New Beginnings (New Beginnings Series) (17 page)

He lifted the covers, giving her body the once over, trying to look stern, but a glimmer of joy showing through. He looked into her eyes and with all seriousness, said “I’ve heard it said love is blind and maybe it is so, for when I look at you I see a beautiful young lady, with eyes that hold the whole world in them.” Sam held up the blanket from his own body, “This is not a teenage boy’s physique you are getting either, but look what you do to it.”

She didn’t need to look, she felt his firmness against her leg and instead put the blankets down in place.

“What’s wrong, you don’t want to see what you are getting in case you are disappointed?”

“I don’t want to look because I don’t think I am as strong as you are and I will not ask you to go back on your word.”

Sam moved on top of her body, kissing her hard and deep. Pulling back he added, “I will make you a promise, Sara. I will never go back on my word to you, I will never hurt you and I will always love you to the depths of my soul.” He lay back on the bed, pulling her close to him again. “You do something to me I can’t explain, like I have just met you, but have known you forever. It is like every minute I spend with you is a new minute and I only want more.” He hesitated a moment when he felt a warm tear fall from her cheek to his shoulder. “What is wrong, love?”

With a slight tremble in her voice, she answered, “I love you so much it almost hurts. I am so scared it is a dream and I might wake up at any moment to find you gone. Where were you when I needed someone to love and to love me back?”

“I don’t understand why things happen the way they do. You once said everything happens for a reason ... maybe this is the reason. I wish I could have been there for you years ago, but maybe it will be better this way, to realize what the past brought both of us and what wonderful things we have now.”

They lay together for a long time thinking about what was said and feeling the truth in their words.

Sam thought Sara had gone back to sleep when she finally said, “I’ve been thinking about Catherine most of the day. Do you have any thoughts about it?”

“I have been considering her situation a lot too and I see it will break your heart to help her lose her baby, especially when it may be our only chance to have one. But I want to take you to Montreal and maybe Philadelphia, to clinics where maybe they can tell us what can be done. I thought it could be for our honeymoon.”

“Oh Sam, only rich people take honeymoons.”

“I can quite afford a trip to both of those cities and if it did cost every penny I have, it would be worth it to know we tried. What do you think, Sara?”

“But what about Catherine, what if we can’t have a baby of our own? She said her father would kill her if he found out and I hate to say it but in these times that could be a real concern.”

“I know a family in Winnipeg where I think she could go. I’m certain we could disguise it as a place for her to work, or maybe go to school, until the baby is born, anyway. And if we find out we can make our own babies, Sara, many families cannot have their own and wait for such an opportunity. We don’t have to travel east for a while, until we have everything planned, but please let me take you.”

“Making our own babies is something I can’t let myself believe for a moment. I think your idea for Catherine is a great one and we should discuss it with her when she comes back. It is a dream almost too hard to imagine, holding a baby in my arms again.”

“Don’t concern yourself with it, Sara. I think I can see the future in those heavenly blues of yours and I can see you holding many babies. But here is a promise I will make to you, if we cannot make our own I will never hold it against you, I will never hate you for even a second.”

They were quiet after that was said, thinking about the love they each had for the other. The night passed gradually as neither slept well, but it was with a slowness they each enjoyed, as they were together feeling the presence of the other.

The next four days went by in a blur. So many things had to be done, but between Mary, Edward and Mrs. O’Brien, Sara went in the direction she was told. At times they asked her opinion, but soon found she felt she didn’t need such extravagance and finally shook their heads at her and carried on with their own plans.

The dress was completed by Friday and Saturday was spent preparing food all day. The problem of a bouquet could not be solved as there was not a supply of flowers available which would survive out of water this time of year. That is, until Sara thought of the dried arrangement of red roses, baby’s breath and other ‘everlastings’ sitting on the fireplace mantel in her bedroom. The idea of everlastings appealed to her and gave her the thought to add a few sprigs of evergreen for added colour. It was her “forever bouquet” and after a slight adjustment, the arrangement looked beautiful with her gown and the problem was solved.

Mary was a superstitious person and believed firmly the groom should not see the bride the day of the wedding and absolutely no part of the gown until the service. There was no use arguing about whether or not Sara would spend the night in her small suite off of the Fielding residence. Mary’s part of the house, though small, was well set up. She had a sitting room, bedroom and a bathroom of her own. She insisted Sara use the bed while she would sleep on the sofa, even though her guest protested. Mary held to her ideas and claimed she needed to sleep there so she would have no worry of the lovers breaking tradition. Sara gave up and went to sleep in Mary’s small bed. In her excitement she didn’t rest well and wondered how Sam was making out with the same matter. As she thought about everything, she realized they forgot about Catherine not coming back to talk to her about her problem and it started to concern her, although she soon came to the decision maybe the girl didn’t want to interrupt their plans. If nothing else the idea settled her mind.

The rooster could be heard crowing across the street in the stable on Sunday morning when the sun started to rise. It promised to be a beautiful day, the air was cool enough to prevent the snow from melting and keep the streets dry. Although most of the birds had gone south for the winter, the sparrows and chickadees sang songs which welcomed the day. It seemed God was also on their side and giving his blessing.

Mary was up and out to the kitchen before the rooster greeted the day, to be assured there was no chance of an accidental meeting. Sam’s dress clothing was organized in advance and a room in the hotel was set aside for his preparations. As soon as he was finished with his breakfast he was whisked away to the saloon where Edward waited for him, Mary carefully seeing him past her apartment door. Like an exchange, when Sam went into the bar room Alice came into the house to help Sara. The click of the lock could be heard as Mary closed the door between the home and business.

