"Clive!" Craddock shouted as he barged into the corporal's private quarters.

Bennett was standing in front of the mirror combing his hair, "Stay calm Jack, there's plenty of time."

"No there ain't!...Ya gotta help me with this thing." Jack flung his tie at the mountie who caught it in mid air.

Slipping it around the groom's neck, Clive smiled at his friend's nervousness. "I'm happy for you Jack, I truly am. Seems not so long ago our roles were reversed and I was the nervous groom." He said, remembering his own wedding a few years back. His bride Anna had been murdered on their wedding day, this was the first time Clive had spoken of it.

"Ah..yah..I don't reckon a feller ever gets over loosin' someone they care about.... my heart still aches when I think 'bout Jaunita, but that don't mean I love Mabel any less. I figure Jaunita'd be real pleased about that."

"I'm sure she would Jack."

Stepping back to take a look at the marshal's tie, the corporal smiled with satisfaction, "There... perfect."

" Ya don't think I'm too old do ya Clive?"

"Too old to marry Mabel? Of course you are...but I promise I won't tell her," Clive joked. He took out his time piece, then slapped Jack on the shoulder, "It's time...compadre."

Clearing his throat, Jack asked one more time, "Do I look alright?"

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Marie's house was a beehive of activity. The finishing touches were being bestowed on the bride, everyone was rushing about hurrying to get the last minute details completed.
Sally was a wreck. She had helped Dom in the kitchen most of the day and between times had assisted Marie with the bride. They fussed with her hair, which wasn't really long enough to put up in a bun, although they had made several attempts. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. For more than an hour Mabel watched them rush around the house looking for objects that fit the discription.

"Something old!" Sally yelled. "Oh my goodness, where is Diane?!"

Mabel laughed out loud. Her nerves were frayed, Sally had offered a much needed break in the tension.

Diane ran into the room, her hair half up and half down, "Oh, good lord, I almost forgot!" She handed Mabel a bracelet, "Your Mama gave this to me before she left, said she wanted you ta wear it on your weddin' day."

Mabel held it tightly in her hand, it was her mother's favorite bracelet, given to her by her parents. Marie slipped her arm across the brides shoulders and hugged her. "Your mother is here with you in your heart Mabel."

Feeling the need to be alone and collect her thoughts, she excused herself and climbed the stairs to Lucy's bedroom.
Mabel stood in the window and watched the townsfolk gathering at the church. In a few short minutes she would be married. Mrs. Jack Craddock.... Mabel Nestor would be gone forever.
She had given up all hope of Gabriel attending the ceremony when she spotted a horse and rider heading into town. "Gabriel!" Running down the stairs so fast she almost tripped over her own feet, she threw open the door and yelled again,"Gabriel!"

Couteau stopped at the gate and slid from his horse's back. Mabel ran to her friend and threw her arms around him, he grabbed her up in a bear hug and kissed her.
Jack watched from the steps of the church.

"Nothing to worry about Jack," Clive reassured him," Mabel is marrying you, not Couteau."

"I know that...wha' d'ya think I'm ignorant?" He turned and stepped inside the building, looking over his shoulder Jack paused and waited for the mountie to catch up.

Standing at the front of the church Jack felt like time had stood still, he took his timepiece out and looked at it every minute or so. He began doubting if Mabel would show up.
"Maybe she changed 'er mind Clive." he whispered to his best man.

"She'll be here Jack."

After another long pause and then a quick glance at his pocket watch, the groom voiced his concern again, "Maybe Couteau talked her inta runnin' off with 'im." he whispered.

"Jack stop it. She'll be here." Clive looked over his shoulder as he spoke. There was no sign of the bridal party.

Suddenly there was movement behind them, the lawmen turned to see Gabriel Couteau enter the church and walk up the aisle towards them. He smiled at the marshal as he took a seat in the front pew.
Jack and Clive let out a simultaineous sigh of relief.

The organ began playing the wedding march and the congregation rose to their feet. Marie stood in the doorway and as she moved slowly forward, Diane came into view, followed by Sally.

Jack felt his heart pounding as he saw his bride standing in the doorway... with Zack by her side, Mabel smiled at him as they began their slow march to the front of the church.
Her veil was made from lace and was draped loosely over her head. She was wearing a long victorian gown made of satin, the sleeves tapered down into long cuffs which were studded with three large buttons, and the collar was high on her neck with an intriquet pattern tatted down the front. The skirt was full, and flowing behind it was a satin train that was trimmed in handwoven lace. Her waistline was accentuated by a metis sash, the length of which hung down on her right side. It did nothing to flatter her beautiful gown, but much to Sally's dismay she could not convince the bride to go without it.

Any doubts Mabel had about marriage disappeared as she took her place beside Jack. She took his hand and smiled.... knowing she had made the right decision.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The wedding celebration continued late into the night.
Mabel had noticed that Marie and Clive were very close that evening, she couldn't remember seeing them dance with anyone but each other.
Mostly though, she only had eyes for Jack, he looked so handsome in his fancy clothes,... funny....when she first arrived in Bordertown she had thought Clive Bennett was the handsome one.

At about half past eleven as Jack and Mabel waltzed slowly around the room, he whispered in her ear, "Let's go home."

Mabel smiled at her husband and nodded in agreement. As they moved towards the door, hoping to sneak away unnoticed, Sally caught Mabel's eye and pointed to the hat on her head... with a grin.

' Oh no,'.... Mabel thought, ' the dreaded hat... the gunshot wound... just close your eyes... the first night is the worse.'
She felt Jack's firm grip on her hand as he led her down the street towards their wedding night.

Reaching the door at the back of the schoolhouse, Jack scooped her up in his arms and carried his new wife across the threshold. A gesture Mabel found oddly romantic.
Once inside, an uncomfortable atmosphere closed in on the couple. Mabel realized Jack was as nervous as she was. ' Now what happens? ' she wondered, as she watched her husband preparing a pot of coffee.
The nervous tension soon lead to a nervous giggle..... Mabel couldn't stop herself.

"What's so funny?" Jack asked.

"Nothing Jack...well....Sally said you'd be demanding," she spoke as she disappeared behind the privacy screen at the foot of the bed. "I don't think she considered your desire for coffee."

" Huh?"

Returning in her dressing gown Mabel was surprised to discover she was quite comfortable with her new husband. She continued, "..... Marie said the first night was the worse, but not as bad as a gunshot wound... and Sally said you'd buy me a new hat."

"What?...You discussed our weddin' night with them!" the marshal was horrified that anyone would speak of the subject at all.

" They discussed it with me Jack.... I wish they hadn't," she replied, " They made it sound so awful."

The marshal was obviously uncomfortable talking about such private matters, " Yah...." he said as he poured a coffee, "Well......I ain't promisin' ya nothin'.....I ain't......ya know......it's bin a while."

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Later....lying there in the darkness, Mabel snuggled close to her husband and nuzzled his neck.
' How could Marie and Sally have been so wrong?' Mabel would have to tell them about their dreadful mistake.
' No... she couldn't.... Jack would never forgive her for discussing something so personal.'
This was one secret she would have to keep to herself, but she longed to tell them how wrong they were, how wonderful Jack really was.....suddenly she started to giggle again.

"What in tarnation are you laughin' at now woman?"

"I think I'm going to buy you a new hat tomorrow Jack."