Ellen smiled and touched the small mother-of-pearl buttons that started at the high collar of her pearl-blue velvet gown and continued down the bodice to the wide band at her narrow waist. The garment was elegant. And warm. An important plus on this cold February day.
She turned her head and looked through the snow falling outside the parsonage window to the blanket-covered bay gelding harnessed to Daniel’s new cutter waiting in front of the church to carry them to their new home. Her stomach fluttered. She took a deep breath.
“Hold still, Ellen.” Her mother settled the strip of pearl-blue velvet that matched her gown around the base of the curls piled at her crown, tied it in place and stepped back. “Let me see the front.”
The long skirt of her gown whispered softly as she turned. Her mother nodded. “You were right about not adding flowers to the band or gown, Ellen. The elegance suits you. You look beautiful. And...happy.”
“I am happy, Mother. I never knew I could be this happy! I only wish Father—” She stopped, determined not to let her father’s rigid refusal to accept and bless her marriage to Daniel spoil her wedding day. “Thank you for my gown, Mother. I’m sorry that making it for me caused dissension between you and Father.”
“You’re my daughter. It’s my place, my privilege and my joy to make your wedding dress. If your father cannot see that, well...then he is more blind than I have been.” Her mother drew a breath, released it. “I’ve been wrong, Ellen. I can see that when I look at your happiness. And I’m thankful you spurned our advice and followed your heart.” Her mother’s eyes shimmered with tears. “Daniel is a fine man, Ellen. I see that now. And I hope, one day, you will both find it in your hearts to forgive your father and me for the years of happiness we stole from you.” The tears overflowed. Her mother took a hesitant step forward and pulled her into her arms. “I love you, Ellen.”
She couldn’t remember ever being in her mother’s arms or hearing those words. Her mind grappled with the unfamiliar, accepted it. “I love you, too, Mother.” The words were foreign to her tongue, but they tasted wonderful.
“Now—” her mother released her, stepped back, blinked her eyes and lifted her chin “—there is still a little time. I’m going home and have a talk with your father.”
She stared, stunned speechless as her mother picked up her coat and bonnet and marched out the door.
* * *
The church bells rang.
Cole Aylward smiled, crooked his arm. “Ready?”
She took a breath and nodded, slipped her gloved hand through his arm and walked with him down the parsonage walkway to Main Street. “Thank you for escorting me, Cole.”
“It’s my pleasure.” He took her elbow, helped her up the church steps and opened the door. “This is fine practice for when I will escort Sadie’s and my daughters down the aisle.”
“Daughters?” She gasped and looked over her shoulder as Cole removed her cloak. “You mean— Is Sadie—” His grin was all the answer she needed. “She didn’t tell me.”
“She hasn’t seen you since she found out.” He hung her cloak on a peg, opened the door to the sanctuary and waved his arm. The hum of voices stopped. He came back and offered his arm again.
She slipped her hand through it and squeezed. “I’m so happy for you both!”
He grinned and nodded and they stepped through the door into the sanctuary. She paused, stared. There wasn’t an empty spot in the church. The pews were filled with villagers and townspeople pressed shoulder to shoulder. The aisles along the outside walls were packed full of the overflow, along with loggers and teamsters and their families. Her heart swelled with pride. They were all here for Daniel. Everyone loved Daniel. But not as much as she did. No one could.
Callie and Ezra sat with Sophia Sheffield, all of them smiling at her. A radiant Sadie was beside Grandmother Townsend, who sat at the end of the pew holding hands with Grandfather Townsend, seated in his rolling chair in the aisle. He grinned up at her as they neared, lifted his good hand to touch hers and whispered, “I pray you will be as happy as Rachel and I have always been.”
Tears welled. She leaned down and kissed his cheek above his gray beard, straightened and looked at Willa holding baby Mary and smiling, her green-blue eyes sparkling. She mouthed a silent “Thank you” to her, received a cheeky grin and a silent “You’re welcome” in reply.
“She’s gonna be our aunt Ellen now.”
“How come?”
“Because she’s marrying Uncle Daniel.”
“Oh. I’m glad.”
Joshua’s and Sally’s whispers, loud in the silence, brought grins and chuckles from those around them.
She leaned down and whispered, “I’m glad, too.”
“So am I.”
Mrs. Braynard! She glanced at the other side of the aisle and caught her breath. Daniel’s mother was sitting beside her mother in her parents’ pew. Her father sat rigid and facing straight ahead beside them. But at least he was there. It was a start. She smiled at her mother, let go of Cole’s arm and stretched her hands out toward Daniel’s mother. “I’m so glad you’re here, Mrs. Braynard. I thought you were in Syracuse.”
“I’ll be goin’ back to care for Ruth. But I’ve been prayin’ for this for twelve years. I couldn’t miss it.” Mrs. Braynard’s soft, warm hand closed around hers, squeezed. A smile curved her lips, warmed her green eyes. She went on tiptoe and whispered, “You can let go of that now—you have the real one.”
She smiled and opened her hand, looked down at the lopsided heart-shaped stone on her palm. They had been so young then.... She heard a footstep and looked up. Daniel took her hand in his, his long, strong fingers folding over the stone. Her heart trembled at the love in his eyes. He tightened his grip and drew her close.
“Twelve years is a long time to wait. Let’s get married, Musquash.” His lips brushed her cheek, a promise of forever in their tender touch.
With the stone clasped between their joined hands, they stepped to the altar.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS by Lacy Williams.