For personal use and select distribution only © January 2002 by S.L. Snyder
PREPARATIONS
by S. L. Snyder
Timeline: November 1874.
Horace was waiting at the school when Bridget dismissed class for the day. He went up the steps after all the children had come out and went into the school to see Bridget erasing the chalkboard. He went up to take the eraser from her and finish the job. She smiled at him.
“Thank you.”
“Welcome. Will ya have dinner with me and Samantha tonight?”
“Of course.”
“Bridget?”
“Yes.”
“I care a lot about ya.”
“I care about you too, Horace.”
“Ah….well….I…..’nough ta…..uh….. marry me?”
Bridget smiled and took Horace’s hand. “Yes, my darling, I will marry you.”
Horace put his arms around her and they kissed. “Thank ya…I love ya so much. And Samantha loves ya too. We’ll have a happy family.”
“And I love you and Samantha. But how will she feel about me as a step-mother?”
“I talked to her about it. She knows ya ain’t her real ma, but that you’ll be there for her since Myra can’t. I wanted ta be sure it’d be okay with her.”
“I’m glad.”
“And, Bridget, do you think we could have the weddin’ soon? I mean, how many of your people will come.”
“None….I mean to say, there are none. I was an only child. My parents came from Ireland, leaving their families behind. After they passed on a few years ago, I have no family in America. I have some friends in the town I taught in north of Denver, but they are old and don’t travel well. Besides them, the only friends I have, that I care to share this with, are here…the people of this town.”
“Then it wouldn’t be a problem to get married ‘fore Thanksgivin’?”
“I would love that, Horace. Just a small, simple wedding. I even have a dress I can wear. I only wore it once, when I was a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding. It’s a pale green, lacy thing.”
They had been walking as they were talking and they found themselves at the train station. Samantha saw them and came running down the steps. “Well, Papa?”
Horace and Bridget smiled at her. “I asked her, Samantha, and she said yes!”
“Oh goody!” Samantha exclaimed as she threw her arms around Bridget. “When?”
“By Thanksgiving.”
Samantha looked up at Bridget. “Can I call ya ma then?”
Bridget beamed. “I’d like that a lot!”
Michaela had gone home early because she knew Sully would be there. Amanda was watching the clinic and would send someone for her if there was a problem. It had been a quiet day and Amanda shouldn’t have to do too much. They spent a quiet afternoon doing things around the house, just being together. They were cooking dinner when Brian arrived with Katie and Benje.
“Hey, ma, pa,” Brian said as he came in carrying Benje, with Katie on his heels.
“Hello, son. Thanks for bringing the kids home. It gave your ma and me some quiet time.”
“Glad ta do it, pa.”
Sully reached out and took Benje from his arms. “Hey, big boy, how are ya?” Benje smiled at his father and laid his head against Sully’s shoulder. Sully looked down at Katie. “And how are you, Miss Katie?”
“I fine, Papa,” she giggled. She loved to have her father call her Miss Katie.
Brian set the table while Sully washed the kids for dinner. Then the family sat down to eat. “Ma, Pa, did ya hear? Horace and Miss Bridget are gittin’ married!”
“Where did you hear that?” Michaela asked.
“From Horace. I was up getting the mail from Clara when they came over from the schoolhouse. Samantha went running up to them and asked Horace if he asked her. He said he did and that she’d said yes. He told us they wanted to get married before Thanksgiving. Sam’s sure happy.”
“That’s wonderful. Isn’t it, Sully?”
“Sure is. Horace deserves some happiness.”
“I hungry, ma,” announced Katie, bringing smiles from her big brother and parents. “Time ta eat!”
“All right, Katiedid, let’s eat.”
“Ma, remind me after dinner, I brought you a letter from Grandma.”
Sully came down stairs from reading Katie her bedtime story to find Michaela opening her letter. “Benje all settled?”
“Yes. He went right to sleep.”
Michaela sat down in one of the wingback chairs as she took the letter out of the envelope.
