DECEMBER 25, 1861

Mr. and Mrs. Ethridge had arrived in Dreamville earlier that night and checked into the hotel. Mrs. Ethridge didn't know why she felt an urgency to make the second step. They had already found Lynn. Lynn told them that she had told Lee that they were looking for her. It should be Lee's turn to make the next step. However, she also knew that if Lee was anything like her father, their son, then she could hold a grudge for a lifetime. They had made a lot mistakes in the past and had to make up for them.

*****

Christmas morning Lee and Lynn were moving the last bit of Lee's stuff into the house when J.D. and Ellen Ethridge walked into the station. "Good Morning, can I help you?" Rachael asked the elderly couple.

"We were looking for our granddaughters, Lynnette and LeAnn Ethridge."

"Just a minute, I'll see if their busy." Rachael walked over to the house and stuck her head in the door. "Lee, Lynn, your grandparents are here."

"What?!" Lee asked coming out of the upstairs bedroom that she was fixing up for that night. "How did they know where we were?"

"Do you want me to tell them that you're busy and you'll see them at the wedding?"

"NO! I mean, I guess I'll see them now." Damn. She thought. How did they know I was here? And why did they have to show up today of all days?

As LeAnn and Lynnette walked out onto the porch, their grandparents couldn't believe that they finally had found them both together. They had been in contact with Lynnette through letters, and their grandfather had visited her at school. But Ellen Ethridge had not seen them. They looked so much like her son.

Lynn had a smile on her face, but Lee wore a scowl. She just wanted for them to say something first.

"Lynn, Lee," J. D. said.

"Only my friends call me Lee." Lee said annoyed.

"Sorry, LeAnn. We just came to say we're sorry for turning you out."

"It's a little too late for that don't you think?"

"Lee, give them a break." Lynn pleaded. "I told you they just wanted to apologize for turning us out."

"Why today? Why did you show up today?"

"We just came to apologize and try to get you to come back with us."

"No. No, I will not forgive you, and no I will not go back with you." Lee started to go back in the house.

"Lee, if they had never turned us out, then you would have never met Jimmy." Lynn pointed out.

Lee had her back turned and she stopped and thought about the man she was going to marry in just a few hours. She turned back towards the elderly couple and said, "Fine, I forgive you for turning us out. But I'm not coming back with you." Lee went inside and walked back up to the bedroom.

Rachel had not heard the conversation, but she knew that Lee had snapped at them and then went into the house. Thinking that Lee had invited them to the wedding, she went up to them, "I'm sure she's just nervous about the wedding. I know on my wedding day, I snapped at everybody. At least you were able to make it here in time for the wedding."

When the elderly couple looked confused, Lynn, explained, "I don't think Lee wrote them about the wedding, Rachel."

"No, she didn't." Mr. Ethridge said.

"But I do know that if you aren't there she'll regret it for the rest of her life." Lynn added. "I'll go talk to her."

When Lee saw Lynn, she announced, "I don't want them at the wedding."

"Come on, Lee, you don't mean that." Lynn tried to argue, but could tell that her twin did mean it.

"Yes, I do. Why should they be there? They turned us out when we needed them the most."

"They are the only part of Daddy that will be able to be there. And if they didn't turn us out, you would have never met Jimmy."

"Why is it important to you that they are at my wedding?"

"Because they are the last bit of our family."

"They disinherited Daddy for marrying Mamma. They were no longer part of our family before we were even born."

"Yes, they are part of our family, whether or not you like it. They are our grandparents. They realize that they have made mistakes, and they want to try to make up for them."

"Then invite them to your wedding. I don't want them at my wedding."

"Lee, if they are not there, and you make up with them later, you'll regret it for the rest of your life. If they are there, and you never make up with them, then they were just strangers at your wedding, no harm done."

After a moment of thought, Lee announced, "Fine. Have it your way. But Caly’s father is still walking me down the isle."

"Great. I'll go tell them what time to be back here." Lynn smiled.

Rachel was introducing Mr. and Mrs. Ethridge to the rest of the riders when Lynn came out of the house. "Lee, would like you to be back here at six o'clock this evening for the wedding," she proclaimed as she grinned at Rachel.

