Chapter 20

The day of the party, Nick arrived at the hotel around noon, but Lily and Emma refused to let him anywhere near Grace.

“It’s bad luck, cowboy,” Lily said, wagging her finger at him.

“We’re already married,” he reminded her.

“Not the Harvey Way, you’re not,” Emma chimed in. “Now scoot. We’ve got a lot to do and not near enough time to get it done.”

He thought about heading over to the saloon where Slim and the others were quenching their thirst, but he wasn’t in the mood for any more of the good-natured ribbing he’d suffered through the night before in the bunkhouse. Besides, he was wearing his best suit and shirt, not to mention a collar that was far too stiff and tight for his taste. He wasn’t about to risk having beer spilled on any of it. He wandered out to the veranda that surrounded the hotel and was surprised to see John Lombard sitting in one of the rocking chairs.

“Nick! You look like you could use a drink. All I can offer is a glass of this lemonade.” He nodded toward the pitcher on the small table beside him. “Help yourself and have a seat.”

Nick did as his boss suggested. “Long day,” he muttered as he downed the lemonade and then refilled his glass.

“I expect it seems that way,” Lombard said. “Truth is, it’s no longer than any other.” He set his chair to rocking and stared out at the horizon. “I remember the day I married Rita. I thought we’d never get through it.”

“Grace and I are already married,” Nick said, wondering why it was he seemed to have to keep reminding everybody of that. “So I don’t understand why—”

“It’s the ladies, Nick. They do love their little superstitions—traditions, they would call them. My advice? Play along. And because you and Grace are just going through this for her folks and friends, all you have to do is relax and enjoy the celebration.”

Nick grunted.

“You want me to get started with the branding tomorrow?” he asked after a while.

“It’ll wait. Next week’s plenty of time.”

“What about that outfit you had me look into out in California?”

Lombard studied him for a moment and then smiled. “Okay, Nick, let’s talk business—and get your mind off whatever’s got you jumpy as a cornered jackrabbit.”

An hour later, Nick saw Aidan close the doors to the dining room and post his assistant manager as sentry with strict orders to allow no one in. Nick’s mood darkened like thunderclouds over the mountains. All this fuss when what he thought he’d agreed to was a simple repetition of their vows, a short reception to follow, and then they could be on their way home to the ranch—and to christen their cabin by the falls.

He loosened the collar that was beginning to feel like a noose, shoved his hands in his pockets, and paced.

After what seemed like forever, the door to the room where Grace’s parents were staying opened, and Mary Rogers slipped out. She headed across the lobby to the reading room.

“Ma Rogers,” he called out, drawing the attention of a few hotel guests lingering in the lobby.

Grace’s mother glanced from him to the closed door and back again. “Nick, why don’t you keep Jim company while I go help Grace get ready?” She took his arm and steered him back to the room she’d just left. “Go on now. It will help pass the time,” she assured him.

She stopped just shy of shoving him into the room before shutting the door behind him. From the bed, he heard Jim Rogers let out a combination of chuckle and cough.

“It won’t be long now,” his father-in-law assured him once he’d cleared his lungs.

“It’s a circus,” Nick grumbled.

Jim motioned for him to come closer. “Want to help me with a little surprise for Grace?”

Nick nodded. Right about now, he’d do whatever it took to get his mind off things he clearly could not control.

* * *

Grace stood before the floor-length mirror. Emma knelt at her feet, a row of straight pins clenched between her lips. Lily circled her, a frown drawing her usually laughing mouth down at the corners. Grace’s mother stood to one side, one hand resting on her cheek as she slowly shook her head.

“It just doesn’t look like a wedding gown,” she observed.

“That’s because it’s a tablecloth, Mama,” Grace said. “Lily, I love that you’re so inventive, but a tablecloth?”

“It’s lace, and it’s white,” Lily replied. “Well, almost—a few minor stains no one will see.”

“How you ever persuaded Jake to let you have this—much less cut it up for a gown—is beyond me,” Emma muttered. “Turn,” she ordered.

“Jake pulled it from the discard bin. It was his idea to use it for your wedding dress. Aside from the stains, there are some tears, and you know the Harvey rule—nothing but the best, so no mending the linens. Discard and replace.”

“What would any of us do without that man?” Grace said as she followed Emma’s instructions and turned. “On the other hand, I could always wear what I wore when Nick and I married the first time,” she pleaded.