Dear Michaela,
Rebecca and Oliver are going to Europe for a few months and will not be home for Christmas. Your
other sisters spend Christmas together with their large families, which includes their husbands’
families. In years past, the total of people they have for Christmas is over 50 and chaos is the result.
I would like to spend Christmas with your family and I would like to bring a friend. We have talked
of travelling to San Francisco and would go there after spending Christmas with you.
Please let me know if this is acceptable with you and your husband.
Your loving mother.
Michaela laid the letter in her lap and looked at Sully.
“Everythin’ okay?” He asked as he sat down in the other wingback chair.
“Yes. Mother writes that she and a friend would like to spend Christmas with us,” she said, handing the letter to Sully.
He read it quickly and looked up at her. “Whata think?”
“Well, it’s the first time she has actually asked. The children love to be around her. I would like to chance it, if it’s okay with you.”
“Honey, I don’t mind havin’ your ma here as long as she treats you okay. After Benje was born, she seemed ta be a little better.”
“Thanks to your conversation with her.”
“Huh…whata ya mean?”
She smiled. “Sully, my love, mother apologized to me just before Benje was born….you remember, when we were having dinner. I really don’t think she did that on her own. Besides, I know Brian told you that she had upset me.”
“I…well…..”
“I love you for protecting me. And I have to admit, although only to you, it’s nice to be so protected by my man.”
He smiled. “I was nice, kinda, I promise. I just told her not to be upsetting you and judging us by her standards.”
She stood up and went over to him, sitting in his lap. He wrapped her arms around her and nuzzled her neck. “I love ya much, pretty lady.”
“As I love you, handsome man.”
They heard a noise and broke apart to see Brian coming down the stairs. Michaela started to get up, but Sully held her in his lap. “Hey, son, what’s up?”
Brian looked at his parents, “Sorry…didn’t mean ta interrupt…”
“Ya ain’t. Come sit with us.” Brian came over and sat down in the chair Michaela had been in. “Your grandma is asking if she and a friend can come for Christmas. We was just talking about it.”
“Ya gonna let her?’
“Whata you think?”
“Well, if she don’t pick on ma, it’d be nice ta see her.”
“Brian, it’s not that she picks on me….”
“I know, ma. I know grandma loves ya, she just wants ya to be more like her. But she’s gotta see you ain’t her. Just like you had to see that Colleen wasn’t you.”
Michaela laughed. “I guess that’s right to the point.”
“You’re right, Brian. I think we’ll ask your grandma ta come.”
“I will send her a telegram in the morning,” Michaela said, smiling at her husband and son.
“Pa, I bin meaning ta ask ya. Katie’s bin looking at the dollhouse pictures in Mr. Bray’s store. Do you think we can try and make her one for Christmas?”
Sully smiled. “I think that’s a great idea!”
“The ones in the store are like fancy houses in Boston, but I bet Katie’d like it better if it looked like our house. Do ya think we could do that? And some furniture like ours?”
“I bet we could. I know how our house was built…”
“I certainly hope so!”
Sully put his hand over Michaela’s mouth. “Did you hear someone say somethin’?” He asked, looking at
Brian.
“I don’t think I’d be smart ta answer that, Pa.”
Suddenly, Sully removed his hand. “You bit me!” Michaela just smiled sweetly at him while Brian laughed. “Now, Mrs. Sully, no comments from you until asked! Brian, I’ll draw up the plans for the house and the furniture. Then maybe Sarah can help with covering the furniture that needs it. I know she likes to sew.”
“Hey, that’s a great idea. What’d you think, Ma?”
“I think she’ll love it. Some toy stores in Boston have little people for dollhouses. If you can tell me how big it will be before I send mother’s telegram, I will ask her to get some.”
“Hey, okay! Can we, Pa?”
“Sure. Can ya wait til tomorrow afternoon?” he asked Michaela.
“That shouldn’t be a problem.”
