Chapter Fourteen
Roger Holden pulled up the buggy in front of the Barkley ranch house. He assisted his wife Susan as Henry alighted and the three of them entered. Victoria
greeted them in the foyer, taking Henry's arm. "So glad you could come, Roger, Susan," she said. "Samantha will show you to your room where
you can freshen up."
"This is so romantic!" Susan warbled. "It's like an elopement without the scandal."
Roger took his wife's arm. "I'm sure nothing Victoria does would ever be considered scandalous, dear."
"The ceremony will be here in the foyer at noon," Victoria said, ignoring these remarks. "Now, Henry," she led him off, "we've had to rearrange things a little - let me show you."
Samantha led Roger and Susan upstairs as Victoria took Henry into the parlor. As soon as they were gone, she put her arms around him and kissed him. He could feel her heart pounding against him. "Nervous?" he asked.
"A little," she admitted. "You?"
"Of course." He wrapped his arms around her. "You don't have to do this - we can still call it off if you're uncertain."
"Don't be silly," she chided him. "This was my idea, remember? Every bride has the jitters on her wedding day - there would be something wrong with me if I didn't." She looked up at him. "Unless you're having second thoughts?"
"Never," Henry assured her. "I've wanted nothing else since the day I met you. With a short detour," he added honestly.
"No need to go over old ground," Victoria said. "Molly's been helping with preparations all week, and it's been ages since I've seen her so happy."
"I'm glad," Henry said. "And Jarrod?"
"Seems content enough," Victoria said. "I would know if he was hiding his feelings. He's not as happy about it as Molly or Audra, but he's not unhappy with it, either."
"Good," Henry said. "It's a glorious day - at least the weather seems to smile upon us."
"The wedding breakfast will be in the garden, let me show you how we've arranged everything." She led him outside.
"Yes, please. It wouldn't do to have the groom stumbling over things," Henry smiled. "I'm amazed you've gotten everything arranged so quickly."
"It's not a lot - Silas insisted on making the cake, but we're having the hotel cater the breakfast. Around forty people, with the family. We've certainly thrown larger parties."
"What color is your dress, Victoria? I want to be able to picture you."
"Pink brocade," Victoria said. "It's not new, but I think it will do nicely."
Her voice was filled with warmth. "I wish I could see it, see you," Henry said wistfully.
She put his hand to her face. "Here I am." He explored her face with his fingers, gently, tenderly.
She kissed his finger tips, then took his hand. "We'd better go get dressed."
Henry had almost finished dressing, with Roger's help, when there came a rapping at his door. "Who is it?" he called.
"Nick. May I come in?"
Henry nodded and Roger opened the door. "What may I do for you, Nick?" Henry asked.
"Can you give us a minute?" Nick asked Roger. "I have a few words I need to say before the ceremony."
"He's not quite ready," Roger began.
"It's all right, Roger," Henry said.
Roger shrugged and left. "Could you help me with this tie, Nick?" Henry asked. "It's one of the few things I still have trouble with."
"Who doesn't?" Nick said. "I'll give it a try, but it's not my forte."
Nick put the tie around Henry's neck. Handy for strangling, Henry thought, if he has a mind to.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Henry said, "as though I couldn't guess."
Nick snorted. "Yeah, I reckon you could at that. You will make her happy." It was a command, not a question.
"To the best of my ability," Henry said. "Not so tight."
Nick loosened his hold on the tie, and started over. Henry said, "I'm not trying to take your father's place, Nick. I'm trying to find my own place."
Nick wordlessly finished tying the tie and stepped back. "That'll do, I think." He looked Henry over. "He broke her heart, you know, my father. I never saw two people who loved each other more, and still he broke her heart. I'm counting on you to do better."
Henry raised his eyebrows in surprise. "I hope so - I intend to. But Nick, about your father - don't be too hard on him. He - "
Nick held up a hand, realized Henry could not see it and seized his arm. "I'm not - no one understands him better than I do, I think. All I'm saying is, I want Mother to be happy. I've never known her to be wrong about something like this, so if she thinks this is the thing for her, then you both have my blessing. As long as she's happy, I'm happy."
"Then I shall endeavor to keep all of you happy." Henry felt for his cane. "Should I expect a similar visit from Heath?"
"I shouldn't think so," Nick said, opening the door and handing Henry his hat. "He's taken your part with me more than once."
"Has he? That's good to know."
Roger was waiting in the hallway. "Victoria's at the top of the stairs waiting for you."
