The next morning, Bella fussed with her hair. Rebecca had insisted that since the preacher was there they should have Sunday morning services before the wedding. It seemed as if her future mother-in-law was trying to postpone the wedding for as long as possible.
Bella really didn’t understand why. Rebecca claimed to like her, claimed to be all right with them marrying due to her answering a mail-order-bride advertisement, but she found all sorts of reasons to put off the actual event.
Church services, lunch and then the wedding. Didn’t Rebecca know how nerve-racking this was for her? She smoothed down her calico dress while looking at the pretty pink wedding dress that she’d wear later. Her hands shook. If only there weren’t so many people watching. Maybe then she’d be less nervous.
A soft knock sounded on the bedroom door. She was sharing the room with Joy, but the little girl had already dressed and gone down to play, so it was up to Bella to answer it. She took a deep breath, dreading to see who waited on the other side, and pulled the door open.
Philip stood before her. As he’d vowed, he wore a blue shirt, black jeans and black boots. His sandy-brown hair was combed into place and his blue eyes sparkled. “Can I come in?”
“I’m not sure if that is appropriate,” she answered uneasily. The last thing she needed was for her future mother-in-law to find them alone in a bedroom before the ceremony.
Philip nodded. “Then can you come out?”
Bella realized that she was as ready as she’d ever be to face today’s crowd. She’d heard wagons arriving all morning and knew there would be more introductions today than she’d ever experienced. “All right.” She pulled the door closed behind her.
He grabbed her hand and headed down the hall, then quickly darted into the kitchen. Fay, Rebecca, Josephine, Hazel and Emma were finding places for covered dishes. Bella felt she should stay and help, but Philip tugged her hand and continued through the kitchen.
Several of the ladies, with big grins on their faces, wished her good morning.
Her answer sounded weak in her ears as she allowed Philip to pull her onward. “Good morning. Evidently I’m in a hurry.”
The sound of laughter met her ears as the kitchen door slammed behind them. “Where are we going, Philip?”
“To the river to talk.”
Would they forever be heading to the river to “talk”? Bella followed along as fast as she could. Several people called out to Philip with congratulations and he responded in kind as they passed. He continued at a fast clip even after they were out of the yard and into the woods. What could he possibly want to talk to her about that was this important?
As soon as they were at the water’s edge Philip stopped and turned to her. “You don’t want this large wedding, do you?” he asked.
Bella shook her head. “It terrifies me to think I have to stand in front of all those people and say anything, let alone ‘I do.’”
“What if I told you I know how we can get out of a big wedding and still get married today?”
“I’d say you are insane. There is no way your mother is going to let us cancel this wedding.” She shook her head. “No way.”
Philip laughed. “Yes, there is. I’m going to convince Seth to help us and talk to the preacher about doing a small ceremony, after all the guests have gone home.”
Bella couldn’t believe that Philip could pull off such a feat. She gaped at him. “How?”
“Well, last night after everyone had gone to bed, I heard Ma say that she’s always dreamed of the wedding she is giving us. Then I remembered her wedding to Seth was a small ceremony. So, I’m going to explain to Seth how you feel. At the last minute, I’m going to ask Ma to come to the back with me and then I’m going to walk her down the aisle to Seth. They can get married again and then he can whisper to her that as soon as all the guests leave, you will get the small wedding you want.”
Bella clapped her hands together. “Are you sure she won’t get angry?”
“No, she’ll be so overwhelmed by the attention she’s getting that she’ll just agree and then we can have a quiet wedding with family. Ma will get to see me married and she’ll be thrilled that Seth is so romantic.” Philip grinned down at her.
“So, are you ready to help me put this together?” he asked.
She didn’t know. It all sounded sneaky to her. What if Rebecca got angry? Told her to get herself down to that altar right then and there? Then what? Her embarrassment would be triple what it was now.
