Wade Wedding
"It's really beginning to look lovely," Ahnna commenting, turning in a
full circle to admire the abundance of flowers for
Ben Wade's surprise wedding for Liana. "Though I must admit I'm still
curious as to how all this is going to work."
"Me, too," Joimus admitted, making sure a blue iris angled out in the
the way she wanted it to for the large arrangement
at the altar. She stepped back, frowned at it, then angled it some more.
"I wasn't sure about this particular selection of
flowers at first...how they'd all work together with their vastly
different forms, but I think it looks quite nice."
She stepped down and walked up the aisle, fluffing a large white bow at
the end of one of the pews. Each pew had
its own bow with long, trailing ribbon ends and a gracefully dripping
spray of small yellow roses. Yellow roses of all
kinds were her personal favorites, so she'd especially enjoyed making
the pew decorations.
Walking to the far end of the church, she looked back up the aisle. The
window sills on both sides had giant callas
and big blue iris on them, each sill with a single blue taper in the
center and a white one on either side of it. Matching
garlands of flowers hung like swags at the tops of the tall windows. Ben
had wanted lots of flowers and lots of flowers
he got! Liana's bouquet awaited her arrival in the bride's room beneath
the sanctuary. The corsages rested in a large
white box. Everything was ready.
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Ben was pacing the living room, waiting impatiently for Liana. He was nervous as hell, although he would have never admitted it. Part of it had to do with Liana's possibly finding out that their first wedding hadn't been legal. Part of it was worrying that she'd be upset about this all being a surprise.
Surprisingly enough, though, the thing that had been the most nervous was that he was actually about to 'tie the knot' as everyone said. He hadn't worried about it the first time. Maybe it had been because the marriage wasn't legal. Maybe it had been because he hadn't loved her then?
When his wife finally came downstairs, and they were in the car, he felt a little more calm. At least things were finally in motion. He'd told Liana they were going into town, but he hadn't told her why. When they pulled up in front of the church, she looked puzzled. "What are we doing here?"
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As they got out of the car, Ben found himself taking a deep breath. The time had come to tell Liana about this surprise. With her still looking questioningly at him, he was leading her by the hand to the side door of the church.
With his usual charming smile and that drawling voice she couldn't resist, he said, "Just come inside here, darlin'. You'll see what it is in a minute."
"I've known you were planning something, Ben, but at the church? You don't even really like coming in here, so what's going on?" Liana had never been in the church's basement before, and she looked around her curiously.
Ben opened a door off to the right and stepped back for her to enter. "In here, honey," he said, with a nervous look at her. "I promised you a weddin', and it's gonna be today."
Hesitantly, Liana entered the room. As Ben watched from the doorway, she looked around at everything, including the dressing table set up with everything needed for hairstyling and makeup.
Then, she saw the dress. Walking slowly over to it, she touched it gently. Not antique, but made in the pattern of an antique. Short, bunched sleeves, a modest neckline, tiny yellow roses in a row toward the bottom of the skirt. It was a beautiful dress, one she might have picked out for herself.
"Today?" she finally asked, almost choking over the one word. "We're having a wedding today and you didn't tell me?"
"You've always loved my surprises, darlin'," Ben said carefully, not sure exactly what the tone in her voice meant. "I wanted to surprise you again."
"You have, Ben," Liana said simply. Then, she burst into tears, trying frantically to wipe them away as she heard Alistair coming down the hall.
Alistair had been deeply concerned about Liana's response to this surprise wedding ever since Ben had first broached it to him on the picnic. When he entered the bride's room he was not surprised to see traces of tears on her face. He sighed. A bride in tears on her wedding day, and not because she was overwhelmed at the moment with happiness. He walked up to Liana and gently touched her arm. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Ben couldn't ever remember feeling this helpless. Had this been a robbery, this probably would have been the part where'd he started killing off the witnesses. Was Liana sad? Happy? Angry? Hurt? He had no idea. He felt almost relieved when the preacher came in.
Liana herself was feeling some of all those emotions and a few more besides. When Alistair asked if he could help, she had no idea how to answer him. Unable to help herself, she burst into fresh tears.
When Ben reluctantly nodded and closed the door behind himself, Alistair put both hands on Liana's shoulders. "Liana, you don't have to do this if you don't want to. But if you do want to, then you need to decide that, too. The sanctuary is filling up with wedding guests and I'll be needing to let them know if there's not going to be a wedding today. I'm going to leave now and send Ben back in. Just be honest with him and with yourself. Do what's true to your heart, Liana. If that's not getting married, then that's fine. If you want to marry him but not like this, not today, that's also fine and you're not accountable to any of those people upstairs for that. But what you do need to do is let Ben know, and know clearly, what it is you want to do." Giving her an encouraging smile, he opened the door and signaled Ben to come back in. "I'll be just outside. When you're ready, give me the word and I'll handle whatever needs to be handled."
Meanwhile, Ben had been across the hall talking with his best man, Dan Evans. Not for the first time in his life since he'd known Ben, Dan was feeling a bit sorry for him. True, Ben had brought this all on himself with this idea for a "surprise wedding", but Dan could see in his eyes how much he wanted this. How afraid he was that he had messed things up. Reassuring Ben as much as he could, Dan was unsure what would happen when Alistair came out of the bride's room and sent Ben in again.
