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Chapter Six
Katie returned to Seattle on Monday morning with the their marriage license tucked safely inside the waistband of her pantaloons. As soon as she had unpacked her suitcase she got right back to work in Aaron's shed. The editor was determined to create enough editorials to contribute to four or five editions of the paper so she and Joshua could enjoy an extended honeymoon.
When she entered her "office" she was overjoyed to see several new earthquake accounts stacked on her desk. Zac and James had been busy. As Kate proofed their reports she couldn't help but be excited. James MacKenzie was an experienced reporter who needed very little guidance from her to produce a quality news article. Even Zac's writing was getting better with every assignment. It was a great relief to the editor to know that she was leaving The Inquirer in capable hands for as long as her honeymoon and a trip around the territory would last.
Later that afternoon, Biddie Webster dropped by to fill her friend in on the latest local news. When Biddie had told her all she knew, Kate thanked her and walked her to the door.
"Biddie, would you and Barnabus like to come to a party I'm giving on New Year's Day?"
"A party?"
"It's just a simple thing. I'm asking a few close friends to join me up at my parents' cabin for luncheon and games afterwards to start the New Year out right with those I love."
"Oh, that's the sweetest thing I've ever heard. We'll do our best to be there. Would you like me to bring anything?"
"How about your spiced carrots? Everyone loves them so much."
"Why, yes indeedy, I'll just do that little thing."
Biddie beamed with pleasure as the editor saw the young matron to her carriage and waved goodbye. Now, to set the rest of her plan into action.
Kate found Candy sewing in her room and asked if she and the children would come to the celebration. The invitation was cheerfully accepted-in fact, Candy offered to make a cake for the occasion.
"That would be wonderful!" Kate smiled.
"What kind would you like, yellow, white or chocolate?"
"White, please." Kate answered trying her best not to sound too enthusiastic. "It's my favorite."
"White, it is." Candy said absently as she finished replacing the button on Christopher's vest. "Should I make a small one or a large one?"
"Well, Jason and Jeremy will be there, Biddie and Barnabus, you and the children, Aaron, Lottie, Clancey..."
"A large one!" Candy chuckled.
"That won't be too much trouble will it?"
"Of course not. Is there anything else you'll need?'
"No, I don't think so." Kate headed for the door. "We're going to have such a good time!"
"Katie, will Joshua be there?"
The girl shrugged trying hard not to smile. "If he gets back from Olympia in time."
"Then you wouldn't mind if he comes?"
Kate hated to mislead her friend but she truly wanted this wedding to be a surprise.
"Candy, Josh and I have disagreed from the day we had to share our baby toys. We probably always will but," she paused, "we're family and we love each other too much to let arguments get in the way of that."
"I'm glad, Katie," Candy sighed.
Kate hurriedly changed the subject as she headed into the hall. "You haven't seen Aaron around have you?"
"He was over at Ben's a little while ago."
"Thanks. I'll see you later!"
"Bye."
As Candy tucked Chris' vest into his bureau drawer, she also stored away all her dreams of a wedding between Kate Macready and Joshua Bolt.
Kate found Aaron out in front of the store loading his buggy with supplies.
"Hello, Mr. Stempel."
"Hello, Miss Macready. What brings you this way?"
"I'm inviting a few friends to my parents' cabin for a luncheon on Wednesday to celebrate the New Year. I was hoping you'd be able to join us."
"Wednesday?" Aaron stopped a moment to think. "I'm heading out for Auburn that day. Sorry, Katie maybe next time." He walked past her and got into the rig.
Kate's face fell. "You can't leave, Aaron."
"Excuse me?"
"I mean...I mean...We just couldn't celebrate without you. It would ruin everything...I'm fixing a meal and...well, you just have to be there."
"Katie, I'll be at the next dinner you give, I promise."
She shook her head. "It's very important to me that you're there on Wednesday, Aaron. Please, is there any way you could postpone your trip for even one day?"
Aaron was surprised and flattered to see how distraught his refusal had made her. This was the closest he'd ever seen Katie come to crying but it was the pleading in those brown puppy eyes that did him in.
"I suppose I could leave the next morning if it means this much to you."
"Oh, it does," Kate's smile was a mile wide. "You can't imagine how much it does!"
"I'll be there," he relented then wagged a finger at her, "but this had better be one terrific luncheon."
"I promise you'll remember my New Year's celebration for a very long time."
Katie practically skipped over to the saloon where she found Lottie and Clancey at the bar. They readily agreed to be part of her special event even though Clancey couldn't resist ribbing her about her inexperience in the kitchen.
As the girl left the saloon she mentally counted off the tasks she'd completed that day. The guests were invited; all they needed now was the Reverend. Joshua had promised to ask the good man to do the honors. Katie didn't know how it would happen since he was supposedly still "out of town", but she trusted him to be as true to his word as he always was.
Now, what to wear? Katie had never spent a lot of time dreaming of her wedding but when she did, she visualized herself in a gown of white satin with voluminous petticoats and a long veil just like the one her father had described her mother wearing on their wedding day in Scotland. But her mother's dress had been left behind in Kilmaron for Margaret's two younger sisters to wear. Katie sighed. The 'Frisco dress would have to do. It wouldn't be so bad. Most of the brides in Seattle were married in their best dresses. Kate thought of her 'Frisco dress and smiled. It wasn't a fancy wedding gown but Josh liked it and that was good enough for her.
When Joshua Bolt arrived back at camp early on December 31st, Jason gave him a warm welcome before placing an axe in his hands and putting him to work. Joshua relished the time he spent bringing down a tall spruce with his younger brother. Wedding jitters had claimed him half way home from Tacoma and he needed some way to work them out.
"Hey, Josh," Jeremy called over to his brother.
"What?"
"Katie's giving a party tomorrow afternoon. Do you want to come?"
"A party?"
"Candy sent me a note about it the other day. She wants to celebrate the New Year."
Joshua smiled as he imagined the look on his brother's face when he realized that he had just invited him to his own wedding.
"I'll think about it." Joshua answered, enjoying this innocent deception.
"Hey, Josh?"
"Yeah?"
"You and Katie aren't feuding again are you?"
"Not at the moment, why?"
"Candy says she's pretty excited about having us all together on New Year's Day. I'd hate to see this party of hers ruined by any arguing."
"I'll be agreeable...if she will." Joshua promised.
"Good." The men continued to swing in rhythm.
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