Jimmy raised an eyebrow, but kept silent. He knew how Lee felt about her grandparents. He had even brought up the subject of inviting them to the wedding, but Lee refused. Jimmy also knew how Lynn could talk Lee into things. He figured that Lynn had talked her into inviting them since they were already there.

The boys went back to decorating the outside for the wedding while Lee continued to try to get the bedroom to look perfect. Ellen wanted to talk to Lee privately and Lynn let her in the house.

As Ellen walked into the bedroom, she observed a vase of wild flowers near the bed on a stand and candles placed about the room. Lee was looking at the room and muttered. "Something's missing. I don't know what, but something’s missing."

"The flower petals on the bed are what is missing." Ellen suggested.

"Excuse me?" Lee turned around surprised.

"Flower petals covering the top of the bed. It will make the room complete if this is where you are going to spend your wedding night."

Lee just stood there and thought about it. She had to admit that she was right. She was trying to make the room look like the hotel room that they had shared the first time they made love, but she also wanted to add something special. Flower petals on the bed would be perfect. She wouldn't admit it to her grandmother though. "Did you need something?"

"I just wanted to give you these. Your father wanted you and your sister to have them after he had passed away." She handed a stack of envelopes to Lee. As Lee took them, she looked down at them. They were letters that had been opened but addressed to her grandmother. Some of them were in her mother's handwriting; others were in her father’s handwriting.

"Why are you giving me these now?"

"Because, my husband doesn't know about them. He would have destroyed them if he knew about them. And I think it would be a good wedding present from your parents. I never disinherited your father. I loved him with all my heart. I'm sorry I wasn't able to make J. D. see what he did was wrong. I'm sorry I wasn't able to visit you. I tried, but every time I got ready to leave, J. D. wouldn't let me. I understand if you can't forgive me for that."

Something in Lee's eyes softened. "You really tried to come visit us?"

"Yes. When J. D. disowned your father, we thought it would last for a year or so, and then everything would be back to normal. But J. D. never forgave your father for marrying your mother and breaking the betrothal that he had made with a business partner. J. D. made the betrothal to further his business. When James refused to marry the girl, J. D. was furious. The girl and her family understood that James was in love with someone else and the business deal was kept anyway. But no matter what I did, J. D. would not allow James and your mother to come home. Her family had disowned her, too. They had also arranged her marriage." Lee nodded. Maybe she had misjudged her grandmother. "Since we thought that they would be back home in a year or so, I kept your mother's wedding dress for her. Just so that it wouldn't get messed up. I brought it with me because I wasn't sure if you would want to see us again. If you want I could go get it for you."

Lee couldn't believe her luck. She thought that she would never get to even see her mother's wedding dress, let on have the choice whether or not she wanted to wear it. All she could do was nod. She sank down on the bed as Ellen walked out of the room. Her mother's wedding dress. She had planned on borrowing Caly's wedding dress. She had tried it on a couple of days ago, and it had fit perfectly so they didn't need to make any adjustments. But if she could wear her mother's wedding dress....

Ellen returned with two packages. The first package they opened up was the dress. Lee tried on the dress, and it was a little loose in the bodice. "I can fix that in no time. Here let me, just pin it and then I'll get to work on it. That is if you want to wear it."

"Oh yes, of course I want to wear it. It's beautiful. I was going to borrow a friend's wedding dress. But if you can get this to fit me by this evening, then I'll love to wear this one." Lee said still in a daze.

"Lee, before I start making alterations on this dress, I have to ask you something."

Lee looked at the woman she was beginning to trust. "What?"

"You're not getting married because you feel like you have to are you? I mean if you feel like you have to get married, J. D. and I can help you out with anything that you need. You don't have to get married to support yourself or Lynn."

"You're right. I don't have to get married to support myself and Lynn, I've been doing it all on my own with just moral support from the family that I found here. The boys taught me how to protect myself and they were there when I needed moral support. It's been my paycheck alone that has supported Lynn and me. No, I'm not getting married because I have to. I'm getting married because I love Jimmy, and I believe that he loves me." Lee affirmed as her hand dropped down to her barren abdomen. As she thought about Angel for the first time that day, tears came to her eyes, but she was able to push them back telling herself that she had already mourned Angel's death. Ellen didn't notice the tears because she had turned to get the second package.

