Chapter 19

19

" R eady, honey?" Nora asked as she poked her head around the door and smiled at Aundy.

"More than ready." Aundy gave one last glance in the mirror before lifting her veil to cover her face.

As she ventured out of the bedroom, Aundy grinned at her soon-to-be mother by marriage and strolled to the front door of Nora's house.

Dent waited to walk the bride down the aisle and gave Aundy an approving smile as she approached him.

"You're just beautiful, Missy." Dent kissed her cheek through the thin material of the veil.

"Thank you, Dent." Aundy noticed his suit and tie. "You clean up well."

Dent laughed and glanced down at his "fancy duds," looking uncomfortable in them as he escorted Aundy outside. "Maybe, but I'll be glad enough when this shindig is over to get back into my regular clothes. I can't believe you invited that old goat Marvin Tooley to your wedding. I also can't believe he came and actually looks and smells like he took a bath."

Aundy was glad the man accepted her invitation. She thought part of Marvin Tooley's problem was that he had no one to care about him. She'd taken him muffins one morning and invited him to their wedding. He still grumbled at her, but not nearly as vehemently as he had in the past.

"Everyone deserves to have a friend," Aundy said, grinning at her foreman. "Even that old goat."

"If you say so," Dent chuckled. "At least he won't make the flowers wilt with his stench."

Since it was late spring and Nora's yard was full of beautiful flowers bursting with vibrant blooms, Aundy and Garrett decided to hold their wedding at Nash's Folly.

Although they both would have preferred a small ceremony, as Aundy peeked around the corner of the house, it looked like half of Umatilla County was there to watch them exchange vows.

The only dark spot in Aundy's day was the fact that her sister had not been able to come. As soon as she and Garrett set a date for the wedding, Aundy sent Ilsa a telegram. She was thoroughly disappointed when the girl replied, saying their aunt wouldn't let her leave so close to the debut of her summer line of fashions.

Since there was nothing she could do beyond going to Chicago and stealing her sister away, Aundy resigned herself to not having any of her family at the wedding.

At least she wore her mother's wedding gown. Lightly brushing her hand along the beautiful silk of the skirt, Aundy hoped to one day have a daughter who would want to wear the gown at her own wedding. Although she and Ilsa had altered it to make the style more current and fit her tall figure, the gown was exquisite.

Aundy placed her hand on Dent's arm and nodded to him that she was ready.

When she walked around the corner of the house and down the aisle between the makeshift rows of benches, Aundy only had eyes for the tall, handsome man with the teasing smile waiting for her next to Pastor Whitting. Garrett looked quite dashing in a new gray suit that highlighted the silver of his eyes.

Still in awe of the fact that he loved her completely and unconditionally, Aundy felt overwhelmed with blessings. She looked forward to building a future with the gentle, caring man who would give her the space she required to learn and grow while surrounding her with his love and security.

All the love she felt in her heart filled her eyes as she gazed at him. Her knees began to wobble, so she tightened her grip on Dent's arm.

Nora and J.B. stood with them. Aundy smiled at the couple then winked at Nik. He sat in the front row with her men. The boy made an almost miraculous recovery from his wound. Doc said it was because he was young, strong, and stubborn. Aundy thought it was because God watched closely over one very special shepherd boy.

As she glanced down, Aundy stifled a laugh, not surprised in the least to see Nik brought along Butter. The lamb wore a blue bow around his neck and rested contentedly at the boy's feet. Two Border collie puppies snuggled against the lamb, sleeping in the afternoon sunshine.

The day Nik was able to get out of bed, Garrett arrived with two puppies, giving one to Aundy and the other to the boy. Nik took his responsibilities of training the puppies to grow up to be good sheep tenders very seriously. For now, though, the pups, like the lamb, were well-loved pets.

Garrett winked at Aundy as he took her hand, trying to convince himself he wasn't dreaming. She looked lovely as she floated down the aisle in some fashionable white confection. He wondered when she'd had time to make the gown. Maybe it was something she'd brought along with her in one of her trunks crammed full of clothes.

Wherever it came from, the style accented her curves and made heat climb up his neck at the thought of helping her remove that dress later, back at their home.

The idea of having a home and a future with the lovely, lively, strong-willed girl filled him with contentment. He patted her hand where it rested on his arm, excited to begin their forever together as he breathed in her rosy fragrance.

The pastor smiled at them both as he began the ceremony. Although Aundy had gone through the experience once before with Erik, she realized how different, how much more meaningful it was to marry the person who already held your heart.

Through the lace of her veil, she drank in the sight and scent of Garrett. From the top of his dark hair to the tips of his polished boots, he was the embodiment of every single dream she'd ever had for a husband.

Solemnly reciting their vows, Aundy held out her hand as Garrett slid the ring on her finger through the slit in her glove.

When Pastor Whitting announced Garrett could kiss his bride, he folded back her veil then locked his silvery gaze to hers. It was hard for him to believe that just a few short weeks ago, he thought he'd lost her forever, and now she was his bride. His beloved, cherished bride.

Eagerly lowering his lips to hers, he kissed her more thoroughly than many would have deemed proper. Aundy blushed furiously and his mother smacked his arm.

With a wicked grin, he wrapped his hand around Aundy's waist as they turned to face those gathered to help them celebrate their nuptials.

Garrett leaned close to her ear. His breath on her neck stirred tendrils of her hair, making her shiver in anticipation of what was to come. "You ought to know, Mrs. Nash, that I'm just getting started with those kisses."

She shot him an inviting smile over her shoulder. The look in her eyes made Garrett's blood heat as it zinged through his veins. "I'm counting on it."

Keep reading for a preview of Caterina, the next Pendleton Petticoats story!