Chapter Eight

      "Reverend Adams?" Joshua smiled as the parson opened the door of his study.

      "Joshua, what brings you here so early? No trouble, I hope."

      "No, not exactly," he smiled. "I have a favor to ask..."

      Walt listened carefully as the logger explained the events that had led up to this moment. When he'd finished his story, he turned to the older man who hadn't said a word the entire time.

      "So will you marry us, Reverend?"

      Walt smiled. Joshua had spoken more in that hour than he had ever heard him say at one time in the past two years. However, it wasn't what Joshua had said that convinced the man that this marriage was a good idea. It was the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice that convinced him. The parson could tell that the middle Bolt brother had committed himself to his bride with eyes wide open and a total investment of his heart.

      "I would be proud to perform the ceremony, Joshua. You say no one else knows?"

      "Not yet, and if you'd keep it a secret a little while longer we'd appreciate it."

      "Two o'clock, hmm? I must pay a call on Widow Gibbs but after that I'll be there."

      "You know how to get to the cabin?"

      "Yes, I've passed it many times."

      Joshua shook the minister's hand and handed him an envelope containing his fee along with a little extra money for the added trouble of performing a marriage on the mountain. That done, Joshua returned to the Bolt barn, set his mother's trunk in the buggy and headed over to the cabin to have breakfast with his brothers.

      Joshua paused at the front door to listen to the voices he knew so well. He couldn't distinguish their words but the deep rumble of Jason's voice and the rhythmic patter of Jeremy's were so ingrained in his being that he could almost guess what they were saying. Joshua's heart pained him a bit as he realized that this meal would be the last one they would share together in this cabin as single men. With a poignant smile and a deep breath, Joshua joined his brothers.

      As soon as Kate arrived at her parents' cabin she rushed about preparing a light afternoon meal for her guests. The next task was to head out to the forest to collect pinecones, branches of evergreen and holly to dress the cabin for the most important event of her life. That done, the energetic bride realized she would need water to wash up the dishes when the luncheon was through. Katie was returning to the cabin from the creek with a bucket of icy water when she saw Joshua heading her way. She stopped to watch him move toward her as she entertained a pleasant thought. From this day on they would belong to each other in a way that only a husband and wife could. Oh, how she loved him. How proud she was of who he had become. How amazed she was that they had developed such an all-consuming love for each other.

      Joshua stopped when he saw her gazing at him with the wistful expression that he had grown to love. There she was. The young woman he had spent countless nights praying he would find someday. Oh, how he loved her. How proud he was of the person she had become. How grateful he felt that they were choosing to honor and cherish each other for the rest of their days. Whatever changes and challenges they would face from that day forward, Joshua knew that they would accept them with grace, courage and best of all laughter.

      "Hi."

      "Hello."

      The two drew closer.

      Joshua smiled, "I hope there's nothing to this 'it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding' stuff."

      "I don't see how there could be," Kate replied. "I've always felt sorry for a bride and groom who were kept apart before the ceremony. I'm glad we're doing things our way."

      "Me too." He took the bucket from her and together they walked to the Macready cabin. "The cabin looks nice."

      "Thank-you. Did you see my bouquet?"

      "Holly and evergreen. It's perfect for my maid of the mountain."

      Kate smiled. "Did you bring the trunk?"

      "Oh, no!" Joshua struck his forehead and Kate stared at him in disbelief.

      "Joshua Bolt! This will ruin our surprise. Everyone will be here soon and there's no time to go back to get it. You didn't really forget did you?" she asked as they stepped through the cabin door.

      The logger pointed toward the corner where his mother's trunk sat tucked up against the wall. Kate turned on him with yell and chased him about the place with a large broom.

      "You tease! I ought to lock you out of the cabin for this!" she said swinging her weapon at his legs. Joshua laughed and danced his way out of range.

      "Come on, Cricket, you swing like an old lady!"

      When Katie dissolved into laughter at his wild evasive tactics he grabbed the broom handle and pulled his bride to himself.

      "That's for what you did to me this morning. Now we're even."

      Kate received his kiss shaking her head. "You are terrible."

      "And in another two hours I'm going to be all yours," he grinned. "It's not too late to back out, you know."

      "As someone once said, 'I may regret this but I have no intention of backing out'."

      "It must have been some very wise young man." Joshua pulled out his watch to check on the time. "It's almost one. We'd better get ready, love. My wedding clothes are over in my parents' cabin. It won't take me too long to get myself presentable."

      Kate lifted the lid of the trunk and brought out Jean's gown. As she admired the dress again she frowned. The dress needed to be laced up the front and buttoned all the way down the back.

      "Um, Josh, I think I might have a little problem here."

      Josh saw what she meant. "Will you to be able to get into this by yourself?"

      "The laces won't be difficult, but I've never worn a dress with so many buttons down the back. I'm going to need someone to hook them all up."

      Now it was Joshua's turn to frown. "I'm no good with those things; my fingers are too big. Maybe we should tell, Lottie..."

      "Tell Lottie what?" The familiar voice came from the open doorway. The woman held a basket filled with fried chicken and three bottles of wine.

      Katie and Joshua looked at each other in surprise then laughed.

      "What are you two up to?" Lottie placed the wine on the table. "Tell me what?"

