Chapter Nine

      Katie held tightly to Joshua's hand. She wanted to imprint this moment in her memory for as long as she could. She closed her eyes to remember what she could not see. The room was filled with the smell of winter: The logs in the fire, pinecones on the mantle, fresh bread on the sideboard. She heard Candy and Biddie's laughter and the merry voices of the men she loved. The next sound she heard was of boots crunching across the new snow as the happy group approached.

      Katie opened her eyes wide to memorize the looks on her friends' faces. Candy and Jeremy were the first to enter the cabin. If Jeremy hadn't been helping his girl hold the triple layer cake, the entire creation would have landed on the floor for Candy took one look at the bride and groom and nearly fainted dead away.

      Biddie stood beside her friend and caught her as she stumbled into her.

      "Good heavens!" was all the flustered Mrs. Webster could say.

      Jason walked in with Clancey and Aaron. All three men's jaws dropped open at once. Jason was the first to recover.

      "What's all this?"

      Lottie triumphantly waved them inside.

      "Come in, come in. Barnabus, children..."

      She passed by Clancey who still hadn't moved.

      "Close your mouth, Fish face, before someone thinks you're a fountain."

      "Lottie?" Jeremy turned to his friend after steadying Candy. "W-what's going on? Josh, why are you w-wearing father's kilt and why is K-Kate in mother's gown?"

      Lottie patted him on the shoulder. "Now, you're a bright young man, Jeremy. Why do you think they're dressed this way?"

      Christopher Pruitt pried himself into the room between Barnabus and Aaron.

      "Because they're gettin' married."

      Joshua smiled, finally finding his voice. "That's right, Christopher. Katie and I are getting married. At least we will be as soon as Reverend Adams gets here."

      With that announcement the room erupted in excited chatter. Jason and Jeremy descended upon their brother while the ladies surrounded the bride. Questions and answers flew around the room like lightning as the story of this most unusual engagement was explained.

      Katie pulled Candy over to a corner as the others listened to Joshua's version of the past week.

      "Candy?"

      "Yes?"

      "You don't mind that Josh and I are getting married before you and Jeremy, or that I'm wearing their mother's dress, do you?"

      "Of course not," the redhead exclaimed as she took Kate's hands in her own. "I've been praying that you and Joshua would decide to marry for a long time. Why in the world would you think I'd mind?"

      Kate smiled. There was nothing but sincerity in her friend's tone of voice and the contented expression on her lovely face.

      "The first Bolt bride, ...it might be considered an honor...You and Jeremy have waited for so long. I'd feel so awful if anything we do today takes away an ounce of pleasure from your special day."

      "Don't you worry about that," Candy assured her. "Jeremy and I have chosen to wait until spring for some very good reasons. And about my wedding dress, Biddie and I have already started working on it. It's exactly what I want. Besides, Katie, becoming Mrs. Jeremy Bolt will be special enough for me."

      Kate gave her friend a warm embrace. "Then we'll really be sisters."

      "We'll really be sisters," she agreed.

      Aaron interrupted the ladies by clearing his throat.

      "Aaron," Kate smiled sheepishly. "Thank-you for being here."

      "Young lady, the next time you ask a man to cancel his plans, you'd better be sure to tell him why. I could have missed this whole thing and I never would have forgiven either of you if I had."

      "I'm sorry I didn't tell you everything but I knew that once I had your word, you'd be here," Kate smiled.

      "All right, you're forgiven." Aaron glanced at the Bolts who had gone outside to wait for the Reverend. "You know Katie, I told you once that you would marry a man who loved adventure as much as you do and you didn't believe me."

      "I didn't and I sure never would have believed that I'd be marrying Squid." Kate watched her groom standing just outside the doorway and smiled. "Josh and I have both changed quite a bit since then."

      "You have," he agreed. "I wish you much happiness, Katie."

      She reached up to hug him. "Thank-you, Aaron."

      Outside, the three brothers were conferring over this sudden and unexpected "Bolt brother's business".

      "Well, Joshua," Jason began, "you've decided to marry our girl."

      "I have, Jason." Joshua smiled. "What do you think about it?"

      Jason placed his hand on his brother's broad shoulder.

      "Well, I think you are doing the right thing. I just wish you'd have told us ahead of time but I'm willing to bet this was Katie's idea of one last prank."

      "Her words exactly!" Joshua laughed. "Actually, neither of us were interested in going through all the headaches that can come when the whole town gets involved in a wedding. We just want to be married and we want you all here when we are."

      Jason turned to his youngest brother. "What do you have to say about this?"

      "I think it's great. I also think you're going to have to set aside some money for a set of new clothes."

      "New clothes?" Joshua frowned. "Why?"

      "The way Katie cooks you're bound to lose ten pounds before spring."

      The brothers laughed at the thought.

      "As the Reverend is fond of quoting," Jason said, "'Man does not live by bread alone'. I imagine you're going to have the chance to prove that point, brother."

      "I want you to know that I have that little problem covered. I've hired one of Pon Lei's daughters to do the cooking for us. I talked to her about it yesterday and things are all set."

      Jason and Jeremy were impressed. A servant was the perfect answer for the busy newlyweds.

      "Reverend Adams is coming!" Molly announced as she and Chris came running up the path.

      Joshua took a deep breath. "Well, here we go."

      "But first..."

      Jason stretched out his arm before him. Jeremy rested his hand on his brother's fist. Joshua completed the gesture by placing his hand on top of Jeremy's. The bond of brotherhood--it had supported them through every trial and triumph they'd known from the time they were boys. And Jason, Joshua and Jeremy were certain it would continue to be a source of strength for them even as they chose their own paths into the future.

      Walt Adams apologized to the Bolts for his tardiness. He had tried to make an early departure from the Widow's home but couldn't seem to manage it. The woman insisted on feeding him. The men assured their old friend that his delay had worked out for the best. The guests had recovered from their shock and were now more than ready to witness a wedding.

      "Good, good. Now let me go set things up inside and we'll begin."

      The brothers spoke a while longer until Katie, emerged from the cabin wearing her veil and carrying her bouquet across her forearm.

      "Josh, Reverend Adams wants to know who your best man will be."

      Joshua turned to his younger brother. "Seeing as how you're going to be the next one to stand before the minister, maybe you should be my best man, Jeremy."

      "Proud to do it, brother."

      The two went inside leaving the bride alone with Jason.

      "Jason, I know you've done this almost a hundred times before but would you give me away to Joshua?" She looked up at him timidly. " You do think it's a good idea, don't you?"

      "It's the best idea you two have ever had," Jason smiled as he lifted her veil and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Promise me you'll take good care of him and allow him to take good care of you?"

      "I will. We've come to depend on each other so much. I promise we'll be good to each other and if ever we're not, we've agreed to let you and everyone else in there straighten us out. We want to be married for a very long time, Jason."

      "Happily ever after?"

      " 'Til death us do part," she added solemnly.

      The soft strumming of Joshua's guitar drifted out to them through the doorway. Katie and Jason listened as Jeremy's voice crooned the Christmas song Joshua had written for his bride.

      Jason nodded toward the cabin and brought Kate's left hand through his arm. "I believe that's our cue."

      Kate took a deep breath, said a quick prayer of thanks, shifted her forest bouquet in her arms and stepped slowly and confidently toward her waiting groom.

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