When Ben entered the room again, she couldn't meet his eyes for a moment. She'd been thinking of the surprise she had for him, too, and then, suddenly, it occurred to her that their lives had been too full of surprises. There needed to be fewer surprises and more talking. But could Ben do that?
Liana thought about last night--the way he'd at last told her about his mother. How hard it had been for him to get the words out at times, but how relieved he'd seemed to feel when he finally had finished talking.
She'd felt so elated about that. So positive that it showed he was feeling more comfortable with her--that he trusted her more. But this- A wedding without even telling her. Not letting her choose her own gown, or flowers, or any of the things brides usually did!
Rising from the sofa she was sitting on and straightening her shoulders, she crossed the room to the gown again. Fingering the hem, she said, "It's a beautiful dress Ben. Just the kind of thing I would have chosen."
Finding himself almost speechless for once, Ben said, "Darlin', if you don' wanna do this-"
Breaking into his words, Liana said. "I just wish you had given me the chance to choose it myself." Her back to him, she went on quietly, "I love you, Ben Wade. I have from the first night I met you. What you did before--the robbing, the killing- I know it ought to matter to me, but it doesn't. At least, not enough to overcome what I feel for you."
Ben had no idea what she was leading up to with this. Was there going to be a wedding today? Or had she gotten fed up with him? He was almost holding his breath, waiting for her to go on.
Wandering the room, she came to the box which held the bride's bouquet. She opened it and looked inside. Catching her breath, she lifted it out. Blue iris, yellow sweetheart roses, baby's breath. All the things she herself would have chosen.
Laying it gently aside, she turned to meet his eyes at last. Once again, tears swam in her own eyes. "You really do know me, don't you Ben?" Despite her anger and some sadness that this day had been planned without her, she was touched by the details that he had put into it.
"No," Ben said, his voice deadly quiet. "I don't. I don't know what you're gonna do right now. Since we've met, you've loved surprises. I thought you'd love this one too. I really did, darlin'."
How to tell him that this surprise was too much, was going a little too far? His eyes told her that he was agonizing over what she was going to tell him.
Finally, without a word, Liana went to the door and opened it. Seeing Alistair in the hall, she said, "It's going to take me a few minutes to get ready. Can you keep the guests occupied while I do?"
Alistair smiled and nodded wordlessly, then turned and went back up the stairs. Keep the guests occupied, eh? He'd never been asked to do that before. He chuckled. What was he supposed to do...tell jokes? He had no idea. Coming out the door that brought him past the altar, he took quick stock of the sanctuary. A lot more people had arrived since he'd last checked. Stepping out to the front of the platform he cleared his throat and announced, "I'm happy to report that there will be a wedding here today so you've not put on your Sunday best for nothing. Just be a little patient while the bride finishes getting ready and we'll be starting as soon as possible. In the meantime, Bridgid, would you come on up and play for us? She cocked an eyebrow at him and he shrugged, smiled disarmingly and added, "Just whatever you feel would suit the occasion."
Ahnna, sitting with Joimus and Maximus, covered her lower face a moment, stifling a laugh, knowing what he was doing. Then, moving her hand, she opened her
mouth and made an obvious gesture toward it.
Sing? She wanted him to sing...now? He looked at her questioningly and she nodded broadly. Sighing, he turned to Bridgid, who'd seated herself at the piano. "How about 'Looking Through the Eyes of Love'?"
When the first notes began, he was facing the entire sanctuary, but by the second line he'd nearly forgotten where he was, had crossed the platform over to the side where Ahnna sat on the front row to his left, and sang just for her.
Please, don't let this feeling end
It's everything I am
Everything I want to be
I can see what's mine now
Finding out what's true
Since I found you
Looking through the eyes of love
Now, I can take the time
I can see my life
As it comes up shining now
Reaching out to touch you
I can feel so much
Since I found you
Looking through the eyes of love
And now, I do believe
That even in a storm we'll find some light
Knowing you're beside me, I'm all right
Please, don't let this feeling end
It might not come again
And I want to remember
How it feels to touch you
How I feel so much
Since I found you
Looking through the eyes of love
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Cort hadn't been at all sure he wanted to go to this wedding. He knew,
what...three... maybe four folks who would be there.
He had, in fact, waved Joimus and Maximus off in their car, telling them he was still thinking about it. Then he'd climbed up on the top railing of the corral, hooked his boots through a lower bar, and sat there a while, watching the clouds changing shape.
He'd been here several days now and wasn't any closer to knowing how that had come about than he'd been in the beginning. It was starting to look to him like he might be stuck with that. Wasn't such a bad place, though, was it, to be stuck? Maybe it was time he gave it a bit more of a try, maybe see just who all lived around these parts. And, besides, he liked Alistair and the man would be officiating at the ceremony. He also liked the little church. Well, he liked it when it was pretty much empty. He wasn't so sure about it if it was full of folks.