Michaela was in bed reading when Sully came in their bedroom. She put her book down and smiled up at him. He leaned over her and gave her a kiss. She watched him as he got ready for bed. She was still amazed, after all this time, how much she enjoyed watching him undress and put his things away.
“What ya smiling at?”
“You…..the fact that I enjoy watching you…..”
“Hmmm….I like ya watchin’ me and I sure like watchin’ you!”
He finished and climbed into bed with her. Snuggling up close, halfway leaning over her. Slowly he pulled her nightgown up and tossed it to the floor.
“Sully?”
“Hmmm?”
“Do you think after Thanksgiving, we could go to Denver to do some shopping? Just up one morning and back the next afternoon.”
“Just me and you? In Denver?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like that!”
His hand was on her waist. She reached up and brushed his hair back from his face. He lowered his lips to hers, to meet the warmth of her and her passion, which matched his. He moved so that his body covered hers. He liked feeling every inch of her against him. Again they enjoyed a kiss. As his lips moved away from hers, he licked them. “Hmm…very good.” She giggled.
He moved his lips to nibble at her ear lobs, her neck and then moved lower. His tongue licked the indent at the base of her throat, then the valley between her breasts. Then he moved his tongue up to caress one nipple and feel it harden. Then he moved over to the other nipple and treated it with the same caresses, with the same results. He enjoyed moving back and forth between them a few times.
She felt him grow strong between her legs. He rolled so that she was on top, her long copper hair covering his chest. He reached up and pulled it back from her face. She smiled. He smiled. And they shared another kiss. His arms were around her now, his hands pressing her against him. She kissed his nose and then back to his lips. As his arms loosened, she moved her lips down to his nipple and ran her tongue over it while her fingers reached up to caress his other nipple. Feeling them harden excited her.
He rolled again to put himself on top once more. She wrapped her legs around his as he slowly entered her. She clutched his arms as he thrust himself deeper. She felt the thrill of passion as his body continued to search for the depth of her. The end came in a rush of desire, fulfilling both of them.
He slowly lowered himself to rest his arms on either side of her shoulders, gazing into her eyes. She returned the
gaze, mesmerized by those deep blue eyes. She felt him leave her. Then he moved to lay on his side next to her, his arm flung across her body.
“Just gits better ‘n better, huh?”
“Yes….my love….my life…” she sighed, burying her head in his shoulder.
Sully and Michaela dropped Katie and Benje off at the Day Care center then headed for the store. They went to look at the dollhouse pictures Brian had seen. In the catalog it said the people were 1 to 3 inches tall. While they were looking, Grace came into the store.
“Dr. Mike, Sully…..how are you?”
“Just fine, Grace and you?”
“Well, Dr. Mike, I’m just doing fine. I sure like taking the twins over to Lucille’s. Much as she took care of our house, all those kids did tend to leave it a little messy. Now, you all, got any plans for Thanksgiving?”
“We haven’t discussed it yet.”
“Well, I’d like to have a big party at the café. Have anyone who wants ta come. Just need help with the food.”
Michaela glanced at Sully. He smiled. “Why Grace, we’d sure love ta be at your place. And I think the whole family’d enjoy it.”
“I plan to put up a notice in the café.”
“Well, I’ll sure be there!” Loren said.
Grace looked at him and smiled. “I kinda figured that, Loren.”
“I gotta meet McKay. Helping him with his new horses. See ya later,” Sully said to Michaela as he kissed her and headed out.
Michaela left the store and headed for the station to send her mother a telegram.
Mother; you and friend welcome; when; building dollhse for K like homestead;
need people no taller than 3 inches-can you please? Love Michaela”
“Horace, can you send this please?”
“Sure thing, Dr. Mike.”
“Clara isn’t here yet?”
“Nope. I don’t think she’s been feeling so well.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Well, I think she’s been a little pale and looks like her stomach’s hurtin’. I sent her home early yesterday. She said it was just something she ate…but I don’t think so.”
“Thank you, Horace. When she gets here, ask her to come see me, please?”