Doc arrived at the house just before eleven and reported Sam was already at the church and didn’t seem to be any the worse for wear. Sara, on the other hand, was very nervous and a little flushed, to which the doctor prescribed a small shot of whiskey. Everyone rushed down to the entrance so they could see the full effect of the beautiful gown as Sara walked down the curved staircase.

“Mrs. O’Brien has certainly outdone herself this time,” Doc said, admiring the beautiful bride. “You are lovely, dear; I am so honoured to have been asked to give you away today.”

Alice and Mary stood beside the doctor, unable to say anything, the beauty of the bride leaving them awestruck. Mary dabbed away a tear with the lace handkerchief Sara gave her, which smelled slightly of rose water.

The gown was the lightest beige colour, as Mrs. O’Brien said, “No sense pretending you are a virgin when you have been married and had children.” The dress was made entirely of lace covering the satin form and a four-foot train followed behind. The veil, which did not cover Sara’s face, graced the top of her auburn hair and fell to the length of the train. On her feet were the daintiest of satin slippers.

When they were ready to leave the house, Mary let out a shriek. “We forgot about something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue!” In an instant she disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a beautiful blue satin choker to place around Sara’s neck. “That takes care of the borrowed and the blue,”

To which Sara added, “The dress is new and my rings from my mother and grandmother are old.” She waited for Mary’s approval, which she received with a smile, so they were on their way to the church.

They stepped out the door to the sounds of bells ringing in the parishioners, but today they seemed to have greater strength and greeting in the tone. Alice helped to carry the train down the steps to the waiting sleigh which was covered with bits of coloured cloth and many bells. Sara caught her breath when she realized the beautiful Shire team pulling the sleigh was her own Bird and Babe that came all the way from New Brunswick with William and her so many years before. Her surprises never seemed to end with the wonderful things Sam did for her, the horses being another. He must have understood what this gift from her parents meant to her and he gave them to her again.

When they walked up to the top of the steps to the newly-built church the bells suddenly stopped ringing and the organ music could be heard coming from inside. There was no time for a case of nerves as Mendelssohn’s composition of “The Wedding March” started to play as soon as they arrived at the doors. As she stepped inside on Doc’s arm she saw Sam standing at the altar and immediately a feeling of calm fell over her. He looked so handsome standing at the front of the church, in a suit she never saw the likes of before, not even in the catalogue.

The congregation stood as the two walked slowly down the aisle, Doc placing her arm safely into Sam’s. The ceremony was not long, soon a beautiful gold engraved ring was placed on Sara’s left hand and the kiss was exchanged sealing the vows they each repeated. As they turned to follow the aisle to the doors the crowd rose and applauded the newly-married couple and Sara was positive she never saw a church so crowded before. Tucked away in the back row she saw all of the girls from the saloon along with Eric and Toby. Sam caught her glance and held her arm more tightly, but she felt so secure in her new place she smiled at the entire group. The church was crowded to standing room only and others were waiting outside for the couple. At the top of the steps, they paused while the photographer adjusted his camera. There would be no need for a flash today as the sun shone brightly upon them. As they stepped up into the sleigh Sam welcomed everyone, young and old to join their celebration, which was to be held in the saloon.

When they arrived, there looked to be food for at least a hundred guests. Everyone was to help themselves and the celebration began. Anyone who thought of it brought musical instruments, many of them being homemade and soon wild and joyous music was playing. Sam’s leg was still too sore for him to attempt any of the fast polkas or jigs, but the band took the opportunity for the couple to share the first dance with a waltz. The day carried on much in this way and as Sam promised, the town had never seen the likes of a wedding like this before.

Chapter Thirteen

The party carried on well into the night, but around eleven o’clock Sam and Sara excused themselves from the crowd, bringing a racket of cheering and whistles. It was a long day, but more than that, the couple wanted their time alone.

Sam used his cane to go up the staircase and as Sara took his arm to offer assistance, she said without looking at him, “I should take a look at it. Make sure you haven’t done any damage to it with the day’s excitement.”

As they stood on the landing at the top of the stairs Sam pulled her to him, “I think maybe you should look at it, I think maybe I need to be tended to,” he placed his hand at the back of her neck and pulled her gently so their mouths met hungrily, then added, “and I think you also need to be tended to.” They walked arm in arm toward the master bedroom. “You looked lovely in your dress, but no more beautiful than you do every day. Did you enjoy your day?”

“It was wonderful,” Sara beamed, “as I think every day will be with you.”

Sara used the guest room to change out of the wedding gown, while Sam went to his own to remove his suit. She found it to be rather difficult to undo the tiny pearl buttons which formed a row down the front of her gown and as she was nearing the end she glanced up to find her husband watching from the door that opened so quietly. He stepped inside the room and helped her remove the dress, but he knew she felt a little shy and said he would wait for her in their bed. He left her alone, hoping her fears were only temporary.

Sam turned the lantern down, so the room was dark, except for the sliver of light coming from the moon. It was just enough to see Sara’s shadow as she slid in under the covers with him. He caught his breath when he felt her smooth skin against his own. He ran his hand down her back, past a bare waist. He could feel her trembling against him and lifted himself above her so he looked down into her eyes, “Are you certain you are ready?” he asked in a low voice, “we don’t have to until you are ready. Doc told me it could take some time.”

But her answer was to move herself under him, pulling him to her. At first a slight gasp escaped her lips, but she covered them with his, feeling the warmth of his tongue against hers. They moved slowly against each other, wanting their first time together to last as long as possible. All too soon a shudder ran through Sam’s body. He wanted this for so long and he couldn’t hold back. “Damn,” he said quietly, but continued by covering his bride with kisses, moving down her neck to her breasts, gently touching each hard nipple.