What the heck! He jumped down, went into the house, changed into that suit Maximus had insisted on buying for him, and headed off at a brisk walk down the lane. He knew the way, having been there with Maximus on that trip they'd taken into the little town.
When he arrived, people were still milling around outside in little groups, so he waited in the shade of a big tree until they'd all gone inside, then he slipped quietly through the door and took a seat on the far right of the back pew. It was like he'd thought. The church was full and he felt uncomfortable, not like he had when he'd been there before. He was thinking about getting up and leaving before the ceremony started but then Alistair came out, spoke briefly, and started to sing. That got his attention and he stayed, even leaning a bit forward, trying to catch a glimpse of the young woman Alistair was obviously directing his song toward. He liked it, liked the meaning of the words, liked the expression on Alistair's face. Yeah, he might as well stay now that he was here. Might as well.
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Dan laid his hand on Ben's arm. "I'll find Toni Roberts to help Liana get dressed, and then I'll come back and help you." Ben had decided to get dressed at the church too, to keep from spoiling the surprise. He nodded, his eyes still on Liana.
When Dan had left, she closed the door and spoke to him again. "I'll marry you today, Ben. I made a promise to you last night. I meant it, and I'll keep it. But I want a promise from you too."
Grinning at her, he replied, "That's what today's all about, darlin'. Promises. I'm about to make you a bunch of promises."
Not responding to that grin, Liana remained serious. "A different promise than those, Ben. I want you to promise that, after today, there won't be any more 'surprises'. That you'll talk to me about things. That we'll share decisions."
Seeing the look on his face, she went on, "I know that kind of thing's not easy for you, Ben. I know you're used to doing everything for yourself, making all the judgments, controlling everything. But I want to help you, Ben. That's part of being married. That we do this kind of thing together."
"No more surprises." He grinned, so relieved in that moment that he would have promised her anything. "Not even little ones, sweetheart?"
For the first time, she relaxed a little. "Well, maybe... Very little ones! But nothing major like this!"
"You got my word, Liana." He leaned down to kiss her.
She stepped back. "None of that," she said teasingly. "Not before the ceremony. You'll be doing that soon enough! Now, go on and let me get ready. You sprang this on me out of the blue, and I don't know what in the world I'll do with my hair!"
"It's beautiful, darlin'. Just the way it is." Ben closed the door behind him.
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Waiting for Toni, Liana bowed her head and prayed for a moment, something she hadn't done since childhood. "God. I really do believe that You intended for Ben and me to be together." She was remembering the talks she had had with Alistair. The way his words had convinced her that this was meant to be. She went on, "If this isn't Your intention, then You'll do something to stop it. I'm leaving it in Your hands."
She thought about what she'd said to Ben. No more surprises after today. That still left her today to give him his surprise. But, since she'd brought it with her, that would be easy enough. She was smiling when Toni came into the room.
Richie looked at his watch when Abby and Colin asked about when to go into the church. It seemed to be off schedule and he called Miss Peeg over to go downstairs and see what was going on.
Toni had been standing in the shadows at the end of the hall in the basement watching while Alistair and Dan and Ben seemed to be having conversations. She thought Ben looked a little out of sorts and when Liana opened the door she walked forward.
'If he's upset her,' she thought... "What are ya'll standing around here for?" she asked. Looking pointedly at Ben, she brushed by him and went into the Bride's room.
A moment later, Miss Peeg made her way down the stairs and looking left to right saw the men in the hallway across from a room and she walked over, smiling, and knocked on the door, hoping it was the bride's room.
Toni was surprised to see Liana smiling and ran over and put her arms around her, "I didn't know what kind of mess I'd have to mop up in here. I'm glad to see you smiling Liana...are you okay? I'm your appointed Matron of Honor today," she smiled, brushing Liana's hair out of her face. She could see she had been crying.
"I'm fine. I think. Liana was still a little teary. "Don't think of yourself as appointed, Toni. You're exactly who I would have chosen. Ben knows me too well."
Returning Toni's hug, she said, "Now, how am I supposed to get dressed, get my hair fixed and get married, all within a matter of minutes? What do I need to do first?"
She looked at Toni and almost burst into tears again. "Does Richie ever just drive you nuts?"
"Don't you worry about getting ready. That's why I'm here, and let me tell you something...don't ever let them think they know everything about you Liana, otherwise this is the kind of thing you get. Richie drives me mental sometimes...but I will admit I do the same to him...kinda evens it out," she grinned.
A knock on the door brought their heads around, "I'll get it in case it's HIM trying to get back in here and create more chaos," Toni said opening the door a crack. She backed up and let Miss Peeg in.
"Oh hello Mrs. Roberts, Mr. Roberts sent me to find out what might be happening."
"Miss Peeg. Well, come right in maybe you can help get us organized. Liana needs some help," she turned and smiled at Liana
Though she hadn't felt too sure about Miss Peeg when they had met, fearing she might be some sort of threat to Ben, right now Liana was grateful for all the help she could get. Still wiping her eyes occasionally, she gave the older woman a smile. "Yes, please," she told the woman. "If you can bring any direction at all to this chaos, I'd be grateful for the help! I guess we should get my hair done first? Or the dress on? I have no idea. This is my first actual wedding. Before, it was just me and Ben in an office with a justice of the peace."