“Sure thing.”
Michaela opened the door for Mrs. Miller. “I’ll see you again next month.”
“Thank ya kindly, Dr. Mike.”
“You’re welcome.” Then Michaela saw Clara sitting on the bench. “Clara, please come in.”
“Horace said you needed to see me, Aunt Michaela.”
“Yes, dear. He said he didn’t think you had been feeling well.”
Clara smiled. “He’s such a kind man, and no I’ve not been feeling well. But I figure it’s just something I ate.”
“How long have you been feeling like this?”
“About a week.”
“Dear, for that long it’s not something you ate. I think I need to examine you.” Michaela finished her examination. “Get dressed, dear, then we’ll talk.”
Clara finished dressing then sat down in the chair in front of Michaela’s desk. “Well, Aunt Michaela, what’s wrong with me?’
“You have something called morning sickness.”
“What’s that? Is it bad?”
“No, it’s not bad…that is unless you don’t want children. Morning sickness is what can happen to some women when they get pregnant.”
“Pregnant!? You mean I’m going to have a baby?”
Michaela smiled. “Yes, dear. Some time this summer.”
“Oh, Aunt Michaela, this is so wonderful! But will I be sick the whole time?”
“Probably not. It usually doesn’t last more than a few months, if that. The best thing you can take is a cup of chamomile tea whenever you start feeling sick.”
Clara got up, went around the desk and into her aunt’s arms. “Thank you ever so much! Terrance will be so happy! I can keep working, can’t I.”
“As long as you feel up to it.”
They walked to the door with their arms around each other’s waist. “By the way, mother’s coming for Christmas.”
“That will be nice…that is, is it okay with you?”
“Yes. Sully and I talked about it and hopefully we won’t have any problems. She said your parents are going to Europe for Christmas.”
“Oh, that’s great. Mother hasn’t written me about that yet. But it’ll be good to see Grandma.”
Michaela opened the door and they found McKay sitting on the bench. “Hello, Terrance.”
“Dr. Mike. Clara, you okay? Horace said ya’d come to see your aunt cuz ya weren’t feeling well.”
“Yes, that’s true, but it’s okay.”
“Why don’t you two go into the clinic? I don’t have any patients due so I’m going over to talk with Grace.”
They went into the clinic and as Michaela turned the corner toward the café she heard a yell from the clinic, a yell of obvious happiness. She smiled, glad for Clara and Terrance.
“Hello, Grace.”
“Dr. Mike, how ya doing?”
“Fine, thank you. And you?”
“Just great.”
“I’ve come to see what you want us to bring for Thanksgiving.”
“Here’s the list of what people are saying they’re gonna bring. You decided and just put your name on the list. There’s lots of people signing up to come to the party.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“Your whole family comin’?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good.”
“Mother’s coming for Christmas.”
“You okay with that?”
“Yes. She actually asked if she could come. We discussed it and I sent her a telegram today to tell her she’s welcome.”
“That’s nice. Family’s important.”
McKay and Clara walked out of the clinic with their arms entwined and headed for the station. “I wanna shout to everyone about our baby,” McKay said.
“I do too. But it’s early yet. Let’s wait awhile before sharing with anyone except family. I want to telegraph mother right away. Grandma wrote to Aunt Michaela that mother and father are going to Europe for Christmas, so I want them to know before they go. I’ll just have to be careful and send it when Horace isn’t around. He’s a dear man but has a hard time keeping some things a secret.”
“Okay.”
“And Grandma’s coming for Christmas. In her letter she asked Aunt Michaela if it was okay and she said it was.”
“I’m glad. When your grandma isn’t trying to run lives, she’s a nice lady.”
“I know. Oh, Terrance, I love you so and I am so happy.”
“Me, too. My darling, wonderful wife.” And he leaned over and kissed her.
Brian couldn’t wait to get home and talk to his parents. Amanda had said they had left a little earlier to take the kids home. He rode Taffy at a full gallop towards the homestead. He caught up to them as they were just arriving at home. “Hey, ma, pa.”
