Mabel was sitting at her desk when she heard the sound of the stagecoach pulling out of town. She would have liked to say goodbye to her mother and Martha, but knew it wouldn't be wise.
Looking up at the clock, and then back at the anxious faces in front of her, she decided it was time to declare summer vacation officially started. The children poured out of the schoolroom and in a matter of seconds Mabel found herself alone with her thoughts. She closed the door and returned to her desk, slowly gathering her belongings. Making a final check around the room to be certain nothing had been left behind by the students, she opened the door that adjoined her room and went inside.

- - - - - - -

Jack was at his desk..fuming. Clive was taking the brunt of his anger, "What in tarnation is wrong with that man Clive? Him with all his fancy education! Ya think he'd know better than ta run out on his daughter the day before she gets wed!"

"Maybe it's for the best Jack. I mean....if he stayed he'd probably just cause trouble."

"Ain't no excuse fer a man like that!" Jack slammed his fist on his desk.

- - - - - - -

Mabel decided a long ride with Abby would be a much needed respite from the tension of the past few days. Quickly changing her clothes she grabbed her gunbelt and hurried out the door.

- - - - - - - - -

Back at the detachment Jack paced. "It ain't right fer him ta do that Clive. It ain't right fer a woman ta get married without her Pa!"

"You're not having second thoughts are you Jack?" the corporal asked trying to lighten the mood.

" 'Course I ain't Bennett!...but what if Mabel decides she made a mistake marryin' me an' givin' up all that fancy livin'? ...Huh?"

"Look Craddock..Mabel has already made up her mind, and she wants to marry you....for whatever reason....we may never know." he grinned, "So why don't you forget about it...forget about Samuel Nestor....and just concentrate on your wedding?"

Jack gained control of his anger and agreed to put his mind to more important things. With all the upset of the day he hadn't eaten and his stomache was beginning to voice it's concern loudly.
The two lawmen made their way to the saloon for dinner, or as Clive called it ' the last supper '.

"Oh.... Jack....tomorrow when that preacher puts the noose around your neck and tightens it....can I kick the bucket?" Clive smirked, comparing the marshal's fate to that of a condemned man.

- - - - - - - -

Returning to Bordertown in the early evening, Mabel was greeted by Sally and Marie who were standing on the doctors front step. They invited her inside for tea and sandwiches and a ' friendly chat '.
After assuring themselves that Mabel was fine about her families quick departure, Sally and Marie changed the topic to the wedding. More accurately, the wedding night. It was something they had discussed earlier in the day, should they bring up the topic or not? They both agreed it was necessary to prepare their friend for the event that would surely change her life, especially since her mother was not here to give her ' the talk '.

"Are you nervous Mabel?" Marie asked with a strange tone in her voice.

"About tomorrow?...the wedding?...no, not really."

"What about after the wedding?" Sally asked.

There was that strange tone again. "What do you mean after ?" Mabel asked innocently.

Looking at Marie, Sally took a deep breath and exhaled, " The wedding night." she blurted.

"The wedding night?....you mean..." Mabel's voice trailed off, she honestly hadn't thought about it. "Well....no" she hesitated, "should I be...nervous?"

"Of course not!" Marie assured her, patting her hand. "It's...just, well...something a woman must be prepared for...right Sally?"

Sally nodded in agreement, then cast a sympathetic eye in Mabel's direction. "Now the first thing you need to know Mabel, is that a husband can be, well....very demanding about certain things...isn't that right Marie?"

Again the two women confirmed the information with a nod. Mabel suddenly felt tiny butterflies in her stomache.

"How bad is it?" She asked.

"Oh... not as bad as a gunshot wound," Marie insisted with a smile. " If you just close your eyes...it's over very quickly...and the first night is the worse...right Sally?"

Again Sally nodded in agreement. "That's right Marie... and.. you may even get a new hat!" she declared with optimism.

"A new hat?" Mabel was confused.

"Well my George used to tell me to go out and buy myself a new hat...you know...if he was happy." Sally noted cheerfully.

Mabel looked at Marie in total bewilderment, "A new hat?" she repeated.

"You'll do just fine Mabel, and I'm sure Jack will be...well... understanding....and patient... and you are in love with him...that will help." Marie smiled, again.

- - - - - -- - -- -

Mabel took Abby to the livery to get her settled for the night. She took her time grooming the animal and talking to her as she often did.
"I wonder if Gabriel will show up tomorrow?" she asked the horse. Abby's big brown eyes stared back as if she understood the question, but was unable to come up with an answer.
"I really do want him to be here Abby. He promised he would be."
If Gabriel made her a promise, he would keep it, she knew that. But she wished he was there right now to talk to, tomorrow there would be no time for talk. Kissing the horse on her soft nose, and snuffing out the lantern, Mabel said goodnight and headed home.

Lying in her bed, in the darkness of her room, Mabel's thoughts drifted back to her conversation with Sally and Marie. Would tomorrow night really be so awful?