Across the hall, Dan was watching as Ben got dressed. "Never thought I'd see this day, Wade," he said, as Ben buttoned his vest. "You sure you're doin' the right thing? Suppose the past catches up with you? I mean, I know you've covered your tracks every step of the way, but just suppose-"
"You worry too much, Dan." Ben caught Evans' eyes in the mirror. "You gotta stop worryin' and start livin'. What the hell kind of life would it be if we just sat around worryin' about bein' caught?"
"What would it do to Liana if you got sent to prison?" Dan asked him. "Where would she be then?"
"Ain't gonna happen," Ben told him. "Now, could we please talk about somethin' a little more cheerful. This is s'posed to be a happy occasion. Remember?" He looked at Dan with a grin. "Didn't I see you talkin' to some nice-lookin' blonde upstairs?"
Libby Tyler, Dan realized. He had spoken to her when she first came to the church. "Just tellin' her where to sit," he told Ben, not wanting to get into anything more.
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Kate was so excited that Sid was taking her to the Wade wedding today. She loved weddings, and even though she didn't really know the bride or groom, she was looking forward to attending it. The tough part in all this, however, was choosing the perfect dress to wear. Sid had bought her so many, many beautiful dresses it was truly difficult to decide on just one. She didn't want to upstage the bride on her wedding day, of course (or did she? she giggled at the thought of what Sid might say about that).
Finally, Kate decided on a lavender satin, low-cut mid-length dress, diamonds strategically sewn into it where the front dips down and meets her mid-section. She added a pair of sling-back heels, covered in diamonds, and a beautiful diamond and amethyst necklace and matching dangle earrings. Deciding to wear her hair down today, her loose curls framing her beautifully made-up face, she gave herself one more once-over in the mirror before stepping out of the bathroom to face her new husband.
"Too bad I've given up on wearing purple myself," he grinned, straightening the cuff of yet another new Armani suit.
"But...then. ..." He undid the knot of a blue tie he'd just fastened and replaced it with a lavender one that perfectly matched her dress. "That's better. Now we make a better statement of belonging."
Escorting her to his garage, he chose a white BMW convertible. "This will do today. White for a wedding, you know."
"Perfect, just like you, my darling husband," Kate replied, then smiled and slid into the passenger seat as Sid held the door open for her. She couldn't help but think about their fabulous wedding day, on the steps of the grand Sydney Opera House, with all the cameras on her and Sid as they said "I do". She wondered if any of the residents here had managed to catch news of the event on the tele. So far, the only people she had spoken to about her wedding was Colin and his new girlfriend, Abby. Her brow creased slightly at the thought of running into the two of them again...possibly today at the wedding.
Kate looked up at Sid, so handsome in his Armani suit and thought about the last time she had attended a wedding in the Glen was with Colin, and how he had argued with her about going because he had to get all dressed up in what he referred to as "fancy duds". Seriously, she was beginning to wonder what she had ever seen in him. Her brow creased even more, and she bit her bottom lip, as thought of Colin kept entering her mind.
When they arrived at the church, Sid swept around the car, making a grand gesture of opening her door and handing her out. Once inside he chose aisle seats in the center, noting Colin had not arrived yet. Kate, too, noticed that Colin wasn't there yet, and let out a sigh of relief as she settled herself in the pew next to Sid. The church was decorated quite beautifully, flowers everywhere, though as beautiful as it was, it still didn't compare to her own wedding, she thought. She smiled up at Sid, and cuddled up next to him, his strong arm wrapped around behind her shoulders, holding her tight. All thoughts of Colin
completely left her mind now. Though, she couldn't help but feel like everyone was watching her.
"Sid, I think people are staring at us," she whispered in his ear, a bit nervous at what everyone might be thinking about the newly-wed couple.
"They are?" he said, as if he weren't completely aware of it. "Let them,
darling. If I weren't already me, I'd be staring at us, too."
When Alistair began to sing, though, looking at Ahnna with such naked devotion in his eyes, it made him somewhat uncomfortable. He couldn't relate to that, couldn't understand it. But he watched Alistair's face intently the whole time, something in him fascinated by it.
Kate was completely moved by Alistair's song and his obvious love and devotion towards his wife, Ahnna. She smiled sweetly as she watched the interaction between the two as Alistair sang. She knew even though she and Sid had such a rushed marriage, she felt the same love and devotion for him in her heart. At least, she thought she did. Yes, she'd do anything for him, she loved him completely, and surely he must feel the same for her, the way he showered her with gifts and attention. She looked up at him and saw how he sat motionless, watching intently as Alistair sang on. Tears began to well up in the corners of her eyes, thinking that surely Sid must be thinking the same thing as he sat and listened.
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In the bride's room, Liana was looking doubtfully at her hair. "What should I do with it?" she asked Toni and Miss Peeg.
Miss Peeg had gone directly to the dress and touched it. Walking around it she turned with a smile to Liana. "It's beautiful, Mrs. Wade. I knew it would be, but seeing it here...he really did know what he was about...you do know I went shopping with him?" she asked.
