stand by
you thru our rockin' years,” they said simultaneously.
”Rockin' chairs,
rockin' babies, rock-a-bye, rock of ages, side by side, we'll be together always.”
They both said together.
”And, yes, I'll
always love you,” Grace promised Charlie
“And I'll always
be here for you,” Charlie promised Grace.
”And I'll stand by
you thru our rockin' years,” Grace answered back.
Yes, I’ll be here,
and I’ll stand by you thru our rockin’ years, thru our rockin’ years.”
They both said together.
Then Charlie recited
the following:
They read you
Cinderella
You hoped it would come true
That one day your Prince Charming
Would come rescue you
You like romantic movies
You never will forget
The way you felt when Romeo kissed Juliet
All this time that you've been waiting
You don't have to wait no more
I can love you like
that
I would make you my world
Move Heaven and Earth if you were my girl
I will give you my heart
Be all that you need
Show you you're everything that's precious to me
If you give me a chance
I can love you like that
I never make a promise
I don't intend to keep
So when I say forever, forever's what I mean
I'm no Casanova but I swear this much is true
I'll be holdin' nothin' back when it comes to you
You dream of love that's everlasting
Well baby open up your eyes
I can love you like that
I would make you my world
Move Heaven and Earth if you were my girl
I will give you my heart
Be all that you need
Show you you're everything that's precious to me
If you give me a chance
I can love you like that
You want tenderness-I
got tenderness
And I see through to the heart of you
If you want a man who understands
You don't have to look very far
I can
I can love you like that
I would make you my world
Move Heaven and Earth if you were my girl
I will give you my heart
Be all that you need
Show you you're everything that's precious to me
I can love you like that
I would make you my world
Move Heaven and Earth if you were my girl
I will give you my heart
Be all that you need
Show you you're everything that's precious to me
I can love you like that
I would make you my world
Move Heaven and Earth if you were my girl
Then Grace recited:
Boy you are to me, all
that a man should be,
And I dedicate my life to you always
The love like yours is grand,
It must have been sent from up above
And I know you'll stay this way, for always
And we both know, that
our love will grow
And forever it will be you and me
Ooh your like the sun,
Chasing all the rain away,
When you come around you bring brighter days
You're the perfect one
For me and you forever we'll be
And I will love you so for always
Come with me my sweet,
Let's go make a family,
And they will bring us joy, for always
Oh boy I love you so,
I can't find enough ways to let you know
But you can be sure of course, for always
And we both know, that
our love will grow
And forever it will be you and me
Ooh your like a sun,
Chasing all the rain away,
When you come around you bring brighter days
You're the perfect one
For me and you forever we'll be
And I will love you so for always
Ooh your like a sun,
Chasing all the rain away,
When you come around you bring brighter days
You're the perfect one
For me and you forever we'll be
And I will love you so for always
I will love you so, for
always.
Sean then told the
couple, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Grace blushed and
Charlie grinned. He lifted the veil and gently kissed her on the lips.
Sean then told them,
“Please face your guests.” After they had done so, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I
introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Patrick Montgomery.”
Everyone clapped and
Charlie and his wife led the way over to the restaurant where the reception was to be
held.
The restaurant was
decorated like the church with lavender and white flowers and bows all over the place and
a dance floor in the middle of the dinning room with the tables and chairs forming a
circle around it.
After the Bride and
Groom’s dance, Jimmy and Lee shared a few dances. Lee was still a little weak from
her brush with death. She was quickly gaining her strength back, but they didn’t want
to overdo it.
Buck and Caly had
danced almost every dance together, except for when Caly danced with her father, her
brother and the groom. Buck managed to get a dance with the bride as well as with Lee and
Rachel. Caly & Buck were still keeping to her father’s rules by staying insight
of everyone, but sometimes they were alone, too, by stealing away into a corner.
Steven and Anjannette
danced some, but also looked after the babies of the town so that their parents could
dance. Luke and Meg danced while friends took turns watching the babies. Javier and Lilly
had already taken their turn at watching the twins and now they were out on the dance
floor. Serena and Daniel also got to dance some while their friends watched DJ.
Caller Bob was glad that the wedding had been a success. He joined
everybody at the reception for a little while, but he left early because he had to get
back to the farm and get the beer done that he had promised Ted. He congratulated Charlie
before he left and he also congratulated Teaspoon on getting a nephew.
Richard danced with
Kathleen several times and then he told her that he had to take her home because he had to
get over to the saloon and open it up for the evening crowd. Kathleen was disappointed
that she had to leave so early. Jacy heard Richard tell Kathleen that they had to leave
early, and she saw how melancholy Kathleen had become.
Jacy whispered
something to Kid and then walked over to Kathleen. "Kathleen if you would like to
stay longer. Kid and I will give you a lift home." Jacy suggested.
Kathleen nodded,
"Is it alright, Richard?"
"It's fine by
me." Richard replied and then smiled. He was glad that Kathleen didn't have to leave
the party. "Well, I have to get going. You look after her Kid." Kid nodded, and
Richard gave Kathleen a kiss on the cheek and then left.
Jemima and Brianna
had fun. To their surprise, Michael asked each of them to dance. Brianna also danced with
her father, and at the same time Jemima danced with Caller Bob. They almost ate too much,
but Destiny stopped them before they could overeat and get a tummy ache.
After a couple of
hours, Grace and her husband retired to his hotel room. They had already started adding
living quarters onto the dress shop, but it would be a month or so before Ian finished.
Charlie had asked Caly
and Charity to take care of the restaurant. They felt that the town could go without a
seamstress for a while. They were going to the Rockies for a month or so for their
honeymoon.
Teaspoon and Rachel
were the last ones to leave. When they arrived at the station and Teaspoon hadn’t
said a word all the way home, Rachel said, “Teaspoon, don’t think of it as
loosing a niece, think of it as gaining a nephew.”
“I’ll try Rachel,” Teaspoon helped Rachel down out of
the buggy. Ike put up the horses and the buggy, and Teaspoon mounted Banter and rode back
to town.
The next morning,
Charlie looked at Grace with a beam of sunlight shinning on her face and sang the
following:
Good morning beautiful
How was your night
Mine was wonderful
With you by my side
And when I open my eyes
And see your sweet face
It's a good morning beautiful day
I didn't see the light
I didn't know day from night
I had no reason to care
But since you came along
I can face the dawn
Cause I know you'll be there
Good morning beautiful
How was your night
Mine was wonderful
With you by my side
And when I open my eyes
And see your sweet face
It's a good morning beautiful day
I'll never worry
If it's raining outside
Cause in here with you girl
The sun always shines
Good morning beautiful
How was your night
Mine was wonderful
With you by my side
And when I open my eyes
And see your sweet face
It's a good morning beautiful day, yeah
A good morning
beautiful...day
Good morning beautiful
A beautiful day
Good morning beautiful
Good morning beautiful
A beautiful day
Good morning beautiful day
A beautiful day
Good morning beautiful
SONG CREDITS
Rockin’ Years:
Dolly Parton & Ricky Van Shelton
I Can Love You Like
That: John Michael Montgomery
Always: Atlantic Starr
Good Morning Beautiful: Steve Holy