“No. You can wear that for the trip to the ranch,” Lily replied flatly, and then she smiled. “I’ve got it.” She nudged Emma aside as she began removing the pins, allowing the fabric to fall in a heap around Grace’s feet.

“Lily, the clock is ticking,” Emma reminded her.

“Or I could wear this lovely jacket Bonnie loaned me and a plain navy skirt,” Grace said, continuing to offer suggestions. The jacket was made of a cream-colored heavy cotton faille fabric with a high neck and long sleeves, each finished off with lace trim.

Lily ignored her, examining the tablecloth, turning it this way and that. Then she gave a yelp of victory, found the center point, and placed it against Grace’s waist. “Hold that right there,” she instructed. “Emma, take this end while I take the other.”

As if Emma had seen Lily’s vision, the two women drew the fabric tight and began pinning the fabric onto Grace’s corset to fashion it into a skirt that fit Grace’s slim waist and fell straight to the tops of her shoes. The scalloped edges of the fabric accented the hem. In back, they arranged the fabric into a cascade of ruffles—not quite a train, but certainly elegant beyond anything Grace had ever imagined. They held the faille jacket for Grace to slip into and helped button the front.

“Ta-da!” Lily stood back and admired the result.

“You have missed your calling, Lily,” Mary Rogers said. “It’s beautiful. Perfect.”

Lily stepped back and admired her work. “Let’s get it sewn up,” Emma said and set to work.

“I’ll be right back,” Lily announced.

She was gone long enough for Emma and Grace’s mother to stitch the draped tablecloth into a beautiful trained skirt. As Grace tried on the garment for one final fitting, Lily burst back into the room, clutching a package. “The finishing touch,” she announced as she tore the wrapping away and shook out the most delicate white lace mantilla Grace had ever seen.

“Lily, where on earth…?”

“I have my sources,” she said mysteriously. “Now turn around.”

When tears sparkled in her mother’s eyes, Grace knew that Lily and Emma had been right to insist she needed a proper wedding. Slowly, she turned to face the mirror and gasped. “Oh, Lily, I look so…”

“Bridal?” Emma offered.

“Lovely,” Grace’s mother whispered.

There was a light tap on the door, and Bonnie stepped inside. “Oh my,” she said when she saw Grace.

“Is everything ready?” Lily asked, glancing at the clock.

Bonnie nodded. “The musicians are here, as are the guests. Nick’s friend the judge just put on his robe.”

“I’ll get my hat,” Mary Rogers said, her voice trembling with excitement.

After she and Bonnie left the room, Emma and Lily did one last check to be sure everything about Grace was perfect. “Thank you both,” she murmured. “I am so blessed that I sat down with the two of you that night.”

Tears welled in the eyes of all three Harvey Girls as they hugged each other.

“Come on, Lily,” Emma said. “Grace, wait here, and we’ll come get you when we’re sure Nick is in place.”

After they left, Grace couldn’t resist taking one more look in the mirror. A moment later, the door opened, and Bonnie, dressed in her uniform, smiled. “Ready?”

“I…”

Outside the door, all the Harvey Girls, including Polly, had lined up at the double doors leading into the dining room, all in perfectly pressed uniforms. Jake ushered Grace’s mother to her place, and then her father—seated in a wheelchair with Aidan pushing—emerged from the guest room.

“Papa?”

“You didn’t think I’d miss a chance to give away my daughter, did you?” he said. “Aidan, if you please, let’s get these young people married—again.”

Bonnie handed Grace a small nosegay of flowers and then nodded to Lily, who led the Harvey Girls down the makeshift aisle. Grace took hold of her father’s hand, keeping pace as Aidan slowly wheeled him into the dining room. He paused in the doorway, waiting until all the girls had taken their places.

And that’s when Grace saw Nick. He had slicked back his hair, and Grace smiled as she thought what fun it was going to be to muss it up again once they were alone. But her smile faded when she realized that Nick was scowling, digging his forefinger between his neck and collar.

When his gaze locked on hers, his features softened, and slowly—like a desert sunrise—he gave her that smile that had set her heart fluttering that first day on the train. They’d have their fair share of challenges to be sure, but they would face them with a love that had already proven to be indestructible.

She’d left home seeking the opportunity to help her family with the hope of finding some adventure in the bargain. Little did she ever imagine that in becoming a Harvey Girl, she would find both and a good deal more—dear friends she would cherish for all her days and, best of all, the love of her life.