"You and Ben shopping!" Toni laughed. "Oh my word, let's get you into that dress, Liana. I'll do your make up. Just a little or you'll wash out against that dress."
"If I may, I'd like to do your hair," Miss Peeg smiled.
Liana couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Ben and Miss Peeg shopping, as well. "No, I didn't know that, Miss Peeg. Didn't know anything until we got here and-well-things have been a little busy since then."
"Ben usually does know what he's about." Liana had gotten serious again. "It's one of the things I love most about him."
She was getting carefully into the dress, admiring the way it was made. These days, most wedding dresses seemed to be strapless. This dress, though, looked as if it had come straight out of the 19th century. For one thing, it was a two-piece dress. Silk overlaid with lace. The skirt had a short train with a flounce at the bottom. The top had short sleeves with ribbon ties at the ends of them. The neck was slightly high and a long row of pearl buttons buttoned the top all the way down the front.
It was definitely something Ben would have chosen with his love of the old west, but Liana loved it as well.
Toni was doing up the buttons on the back of the dress. "The dress fits, Liana. I still can't believe he did all this and you hadn't a clue. He came by the house and I'm afraid I gave him a piece of my mind for planning such a thing. I almost called you to let you know what was up but I stopped myself in time. There...oh, Liana it's lovely! Who would have thought he knew a thing about dresses?"
Miss Peeg was busy at the make up table., "He seems to know about a lot of things...especially you, Liana. He kept saying you'd like this or that."
"Yes, well, I gave her a piece of advice...don't let him think he knows everything," Toni said, moving Liana toward the chair at the dressing table.
Laughing a little as she admired the dress, Liana told them, "You don't get it. Ben already thinks he knows everything! He did from the time I met him! And about me, well- he does come awfully close."
Seeing Miss Peeg with the makeup, she said, "I've really never worn much makeup, and Ben doesn't like me in it. Maybe I shouldn't wear any." Then, still nervous, she said. "I wonder how Alistair is doing upstairs with all the guests."
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Alistair had finished his song, his eyes still lingering lovingly on Ahnna. Suddenly he realized what he'd been doing and flushed. "She's my bride," he smiled. "I don't know what more to say."
Ahnna smiled up at him, her eyes glowing, stinging slightly with tears. "I love you," she mouthed silently.
His smiled broadened in response. Then he looked over at the piano. "Bridgid, whatever you please. Looks like we have a few more minutes to fill."
The dress skimmed her figure just right, Liana thought, turning in front of the mirror. And her hair- Between Toni and Miss Peeg, they had brushed the soft wings back from her face and caught them up high on her head with an antique comb crusted with diamonds and adorned with baby's breath--one of Ben's gifts of jewelry to the bride.
Knowing that Liana liked simplicity, the only other piece of jewelry he'd chosen was a beautiful antique cameo, which fastened the two sides of the dress's high collar at her throat. Her reflection in the mirror of the bride's room looked as though she came straight from the 19th century. It all suited her coloring and everything else wonderfully. Ben Wade knew exactly how to dress a woman.
"What do you think?" she asked Toni and Miss Peeg anxiously, folding the skirt nervously between her hands.
Miss Peeg, suddenly overcome, pulled a hanky from her purse, "Oh my dear, you are lovely." She did indeed present the perfect picture...just like Ben planned.
"I think it's time. Go get the flowers in hand and signal the preacher," Toni said biting her lip...she was not going to cry and get her eyes all red and puffy. "are you ready?"
"I'm going up now and find Mr. Roberts," Miss Peeg said sniffing.
Liana guessed it was true. People did always cry at weddings. Her wedding. Her wedding to Ben. Ben Wade, with robbery and murder in his past, and who knew what in their future. For a second, she was afraid again. Then, she remembered Alistair's words again. Taking someone's hand and taking one more step into the darkness. Regardless of what he had been before, or what he was now, Ben's hand would be there for her. She was sure of it. She meant to have hers there for him as well.
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Colin closed his closet door and sighed. Another wedding here in the Glen... and once again, he didn't really know either the bride or the groom. He hadn't planned on attending, but he had promised Abby that he would be her date. It was the least he could do to make up for what had happened on their first date a few nights earlier, when his ex-girlfriend showed up married to that wanker she left him for.
As he slipped on his dress shirt and did up the buttons, Colin couldn't help but wonder if Kate and Sid would be there today, too. His jaw clenched at the thought of seeing that smug-faced bastard again, his arms draped around Kate...
"What the fuck, mate?" he said to himself, trying to shake the image from his mind. "You're over her, remember? You have a new girlfriend, who, for whatever reason, seems to enjoy your company. Don't blow it."
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She was to go around to the front of the church and walk down the aisle on her own. Toni and Miss Peeg had worked that out. Right now, though, she wanted to see Ben. She knew she wasn't supposed to, but-
"Toni," she said, as she hugged her friend, preparing to go upstairs. "Would you get Ben for me?"
"I thought he was going to meet you at the altar...okay," Toni turned to go and then stopped, "Liana would you want to walk down the aisle with him? Dan and I can go down first if you'd like?"
"That'd be perfect, Toni," Liana told her, still adjusting her dress. "That's exactly what I was thinking."