"Here I think you need this also," she said with a smile.

Lee opened up the second package and found a box full of red roses. "Where did you get these?" She asked surprised.

"Don't you worry about that. But if you need more I can get you more. Well, don't just stand there, let's see if you will need more roses for the bed." They started to cover the bed with the petals and found out that it was more than enough. Lee was also able to make a path from the bedroom door to the bed with the petals. Ellen had said that the roses were red for passion and true love.

*****

Caly understood about Lee changing her mind about the wedding dress and even helped Ellen and Grace alter the dress. Lee stood in front of a full-length mirror. Her wedding dress was Southern Bell in style with a sweetheart neckline. About an inch above the hem there were bows placed about two inches apart. It gave the dress a gathered look near the bows. It was made of white satin.

The boys had placed the satin green bows that Lee, Lynn, Lou, Caly, Grace, Meg and Rachel had made on the end of all of the rows of chairs. They also had made an arch and had painted it white and had decorated it with wild flowers. Ellen had donated some red roses to go on the arch as well.

The boys were all dressed in their Sunday best and all of the boys and Lou were standing beside Jimmy when the music started and the bridesmaids started walking down the isle. Lynnette was first, then Caly, then Meg, then Grace, then Rachel. Then Buck and Ike placed a red walkway made of a piece of material down on the ground. Brianna and Jemima walked down the isle dropping flowers on the walkway. The material was to keep the dress from getting messed up. Then Lee walked down the isle on Steven’s arm. When Jimmy saw Lee, his mouth dropped. She was radiant. He had heard that she was going to be wearing her mother's wedding dress instead of Caly’s dress like planned. She looked absolutely dazzling. He could hardly concentrate during the ceremony. At one point Teaspoon had to repeat the vows Jimmy was supposed to say.

*****

At the reception, Teaspoon brought out the wine and told everyone that he was lifting the ‘No alcohol drinking’ rule for tonight only, and that they had better not overdo it because everyone had chores to do and runs to take and no one was going to be excused because of a hangover. He reminded them that Jimmy and Lee were on vacation and that they would not be back for a week. He would be surprised if Jimmy and Lee made it to table for meals during their week off.

"Da, Why didn’t you marry them? You're the preacher." Brianna asked Sean.

"Because, Sheriff Teaspoon can marry people, too, and they love him like a father. It's only right for him to marry them instead of me. They barely know me, but Teaspoon has been like a father to them since they came to Dreamville." Sean answered.

"So fathers can marry people?"

"Preachers, and judges, and sheriffs, and marshals can marry people."

"Oh ." Brianna said. "So, is Sheriff Teaspoon gonna marry you and Miss Destiny?"

"He sure is, Honey. Teaspoon has been like a brother to me."

"Is Sheriff Teaspoon related to everybody in Dreamville?"

Sean chuckled, "Well, he sure is a nice man, and he is good friends with most of the town, but no he's not related to everybody."

Everyone had a wonderful time and Lee got to dance with all of her ‘brothers’.  Teaspoon and Lee danced the dance meant for Father and Bride, while Rachel and Jimmy danced as Mother and Son. Jimmy's sister, Cylinda and Nathan were able to make it to the wedding and everyone got to know them. While Lee was dancing with her ‘brothers’, Jimmy was dancing with Lynn, Caly, Rachel, Susan, and Cylinda. Susan was glad that she was able to see the famous, ‘Wild Bill’ Hickok get married. Growing up, she never thought that Jimmy would ever get married.  She has a wonderful time dancing with the riders and other single men in town. Only the residents of the station knew how she became pregnant, but the whole town knew that the father was dead and she was giving the baby to Jimmy and Lee.

All of the kids had a wonderful time. The older kids recognized Santa’s voice as being Teaspoon’s voice, but the little ones were none the wiser, and no one told them different.   They all enjoyed the presents from Santa and the town’s people. For some it was their first Christmas present from Santa, and that broke the adult’s hearts, but seeing the joy on the kids’ faces was all the reward they needed, and they were able to get back into the festive spirit. Everyone had a wonderful time. Jimmy and Lee were grateful that the whole town showed up for the wedding. Lee felt for Jewel. She had found out that Jewel had really fallen in love with someone and then he took off.   