      Kate sighed in mock irritation as she approached the woman.  "Tell you that I need your help to get into my wedding dress."

      Joshua and Katie remembered a great many of the details of that special day but the one memory that stood out above them all was Lottie's expression at that moment.

      "Your wedding dress!" she shrieked. Lottie joyfully threw her arms around Katie in a heartfelt hug.

      "Hey, I'm getting married too," Joshua commented with a sparkle in his eye. Lottie just about brought him down with the embrace she gave him.

      "I'm so glad, Joshua" she whispered to him. "So very glad."

      Lottie pulled away to take them both by the hand.

      "So, now, when are you getting married?"

      "As soon as everyone gets here," Joshua said, enjoying the newest look of astonishment on his dear friend's face. "Could I leave my bride in your care, Lottie? I have to go over to my folks' cabin and get ready and she needs help with those little buttons."

      "Of course," Lottie answered still a little dazed, "but who knows about this wedding business?"

      "No one." Kate smiled.

      "No one?" Lottie repeated in disbelief.

      "No one but the Reverend Adams," Joshua added. "Not even Jason and Jeremy know."

      "How long have you managed to keep this a secret?"

      "A week."

      Kate laughed as the excitement she'd stored up finally gushed forth.

      "He asked me to marry him on Christmas night when we were in the barn..."

      "...and she gave me a fat lip!" Joshua added. "I've decided to marry her anyway."

      "Oh, this is going to be some story." Lottie joined in the laughter. "You'd better get a move on, Joshua. The others were meeting at my place to take the trip up here together. They all said something about coming early so they could help Katie out." She looked over at the girl. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of your bride."

      "Thanks," Joshua gave both ladies a quick kiss then headed up the short trail.

      Kate turned to her friend as the door closed behind him.

      "Oh, Lottie, I'm so glad you know. I've wanted to tell you everything all week." She looked down at the dress in her hands. "I've never felt the loss of my mother or Aunt Jean as greatly as I do right now. I've heard the other reporters talking about being with a woman and after listening to them, well... Joshua is the most loving, sensitive man I know and I trust him but I can't help being just a little scared."

      Lottie smiled, taking Jean's dress from her. "I've heard those same stories for years and take my advice, sweetie, do yourself and Josh a big favor and forget them. Now let me tell you the way it really is. "

      The women discussed the ways of a man and woman as generations of women had done before a wedding from the beginning of time. As they chatted, Lottie braided Katie's shoulder length tresses and tucked a few sprigs of holly berries into the thick golden folds. Next, she dusted the girl's cheeks with powder and her lips with the pink rouge Kate had brought with her from the dormitory. Lottie then helped the bride into her corset, petticoats and gown and deftly secured every last one of those satin buttons. Lottie turned Kate around for one last appraising look, and was pleased to see that the bride was more beautiful than ever and much less anxious than she had been before about becoming Mrs. Bolt.

      Lottie adjusted the Cameron tartan sash that ran diagonally across Kate's bodice from her left shoulder to her waist. Katie had wondered if it were proper for her to wear the plaid not being a Cameron, but she was a Macready and had she a sash from her clan she would have worn it. She finally decided to wear the Cameron plaid as a symbol of respect to the woman who had borne her husband.

      "Kaitlyn Macready, you should be on the cover of Godye's Ladies Book. You're the very picture of a Scottish bride."

      "Thank-you, Lottie, for everything."

      "Are you happy, honey?"

      "Happier than I've ever been in my life." The gleam in Kate's eyes verified the truth she felt down deep in her soul.

      Tears began to form in Lottie's eyes and she wiped them away quickly. Being able to help Katie this way made her feel as though she had been given the chance to do what she was unable to do her own daughter before her wedding day.

      A knock at the door broke the sentimental moment

      Katie panicked, "Lottie, what if they're here? The Reverend won't get here until later!"

      Lottie pushed her back behind a curtain that masked a corner of the room.

      "Then we'll deal with it. Hide 'til I see who it is."

      When Kate had disappeared, she opened the door with a gasp. Joshua Bolt stood on the threshold dressed in full Scottish regalia.

      "Why, Joshua Bolt..." Lottie said as she pulled him into the cabin.

      "It was my father's," he explained proudly. "I've always planned to wear this on my wedding day. Do you think Katie will..."

      "Oh, Joshua!" Kate stepped out from behind the curtain as she stared at her future husband in awe. "You look...magnificent."

      Joshua, too, was enthralled with the charm and grace of his future wife.

      "Katie," he whispered as he circled her slowly, "you're beautiful."

      The sound of horses, buggies and merry voices outside caught Lottie's attention. She peered out the window and down the road.

      "Here they come!"

      "All of them?" Josh asked, suddenly nervous.

      "Yes. Aaron, Biddie and Barnabus, Jason, and Clancey, Jeremy, the children and Candy with the biggest cake I've ever seen."

      "She doesn't know it but she's baked our wedding cake," Katie grinned.

      "What about the Reverend?" Josh asked.

      "Nope, not yet, but don't worry. If Walt Adams said he'll be here, he'll be here."

      Joshua took his bride by the hand and quickly pulled her around the table to stand with him before the fireplace. Then the two of them held their breath unsure exactly what their family's reaction would be.

---