They met Dan and Ben in the hallway. Ben stared at Liana, mesmerized. She looked every inch the picture he'd had in his mind. The sweet, innocent bride from the 1800's. The dress, her hair, everything--just right.
Liana almost laughed when she saw Ben. He looked wonderful. No traditional tuxedo for Ben Wade. He was wearing a perfect replica of the clothes his favorite outlaw from the 1860's had worn. Black, embroidered pants, silver-blue shirt that brought out the blue in his eyes, blue and black vest, black velvet waistcoat and even the hat. It perfectly complemented her own look!
"You look good enough to eat, darlin'," he whispered, seemingly forgetting Toni and Dan for the moment.
"Then, let's go," Liana told him, holding out her hand. "I want us to walk down the aisle together." At his puzzled look, she said, "We're gonna be together the rest of our lives, so we might as well start out that way."
Then, looking at Toni, she said, "I guess it's time."
Toni reached for Dan's arm and looked over her shoulder at Ben,"you're one lucky so and so." Ben smiled broadly. "Let's go cue the preacher," she said walking up the stairs. "I don't know Dan," she said as they reached the outside, "if that had of been me this would have turned into a funeral."
As they walked hand-in-hand around the church, Liana squeezed Ben's hand tightly, thinking of her surprise for him. "You ain't afraid of all them people in there, are you darlin'?" Ben asked her, squeezing her hand in return.
"No," she replied. "I can't think of anything much I'm afraid of with you, Ben." She smiled, her tears threatening to come again.
"I'm glad to hear it, honey."
Dan and Toni stopped ahead of them. They had reached the front doors. Ben and Liana looked at each other. "If you want to back out, now's the time, Ben, " Liana told him teasingly.
"Like hell," Ben told her with a grin. "Not after all it took me to get you here!"
Dan opened the door and he and Toni stepped in and waited for the music to change. They walked arm in arm down the aisle separating to each side of the alter and turning toward the door.
Standing with Ben in the open doorway of the church, Liana was aware of all the eyes, of the expectant air inside the little Glen church. Feeling as though she were in a dream or maybe outside her body looking on at the whole thing, she barely noticed when Dan and Toni reached the altar and stepped aside, looking back. Ben, however, was aware of everything, as usual.
He squeezed Liana's hand tighter for a second before taking her hand and placing it on his arm. Smiling over at him in her almost dreamlike state, she gently took her hand away and placed it back inside his. Leaning over, she whispered, "No escorting. Hand-in-hand." Then, "Your hat, Ben."
He looked startled for a moment, then realized what she meant. Something his mother had used to tell him. "Take off your hat when you're in church." Removing it from his head, he suddenly felt grateful for the feel of her hand in his. Ben felt almost as if he needed her hand as an anchor now, as much as he had following the picnic when he'd almost killed the ranch hand.
Together, they looked down the aisle toward Alistair Harris. Saw him smile and nod to them.
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Joimus was busy with last minute touches to the arrangements, so Maximus wandered outside. He stood off to one side a while, watching the guests arrive, frowning when he saw Sid pull up in his fancy white convertible. Then he noticed a man he presumed to be Travis McGee standing with Richie Roberts. He liked to get to know the other big land owners in the area and when the two men finished their conversation and Richie turned to speak to someone else, Maximus approached.
"Good afternoon," he greeted. "I am Maximus Meridius. Would you be Mr. McGee?"
Travis turned and smiled, "Mr. McGee's my Dad, I'm Travis. I've been wanting to meet you since we're next door neighbors so to speak."
"A pleasure to meet you, Travis," Maximus smiled, extending a hand. "It appears as though there is not much time for conversation at the moment." He nodded toward the church where the final stragglers were entering the door. "But I would certainly enjoy the opportunity to speak further with you. Perhaps we might arrange such a thing before long?"
"I'd like that very much Sir," now where did that come from, Travis mused, but the man's bearing called for it. "As soon as we get a little more settled at the Station I'd like to invite you and your wife to dinner."
"That sounds like a fine idea," Maximus nodded. "I shall look forward to hearing
from you, then." With that, he moved back toward the church. Joimus and Ahnna
always liked to sit near the front and he didn't want to be late in joining them.
Alistair did smile at them. This was a first for him, the couple coming in together like that. Always the groom came out with him and stood at the front, watching his bride come to him. He had presumed that would be the way of it this time, too, and was surprised to discover they were walking together.
But as he watched them come, and come hand in hand rather than arm in arm, he realized they were making their own statement and that's the way it should be. The marrying couple should do what reflected them, what worked for them. It did change the dynamics of the thing, though. Rather than a bride coming toward her groom, they were already a couple, already saw themselves as joined, and were coming to him to bless the fact of that, to pronounce the fact of that. Alistair could easily see how that fitted with Ben's mentality, but as he carefully studied the approaching couple, he could see it in Liana's expression as well, and he thought that was probably a good thing. She was making a statement of her own strength, especially in the way she held Ben's hand rather than his arm, and a woman marrying such a man needed to be strong in herself.
