“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Reverend Abernathy’s voice rang through his huge church. With so few guests in attendance, the voices and the music reverberated all the way to the back.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Joshua smiled down at Amelia and lifted the short veil from her bonnet.
She watched in anticipation as he lowered his lips to hers. The loving kiss thrilled her. She moved closer to him and he kissed her once more.
“May I present Major and Mrs. Hawthorne?” The elderly minister nudged Joshua. “There will be time later for that sort of thing, son.”
The guests only filled the first three pews of the Methodist church. They all overheard Reverend Abernathy’s comment. When Amelia and Joshua turned to face them, the small crowd burst into delighted laughter.
Amelia could feel her face heat. Goodness, I’m already blushing.
They were surrounded by the friends, all of them wishing the best for the couple. Mariah, dressed in her Sunday finery, brought Dougie to them. Amelia only had time to caress his cheek, when he reached out to Joshua.
“Unca Josh!”
The groom took his stepson into his arms. “Did you like the wedding, Dougie?”
The little boy shrugged his small shoulders. “Are we gonna get cake now?”
“That we are.”
“Good,” said Dougie. “I’m hungry.”
The crowd followed them outside to their waiting carriages. After a short ride, they arrived at Ellen’s home for the reception. Dougie sat beside Mariah and sighed as he ate his cake, getting as much smeared on his face as into his mouth. He giggled when Mariah wiped his face as he turned his head this way and that.
In the warm room decorated for Christmas and the wedding, the adults stood together in groups and toasted the couple with champagne.
Mrs. Truman, one of Ellen’s friends approached. “Mrs. Hawthorne, that dress is such a lovely shade of green. Who would have thought of a wedding gown in Christmas green? But I must say it looks lovely on you.”
Amelia smiled at her. “I’m glad you like it. As a widow I’m not bound to traditional wedding garb.”
She felt Joshua squeeze her hand. “I think she looks splendid.”
“Major,” asked Mr. Truman, a red-faced barrel of a man, one of the most successful businessmen in all of St. Louis. “I understand you’re heading for Kansas tomorrow, Fort Leavenworth, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“Aren’t you a bit concerned about your wife and stepson going with you? I heard the garrison there is responsible for dealing with the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes.”
“Yes, I will be involved with the patrols to keep the trails safe for settlers traveling west. There’s talk of a new regiment being planned there to fight the Indians. But I don’t know if I will be posted with the new regiment or not.”
Amelia took his arm and leaned against him. “It doesn’t matter where you are posted, as long as we’re together as a family.” She nuzzled her head against his chest.
When the guests were gone, and Dougie down for his nap, the newly wed couple stood and looked out the window at the falling snow.
“Remember the night we met?” Amelia looked at the frosted panes.
“I do, indeed. I thought of that night often during the war. It’s one of my fondest memories.”
“It was our beginning,” Amelia cuddled next to him. “I never thought we would end up back here like this.”
He bent down to her. “I knew we would.”
“You were that determined?”
Joshua cupped her face in his hands and kissed her so deeply it robbed her of speech.
Panting, she pulled back and looked up at him, her face warm.
“Can’t we retire for the night?” Joshua stroked a finger down her burning cheek.
Amelia laughed breathlessly. “It’s not even dark yet. Ellen has planned a family dinner for us. It’s our last night here for a long time.”
“We have two hours before dinner, don’t we?”
“Yes, we do.” Her smile grew wide. “I think I’ve married a scoundrel.”
He took her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm. “Come upstairs, Mrs. Hawthorne. I need to speak to you on urgent matters.”
Biting her lip to keep from giggling aloud, Amelia answered, “Of course, Mr. Hawthorne, I have a few things to tell you, too.”
He guided her out of the room. “I promise you won’t need your gun.”
“We’ll see about that.”
She maintained her demeanor until they reached their bedroom door. Joshua swept her into his arms accompanied by the sound of her laughter and kicked the door shut behind them.
Ellen was wrong about one thing. Joshua did not get to see Amelia in her new nightgown, not then, nor later when they retired for the evening.