"Then, by all means, let's not keep the lady waiting," Henry said.
The wedding itself was mostly a blur to Henry - he could tell there were a number of people gathered at the foot of the stairs, he could tell when Roger took Audra, who was serving as her mother's matron of honor, by the arm, but after Victoria took his arm and they processed down the stairs, it was mere confusion. Who was there, where they were standing were mysteries to him. He spoke his vows with no problem, as did Victoria. Roger handed him the ring and Victoria helped him place it on her finger and, with a kiss, they were wed.
The confusion began to sort itself out during the receiving line - those whose voices he did not recognize were introduced to him by Victoria (my wife) and he began to feel less disoriented, though no less dizzy. This awe-inspiring woman is my wife. He clasped her arm tightly.
Ethan and Amelia were the last through the receiving line, due to Ethan's wheelchair. "Ethan," Jarrod said when the other guests had dispersed to the garden, "would you and Roger accompany us into the study? There's a legal document we need to have witnessed."
"Well, sure," Ethan said, surprised. "Although what I can do -"
"We need two people from outside the family," Jarrod said, "in case of disputes. It'll only take a few minutes."
"Shall I come, too?" Amelia asked.
"If you wish," Victoria said.
Jarrod and the two witnesses accompanied Victoria and Henry into the parlor. Amelia took a seat on the sofa to wait for Ethan, while Jarrod read aloud the power of attorney he had prepared. "Do you wish to make any changes, Henry?" he asked.
"No," Henry said. "If it allows Victoria to manage her affairs without hindrance, then it is as I wish." Victoria affixed a Braille slate in the proper place, and Henry signed his name to the document. Jarrod handed a pen and the paper to Roger. "Please, read it over, then sign the statement attesting that the document Henry signed is the same as what was read aloud here, and also that you've witnessed his signature."
"Of course," Roger said. He took a moment to read it over, then signed it and handed it to Ethan.
Ethan wheeled himself to the desk, then did the same. Jarrod took the document and handed it to Henry, who handed it to Victoria. "There, dear, now I've taken as little from you as the law allows."
Victoria opened the safe and put the document inside. She took Henry's arm and, smiling, led him out to the breakfast.
Amelia stood and began to follow the rest of them, but Ethan took her arm. "Maybe we should - "
"No," she said, cutting him off.
"You don't even know what I was going to say," he protested.
"I do. You were going to say maybe we should do the same thing. I don't want your power of attorney, Ethan. It's not necessary."
He looked her over. Her eyes were red and glaring. "Maybe it is, and maybe it ain't. But it seems sensible to me - you got property and I don't. You also got the head for business and I don't."
"You have property," she pointed out, flouncing into a chair next to him. "You have the ranch - it'll fetch a tidy sum when you sell it. We're not so unequal as you think. Besides, that's not the point."
"What is the point?" Ethan asked. "I'd think after the way Pierce done you, you'd be eager to protect yourself."
"Well, that is the point," she said. "If I did insist on a power of attorney, it would be because I didn't trust you. And I do - you're not Pierce, nothing like him. Why should I punish you for what he did?"
"You think she doesn't trust him?" Ethan asked.
"I'm sure she does," Amelia said, "but we're not them. Let's not apply solutions where there's no problem."
He took her hand. "Are you sure, Amelia? Because I don't want to take from you anymore than he does from her."
"Well, that is the problem," she said, creasing her forehead. "I want to give to you, and you won't take it."
"Looks like I'm gonna have to take it, when we get married," he pointed out defensively.
"That's not what I mean," she said. She knelt beside him and put her head in his lap. "I'd marry you right now, Ethan - wheelchair and all, damn the uncertainty. It breaks my heart that I can't make you see that."
There were tears in her voice, and he hesitated at her pain. "Can't right now," he choked out finally. "Don't have a license."
She reached into her pocket, pulled out a slip of paper and handed it to him. He looked at it, disbelieving. "How long have you had this?" he asked.
"A couple of weeks." She raised her head to look at him, frowned and took the license back. She stuffed it back into her pocket, rose and seated herself in the chair again. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry, that was rather melodramatic, wasn't it?"
"Don't be sorry." He sat still for several seconds, not knowing what to say, not knowing what to do.
She stood and began to push the wheelchair out the door. "No, I am sorry," she said. "I shouldn't push you."
He took the rims and stopped the chair. "No, I'm the one who should be sorry, but Amelia - " he looked up at her, pained. "I can't. Not yet - I don't know how to explain myself."
