The Hopechest Bride (17 page)

Sophie whispered in Emily's ear, “Our dad, one big soft, squishy marshmallow. Come on, Emily, Josh is waiting, and I don't think he's a patient man.”

Emily saw her not very patient man as she walked into the living room of the Hacienda de Alegria on her father's arm. He stood with the minister, just in front of the huge fireplace, wearing a tuxedo he'd just bought and new snakeskin cowboy boots that had come courtesy of the boot company whose products he endorsed. He looked tall, and handsome, and scared out of his mind.

Emily smiled at him, and he looked at her, blinked, took one involuntary step forward before waiting for the small procession to make its way past the rented chairs, then held out his hand to her.

Joe took Emily's hand and placed it in Josh's as the minister asked, “Who gives this woman's hand in marriage?” He answered, “Her mother and I,” before joining Meredith in the first row of chairs.

“You're the most beautiful woman in the world,” Josh whispered as he and Emily turned toward the minister. “And I'm the world's luckiest man.”

 

Emily and Josh planned to fly to New Mexico in the morning, rejoining the rodeo tour as Josh made
his farewell appearances, which would last for the next few months. They could have waited until the spring to marry, but the idea of being separated again, even for a moment, weighed heavy in their decision.

Emily stood to one side of the small, cleared spot that served as a dance floor, and watched as Josh danced to piped-in music with a clearly infatuated Tatania, knowing it would soon be time for them to leave, as they had booked the bridal suite at a hotel close to the airport.

“Tatania's having a good time,” Martha said, her face glowing with motherly pride. “I think she's danced with every man here, the little minx.”

“How is she feeling?” Emily asked, moving her weight from one foot to the other, as her new white satin high heels were beginning to pinch. All she wanted now was to get out of this gown and into comfortable clothes, all with the hope that Josh would soon get her out of them again.

“Better,” Martha answered, looking at her daughter. “But I'm so glad that Blake agreed that I could bring her home with me, to our new home. There are so many children down with that flu at Hopechest. I'm glad she isn't around all those germs.”

“Yes, Rebecca says they've got their hands full right now. The flu, you say? So that's what it is?”

“So far, that's what it is,” Martha told her, sighing. “Even though she's getting rest and lots of chicken soup, don't you think it strange that Tatania got so much better once she was away from Hopechest? Oh,
never mind. Blake's on it. We'll have an answer soon.”

“I'm sure you will,” Emily said, kissing Martha's cheek. “Have I told you lately how grateful I am that you were here for me, to listen to me, to be my friend?”

“That's a two-way street, Emily. The Coltons have changed my life, and I'm eternally grateful.”

“Mom and Dad. They did it all. Aren't they wonderful? What time is it, Martha?”

“Are you thinking the same thing I am?” Martha asked, coming to stand beside Emily. “Dinner's over, the cake's been cut, you've tossed your bouquet, which Tatania caught, and Josh threw the garter, which Max caught, then promptly stuck on his head. I'd say it's time, wouldn't you?”

“Yes, Martha, I would,” Emily agreed, looking toward the dance floor, where her mother and father swayed together, Meredith's head on Joe's shoulder. “I'll alert the minister.”

“And I'll go find Inez, who's probably loading another tray of goodies for everyone. After all, she's the one who first gave me the idea.”

A few minutes later, Rand crossed to the fireplace and signaled that River turn off the stereo system, then clapped his hands to gain everyone's attention.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, smiling at the small company of friends and family, “we've had a lovely wedding, and the family thanks you all for coming. We've welcomed a new member to our family today and heard him and Emily exchange the vows
that will sustain them through the years, the good times and bad, the happy times and the sad. Vows,” he continued as his wife, Lucy, joined him in front of the fireplace, a bouquet of tiny pink rosebuds in her hands, “spoken from the heart. We say them when we marry, we live them as we grow together, move together through those years.”

“Oh, my, he's very good,” Martha whispered in Emily's ear as Josh came to join them. “I just know I'm going to cry.”

“Mom? Dad?” Rand went on, motioning for her parents to come forward, join him. “We weren't there when you said those vows to each other, but we've seen how well you've lived them. We'd all be proud, and grateful, if you'd renew those vows now, in front of your children and your grandchildren, who weren't around the first time.”

“Oh, Rand, no,” Meredith said, burying her head against Joe's shoulder as Lucy handed her the bouquet.

“Mom, I'm the oldest,” Rand reminded her jokingly. “The way I've heard the joke, that means I'll choose your nursing home. So maybe you'd better keep me happy.”

“Joe?” Meredith asked, looking up at her husband as the minister, still nibbling on a bit of Inez's cake, made his way to the fireplace. “Should we?”

“If you'll have me, Meredith,” Joe told her, raising both her hands to his lips, kissing them. “But if you want me down on my knees, to propose again, just remember I may not be able to get up again.”

And so, with laughter, and also with tears, the Colton family gathered around the fireplace, gathered around the two people whose dreams, whose vision, had built the Hacienda de Alegria, the House of Joy, and filled it with children of their bodies, children of their hearts.

“I, Joseph Colton, take thee, Meredith Portman…”

“I, Meredith Portman, take thee, Joseph Colton…”

“For better, for worse, in good times and in bad.”

“…for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.”

“…to love, and to cherish, for all the days of our lives…”