After three hours of dancing, Lee threw her bouquet and despite Susan, Kathleen, Jennifer, Jacy, Jewel, Melissa, Marta, Desiree, Samantha, Charity and of course all of the little girls that were new in town also contending for the bouquet, Lynn caught it. Jimmy carried Lee over the threshold and closed the door with his foot.

*****

Two hours before dawn, Jimmy and Lee made their way to Angel’s grave. They stayed there until sunrise and then made their way back to the station for breakfast. Then they decided that if they were going to get anytime alone, they had better leave town for a few days.

**********

The buggy that Jedidiah had rented for the day was a six seater. Jacy and Melissa were in the back of the buggy while Jedidiah drove with Samantha beside him and Jaslyne and Jewel were sitting in the middle part of the buggy. All of the Davis’ agreed that the wedding and the reception had been charming.

Jacy was thinking about Cody. He sure had looked great in his suit, but she still preferred him in his buckskins. Now that Jimmy and Buck were married, she wondered if Cody would feel the need to get wed soon. She hoped not. She just wasn’t ready for marriage yet, and she didn’t want to get married just because Cody felt the need to because his other friends had tied the knot.

Besides Jacy had to think about her family. Jewel was having a hard time of it since she had been in love with Stone, and he had escaped. And Jaslyne was a new addition to the family. They had to have their family doing and looking great for when the judge returned, so that he would let them adopt her. Jacy had come to love Jaslyne as though she was their sister. Melissa enjoyed having another sister, too.

Jedidiah broke into Jacy’s thoughts, “It was a wonderful Christmas wasn’t it?” He was asking everybody.

Jewel smiled a little. She didn’t want to spoil Christmas for any of her family even though her heart was still broken, and she still felt that she was responsible for Stone escaping jail. “The wedding was great. It was nice for Jimmy and Lee to invite me even after what I had done.”

“It was great.” Melissa answered.

“I think we all had a lovely time. It was the best Christmas I’ve ever had cause all of us were together and because we also had Jaslyne and Samantha with us, too.” Jacy replied. “And the wedding was lovely. Jimmy and LeAnn look wonderful together, don’t they?”

“Yes, they do.” Jedidiah glanced over at Samantha when he spoke. He was beginning to get it in his mind that maybe marriage wouldn’t be so bad. He was kind of young, but ever since he had seen the masked man with Samantha, he had been jealous. He didn’t like other men around her that might take the notion that they could be her beau. He would have to give the marriage idea a lot of thought. Maybe he was ready to settle down.

“I had a great time, too.” Jaslyne was doing her best to fit in. Her love had grown to include all of them, even Jedidiah since he had returned. It was great to have three sisters, but it was even greater to have three sisters and a brother. She knew what Jewel had been referring to about Jimmy and Lee because Jewel had sat her down and explained what she had done since she arrived in Dreamville. She knew Jewel had changed from being a lying and deceitful evil person because she had watched her carefully after hearing the scenario about Jimmy and her *almost* wedding, and she had seen how Jewel was being a good person. She had also been glad that Jimmy and Lee had put their anger aside and had invited her to attend the wedding because Christmas just wouldn’t have been the same without the whole family together.

Jedidiah saw the girls into the house and then rejoined Samantha in the buggy. He returned her back to her livery stables, told her goodnight since it was getting late in the evening and it was chilly outside, but first he helped her put up the wagon and bed down the horses. Then he retrieved his horse from the stall and galloped away into the night while Samantha watched him disappear into the night.

*****

Ike had a wonderful time at the wedding and reception. He danced a lot with Blaine, making sure that she had a good time. He even got to dance once with the new bride. He kept a weary eye on his sister at the reception though because he noticed every time he sought her out she was dancing with a different fella, one time, Brandon, another time with Kid and at one point she was even dancing with the judge. He was very protective of her. He didn’t want her to be hurt. She was the only family he had left, and he wasn’t going to let anything bad happen to her. He might not have been able to save his ma and pa from outlaws, but he sure as heck wasn’t going to let anybody hurt his sister now that he was old and strong enough to defend her.