"No need," she said. "After what I did to you, it's no wonder you don't believe me when I say I'd love you no matter what. Because I didn't. Not enough, anyway."
He took her hand and pulled her into his lap. "That ain't it, that ain't it at all. I believe you, but Amelia, I can't - I gotta be a man, if I can. That's all I know."
"Do you think you're less a man now?" she said, amazed. "Ethan." She shook her head. "You're more. I've so admired the way you've borne all this without complaining once - the way you've worked to better yourself, to learn new things. I understand how hard that is, and I admire you for it. Love you for it. Will hold you up as an example to our child."
"Really?" Ethan said.
"Yes, really. Why is it so hard for you to believe that?"
Ethan bowed his head. "Because - because I always looked down on men like me - men who were weak, or crippled. Or blind," he said ashamedly.
She lifted his chin and looked into his eyes. "And you were wrong. Wrong then. Wrong now. Isn't it time you stopped it? Today of all days, after what we just witnessed."
He nodded. "I reckon so." She stood and he took her hand. "Promise me you ain't lying, ain't just trying to make me feel better about it all."
"I'm not lying," she said. "I think I respect you more now than I ever have."
"Then would you go fetch Mrs. Bark - I mean, Mrs. Johnson? I know it's her wedding day, but I got a favor I need to ask her."
"All right," Amelia said, puzzled. She left and returned a few minutes later with both Victoria and Henry.
"What did you wish to ask me, Mr. Cord?" Victoria asked.
"I don't want to steal your thunder, but I was hoping you wouldn't take it amiss if Amelia and I got married today, too."
Amelia squealed and Victoria smiled broadly. She bent down and kissed Ethan's cheek, much to his surprise. "I can't think of anything I'd wish more. Shall I go fetch Jarrod? Do you have a license?"
"We do," Ethan said. "But just send him - no need for you to leave your guests."
"As long as there's food, my guests will be just fine," Victoria said dryly. "I wouldn't miss this for the world. I'll bring the children, of course. Anyone else?"
"Molly," Amelia said, "and Samantha and Alice have been most kind to me. If it's not asking too much for them to leave the party."
"I'm sorry now I gave Tucker the day off," Ethan said, "but if Dr. Grigsby wouldn't mind - "
"I guess all your family," Amelia said. "After all you've done for us."
"Of course, we'd all be very happy," Victoria said. She kissed Amelia's cheek on the way out.
"Congratulations, Ethan," Henry said, grinning and holding out his hand. "You're a wise man today."
"Thank you," Ethan said. He looked up at Amelia. "I certainly hope so."
"And you, my dear," Henry held out his hand toward Amelia, "I wish you every happiness."
Amelia took his hand and kissed it. "Thank you, Henry. You've done so much for us, words fail me."
"I? I've done very little," Henry protested.
"Your example - " Amelia said. "You can't know - " she choked.
Henry clasped her hand. "If I have done you good, then I am gratified. I hope you have found your way at last."
Victoria returned then, accompanied by the Carroll boys and most of her family. Molly ran and hugged Amelia. "I'm so glad!"
"Where's Claire?" Ethan asked. "We can't start without her."
"She'll be along in a minute, she said," Joseph replied. "She had to go fetch something."
"May I see the license?" Jarrod asked. "I presume you want me to perform the ceremony?"
"Yes, please," Amelia said, handing it over.
"You may borrow my bouquet," Victoria offered. "Do you have a ring?"
"That's very kind of you," Amelia said. "We'll have to get a ring later - it's not essential, is it?"
"No," Victoria replied, "but in your case - "
Claire came in then, disheveled and red-faced from running. "Here, Uncle Ethan," she panted, holding out a small box. "It was Mama's - the sanitarium sent it to me. I know she'd want you to have it."
Ethan opened the box. "It looks like we have our ring, after all. Thank you, Claire."
"Don't you want to keep it, Claire?" Amelia asked. "It was your mother's."
"No, please, I can't imagine a better use for it. It'll be staying in the family." Claire smiled.
Amelia could hear the hubbub outside as the wedding guests began to question the absence of the bride and groom and their entire family. "All right," she agreed. She smiled down at Ethan. "Let's get married."
And so they did, quickly and simply in the Barkley study. Claire acted as bridesmaid, Joseph as Best Man, and there was not so much a receiving line after as one long hugging and backslapping session. "You'd better get back to your party," Ethan said at last. "Sounds like your guests are about to revolt."
