*****
Ann didn’t recognize her own reflection in the mirror. The pale elegant lady stared back apprehensively as Mrs. Arp’s daughter artfully styled her short copper tresses. Thankfully the girl was quietly efficient, leaving Ann to her own thoughts.
The preparation had begun with a lavender scented bath. She had been washed, pampered and dressed in the softest of shifts. The finely woven material felt deliciously smooth against her goose-fleshed skin. Next the cream silk gown was lifted over her head. Her future husband must have an impeccable eye for detail she inwardly marveled as the gown fit perfectly. The slightest excuse of a bustle was placed in the behind to hold up the cascading train, and a wide matching bow completed the back accents.
Ann looked down at her bandaged hands. The wide cut sleeves of the dress fell over the wrappings, camouflaging her injuries. Both the scoop neckline and sleeves were trimmed with crochet teardrop lace. She had never worn anything this fine and felt every inch a princess.
Her hair fell simply to her shoulders in its natural inclination to wave softly around her cheekbones and her eyes glowed brightly on her face with unshed tears. Mrs. Arp’s daughter lightly pinched her cheeks to add color then produced a dainty vial of real perfume. As the ornate glass stopper was removed, a wafting of lavender filled the air. Ann’s senses reeled in delight as the scent was applied to the pulse points of her neck, behind her ears, and the soft spot on her neck just above her collarbones. She gasped when she felt a coolness sliding around her neck and a large, square emerald pendant rested exactly in the same area.
“Mr. Bergmann intends for me to wear jewels also?” She spoke breathlessly.
“He sent them as a wedding present to his bride with his regards, miss.” The young lady replied. “And can I suggest to ya not to call him Mr. Bergmann tonight? He is to be ya husband soon an’ a fine one he’ll be. I’ve known him since I was knee high to a jack rabbit. A good man he is, Miss. A good man.” She picked up a length of lacy material. “Can you stand now, Miss? We need to place the veil.”
Ann felt her chest swell with another large intake of air as yards of superbly laced material balanced into place on her head. A crochet circlet held it into place and Mrs. Arp’s daughter went immediately to work as she spread it out in the back. It was like a sheer cloud enveloping her entire backside then trailing several feet behind her.
“It’s too much.” Ann hadn’t realized she had spoken aloud until the young woman replied to her musing.
“Oh no, Miss. You’re a beautiful bride. Mr. Dirk will be swept off his feet this evening. Why, he’s even having a wedding portrait made this very eve. The photographer is already downstairs; he is all set up and ready to go. I wish me and Oscar could have had a wedding portrait done but…” She trailed off. “Flabbergash. ‘Nuff about me. Today is your day. You’re beautiful. I wish you many happy days ahead.” The shy girl caught a movement from the corner of her eye then discreetly excused herself from the room.
Ann looked up to speak again and was met with Dirk’s smoldering gaze. “Beautiful.” He uttered under his breath.
“Isn’t it bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding ceremony?” Her heart skipped more than one beat as she assessed his stare.
“That is but an ancient superstition borne from arranged marriages. It was conjured by fretful fathers-of-the-bride when the marriageable lady was unattractive. Rumor has it that many a groom would renege on the union when presented with an unsightly woman. Thus, enterprising fathers created the belief of bad luck, so to say, to keep the bride’s appearance a mystery until that moment when the ceremony was well underway. I imagine there has been many a man throughout time taken aback in horror when the veil was lifted for him to kiss his bride.” He chuckled. “But if you notice, you do not have any type of lace covering your face to hinder this.”
The kiss began softly as his hands cupped her face. Within seconds, she felt the tingle of lightening down her spine as his lips slashed hungrily over hers. His tongue invaded the pliable softness of her mouth and her head felt dizzy.
“Bergmann!” Her voice was raspy even to her own ears.
“Dirk.” His mouth was next to her ear and she shivered as he spoke. “That is Dirk. Or Husband. Or any other endearment you wish.”
She blushed furiously as she eased out of his embrace. The clock in the hallway chimed the quarter hour. “I must finish getting ready.” She regulated her breathing and composed her thoughts.
"Before you go, let me help you with this." He produced a large magnola flower with emerald green streaming ribbons. "It attaches to your wrist so you won't have to hold your bridal bouquet."
"Oh Dirk, you have thought of everything." She was amazed at his resourcefulness and thankful that her bandaged hands would not marr the expensive wedding portrait.
"I have tried to, Blaze Ann. It's not everyday that a woman gets married."
"I never felt I would get married at all." She looked downward in doubt. "Are you sure this is what you want to do?"
"Are you sure Blaze Ann?" His blue eyes determinedly met her gaze as he lifted her chin with his hand.
"I hope I don't disappoint." She chewed her lower lip and gazed at her hands. “My hands will be scarred for life.”