Since he was walking down the aisle with Liana, rather than waiting for her at the end of it, Ben occasionally gazed over at his wife. Already his wife, he realized, despite the lack of legal standing that first ceremony had contained. He couldn't help congratulating himself for choosing well. A woman who knew what he was and loved him anyway--who had already shown him that she would fight both for him and with him. In choosing to come down the aisle beside him, she was confirming the fact that she would stand beside him.
As Liana walked--although it seemed more like floating at times to her--she realized that Ben was matching his longer strides to her shorter steps. The looks he cast her way spoke of pride in her, and she felt the same pride in her husband. Most of the people in attendance here, had they known of Ben's previous life, would probably have felt that her pride was gravely misplaced. Liana realized that their opinions didn't matter to her. It was this man walking beside her whose opinion mattered. This man that she would love and support for the rest of her life. Their clasped hands and their walk down the aisle together spoke of the way they would live their lives. They would be there for each other. Us against the world, if that was the way it had to be.
Everyone in the sanctuary had gotten to their feet, as Bridgid played the processional music and when Ben and Liana stood together in front of him, Alistair smiled at them, lifted his gaze to pass over the guests, then said, "Please be seated."
There was a rustle of settling material and scuffling feet and then everything was very quiet. Joimus had lit all the many candles and there was a feeling of gentle enclosedness inside the little church.
"We have gathered here again today," he began, "as a community for the celebration of the marriage of Ben and Liana, who have presented themselves for this God-given sacrament. They have come to make their pledge and promise before God and before us, their friends and their neighbors, and we, as their community, acknowledge our privilege and our pleasure in being here."
God-given. Ben heard the words and marveled at the idea that, for the first time in his life, God was giving him something precious. The God in whom Ben Wade had always believed was a vengeful God. A God who demanded his pound of flesh. Ben had always firmly kept to the belief that "The Lord helps those who help themselves", and he had helped himself. To whatever he wanted or needed. He'd thought he was doing the same thing with Liana. It hadn't taken him long to realize, however, that it was her giving that made the difference.
Alistair had not yet gotten to speak with Ben on spiritual matters, but it seemed to him that Ben was more a man of the Old Testament than the New and so he began with a selection of quotes from the last chapter of Proverbs, feeling that Ben would be aware of it. "A wife of noble character, who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household for all of them are clothed in scarlet. Her husband is respected at the city gate where he takes his place among the elders of the land. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Her children will arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."
As Liana grasped the words Alistair was speaking, she appreciated that this was her duty to Ben, her pledge to him--to bring him good and not harm. To work at making this new life that he wanted so badly a good life for him. For both of them. Truly, she had to be his equal in building this life because, despite Ben's strength, his intelligence, his experience in business and so many other things, there were things about this new life that Liana knew better than he. It was up to her to share this with him, to take responsibility for making things good for both of them.
When he finished with the selection from Proverbs, Alistair paused a moment then continued, "Let us pray." He watched briefly to see if Ben would bow his head, and he did, closing his eyes, too. Something in Alistair was moved at the sight of the proud man doing that and he stepped forward, resting his left hand on Ben's shoulder and his right on Liana's. "Lord, I ask a special blessing on this man and this woman as they come before You today. May they leave here today walking in Your grace and favor. Grant them a fruitfulness in life, an overflow that will bless not only them as a couple, but spill over and pour out in blessings for others. Give them peace and rest, both in themselves and in their circumstances. Shelter them, guard them from harm, guide their ways that all their comings and all their goings may light Your eyes with pleasure. May the vows they make one to the other this day be engraved on their hearts and reflected in their daily living with each other. Grant them the grace that this may be so. In Jesus' name, amen."
He stepped back to his place. "Liana has asked that a particular song be a part of the ceremony. Given its nature, I'd like you, Ben and Liana, to turn and face each other, holding both hands, then remain there for the vows, looking into one another's eyes." With a nod to Bridgid, he began to sing.
Look at this face
I know the years are showin’
Look at this life
I still don’t know where it’s goin’
I don’t know much
But I know I love you
And that may be
All I need to know
Look at these eyes
They've never seen what mattered
Look at these dreams
So beaten and so battered,
I don’t know much
But I know I love you
And that may be
All I need to know
So many questions
Still left unanswered
So much
I’ve never broken through
And when I feel you near me
Sometimes I see so clearly
The only truth I’ve ever known
Is me and you
Look at this man
So blessed with inspiration
Look at this soul
Still searching for salvation
I don’t know much
But I know I love you
And that may be
All I need to know
I don’t know much
But I know I love you
That may be
All I need to know
I don’t know much
But I know I love you
That may be
All there is to know
Ben had not known about the song, but he marveled at how well it fit him, how well it fit both of them, and this new life. And she fit him. In more ways than he'd ever thought possible.
Alistair could easily tell Ben had never heard the song before. It seemed as though it had been written with him in mind and that he was looking in Liana's eyes as the words flowed around him, had obviously moved him. Alistair loved doing weddings, especially at moments like this when the hearts of a man and a woman lay naked in their eyes.