But if it worked as Philip thought it would, Rebecca would be happy, she would be happy and the preacher would get paid for two weddings instead of one and he’d be happy. She nodded. “What do I do?”
* * *
Everything was going according to plan. Sunday services and lunch were complete. Now everyone was headed into the barn. Bella held her breath as Seth made his way to the front. She allowed Rebecca to fuss over her dress one last time and then watched as Philip approached.
He stood tall and confident as he said, “Ma, I’ll escort you to your place of honor.”
She nodded, gave a teary-eyed look to Bella and then placed her small hand in the crook of her son’s arm. Rebecca stood tall as she walked down the aisle. All eyes were upon mother and son as they went.
Bella saw Philip lower his head and whisper in Rebecca’s ear. Her head shot up and she searched his face. Then she looked to the front, where Seth and Andrew stood. Rebecca quickly turned to look at Bella, who offered what she hoped looked like a happy smile and nodded.
Rebecca allowed herself to be escorted to the front, where her husband waited. With a sigh, Bella slipped into the back row. She couldn’t believe how easily Rebecca had allowed herself to be moved into the position of the bride.
Murmuring among the guests began. Confusion laced their faces. Bella felt sure they were speculating on what had become of her and Philip’s wedding.
Bella continued to watch Philip and his mother, refusing to meet anyone’s gaze. Rebecca hugged her son before turning to face her husband.
As soon as Rebecca and Seth faced forward, the preacher cleared his throat and said, “Dearly beloved, today we are all in for a nice surprise. Philip and Bella have decided to give Rebecca and Seth the wedding they have always dreamed of. The young couple will be married at a later time. So today we are here to reunite this man and this woman in holy matrimony…” His voice continued on.
Bella focused on Philip’s back.
He stood ramrod straight and was soon asked, “Who gives this woman?”
Then he said, “I do.” He turned around and walked back to where Bella sat.
When all eyes were on the couple being married, Philip leaned over and whispered, “See? I told you it would work. Look how happy she is.”
Bella shook her head. “We can’t see her face. She might be ready to wring both our necks when this is over,” she hissed back.
“No. She’s happy. She even thanked me.” He sat back with a look of satisfaction on his handsome face.
Bella thought about how easy it was for Philip to make things go the way he wanted them to. Did he do that with everyone? Would he manipulate her in the future?
She pushed the worrisome thought away and focused on Caleb and Mark. The two little boys stood behind Andrew making funny faces at the crowd.
Unlike her, the two boys loved all the attention they were getting. Joy stood on the other side behind Rebecca trying to get them to stop, which made the guests chuckle softly.
As soon as the ceremony was complete, the guests all rose to wish the happy couple well. The Young family, both men and women, began to clear away the seating. They scooted the homemade benches and chairs against the walls and stalls of the barn.
Soon the fiddle players took their spots and began to play a soft tune. Seth and Rebecca were the first couple on the dance floor. Everyone watched for several moments before joining them.
Philip came back and held his hand out to Bella. “Just one dance.” He grinned.
How could she refuse? He’d made it possible for her to avoid the big wedding. His blue eyes shone down on Bella as he led her into the flowing dance steps. He twirled her about the dance floor, leaving her feeling breathless.
As soon as the music stopped, Philip walked with her to the refreshment table. “Where did you learn to dance like that?” Bella asked as she picked up a prepoured punch glass.
“Ma taught me. She taught us all.” He grabbed a cup and took a big drink.
Bella looked to where Rebecca and Seth stood. Several people surrounded them. She assumed congratulations were being offered. She looked around the room, where the other brothers were dancing with young ladies. Not seeing Andrew or Emma, her gaze began to search the barn. Andrew had told Bella that he intended to ask Emma to marry him. Was he doing that now?
After several long moments, she spotted them standing beside the door talking to the preacher. Bella smiled as she watched as the three of them left the building.
“Now, isn’t that interesting?” Philip said close to her ear.
She glanced sideways at him. “What?”