“Blaze Ann, you are perfect as you are. You could never disappoint. As you said, you are a survivor. I enjoy your company. I admire your approach to life. I feel we’ll be very compatible.”
She smiled sadly at him, wishing for more than compatible, but she was in no position to pursue girlish dreams of her youth. “Yes, I think we will be compatible.”
“The Reverend is already here as is the photographer. I have commissioned a wedding portrait to be done. I want this day to be fondly remembered.” He brushed his lips over her cheek then left.
Mrs. Arp’s daughter reappeared and helped Ann begin her descent down the winding staircase. Ann had a pain in her heart as neither Papa nor Ralph was here to escort her to her groom. Blinking back the tears, she could only hope they were smiling down from above.
Mrs. Arp was softly playing the small piano in the corner of the large study. Candles illuminated the room, bathing the deep blue wallpaper in a golden haze. The summery smell of magnolia filled the air as the blooms were floating in clear glass bowls filled with water around the room. Bergmann, no Dirk was already in place, dashingly handsome in his all black formal wear. Reverend Brown held his worn bible in his hands, smiling at the young couple. A few of her co-workers were in attendance, dressed in their Sunday best. She barely suppressed a smile when she spied Tiger stretched lazily on the brocade settee wearing a green ribbon around his neck. Yes, her future husband had thought of everything!
Her heart began to thud in an erratic beat when Reverend Brown began, “We have gathered together here today…”
The ceremony was over quickly and Reverend Brown pronounced them Man and Wife. For the second time that evening Ann felt Dirk’s lips take possession of hers. She shivered slightly as she tried to block the coming night from her mind. At least she was a wife and not a mistress. That was some measure of security to her jumbled train of thought, but doubt still niggled at her sense of reasoning. Why had Bergmann offered for her?
Her husband was soon at her side and Mrs. Arp started playing a slow song on the piano. Raising her arms around his neck, the bride and groom circled the room in sweeping movements. Her co-workers clapped happily in time for the music. She gave each and every one of her loyal friends a smile as she moved by them and they nodded their approval. Not every miner in her crew was there, but the ones who mattered were present for support. They would never understand how much it meant to her as they were the only family she had left.
Dirk tightened his grip around his bride's small waist. He felt very proud that this flame haired woman was his. A wave of possessiveness washed over him as he felt a new responsib
ility to care for her. "Do you like your necklace and ring?" He asked. "I know they are not in the latest fashion of diamond jewelry, but they seemed to suit you."
"They are beautiful. They are more than I ever imagined." She preferred the green stone to a diamond.
"I mined them myself."
Her eyes widened in surprise. "You dug these huge stones out of the earth?"
"Yes. Mr. Raht made sure I was educated in every form of mining before sending me here. These stones are special because they were mined in Raht's homeland of Germany. They were among my first real finds. I had them cut into a matching set, mounted in jewelry, and put them away for my future wife. As I grew up in the care of the Rahts and without any true parents, I knew I didn't have my mother's ring to pass to my wife."
"They are perfect." The couple broke apart then began to converse with their guests. Everyone in attendance gathered around when the photographer began setting up his equipment, arranging the candles, and posing his subjects. Having a tintype portrait made was a novelty in the area as none could afford the luxury and the process was an amusing diversion for the guests. Once the bride and groom were posed to the photographer's satisfaction, they were required to hold their pose for several minutes for the image to take onto the thin iron plate. As everyone collectively held their breath, the photographer announced the final product was finished. After he slid the portrait into a lacy paper sleeve, everyone gathered around to admire the somber looking couple.
Ann was the first to comment. "I appear to have been sucking on a lemon, husband. I wonder if our ancestors will feel we are a most unhappy couple?"
"Nonsense. You look every inch a beautiful bride. The groom wears a telling smirk, if you look closely.." Indeed he had maintained a hint of a smile during the entire process. "Our future relatives will know we were most happy couple." He honestly hoped this would be the case.
"And why does my groom wear such an expression in our wedding portrait?" She smiled brilliantly at her husband.
"He was imagining his wife in breeches." Dirk answered honestly as it was a vision that had haunted him ever since he learned Blaze's true gender. "I will insist you wear them for me again someday."
"Husband!" She swatted his arm as she admired their portrait.
I think we are a splendid couple, although I do imagine that one day a portrait will be produced in the blink of an eye and will be capable of capturing the spontaneaity of the moment." He mused.
Ann realized then her husband was a forward thinker. No wonder he was treated as a foreign specimen in the Copper Basin.
As the clock struck the eleventh hour, Dirk felt his new wife begin to falter by his side. He felt a twinge of guilt for hastening the wedding, but he knew if he hadn't made her his wife, Roberts would be insisting she fufill the terms of the loan agreement. He would never allow that low life scum to touch Blaze Ann. He caressed her elbow. "Are you ready to retire?"