“Hello, Brian. Is something wrong?” Michaela asked.
“Nope. Just wanted ta tell you something that’s neat.”
“What?”
“Miss Bridget asked me to walk her down the aisle!”
“Hey, son, that’s great.”
“I thought so too. And Miss Teresa is gonna be her matron of honor. And ya’ll never believe this, but Horace asked Hank to be his best man! And Hank said he would!”
Michaela smiled. “I’m very glad for them. That’s an interesting friendship….the one that has occurred between Horace and Hank since Myra’s death.”
Sully nodded. “I guess they realized they both loved her.”
“Yeah. It’s nice. I told Miss Bridget I ain’t got a fancy suit and she said it was okay because it’s not gonna be a fancy wedding. She said she already had a nice dress she wanted ta wear. And Sam is sure excited. She’s gonna walk down the aisle in front of Miss Teresa, but she won’t have flowers to throw.”
“When will the ceremony be?” She asked.
“They ain’t quite sure yet. I think before Thanksgiving.”
Horace was so pleased that Loren was now keeping wedding rings at his store. Horace hadn’t wanted to order one and take the chance it wouldn’t be here in time. He could have gone to Denver, but he wanted to wait and have Bridget go with him once they were married. And with Clara working at the station, he had more time to do other things, like go to the store while the station was open. He wanted to go while Bridget was still in school.
He went into the store and found only two ladies shopping, which was fine with him. He didn’t want too many people knowing what he was doing. He walked by and glanced at the rings, but was hoping the ladies would leave and no one else would come in right away so he could choose the ring. Soon they left and he got his wish. He hurried to the glass case with the rings. He saw right away the one he liked and at a price he could afford. “Loren, I’d like to buy that ring.”
Loren smiled and for once didn’t tease Horace. He put the ring in a small box and Horace handed over the money. “Congratulations, Horace.”
“Thanks, Loren.”
After school was out for the day, Bridget and Horace went to the church to talk to the Reverend and
Josie.
“Did you have a day in mind?” Reverend Johnson asked.
“That’s what we wanted to talk to you about. We’d like it to be the Saturday before Thanksgiving. We don’t want a fancy weddin’. And a Saturday means there’s no school. For sure we want our friends there, but anyone in town can come if there’s enough room. ” Horace replied.
“That would be fine. Who will walk you down the aisle, Bridget?”
“Brian Cooper. And Teresa Slicker will be my Matron of Honor. Samantha will come down the aisle in front of Teresa.”
“And Hank’s my Best Man.”
“Okay. Then let’s say two in the afternoon. And we’ll have a number of the benches reserved for friends, the rest for anyone else. How many rows do you think?”
“Well,” said Horace, “there’s Dr. Mike, Sully and their whole family. Grace, Robert E and their twins. Jake and his boy. Loren, Miss Dorothy and Cloud Dancing, Daniel and his family. And of course Miss Josie and your daughter. Bridget? Anyone else?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Josie, did you get all that?”
“Yes, dear.”
“Okay. We’ll figure out how many benches to set aside. I think that about does it.”
“Thank you, Reverend, Josie.”
“Yep. Thanks.”
“You’re both most welcome,” said the Reverend. “I can’t tell you how happy we are that you two met.”
While Horace and Bridget were at the church, Clara sent the telegram to her mother. A few minutes later she received a telegram for Michaela. She smiled as she wrote it down, then put it aside to take to the clinic when Horace came back.
Michaela and Sully were sitting on the clinic bench, holding hands and watching people. Clara came walking around the corner. “Aunt Michaela, I have a telegram for you…it’s from Grandma.”
“Thank you, dear.” Michaela took the telegram from Clara and read it.
Michaela; people no problem; don’t know when two other stops
but sure before Christmas. Love mother
She smiled and handed it to Sully.
“Well, good. It’s all set.”