"Ben, please continue looking at Liana as you repeat after me. I, Benjamin, take thee, Liana, as my lawful wedded wife. I promise by everything that is sacred to me that I will honor you, cherish you, love and adore you. I will care for you, provide for you, protect and guard you and be faithful to you as your husband for the rest of the days of my life. I join on this day all that I am to all that you are. I pledge to you that your trust is safe in my care and that your good and your happiness will always be my first concern. All that I am, all that I may be, my heart, my mind, my body...my life...is yours. I pledge to you my honor and my loyalty and say to you before God and man that I will love you and none other so long as I have breath."
Lawful wedded wife, Ben thought to himself, as he repeated the words. The word lawful didn't matter to him, but the words wedded wife had great meaning, he was surprised to find. Much greater meaning than he'd ever thought they would. And the words 'providing', 'protecting', and 'guarding'- Doing all that for Liana was something he would always do. It was important that he make these promises in front of witnesses. Important to the rest of the world for some reason but, more importantly, it meant something to her.
As he repeated all the words the preacher told him to say, Ben watched Liana's eyes. They were how he knew what she was feeling. Through the haze of tears he could see in them, there was still that trust that astonished him, literally humbled him, because he'd never expected to see it in a woman's eyes. And love--that had always been there. She'd shown it since he'd known her. He hoped she was seeing the same from him.
"Liana, will you now please repeat after me. I, Liana, take thee, Benjamin, as my lawful wedded husband. I promise you from the depth of my being that I will love you, respect you, honor and cherish you, and be faithful to you as your wife for the rest of the days of my life. I say to you that I believe my trust in you is safe in your care and I promise that your trust in me will also be safe. I have folded you, Ben Wade, into my heart and I rest myself in your tested strength. I pledge to you that I will stand beside you always, true, constant, and honest in my love and I say now before God and man that I will love you and none other so long as I have breath."
For the first time since she'd known him, Liana actually saw unshed tears in Ben's eyes. For a moment, she couldn't breathe. She'd felt that he loved her, but he never said so, never revealed that he cared so much. For a man of Ben's strength and Ben's pride to show so much- That, more than anything else, almost caused her to break down. Her voice slightly shaky, she promised Ben everything that Alistair told her to say. Her heart, though, was saying so much more to him than just those words. It felt as though it would burst at any moment. 'Please let him feel that, God,' she prayed silently. The words were important, but the feelings-
"Ben, may I have the rings, please?"
Holding out his hand for the rings, Ben Wade was surprised to find that his fingers shook a little. Dan Evans noticed it, though, and gave him a steadying smile.
When Dan had placed the rings in Ben's hand, Ben turned and set them in Alistair's outstretched right palm. Alistair placed his left palm atop them and prayed, "Lord, I lift these rings up to You, asking for Your grace and blessing on them, on the one who gives them and the one who wears them, on the marriage and the life of which they are a symbol and a sign."
He handed Liana's ring back to Ben. "Ben, will you please place this ring on Liana's finger as you repeat after me. "With this ring I, Benjamin, take you, Liana, as my wife and into the deepest places of my heart. With the pure honesty of gold, I now surround your finger as the honesty of my love surrounds your heart."
Handing Ben's ring to Liana, Alistair asked her to repeat after him. "With this ring I, Liana, take you, Benjamin, as my husband, placing my heart and my life in your care as you have placed yours in mine. I place this ring on your finger as a sign that my love for you has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and surprise."
Sensing somehow that the ceremony was close to its end, Ben spoke. "I don' mean to interrupt, Preacher, but there's somethin' I need to say. Somethin' I know she needs to hear that I don' say, ever."
At Alistair's nod, Ben squeezed the hand holding his and placed his other hand against Liana's cheek, stroking it softly with his thumb. For a moment he was silent, and Liana knew that, whatever he was going to say, it was the hardest thing he'd ever done. She kept silent, encouraging him with her eyes. Finally, the words came, "I love you, darlin'," he said simply.
The tears that had come and gone all day spilled over anew at the sound of his voice. The words moved her so much, knowing what it cost him to say them, especially in front of all these people.
Before Alistair could move on, Liana placed her hand on his cheek in return. "And I love you, Ben. Always. No matter what." That was all. But the few words that passed between them said everything.
Liana still had Ben's hand in hers and Alistair reached out, placing his over both of theirs. "What God has joined together on earth is likewise joined in heaven. And now, by the power invested in me, I pronounce that you, Benjamin and Liana, are man and wife in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Stepping back, he smiled. "Ben, you may now kiss your bride."
Back to his usual self now, Ben grinned, "About damn time, Preacher! Tried to do it earlier, but she told me I had to wait!"
As she rose to meet his lips, Liana put her arms around him, losing herself in that kiss, and ignoring everyone and everything around them.
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Alistair's words flowed beautifully from his lips as he guided Ben and Liana through their vows. Bridgid's singing also captured the complete joy and awe of the moment as man and woman became one in marriage.
Meggie smiled, feeling peace fill her mind and soul, along with hope. Trust, love, honor, commitment. These were precious gifts she wanted to give Jeffrey to show how much she truly loved him, to help him overcome life's dark shadows and closed in rooms that offered loneliness and sorrow. She turned to look at him, seeing how intently he watched the bride and groom and wondered what he was thinking at this.
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