Her eyes flickered with what appeared to be apprehension as she nodded.
The crowd cheered and prepared for their departures as the couple excused themselves. Ann noted that Dirk took her past her usual room and opened the door to the spacious burgundy room on the right. A massive four poster bed occupied most of the floor space and she immediately noted her toiletries had been moved to the dressing table in the corner. He kissed her cheek briefly before whispering that he would return soon.
Mrs. Arp's daughter reappeared again to assist Ann in her evening preparations. Her wedding dress was removed and her hair was brushed. She was freshened with damp cloth, the lavender perfume was reapplied, and then she was dressed in the sheerest peach nightgown she had ever seen. Crossing her arms over her chest, she was mortified to feel so exposed.
"Is there a wrapper to go with this gown?" She self consciously questioned.
"Yes Mrs. Bergmann. Here." The young girl drew a matching sheer jacket over her shoulders.
Ann surveyed her reflection in the mirror, noting that the wrap provided very little coverage.
"Good night, Mrs. Bergmann." The girl prepared to exit.
Ann almost stopped her but knew she would just be delaying the inevitable. She moved to the center of the large bed and waited. Feeling uncharactistically chilled, she occupied her mind by studying the paintings on the wall. They were scenes from various lands she had never visited. The artist was very good, and she almost felt she could lose herself in the depths of the scenerey. She was drawn to one in particular of a vast, endless body of water with a shoreline of the palest beige. The trees were oddly shaped with no branches but rather spiky froths of leaves growing out of the tops of them. The water was depicted in a myriad of blues with white capped waves. Cocking her head sideways, she only knew such waves to exist in stormy weather, but in the painting, the weather was sunny and bright. Thinking back to her long dismissed education, she deducted that this must be the ocean and feverntly wished to visit it some day.
Just then the door eased open. Her husband filled the opening and was carrying a tray. "I have brought us something to eat as I know you must be famished."
It was true. She had not been able to eat much that evening due to her nerves. The smell of blackberries caused her mouth to water and he placed a small piece of pie on a plate before her. Without thinking, she reached for her fork.
"Oh no." He smiled wickely. "That is now my job." He lifted the fork as she dropped her bandaged hands to her sides. Carefully he cut a bite sized piece of pie then presented it to her.
"I am mortified, husband." Her cheeks burned with color.
"Nonsense. This is my pleasure."
Patiently he shared the pie with her bite for bite until the last piece was gone. Placing the dishes aside, he reached for another bowl on the tray and unfolded a soft white cloth.
"Now we will tend your hands." He gently unbandaged them and inspected their progress. "The burns are healing nicely and your nails are all intact. There will be some scarring, but doesn't appear that it will hinder your joint movement. The herbal concoction I am about to apply will not only help the scarring, but should make them feel better." He gently kissed her cheek. "I know you are in pain, Blaze Ann, yet you never utter one complaint." He marveled at his wife's courage.
The herbal gel did feel good to her burns and she breathed a sigh of relief. "It smells nice too. What is it?"
"Do you see that pointy green plant growing from the ground in the seaside painting?" He nodded to the canvas she had been admiring earlier. "It is called Aloe and has many healing properties."
"How do you know this?" She marveled at his knowledge.
"I spent some time with in Florida during my travels. I tried to paint as many pictures as I could along the way so I would never forget the marvels I have seen."
"You painted all these?" She again found herself amazed.
"Yes. They are modestly done. I am not an artist by any stretch of the imagination, but I treasure them as mementos of my memories." He looked at all his work hanging on the walls. "Mr. Raht has given me many opportunities. I am indebted to him for life." He then produced a pair of loose cotton gloves. "Let’s try this tonight, Blaze. You might feel more comfortable." He slid the soft cool coverings onto her hands, carefully adjusting each finger. "These may feel more normal but I do ask that you don't try to bend your fingers too much just yet."
"How do you know so much about burns?"
"As I said before, I spent a lot of time with generous people who shared their knowledge. Unfortunately in mining, there are always accidents. Burns, broken bones and lung conditions are all too prevalent. I have noted the safety precautions taken by others throughout the country and I'm trying to compile a list of the best. That's where the hard hat idea came from, and luckily you heeded that suggestion." With his ministrations complete, he set the tray aside. His eyes began to burn with desire.
Momentarily forgetting her
state of dress, or undress as she felt, she shivered involuntarily as he kissed her again. Her head began to spin and her spine tingled.
"Blaze Ann, do you understand what is to happen tonight?" He breathed into her ear.
She shook her head side to side, lamenting the lack of womanly influence in her life.
"Do not be afraid." He reassured her. "I will tend you as gently as I have your hands. Let me teach you."
She gave an apprehensive nod. Did she really have a choice?