“And Horace asked me to tell you, his wedding is the Saturday before Thanksgiving. There will be benches at the front reserved for a few people they’re actually inviting and anyone else who wants to come can sit behind. He said everyone in our family is invited.”
“How nice. Please tell him we will all be there.”
Clara smiled. “I already did.”
The day of Bridget and Horace’s wedding dawned bright and clear, but with the winter’s cold in the air. Bridget hurried over to the Reverend’s house around one as Josie had offered to help her get ready, along with Samantha and Teresa.
Hank was with a nervous Horace. “Hey, you bin through this before.” Exclaimed Hank. “Ya ought not to be so jittery.”
Horace had no answer. Just shook his head.
The front of the church filled up quickly with those Horace and Bridget had invited. Jake and Robert E keep the front benches reserved for them. By the time for the ceremony, the rest of the church was standing room
only.
Michaela looked back over the gathering. “This is so nice for Bridget and Horace,” she said to Sully.
“Yep. Lot of people like ‘em both.”
And the ceremony began. Horace and Hank stood next to the Reverend. Then Samantha entered the church wearing a light green dress that Bridget had ordered through Loren, the color very close to the one Bridget wore. Next came Teresa and then Bridget on Brian’s arm. Horace gazed at his daughter and soon to be wife with love and tears in his eyes. Hank nudged him in the side and whispered. “Not bad, Horace, not bad at all.” Which brought a wide smile to Horace’s face.
At the end of the ceremony, after the applause but before the couple walked up the aisle, Grace rose and made an announcement. “Everyone is invited to come by the café and congratulate the happy couple. There is cake, cider and Hank is providing some liquor.”
Thanksgiving came and Grace thought it was amazing how many of the townspeople had joined the meal efforts. The café tables had been pulled together and the women brought their favorite dishes. There was everything you could want to eat. Robert E, Daniel and Sully had gone hunting and supplied the turkeys. A lot of potatoes had been mashed and vegetables pulled from gardens. There was every kind of pie you could imagine and some cakes.
It was a pleasant day for friends to spend together. Reverend Johnson offered a prayer and then, as he had many Thanksgivings before, asked Cloud Dancing to offer an Indian prayer.
Sully lay there, on his side, gazing at Michaela. It was dawn on the day after Thanksgiving and barely light outside. This was one of the times he loved best. The house was quiet, the children asleep and he could spend his time looking at his sleeping wife. His heart was filled with love for her. These were the times he often thought about all they had been through together. He smiled as he thought about the first time he had taken her out to the old homestead in order to rent it to her. He remembered her falling off the horse and expecting him to help her up.
“What are you smiling about?”
“You’re awake.”
“Yes. Are you going to tell me why you’re smiling?”
“Just thinking way back, when ya fell off Bear at the old homestead.”
“And you didn’t help me up! I thought for sure you were a very rude man. And it had just been a little earlier you had scared me with that tomahawk of yours!”
He smiled. “But it wasn’t you I was using the tomahawk for. I just wanted to stop Chivington from puttin’ that sign back up.”
“Oh, I know. But for a Boston bred person, that was scary.”
“Yep….you had a lot of them scares….ain’t many from Boston high society would take to this life the way you did. I watched ya give up a lot of things ya thought. I watched you change ways of thinking. You’re some lady!”
“Only because you were always there. Even when I sensed you didn’t approve, you still stood behind me.”
“I loved ya then and I love ya now.”
“And I love you, my mountain man.”
ONLY YOU
Loving others is so easy when you're near,
Because you are my compassion.
To touch Heaven is so thrilling when you're near,
Because you are my angel.
The fragrance of Spring is so gentle when you're near,
Because you are my rose.
The warmth of the sun is caressing when you're near,
Because you are my light.
The beauty of the world is enlightening when you're near.
Because you are my all.
The joys of life are my pillow when you're near,
Because you are my strength.
Life is the jewel of my being when you're near,
Because you are my heart..
B.A.WhiteKnight
The End
Send all comments to me at thorcatfic@yahoo.com.