“Big brother Andrew and his sweetheart just left with the preacher.” He grinned at her, then set down his cup. “Let’s follow them.”
“Why?” Bella put her cup in the tub for dirty dishes.
He grabbed her hand and tugged at it. “Why not?”
She allowed him to guide her across the barn floor and out the door. Andrew and Emma were nowhere to be seen. Bella thought she knew where they had gone, but she wasn’t sure.
Philip asked, “Where could they have gone?”
Bella looked toward the hidden path that ran behind the outhouse. She grinned.
His gaze followed hers. “Not behind the outhouse.” He shook his head. “The preacher was with them.”
Philip looked so downhearted at having lost his brother and Emma that Bella giggled. “Oh, come on, nosy britches.” This time she was the one doing the tugging. “But be quiet. I don’t want to get caught.”
Together they followed the little trail Emma had taken Bella down before. Just before entering the clearing where Andrew had created Emma a special place, they heard the preacher’s voice.
“I’m sorry, folks, but you don’t have any witnesses.”
Philip whispered, “Witnesses?”
Bella nodded.
Philip stepped out into the clearing. “What do they need witnesses for?” he asked.
Emma turned with a gasp.
Bella wanted to throttle him. Why couldn’t he just be still for once and wait to see what was going on? She followed him into the clearing.
Andrew looked at his brother and scowled. “What are you two doing here?”
“Following you,” Philip answered. “What are you two doing here?”
The preacher looked from brother to brother. He seemed to have forgotten that Philip had asked him a question.
Emma looked at Bella, then a smile broke across her lips. She tugged on Andrew’s arm. “Andy, they can be our witnesses.”
The preacher finally found his voice. “Would you two be willing to stand in as their witnesses so that Andrew and Emma can get married?”
Philip smiled broadly. He searched his brother’s face. “You do know Ma will have your hide for getting married without her.”
Andrew nodded.
“And everyone says I’m the rebel.” Philip looked to the minister. “I’ll be a witness.”
All three of them turned to Bella. “I don’t know. What about Rebecca? She’s going to be so angry at us all.”
Emma separated herself from Andrew. “She might for a little while. But we really want to get married and Preacher Pruitt isn’t going to be back for at least six months.”
“Well, instead of making Rebecca angry, why don’t we have a double wedding?” Bella turned to the preacher. “Would you mind marrying them at the same time you marry us?”
A smile lit up his face. “That sounds excellent.”
Bella turned to Emma. “Do you mind?”
Emma looked to Andrew. “I don’t, if Andy doesn’t.”
Andrew walked over to them. He put his arm around Emma’s waist and gently pulled her to his side. “I don’t care how we get married. I just want to marry you.”
Philip was the only one who didn’t look happy at the prospect of a double wedding. Bella frowned. “Philip?”
“What’s the matter, little brother? ’Fraid I’ll steal your moment?” Andrew asked, punching his brother in the shoulder.
Philip frowned at him. “No.”
Bella placed her hand in his. “Then what is it?”
He pouted. “I was looking forward to watching Andrew tell Ma that he’d up and got hitched without her.” Philip looked up and laughed, letting her know he was teasing. This time Bella hit him in the arm.
“Well, if all that’s settled. We’d all better get back to the party before we’re missed.” The preacher walked away, shaking his head.
Bella thought she heard him mutter “Kids.”
Were they all just kids? She looked at Andrew and Philip. She’d never asked Philip how old he was, just assumed he was the same age as her, eighteen. According to popular belief she should have been married two years ago. She followed the preacher back. He was short and round, and his hair was gray. So he probably did see them as a bunch of kids.
As they reentered the yard, Bella saw a couple of wagons driving away. Other families were gathering up their children and leaving. With their departure, Bella knew that soon she’d be standing in front of Philip’s family and her nephews agreeing to be Philip’s wife. Her hands and heart trembled at the thought of marrying a man she’d met only a few days before.