Victoria grinned. "I suppose we'd better. Would you like to make an announcement?"
Amelia shook her head. "Everyone we would want to know is right here. We'll write to our friends in Paradise - we don't want to shanghai your wedding day."
"As you wish," Victoria said. "I am glad this happened - it's made our wedding doubly special."
"Indeed it has," Henry agreed, "but Ethan is right, we need to be getting back to our guests. With the addition of two very special ones."
"Where are you going to live?" Audra stayed behind the exodus. Owen tarried as well, to see what detained his wife.
"We discussed finding a house in town," Amelia said, "but until we do, I suppose we'll have to remain as we are."
"We're moving into our new house next week," Audra said. "You're welcome to use our old house until you can find something more permanent. The main bedroom is upstairs, unfortunately," she looked at Ethan, "but either the library or Owen's office downstairs could be turned into a bedroom. And the infirmary's large enough to accommodate the children."
"That sounds fine," Ethan said, looking at Amelia. "Perhaps we should look it over, first."
"Of course," Owen said. "Perhaps tomorrow, after Church?"
"All right," Ethan agreed, following them out into the garden where they rejoined the party.
"What should we call you, Mrs. - I mean - what should we call you?" George asked Amelia as they sat down at their places at the table.
"Aunt Amelia," Claire said. "Isn't that right?"
"Of course," Amelia said. "We're family now." She pressed her hand to her belly. "All of us."
"Can we still call Uncle Henry 'Uncle Henry' or do we have to call him 'Mr. Barkley' now?" George asked.
"Silly," Ben chided, "he's still Mr. Johnson. It's Mrs. Barkley that's become Mrs. Johnson."
"I'll never remember," George lamented.
"It'll take some getting used to," Ethan agreed.
Victoria and Henry left soon after, catching the last train for San Francisco. From there they took a carriage to Berkeley and Henry's cottage. After a quick freshening up, Victoria locked Henry out of the bedroom while she prepared herself for the night to come. Henry waited impatiently - it wasn't as though he could see her, and besides, she was beautiful enough for him already.
Finally, she opened the door and bade him enter. "It's dark," he said in surprise.
"How can you tell?" she asked curiously.
"No hiss of flame, no heat from the lamps," he explained.
"I wanted us to be equals," she said. "Besides, I was married for almost thirty years - I think I remember where everything is."
Henry laughed, then took her into his arms. Her gown was silk, warm from her body and soft to his touch. She wore a light perfume that enhanced her natural scent rather than overpowering it. He smiled - she had taken some thought as to how to please a blind man. He kissed her warmly. "Victoria," he murmured, "I hope you're not disappointed."
She pulled back, looking up at him. "How could I be? You're the man I love."
"But - I wasn't married very long, and it's been a long time since I - well, I'm not sure I remember where everything is."
"Well, if you don't, I'll just have to make you practice until you do," she said.
He laughed heartily. "May all your punishments be so pleasurable." He led her to the bed, and all the darkness became light between them.
"This is no kind of wedding night for you, Amelia," Ethan lamented as they made their way back to the cottage after the party. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Amelia said. She stopped the wheelchair and slid into his lap. "I'm so happy I could burst right now."
He kissed her warmly, then pulled back. "Even if I could - "
They were interrupted by Ben running into the garden. "Uncle Ethan!" he shouted. "Come quick! Claire's got a telegram!"
"What kind of telegram?" Ethan asked as Amelia slid from his lap and stood up.
"We don't know. She wanted you to be there when she opened it." Ben panted. "We're afraid it's about - it's about - "
"John Taylor," Amelia said, turning pale.
"Now we don't know what it is," Ethan cautioned. "Let's go see before we start to panic."
They rushed to the foreman's cottage. Claire, Joseph and George stood on the porch waiting for them. "Do you want me to open it, Claire?" Ethan asked as he saw her pale face.
"No," she shook her head. "It's addressed to me, but I did want you to be here."
"Don't open it," George said, tears streaming down his face. "It's bad news, I know it is."
"We have to open it, George," Claire said. "Not knowing won't make it any better." She slid a fingernail into the envelope and pulled out its contents. Her face turned paler than it was already.
"It is John Taylor!" George cried. "I knew it!"
"Hush, George," Claire said gently. "It's nothing of the kind." She handed the telegram to Ethan. "It's from Papa. He says he'll be here on the morning train."
